Winter 2007
Home Poet pages Museletter Events Conferences Calendar Publications Links Markets Contests Laureate About Us Suggestions Join Next	Printable .pdf of current issue Museletter Archives President's Message       When you meet new people and they ask, “So what do you do?” do you hesitate to answer, “I’m a poet”? Do friends and family shake their heads at the collection of poetry books on your shelves? Do they repeat to you the story of the fiddling grasshopper and the hardworking ants? If so, you’re not alone.       In his First Epistle of the Second Book of Horace, Imitated, Alexander Pope writes: Of little use the man you may suppose Who says in verse what others say in prose; Yet let me show, a poet’s of some weight, And (though no soldier) useful to the state.       Obviously, despite his considerable reputation at the time, 1733, Pope knew that poetry was considered frivolous compared to “prose”—which I feel safe to take as representing both politics and business—and soldiery—which always supports those two arms of a society. The fact that Pope was paraphrasing Horace’s Satirae I from 35 BC demonstrates pretty clearly that the treatment of art as an afterthought is nothing new or unusual.       In argument, Pope (and by extension, Horace) continues: What will a child learn sooner than a song? What better teach a foreigner the tongue? What’s long or short, each accent where to place, And speak in public with some sort of grace.       He goes on to point out other ways in which verse plays a central role in a culture: conveying values from one generation to the next, undermining tyrants by treating them to public scrutiny, and providing shared words for the common celebrations of life.       As we near the holidays, with its honored poems and carols, and its traditions of gift giving, I believe there are two ways in which we, as poets, can dedicate our works as gifts to our culture. The first is to write poems that challenge the groupthink of business-as-usual—poems that provide other people the words by which to understand their own frustrations with our society, and the courage to speak those frustrations. The second is to write poems in praise of beauty, drawing people’s eyes and minds away from the hectic pace of a runaway culture, reminding them of alternatives to their workaday world.       Pope certainly believed that poetry is serious business, something essential to human experience, not merely peripheral to it. So let us devote ourselves well to this honorable avocation, until at last “The blessing thrills through all the labouring throng, / And Heaven is won by violence of song.” Sincerely, Lester Smith

What's Happening in Your Region?
Central-Fox Valley Region

      Ia Bolz continues to host the poetry open mic at Harmony Cafe in Appleton called “Gourmet Organic Poetry: Rhymes & Prose With A Java Flow” every second Wednesday of the month and the poetry open mic at Generations Coffeehouse in Neenah every second Saturday of the month, both 7-9 pm. All poets are welcome! Ia organized and hosted the 2007 Art/Poetry Ramble this fall. It was the third annual. Poets read their art-inspired poetry at Wild Apple Glass Studio & Gallery in Menasha, The Art Affair Gallery in Neenah, Coventry Glassworks & Gallery and Studio 213, both in Appleton. Among the poets who participated were WFOP poets Jon Corelis, Barbara Germiat and Patty Miler. She thanks all poets who participated.

East Region

Cary Fellman, East Regional VP
303 E. Clay Street #301
Milwaukee, WI 53217
cary4612@sbcglobal.net

      Kathleen M. Klein was one of the featured poets who read at the fourth annual West Allis Arts A'Fair on September 15th. She read five of her poems that have been published in WFOP calendars. The fair is sponsored by the West Allis Arts and Culture Task Force and featured poets, artists and musicians who live in West Allis. Kathleen is a member of the Hart Park Writers’ Group that is facilitated by Carol Ortmann.
      The final issue of The Capers was published this week. This has been an alumni association newsletter for graduates of the Milwaukee County General Hospital School of Nursing as well as those that followed its demise (MCH, MCGH, MCMC, AND MSOE nursing programs). Ruth Sellnow’s piece entitled “The Lady With a Lamp” was published in the newsletter. Ruth’s class had given a bust of Florence Nightingale to the school as a graduation gift. She lives on at MSOE along with the principles of modern nursing she instituted in the 19th century. MSOE will continue to have an alumni association.
      Charles P. Ries’ article on submission standards appeared first in Free Verse and on-line in Laura Hird.Com. It has or will also appear in: Creativity Connection, Working Writers, Ibbetson Street Review, Outsider Writer and Word Riot. He has two poems appearing in The Wilderness House Literary Review Anthology and three poems appear in the Guerrilla Poets Reader Anthology. His reviews have or will appear in: Small Press Review, New Works Review, Outsider Writers, and The Moon. His poetry has or will appear in: League of Laboring Poets, Strong Verse and Poetry Dispatch. His article, “Loving Your Way Through Divorce” has been accepted in the Chicken Soup for the Divorced Soul Series.
       Sister Irene Zimmerman’s poems have or will appear in Free Verse, St. Anthony Messenger, and Review for Religious. Her poems won Third Place in ByLine Magazine’s Sense of Place Contest and Honorable Mention in four other contests sponsored by ByLine. Her poems also received Honorable Mention in two contests sponsored by Free Verse. Her poem “Legacy” was awarded Third Place in the Poets’ Choice Category of WFOP’s Fall Triad Contest.

