It sounds like a support organization for people with pets. But it's more creative than that.
Now known as the Poets and Writing/Storytellers Society - or PAWSS - the former Bluffton Poets Society is expanding its operations and its membership.

"We want to include all writers," said Molly Carrington, who helped form the poets' group with Town Councilman Oscar Frazier, a published poet.

"Why? It feeds ideas to all of us and all writing is really poetry if you stop to think about it," she said. "I would even call a novel a big volume of poetry, the way the words flow together." Plus, she said, the membership of the earlier poets-only group wasn't exactly flourishing.

So, the group is doing what it can to get bigger. At the same time, it's doing what it can to do more for the community.

Later this month, on Feb. 25, PAWSS plans to visit Indigo Pines retirement community on Hilton Head Island, where members will read various forms of writing - including Frazier, who plans to read his poems. The readings begin at 12:30 p.m. that day; all poets and writers, members or not, are encouraged to attend. Indigo Pines is located near Wal-Mart, at 110 Gardner St.

"We want to entertain, to share with others, perhaps even encourage others to write," Carrington said. "Age doesn't matter when it comes to writing."

Before that, PAWSS members Frazier and Tamela Fleetwood - author of the children's book "Nellie Jelly and the Jelly Well" - will visit Hilton Head Elementary School for a "read-in," Carrington said. That event has been tentatively scheduled for Feb. 16.

Today, Carrington said, the group has about 10 members and meets on the last Sunday of each month at the Heyward House Historic Center, located at the corner of Bridge and Boundary streets. This month's meeting, however, has been preempted by the visit to Indigo Pines.

In addition to Carrington, Frazier and Fleetwood, the society boasts several other published authors, including Ann Grace and Darin O'Shields.

"When they come, they pick out a part of their books that they think is most interesting and read to us, to encourage us to read their books," Carrington said.

Carrington predicts good things for the expanded club's future.

"I've had several phone calls from people showing interest in joining," Carrington said. Anyone, writer or not, young or old, is invited to join. There is no membership fee.

"We encourage young people to join, people of all ages," Frazier said. "There's not an age limit on writing. We plan to go to nursing homes, to schools, wherever people want us to come. We'll be happy to come read for them, to share our gifts with them."

For more information on PAWSS, call Frazier at 816-5709 or Carrington at 815-9191.

Reporter Rob Dewig can be reached at 837-5255, ext. 107.