Spring 2009
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       As the token poet among the Alliterates, a group of novelists and game designers who got their start back when Dungeons & Dragons was published in Lake Geneva, I shared a Robinson Jeffers poem with the group recently. It was “The Purse-Seine,” which you can find at poetryfoundation.org. You might want to take a moment to go there and read it before continuing here.       The group agreed that it was a beautiful poem, but then surprised me by complaining about the opening of the third stanza: Lately I was looking from a night mountain-top On a wide city, the colored splendor, galaxies of light: how could I help but recall the seine-net Gathering the luminous fish?       They argued that the conceptual link between the purse-seine and the lines that follow are already obvious, that indirectly stating it, Jeffers robs the reader of the chance to create the connection—makes the reader a passive observer rather than an active participant in the poem.       An artist I work with makes a similar point about illustration. Some years ago he pointed out a cartoon of a pirate ship, with a man on a plank extended above circling sharks, and a pirate on deck pointing a cutlass at him. The artist said, “This is the perfect moment for the drawing, not when he’s first stepping onto the plank, not when he’s falling off the end toward the sharks, but between the two, so that the viewer fills in what happens next.”       Working in poetry critique groups, I’m often struck by how much better a piece feels by making subtle changes, especially things that better invite the reader to put things together. But it isn’t always clear where to draw the line. On the one hand, Carl Sandburg speaks to my blue-collar background, but his work is often brutally direct. On the other hand, Wallace Stevens writes some beautiful verses, but I seldom understand what he’s talking about.       This particular point of tension may be unique to poetry. It seems that poets must speak clearly enough to hold a reader, yet obliquely enough to point that reader to something beyond the poem itself. Speak too clearly, and the reader has no reason to be involved; speak too obliquely, and the poem passes over the reader like a cloud shadow, leaving no mark of its passing.       The best poem, I am coming to believe, is a key with which a reader unlocks him- or herself. The best poets are not locksmiths, but simply key merchants. Sincerely, Les

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

Bill Gillard, Central-Fox Valley Regional VP
1478 Midway Road
Menasha, WI 54952-1224
bill.gillard@uwc.edu

       Jean Biegun, Two Rivers, will be the featured speaker for National Poetry Month at the Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Manitowoc. For the April 19th Sunday service, she will read poems and talk on the subject “Poetry, UU, and The Pinnacle Thought.” Also, Jean’s poem “The Gifting Season” from her chapbook Waking Up at Woodland Dunes is in the 2009 Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar.
       Cathryn Cofell had work accepted or published by NY Quarterly, Oranges & Sardines, Women Period., Women Writing About Menstruation (Spinsters Ink), Dirty Napkin, and, in collaboration with Karla Huston, by qarrtsiluni.
       Ia Bolz will present her poetry workshop “The Art Of Poetry Writing: From Haiku To Rap” on April 18th at UW–Oshkosh’s Ninth Annual Language, Culture And Education Institute Seminar. Ia explores the various styles of poetry writing and using a poetry slam approach as unique learning tools/strategies for the English language learners classroom (PK-12) and/or the bilingual classroom (PK-12).

East Region

Janet Leahy, East Regional Co-VP 13480 W. Fountain Drive New Berlin, WI 53151-3968 leahyja@earthlink.net

Carolyn Vargo, East Regional Co-VP 6147 West Stack Circle Milwaukee, WI 53219-3054 vargocj@execpc.com

     Katy Phillips and Janet Leahy participated in the Woodland Pattern Poetry Marathon on Saturday, January 31st in Milwaukee. Janet has recently had poems published in Fox Cry Review and Backstreet Poets.

