Winter 2002 Museletter

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Christine Falk
9556 Upper 205th Street West, Lakeville, MN 55044
(952) 985-5375

thefalks@frontiernet.net

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

Michael Farmer	Baileys Harbor
Kathy Gruenewald	Madison
Jeanette Helmbrecht	Kimberly
Candace Hennekens	Fall Creek
Lyn Hirst	Sturgeon Bay
Cal Lambert	Lancaster
Elizabeth Lewis	Mequon
Dave Meinhardt	Platteville
Eva Mewes	Wheeler
Quentin Verdier	Oregon

Remember
If you move or change your e-mail address, please notify the Museletter editor. Bulk mail is not forwarded so you will not receive your Museletters. E-mail is the only way members are notified of Museletter deadlines.

What's Happening in Your Region?
Central-Fox Valley Region
Kay Saunders, Rusty MacKenzie, Mary Downs, Elmer Otte, and Helen Fahrbach will have poems in the upcoming Wisconsin’s Poets Calendar. The above, with Mike Koehler, also participated in the Artists and Writers co-exhibit put on by the Appleton Public Library. Both artwork and poems were displayed during the Artwalk event in October. Cathryn Cofell was a finalist in the 2002 Comstock Review contest and will have poems appearing in Comstock Review and Prairie Schooner. Her work appeared at the Appleton Public Library as part of Appleton’s Art Walk in conjunction with area visual artists. A second chapbook, Tiny Little Crushes, has just been released by Lock Out Press.

Submitted by Mike Koehler, Central-Fox Valley Regional VP

Rusty McKenzie has written three poems which will be used as text for an original musical score to be performed at the Tippesaukee Symposium 2003 in August 2003 at the Richland campus of the University of Wisconsin. Rusty will be the featured
reader at the Neville Museum in Green Bay on October 30th, and at Conkey’s Between the Pages Coffee Shop on December 3rd.
She will teach three classes at St. Joe’s Middle School in Appleton, as part of Writer’s Realm, on November 6th.

East-Milwaukee Region
Threaded Metaphors: Text and Textiles is a show that celebrates the artist linked to multiple communities and drawing inspiration from the natural and social worlds and from other artists. This show challenges the popular image of the isolated artist delving deeply into her or his private and individual soul for inspiration. Threaded Metaphors: Text and Textiles features the work of five poets and five fiber artists who drew inspiration from their lives and from each other’s work. This project began with a blind exchange of poetry and fiber pieces by poets and artists. Each poet then wrote a new poem in response to the visual artwork she had selected and each of the fiber artists then created a new art piece in response to the poem she had selected. The result is the ten poems, eight quilts and two weavings on display at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha library now through
December 20th. The poets, CJ Muchhala, Helen Padway, Mara Ptacek, Margaret Rozga, and Phyllis Wax, together known as the Sparks have worked on earlier joint projects, most notably their CD News, Weather and Sports released in Spring 2000. Individually they have also been published in a wide variety of literary journals and anthologies, including The Comstock Review, Earth’s Daughters, Porcupine, Blue Mesa Review, the Coffeehouse Poetry Anthology, Espresso Poets, and Wisconsin Poets at the Elvehjem Museum of Art. The visual artists, quilters Judy Zoelzer Levine, Connie Tresch, Sarah Williams and Pat Zalewski and weaver Peggy Magill, have among them exhibited their work locally in such places as Wisconsin Lutheran College, and nationally and internationally. They have had works included in traveling shows and in shows of the Professional Art Quilters’ Alliance. With a background also in graphic arts, Judy Zoelzer Levine heads Artistic Web Works, a company specializing in Internet and World Wide Web services. The opening of the show on November 6th was a huge success. The poets read well and the art looked splendid. There were over 90 people in the seats.

