Fall 2001 issue

 

 

President's Message
     After much discussion, planning, developing, critiquing and reviewing – we're on the web! Check our website at www.wfop.org (yup; here!) to see how we're presenting ourselves to the world. A special thanks to our new webmaster, Jeannie Bergmann, who donated lots of hours and boundless enthusiasm to the project. A web page is a work in progress, so feel free to contact her with comments or suggestions.
     Poetry featured on the Museletter's "Poetry Page" is also eligible for publication on the Fellowship's website. The Board decided that we would require a separate permission from the poet before putting a poem on the Web. When you submit poems for Poetry Page to editor Shoshauna Shy, please indicate if you also give permission for Web publication.
      At the summer Board meeting, we began thinking about how the Fellowship can better serve its members. We want to attract more members – especially younger poets – and keep the ones we have. We want our conferences to nurture the writing art. We want to bring more workshops out to regional settings. Thanks to Vice President Cathryn Cofell and Treasurer Roberta Fabiani for serving as co-chairs of the Membership and Education committee. They'll be presenting this project at the Fall conference. We welcome your input! Please send your thoughts to Roberta (her address is on the Home page).
      Also at the summer Board meeting, we decided to bring the issue of a dues increase to the membership at the Fall conference. Our dues have not gone up in the fifteen years I've been a member. Postage and printing costs have gone up considerably. With the advent of the web page, we feel our expanded services – internet presence, Muse and Triad contests, bigger Museletter – need a dues hike to keep the Fellowship in the black. Currently, we're considering an increase to $25/year for Active and $15/year for Associate. I welcome comments and suggestions.
      Last year, the Fellowship teamed up with the Wisconsin Regional Writers Association, the Council of Wisconsin Writers, the Humanities Council and the Arts Board to establish Wisconsin's first Poet Laureate. Our own Ellen Kort was named Poet Laureate by then-Governor Tommy Thompson. Part of the proposal included a promise by the Governor's office to fund a portion of the Laureate's expenses, and provide support services such as publicity. When Tommy Thompson left for Washington to work in the Bush administration, he was replaced by Scott McCallum. The new Governor does not seem to share Mr. Thompson's enthusiasm for the Laureate's work. Support has dwindled. I would like to ask every member to contact the Governor and thank him for the work our Laureate has done. (Ellen has a ring binder 5" thick with her first year's work!), and encourage him to keep up the support for this vital work. Contact him at: Office of the Governor, 115 East State Capitol, Madison, WI 53702 or call (608) 266- 1212.
Hugs, Peter

Send Museletter contributions to the Editor:
Christine Falk
9556 Upper 205th Street West, Lakeville, MN 55044.
(952) 985-5375

thefalks@frontiernet.net

SEND US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS if you haven't already, so we can update the WFoP database. Your address will only be used for communication among members.

Welcome
to the following new members of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets who have joined since the Summer Museletter issue:

Jeremy Behreandt Butternut
Ken Bennet LaCrosse
Angela Bischel Chippewa Falls
Carol Davy McConnell Oconomowoc
Barbara Gossens Sturgeon Bay
Angie Greene-Martin Palmyra
Kathleen Hayes Phillips Waukesha
Charles Ries Milwaukee
Jack Robertson Madison
Robert Sutor Woodruff
Timothy Young Stockholm