submitted by Janet Leahy, East Regional Co-VP

     In December, Sr. Irene Zimmerman gave a reading/reflection of her scriptural poems at Peace Church in Kewaskum to participants of the “Come Share the Spirit” monthly event; and again at Cedar Ridge, West Bend, to Stephen Ministers, Cedar Chaplains, and residents of independent living apartments. Sr. Irene’s poem “Windows” was published in National Catholic Reporter.
      John Campbell’s poem entitled “Nunzeo” was chosen for publication by Deborah Benner, Editor of the Goose River Anthology 2008 published (p. 15) ISBN 978-1-59713-070-7. The Goose River Press is located at 3400 Friendship Rd., Waldoboro, ME 04572- 6337. This is the third consecutive year that one of Campbell’s poems has been selected for this annual publication. Authors receive 10% of the purchase price of book sales they generate. (www.gooseriverpress.com) Books are $14.95 each plus shipping.
      Charles P. Ries has had poetry appear or been accepted to appear in: Truck, PRESA, Protest Poems, Gloom Cupboard, and Poiesis. Two of his poems were presented on You Tube through Folded Word Press. His short story “The Fathers We Find” is in the final round of the Eric Hoffer Award for Best New Writing. His essay/interview on the ebb and flow of small press publications will appear as a tribute to Linda Aschbrenner in the final issue of Free Verse to be edited by Linda. His manuscript of 60 poems titled Girl Friend & Other Mysteries of Love has been accepted by Alternating Current Press and will be published in April 2009. He appeared on WUWM’s Lake Effect to promote the Woodland Pattern 18th Annual Poetry Marathon. Listen.

Mid-Central Region

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

      Barbara Cranford conducted a poetry workshop in Hancock in January. Poets included in the anthology Write Away! edited by Barb will be reading at the Thimbleberry book store in Marshfield on Friday, May 29th, at 7 p.m. and at the McMillan Memorial Library in Wisconsin Rapids on Thursday, June 11th, at 7 p.m. Current WFOP poets included in the anthology are: Linda Aschbrenner, Barb Cranford, Julie Eger, Phil Hansotia, Mary Lou Judy, Linda Lee Konichek, Lou Roach, Kris Rued-Clark, and Sue Twiggs.
       Mary Lou Judy was featured at the “Original Voice” series on February 5th at the Coloma Hotel.
       Jeffrey Johannes and Joan Wiese Johannes will be the featured readers on April 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at the Coloma Hotel and on April 30th at 7:00 p.m. at the Neville Public Library in Green Bay. Open mic follows.
       Joan Wiese Johannes will be the workshop facilitator for EarthWonders LLC presenting “The Cadence of Spring Life,” a workshop combining music and writing on May 30th from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Jordan Park outside of Stevens Point. Joan was one of the preliminary judges for the John Lehman Poetry Award sponsored by Wisconsin People & Ideas.
       Lincoln Hartford participated in three Abraham Lincoln bicentennial events in February—on the 6th at the Village Booksmith in Baraboo, the 7th at the library in Elroy, and the 12th at Hatch Public Library in Mauston. Each of the events included music, poetry, and story telling and a review of the new book: Giants: The Parallel Lives of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Hartford shared several poems by himself and others, offered the review, and led the gathered groups in a time of testimony on the occasion of Lincoln’s birthday. Birthday cake was also shared at each location.
       Linda Aschbrenner published issue #99/100 of Free Verse, the eleventh anniversary issue.

Northeast Region

Sarah Rose Thomas, Northeast Regional VP
970 School Place
Green Bay, WI 54303
psychopsychosarah@yahoo.com

      Sharon Auberle has a new book from Cross+Roads Press, Saturday Nights at the Crystal Ball—a short memoir in poetry; and has recently been published in several regional anthologies—Bar Code and A Slender Thread, from Little Eagle Press; Fox Cry Review; and the 2009 Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar. She may be found at Mimi's Golightly Café, her ongoing blog.
       A number of Door County poets participated in the “Word Meets Art” Guenzel Gallery Salon at the Peninsula School of Art in January. Among them were WFOP members Margaret Magle, Barbara Larsen, David Clowers, Anita Beckstrom, June Nirschl, Phil Hansotia, Ralph Murre, Judy Roy, and Sharon Auberle.
       Barbara Larsen’s poem, “Weathering the Times” appeared in the Door County Peninsula Pulse recently.
       Ralph Murre, through Little Eagle Press, has recently published Bar Code, a 31-contributor anthology of poetry, short prose and art, and A Slender Thread, an anthology of work by members of the Nota Bene Group. His poetry has appeared lately in Wisconsin People and Ideas, Clark Street Review, and The Cliffs: Soundings, and online at Arem Arvinson Log. He has been joined by other voices in group readings from his book Psalms at several locations around Wisconsin and Michigan.

