I thought you might be interested in my notes to Marla Koosed, Chair of the Cultural Affairs Commission, and the City Council.

The recognition by the City Council of the need for a post of poet laureate is a step in the right direction.  The next step should be to add Literary Arts to the Municipal Code describing the powers and duties of the CAC.

I’m not sure if I will be part of the ad hoc committee to develop the selection criteria, but I have been asked to provide more research, which I will do.

Dr. Hoult’s message to the City Council:

Good morning, City Council,

After Monday night’s meeting, the word is out and, hopefully, there will be many applications for the Poet Laureate position.  You might want to check out the article about Bernadene Coleman at Ari Noonan’s website www.thefrontpageonline.com.  Laura Stuart, Frederik Sisa and I have added comments.  You will note that I am encouraging folks to apply…indeed, that will help out the Cultural Affairs Commission as the literary arts become part of their mission.

At the CAC meeting on Tuesday, I was tasked with fleshing out my research by adding Los Angeles and West Hollywood.  I also agreed to provide a draft that the ad hoc committee will be able to use as they finalize the criteria.

The date and time for the poetry workshop at the Senior Center are being arranged. I will make sure that you and the CAC are kept aware of other plans to enhance the visibility of poetry and literary arts in Culver City.

Dr. Hoult’s message to the chair of the Cultural Affairs Commission:

Good morning, Marla..!

Thank you for the warm reception at the CAC meeting on Tuesday.  It was nice to be referred to as a “spark” … I haven’t been awarded that adjective since I was a teenager..!

If you haven’t seen the article on Ari Noonan’s website www.thefrontpageonline.com, about Bernadene Coleman, you may want to check it out. Laura Stuart wrote a comment referring to the upcoming protocols and Frederik Sisa hoped for more applicants.  The following comment is what I just added…hopefully, it will encourage folks to apply and to bring our local literary talent out of the woodwork..!

Wonderful! Culver City has many gifted writers and the more who identify themselves by applying for the position of poet laureate will ease the task of the Cultural Affairs Commission as they add the literary arts to their mission.

Does the CAC need to request that “literary arts” be added to the Municipal Code?

Pursuant to the City’s Municipal Code, the City Council has appointed five members to the Cultural Affairs Commission.  Section 3.03.200 of the Municipal Code provides:

The Cultural Affairs Commission shall have the following powers and duties:

A.  Act in an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters pertaining to the enrichment of the community through fine arts, visual arts, performing arts, arts education, historic preservation and cultural issues;

B. Serve as an advocate for cultural activities and programs within the City;

C.  Implement the City’s Public Art Program, and encourage the integration of cultural affairs into the social and economic fabric of the City to improve the quality of life for City residents; and

D.  Perform such other duties, not inconsistent with the City Charter or this Code, as may be prescribed by ordinance, resolution, City Council policy or other City Council action.

I’m adding Los Angeles and West Hollywood to the research cities as you requested. I will send you that information as well as an updated draft of possible criteria for selection of a PL and PL duties and responsibilities.

We’re off to CSULB today to meet with Charley’s rocket engineering students…the competition in Utah is a month away. It is now nail-biting time as the kids finish building their experimental sounding rocket.

Dr. Hoult may be contacted at HOULTight@aol.com