Submitted by Helen Padway, East Regional VP

Elaine Cavanaugh has had poems accepted by Hummingbird Magazine of the Short Poem, Free Verse and Wisconsin Poets’
Calendar: 2003. CJ Muchhala recently had poems published in Comstock Review and Wisconsin Academy Review. She received an International Merit Award in the 2002 Atlanta Review Poetry Competition. Charles Ries’ poem “Esperanza For Pale Face” was awarded second place in the Poetry Category in the Wisconsin Regional Writers’ Association 2002 Jade Ring Contest. He has had poems accepted for publication in Poetry Motel, Bathtub Gin, Latino Stuff Review and First Class. He was Poet of the Week on Poetry Super Highway. Anele Obasih attended a poetry convention in Orlando, FL hosted by the Famous Poet Society. She came back with a medal, engraved plaque which looked like an Emmy award and one other prize. The Famous Poet will be publishing one of her poems called “Flying Wing” soon. She submitted another poem, “The World Peace.” Judy Kolosso read at Conkey’s Bookstore in Appleton on November 5th. She had a poem published in the September issue of Fox Valley Scene.

Mid-Central Region
“Kitchen Lessons”, a personal memoir essay by Laurie Pech-Daley, placed 3rd in ByLine 2002 personal memoir competition. Linda Aschbrenner has published poems written by LauriePech-Daley in recent issues of Free Verse and has accepted works for future issues. Barb Cranford and Mary Lou Judy conducted an all-day poetry writing workshop on November 9th. Linda Aschbrenner, Sue Twiggs, and Doug Seubert of the Marshfield Area Poetry Society (MAPS) will be coordinating monthly open mic nights in Marshfield. The Final Friday Poetry and Prose and Anything Goes Open Mic nights will be held on the last Friday of each month, January through October from 7 to 9 p.m. at Simply from the Hearth in Marshfield, 126 S. Central Avenue. All are welcome. The Poetry Trail at the UW-Marshfield/ Wood County Arboretum now features poems about winter. The poems were selected by Kris Rued-Clark. The Marshfield Area Poetry Society and the Office of Continuing Education coordinate the changing displays along the trail. Linda Aschbrenner, editor and publisher of Marsh River Editions, just released Gary Busha’s chapbook, Lines on Lake Winnebago. This is the third book in the Marsh River Editions series. Barbara Cranford, Mary Lou Judy, Joan Johannes, Jeffrey Johannes, and Linda Aschbrenner attended the Fall Conference of the WFOP where Jeffrey Johannes received a second place award in the Social Issues Award Contest and Linda Aschbrenner received an honorable mention in the New Poet Award. Poets from this region in the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar: 2003 are: Linda Aschbrenner, Grace Bushman, Cathy Conger, Barb Cranford, Phil Hansotia, Jeffrey Johannes, Joan Wiese Johannes, Mary Lou Judy, Kris Rued-Clark, and Beverly Scott.

Northeast Region
At least seven region members attended the Eau Claire WFOP conference in October. New member Michael Farmer accompanied Barbara Larsen, June Nirschl, Judy Roy, and Nancy Rafal. Peter Sherrill and Sue DeKelver also attended. Many well-crafted poems were read by the membership and the “Lady Poetesses from Hell” were worth the trip. Hanne Gault, Barbara Larsen, and Judy Roy participated in Norbert Blei’s “Getting Inside the Poem” workshop at The Clearing in Ellison Bay on October 19th. September 11th was remembered as Door County poets met on Washington Island and read peace poems. WFOP members participating were: SueDeKelver,Donajean Durkin, Cynthia Johnson, Roger Kuhns, Barbara Larsen, Peggy Lott, Charlotte Manning, June Nirschl, Bill Olson, Nancy Rafal, and Judy Roy. June Nirschl, Nancy Rafal, and Judy Roy, aka “The Off Q Gals”, read works related to social issues, feelings, winter and Door County at The Bridge in Egg Harbor on November 16th. Nancy Rafal has had three poems accepted for publication in Free Verse. Her review of member Cary Fellman’s chapbook, Poetry Stew, appeared in the November issue of Free Verse. Mary Jo Wojtusik’s work “Feeding Time at the Nursing Home” was accepted for publication in Free Verse. Sue DeKelver had two poems recently published in Free Verse. On October 7th Sue was the featured reader at the UW-Marinette Poetry Night. She also participated in the Third Avenue Playhouse fund raising event entitled “A Woman’s Song, Women on Fire with Music and Poetry.” Peg Nemeth also participated in this event. Sue was the featured reader at The Reader’s Loft in De Pere on November 6th. Member Jude Genereaux had two poems, “Coming to Terms” and “Haiku” published in Hummingbird this summer. Her poem “Lac Du Flambeau” is included in the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar: 2003. Jude also contributed essays for publication in the Peninsula Pulse, Siftings of The Clearing and has done news releases for Camp David summer concerts in Fish Creek. Member Kathryn Gahl read poetry and fiction at Cedarburg Arts Weekend Gallery Night on October 11th. Other readers included Buzz Reed, editor of Porcupine, Susan Firer of UW-Milwaukee, and Terry Coffman, president of MIAD. On September 29th a poetry reading was held at the Green Bay Botanical Gardens. Featured WFOP readers were: Bruce Dethlefsen, Annette Grunseth, and Ellen Kort. The afternoon was beautiful, the surrounding gardens were brimming with autumn colors, and the participants were rich with words. The annual Poets Retreat Weekend at St. Joseph Retreat at Kangaroo Lake, Baileys Harbor was well attended November 8-11. Bishop Robert Morneau was the featured speaker. The following WFOP members participated: Loraine Brink, Barbara Farnum, Hanne Gault, Barbara Germiat, Barbara Larsen, Peggy Lott, Charlotte Manning, Cheryl McCarthy, Connie Morgenstern, Linda Nett-Duesterhoeft, June Nirschl, Bill Olson, Judy Roy, Pat Schutz, Joan Traver, Phyllis Wax, and Sister Irene Zimmerman. Entertainment was provided by member Roger Kuhns and David Jones. David Jones and Bill Olson organized the weekend’s activities.

