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Statewide

WISCONSIN POET LAUREATE
Marilyn Taylor of Milwaukee is the Wisconsin Poet Laureate for 2008-2010.

2010 APPEARANCES
August 25, 2010 - Reading, Governor's Residence Garden Party, Madison.
September 11, 2010 - Reading participant, Foot of the Lake Collective, Fond du Lac.
September 12–17, 2010 - Workshop facilitator: Lawrence University's Bjorklunden Seminar Center, Baileys Harbor. Enrollment is now closed.
September 26, 2010. 10:45 a.m. - Presentation, Wisconsin Regional Writers Assn. Fall Conference, Madison.
October 1, 2010. 5:30 p.m. - Reading w/ Bruce Dethlefsen, Karla Huston, Richard Roe & David Scheler, Wisconsin Book Festival, Overture Center, Madison
October 7, 2010. 7:00 p.m. - Reading, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The Hefter Conference Center, 3271 North Lake Drive, Milwaukee.
October 10–15, 2010 - Workshop facilitator: Lawrence University's Bjorklunden Seminar Center, Baileys Harbor. Enrollment is still open at lawrence.edu/dept/bjork/bjorkseminars/course.shtml
October 23, 2010 - Workshop facilitator, AllWriters Workplace "Celebrity Saturday", Waukesha.
November 3, 2010, 7 p.m. - Benefit reading: Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, 2220 N. Terrace Avenue, Milwaukee.
November 11, 2010 - Presentation and reading, Fond du Lac Roundtable, Fond du Lac.

Lorine Niedecker Wisconsin Poetry Festival
September 24–25 in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.
The Festival will include workshops, poetry readings, presentations, opportunities to meet publishers and pick up the latest poetry buzz. Two workshops will be held; “Write Like a Poet: Tricks Poets Can Teach Every Writer” and a writers workshop on Blackhawk Island at the cabin of Lorine Niedecker. The Council for Wisconsin Writers Lorine Niedecker Poetry Award winner, Angela Sorby and other invited poets will read during an evening event “Wisconsin Poetry.”

A schedule is now posted at lorineniedecker.org. For more information about the Poetry Festival, contact Ann Engelman 920-563-0416 or Amy Lutzke 920-563-7790.

jumpstart awardWINNERS OF THE 2010 WOODROW HALL JUMPSTART AWARD: Paula Sergi of the Foot of the Lake Poetry Collective in Fond du Lac won first place and $500.00 to collaborate with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) office, the Association of Commerce, the Fond du Lac Public Library, the Fond du Lac Arts Council, and Park Ridge Organics to bring poetry to the farmers’ markets, the library, the Windhover Center for the Arts and two harvest festivals in the Fond du Lac area. The finalist was Phil Hansotia of Ellison Bay who received $250.00 to create “poetry trails” (poems in display cases mounted on posts) in Newport State Park, a partnership between the Wallace, Unabridged and Word Women poetry groups with the Newport Wilderness Society, Newport State Park, and Sevastapol, Gibraltar and Southern Door high schools.

Shoshauna Shy of Woodrow Hall Editions based in Madison created the Woodrow Hall Jumpstart Award, an offshoot of the Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf initiative, designed to help other Wisconsin poets implement a project that brings poetry into the eye of the general public in an unconventional manner. Learn more about this award and the Poetry Jumps Off the Shelf program at PoetryJumpsOfftheShelf.com.
POETRY ROAD TRIP
Want to attend the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in October 2010? The WFOP is sponsoring a bus to New Jersey—six days and five nights of poetry fun, and no driving. You don't have to be a member of WFOP to come along. Space is limited. See the entire flyer here.

VERY SHORT SF POETRY
Dwarf Stars is the Science Fiction Poetry Association's yearly edited anthology of short-short poetry. We are trying to find the best speculative short poetry of 10 lines or less published in 2009. We define "speculative" as "science fiction, fantasy, horror, mythic or any combination or variation of the above." PLEASE DO NOT SEND POEMS THAT ARE NOT SPECULATIVE IN CONTENT.

1. Send us your 2009-published short poems of 10 lines or less (do not include stanza breaks in line count).
2. Send us recommendations of 2009 short poems of 10 lines or less that you've read and think are deserving along with publication information and the e-mail addresses of the poets, if you have them.
3. There is no limit to the number of poems you can send.
4. You do not need to be a member to send poems/recommendations.