Northwest Region

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

      Naomi Cochran’s poem “Not My Cup of Tea” will be published in the 2009 Dust & Fire Anthology of Women’s Writing from Bemidji State University. Jan Chronister and Bonny Higgins (Superior) also had poems accepted for this issue. Naomi’s poem “Another Possibility” appears in Fox Cry Review, volume 34 (UW–Fox Valley)
       Jan Chronister is teaching a four-week poetry writing class through WITC—Ashland in Iron River, Wisconsin on Fridays from 9 to noon beginning April 4th. Please go to witc.edu/search to register. Jan’s poem “Corn Story” was accepted for the forthcoming Empty Shoes anthology to be published by Popcorn Press.
      Diana Randolph, Drummond, had three drawings accepted to Dust & Fire. Their titles are: “Lupines in the Garden,” “Patches of Daisies” and “White Dahlia.” She received the “Carole Gorney Fisher Award” for her drawing “Lupines in the Garden.” Diana will teach a 4-week class titled “Drawing and Writing from Within” at the Drummond Town Hall on Wednesdays beginning, April 15th from 9:30 a.m. to noon. You may obtain more information or register by calling (715) 682-4591, ext. 3170 or at witc.edu/search. Diana will also teach a half-day workshop titled “Exploring Mandalas Through Drawing and Writing” at the School of the Arts at Rhinelander July 20th-24th. Many other art and writing classes will be offered. More information may be found at soa.dcs.wisc.edu.
       Jan also wants everyone to know that the national NFSPS convention will be held in Duluth June 11th-15th. More information can be found on the Minnesota League of Poets website mnpoets.org or at www.nfsps.org (click on Strophes online).

submitted by Jan Chronister, Northwest Regional VP

      The Chequemegon Word Affiliate will hold the sixth annual Earth Day Poetry Reading at 7 p.m. on April 22nd in the theater at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor’s Center, located west of Ashland on Highway 2. This will be an open reading for poetry or short prose related to Earth Day. Come on out and celebrate the day with the gift of words. For inforomation contact Rob Ganson at robostang@yahoo.com or (715) 373- 5450.
      Rob Ganson has been published in the poetry anthology Feeling is First, edited by Kevin Watt and will be included in the upcoming issue of Variations magazine.

