Local poet Rex B. Valentine attended the World Congress of Poets biannual meeting in Rohnert Park, Calif., in December 2016.

Poets came from throughout the world to convene, take classes, enter poem contests, and enjoy good poetry and camaraderie. Valentine is now a vice president of the organization in charge of the Northwest. He also taught a class on narrative poetry and sonnets.

One of the main features of the congress is the poetry contest. There were nine categories for entry. Valentine entered six, winning two first-place awards and two second-place awards, as well as two honorable mentions. His poem about Cedar Creek in eastern Grays Harbor County won the competition for any type and any style poem, 32 lines and under.

Valentine was inducted into the World Congress of Poetry, in 2004 and has had eight first-place winning poems and many second- and third-place poems in the international contests that have been held since.

The congress meets in a different country every two years. The organization is in its 27th year of existence. The previous meeting was in Osaka, Japan where Valentine was the featured speaker.

He has published seven books in the last 15 years and accepts some local speaking and reading engagements.