5. AUGUST 31 DEADLINE.

Send these poems to us at dwarfstars@sfpoetry.com. Please include the words "Dwarf Stars Submission" in the title of the e-mail.

American Haiku Festival
You can write haiku poetry in English. Join haikuists from the U.S. and Canada for their Second Annual Cradle of American Haiku Festival, at 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 10, to 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 12, at Foundry Books, 105 Commerce St., in Mineral Point. The festival is open to the public, and beginning and experienced haikuists are welcome.

Haiku is a short, Japanese poetic form of usually three lines and about 17 syllables. It is thoughtful, imagist poetry, (often inspired by nature), and it captures the moment.

The festival will include several workshops and presentations on the form and art of haiku/related Japanese poetic forms, readings of haiku, and Japanese art. This year’s theme is “Remembering Robert Spiess—His Life and Work.” Spiess was a longtime haikuist and author, and former editor of “Modern Haiku,” an international journal of haiku and haiku studies.

The festival will also feature an opening reception; a “Kukai,” a peer-reviewed haiku contest on the theme “Transitions;” Tai Chi, meditative exercises; a presentation on “Kodo,” Japanese incense; mini-critique sessions with award-winning poets and publishers; a social with cocktails and Midwest style picnic/tailgate; and a “ginko” walk to observe nature and write haiku. Haikuists may also participate in a sale of books they’ve authored.

At the festival, The Haiku Society of America will hold its annual national quarterly meeting to which the public is invited. However, the HSA is not sponsoring the festival.

Southwest Wisconsin is the birthplace of American haiku. Mineral Point is a historic, scenic town of 19th century architecture, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, located in the region’s hills. It is about a 45- minute drive from Madison and Dubuque, IA.

The cost of the festival is $30 which includes workshops, all activities, reception, and picnic. For more information, with a schedule of events and lodging options, contact Charlotte Digregorio, Midwest Regional Coordinator, The Haiku Society of America, at email cvpress@yahoo.com or by phone at 847-881-2664.

RESIDENCY
ISLAND is proud to announce the second application round of the Hill House Residency Program, providing dedicated time and space for writers at any stage in their career and emerging musicians. Applications for round two, which will run from November 2010 to April 2011, are due September 15.

The goal of the Hill House Residency is to support talented emerging songwriters and writers at all stages of their career with a two, three or four week stay in a semi-secluded log cabin near East Jordan, Michigan. Room and board is covered along with a selection of instruments and some basic recording gear. The musician residency also offers performance opportunities and a small stipend to aid in professional development. Musicians and writers age 21 and older from anywhere in the world may apply. Solo writers as well as teams of up to four people may apply. There is a $20 application fee.

Hill House writer in residence Beth Nelson reflected, “The abundant tranquility of the Hill House permitted me to become more aware of who I am: who I am as a writer, a woman, and a human being... I cannot thank you enough for this opportunity."

ISLAND (Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design) is a non-profit arts and ecology center located in Bellaire, MI. To learn more about ISLAND and the Hill House Residency, or to download an application, please visit http://www.artmeetsearth.org/artistresidency.html.

VERSE WISCONSIN
Verse Wisconsin 103, the Summer Issue, is now online! The print issue is making its way to subscribers & contributors at varying speeds, so go read/see/listen to poems about "Work" in the meantime & check out these online features: a Lorine Niedecker poem newly discovered by Sarah Busse, Wendy Vardaman's interview with Martín Espada, a round-up of recent books by younger Wisconsin poets, Nick Lantz's Twitter Poetry Project, Marilyn Taylor's discussion of the First United Poets Laureate Conference, Laurel Bastian's essay "Poetry in Prison," & Cristina Norcross's advice on making poetry events memorable ... plus book reviews, print contributors' audio, and Wisconsin Poetry News, available at versewisconsin.org.

FILM
Director's Cut features Cathy Cook discussing her documentary, The Immortal Cupboard, exploring the life and poetry of Lorine Niedecker. Cathy Cook's interview: wpt.org/directorscut/DC208_cook.cfm. It runs almost 27 minutes: you should use high-speed, not dial-up, or use a library computer.

PROMPTS
Sarah Busse posts regular journal prompts online on a friend's blog, http://writingbabe.com. These prompts are for anyone (not just writers) who wants to find a little time this year for journaling, creative exploration and thinking.... New prompts appear weekly on Wednesdays, following the phases of the many moons of the year. So pass the word, if you know anyone interested in creativity, purposeful living, or who just wants to take a little time for themselves once in a while. Of course, it also works for poets, too.