Welcome to all!
What's Happening in Your Region?
South-Central Region
     What is so rare as a day in June? Then, if ever, come perfect days...and such was the afternoon of June 3rd, when the 9th Annual WFOP Invitational Poetry Marathon was held at Olbrich Gardens in Madison. WFOP poets presenting their work in the atrium there included Fran Newhouse, Lynn Patrick Smith, Dennis (D. B.) Appleton, Mara Ptacek, Phyllis Wax, Cathryn Cofell, Karla Huston, Art Madson, Jackie Langetieg, Dave Smith and Fran Rall. Fran organizes and emcees this yearly event. She has big plans for the 10th anniversary celebration in 2002!
      On July 1st, area poets celebrated the second "tape release party" for the Poetry Buzz radio show. Aired on WORT-FM and produced by Andrea Musher, the show features a different local poet every Monday morning. Taped collections are produced each quarter. Lynn Patrick Smith, Richard Roe, Charles Cantrell, Jeri McCormick, Margaret Benbow, and Ron Ellis are included on the "Spring" cassette.
      Kathy Miner and Richard Roe read at the Village Booksmith in Baraboo in June, and Lynn Patrick Smith read there in July.
      Dennis (D. B.) Appleton was a featured reader at the WFOP-sponsored reading at the west-side Barnes & Noble bookstore in Madison in July.
      Angela Rydell recently was accepted into the MFA program at Warren Wilson College, and three of her poems were chosen for publication in Prairie Schooner. In addition, a manuscript of her poetry won the 2001 Poets & Writers "Writers' Exchange Program Competition." Prizes included a $500 honorarium and an all-expenses-paid trip to New York! Well done, Angela!
      Susan Elbe has published poems lately in Rattle, Permafrost, The Southern Poetry Review, and Calyx.
      Shoshauna Shy's poems recently have appeared in Poetry Northwest, West Wind Review, Samsara Quarterly, Wisconsin Poets' Calendar: 2002, and on Poetry Daily.
      Bill McConnell read and talked about his poetry as part of the series "I Can't Help It; This is What I Do" at Geneva Campus Church in Madison.
      Jeannie (F.J.) Bergmann's poem "Oh My Mi_" won a national competition sponsored by poetz.com, intended to settle for once and for all the question of how to spell "open mike/mic." (You'll have to read it to find out the answer!) Her winning poem was e-published in the August issue of Poetz Monthly Update. Jeannie also has won an International Merit Award from the Atlanta Review for the second year in a row!! (but no $$, she says).
      Madison area poets are reminded to check elsewhere in this issue for details on a writing fellowship which is available from the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation and the Vermont Studio Center. What could be bad about a month in a "rural, northern New England setting, with the seclusion of uninterrupted working time?"

submitted by Kathy Dodd Miner, South-Central Regional VP

     Robin Chapman's chapbook, The Only Everglades in the World, was published by Parallel Press this summer.
     Jeri McCormick won second place – and £2000 – in the Davoren Hanna Poetry Competitiom in Ireland for her poem "Girl Running, 1847."

Northeast Region
     Sue DeKelver will be doing a poetry reading at the Montello Public Library on October 1st and at Conkey's in Appleton on November 20th. She has had poems accepted recently in the Door Voice, Free Verse and the Wisconsin Academy Review, as well as Wisconsin Poets' Calendar: 2002.
      Barbara Larsen and Sue DeKelver will be featured readers at a poetry reading at the Hardy Gallery, Ephraim, Wisconsin, on August 22nd. Barbara Larsen's poem, "Open the Door" which was set to music and introduced by the Peninsula Chamber Singers of Door County last year recently was sung by the Door County Barbershop group in a program at the Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay.
      George Johnson has been asked by the Green Bay Press Gazette to be a freelance writer in its special Tab sections. He had two articles in the June issue on the new Brown County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center.
      Pondering Stone is the name of Pat Schutz's new 78 page book, published in May. For ordering information contact: Leaping Frog Press, Rt. 1, Box 108A, Washington Island, WI 54246. Pat also has had a poem accepted for the January 2002 issue of The Lutheran Magazine. It is the first poem she has sold for something other than extra copies - a milestone in any poet's life!
      Nancy Rafal reports that she read at an informal poetry reading session at the Rhinelander School of the Arts on July 26th.
      Plans are already being worked on for the spring WFOP conference next April 26th-28th. It will be held at the Landmark Resort at Egg Harbor. Mark your calendars now!

submitted by Barbara Larsen, Northeast Regional VP

Annette Grunseth had a poem accepted in Free Verse for the August issue. She also had a poem published in the Wisconsin Poets' Calendar: 2002.