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

       Greetings once again. While November was a busy month for poets in the area, December’s record snowfall put a big chill on activities with several cancellations, including yours truly who was snowed out of an appearance at the Mukwonago Public Library. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Spring Conference in Oconomowoc. And, as usual, if I missed anyone, let me know.
       Friday, November 14, 2008 at A Room of One’s Own, Andrea Potos, Katrin Talbot, and Fabu read their poetry.
       The Hibiscus Collective, women writers with multicultural voices, read Saturday, November 15th, at the South Madison Medical Center–Harambee, 2300 South Park Street in The Park Villager Mall. The members reading were Nydia Rojas and Madison Poet Laureate, Fabu.
       Ronnie Hess continues to hold meetings of the Regent Neighborhood Poetry Club on the second Tuesday of every month at the Froth House on the corner of Regent and Allen Streets in Madison.
       Angela Rydell facilitated the Regent Neighborhood Poetry Club Exercise Hour 4:30-5:30, Thursday November 20th at The Froth House.
       Carolyn Vargo read poems on WORT Radio Literature in Madison on November 20th.
       November 20th also saw Lisa Marie Brodsky share her poetry at the Helen C. White Library in Madison.
       November 23rd saw a poetry reading by Richard Swanson at Avol’s Bookstore in Madison.
       James P. Roberts and Richard Roe joined Bruce Dethlefsen as the only three poets amidst a congerie of Christmas carolers at the Village Booksmith in early December.
       Beginning in January, Sarah Busse will be posting regular journal prompts online on a friend’s blog, writingbabe.com.
       After December’s snowfall, the poets started coming out of hibernation again in January. James P. Roberts helped celebrate Edgar Allan Poe’s 200th birthday on January 9th by reading “The Cask of Amontillado” at the Village Booksmith in Baraboo. He also brought some Amontillado to share with the audience.
       The Winter Festival of Poets Reading Series at Avol’s Bookstore in Madison began its annual eight-week run on January 18th. Among the South-Central poets scheduled to read this year are: Brenda Lempp, Jeanie Tomasko, Ronnie Hess, Jeannie Bergmann, Judy Washbush, Charles Cantrell, Fran Rall, Catherine Jagoe, Eve Robillard, Paul Thompson, Shoshauna Shy, Jackie Langetieg, Lisa Marie Brodsky, James P. Roberts, Wendy Vardaman, Suzi Godwin, Mark Kliewer, Sarah Busse, Gay Davidson-Zielske, Susan Elbe, Dave Scheler, Daniel Kunene, Bobbie Krinsky, Richard Merelman, John Lehman, Adam Gregory Pergament, Gillian Nevers, Katrin Talbot, Rusty Russell, Tim Walsh, Sara Parrell, Yvonne Yahnke, and Fabu. The series ends on March 8th.
       The Woodland Pattern Poetry Marathon and Benefit on January 31st in Milwaukee featured the following South- Central poets: James P. Roberts, Ronnie Hess, Ron Czerwein, Judith Zukerman, C.X. Dillhunt, Richard Roe, as well as a moving tribute from Robin Chapman, Catherine Jagoe, Sara Parrell, and Susan Elbe to the late Judith Strasser.
       Susan Elbe has a poem in the Fall 2008 issue of Margie (Volume 7) and she participated in Woodland Pattern’s 15th Annual Poetry Marathon in Milwaukee on January 31, 2009 with Robin Chapman, Catherine Jagoe, and Sara Parrell where they all honored Judith Strasser by reading her poems as well their own.
       Suzi Godwin placed Second and also received an Honorable Mention in the Free Verse #95 “spring haiku” contest. She also received an Honorable Mention in the Free Verse #97-98 “shadow haiku” contest.
       Bill Rodriguez is pleased to announce the publication of his second book of poetry: concrete pastures of the beautiful bronx. For ordering information, email the author at: wrrodriguez@tds.net.

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

      Shoshauna Shy read at the Winter Festival of Poets at Avol’s on February 1st and will read at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art in conjunction with the exhibit “Something Wicked This Way Comes” on March 6. She has also had a poem published online in The Orange Room Review.
       Wendy Vardaman’s recent publications include poems in the anthologies Breathe: 101 Contemporary Odes (C&R Press, 2009), Apple Seeds (Sacred Fools Press, 2008), and Riffing on Strings: Creative Writing Inspired by String Theory (Scriblerus Press, 2008), as well as in these journals: Quiddity, Fifth Wednesday Journal, Bent Pin, qarrtsiluni, Ariel, Nerve Cowboy, Wisconsin People & Ideas, Free Verse, Presence, Numinous, fiere lingua, Kaleidowhirl, and thanal online. She has a book review-essay in the Jan/Feb 09 issue of Women’s Review of Books, plus recent reviews in Rattle, Free Verse, and Rain Taxi. Her interview of Iranian poet Farrideh Hassanzadeh-Mostafavi appears in Eclectica, Jan 09, and an interview of her by Hassanzadeh- Mostafavi is in thanal online, Jan 09.
       Katrin Talbot was one of seven finalists for the 2009 Yellowwood Poetry Prize (poem “The Agency of Trust”) and won third prize (and enough money to fund a Dairy Queen run) in the Inland Empire California Writer’s Club 2008 Writing Contest with a poem about Rachmaninoff, published in Fresh Ink. She was commissioned by the Suzuki Strings of Madison to produce a book of poetry and photographs, and Twinkle Press has just released the result: In Which Miss Maybelline is Introduced to the Honourable Dr. Suzuki.
       Robin Chapman won the 2007 Cider Press Book Award for her manuscript Abundance. She received $1000, 25 copies, and publication of her book, available February 1, 2009, from Cider Press Review’s website, Amazon, or Robin directly at 205 N. Blackhawk Avenue, Madison 53705. Robin participated in book signings at the Associated Writers and Writing Programs Convention and Bookfair in Chicago: on Thursday, February 12th, with Susan Elbe, from 1:30-2:30 pm at the WordTech Communications table, Hilton Chicago, for The Dreamer Who Counted the Dead and Smoke and Strong Whiskey. On Friday, February 13th Robin signed her just-published book Abundance, winner of the Cider Press Book Award, at the Cider Press Review table. Robin read poems of love and mathematics from recent anthologies at the Chaos and Complex Systems Seminar, UW–Madison, on Tuesday, February 17th. She read from Abundance on WORT’s Radio Literature program on February 26th and at A Room of One’s Own in Madison on February 27th. She was joined by Jesse Lee Kercheval reading fiction from The Alice Stories.
      Robin Chapman & Bruce Dethlefsen will be featured readers March 22nd at 2 p.m. at Avol’s Bookstore in Madison.
       Andrea Potos has poems forthcoming in several anthologies including Beloved on This Earth: Poems of Grief and Gratitude (Holy Cow!Press), and Not a Muse Anthology (Haven Books).