POEMS NEEDED
Robin Chapman is looking for published poems from Wisconsin poets to post on her poetry blog with her watercolors; send up to 5 candidate poems in Word .doc (not Word 2007 format) with acknowledgment of original publication to her at rschapma@wisc.edu.
Central–Fox Valley Region

POETRY READING & Open Mike
First and Third Mondays, 6:30 pm: The Harmony Cafe—Fox Valley at 233 East College Avenue, Appleton, hosts a featured reader and open mic the first and third Monday of almost every month. Join us for good coffee, good food, plenty of seating in a room apart from the cappucino machine—and best of all, great poetry! Featured readers begin at 6:30 with followed by open mic. All are welcome to listen and/or read.

September 20 Mary Wehner
October 4 F.J. Bergmann
October 18 Tara Arnold and Marissa Neal, Lawrence University students
November 1 Len Tews
November 15 BJ Best
December 6 WFOP Calendar contributors reading

Hosted by Sarah Gilbert (pses@sbcglobal.net). PR coordinated by Cathryn Cofell (ccofell@gmail.com).

POETRY READING
Second Tuesdays, 7 pm: The Windhover will present the Reading Series this year in partnership with the Foot of the Lake Poetry Collective. It will be known as the Windhover Reading Series. They will provide much-needed marketing and the Collective will continue to be involved in the selection of readers and the presentation of events.

We will also feature fiction, plays, and our ever-popular Student Invitational event in the spring. At Windhover Center for the Arts, 51 Sheboygan St., Fond du Lac, 1 Block East of Main Street (across from Public Library), 2nd floor, Studio 51, free admission. We start at 7 pm and finish at 8:30 or so. The event is free, refreshments will be available and it’s always fun. For more information call the Windhover at (920) 921-5410 or visit www.windhovercenter.org.

East—Milwaukee Region
Art and Poetry Exhibit
Through September: P. C. Moorehead has six poems displayed in the ekphrastic poetry exhibition, "Juxtaposition," now showing through September at the Merton Town Hall Library in North Lake. The poems accompany six watercolor paintings of flowers by Teri Peterson, owner of the Lakes Gallery of Fine Arts in North Lake. Ekphrastic poetry gives the writer's interpretation of a work of art, as well as the poet's reaction to the art. The Merton Town Hall Library is close to the junction of Highways VV and 83 in North Lake.

Art and Poetry Show
October 16, Saturday, 7 pm: “One Vision: A Fusion of Art and Poetry in Lake Country” brings together fifteen pairs of artists and poets for a fine art exhibit and poetry reading at the Oconomowoc Arts Center, unveiling the final results of a summer-long collaboration between the selected artists and poets. A reception with live music and refreshments will also be part of the evening’s event, which is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a preview and meeting with the artists and poets.

Called “ekphrastic” (that is, art or poetry inspired by other creative mediums), the project’s goal is for the artists and poets to interact with each other to create a new expression of art or poetry from that experience. Poets and artists have spent the summer viewing/reading each other’s work as they got to know each other and how the creative process works in each of their respective mediums. From this exploration, a poet could write a new poem to a piece of artwork, the artist create a new piece inspired by a poem, or the two could craft a whole new expression of art and poetry. Part of the adventure of ekphrastic art/poetry is to see where it leads creatively.

“The inspiring effort of collaborating and creating something new is what matters,” says Cristina Norcross, co-editor of the project. Sponsored by the Pewaukee Area Arts Council, this is the second year for the program, which had a successful debut at the The Raven Gallery in Pewaukee last year. Long range plans are to continue the project in order to give many area artists and poets the opportunity to participate, and to bring awareness of the diversity of the arts to the community as part of PAAC’s ongoing mission. A call for submissions will be announced each winter. “Artists and poets found working together to be very enriching last year,” says co-editor Liz Rhodebeck. “There’s quite an exciting buzz going on this year as well.” Artists participating in this year’s project are: Kathy Boritzke, Dara Chappie, Albin Erhart, Susan Foley, Dan Fulwiler, Jason Iffert, Ann Kummrow, Carolyn Larkin, Barbara Plouff, Marcus Schmidt, Melissa Schoechert, Wendy Thompson, Angel Troyer, Deb Tschurwald and Elaine Zale. Poets participating are: Paula Anderson, Mary Jo Balistreri, Kathleen Carlson, Anjie Kokan, Judy Kolosso, Janet Leahy, Abby Lorenz, Katy Phillips, Suzette Purgill, Betty Rose, Virginia Scholtz, Paula Schulz, Kim Suhr, Samatha Troyer and Judy Wucherer. An outgrowth of the project has been the production of limited edition notecards featuring the artwork and accompanying poem of each pair; sets will be available for purchase the evening of the reception. All profit from the sale of the notecards will support PAAC’s programs and outreach in the community.

