Paul Ford, current president of the Utah State Poetry Society, has been a member since 2008. The death of his wife in 2007 compelled him to start writing poetry. Paul led the UTSPS Valley Winds (Salt Lake City) chapter for ten years as well as acted as technical editor of the annual Panorama poetry anthology for six years. UTSPS and 30 other state poetry societies are partners in the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. In 2010 Paul started as assistant editor for NFSPS' quarterly poetry newsletter, Strophes, and been editor since 2012. In 2014 he was elected as NFSPS 4th Vice President and currently is 1st VP. Paul has judged state poetry contests, both within Utah and for other state poetry societies. A love of poets and poetry informs Paul's work. His personal mission is servus poetarum (Latin for ‘servant of the poets’).