Mid-Central Region

Joan Johannes, Mid-Central Regional VP
800 Ver Bunker Avenue
Port Edwards, WI 54469
joanjeff@wctc.net

      is recovering from hosting the Fall Conference. Bruce Dethlefsen's band, Anna Ran Away, was awesome! Your webmaster still has a blood blister on one toe.

Northeast Region

      Ralph Murre’s readings from his book, Crude Red Boat, have lately taken him to Green Bay, Appleton, and Wautoma. Some of his poems have recently been published in Hummingbird, Clark Street Review, Peninsula Pulse, Knock, Passport Journal, and Cliffs Soundings. Six of his poems appear in the anthology Other Voices, from Cross + Roads Press. He continues to publish his blog, “Arem Arvinson Log”, at http://caparem.blogspot.com.
      There was an article about Judy Roy in the Peninsula Pulsealong with several of her poems. She has had other poems printed in Free Verse. Judy had three poems and two quilts in a joint exhibit which was on display at the Sister Bay Library. Judy and June Nirschl read at Conkey’s in Appleton in October.
      Mary Jo Stich received an honorable mention in ByLine’s Personal Essay Contest. She also received an honorable mention for a poem entered in The Waukesha Writer’s Workshop 2007 Bo Carter Contest.
      Linda Nett-Duesterhoeft had a poem entitled, “The One Who is Named”, published in the 2007 Fox Cry Review. She read at the Fox Valley University reading of Fox Cry Poems on October 22nd.
      Barbara Larsen won an honorable mention in the Peninsula Pulse annual Hal Grutzmacher contest in August. Another poem and an essay appeared in a later edition. Two poems and the announcement of a poetry contest being sponsored by Larsen appeared in Issue #93-2007 of Free Verse magazine. She has been commissioned to write a poem for two voices for the community Thanksgiving dinner in Sister Bay in November.
      WFOP poets June Nirschl, Estella Lauter and Ralph Murre took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the Peninsula Pulse Writers Exposé Contest. Ellen Kort served as judge. Poems were published in the August 5th issue of the Pulse.

Northwest Region

Jan Chronister, Northwest Regional VP
3931 S. County Road O
Maple, WI 54854
janchronister@yahoo.com

      Rob Ganson was the featured reader at the October Second Sunday reading in Drummond on October 14th. Rob read from his new chapbook Float like a Butterfly, Sing like a Tree. The November Second Sunday event was held on November 11th and was co-sponsored by the Cable Hayward Arts Council. Several WFOP poets had their work interpreted by visual artists and read their poems at the Park Theatre in downtown Hayward, accompanied by slides of the artwork. The poems and artwork are exhibited at the Northwoods Community Clinic in Hayward.
       Jan Chronister received a first Honorable Mention for her poem “Trilliums” from the Brainerd (MN) Writers’ Alliance.

submitted by Jan Chronister, Northwest Regional VP

       Diana Randolph, Drummond, shared poetry prior to the featured poet, Rob Ganson of Washburn, at the Second Sunday Poetry reading in October at the Drummond Public Library. She has a poem included in the Verbal/Visual Exhibit at the Northwoods Community Health Center in Hayward, Wisconsin which will continue until January 2008. She also created a pastel landscape painting inspired by another poet’s writing for the exhibit. Diana read her own poem that is in that exhibit at the Verbal/Visual poetry reading in November at the Park Theater in Hayward.

