This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.

---

Back Porch
Spring 1997
From the Editor
Dear Readers,
What a challenge! What a learning experience! How I have enjoyed this, my very first issue to be done alone - well, mostly alone. Thank Heaven, Fannie doesn’t live too far away, and she has been most generous in helping me take over the reins of Back Porch!
It has been wonderful to meet so many readers, contributors and advertisers who make up Back Porch even though our “meetings” have mostly been held via phone and mail.
As one can tell from the sampling in the Letters column on the previous page, you all have sent encouragement as well as submissions. If what Jack Kean wrote is true, “Success is measured by effort, and anything else is a bonus,” then this issue is definitely a success even if a little late. So much effort has gone into it! I hope you all agree - about the success, that is.
To comment on topics mentioned in the letters, we are happy to hear that our readers share their magazines and they enjoy them so much they want to “hook” friends into subscribing so they can keep their copies. Many of you have sent gift subscriptions to friends and relatives - one sure sign that you like Back Porch!
As Fannie had dreamed of doing, we are also planning for six issues a year in the not too distant future. We receive plenty of great submissions! It is hard to choose between so many and have to turn some down simply because of lack of space, so we hope that bimonthly issues will be the norm soon.
We are delighted that so many readers would like to contribute their work. A copy of submissions guidelines may
be obtained by sending a short request along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Back Porch.
A special “Thank you” to those who included a bit of information about themselves when sending submissions so that we find it easier to complete the Contributor column!
We are glad so many enjoy Back Porch, and we look forward to serving you well and far into the future with upcoming issues. Of course, we plan to keep up the great quality publishing through which Fannie has made Back Porch so well received.
Gotta get this on out to the printer now, so until next time, ya’ll take a break, grab your Back Porch, and just keep on rockin’.
Our Cover
David R Davis wrote me a welcoming letter shortly after I became editor of Back Porch. He is familiar to readers as the author of the Winter 1996 issue’s “Redneck Christmas.” He enjoys telling family stories in comic art form and mentioned stories told to him by his much loved 92-year old grandfather. I enjoy his work and asked him to draw a rose-decorated gate for this issue’s cover. While in the midst of the drawing, David’s grandfather Raymond Lacy passed away, so David put his grandfather’s name on the gate and has used the drawing on a written eulogy. We extend our sympathy to David and his family and are happy that we can remember Mr. Lacy with our Spring 1997 cover.
Thank you, David, for an excellent work even during such a heart-breaking time. It is as beautiful as your relationship with your grandfather must have been.
Notice! SPA Contest News
Southern Poetry Association has announced that its contests for 1997 will be:
The Poet’s Voice Newsletter Contest SPA Challenge The Senior Connection Poetry Premiere Voices of the South Shorts Contest Spiritual Special National Poetry Day Matters of the Heart Yam Spinner Poetry in Motion Special People
Southern	Poetry
Association was founded in 1986, and membership consists of writers from all over the United States.
SPA has been nominated to receive the 1996 Mississippi State Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts for their work with senior- citizens, students and prison inmates. This is the fourth year SPA has been nominated for this award.
SPA will be happy to send guidelines for the various contests as well as a free copy of The Poet’s Voice to any writer who would like to receive these. Simply send , your name, address, and two 32-cent stamps to:
Southern Poetry Association Post Office Box 524 Pass Christian MS 39571