SDSPS was organized in 1927 and incorporated as a South Dakota non-profit on August 8, 1970.
Our Mission
To encourage and foster the writing and publication of poetry by South Dakota writers and to promote excellence therein; to arouse in students of high school and college age, interest in the creative writing of poetry; to foster or publish Pasque Petals, a magazine, on a regular basis, thereby continuing the publication which was begun before the Society was organized, which publication is devoted chiefly to poetry, to stimulate by such proper means as the sponsoring of contests, awarding of prizes, and by other means of encouragement, the writing of poetry; and by these means to aid in the cultural growth of South Dakota.
SDSPS acknowledges that we share the traditional lands of the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires nations, the proper name for the tribes of the Santee-Dakota, Yankton-Nakota, and Teton-Lakota people, referred to collectively as the Sioux.
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Stay Informed
Meet our New Membership Chair
Poets and Poetry Lovers, We are pleased to introduce Betty L. Beer, our new SDSPS Membership Chair. Information about joining SDSPS or renewing your membership for 2015 is located here. If you have questions, please email Betty at sdsps.membership@gmail.com. Thank you, also, to Sara Snelling, for her dedicated work as Membership Chair. We are sorry […]
Call for Poems!
Call for Poems The South Dakota State Poetry Society (SDSPS) seeks poems for its Spring 2015 issue of PASQUE PETALS. We do not accept previously published work. We do accept simultaneous submissions, but please inform us immediately if your work is accepted somewhere else. Submit up to five poems in the body of your email […]
Poet Laureate
David Allan Evans, our current Poet Laureate, is resigning from his post. The South Dakota State Poetry Society is now taking applications for the next Poet Laureate. Please go to the top menu, under Poet Laureate you will find information about applying for this position. Thank you!
Announcing 2013 Poetry Contest Winners
Grand prize-cat.1 1st pl.-S.Amelia Snelling (at 82) 2nd pl.-Marsha Mittman (the Missing) 3rd pl.-Heather Aker (Making Thunder) HM.-Merry Lynn Fuerst (I laughed until I cried) SD. Woman who made a difference-cat.2 1st pl.-Daniel G. Snethen (One-Armed Hypocrisy) 2nd pl.-Barbara Duffey (Zitkala Sa) 3rd. pl.-Merry Lynn Fuerst (The Little Lady Sheep Herder) Animal-cat.3 1st pl.-Linda Shere […]
Deadline Extended for SDSPS Contest
The deadline for our 38th Annual Poetry Contest has been extended to November 15th. Please see the previous post or the latest issue of Pasque Petals for categories, guidelines, and entry fees. Mail entries and fees to: Dorianne Schmidt, 6113 N. Mineral Ave, Sioux Falls SD 57104 If you have questions, contact Dorianne at andthentherewere12@yahoo.com or […]
38th Annual SDSPS Contest
We are taking submissions in several categories for our annual poetry contest. Prize-winning poems will be published in our literary magazine, Pasque Petals. Non-winning entries may be considered for publication in Pasque Petals by the editor, with contestants’ permission. The fees, awards, and categories are as follows: FEES $5.00 PER POEM FOR CATEGORY #1 FROM […]