West-Central Region

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

       Despite a month of subzero temperatures, poetry blooms in the Chippewa Valley. The Writers’ Group at the Library, now in its 21st year, continues to meet the first Thursday of each month at the Eau Claire Memorial Public Library. The Chippewa Valley Writers Guild has planned an upcoming writing workshop at the Heyde Center in Chippewa Falls. A Kick Off party for the next Vision and Word poet/artist collaboration is planned for March 25th.
       Dina St. Louis was featured in a Volume One magazine article about Zebra, her new poetry collection. She will be reading from her work February 10th at the Clearwater Kiwanis Club and at 7 p.m, March 12th at the Eau Claire Memorial Library.
       Sandra Lindow’s poem, “Nightlife” has been published in the March issue of Asimov’s. In March, Lindow will read and participate in poetry events at the International Conference of the Fantastic and the Arts in Orlando, Florida.
       David Blackey has had a poem accepted by the national newspaper Forward.

submitted by Sandra Lindow, West-Central Regional VP

       Jane-Marie Bahr, Menomonie, has an upcoming poem, “Plum Trees Blossom,” in Hummingbird and “Redemption” in issue #99/100 of Free Verse.

Workshops, Contests, Etc. Support the Kay Saunders Memorial New Poet Award       The New Poet Award is currently supported each year by the Saunders Family. We would like to create a lasting source of support for the fund. The late George Saunders created a fund for this purpose within the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, called the “Fearsome Foursome Fund.”       Kay and her poetry group “The Fearsome Foursome” (including June Zwickey, Helen Fahrbach, and Ellen Kort) were all members of WFOP who wrote and read together for many years. Kay was also the Regional Vice President of the Central Fox Valley Region for more than 15 years. She loved to encourage budding poets of all ages.       Approximately $6,500 has been raised of the $10,000 needed for the fund to be self-sustaining. At $10,000 it becomes a permanently endowed fund, generating 5% ($500) annually to support the New Poet Award.       Contributions to the New Poet Award can be made to the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, P.O. Box 563, Appleton, WI 54912-0563, or their online page for gifts (please refer “Fearsome Foursome Fund” on bottom of check or the online designation box).       Please help nurture new poets in Wisconsin by making a contribution!

Woodrow Hall Editions Names Winner of Jumpstart Award       Woodrow Hall Editions announces that the award of $500.00 was given to Jan Chronister of Maple, Wisconsin for her program titled Ojibgewin which will involve teaching a series of poetry workshops in spring 2009 at the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Community College’s satellite campus in Odanah on the Bad River Reservation. The Woodrow Hall Jumpstart Award was created to recognize a poet who has contributed to the literary landscape of Wisconsin, and to help them initiate a new program or project. For more information, visit PoetryJumpsOfftheShelf.com or contact Shoshauna Shy at shoshaunashy@yahoo.com.