Submitted by Nancy Rafal, Northeast Regional Vice-President

Sue DeKelver was the co-featured writer for a writers workshop for seniors at the Neville Public Musuem in Green Bay on October 14th.

Northwest Region
Second Sunday Poets held two events this fall. On October 13th, Pastor Lynn Larson and Jan Chronister were the featured speakers at the Drummond Public Library. Second Sunday is co-sponsored by WFOP, the Cable Hayward Arts Council, and the Drummond Public Library. Jan Chronister is now a poet with the Depot (Duluth, MN) Outreach program which places artists in the schools.

Submitted by Jan Chronister, Northwest Regional VP

This year Ann Penton had poetry published in the TrailBlazer (Hayward), the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar: 2003, the Washburn County Lakes and Rivers' On theWaterfront, and the Museletter. She attended Rhinelander School of the Arts in July and two Fall writing workshops at The Loft in Minneapolis. Ann was awarded Honorable Mention in the New Poets’ Category of WFOP’s Triad Contest with her poem “Midlife in Mexico” and received the 3rd Place award in her WordSpinners Poetry Round Robin’s annual contest. This fall she read some of her poetry at the WRWA State Convention in Cable and the WFOP State Convention at Eau Claire.

South-Central Region
Four poets from the South Central group were heard on Wisconsin Public Radio September 7th. Josey Zell, Norma Gay
Prewett, Kathy Miner and Jeannie Bergmann were featured on Jonathan Overby’s “Higher Ground” program. (Peter Sherrill read, too, but he’s an out-of-towner, so there!) The show airs every Saturday night and showcases a variety of musical and literary acts. John Lehman, Shoshauna Shy, Richard Roe, Robin Chapman and David Steingass were featured readers at Avol’s Book Store on October 12th. They were welcomed by Cup of Poems, Madison’s free poetry quarterly. Andrea Musher, Madison’s Poet Laureate served as master of ceremonies. The event was part of the Wisconsin Book Festival, which took place October 9th-13th in downtown Madison. Jeannie Bergmann was one of a group of four poets reading at Canterbury Booksellers in Madison on October 13th. Jeannie also scored a “hat trick” of sorts in August, winning an International Award of Merit from the Atlanta Review Annual International Poetry Contest for the third year in a row. As if that weren’t enough, Jeannie’s poems “Gender Characteristics” and “Pictosyllabic Haiku” were recently published in Pavement Saw. And speaking of “hat tricks”... South-Central poets did very well in the recent WFOP Triad poetry contests. As announced at the conference in Eau Claire on October 26th, all three overall winners were from the SC region: Peg Sherry for “Full Moon Rising” in the New Poets division, Shoshauna Shy for “Keepsake” in the Social Issues category, and Brent Christianson for “The Committee Meeting” in Poets’ Choice. In addition, Alice D’Alessio walked off with two separate honorable mentions, and Rosemary Kenny and David Scheler each won one. Kathy Miner’s poem “Deeded and Titled”, written about Lake Wingra, has been posted online through the website of UW-Madison’s Department of Limnology. She was one of a group of poets presenting at the “Waters of Wisconsin” forum held at Monona Terrace in Madison October 21-22. The forum was sponsored by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters, and true to their name and philosophy, the Academy scheduled a few minutes of poetry to kick off each scientific session. Shoshauna Shy has had poems published recently in Cimarron Review, Gargoyle, The Kali Guide and Mature Years. Susan Elbe won the inaugural Lois Cranston Memorial Poetry Prize sponsored by CALYX, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women. Entries were judged by Eleanor Wilner. Susan received a $250 prize, and her poem will appear in the December 2002 issue of CALYX. It can also be viewed online at http://www.proaxis.com/~calyx/. Susan will have two more poems published in upcoming CALYX issues, and she has had three poems accepted for publication in Passages North for Spring 2003. The annual WFOP Calendar reading has been scheduled for December 9th at Canterbury Booksellers in Madison. Details in the next Museletter.

