Dodge Poetry Festival 2008

I received a survey about a month ago about the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival and program. It seems that the funding for it was in doubt, and I had heard rumors that the usual location (Waterloo Village in Stanhope, NJ, USA) was not going to be available any more.

The survey was asking about how important I felt things like the teacher day, the student day, musical performers, ticket prices, locations (outdoors, indoors, at a college) etc. would be to my attendance.

I have always thought the festival is an incredible experience and a bargain (I might feel differently if I had to travel a long way to it), and I answered in that way (willing to pay a bit more, willing to have schools pay something, less music, another location).

Well, they sent out an email and it seems all seems well - though it troubles me that the Waterloo Village site seems to have been turned into an advertising launch page.

Thank you for taking the time to fill out and submit a Dodge Poetry
Festival email survey. The results of the survey were tabulated and
presented at the Dodge Foundation Board of Trustee meeting on June 12.
Responding teachers’ enthusiastic support for many features of High School
Student Day and Teacher Day as they are currently configured was an important
factor in the Board’s approval of a Dodge Poetry Festival at Waterloo Village
for September 25, 26, 27 and 28, 2008.

It was encouraging to hear from so many teachers who were enthusiastic supporters of the Festival, and to read so many articulate, often passionate testimonies to importance of the event for so many teachers and their students. Your words will provide much encouragement in the months ahead, just as your helpful suggestions,
recommendations and questions have given us much to consider as we work toward
mounting the 2008 Festival.

Have a rewarding and relaxing summer, and we look forward to seeing you at Waterloo in the fall of 2008.