DR. DAVID B. AXELROD 

AUTHOR/POET

(Suffolk County Poet Laureate: June 26, 2007 to May, 31, 2009)   

Website photos, content, design, Copyright ©  2007-2009 David B. Axelrod

Home Page 

Event Schedule

Recent Activities

Poetry Doctor

Writers unlimited

David Axelrod's Books

Collected Poems of David B. Axelrod

Curriculum        vita 

Enjoy an Outing               

FINAL REPORT OF SUFFOLK COUNTY POET LAUREATE

DR. DAVID B. AXELROD

(MAY 15, 2009)  

It has been a very productive two years as Laureate. In that time, I have performed at over 50 events, published poetry in a dozen journals as well as publishing 2 new books. I have met with  United States Poet Laureates, Charles Simic, and Billy Collins, and worked with dozens of new and established poets, many of whose photos can now be viewed at this website . Click: Recent Activities!

Most enjoyable, and for me, most important, however, is the Young Poets Mentoring Program, which received both grants and donations from a variety of people and organizations. 

At the conclusion of the program we had fifteen young poets paired with fifteen established poets who assisted in the writing, revision, formatting and completion of books of poetry  and/or for inclusion in our anthology. Nine books were produced for individual authors, plus the anthology.

For my part, to help the project, I have donated all of my reading fees and any profits from the sale of my books for my first year, and at least several hundred dollars more thereafter, to the Young Poets Mentoring Program. In total, we had just in excess of $3,500 to devote to official programs and publications.

For statistics: My term as laureate included over 500 hours of volunteer time performing, speaking, attending events in my official capacity and producing the young poets' publications. As part of that process, nearly 1,200 emails were exchanged. As for hard-copies and printing, at least 10 reams of paper were needed and over 500 printed fliers were distributed. In total, about 1,250 books and anthologies were printed.

At a meeting of a his Ways and Means Committee, Legislator Wayne Horsley, who is charged with overseeing Suffolk's Laureates, together with Vivian Viloria-Fisher, who first initiated the laureateships, praised the work done and as a vote of confidence in the program, have since gone on to appoint our fourth, official Suffolk County Poet Laureate, Ms. Tammy Nuzzo-Morgan.

It has been a great pleasure to serve you for my two years!

Dr. David B. Axelrod, Suffolk County Poet Laureate,  appointed June 26th, 2007, and official duties completed, May 13, 2009.