Submitted by Kathy Dodd Miner, South-Central Regional VP

South Region
Trish Collins had a poem accepted by Ladybug magazine. Dorothy Schwenkner had poems published in the Northwest Herald, Crystal Lake, IL. Dorothy also has a poem, "Survivors, J.H.S. Class of 1942" in their reunion booklet. Ellen Kort spoke to Janesville area poets in April at the Hedberg Public Library.

Submitted by Dorothy Schwenkner, South Regional VP

West-Central Region
Fall has been a whirlwind of activity for poets in the West Central Region. October 14th through November 2nd we celebrated our annual Turning Leaves Literary Festival. October 18th Yvette Flaten, Peg Lauber, Nadine St. Louis, and Sandra Lindow were among the six poets who participated in a reading entitled “Mama Sez.” October 25th and 26th, the WFOP 2002 Fall Conference was held in Eau Claire where Sandra Lindow’s poem, “In the Month of Lengthening Days” received third prize in the Poet’ Choice Category of the Triad Contest. The conference culminated in a “Poets Meeting Poets” reading with local poets as part of the Turning Leaves Festival. October 31st nationally recognized Native American poet Denise Sweet read at the State Theater, November 3rd Sandra Lindow read her poetry at the World Fantasy Convention in Minneapolis. November 21st Peg Lauber, Nadine St. Louis, Yvette Flaten and Sandra Lindow will be among eight local poets to participate in a reading at the Eau Claire Public Library that celebrates the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar 2003. Sandra Lindow’s poem, “The Dollhouse” has been published in Angel Body, an international anthology by the British small press, Back Brain Recluse. Her poem, “Morning Becomes the Milkman” has been accepted by the Magazine of Speculative Poetry and three of her poems: “At Persephone’s Postoffice”, “In the Moon of Lost Objects” and “Xochquetzal’s Event Xerox” will appear at www.fables.org.

Submitted by Sandra Lindow, West-Central Regional VP

Jane-Marie Bahr, Menomonie, had a poem accepted for the Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar 2003. Another poem is forthcoming in Free Verse.

In Memoriam
Robert Spiess 1921-2002
Robert Spiess, who adeptly nurtured and shaped English-language haiku for over a half century, passed away quietly on March 13, 2002. Robert was a key speaker at the WFOP 50th Anniversary Convention in 2000 and was a member of the WFOP. Under the auspices of Robert Spiess, Modern Haiku became the foremost English language haiku magazine. Modern Haiku received multiple awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, and was recognized as the best haiku magazine in North America by the Museum of Haiku Literature in Tokyo. Robert was the Editor-Publisher of Modern Haiku for over 20 years. On September 10, 2000 in Matsuyama, Japan, Robert Spiess was awarded the prestigious Masaoka Shiki International Haiku Prize to honor his outstanding contributions to the development of haiku. This honor, and his trip to Japan, proved to be the pinnacle of Robert’s half-century involvement with haiku.

Pine shade
a child bends
and touches the moss

This memorial was taken in part from The Haiku Society of America News.

