NORAZ Poets
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NORAZ Poets is a nonprofit poetry organization based in Northern Arizona. It was founded in Sedona, Arizona in 2003 by poet Christopher Lane, who also serves as the organization's executive director. The group is run by a seven-member advisory board.
The group runs weekly poetry open mics, biweekly and monthly poetry slams, poetry workshops, featured poetry readings, poet in residence programs in Northern Arizona high schools, maintains a Web site with a calendar of events and several book partnerships, which sell local poets' work in Northern Arizona bookstores.
The group networks two poetry slams: FlagSlam in Flagstaff and VerdeSlam Sedona, Arizona.
The group has a reputation in the national slam poetry scene for treating touring poets better than local poets, with booking events, transportation to and from performances and venues, and lodging at the homes of members of the local poetry community.
Poetry organizers in Northern Arizona had sent slams teams to the National Poetry Slam since 2001, officially representing Flagstaff, although the team's members were from various parts of the region. Since 2004, the team competes in local, regional and national poetry slams under the banner "Team NORAZ".
NORAZ Poets is one of the only both rural and regional poetry organizations in the United States. As such, the group mainly uses its Web site to promote events for poets and the general public.
The organization earned nonprofit tax status in February 2003.
Some of the poets affiliated with the group include Robin John Anderson, Kira Bonner, Mary Carvell Bragg, Rochelle Brener, Portlin Cochise, Rebekah Crisp, Patrick David DuHaime, Josh Fleming, Dom Flemons, Nick Fox, Karyl Goldsmith, Jesse Dyllan Grace, Andy "War" Hall, Dee Hamilton, Brent Heffron, Mary Heyborne, Cass J. Hodges, Aaron Johnson, Jarrod Masseud Karimi, Erik John Karpf, Suzy La Follette, Christopher Lane, Eric Larson, David Rodgers "Doc" Luben, William Mawhinney, Douglas McDaniel, Karen Guevara, Logan Phillips, John Reid, Betteanne Rutten, David Ward and Mikel Weisser.
[edit] National Poetry Slam Teams representing NORAZ poets
In 2001, as Team Flagstaff at the 11th National Poetry Slam in Seattle, Washington:
- Grand Slam Champion: Josh Fleming
- Nick Fox
- Christopher Lane
- Christopher Fox Graham
- Alternate: A-rek Matthew Dye
- Coach: Andy "War" Wall
In 2002, as Team Flagstaff at the 12th National Poetry Slam in Minneapolis, Minnesota:
- Grand Slam Champion: Suzy La Follette
- Logan Phillips
- Andy "War" Hall
- Dom Flemons
- Alternate: Jarrod Masseud Karimi (but left the team before the National Poetry Slam)
- Coach and alternate: John Raymond Kofonow
In 2003, as Team Flagstaff at the 13th National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Illinois:
- Grand Slam Champion: Suzy La Follette
- Logan Phillips
- Cass Hodges
- Dom Flemons
- Alternate: Julie Hudgens (but left the team before the National Poetry Slam)
- Coach and alternate: John Raymond Kofonow
In 2004: as Team NORAZ at the 14th National Poetry Slam in St. Louis, Missouri.
- Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Fox Graham
- Eric Larson
- Logan Phillips
- Brent Heffron
- Coaches: Mary Guaraldi, Christopher Lane and John Raymond Kofonow
In 2005: as Team NORAZ at the 15th National Poetry Slam in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Lane
- Logan Phillips
- Christopher Fox Graham
- Meghan Jones
- Aaron Johnson
- Coaches: Mary Guaraldi and John Raymond Kofonow
