The turmoil at the Poetry Society is officially over, according to one of the prime movers in the revolt among members that forced out the board of trustees at an extraordinary general meeting earlier this year. At last week’s annual general meeting of the society members voted in a new board of fresh faces – and although the Arts Council grant still remains suspended for now, a new sense of confidence is palpable. 

The original petition organiser, Kate Clanchy, pictured, said in her blog: “In case you haven't already heard, last night we elected a wonderfully strong and diverse new board: Shanta Acharya, Martin Alexander, Polly Clark, Robert Hutchison, Sir Stephen Irwin, Edward Mackay, Kona Macphee, Heather Neill, Paul Ranford, Professor Michael Schmidt, Laurie Smith, and Dr Stephen Wilson. The field was so wide and rich that several outstanding candidates were very narrowly pipped at the post, but they will keep the board in co-optees and new members for years to come.

 
”There were 341 voters: 211 appointed a proxy to vote on their behalf, and 130 voted in person at the agm. The meeting was much less tense and hectic than the egm, though we did spend some time chewing over the  news that the 2009-10 accounts couldn't be presented because the auditors couldn't sign them off because they weren't sure the Po Soc would be a going concern in 12 months. However, we were soothed by a superb presentation from Judith Palmer, who seemed  a powerhouse of creative ideas, and the strong hope that a new board will restore's ACE's [Arts Council for England’s]  confidence and the grant.
 
"I think they will, and the new board and Judith Palmer [the society’s reinstated director] will make the next few years great ones for the Poetry Society. All the fuss was worthwhile: thank you for making it.”