WFOP Receives NFSPS Award of Merit
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies presented the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets an Award of Merit at its
most recent convention July 27–July 1, 2002. The Award recognized the Fellowship’s work with youth in poetry.
Wisconsin was one of eight states selected for this honor. Criteria included participation in the Manningham contest,
publicizing the NFSPS Scholarship programs, inclusion of children in poetry contests, children’s award programs, publication of children’s winning poems and “poetry in schools” programs. Congratulations to all the Fellowship volunteers who have made this special recognition possible.

Spring Conference Date Announced
The Spring Conference will be held on April 25-26 at the Hotel Mead and Conference Center in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. A block of rooms has been reserved: $79.00 for single, $84.00 for double. Mention WFOP when making reservations. Phone: 800-843-6323. More information will be available in the Spring Museletter.

Letters

1950 Georgia Street
Oshkosh, WI 54902
September 5, 2002

To the members of the Board of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets:
James and Jo Alderson are in complete agreement with the letter of Michael Belongie printed in the Fall Museletter. We attempted to solve the problem of attendance at board meetings a few years ago by proposing that any board member who missed three consecutive meetings without prior notification to the president would be dropped. Other organizations do this, and it works well. For some reason we have never understood, this was considered a harsh suggestion. As it is now, the
president never knows what to expect. Jo joined WFOP when it was only one year old. In the time since then, there have been many instances of disasters being averted by the experienced advice of past-presidents. There was one particularly memorable case when another group planned to take over the Fellowship—lock, stock and treasury—and then dissolve the WFOP. Their plans were thwarted by Pastpresident Jim Alderson’s expertise with Roberts’ Rules of Order, learned from long experience in The American Legion. Someone with less experience would not have been able to stop the drive to power. As for a quorum, past-presidents are not ex-officio members of the board. They are full members and can, therefore, vote. We have often seen past-presidents—especially Russell Ferrall—cheerfully shoulder big responsibilities because no one else would. Past-presidents Star Powers and Michael Belongie organized a marvelous 50th anniversary celebration. Edna Meudt was a dynamo who kept finding us new opportunities and kept us moving forward. Our past-presidents have made the WFOP strong and stable.

Jim Alderson
Jo Bartels Alderson

October 31, 2002
Mary Pardee
UWEX-Lakes Program
715/346-4978

Picture this…4th and 5th grade students learn about poetry, in their classroom, from a Wisconsin poet. They then spend a day
outside with a local naturalist, learning about Lake Wingra and the watershed around it. The poet then assists them in writing poetry about what they learned, infusing their newfound knowledge with the emotions and appreciation they feel for the lake. The resulting poetry is published in a book, the kids get together for a reading, and poems are hung in local coffee shops and libraries. This scenario was a successful project put on by poet Judith Strasser and Edgewood Elementary vice-principal Martin Scanlan, and serves as an excellent model for Wisconsin River of Words. River of Words (ROW) is an international poetry and art project focused on watersheds for kids in grades K-12. Each year, ROW sponsors a poetry and art contest. Each child who enters receives a “Watershed Explorer” certificate. Grand Prize winners receive a trip to Washington, D.C. with their families to be honored at the Library on Congress. Although ROW as a national contest has been available since 1995, Wisconsin is now taking it one step further. After national judging, all Wisconsin entries will be forwarded to the UW-Extension Lakes Program in Stevens Point, where Wisconsin winners will be chosen. Wisconsin students’ poetry and art will be featured in various venues throughout the state. ROW is seeking poets interested in going into schools and working with kids. Teachers who request information on poets in their area will be supplied with contact information of poets who signed on with ROW. The annual contest entry deadline is February 15. Students in both the national and Wisconsin contests are grouped into four
categories: Grades K-2, 3-6, 7-9 and 10-12. Eight Grand Prizes are given away each year, four in poetry and four in art. ROW
even accepts ASL poetry told via videotape. Wisconsin’s entries will be judged in a statewide contest in April of each year, after
the national judging. I would like to thank all WFOP members who gave me such a warm welcome at your meeting! If you would like to be listed as a poet contact for schools, please contact me. I will also supply ROW brochures if you are interested in taking an active role in promoting ecological poetry in your local schools. My contact information is: Mary Pardee, 715/346-4978 or mpardee@uwsp.edu. Check out www.riverofwords.org to see past winning poetry and art.