Call from Germany for Wisconsin Poets and Writers       Wisconsin poets and writers are invited to apply for a three-month stay in Wiesbaden, Germany, courtesy of the Germanbased Hessen Literary Society. The residency, which includes free lodging and a stipend of 3,000 Euros, takes place August through October 2009. The application deadline is March 13, 2009. The winning writer will be notified mid-April.       Writers of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry are welcome to apply. Finalists will be selected by the Hessen-Wisconsin Writers Exchange steering committee, which is comprised of representatives from groups including the Hessen-Wisconsin Society, the Wisconsin Arts Board, the Wisconsin Humanities Council, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of German, the Max Kade Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. The final selection is made by the Hessen Literary Society in Germany.       This year’s winner will be the third Wisconsin writer to participate. Previous winners were Paula Sergi, of Fond du Lac (2005) and Deborah Bernhardt, of Baraboo (2007). In 2006 and 2008, Wisconsin hosted German writers for three-month stays at the Edenfred creative arts residency in Madison. The writers’ exchange is part of Wisconsin’s sister state partnership with Hessen.       Interested parties may also contact Gerhard Fischer, Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction, (608) 267-9265, gerhard.fischer@dpi.wi.gov.

Workshops       NEW Poetry without tears—a workshop on reading poetry Instructor: Laurel Yourke. Saturday, March 14th, 1-4:45 pm, Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St, $55. Poetry’s not just for English majors. Come get the key to unlock this ancient and eloquent form of human expression. Explore poems and questions like: What makes poetry “good,” and why are there so many different kinds? Enjoy—rather than study!—the delicious secrets in the work of Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Wallace Stevens, among others. To register: dcs.wisc.edu/classes/writing.htm or contact Laurel Yourke, lyourke@dcs.wisc.edu, (608) 265-3972.       Write like a Poet: Metaphor: Strategies that Poetry Can Teach Every Writer with Angela Rydell and Laurel Yourke. Friday, March 27th 4:15-5:30 pm. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but good metaphors need very few words to paint their pictures. Words like loneliness and death are grim, but they instill little mystery and provide no insight. They can’t haunt us like “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Imagery makes this phrase familiar as Poe’s raven, Dickinson’s “Hope is the thing with feathers,” or Sandburg’s fog arriving on “little cat feet.” By focusing reader attention on a single clear image, metaphor helps you “show” rather than “tell,” stay in scene and nail your ending. But metaphors like the first spring crocus or a dark and stormy night paint no pictures. Good metaphors are neither familiar nor obvious. They disguise their symbolic meaning in the cloak of the literal. Want to discover more metaphor secrets? Whether you’re a poet, always wanted to be one or never wanted to be one, harness metaphor in order to snare your ideas, then release them back into the world, transformed. Bring along openness to a new approach and either a page to work on or a notebook to jot in. To register: dcs.wisc.edu/lsa/ writing/awi/friday.htm#a or contact Laurel Yourke, lyourke@dcs.wisc.edu, (608) 265-3972.       Spring Craft & Critique: How Music Drives Meaning—A Poetry Workshop with Angela Rydell Wednesdays: April 15th, 22nd, 29th, May 6th and 13th 6:30-9:00 p.m. at Angela’s apartment, 214 N. Allen St. $130.00 (Register by March 15th and get $15.00 off!) Whatever direction your poem’s headed, music can help you get there. How does syllable stress propel momentum? What sound textures steer your lines into sharp breaks, gentle curves or sudden swerves? Through analysis of free verse, sonnets, and other structures, we’ll explore when music takes a reader for a joy ride when it goes too far. Workshop includes discussion, exercises and optional weekly group critique. Contact Angela at ajrydell@wisc.edu or (608) 231-6845.       Shadow and Specifics—A Poetry Workshop Saturday, April 18th, 9:30 am-4 pm, Sunday, April 19th, 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St, $135/$105 Sat. only E. B. White said, “A poet utterly clear is a trifle glaring.” He also said, “Be obscure clearly.” What’s a poet to do? We’ll tackle that—along with when to generalize and when to pinpoint, while analyzing published poems—both classic and contemporary, plus publication tips and critique of participant poems (always optional!). Instructor written critique of one poem included. (Send 2 poems, preferably by 4/1/2009 to 620 Lowell/610 Langdon/ Madison WI 53703 yourke@dcs.wisc.edu) To register: dcs.wisc.edu/classes/writing.htm or contact Laurel Yourke, lyourke@dcs.wisc.edu, (608) 265-3972