South Region

Frank Konieska, South Regional VP
3633 Honey Creek Rd.
Burlington, WI 53105
konieska@tds.net

South-Central Region

James Roberts, South-Central Regional VP
324 Kedzie Street #30
Madison, WI 53704
jrob52162@aol.com

      John Lehman (Rosebud), and poet-essayist Judith Strasser joined Wisconsin poet laureate Denise Sweet and others for a special Wisconsin Public Television program that aired on August 9th.
      John Lehman (publisher) & Shoshauna Shy (poet) gave a presentation on “Tools for Publishing Success” at the Village Booksmith in Baraboo on August 10th. Yours truly attended and had a good time.
      Elayne Clipper Hanson read some of her poetry at the Zona Gale Day Celebration in Portage on August 18th at the graveside services at 10 a.m. at Silver Lake Cemetery.
      September saw a poetry reading by Susan Elbe, author of Eden in the Rearview Mirror, and Shoshauna Shy, author of What the Postcard Didn’t Say, September 18th at Avol’s Bookstore.
      Catherine Jagoe read from her new Parallel Press chapbook, Casting Off, at Avol’s Bookstore on September 30th.
      Wisconsin officially named October as “Robin Chapman month” in honor of all of her activities this year which included the following: Robin Chapman and Susan Elbe read at The Windhover Center in Fond du Lac as part of The Foot of the Lake Poetry Collective Series on October 2nd. Then, as part of the Wisconsin Book Festival, Robin read her work along with the 2007 Literary Fellowship recipients at the Madison Public Library Main Branch on October 12th. Once again the Lake Effect Poets held a joint reading at the Overture Center in Madison on October 13th. Joining Robin Chapman were Susan Elbe, Catherine Jagoe, Judith Strasser, and Alison Townsend. Finally, Robin and Susan Elbe joined Barbara Crooker, Marilyn Taylor, and Cathryn Cofell for poetry and chocolate at the Waukesha Public Library on October 19th. Yum-yum!
      John Lehman and Shoshauna Shy were at it again, providing the “Tools For Publishing Success” on October 6th, this time at Books & Company in Oconomowoc.
      Laurel Yourke held a workshop “Becoming Your Own Muse” on October 6th and 7th at the Pyle Center in Madison.
      Angela Rydell followed that with a three-week workshop on “Opposites Attract: Using Contrast in Your Poetry” which was held on October 10th, 17th, and 24th, also at the Pyle Center.
      Back to the Wisconsin Book Festival, where, by the way, I was sadly unable to attend any of the programs this year. Mene, mene, tekel upharsin. R. Virgil Ellis and Andrea Potos participated in a panel, “Domestic Tranquility” moderated by Max Garland, at the Wisconsin Historical Museum on October 13th. Not to be outdone, CX Dillhunt and Shoshauna Shy were panelists on “Across the Divide” on October 14th at the same place.
      On a different note: Andrea Potos and Marilyn Taylor held a BIG FAT GREEK READING at Schwartz Books in Shorewood on October 27th.
      Also, WFOP member Katrin Talbot paired with trombonist Mark Hetzler for a Multi- Media concert on October 13th at the Mills Music Hall in Madison. The program includes Hetzler’s arrangements of Offering, Lost Wind and Hips Dance from Volcano Songs by Meredith Monk; Wood and Stone from Wood, Stone, Desert by James Fulkerson; Mysterious Mountain from Symphony No. 2 by Alan Hovhaness; and works by George Crumb, Orlando Jacinto Garcia, Matthew Burtner, Charles Ives and others.
      Finally, on Halloween night, a group of poets, including Robin Chapman, Alice D’Alessio, Richard Roe, Daniel Kunene, Judith Strasser, Kathy Miner, Sandy Stark, and Bobbie Krinsky unleashed the Regent Street Poetry Club with a marathon reading at the Froth House in Madison.
      Richard Swanson had a poem in the July issue of Rockford Review and also in The Lyric’s summer issue.
      Sara Parrell won second place in the Wisconsin People & Ideas Poetry Contest. Well, that does it for now. Keep sending in your news! The more, the merrier....