Joint Conference Update
Mark your calendars for the first-ever joint conference between the WFOP and the Wisconsin Regional Writers’ Association (WRWA)—Friday, September 26 through Sunday, September 28, 2003—at the Pioneer Inn in Oshkosh. It will be a full weekend event, with Roll Call poems on Friday night, a full slate of book fair, speakers, panels and workshops all day Saturday and Sunday morning and the Awards Banquet Saturday night with an open mic to follow. We are aware that this weekend is also Rosh Hashanah—and for this unfortunate miscue the planning committee of both organizations sincerely apologizes and asks for the
understanding and forgiveness of our Jewish members. The WRWA Fall meeting is always held this last weekend in September as written in their bylaws; by the time we realized the conflict in dates it was too late to reschedule the event. Those of you who cannot attend will, as always, be greatly missed.

2003 Calendar Book Orders
for WFOP Members
As a current WFOP member, you are entitled to a discount on the purchase of calendars for personal use and gift giving. If you are a contributor, a calendar containing your poem would make an excellent birthday, anniversary, holiday, or special occasion gift. Between now and December 31, you may order up to TEN (10) calendars at the wholesale rate of $7.00 each (retail price is $11).

If ordering by mail, please add shipping charges.
Shipping and handling:

1 book: $1.75
2-3 books: $2.75
4-5 books: $3.75
6-10 books: $4.75

Please include the following information when placing your order:
I would like ____ books @ $7.00 each: $______
Shippinng: $______
Total Enclosed: $______
Make checks payable to WFOP Calendar Account.

Include your Name, Address, City/State/Zip, Phone.

( ) I would like copies of the RETAIL brochure to distribute to potential individual buyers.

( ) I would like copies of the WHOLESALE brochure for bookstores, gifts shops and other potential sellers in my community.

Send to:
Lou Roach, Business Manager, Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar: 2003
311 Meadow Lane
Poynette, WI 53955-9349

Phone: (608) 635-7997

Membership List Gets Additional Protection
The Board recently approved a policy to help protect our membership list from distribution to “unauthorized users”— e-mail spammers and mailing-list companies. Fellowship members are entitled to receive a list of members at cost. In order to receive the list, they must now sign this agreement and submit it with each request.

Book Donation to Wisconsin Libraries
Nearly 700 libraries in Wisconsin received a collection of poetry by Wisconsin author Michael Van Stappen—free of charge. The collection, Whatever Comes Next, is the author’s final and complete collection of poetry. Michael was born in Little Chute, attended graduate school at UW-Stevens Point and spent his final years in Washburn, WI. In 1993 he developed cancer of the brain. His doctors gave Michael six months. Michael made it through seven years and accomplished much. In addition to being a father, working on bird and plant surveys and writing a column for a newspaper, Michael published a book of poems and a book of essays. Between the two they won three awards including the Sigurd Olson Environmental Writing Award. Before he died, one of Michael’s close friends, Matt Welter, promised Michael that he would publish his final works. Receiving over 100 pages of poems from Michael’s wife, Julie, Welter initially tried to go through the regular publishing market, but found that it was glutted. He did find some success in Mike’s alma mater, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. A group of students from Professor Dan Dieterich’s publishing class were able to do initial layout and cover design. However, even with the layout done Welter wondered how many Wisconsin residents would see the book if it were published through a regular poetry publishing house? “Poetry usually has a press run of one to five hundred books,” says Welter, “I wanted Michael’s work to really get out there. For everyone in Wisconsin to have a chance to read his poems, so that even students coming out of high school could know the works of at least one Wisconsin writer.” It was then that Welter came up with the idea of donating the book to every public and academic library in Wisconsin. Welter felt that Van Stappen’s work was also appropriate for high school students and he wanted to donate the books to high school libraries as well. “His work is like William Stafford’s,” said Welter, “Michael wrote about the natural landscape of northern Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula and Lake Superior.” Thanks to a grant from the Mary H. Rice Foundation and help from the Chequamegon Bay Arts Council, Welter was able to publish 800 copies of the book. Eighty copies went to Michael’s family, while other copies went out to additional supporters. The remaining copies went out to 445 public and 46 academic libraries and nearly 200 high school libraries. Welter was able to distribute the books through the Nicolet Federated Library Association. “Considering that approximately 700 copies were donated, and the market value for this book would be $20 a copy, this is a $14,000 donation,” said Anne Miller of the Nicolet Federated Library System. “In addition to the generosity of such a widespread donation, the fact that the work contributes to Wisconsin’s heritage makes it an especially valuable donation to the libraries in our state.” David Brostrom from Waukesha Public Library had this to say, “When I heard of this donation I got out my copy of Michael’s “Northern Passages.” I was really excited to hear this was being done. Michael was a great guy and it’s not easy getting books, especially poetry, from north country writers....or books about northern Wisconsin in general.” Welter hopes that librarians are able to put the book in the Wisconsin authors section of their
library. He is also hoping to get Michael mentioned in Wisconsin Notable Authors and represented in the Library of Congress.
Welter met Michael when he worked at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. He currently works as the Curator of Education at the Neville Public Museum of Brown County. He lives in De Pere. “Michael was a good friend,” Welter said, “It is a rare opportunity when you can give people a chance to get to know your friend.” Copies of the book have already been checked out. Checking out a book of poetry insures that it stays on the shelf.

