A caution to all writers, poets, or just plain online-artists...
A few days ago I recieved an email that said the following:
Dear Damon,
After reading and discussing your poetry, the Editorial Advisory Board of the International Library of Poetry has nominated you for membership in the most exciting poetry organization in the world--the International Society of Poets!
The Board of Trustees wholeheartedly agrees to award you with a free Associate Membership in our society, but you must act quickly if you want to join as an Official Member, as space is limited and filling up quickly. As Chairman, I want to personally discuss with you the benefits of Official Membership. Damon, I know that after hearing what we're all about, you will join us as a member of our society--the International Society of Poets!
You'll receive many tangible benefits when you become a member. There are three levels of membership, and I am positive there is one that will fit your poetic needs. Whatever membership category you choose, we look forward to your participation in our organization for many years to come. Click here to see the full list of these very important membership items. But perhaps more importantly, you'll be joining fellow poets from more than 60 different nations in the largest poetry organization in the world--an organization dedicated to recognizing, awarding, and promoting the poetic talent of our members and . . .
An organization you can be proud of!
Noted for our charitable contributions and our accomplishments in furthering poetic endeavors, the International Society of Poets maintains a reputation for bringing poetry to more people and to more nations than any other organization in the world.
Whether you write poetry for the satisfaction it gives you, or as a personal way to record your innermost feelings, or as a hobby, through your membership you and your poetry will be recognized by thousands of people from all over the world. And Damon, it's a great feeling to know they're interested in you, and that your poetry is being read and enjoyed by others. In fact, by joining the International Society of Poets, you and your poetry will receive worldwide recognition from many different nations.
You'll even have the opportunity to meet and share your poetry with other members. As a member, I will extend a personal invitation to our yearly convention, which is world-renowned for bringing together poets of all ages and nationalities who share a common love of poetry. These exciting, fun, and educational events are full of camaraderie, warm friendship, and mutual admiration for our poetic endeavors.
The poetic event of the year!
This year, our conference in Washington, D.C., drew nearly 2000 poets from 64 nations around the world! We believe this to be one of the largest single gatherings of poets in history. At our conventions, our members have had the opportunity to meet and discuss poetry with former Chancellor of Academy of American Poets David Wagoner, Poet Laureate Fleda Brown, Mellon Poetry Prize Winner Herbert Woodward Martin, and Pulitzer Prize Winner W.D. Snodgrass. We've been entertained by such acts as Johnny Cash, John Denver, the Smothers Brothers, and Tony Orlando just to name a few . . . not to mention the largest single cash prize of $20,000.00 awarded to an amateur poet. As an advance notice, we are thrilled to inform you that our 2006 convention will take place July 20-23, 2006, at the famed Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is sure to be our most exciting convention yet!
Over the last ten years, our organization has awarded over $1 million to poets just like you. As a member, you will have a chance to win your share of these cash prizes. Whether you write structured poetry or free verse, you'll find these contests to be exciting and rewarding events. You'll be invited to participate in exclusive contests for members only and winners are published in the internationally distributed magazine, Poetry Today.
Poetry Today . . . A new award-winning magazine!
And what a magazine it is! Our award-winning magazine, with its new design and format, is included with each membership. Our magazine covers a lot of what's going on in poetry in the United States and around the world. In each magazine, there is a special emphasis on you and other members. There are contest announcements and results, members' poetry prominently displayed in our publication, coverage of what's happening in the lives of our members, the craft of writing poetry, and many other special features. Poetry Today is also your key to finding out about our members-only contests, what types of poems judges look for, and how to improve your craft of writing and chances of winning.
Join the International Society of Poets now, Damon, and you'll become one of the recognized leaders of your craft. Your friends, family, and colleagues will look to you as an example of experience, vision, and accomplishment in the poetic world. Your society will look to you for your unique perspective as expressed through your poetry. I'm sure we'll soon be seeing you and your poetry featured in Poetry Today.