FINANCES Fiscal S3cond Quarter Financial Report** October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 General Account:  submitted by Nancy Rafal, treasurer Balance October 1, 2008                  $58,460.77 Income: Dues $1,050.00   ’08 Fall Conference Income $3,695.00   Student contest donation $50.00   Museletter book ad $5.00   5 for 4 CD Interest $53.51   SOAR scholarship donation $250.00   Membership list request $2.00   Totes & Tees sales $26.00   Total Income $5,131.51 Expenses: Museletter $768.95   N. Rafal: postage/supplies $34.38   J. Chronister—VP & conference expenses $135.88   Friends of Lorine Niedecker donation $500.00   Urban Spoken Word Poetry Coalition donation $1,000.00   N. Jesse—Student contest brochures $728.31   Student contest—Data Design postage & services $522.16   S. Lindow—calendar celebration $16.85   LegioX—new member brochures $31.65   Asher & Wood LLC—tax prep $400.00   WFOP Literary Fund—CD interest $986.06   ’08 Fall Conference speakers & books $1,025.12   T. Gephard—’08 Fall roll call CD prep $50.00   B. Dethlefsen—band ’08 Fall Conf $400.00   ’08 Fall conference refunds $170.00   ’08 Fall conference—food $1,432.80   ’08 Fall conference—lodging $5,103.00   ’08 Fall conference brochures—Graphic Xpress $81.60   ’09 Spring conference—deposit $250.00   ’09 Spring conference-author books $140.00   ’09 Spring conference—badge holders $72.78   Miscellaneous $89.90   Total Expenses $13,939.44 Outstanding checks ($160.00) Closing Statements Balance as of December 31, 2008   $49,542.84 General Account Balance December 31, 2008   $49,382.84* *$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 October 1, 2008                        $653.67 Income: CD interest $986.06   George Saunders Est. $200.00   Total Income $1,186.06  Expenses: Postage $134.19   Triad Awards $300.00   Muse Posters $24.00   Printing $10.55   Total Expenses $468.74 Outstanding check ($10.55) Closing Statement Balance on December 31, 2008          $1,381.54 Literary Fund Balance on December 31, 2008      $1,370.99 Calendar Account:  submitted by Michael Farmer, Calendar Business Manager Balance October 1, 2008            $1,885.91 Income: Calendar Sales $3,331.09   Total Income $3,331.09 Expenses: Postage $139.09   Editors' Expenses $33.25   Total Expenses $5,044.66 Calendar Account Balance December 31, 2008  $5,044.66 General Fund $49,382.84 Literary Fund $1,370.99 Calendar Fund $5,044.66 Total $55,798.49 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

"Fellowship" T-Shirts, Sweatshirts & Mugs Available Sport your Fellowship membership proudly, and support us as well! The WFOP logo now graces T-shirts, sweatshirts and coffee mugs. The "T" is a basic-white model, silkscreened front and back in black. L and XL for $10; XXL costs $11. The sweatshirt, screened yellow-on-blue, goes for $20. The mug, at $5, is white ceramic with fired-on black printing. To purchase, contact membership chair Peter Piaskoski at kppi2105@sbcglobal.net or call (414) 332-9113. Door County Retreat for Rent South Nest Three bedroom, two bath house near Cana Island. A quiet, restful, woodland retreat located in the boreal forest just off County Q. Woodburning fireplace, convenient location for all of northern Door County. 8734 E. Moonlight Bay Drive, Baileys Harbor, WI 54202-0340. (920) 839-2191 or mrsticket@dcwis.com Rates: $50/night/room or $125/whole house/night. Wisconsin Poets' Calendar 2009 Calendar Sold Out We have a sell-out for the calendar! There may be a copy or two returning from retailers but all went very well. Lauds and kudos to our two editors for 2009, Kathy Miner and Nancy Rafal! Way to go. And a special thanks to the extra efforts of our VPs and other members who put in extra efforts to help sell the calendar. This coming year with the economy it may be a challenge but we do what we can. The important thing is to get the word out…Poetry is Just Fine! Thank you all again and for members and friends of…keep writing and keep entering…please! —Michael Farmer, Business Manager WFOP Calendar   B.J. Best and Charles Nevsimal, 2010 co-editors Calendar Info Page Order Form Conference Rotation Schedule Spring 2009 April 24-25 South Fall 2009 November 13-15 East-Milwaukee Spring 2010 April 23-24 Northeast Fall 2010 November 5-6 Central-Fox Valley 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.