Mid-Central Region
      Phil Hansotia is organizing an Ellen Kort poetry display along the Poetry Trail at the UW-Marshfield/ Wood County Arboretum this autumn. Ellen Kort will be reading October 10th at the UW-Marshfield /Wood County at 7:30 p.m. The Marshfield Area Poetry Society is coordinating the reading.
      Susan Twiggs set up a display of poetry on gardening along the Poetry Trail for the summer months.
      The Marshfield Area Poetry Society read at the McMillan Coffeehouse on September 10th.
      The Marshfield Area Poetry Society along with the Friends of the Library will host a reading by Cathy Conger on November 7th at the Marshfield Public Library at 7 p.m.
      Linda Aschbrenner, Barbara Cranford, Phil Hansotia, and Susan Twiggs gave a poetry reading at Foxfire Gardens in July. Linda Aschbrenner will read at the Adams County Library on September 18th, and Bruce Dethlefsen will read on October 11th.
      Area poets appearing in the Wisconsin Poets' Calendar: 2002 are Linda Aschbrenner, Barbara Cranford, Jeffrey Johannes, Joan Johannes, DyAnne Korda, and Mark Scarborough.
      Gloria Federwitz will be teaching a class entitled "Keep it Simple: Life Lessons" this fall through the Office of Continuing Education at the UW-Marshfield/ Wood County. The class includes experiential writings to help one discover the playful creative self. Gloria Federwitz recently has been published in the Sun Earth Moon Newsletter and My Kitchen Table.
      In Wisconsin Rapids, the McMillan Memorial Library's McMillan Coffeehouse literary and fine arts series has been selected to receive the 2001 WLA/Highsmith Award from the Wisconsin Library Association. The WLA/Highsmith Award, which will be presented in October at the Wisconsin Library Association's Annual Conference in Appleton, consists of a plaque and a $1000 check from Highsmith. Don Litzer, Head of Adult Services at McMillan Memorial Library, and the coordinator of the McMillan Coffeehouse series from its inception, will accept the award on the library's behalf.
      Laurie Pech-Daley had two poems, "From My Mother's Kitchen" and "The Violin, the Ukele, and the Cottage Cheese" accepted for future publication in My Kitchen Table: A Gathering Place for Writers.
      In June Barb Cranford, who facilitates Adams County Library's Versatile Verses monthly poetry readings, hosted a pot luck and round robin evening for all poets who had taken part in the program last season. Jeff Johannes, Joan Johannes and Mary Lou Judy were there as well as several people who took part in the open readings. Linda Aschbrenner, Phil Hansotia and Bruce Dethelefsen are among the poets scheduled for Verses' second season.
     Barb Cranford has had poems accepted by After Hours, Free Verse, Pegasus, the Neo-Victorian Cochlea and The Rockford Review.
Central-Fox Valley Region
     Laurel Mills has an upcoming book, Undercurrents, published by Rising Tide Press, Arizona. In October, she will be doing a book signing in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She also had a poem "Discovery" published in Sinister Wisdom.
      Sherry Elmer received first place in the Byline contest for her poem "Hero." And she had a poem published in Catachumenate.
      Helen Fahrbach will be one of the featured poets at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens on September 23rd.
      Mary Downs had her poem "October Pastoral" accepted by The Lyric. And her poem "Tending House Plants" received Honorable Mention in the Byline contest announced in the June 2001 issue. Her poem "Old Age" was published in Sidewalks Grand Finale 2001.
      Ellen Kort participated in the "You've Got Milk" dairy month celebration at the Barnes and Noble Book Store in Appleton. She also participated in the Pinball Machine/ Poetry Art Exhibit at the Appleton Art Center and was one of 11 women artists whose work was exhibited in the "Collaborating Women Art Show" in Appleton. Ellen was the keynote speaker for "Legacy of Women-Celebrating Door County Women" in Fish Creek and was the keynote speaker for Waupaca Historical Society's Quilt Documentation Day in Waupaca. Ellen conducted a poetry workshop at Magellan Charter School in Appleton and at Allied-Dunn's Marsh Neighborhood Center in Madison and weeklong poetry workshops at the Green Lake Summer Writing program, The Clearing in Door County, the Rhinelander School of the Arts, and Lawrence University Arts Academy. Ellen participated in the "Poetry as Renewal" reading with Robin Chapman and Eve Robillard at the First Unitarian Society in Madison. Ellen was interviewed by Wisconsin Public Radio, Madison, Wisconsin Public Radio, Eau Claire, and Time Warner Cable Television, Appleton.

submitted by Kay Saunders, Central-Fox Valley Regional VP

     Cathryn Cofell has had poems accepted and/or published by Fox Cry Review, First Class, Rattle, Midday Moon, Wisconsin Poets' Calendar: 2002, TMP Irregular, The Scene, Laurel Review and Prairie Schooner (and her 20 year reunion committee!). She also had an article published in the Lutheran Social Services' Newsletter titled "Love Letters," chronicling her recent adoption adventure in Manila, Philippines.
      Patricia Kohls taught a poetry workshop for the Oshkosh Senior Citizen Center during May and June. She is scheduled to teach more classes there in September.