Click here to join us today.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Michaels
Chairman, Board of Trustees
International Society of Poets
P.S. Damon, we only accept a limited number of members each year and, if you want to join as an official member, you must act quickly. By accepting your membership invitation, your benefits will begin immediately and you will promptly receive your membership items through the mail. Most importantly, we will welcome you as a member of the largest poetry organization in the world--the International Society of Poets.
Click here to order your membership now or go to
https://www.poetry.com/poetrybuy/Membership2006.asp?ID=P6877200&SC=Y114
It was in response to a poem I submitted in an online forum, which was asking for poems of a certain theme. It wasn't a very serious thing, or so I thought, and at the time the chances of getting anything out of it was, I thought, very little. I pretty much submitted it and forgot it shortly afterwards. When I recieved this however, I looked back and saw that many people had commented on the poem, favorably. The idea that this Interantional Society of Poets was one of those who frequented the forum, which was after all a major poetry gathering point, and liked my stuff, didn't seem too farfetched, and I was interested.
However, I was also weary. Because they ask for money to be a member. Granted, most societys require dues from their members, and it would pay for a certificate, a year supply of the magazine being sent to my door, AND the cost of the trip to D.C. for the convention, all for just $50. It seemed a fair price, but my family is not exactly what you would call wealthy, and my eyes haven't been sunk so far back into my head from the life I've had without me having gained what I hope to be at least a little wisdom. So I did some research, and before too long, ran across this:
http://windpub.com/literary.scams/update.htm
Just decided to share, incase anyone else here gets the same email, or something simialar. Incase you can't hear it enough, never trust these online (or even offline) things without doing extensive checking into them. It's not as hard as it may seem to scam people, and of course all good scam artists know the golden rule: if you want something from someone, the best way to get it is tell them what they want to hear.
And just for Johan:
Harry Potter 4 SUCKED! As usual, the only good things from it were the theme song and graphics. The director and actors from that movie should all be shot in the streets. And thats all I'm going to say about that.
Dear Damon,
After reading and discussing your poetry, the Editorial Advisory Board of the International Library of Poetry has nominated you for membership in the most exciting poetry organization in the world--the International Society of Poets!
The Board of Trustees wholeheartedly agrees to award you with a free Associate Membership in our society, but you must act quickly if you want to join as an Official Member, as space is limited and filling up quickly. As Chairman, I want to personally discuss with you the benefits of Official Membership. Damon, I know that after hearing what we're all about, you will join us as a member of our society--the International Society of Poets!
You'll receive many tangible benefits when you become a member. There are three levels of membership, and I am positive there is one that will fit your poetic needs. Whatever membership category you choose, we look forward to your participation in our organization for many years to come. Click here to see the full list of these very important membership items. But perhaps more importantly, you'll be joining fellow poets from more than 60 different nations in the largest poetry organization in the world--an organization dedicated to recognizing, awarding, and promoting the poetic talent of our members and . . .
An organization you can be proud of!
Noted for our charitable contributions and our accomplishments in furthering poetic endeavors, the International Society of Poets maintains a reputation for bringing poetry to more people and to more nations than any other organization in the world.
Whether you write poetry for the satisfaction it gives you, or as a personal way to record your innermost feelings, or as a hobby, through your membership you and your poetry will be recognized by thousands of people from all over the world. And Damon, it's a great feeling to know they're interested in you, and that your poetry is being read and enjoyed by others. In fact, by joining the International Society of Poets, you and your poetry will receive worldwide recognition from many different nations.
You'll even have the opportunity to meet and share your poetry with other members. As a member, I will extend a personal invitation to our yearly convention, which is world-renowned for bringing together poets of all ages and nationalities who share a common love of poetry. These exciting, fun, and educational events are full of camaraderie, warm friendship, and mutual admiration for our poetic endeavors.
The poetic event of the year!