Both the artwork and poetry will be on exhibition to the public at the OAC through November. For more information, visit www.pewaukeearts.org or contact Liz Rhodebeck at (262) 695-2761.

Poetry Open Mike
Mondays, 8 pm: Every Monday night Poet's Monday, the longest running "poetry" Open Mike in Milwaukee started by Sheila Spargur in 1990, is held at the Cafe Melange. It is currently at Linneman's Riverwest Inn 1001 East Locust Street, Milwaukee. Each week there is an Open Mike and a featured reader. The door opens at 7:30 pm and the event starts at 8 pm. The cover is $3 which goes to expenses and to the featured reader. They specialize in new local poets. The featured reader is listed in the Shepard Express.

Acoustic Open Mike
Tuesdays, 8 pm: Every Tuesday night except when the theatre has been rented there is an Acoustic Open Mike at the Miramar Theater on 2844 Oakland Ave. Sign up starts at 7:30 pm on a first-come-first-served basis and the show starts at 8 pm. There is no feature. They get songwriters, musicians, comedians, and poets. The cover is $2 and the performer gets a CD of his or her performance.
Open Mike
Third Thursdays, 7 pm: Urban Echo Poets, People's Book Co-op at 2122 E. Locust St., Milwaukee, ph. 962-0575. For more information or if you want to read please contact Carolyn Vargo using the subject heading "Reading People's," at vargocj@execpc.com.

Writing Group
Second Thursdays, 7 pm: The Urban Echo Poets meet every second Thursday at 7 pm except in August to write about memories, observations and experiences in nature at the Urban Ecology Center, 1500 E. Park Place, near Riverside Park. Please call ahead to confirm, ph. 964-8505.
Writers' Group
Fourth Thursdays, 6:30–8:30 pm: Muskego Library hosts a writer's group that meets the 4th Thursday of the month (dates change due to holidays, and no meeting December, January, February). E-mail Stephanie Sargent at HRTNSOULZ@YAHOO.COM for further info.
Mid-Central Region

POETRY READING & Open Mike
First Thursdays, 7–9 pm: The Original Voice Open Mic which started in Wautoma will now meet at The Coloma Hotel, 132 Main Street, Coloma, WI at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month.The public is invited to attend and participate. For more information contact Julie Eger at (920) 787-7663 or Sue Apps at (715) 228-2401.

September 2nd Cathryn Cofell
October 7th Ed Schultz
November 4th Richard Roe
December 2nd Seasonal Party

August 22-27: Poetry: Telling it True, Telling it Slant taught by Wilda Morris at the Green Lake Writers Conference. See http://glcc.org/glcc/conferences/adult-conferences.htm for more information.

POETRY READINGS at the McMillan Coffeehouse in Wisconsin Rapids featuring some familiar names. Check out www.mcmillanlibrary.org/programs/coffee_schedule.html. Readings at 7 pm.

Open Mike
Final Fridays, 7–9 pm: held on the last Friday of each month January through October at Thimbleberry Used and Unusual Books, 166 S. Central Avenue, Marshfield.
Northeast Region
POETRY GROUP
Monday Night Poetry Group: The Monday night poetry group in the St. Elizabeth Seton library at 2771 Oakwood Drive, Green Bay, Wisconsin, at 6:00 p.m. Bring a poem or two (of reasonable length) to read at the meeting. Extra copies preferred. Social hour will begin at 5:45. Enjoy hot coffee, cold soda pop, Wisconsin cheese and summer sausage, and chocolate-chip cookies. Any questions, call George Johnson at 1-920-499-9469.

POETRY READINGS
Wednesdays, 7 pm: Dickinson Poetry Series at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County, 10341 Water Street, Ephraim, WI.