Poetry Workshop
Robin Chapman and Judith Strasser again will be teaching a week-long poetry workshop entitled “Whose Woods These Are: The Poetry of Place.” The workshop will take place at The Clearing on May 25-31, 2003. Contact Robin Chapman at 205 N. Blackhawk Avenue, Madison, WI 53705 for more information.

Museletter Poetry Page

Marriage — Puzzle, Paradise or Prison?

HOW WE GO TOGETHER

You are
better at containers—
the saving, knowing the sizes,
finding tops that match and
closing them. Better at knives
and numbers; smarter at
keys and wires and switches
that make things go.
You make lists.
I forget, don’t measure,
won’t read directions,
put things in odd places
annoying myself but mostly
I’m mad at you for noticing
these minor flaws
and think perhaps
it’s controlling that you need,
and these objects, sharp edges,
firm reassuring boundaries
put you in charge; or maybe you
see the magic in how things
go together, you
insufferable indispensable
mate.

—Alice D’Alessio, Madison

ANNIVERSARY

After 20 years
marriage still fits
like well-worn jeans
diamonds in every pocket

—Sue De Kelver, Brussels
previously published in Above the Bridges

TRANSLATIONS

Most
of what
was said
that day
was couched
in Latin;
I replied
in English,
not knowing
that even
after forty
years
marriage
would seem
all Greek
to me.

— Kathleen Phillips, Waukesha

WHY GEESE MATE FOR LIFE

It may be the constant migration:
A heart controlled by the pull of the seasons,
A spirit unburdened by will;
Release of the reason
To poles and weather.
Or defense against nature’s rough
Desire; some calming comfort
In the tug of one grasping bill;
One oil scent
On the splayed, grey feathers.
And the cycles of young: Each spring
A new clutch to turn and warm.
Better, maybe, if every new set
Is coded to the same cell-secrets,
Modelled on the same familiar form;
Good that the soul of the flock sleeps within
The woven strands of the returned-to nest;
Beats as each wing stroke stirs the wind
Beneath each following breast
On the well-known Southern route.
It is enough that each pair’s black eyes
Glisten to shared memories
Of the quiet pond
With rushes. For such as these
It is enough, and more than enough.

—Jan Bottiglieri, Schaumburg, IL
previously published in her chapbook The Luxury of My Life

EDITING MY WIFE’S AUTOBIOGRAPHY

I am a saboteur
behind the lines
eliminating adjectives
adverbs and other
old lovers.

—John Lehman, Cambridge
previously published in Dogs Dream of Running, released by Salmon Run Press

RICHARD BRAUTIGAN SAVES OUR LIVES

On a day when, despite my pleas,
my wife decides that she will leave,
she’d uncovered a string of e-mails
I had sent to a, well, not-so-secret
female friend, and she, this Jamie
Lee Curtis of my life, then became
the murderous Glenn Close toward
Fatal Attraction’s harried end. Oh,
desperate, pitiful man, I see myself
reach up toward a book of, ha, ha,
poetry on a shelf and read out loud
some lines whose truth (Can you
believe this?) stop us in our tracks:
For fear you’ll be alone / you do so
many things / that aren’t you at all.
And Richard Brautigan, that lonely
poet, who killed himself because
no one bought his work, brings us
and our love back to life.

