CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT The deadline for the 2005 contest has passed. The winner and finalists will be posted here on September 1st, 2005 The 2005 Virginia Brendemuehl Prize for Poetry Virginia Merle Brendemuehl (1921-1999) dreamed of being a concert pianist in an era where girls—especially unmarried redheaded daughters of small town judges—were expected to teach, accompany the local soloist, or play organ in church. All of which she did, but with panache and a madcap zest for making music fun and culturally relevant. An ardent world traveler, patriot, and lifelong supporter of artists, she invested her passionate faith and talents in others, whether they be the children of foreign diplomats or heartland dairy farmers. She had perfect pitch. Loved bikinis and gaudy earrings. Eagerly anticipated familial pranks on her April Fool’s birthday. Mercurial, yet extravagantly generous, her persona may best be expressed by the family’s Yuletide slogan: "Yes, Santa, there really is a Virginia." To the end of life, she doted on guava juice, prayer, flamboyant clothing, and her two nieces and nephew, who joyfully endow this contest in her name. The 2005 Virginia Brendemuehl Prize Guidelines     First Place: $1000 plus publication in Rock & Sling     Finalists: publication in Rock & Sling     Contest Deadline: July 31, 2005 postmark Entry fee is $10.00 for three poems. You may enter as many groups of three as you like. Payment (check or money order in US dollars, please) must accompany submission. Name, address, and phone number must appear on each poem. Poems will be judged based on literary quality and in consideration of our vision statement. We encourage entrants to browse our website to gain a sense of the kinds of poems we seek. Preferred maximum length is 60 lines. Poems that have been previously published or have received monetary awards are not eligible. Though Rock & Sling generally accepts simultaneous submissions with notification, we request no simultaneous submissions for the contest. Manuscripts will not be returned. Winners will be notified September 1, 2005 and will be posted on our website thereafter. If you wish to be notified of receipt of your manuscript, include a self-addressed, stamped postcard. Rock & Sling is not responsible for late, lost, or misdirected manuscripts. Submit poetry and payment to: The Virginia Brendemuehl Prize Rock & Sling P. O. Box 30865 Spokane, WA  99223