I would
like to extend my gratitude to the many organizations and individuals
who provided support for the Big Sur Marathon Reading.
My thanks to co-organizers
Lowell Celebrates Kerouac!, The North Beach Chamber of Commerce, Kerouac
Writer in Residence Project, the Northport Historical Society and Museum.
Appreciation is
extended to our partners in this event, who provided sponsorship support,
including the Huntington Arts Council, Long Island Poetry Collective,
Lowell Heritage State Park (and supervisor Richard Scott), Lowell Celebrates
Kerouac!, and The Globe coffeehouse, Orlando.
Special thanks go
to Marsha Garland, Dariana Hayward, James Stauffer, Loren Ford, Marty
and Jan Cummins, Lawrence Carradini and BJ Cassidy for their hard work
as associate producers. Critical organizational assistance was provided
by Margaret Logreira, Poppy Peabody, Kate Kelly, Kathy Paschal of LabMedia,
Mary Sands and Jack Foley.
The participation
of each volunteer reader and musician is something I deeply appreciate
and though they are too numerous to name here, I thank them for their
talent and time.
My thanks to Denise
Boccicchio, Island Guide, for her talent in creating www.poembeat.com,
the official marathon reading website and to all those who contributed
materials to the site.
Grateful appreciation
is also extended to The Estate of Jack Kerouac, administrator John Sampas;
and to Carolyn Cassady and Stanley Twardowicz, who made available, or
who granted permission for use of, materials for promotion and production
of the reading.
And of course, an
affectionate tip of the hat must go to Honorary Co-Chairs David Amram
and Carolyn Cassady, constant inspirations without whom this four-city
event would not have been possible.
-George
Wallace