— John Lehman, Cambridge
previously published in Dogs Dream of Running, released by Salmon Run Press

Theme for Spring issue:
Truths We Don’t Discuss—
Secrets We Don’t Mention

Poems by Our Membership
Please 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 demiurge@fibitz.comin order to have their poems posted on this site.

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!)

Poetry Publications
This section is for the listing of recent publications by WFOP MEMBERS EXCLUSIVELY. Recent publication (last two years). For more information, please SASE or e-mail the author or publisher.

TITLE	PUBLICATION	DATE	AUTHOR
Tiny Little Crushes	Chapbook		Cathryn Cofell 736 W. Prospect Avenue Appleton, WI 54914 2mutsch@vbe.com $7.00 postage paid
Lines on Lake Winnebago	Chapbook		Gary Busha Contact: Marsh River Editions: Linda Aschbrenner M233 Marsh Road Marshfield, WI 54449 (715) 387-8058 wordzoo@hotmail.com
PoetSongs	CD/video		Various WFOP members on CD and video For ordering info contact: Charyl Kneevers Zehfus 1520 South 21st Street Sheboygan, WI 53081 (920) 459-7971 czehfus@excel.net
Hayseeds	Chapbook		Marcie Leitzke 14 Briarwood Lane Shawano, WI 54166
Libra in Balance	Chapbook		Grace Bushman 610 South Conlin Court Hancock, WI 54943-9403 (715) 249-5995

Dues Changes for Some Members
The Fellowship changed its Constitution and Bylaws on October 26. In that change, membership categories were simplified. This will affect the dues some members pay. Effective October 26, “Associate” membership is eliminated. All Associate members were changed to Active members. When dues time comes around on January 1, 2003, all former Associate members will now pay the Active dues of $25.00/year. “Patron” membership was eliminated as a category. There is currently no provision for a “paid-for-life” membership other than “Life” membership mentioned below. Current Patron members were “grandfathered” so they could
continue to receive the benefit they paid for under the former Bylaws. “Life” membership was re-defined. This category of membership is no longer automatically granted to a member who has 10 years of membership at age 75. The new Life membership is reserved for members age 75 or older with 10 years or more of membership who have also contributed to the Fellowship by service (usually officers and others who have served in a variety of positions). This newly-defined Life membership requires approval by both the Board and the general membership. A member who is unable to pay all or partial dues may request “Continued” membership. A Continued member is allowed to defer all or part of the usual dues, but continue to receive Active member benefits. This is done on an individual basis. To apply for Continued membership, make request in writing to the mpresident or any other board member.

Dues Payment
Dues for the 2003 membership year are due January 1, 2003. You are past due on your 2002 dues if your mailing label says (01) after your name! Just remit the proper amount to renew your membership and mail to:

D.B. Appleton
720 E. Gorham Street #402
Madison, WI 53703

Be sure and include your Name, Address, City/State/Zip, E-mail address, and Amount Enclosed:

Active $25.00 (Associate members are now classified as Active)
Student Member $12.50

FINANCES
Third Quarter Financial Report

July 1, 2002 through September 30, 2002

Literary Fund Account:
Balance July 1, 2002 $21,435.61

Income:	Entry Fees	$5.00
	Total	$5.00
Expenses:	Postage	$7.82
	Total	$7.82

Balance September 30, 2002 $21,432.79

General Account:
Balance July 1, 2002 $10,094.78

Income:	Dues	$575.00
	2002 Calendar Profit	$1,606.41
	Old Calendar Sales	$2.50
	Contributions	$25.00
	Total	$2,183.91
Expenses:	Museletter	$887.98
	Total	$887.98

Balance September 30, 2002 $11,390.71

Calendar Account:
Balance July 1, 2002 $10,712.81

Income:	Sales	$3,736.42
Expenses:	Editor’s Fee	$315.00
	Office Supplies	$72.44
	Postage	$319.83
	2002 Calendar Profit Disbursement	$3,212.81
	Total	$3,920.08

Balance September 30, 2002 $10,529.15

submitted by D.B. Appleton, treasurer

Remember!

The next Museletter DEADLINE
is February 7, 2003

How to reach the Museletter Editor:

Christine Falk
9556 Upper 205th Street
West Lakeville, MN 55044

(952) 985-5375

email: thefalks@frontiernet.net