Just Poets is a poetry-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in the State of New York. Our membership comes from throughout western NY, but the majority are from Monroe county and its surrounding counties, plus a large contingent from Buffalo. The organization supports writers of all skill levels, as well as members who are just interested in poetry.

Our Fiscal & Membership Year runs July 1st to June 30th of the following year.

Members annually elect directors to the board, to serve a two year term. The Board can have up to 12 directors. Currently there are 8: Roy Bent, Mina Hatami, Mary Hood, Jim Jordan, Jennifer Maloney, Bob McDonough, Maril Nowak, & Bart White, Directors are all members.

The board meets approximately six times a year. Immediately after the Annual Meeting and Election, the Board elects officers  (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer ) to manage the day-to-day functions of the organization for the coming year. Officers this year are Maloney (President) White (Vice-President) and Bent (Secretary & Treasurer).

All Directors and Officers are volunteers and receive no compensation for their services. The Board and Officers oversee and staff two open mic series, a Monthly meeting at St John Fisher (generally a presentation, plus a workshop), an annual retreat, and the annual publication of the member anthology, Le Mot Juste.

Just Poets is a very small non-profit, with a budget of a few thousand dollars a year, about half from dues, the rest from sales of Le Mot Juste, donations, and tickets to the annual Retreat (usually held at the Gell Center). Some years Just Poets has applied for and received grants (for a few thousand dollars) for a variety of poetry-centered activities, usually in the form of poetry-themed community outreach.