At each regular meeting business is transacted and a program is presented by a writer or critic of distinction. Poems by PST members are awarded cash prizes by a selected judge. Other poems selected by the judge are read anonymously with the popular and other prizes chosen by secret ballot. PST meetings and membership is open to all people regardless of race, gender, age, or political view.

Councilors are representatives of the Society throughout all of Texas and are appointed by the Board of Directors.

The Society sponsors numerous adult, student, and manuscript contests annually, with cash prizes in excess of $4,500.00. These contests are open only to active members unless otherwise specified.

Prize-winning poems in the Society’s annual contests and winners of the monthly Critic’s Award are published in an annual anthology entitled A Book of the Year, with each member receiving one copy as part of their dues. This anthology, valuable not only to the Society but also to college and public libraries, includes the membership list and other information pertinent to the Society. In addition, each member receives a monthly news bulletin.

The Society sponsors a permanent collection of books and holographic poems published by its members. This collection, now totaling more than 1,850 books and pamphlets, is housed in the Texas room of the Dallas Public Library. The Society sponsors a Texas Poets’ Memorial Collection of memorabilia of deceased poets of Texas consisting of brochures, books, clippings, photographs, and mementos.

The Society is a member of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies, Inc. (NFSPS). Society members are eligible to compete for NFSPS awards and to participate in its activities. The Society is also an affiliate of the Academy of American Poets. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.