South Region
      The Lake Geneva Area Writers' Group is co-hosting another Poetry Coffeehouse with the Lake Geneva Library. WFOP is always well represented at these readings.
      Mary Kaiser won a poetry contest that was run for the staff within Children's Hospital of Wisconsin for Nurses Week. The contest was in May of 2001 and the theme was "Thru the Eyes of a Child." The prize was a pizza party!
West-Central Region
      In June, Marian Morris-Zepp and Gail Sosinsky Wickman conducted a well-received poetry workshop in Chippewa Falls at the Rosebud Drop-In Center for mental health consumers.
      June 30th, Nadine St. Louis and Yvette Flaten participated in a poetry and vocal music benefit to provide monetary relief for Siren, a small town in northern Wisconsin that was destroyed by a tornado on June 18th.
      Carrie Beth Becker taught English with the summer Upward Bound Program. This year she taught contemporary poetry to high school sophomores.
      In July, Nadine St. Louis served as guest advisor at Carrie Beth Becker's youth writing workshop.
      July 13th, Yvette Flaten read her poetry as part of the State Theater "After Five" music and poetry series. August 11th, Yvette Flaten will read her poetry at Summerfest in downtown Eau Claire.
      September 14th, Sandra Lindow will be reading with Serendipity, a Celtic pop group as part of this same series.
      Nadine St. Louis's poems "Orange County, California, Once Upon a Time" and "V-Mail" were published in the summer issue of Fuse, a poetry journal for the Chippewa Valley.
      Peg Lauber's poem, "In the Desert: Tourist Trap" has been published in the Summer 2001 issue of the California Quarterly. Her poem "Second Anniversary" has been accepted by Lyric Magazine.
     Carrie Beth Becker published with Pif Magazine and Skirt! Magazine.
      Sandra Lindow's poem, "Alternate Universe Alphabet" has been accepted by Asimov's. Her poem, "Creation: The Church of the Negligent Goddess" has been accepted by Fables, an on-line 'zine and "Jack, the Ending" has won the poetry contest of the on-line 'zine, Raven Elektric. Her poem "Heatwave" won an honorable mention in the environmental concerns category of the NFSPS Forty-Second Annual Contest.

submitted by Sandra Lindow, West-Central Regional VP

On June 15th the California State Poetry Society announced the winners in its national/international poetry contest. Ken Bennet's poem "Untitled 1," first line "I said please, and you said do..." was awarded second place. Two other poems, "Leaving Italy" and "Abuse" were selected for Honorable Mention. There were 215 entries in the contest.

East-Milwaukee Region
During the month of June, Jane Kocmoud's photograph and poetry collection, On Dawn's Table, was exhibited in the gallery of the University of Wisconsin, Sheboygan Center. She also received an honorable mention from ByLine and had a poem published in Wisconsin Poets' Calendar: 2002.
Wisconsin Poets' Calendar:2002
The calendar was in the stores and contributors' hands by mid-July, about 3 months later than we had hoped. But we are please with the final product and hope you are too. We are excited about the quality of the poetry as well as the look of the calendar itself.
      When you look at April, National Poetry Month, note that each day includes the name and birth year of poets born on that day. Poems by Kathy Dodd Miner, Eve Robillard, and Joan Wiese Johannes appear in the marketing brochure.
      We read each poem (there were almost a thousand!) silently and aloud, looking for a unique voice or point of view. There were many we liked a lot and more than a few we loved. Still we couldn't include them all and it was disappointing to have to return some. We know from personal experience how it feels to get your cherished work back.
      Editing the calendar was a challenging job. But what a good opportunity to see the various faces of Wisconsin our poets present.