submitted by James P. Roberts, South-Central Regional VP

      Shoshauna Shy was on Radio Literature (WORT 89.7) on May 17th and June 21st, and participated in a reading at Olbrich Gardens on July 8th. Her poems have been published in Sunstone and Quill & Parchment.
      Jeannie Bergmann won an “International Publication Prize” from the Atlanta Review. Twenty such prizes are awarded each year in this competition, which, according to the Review, receives “thousands of entries” from around the world. Jeannie’s poem,“Death Wish,” will be published in the October issue of the Atlanta Review.
      Judith Zukerman’s poem, “Cheshvan” will be in the fall issue of The Deronda Review. This journal was previously titled Neovictorian Cochlea.
      New member, Adam Gregory Pergament’s Madison based group, Venice Gas House Trolley combines music and poetry. In an effort to open space for poetry where it might not have been welcome previously, they regularly play music venues around the Midwest. This August they will appear at the international Minnesota Fringe Festival and have a new CD to be released in September. Folks can find out more about them by checking out: flowpoetry.com and myspace.com/flowpoetry.
      Linda Newman Woito could not remain away from family and friends for long, so she moved back to Fitchburg, Wisconsin on October 1st. Linda’s poetry has been accepted/published in The Rockford Review and In Situ, a collection of literary and visual arts from the Iowa City area (published by Iowa City Press-Citizen).
      Shoshauna Shy’s work was published in the Baltimore Review, Apple Valley Review, Quill & Parchment, Cut Throat Journal of the Arts and Main Street Rag.
      Robin Chapman and Susan Elbe read at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay on September 27th..

West Central Region

Sandra Lindow, West-Central Regional VP
320 W. Tyler Avenue
Eau Claire, WI 54701
lindowleaf@yahoo.com

      In the Chippewa Valley thoughts turn toward preparing for winter by pulling the last of the carrots, raking leaves and washing storm windows, but there is always time for poetry in this beautiful season. Yvette Flaten has completed a manuscript of cancer treatment poems entitled Chemo Sabe.
      Dina St. Louis and Steve Betchkal participated in the Local Writers’ Invitational Reading and the follow-up reading of work in progress as part of the eighth annual Chippewa Valley Book Festival. St. Louis is one of the founding members of the Book Festival.
      Steve Betchkal won first prize in Peg Lauber’s Wild Bird Poetry Contest. His poem, “My Favorite Bird” is published in Free Verse Issue #93. Sue Thibado’s poem “September Morn” received honorable mention in that contest. St. Louis also has three poems in that issue: “Picturing Tilda,” “Tilda in Her Garden,” and “Grandmother to Grandmother.” Peg Lauber has two poems in that issue: “Summer Morning” and “Summer Morning With Birds.” Recently Lauber brought poetry to fourth graders in Bloomer, Wisconsin.
      In celebration of their 10th Anniversary as a writing group, The Chippewa Valley Writers has announced the publication of an anthology of their work, Just Read the Darn Thing, Monarch Press, 2007. The anthology consists of over 160 pages of stories, poems and pictures and includes work by Sue Thibado and Eva Mewes. It sells for $15 plus postage and may be purchased by contacting Thibado@uwstout.edu for more information. Mewes and Thibado also have had poems published in the 2008 Wisconsin Poet’s Calendar.
      September 23rd, Sandra Lindow participated in a reading at the Hunt Hill Audubon Center in Sarona as part of a Soup Stock environmental fundraising event. She has a review of a sonnet series that can be seen at thefix-online.com/ reviews/in-the-yaddith-time/. The Fix is a new on-line magazine that publishes reviews of short fiction and poetry. Her poems “Whistling Asclepius,” “On Calling the Mover,” “Rayna In Utero Dancing Toward Daylight” have been accepted by Free Verse. Her poem, “The Wolf From the Door” can be seen at www.strangehorizons.com.

submitted by Sandra Lindow, West-Central Regional VP

       Patrick T. Randolph and his wife, Gamze, have been busy living and breathing the wondrous essence of the living poem. In October, Patrick gave a reading on the Beloit College campus. His poems have appeared or will appear in Falling Star Magazine, The Cherry Blossom Review, The Rockford Review, Bellowing Ark, Quill and Parchment, The Externalist, Storyteller, and Free Verse. Recently, he has been writing verse about the mystical magic of football and his gridiron prophet—Brett Favre.
       Jane-Marie Bahr, Menomonie, has had a poem published in Hummingbirdand two poems have been accepted for publication in Free Verse.