September 8 Lorraine Brink
October 13 Jack Redell—An Occasional Dark Poet
November 10 Sharon Auberle
December 8 Caleb Whitney
January 12 Gary Jones
February 9 Youth Readers—Readings by Accomplished Young Poets
March 9 Michael Farmer

Writing Series
2nd Thursdays, 6:30–7:30 pm: The public is invited to attend, and to write on:
SEPT 9th: "Haikus & Pantoums" with Mary "Casey" Martin.
At THE BRIDGE in Egg Harbor ... serving up coffee, soups/wraps, and new & used BOOKS. 7881 State Rd 42 on the Door peninsula. 920-868-3221
Open Mike
2nd Thursdays, 7 pm: Barnes and Noble Poetry Night. Open mic, followed by a featured reader. 2948 S. Oneida St. Green Bay, WI. 920-490-1770.

POETRY READING & Open Mike
Third Wednesdays, 6:30 pm: Poetry Night at Neville Public Museum of Brown County. Sign-up at 6 pm. Arrive early to take in the exhibits. Open reading at 6:30 (one poem per person), followed by featured reader at 7 pm. This year's host for poetry night will be Sarah Rose Thomas.To purchase chapbooks by the evening's featured reader as well as those by past featured readers, you can also stop in our Gift Shop before the event.

Aug 18 Laurie MacDiarmid
Sept 15 CX Dillhunt
Oct 20 Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Calendar Reading
Nov 17 F.J. Bergmann

Everyone is invited to share their work in the Open Poetry Reading but must register between 6:00-6:30 pm. For details, contact Matt Welter, Curator of Education, 920-448-7851. You can find our new updated Poetry Night schedule to bookmark here.

For more information, contact: Welter_MT@co.brown.wi.us
(920) 448-4460 ext 219
Matt Welter, Curator of Education
Neville Public Museum, 210 Museum Place, Green Bay, WI 54303

Open Mike
Every Friday, 6–9:30 pm: The Harmony Cafe at 1660 West Mason (next to Goodwill), Green Bay, holds an "Open Mic Night"—poetry, music of all genres, dance, comedy, etc. All talents, all ages welcome!
Open Mike
Last Saturdays, 7–9 pm: The Attic Books and Coffee in Green Bay on Bodart Street holds open mic readings.
Poetry Club
Green Bay Botanical Garden Poetry Club: Please note the location has changed to The Attic Books and Coffee, 730 Bodart St., Green Bay, 920-435-6515. Bring a poem to work on, or any question regarding poetry. Please e-mail Carol Pemrich Hauser at iwritepoetry03@hotmail.com, or call her at 920-497-8912 with any questions.
Northwest Region
Jan Chronister is the northwest Wisconsin regional coordinator for Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry performance competition for high school students. Any interested high school teachers in northwest Wisconsin can contact Jan for more information or a school presentation at janchronister@yahoo.com
Poetry Workshop
Every Tuesday evening, 6 pm: Poetry workshop at the Black Cat Coffeehouse in Ashland. For more information contact Eric Sharp at journal@baysat.net.
South Region
POETRY READING
September 22, Wednesday, 6:30 pm: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Professor Kimberly Blaeser will share poetry from her latest book Apprenticed to Justice. Of Anishinaabe ancestry and an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Blaeser grew up on the White Earth Reservation. She currently lives with her husband and children in the woods and wetlands of rural Lyons township in Wisconsin.

Blaeser teaches Creative Writing, Native American Literature, and American Nature Writing. She has been the recipient of awards for for both writing and speaking. Her publications include three books of poetry: Trailing You (1994), winner of the First Book Award from the Native Writers’ Circle of the Americas, Absentee Indians and Other Poems (2002), and Apprenticed to Justice (2007). Her scholarly study, Gerald Vizenor: Writing in the Oral Tradition (1996), was the first native-authored book-length study of an Indigenous author. Blaeser is also the editor of Stories Migrating Home: A Collection of Anishinaabe Prose (1999) and Traces in Blood, Bone, and Stone: Contemporary Ojibwe Poetry (2006). Blaeser's poetry, short fiction, and personal essays have been widely anthologized with pieces translated into several languages including Norwegian, Indonesian, Spanish, Hungarian, and French. At Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W. Main Street, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
Poetry Group
Author's Echo Writer's Group (which includes 6 WFOP members) meets at 7 pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of every month (major holidays excluded). At the present time we are meeting at Grace Church 257 Kendall St., Burlington, WI. A dinner meeting has been added in the months that have a 5th Tuesday. We try to rotate that meeting around to try a different restaurant every time. Contact Frank E. Konieska, fkonieska@tds.net, 262-534-6236.
POETRY READING
Quarterly Mondays, 8 pm: The Wildlife Refuge in Kansasville has readings on a 4-times-a-year poetry schedule. Next one Oct 4th. 3518 S Beaumont Ave, Kansasville 262-878-4766.
South Central Region

POETRY READINGS & Open Mikes
Upcoming Events at Avol's Bookstore, 315 W. Gorham, Madison. (608) 255-4730 or http://avolsbookstore.com/ for info.

