Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisors Carole Groom and Warren Slocum
Subject: Appointment of Aileen Cassinetto as San Mateo County Poet Laureate
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution appointing Aileen Cassinetto to the honorary post of San Mateo County Poet Laureate for a two-year term from January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2020.
body
BACKGROUND:
The tradition of naming a Poet Laureate began in 17th century England when John Dryden was first named to the post. The United States Library of Congress appointed an official Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1937. In 1985, an Act of Congress changed the name of the position to Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress.
California was the first state to name a Poet Laureate informally and the position was established by the Legislature in 2001. A number of California counties and cities have followed suit and established the position of Poet Laureate, including the Bay Area counties of San Francisco, Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Alameda, Santa Clara and San Mateo.
In April 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution establishing the honorary post of San Mateo County Poet Laureate for the purpose of elevating poetry into the consciousness of San Mateo County residents and highlighting and celebrating the literary arts within our County.
On October 8, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution naming Caroline Goodwin as our County's first Poet Laureate. She served in this post until January 1, 2017 when Lisa Rosenberg was named the second County Poet Laureate. Nominee Aileen Cassinetto will be San Mateo County's third Poet Laureate.
DISCUSSION:
The Poet Laureate will represent San Mateo County and the art of poetry though outreach activities related to poetry; will propose and lead a community project throughout their term; will present appropriate works at a mini...
Click here for full text