Phyllis Wax and Mara Ptacek

Wisconsin Poets' Calendar: 2003

Co-Editors: Dorothy Schwenkner and Julie Cousin

Mail submissions to:
Dorothy Schwenkner
Wisconsin Poets' Calendar
543 South Fremont Street
Janesville, WI 53545-4213

Green Bay Botanical Gardens Site for Poetry Reading
     The Green Bay Botanical Gardens is the setting for a poetry reading featuring our new Poet Laureate, Ellen Kort, on Sunday, September 23rd. Other featured readers include Karla Huston, Helen Fahrbach and Mary Jo Stich. Open readings will follow the featured poets. The event begins at 1 p.m. and concludes at 4 p.m.
      For more information please contact Mary Ann Napoleone, 440 W. LeCapitaine Circle, Green Bay, WI 54302, (920) 465-0178. Email: Manapoleone@aol.com
Wisconsin Academy Review Announces Poetry Contest
Featuring First Annual John Lehman Award for Poetry

JUDGES
Final Judge: Ellen Kort, Wisconsin's first Poet Laureate
Other judges to include Andrea Musher, Richard Roe, and Roberta Hill

PRIZES
First Place

Second Place

Third Place

RULES AND ENTRY FEES
1. Poets must reside or attend school in Wisconsin.
2. Poets may submit up to three poems per entry. No poem may be longer than one page.
3. Each entry must be accompanied by a $6 entry fee payable to the Wisconsin Academy Review Poetry Contest. A check for $12 covers the entry fee and a copy of the award issue, which we will mail to you.
4. A poet may enter more than one submission of up to three poems each, but additional submissions must be covered by a separate entry fee and cover letter.
5. Contest begins September 1. Contest deadline is December 1. Entries may be hand-delivered to the Wisconsin Academy (1922 University Avenue, Madison) by 4 p.m. on December 1. Entries postmarked after the deadline will not be considered and the entry fee will be retained to cover handling.
6. Previously published poems (in print or electronically) are not eligible. All work must be original. Any style or theme is welcome.
7. The poet's name or address may not appear anywhere on the poems. Poems must be accompanied by a cover letter bearing the poem title/s, the poet’s name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address (if available).
8. Keep a copy of your poems. Paper will be recycled, not returned. Do not send a SASE. Rights return to the poet after publication.
9. Contest winners will be announced on our website, www.wisconsinacademy.org, and notified by the end of February 2002. Winning poetry will be published in the Spring 2002 issue of the Wisconsin Academy Review, which appears at the end of March.

Poems should be sent to:
Wisconsin Academy Review Poetry Contest
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters
1922 University Avenue Madison, WI 53705

If you have any questions, please e-mail Wisconsin Academy Review editor Joan Fischer at joanfischer@facstaff.wisc.edu or call 608/263-1692 ext. 16 (e-mail preferred).

Wisconsin Academy Review Short Story Contest
Call to Entry

Deadline: December 1

Tell Us a Story

The Wisconsin Academy, the Wisconsin Center for the Book, and Wisconsin members of BOOK SENSE, a league of "independent bookstores for independent minds," are pleased to present the second annual Wisconsin Academy Review

Short Story Contest

May our call for gifted writers ring throughout the state. Come out of your woods, your fields, your prairies, your coffee-houses, and deliver your best short story. We will declare three winning stories; each will be published in the Wisconsin Academy Review, starting with next summer's issue. Excited? So are we!

The Prizes
First place $500
Second place $250
Third place $100

The Judges, to include:
Abby Frucht, novelist
Dean Bakopoulos, writer and contest coordinator
Gordon Weaver, president, Council for Wisconsin Writers
Laurel Yourke, author and creative writing instructor, UW-Madison Continuing Education
C. J. Hribal, novelist and top winner of last year's Wisconsin Academy Review Short Story Contest
Rosemary Zurlo-Cuva, writer

The Rules
1. Authors must reside in Wisconsin.
2. Stories must be between 2,500 and 5,000 words in length.
3. Each story must be accompanied by a $12 entry fee payable to Wisconsin Academy Short Story Contest.
4. Writers may submit more than one entry, but each manuscript must be mailed in separately with its own cover letter (see Rule 8 below) and $12 entry fee.
5. Entries must be postmarked on or before December 1. Entries may be hand-delivered to the Wisconsin Academy (1922 University Avenue, Madison) by 4 p.m. on December 1.
6. Previously published stories (in print or electronically) are not eligible. All work must be original.
7. Each manuscript must be typed, double-spaced, in standard 10- or 12-point type. Each page must include the title of the story as a header. All pages must be numbered with both an individual page number and the total number of pages (e.g., The Smoker, page 1/15, The Smoker, page 2/15, The Smoker, page 3/15, etc.).
8. The author's name may not appear anywhere on the manuscript itself. The manuscript must be accompanied by a letter bearing the story title, the author's name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if available) and the story word count. Every contestant must be able to provide an electronic version of the story if needed, either on disc or via e-mail.
9. Keep a copy of your manuscript. Manuscripts will be recycled, not returned. Do not send an SASE.
10. Contest winners will be announced and notified by the end of March.