9/2, Thursday, 7 pm: Poetry Open Mike.

9/9, Thursday, 7 pm:UW Student & member of First Wave Hip-Hop Theatre Ensemble, Marion Eric Lima, reads from his new chapbook, along with Dakota Alcantara-Camacho and Marne Bruckner.

9/26, Sunday, 2 pm: Poetry reading celebrating 20 years of publishing by Hummingbird: Magazine of the Short Poem, and its editor, poet Phyllis Walsh. Q & A to follow the reading.

Wisconsin Book Festival Events:
9/30, Thursday, 6:30 pm: COLD READ, an extemporaneous Polaroid-and-typewriter performance with photographer Tom Ferella was part of the "Word Play" show at the Kohler Art Museum in Sheboygan. A COLD READ exhibit opening with refreshments and a short talk, in conjunction with the WI Book Festival.

9/30, Thursday, 7:30–9 pm: A reading with Verse Wisconsin co-editors, Sarah Busse & Wendy Vardaman, & Wisconsin poets Karl Elder, Fabu, Susan Firer, Max Garland, Derrick Harriell & John Koethe on “Belief” will be held. Issue 104 will be available early, at the Book Festival.

10/1, Friday, 5:30 pm: Winners of the Wisconsin People & Ideas poetry and fiction contest read, as part of the Wisconsin Book Festival.

10/7, Thursday, 7 pm: First Thursday Open Mike Poetry Reading.

POETRY READING
Ronnie Hess will participate in a reading as part of the Wisconsin Book Festival from 5:30 PM- 6:30 PM at the Wisconsin Studio, Overture Center for the Arts, 201 State Street, Madison

POETRY READING
9/10, Friday, 7:30 pm: Monsters of Poetry presents: KEETJE KUIPERS, MATTHEW GUENETTE, JAMES CREWS, & C.E. PERRY! Live, The Project Lodge, 817 E. Johnson, Madison. $3 dollar suggested donation. It gets you one raffle ticket! BYOB. Pre-Party starting at 5pm at Mickey's Tavern.

POETRY Workshop
Sept. 13–Oct. 4, Mondays, 7–9 pm: Writing Poetry toward Publication, F.J. Bergmann, instructor. Wondering whether your poems are ready to submit? Flummoxed about which poetry to send to what journals? Baffled by selection of a cohesive set of poems for a chapbook manuscript? With Jeannie, learn to determine suitable venues for publication of your work, and how to organize your poems around specific styles and themes. Whispering Woodlands, Verona, WI. 4 weeks, $75; call Jackie at (608)848-9761, or Jeannie at (608)635-3966 for more info or to sign up. http://www.whispering-woodlands.com/

POETRY FESTIVAL
Sept. 24–25:The Friends of Lorine Niedecker are hosting the Lorine Niedecker Wisconsin Poetry Festival on Friday night September 24 and Saturday September 25 in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. The goal of the Poetry Festival is to celebrate Wisconsin poetry.

“Last year was an overwhelming success and we will continue the momentum,” said Ann Engelman, President of the Friends of Lorine Niedecker. The Festival offers opportunities for poets, publishers and those who appreciate poetry to gather, share, read poetry and raise awareness for poetry in our culture. “Wisconsin is rich with great literary history,” said Amy Lutzke, Resource Librarian at the Dwight Foster Public Library. “This festival is building a poetry tradition and Fort Atkinson, along the banks of the Rock River, is the perfect place to host this event. Fort Atkinson is home to poet Lorine Niedecker, a significant 20th -century poet. She is known nationally and internationally but has yet to be widely recognized in her home state. What better place to gather inspiration than this quiet place where the river runs through.”