This year, our conference in Washington, D.C., drew nearly 2000 poets from 64 nations around the world! We believe this to be one of the largest single gatherings of poets in history. At our conventions, our members have had the opportunity to meet and discuss poetry with former Chancellor of Academy of American Poets David Wagoner, Poet Laureate Fleda Brown, Mellon Poetry Prize Winner Herbert Woodward Martin, and Pulitzer Prize Winner W.D. Snodgrass. We've been entertained by such acts as Johnny Cash, John Denver, the Smothers Brothers, and Tony Orlando just to name a few . . . not to mention the largest single cash prize of $20,000.00 awarded to an amateur poet. As an advance notice, we are thrilled to inform you that our 2006 convention will take place July 20-23, 2006, at the famed Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is sure to be our most exciting convention yet!
Over the last ten years, our organization has awarded over $1 million to poets just like you. As a member, you will have a chance to win your share of these cash prizes. Whether you write structured poetry or free verse, you'll find these contests to be exciting and rewarding events. You'll be invited to participate in exclusive contests for members only and winners are published in the internationally distributed magazine, Poetry Today.
Poetry Today . . . A new award-winning magazine!
And what a magazine it is! Our award-winning magazine, with its new design and format, is included with each membership. Our magazine covers a lot of what's going on in poetry in the United States and around the world. In each magazine, there is a special emphasis on you and other members. There are contest announcements and results, members' poetry prominently displayed in our publication, coverage of what's happening in the lives of our members, the craft of writing poetry, and many other special features. Poetry Today is also your key to finding out about our members-only contests, what types of poems judges look for, and how to improve your craft of writing and chances of winning.
Join the International Society of Poets now, Damon, and you'll become one of the recognized leaders of your craft. Your friends, family, and colleagues will look to you as an example of experience, vision, and accomplishment in the poetic world. Your society will look to you for your unique perspective as expressed through your poetry. I'm sure we'll soon be seeing you and your poetry featured in Poetry Today.
Click here to join us today.
Sincerely,
Steven J. Michaels
Chairman, Board of Trustees
International Society of Poets
P.S. Damon, we only accept a limited number of members each year and, if you want to join as an official member, you must act quickly. By accepting your membership invitation, your benefits will begin immediately and you will promptly receive your membership items through the mail. Most importantly, we will welcome you as a member of the largest poetry organization in the world--the International Society of Poets.
Click here to order your membership now or go to
https://www.poetry.com/poetrybuy/Membership2006.asp?ID=P6877200&SC=Y114
It was in response to a poem I submitted in an online forum, which was asking for poems of a certain theme. It wasn't a very serious thing, or so I thought, and at the time the chances of getting anything out of it was, I thought, very little. I pretty much submitted it and forgot it shortly afterwards. When I recieved this however, I looked back and saw that many people had commented on the poem, favorably. The idea that this Interantional Society of Poets was one of those who frequented the forum, which was after all a major poetry gathering point, and liked my stuff, didn't seem too farfetched, and I was interested.
However, I was also weary. Because they ask for money to be a member. Granted, most societys require dues from their members, and it would pay for a certificate, a year supply of the magazine being sent to my door, AND the cost of the trip to D.C. for the convention, all for just $50. It seemed a fair price, but my family is not exactly what you would call wealthy, and my eyes haven't been sunk so far back into my head from the life I've had without me having gained what I hope to be at least a little wisdom. So I did some research, and before too long, ran across this:
http://windpub.com/literary.scams/update.htm
Just decided to share, incase anyone else here gets the same email, or something simialar. Incase you can't hear it enough, never trust these online (or even offline) things without doing extensive checking into them. It's not as hard as it may seem to scam people, and of course all good scam artists know the golden rule: if you want something from someone, the best way to get it is tell them what they want to hear.
And just for Johan:
Harry Potter 4 SUCKED! As usual, the only good things from it were the theme song and graphics. The director and actors from that movie should all be shot in the streets. And thats all I'm going to say about that.