It was announced at the 2007 USPS festival that Vera Bakker has been chosen as the new president of USPS .  She will serve for two years in this office (2007-2009)  Vera Ogden Bakker grew up in Ogden, Utah. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Utah State and taught elementary school in Weber and Davis counties for 25 years. After retirement Vera started writing. She has had over twenty short stories published in various children’s magazines, and numerous poems.  Her children’s book, Puff’s Christmas Miracle was published by Covenant Communications in 1996.  Vera had two picture books and a poem published by Waterford Institute for their early reader program. She has written seven picture books for Readinga-z.com which are currently on the internet.  Vera is past president of the League of Utah Writers, Ben Lomond Poets, Rhyme & Reason Poets and the Utah Association of the National League of American Pen Women.  Vera has won several local and national awards in poetry and prose. She was named “Writer of the Year 1999” by the League of Utah Writers. Vera has five children, twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She lives in West Bountiful with her husband John.  The membership of USPS considers itself very fortunate indeed to have someone as capable as Vera Bakker at the helm.

We would also like to extend our warmest and most heartfelt appreciation to N. Colwell Snell for his wonderful leadership of the Society for this past two years.  Thanks Ned!