WELCOME TO THE SIX CENTURIES CLUB AND
SENSATIONS MAGAZINE
Winner, American Literary Magazine Awards, 1994-1996
Winner, New Jersey State Jefferson Award for Public Service, 2009
Welcome to The Six Centuries Club of America, Inc. ("The Six Centuries Club") and our website. The Six Centuries Club is the parent company of Sensations Magazine, a literary magazine in continuous operation for 23 years, and (rare) three-consecutive-year winner of the national American Literary Magazine Awards.
The Six Centuries Club is conducting a three-year "time travel" tour through American history, and you are invited to join us at any point in the journey.
A quick summary of the journey thus far: In 2007, we celebrated Lafayette Township history, the 250th anniversary of the birth of the Marquis de Lafayette, and the 20th anniversary of our publication, through a two-issue celebration and a series of events. In 2008, we published magazine issues about America in "the pre-United States days" of the 1500s and 1600s (including new footnoted research in each), and conducted a series of events related to America in those time periods. In 2009, we published issues about America in the 1700s and 1800s. The last of our events related to America in the 1700s takes place in September, and a series of events covering America between the years 1800 and 1900 take place from September to December 2009. You may learn about those by clicking the "Upcoming Events" button, or become a member of The Six Centuries Club by clicking the "Join the Club" button at left and following all associated instructions.
For additional "introductory details" about us, continue reading below.
ABOUT OUR PUBLICATION: 1987 TO PRESENT
Sensations Magazine is a 2009 member of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses (CLMP), is indexed in Humanities International Complete, was indexed the Index of American Periodical Verse (before that ceased in 2007), and is listed in the 2009 edition of Poet's Market. We have published new magazine issues each year since our founding on December 10, 1987. Sensations Magazine Issues 1-43 are all sold out. Final copies of Issue 44, "17th Century America," are reserved for new university or public library subscribers.
Sensations Magazine also is one of the few literary magazines in America to offer both cash and copies for the "Best Batch" of poems per issue, and for the #1 story per issue, as outlined under the "Submit Poems/Stories" button at left, which also contains current submission requirements. There are two deadlines: Feb 14, 2010 and July 4, 2010.
ABOUT OUR AMERICAN HISTORY RESEARCH
Along with magazine publishing, The Six Centuries Club conducts new research into American history, from "the pre-United States days" of the 1500s, to prospects for the future by the end of the 21st century, from a multicultural standpoint. Poets, fiction writers, and historians are welcomed, as is anyone with an interest in learning more about American history from a multicultural perspective, as are institutional members such as libraries, historical societies, "friends" groups, museums, and more.
EVENTS SCHEDULE: 2008-2012
The Six Centuries Club creates and sponsors events each year - some for the general public, most for paid members.
For 2009, The Six Centuries Club has 40 events already scheduled and posted at our "Upcoming Events" button. Among these are events related to the 1500s and 1600s in February and March, 1700s in April to September, and 1800s in August to December. From group dinners, museum trips, private movie screenings, and plays, to a symposium on Abraham Lincoln and live performances of pre-1900 American music, there's something for all tastes. A majority of our events are locally in Sussex County (though we hope to host events in 3-4 states in 2009), and a majority are free for the general public to attend.
Our schedule for publications and related events is summarized below:
ABOUT OUR CORPORATION AND OUR FUNDING
Part literary magazine, part research organization, part community support for writers, and part fundraiser for select charitable organizations, The Six Centuries Club operates solely from funding provided by contest fees, subscriptions, donations, and advertising dollars. A reasonable contest entry fee is required per submission batch, once a year, and there is no guarantee of publication upon payment of a fee. This unusual pairing was lauded by The Newark Star-Ledger as allowing the organization to meet its expenses without compromising its editorial integrity. All funds raised go directly to print production and corporate business costs. Staff members are unpaid volunteers who share a love and passion for literature, history, and the written word.
The status of The Six Centuries Club, as a corporation, allows us to operate independently of a Board of Directors, which have allowed us to develop a history of hosting over 600 events and publishing 46 issues without politics, bickering, or (lately) severely reduced funding for not-for-profits. Remarkable to almost everyone but us (because it's "old hat" for us), Sensations Magazine has operated for 23 years without a single dollar in Federal, state, or local government grant funding.
ABOUT OUR PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER, DAVID MESSINEO
At its helm for 23 years, and unlike many other editors, Founder David Messineo has offered thousands of hours of volunteer service to America's poets and fiction writers, by publishing Sensations Magazine, creating reading opportunities for poets, and providing events ranging from concerts and dances to workshops and writers retreats. For his efforts to create community, serve the public, and improve the quality of life for New Jersey residents (by sponsoring over 600 events over the past 23 years), he is one of 26 individuals statewide to be honored recently with a 2009 New Jersey State Jefferson Award for Public Service. Past recipients of this award have included documentary filmmaker Ric Burns (Coney Island, The Civil War) and Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
David is one of fewer than 20 active Poetry Editors in the United States to provide over 20 years of continuous service as a Poetry Editor with the same publication, to read every line of every poem submitted all that time, and to continue to offer those volunteer services today. Though he has been called many things across many years, his two favorites remain "virtuoso poetry entrepreneur" (by Shotsie Gorman) and "a national treasure" (by Daniel Green).
ABOUT OUR FICTION EDITORS
Similarly, Marilyn Hartl has served as a Fiction Editor each issue since Issue 2 in 1988, making her ongoing association with Sensations Magazine one of the 10 longest fiction editorships in America, both associated with one publication and still continuing today.
Paul Nash, our second Fiction Editor, has been associated with Sensations Magazine since 2002.
JOIN OUR MEMBERS AND INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIBERS
Sensations Magazine is actively subscribed to by many Ivy League university libraries, by at least one library in each county in northern New Jersey, and by individual subscribers in over 20 states and on four continents.
Since its incorporation into The Six Centuries Club and its focus on writing about American history, Sensations Magazine has seen a 20% increase in paid subscriptions. We're on a roll, and welcome all who meet and agree to our membership requirements, and wish to be part of our magic.
To join The Six Centuries Club, click the "Join the Club" button for the six membership levels and associated benefits.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us.
