Hi everyone,

in amongst recent threads on the list Trevor and I have been discussing
the fact that now is a moment in which we must press for replacement
list owners. Both of us have significant up and coming commitments.
Trevor will be moving into full-blown preparation for next year's Cork
Festival and attendant fund-raising as soon as this year's festival
draws its final lime juice from the boughs. I shall be out of the
country for six months as from just over a month's time. Neither of
feel able to continue as list-owners - even should we want to do so.

Given the breakdown of trust in us to do the job we are seeking in
effect nominations. Several times before we have approached others to
ask if they would take the list on. They have politely turned us down.
So, we need to approach onward possibilities more openly. This is not
some form of seeking reassurance or a renewed mandate from the
membership. We mean it. We must step down. It'd be good to get a hand
over date sorted before August, although there is a little lassitude.

A list-owner must be from British and Irish territories (we know it's a
painful formulation). Preferably two people working in tandem, as then
there is someone else to share the responsibility and it facilitates
the less sedentary from considering doing the job. However one person
did begin the list and it's still possible - perhaps. Our thinking is
that there ought to be a gender split, although since Elizabeth stepped
down we have not been shining examples in achieving that. Ideally one
person has access to an academic e-dress, although Trevor and myself do
not have such a luxury (we have been dependent upon Elizabeth's
provision of legitimacy in that regard).

Here's a summary of the list's current description, whomever is keen to
take the list on ought to be committed to the description:

British and Irish Poets (often but unhappily abbreviated to Brit-Po):
is an e-mail resource for the exchange of and discussion of writing
poetry and poetics, including information on events and reports on
readings, symposia and conferences.We welcome poems posted directly
onto the list.

British and Irish Poets is particularly orientated towards British and
Irish poetry and poetics, although it fully recognises the problems of
such presently and historically constructed nation formations and
barrier policing. Consequently ' . . .-po' has both local and
translocal outlooks and a membership that continues to reflect that.

  British and Irish Poets orients itself towards the contestation and
contestability of norms and forms both in and through poetry. We
recognise that ideas as to how this might and can be achieved will
vary, often vigorously and the list seeks to promote such vigour.
Debatable terms such as 'innovative', 'linguistically-innovative',
'experimental' and 'new' are not out of place here. Once again their
interpretation is part of the robust nature of the list. Publication
announcements and event information is part and parcel of discussion
here as are reports and reviews. Interdisciplinary perspectives on
poetry are encouraged. Those who are particularly interested in the
intersection of poetry and other media are welcome to talk as much as
they would like about that.

________________________________________________________________________
______

Another alternative is to close the list down.

let the chat commence

cris cheek and Trevor Joyce