FINANCES First Quarter Financial Report** July 1, 2007 through September 30, 2007 General Account:  submitted by Nancy Rafal, treasurer Balance July 1, 2007                  $$51,083.08 Income: Dues $2,162.50   SOAR Scholarship Donation $250.00   5 for 4 CD Interest $65.64   Interest Lit Fund CD $1,190.28   ’07 Fall Conference Registrations $6,061.00   Calendar Loan Repayment $3,132.38   Total Income $12,861.80 Expenses: Museletter $1,085.23   Outgoing President Gift $95.07   Webmaster $60.00   Actelite-webhosting $41.00   Urban Spoken Word Poetry Collective, Inc $800.00   ’07 Fall Conference Overpayment Refund $25.00   Calendar Account Loan $3,132.38   Lit Fund CD Interest to Lit Fund $1,190.28   Ledger Correction $1,802.86   Total Expenses $8,231.82 Outstanding checks ($881.00) Closing Statements Balance as of September 30, 2007   $56,594.06 General Account Balance September 30, 2007   $55,713.06* *$25,000 of this is invested in three interest-bearing CDs: one $5,000 CD (22 months) for the General Account to help bridge the gap created by “5 for 4,” and two $10,000 CDs (13 months) the interest of which goes to the Literary Fund for our contest prizes. Literary Fund Account:  submitted by Susan Kileen, Literary Fund Co-Chair Balance July 1, 2007                        $558.58 Income: Donations (Spring Conference) $25.00   CD Interest $1,190.28   George Saunders Est. $200.00   Total Income $$1,415.28  Expenses: Triad Judge $200.00   Triad Supplies $65.57   Total Expenses $265.57 Outstanding Check #1071 ($100.00) Closing Statement Balance on September 30, 2007           $1,708.29 Literary Fund Balance on September 30, 2007      $1,608.29 Calendar Account:  submitted by Michael Farmer, Calendar Business Manager Balance July 1, 2007            $610.53 Income: Calendar Sales $5,244.60   Total Income $5,244.60 Expenses: Postage $473.92   Deposit Correction $8.00   Packaging Tape $21.23   Repay Gen Acct-DPI Balance $3,123.38   Total Expenses $3,626.53 Calendar Account Balance September 30, 2007  $2,228.60 General Fund $55,713.06 Literary Fund $1,608.29 Calendar Fund $2,228.60 Total $59,549.95 Fiscal year is April 1 to March 31 to coincide with our federal tax filing; the quarterly designations are now as follows: First Quarter April 1 — June 30 Second Quarter July 1 — September 30 Third Quarter October 1 — December 31 Fourth Quarter January 1 — March 31 submitted by Nancy Rafal, treasurer

Wisconsin Poets' Calendar Calendar Info Page Order Form Conference Rotation Schedule Spring 2008 April 25-26 South-Central VP James P. Roberts Fall 2008 November 7-8 Northwest VP Jan Chronister Spring 2009 April 24-25 South Fall 2009 November 6-7 East-Milwaukee Spring 2010 April 23-24 Northeast Fall 2010 November 5-6 Central-Fox Valley Book Design & Professional Editing Services Christine Falk 952.985.5375 datadesign@frontiernet.net Museletter Advertising Rates Books for Sale in Poetry Publications section..................... $5.00 per listing (This price is not discounted to Members. Discount is built into the one free listing per book, per year) Business Card ....... $25.00 Quarter Page ........ $50.00 Half Page.............. $100.00 Prices are for camera-ready advertisements. Specialty designs or advertisement setups at a price to be determined. Contact Museletter editor if interested in purchasing advertisements. Remember! The next Museletter DEADLINE is February 1, 2008 How to reach the Museletter Editor: Christine Falk 9556 Upper 205th Street West Lakeville, MN 55044 (952) 985-5375 email: thefalks@frontiernet.net