Western Colorado Writers' Forum newsletter 11/11

Folks,

            Thanks to everyone, about 140 of you, who came to "The Language of This Land" and drank from the well that October weekend.  If you missed it or want to relive it, see Uche Ogubji's  http://copia.posterous.com/poetry-western-slope-sty-lee & Wendy Videlock's blog http://nutshell-wendy.blogspot.com/2011/10/western-colorado-writers-conference.html.

We filmed it all. See Richard Ott's video of Ute elder Clifford Duncan's talk at http://vimeo.com/user2976550/videos.  Soon to be posted: conversations with Leslie Marmon Silko and novelist Laura Hendrie, Silko's  banquet reading, highlights from Dave Mason's banquet reading, the "Seven by Seven" poets' reading, and the speakers and elders at the Sunday community breakfast. A highlight video of the entire conference, including clips from many of the workshops and classes, will be released next week and eventually all will be up at www.westerncoloradowriters.org

Pretty wonderful.  This is my favorite time of the year, darkness descending, lights, ancient song and stories returning.  We'll hold "A Literary Christmas," readings & recitations of great Christmas literature, Dylan Thomas, Rudolfo Anaya, "'Twas," and the like, with gorgeous music, at 800 Colorado, on Friday eve, Dec. 2.  Come also to a free writing class at the library, "The Memory of Christmas," Saturday aft., Dec. 3^rd.  Other events coming up:

·        TH.Nov. 17^th CMU reading at Planet Earth (that's tomorrow)

·        SAT. Nov. 19^th Organizing meeting at 800 Colorado for new Rocky Mtn. Fiction Writers chapter.

·        Dec. 2 John & Ursula Nizalowski reading & music at Planet Earth

·        WCWF January, 2012 classes:  Wendy Videlock teaching poetry, Di Herald teaching teen fiction, and I'll teach "The Geography of Narrative."  More on this to come.

·        St. Benedict's, January:  no retreat, but come visit for a manuscript consultation.

·        Send in poems for "Out and About," then join us to read on KAFM.

·       Newish submissions calendar below for stories, poems and books.  A call for 99 poems for the 99%!

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CALL FOR POEMS and ON-AIR READINGS

Do send the Writers' Forum a poem for the Daily Sentinel "Out & About," seventeen lines or under, and after such stellar publication you'll be included in a roster of poets to read on KAFM. Poems are aired 6:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (depending on punctuality and programmer's state of being). Send poems or questions to WCWforum@gmail.com or call 256-4662.  We're really enjoying all your voices and always looking for new ones.  Don't be shy.  Send us two to five poems.

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Poets & Writers of Colorado Mesa University Reading Series

Planet Earth & The Four Directions Gallery - 524 Colorado Ave., GJ - Free

7 p.m. November 17:  Jennifer Hancock, Michele Hanson & Charles McLeod.

Michele Hanson teaches French and English composition at CMU. She has published personal essays in Travelers' Tales, A Mother's World and CU's Copper Nickel, and will be reading from a novel-in-progress.

Jennifer Hancock holds an MFA in Poetry from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in Creative Writing from Oklahoma State University. Her poems have appeared in many journals, including the Antioch Review, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Puerto del Sol. She was recently chosen as a finalist for the Wabash Poetry Prize by the editors of the Sycamore Review. She is Assistant Professor of English at Colorado Mesa University.

Charles McLeod's fiction has appeared in publications including Alaska Quarterly Review, Conjunctions, CutBank, The Gettysburg Review, The Iowa Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Post Road, The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses, Third Coast and ZYZZYVA. His first novel is American Weather, out now from Random House UK. Vintage UK will publish a collection of stories June of 2012.

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Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers

Western Slope Organizing Meeting

800 Colorado

9:30-noon Sat. Nov. 19^th

The Writers' Forum & Page Peddlers are co-sponsoring sponsor this meeting in the hopes of helping establish a future G.J. Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers chapter.  Cost is $1 per person to help pay for rent, coffee/tea and pastries.

RMFW members Vicki Law, her husband Mike, and Marne Kirk will first briefly talk about the organization, cost of membership, and benefits writers can expect. They will also discuss volunteer positions and what they will need from us in order to make the group happen.

The second part will be a discussion of the storytellers bible, electronic or paper, where writers keep information about their book(s): research they've done, character development, list of names, ages, culture, plot lines, maps, sketches, etc.

Bring a friend. 30 people are coming so far.  We'd like to have an estimated head count for handouts, coffee and pastries, etc.: please RSVP to shayfabbro@gmail.com ASAP.

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"A Literary Christmas"

Western Colorado Writers' Forum

7 p.m. Friday Dec. 2^nd   800 Colorado

Come join us for a literary Christmas with choral music, readings and recitations of classic poems and stories, such as "A Child's Christmas in Wales," "Twas the Night...," a Hispanic tale and others in our cozy, decorated church at 8th and Colorado.  Open to the public: Christmas sweets and hot cider, raffle and door prizes offered. 