Manuscripts should be sent to:
Short Story Contest
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters
1922 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53705

Questions? Please contact the Wisconsin Academy at (608) 263-1692 or e-mail: joanfischer@facstaff.wisc.edu (e-mail preferred).

Special thanks to our Wisconsin BOOK SENSE sponsors.

Museletter Poetry Page

BRONZE AGE

Time is.
The head revolves.
In rising wind, a frozen face gazes blankly back at mountains,
ridges diminishing upward into uncertain whiteness,
and swings slowly forward to the unknown abyss.
If those bronze lips were to magically murmur,
oiled by the pressure of entropy in the waning century,
the mystic mechanism clicking, unseen metal meshing,
they might speak of the past in dead languages,
of long-gone gardens where distorted figures flickered
and vanished across the mirrored surface of a gazing-ball.

Time was.
The head reflects;
face to vase to face within the boxwood labyrinth.
Recollection crystallizes inside the gleaming skull.
The tale of Once upon flows through remembrance;
one hand on the thread unwinding, one hand holds the weapon,
stalking the beast of beginnings through the maze of time,
back to the long-ago lair at the heart of the world.

Time is past.
The head regrets.
Rain trickles down the tarnished visage.
Is it too late for reversal, too late for renunciation?
Might the scholar yet recant, even as the machinery looms,
the magician remove the spell with the millennium upon us?
In the alchemist's laboratory, we gaze again into the glass sphere.
On the other side of the mirror, in the aquarium of eternity,
schools of sparkling possibilities scatter through the murky liquid.

Time will be.
The head reveals our brazen lies for what they are:
the past perfect, preserved in ice, its distant peaks vanishing in cloud;
the immense glacier of time grinding down the present;
the future flawed, falling into dark waters.
The ticking automaton counts down to zero.
Reminiscence and premonition explode;
infinity awaits reincarnation.

© 1999 F.J. Bergmann, Madison

 

SUMAC

Hovering over Door County savannah,
Succulent blades arrayed
Rising on velvety caribou antlers,
Proving nonchalantly in the humidity that
Yes, summer does end.

© Brad Vogel, Kiel

 

CAROLE MASO'S MASTER CLASS: POET 0 / MONKEY 1
(I fell in love with her words)

Master Class
Spa for the wordless

The men didn't show up
Just me and sixteen women
No sissies
          Earth goddesses and amazons
From what I could tell

Real men don't write narrative poetry
          in Milwaukee
Where's Charles Bukowski when you need him?

We take our turns
She encourages
          gently prodding "Tear down the narrative walls"
"Chase the monkeys from your mind"
"That’s good –
           another 500 pages and you'll have a novel"
We laugh - we sigh - we cry

"When your soul sings
Your words dance"

Maybe hers do…
Mine are all flat-footed today

I leave exhausted
The monkey wasn't obeying
 so I invited him to lunch
Know thy enemy – win the war
"BLT for me and a banana for my friend with the pen"

© Charles Ries, Milwaukee

 

GRIZZLY BEARS AND YOU

What thicket of cogitation,
what brambly ursine instinct lumbers slow

and ever tends sinews toward long
winter sleep, I can never know.

Nor candent surges that drive tons
through cedar and ponderosa gaping
and yawing in spring. But I fear.

had at seven I not read "Grizzly Attack"
(nor dreamt on it that night to urge it
further into cells), who knows? Maybe

mangle humps, marbly eyes, matted manes
reeking sour and thick would not haunt.

Once I read eternity in your eyes
and trembled for the truth of it. God,
what killing cold inhabits your heart!

So touch me and know I tremble still.

Two things only in this world
I fear: grizzly bears and you.

© Mitchell Metz, Oconomowoc
Previously appeared in Talking River Review

Poems by Our Membership
Plese indicate when submitting to Shoshauna if you wish your work to appear here as well as in the print version of the Museletter – separate permission is needed to publish online. Past contributors are welcome to notify the webmaster at wfop@wfop.org in order to have their poems posted.
 

Shoshauna Shy, Editor
222 S. Bedford Street, Suite F
Madison, WI 53703
(please include SASE)

or e-mail: sschey@facstaff.wisc.edu
(NO attachments, please!)