The Festival will include workshops, poetry readings, presentations, opportunities to meet publishers and pick up the latest poetry buzz. Two workshops will be held; “Write Like a Poet: Tricks Poets Can Teach Every Writer” and a writers workshop on Blackhawk Island at the cabin of Lorine Niedecker. The Council for Wisconsin Writers Lorine Niedecker Poetry Award winner, Angela Sorby and other invited poets will read during an evening event “Wisconsin Poetry.”

A schedule is now posted to the www.lorineniedecker.org website or Google the Wisconsin Poetry Festival. For more information about the Poetry Festival, contact Ann Engelman 920-563-0416 or Amy Lutzke 920-563-7790.
POETRY CONFERENCE
Oct. 15–17: The Writing It Real in Madison Writer's Conference, Sheila Bender, Meg Files and Jack Heffron will help you take your writing to the next level with in-class exercises, craft lectures, manuscript workshops and one-on-one conferences—all included in one conference fee! The conference is being held at Holy Wisdom Monastery, Madison, October 15-17, 2010. For more information see their website at www.writingitreal.com or email conference@writingitreal.com.
POETRY Workshop
Oct. 17, Sunday, 1–4 pm: Submitting Poetry and Short Fiction, F.J. Bergmann, instructor. How do you select a journal to submit to? What is standard manuscript format? What should you include in a cover letter? Bring up to 10 or 12 poems or up to 3 short stories and we'll find appropriate venues for submission and cover the dos and don'ts of preparation.Whispering Woodlands, Verona, WI. $35; call Jackie at (608)848-9761, or Jeannie at (608)635-3966 for more info or to sign up. http://www.whispering-woodlands.com/
POETRY Workshop
Nov. 13, Saturday, 1–4 pm: SF, Fantasy, and Horror Poetry, F.J. Bergmann, instructor. Interested in bringing science fiction and fantastic themes into your poetry? This workshop focuses on generating imaginative content in speculative work, as well as presenting journals that publish these popular genres. Whispering Woodlands, Verona, WI. $35; call Jackie at (608)848-9761, or Jeannie at (608)635-3966 for more info or to sign up. http://www.whispering-woodlands.com/
POETRY Open Mike
Third Tuesdays, 7 pm
at University Bookstore—Hilldale, LiPS: Live Poet's Society, 702 N. Midvale Blvd., Madison, 608-238-8455.

POETRY READING & Open Mike
Second Fridays, 7:30 pm. Featured readers followed by open mike. For additional information contact Annie Randall at the Village Booksmith, 526 Oak St, Baraboo. 608-355-1001; villagebooksmith@yahoo.com.

POETRY READING & Open Mike
3rd Saturdays at 7 pm: Urban Spoken Word Poetry Slam, with featured reader and open mike.
Genna’s, Main St. on the Capitol Square, Madison. For info, e-mail David Hart at dahiii@hotmail.com.

West Central Region
EXHIBIT
As the result of "The Vison and the Word," a year-long collaboration between selected area poets and visual artists, the Chippewa Valley will be presenting a show of art and poetry at the Eau Claire Phillips Memorial Library beginning at 1:00 p.m. September 12. Three Sundays: September 12, 19, and 26 there will be readings and collaborative discussions from 2:00 to 3:30 in the lower level Eau Claire Room.

POETRY READING & Open Mike
Third Thursdays, 7 pm: On the third Thursday of each month (September through May), The Pump House Regional Arts Center in La Crosse sponsors a reading series. A featured poet receives a small honorarium. An open mic follows the featured poet's reading. The Pump House Regional Arts Center Reading Series, 119 King Street, La Crosse, WI 54601.

POETRY READING
First Fridays: The First Friday Poetry Reading, sponsored by Driftless Speakers, music at 7 pm, reading at 7:30, at Greenman Music Hall, 215 S Main Viroqua, WI.

Epidemic Peace Imagery:
This traveling joint exhibition continues to grow and travel; to contribute, construct an individual work of art with the sole constraint being 12" x 16" footprint or outside dimensions of frame. Poets/writers will compose a work that can be displayed on a surface of the same size.
Russell Gardner, art: rgj999@yahoo.com
Robin Chapman, writers: chapman@Waisman.Wisc.Edu

LitMag Swap Shop in Madison!
Monroe Street Branch Library, 1705 Monroe St., Madison, 266-6390. On a lower shelf south of the magazine shelves is a space for a literary journal-magazine swap. Bring in issues that you no longer wish to keep, and help yourself to those there! No charge and no check-out for these 'zines.