Spoken Word

Club Information

About the Spoken Word club meetings:

A Safe Place to Leave Your Heart for a Few Hours

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights, and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. 

Dues are $10/year, to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. Guests will be welcomed to listen or join in ($2 per meeting).

Prior to the pandemic, Club meetings were held the 4th Tuesday of every month except December from 1-3 PM in the Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center, 24351 El Toro, Laguna Woods, CA. (next to the Ayres Hotel just west of Moulton Parkway). No gate pass necessary.

The Spoken Word Club also has a FaceBook Page. here’s a direct link:

Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods

Club meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only.

March 2020

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• Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2020
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: William Scott Galasso, who authored 16 books of poetry. Review the flyer in the documents section for more information.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

FEBRUARY 2020

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• Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2020
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Grant Hier, inaugural Poet Laureate of Anaheim, full Professor at LCAD and Poetry editor for Chiron Review will speak. Hier is a musician, artist, graphic designer and voice actor. Review the flyer in the documents section for more information.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

January 2020

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• Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2020
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Alexandra Umlas authored the full-length poetry collection At the Table of the Unknown (Moon Tide Press). Review the flyer in the documents section for more information.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

November, 2019

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• Date: Tuesday, November 26, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Lavina Blossom is a poet, painter and mixed media artist. Her poems have been published in multiple journal. She is an Associate Editor of Poetry for Inlandia: a Literary Journey. Review the flyer in the documents section for more information.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

October, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Ellyn Maybe — Southern California based poet, United States Artist nominee 2012. has performed both nationally and internationally as a solo artist and with her band. Her work has been included in many anthologies and is the author of several books. 

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

September, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Anna Leahy — Anna Leahy is the author of the nonfiction book Tumor and the poetry collections Aperture and Constituents of Matter. She directs the MFA program in Creative Writing at Chapman University where she edits the international journal TAB and curates the Tabula Poetrica reading series. 

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

August MEETING, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speakers: Chad and Jennifer Sweeney — Chad: Authored six books of poetry including Little Million Doors, Parable of Hide and Seek, Arranging the Blaze and Wolf Milk. He teaches creative writing at California State University-San Bernardino; Jennifer: Authored three poetry collections including Little Spells and How to Live on Bread and Music. She teaches poetry at the University of Redlands. 

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

July MEETING, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, July 23, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Daniel McGinn, native of Southern California, has been a part of the poetry scene for many years. His most recent publication is a collection of poems titled “The Moon, My Lover, My Mother & the Dog.” More information is available on the 2019 July flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

June Meeting, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Los Angeles poet and photographer Alexis Rhone Fancher has work published in over 150 literary magazines, journals and anthologies. Her books include: How I Lost My Virginity to Michael Cohen and other heart stab poems. More information is available on the 2019 May flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

May MEETING, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Nicelle Davis, a California poet, collaborator and performance artist. More information is available on the 2019 June flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

April MEETING, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Peggy Dobreer is a Los Angeles based poet with two books out on Moon Tide Press and an upcoming folio in the Acolian Harp Anthology, Volume 5, Glass Lyre Press. More information is available on the 2019 April flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

March MEETING, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, March 26, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Beirut-born, Southern California-raised Armine Iknadossian is the author of United States of Love & Other Poems (2016). She has been published in Margie, Pearl, Rhino, Split This Rock, Alabama Literary Review, The Nervous Breakdown and elsewhere. Much more information is available on the 2019 February flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

February MEETING, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, February 26, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Natalie Graham: Natalie’s articles appeared in The Journal of Popular Culture and Transition. Her first full-length collection of poems won the 2016 Cave Canem Poetry Prize. Much more information is available on the 2019 February flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

JANUARY MEETING, 2019

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2019
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speakers: Kate Buckley and Ricki Mandeville: Kate is a poet writer, painter, teacher and Ricki is a free-lance editor, language arts and accent reduction tutor. Much more information is available on the 2019 January flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

October MEETING, 2018

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, October 23, 2018
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Michael C. Ford is an American poet, playwright, editor and recording artist. His debut spoken word disk earned a Grammy nomination in 1986 and his book of selected poems Emergency Exits was honored by a 1998 Pulitzer Prize Nomination. He authored 27 books and chapbooks and performed with members of The Doors. Much more information is available on the 2018 September flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

September MEETING, 2018

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2018
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Clifton Snider, faculty member at California State University, Long Beach. He is the internationally celebrated author or eleven books of poetry and four novels. He pioneered LGBTQ literary studies at Cal State and has published hundreds of poems, short stories, reviews and articles. He holds a Ph.D from the University of New Mexico and has been awarded numerous fellowship. Much more information is available on the 2018 September flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

August MEETING, 2018

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2018
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours 
• Featured  Speaker: Chris Vannoy, a writer, editor, teacher and tireless advocate of words and heard and spoken. He was appointed Beat Poet Laurent for the United States 2019 by the National Beat Poetry Foundation, Inc. Much more information is available on the 2018 August flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

July MEETING, 2018

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, July 24, 2018
• Time: 1:00 PM
•  Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours where poets and storytellers read their writings.
• Featured  Speaker: Cati Porter who is a poet, editor, essayist, arts administrator and author of eight books.  Much more information is available on the 2018 July flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights, and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year, to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

June MEETING, 2018

(SEE DOCUMENTS TO VIEW FLYER)

• Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2018
• Time: 1:00 PM
• Location: Elm Room at the Laguna Woods Community Center 
• Motto: A safe place to park your heart for a few hours where poets and storytellers read their writings.
• Featured  Speake: Elder Zamora who is a writer, publisher and photographer. Much more information is available on the 2018 June flyer in the documents section.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights, and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In the monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year, to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. The meetings are for Laguna Woods residents and their guests only; however, guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).

May Meeting, 2018

(see documents to view Flyer)

Tuesday, May 22, 2018 1:00 PM Elm Room;Laguna Woods Community Center
A safe place to park your heart for a few hours. Poets and storytellers read their writings.

Featured poet: Lorene Delaney-Ullman. She received her M.F.A. in English from the University of California, Irvine. Her book of prose poems, Camouflage for the Neighborhood, was the winner of the 2011 Sentence Award, and published by Firewheel Editions (December

2012). Her poems have been included in anthologies such as Beyond Forgetting: Poetry and Prose about Alzheimer’s Disease (Kent State University Press, 2009) and Alternatives to Surrender (Plain View Press, 2007). She currently teaches composition at UC Irvine.

The Spoken Word Club of Laguna Woods is a place for poets, writers, playwrights, and storytellers to read their writings and develop new material. In our monthly meetings, members have an opportunity to read or perform their material. Dues are $10/year, to defray costs of room rental and refreshments. For Laguna Woods residents and their guests only. Guests are welcome to listen or join in ($2/mtg).