WFOP Fall Conference
November 2-3, 2001
 The Electric Poet
click here for info

FINANCES
Second Quarter Financial Report

April 1, 2001 through June 30, 2001

Literary Fund Account:
Balance April 1, 2001:  $22,092.62

Income: Miscellaneous
$20.00
Expenses: Postage
$5.75
  Muse Prizes
$375.00
  Trophy
$176.78
  Total
$557.53

Balance June 30, 2001:  $21,555.09

General Account:
Balance April 1, 2001:  $4,412.47

Income: Transfer
$5.00
  Dues
$270.00
  Conference
$2,084.00
  Total
$2,359.00
Expenses: Officers
$210.61
  Museletter
$938.07
  Conference
$1,342.70
  NFSPS Contests
$190.00
  Bad Check
$25.00
  Total
$2,706.38

Balance June 30, 2001:  $4,065.09

Calendar Account:
Balance April 1, 2001 $9,466.30

Income:
$1,613.31
Expenses:
$36.83

Balance June 30, 2001:  $11,042.78

submitted by MT Remmel Gehm, treasurer
Residency Fellowship Opportunity for Madison Poets
      The Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation and the Vermont Studio Center are pleased to announce the availability of a Residency Fellowship to a writer who is a resident of the Madison, WI area. (There is another fellowship available to a local visual artist, so pass the word.) Each Fellowship provides a month-long residency at the VSC in Johnson, VT, and includes uninterrupted working time in a private studio, three meals a day, private accommodations, access to the counsel of distinguished visiting writers and artists, and the companionship of a national and international community of talented working writers and artists (that would be your fellow fellows). The residency period may be any month between January 2002 and May 2002. More information is available at www.vermontstudiocenter.org, by calling 802-635-2727, or by regular mail at VSC, PO Box 613, Johnson, VT 05656. You may also request an application by e-mail at info@vscvt.org.
      Postmark deadline for receiving applications: OCTOBER 1, 2001. Notification of results will take place on or before Dec. 1, 2001. Be sure to mark "ROWLAND--MADISON AWARD" on the "restricted fellowship" line provided on the application. Along with the application form, you will need to send a manuscript and the names of three references.
Markets
     Prime Times magazine, a bimonthly lifestyle magazine for members of the Prime Club, an organization for credit union members over 50, seeks poetry that is about 200 words in length. Prime Times prefers upbeat poems (no death, dying, and disease) that are family-oriented in nature. Please include address, e-mail address, and/or phone number.
Please instruct poets to send them to:
April Eichmeier
Assistant Editor, Prime Times
5910 Mineral Pt. Rd, Loc. 4W-8
Madison, WI 53701

Currently there is a need for a "Markets" columnist since the previous columnist resigned. If you have an interest in putting together this column, please contact Peter Sherrill at the address on the home page.

Minutes of the WFOP Board Meeting in Neenah, Wisconsin, July 28, 2001
Present: Peter Sherrill, Cathryn Cofell, Karla Huston, M.T. Remmel, Helen Padway, Jeannie Bergmann, Kathy Miner, Roberta Fabiani

10:00 a.m. Peter called the meeting to order. All of the corrections of the April 21, 2001 minutes were received, recorded and then approved.
      6/30/01 Literary Fund $21,555.09
      6/30/01 General Account $4,065.09
      6/30/01 Calendar Account $11,042.78

