How to Find Illinois State Poetry Society Chapters and Meetings

Updated

The Illinois State Poetry Society (ISPS) lists seven chapters and points members to two places for meeting details: the Chapters & Meetings page and the Events Calendar on illinoispoets.org. Chapters meet regularly in public venues and/or online across Illinois, and meetings include poetry critiques. If you want a recurring local or online group, start with the chapter list below, then check the calendar for the next date.

ISPS Chapters

Chapter Region / Note
North Suburban Northern suburbs
Southern Southern Illinois
Champaign Champaign area
Lisle (Founding) Lisle — the founding chapter
West Suburban Western suburbs
Haiku Haiku-focused
Pontiac (North Central) Pontiac / north-central Illinois

ISPS describes these chapters as meeting regularly in public venues and/or online across Illinois. Because a chapter may alternate between in-person and online formats, confirm the current format before traveling.

How to Find Dates and Times

  1. Go to illinoispoets.org.
  2. Open the Chapters & Meetings page for chapter-level contact and meeting information.
  3. Open the Events Calendar (linked as "Full Calendar of Events") for upcoming dates and times.
  4. If a chapter's schedule is unclear, email [email protected] with the chapter name in your subject line.

Expected result: you should come away with a specific chapter, a meeting format (in person, online, or both), and a next date.

A Standing Event Anyone Can Attend

ISPS has sponsored a monthly open mic with two featured poets for almost twenty years. It is held at Brewed Awakenings, 19 W Quincy, Westmont, led by Wilda Morris, on the last Sunday of the month from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ISPS states this event is free.

This is the simplest entry point if you are not yet tied to a chapter or want to sample the community before committing to a critique group.

What to Expect at Chapter Meetings

  • Poetry critiques — bring work if you want feedback; meetings are built around reading and responding to poems.
  • Public venues and/or online — the setting varies by chapter, so ask before your first visit.
  • Regular cadence — chapters meet on recurring schedules rather than one-off dates, which makes them suitable for ongoing participation.

Common Snags

  • Assuming one page has everything. Chapter details live on the Chapters & Meetings page; time-sensitive dates live on the Events Calendar. Check both.
  • Showing up without confirming format. A chapter listed for a public venue may also run online sessions. Verify the current arrangement.
  • Missing the monthly open mic. It falls on the last Sunday, not a fixed calendar date, so it shifts each month.