I entered the Famouspoets.com poetry contest via internet. My poem was also graded by my high school english teacher and she had many problems with the meter, rhythm, and a few spellings of words in the poem. That should have been my first clue.
Several months later I received a letter in the mail stating, "Congratulations, Sarlyn! You are invited to our 11th Annual Poetry Convention at the Hilton in Reno Nevada, Sept. 3-5. We will be honoring you as a Famous Poet for 2005 and Presenting you with our elegant Shakespeare Trophy of Excellence and Sarlyn % 2005 Poet of the Year Medallion." This letter was signed by one Lavender Aurora, Poetry Editor.
As I began to read I found out that I would have to pay $595 to attend and find my own travel and lodging accommodations. But wait! I received a $100 Scholarship to attend from Mary Rudge, beloved poet and Nobel Peace Prize nominee. It was signed by none other than the Executive Director, Mark Schramm.
I was begining to buy into all of this and plan my trip to Reno. I tried calling the phone number they had listed on the little newsletter that was with my letter of invitation and scholarship. I got an answering machine. The funny thing was though it sounded just like a run of the mill answering machine you'd get at Wal-Mart. Nothing fancy at all, it totally contrasted with the up-itty newletter and invitation.
I googled the company and began to find many reports of this company being a fraud. I even read a Rebuttal by a high school girl just like me and by the sounds of it she got the same mail as i did. So here I am filing this complaint to warn other high schoolers like myself of this bogus company.
And a word to Famous Poets Society: Mark Schramm, oh hey that rhymes with scam, Lavender Aurora, what the hell kind of bogus name is that, and Mary Rudge, you sound like a pudge, you all can kiss my happy poetic as*.
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