Old Business
Financial Report: figures were approved and recorded. M.T. included in discussion twice the amount of calendar book sales thus far this year. M.T. also asked for clarifica-tion of the check signing policy of WFOP regarding the need of co-signature of President for over what amount. Sue DeKelver will be contacted regarding this policy and the information forwarded to the secretary for the record.
Credential Report: Karla reports since April of 2001, 12 applications for membership were approved, a noticeable increase with the recent calendar publication and distribution. Currently there is no record keeping in place to track those approved applications that continue on into membership by paying the dues.
      Jeannie opened discussion with inquiry of how many members are needed to keep the organization of WFOP stable? M.T. offered clarification of current membership follow up: 1.) a postcard dues notice is mailed twice a year and 2.) newsletter labels also indicate dues status. Karla added that all members are kept on the WFOP books for two years. M.T. will forward paid new member information to Karla.
      The value and ongoing need of tracking approved membership as well as membership demographics was discussed by all present. Helen offered that the knowing of the exact demographics of membership to be key for future program-ming efforts. Karla further added the idea of a possible membership survey, suggested also by Peter, could help determine due fees needs, levels and difficulties throughout the membership whole. Karla further included the issue of dues being raised needs input and feedback from the vice presidents. Cathryn also added that the WFOP membership has the right to know what expenses and needs, including the addition of the web page, are today as well as for the future and why the need to raise dues at this time. The value of the individual membership, fellowship, newsletter and conference set up and design was openly discussed by all.
      At fall conference General Meeting Peter will call for input and participation in two investigating committees:
1.  Membership – dues, issues, survey possibilities and matters, recruitment issues to be chaired by Cathryn.
2.  Education/Conference – investigate conference format and educational areas possibilities, increase communication with vice presidents, to be chaired by Roberta.
Web Page: Jeannie presented the fact and the figures regarding the WFOP web page. $250.00 set up, $50.00-$100.00 maintenance plus registration of domain name, approximately $400.00 It was approved and recorded by motion for WFOP to have own domain name. The contents of web page to include facts and information as well as history of WFOP, application procedures and may in the future include poems from the poetry page with author's permission and after discussion with Shoshauna Shy. Peter will oversee and approve web contents prior to postings.
Student Contest: Liz Hammond has resigned as chair. A thank you note will be sent to her for all her efforts and dedication. Paula Anderson and Judy Kolosso will be co-chairs. Paula can be reached by email at Anderson@kmsd.edu
Museletter: Deadline Friday, August 3, 2001.
Regional Reports: Helen passed out the fall conference sheet scheduled for November 2-3, 2001. Luncheon buffet will be spelled out as well as specifically no breakfast-included in detail. Helen will forward small information bio about featured speaker, Marilyn Taylor the keynote speaker, to Museletter. Fees noted $20.00 registration and $18.00 for buffet. The names of the other panel discussion members with Ellen Kort to be forwarded to secretary when known for the record.
New Business:
Poet Laureate nominating committee: Cathryn reports final clarification of poet laureate, currently WFOP member Ellen Kort, duties, responsibilities and operating budget of $2000.00 per year (with the nominating committee's expenses to be included in this allotted budget). This budget amount will not meet the needs of the poet laureate and other arts organizations including those on the nominating committee as well as other funding sources such as grants or donations are under investigation. Again the governor was not in attendance. Helen suggests connecting to Wisconsin industries for financial support/donations. The entire matter of the workings of the budget, including ways to donate, to the poet laureate position, will be discussed at the October nominating committee's meeting and the information will then be forwarded to WFOP.
Dodge Poetry Festival: Peter has received enough interested parties to approach a travel agent and investigate a possible package deal: bus, lodging, fees, and itinerary. At fall meeting Peter will present information. The possibility of bus stops along the route to give readings will also be explored.
WRWA: A joint conference for 2003 is in the early stages of negotiations. Correspondences and communication has been ongoing, with the Fox Cities to be the possible target site area. Peter will address the current WFOP conference area line-up to adjust for the Fox City Region to be available for this combined conference. This was approved and recorded for record.
By-Laws: The committee is actively in progress researching the needs and possibilities of updating needs. Michael Belongie has requested time, about five minutes, at the fall conference to address the editorial management and decisions of calendar editor. It was unanimously decided and recorded the original policy of the individual production, criteria and procedures to remain with the editor. Peter will notify Michael of the board's decision.
Spring Conference: April 26-27, 2002 Landmark Resort, Door County
Microphone Matters: a microphone system is now currently available for WFOP functions through Peter Sherrill.

The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Roberta Fabiani, WFOP Secretary

Marilyn Taylor to Present at Fall Conference
Marilyn Taylor, a practicing poet in Milwaukee where she teaches for the English Department and the Honors Program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, will be a presenter at the WFOP Fall Conference on Saturday, November 3rd. Marilyn also teaches at several other venues in the area, including the Woodland Pattern Book Center and UW-Outreach. Two of Marilyn's anthologies include: Henry's Creature: Poems and Stories on the Automobile from Black Moss Press and Claiming the Spirit Within: a Sourcebook of Women's Poetry from Beacon Press. Marilyn has had poetry published in many journals as well. For an extensive list of Marilyn's accomplishments, visit her website at www.uwm.edu/~mlt/ or come to see her at the WFOP Fall Conference 2001.