Families welcome, and all asked to donate what you can in the Spirit of Christmas.  Registration encouraged:  email us at WritersForum@bresnan.net or  256-4662. 

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Reading & Music

7 p.m.Friday Dec. 2

Planet Earth & Four Directions Gallery

John Nizalowski and Isadora Nizalowski will be combining poetry and music in a free performance to be held at the on Dec. 2 at 7:00 p.m.  Free and open to the public. The Planet Earth Gallery is located at 524 Colorado Ave., Grand Junction.

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"The Memory of Christmas"

MCPL Central Library

2-4 p.m. Sat., Dec. 3

Come hear excerpts from classic Christmas stories and poems, view a clip from the great Christmas movies, and have the chance to write your own Christmas memory

as a story or poem with two WCWF authors.

Learn ways to make small book gifts, for little cost, from your stories.  Families welcome; activities provided for children age 5 and up.  Registration encouraged; call MCPL at 243-4442.  Sponsored by the Mesa County Public Libraries and the Writers' Forum.

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St. Benedict's Monastery, 2012

No retreat this year, but I will be in residence in a beautiful little mountain hermitage at the Snowmass monastery January 5-8^th.  If you're near Snowmass or Aspen, come visit me for a manuscript consultation.  I'll meet with a few people at $50/hour, a bright way to start fresh on a writing project in the new year.  Email sandydorr@bresnan.net to set up a time.   

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SUBMISSIONS CALENDAR

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Ø      :  A NEW JOURNAL:   BAREFOOT REVIEW

> Our purpose is to help people who have faced serious health issues. Published twice a year, on the winter solstice and summer solstice.  Seeking original work by people who have or have had physical difficulties in their lives from cancer to seizures, Alzheimer's to tumors. It is also a place for caretakers, families, significant others and friends to write about their experiences and relationships to the person.
> For Submissions Guidelines: http://www.barefootreview.org/
> Send email with work to submissions@barefootreview.org
>
> *******************************
>
> CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: POETRY ANTHOLOGY ABOUT REMEMBERING OUR MOTHERS AFTER THEY HAVE DIED
> Deadline:  February 28, 2012
>
> We seek emotionally honest and compelling submissions that will resonate with the reader. Desired poems will cover the initial raw grief through time to poems that are more uplifting. The intent is not to dwell on death itself but rather to place it in loving perspective.  Poetry max 100 lines. If previously published, please include reprint permission and literary credit.
> Send up to 5 submissions and brief bio.
> Submit in word doc to motherlosspoetry@gmail.com or mail to Mother Loss/Details, 8663 River Crossing Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46240.
>
> ******************************
> 

Willow Creek Journal

Call for Entries

Deadline:  February 28, 2011

The Willow Creek Journal is a yearly magazine containing writings and artwork by residents & visitors to Creede, Mineral County, & the San Luis Valley.  Entry Rules:

·                    Writers - Submit up to three (3) pieces of original work (poetry, essays, or short stories) No Longer Than 1,000 Words.

·                 Artists - Submit up to three (3) original works (paintings, drawings, etchings and photographs)

Prizes:  In 2011, we will be awarding a $50 First Place Prize for Poetry in three categories: Elementary, Junior High/High School, & Adult

Please include a short bio about yourself, as well as a phone number, email address and mailing address. Include your age category if you wish to be considered for our $50 prize. Artwork entries need to be on disc with a high resolution digital file. Please snail mail artwork. For prose and poetry, save as a .doc file (we cannot take .docx), and e-mail your submissions to creedearts@gojade.org. If this is not possible, type your submissions and mail to:

Creede Arts Council, P.O. Box 392, Creede, CO  81130

We will also be offering a five week writing workshop that will explore both fiction and poetry writing in Creede. Beginning January 25^th, this workshop will be open to teens and adults. For more information or to sign up for the writing workshop, please contact the Creede Arts Council office: 658-0312 or creedearts@gojade.org

The Creede Arts Council is proud to be able to provide this unique literary journal and appreciates the excellent contributions made to it over the years. 

> ***************************************

> CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: ADANNA LITERARY JOURNAL, A NEW JOURNAL BY AND ABOUT WOMEN
> Deadline: November 30, 2011
> Dr. Christine Redman-Waldemeyer, founder and editor. For submission guidelines.  http://adannajournal.blogspot.com/
>
> ***************************************
>
> CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: SOLO NOVO, A JOURNAL OF POETRY
> Deadline: December 31, 2011
>
> Solo Novo publishes journals of poetry, prose, translations, book reviews, artists books, chapbooks. They seek to publish work that speaks to our times.  Please visit Solo Novo on facebook, duotrope and Poets & Writers.
>
> info@solopress.org
> solopress.org
> Paula C. Lowe, Managing Editor
> ******************************************
>
> CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: 99 POEMS FOR THE 99 PERCENT
>
> A blog featuring 99 poems that address the social, political, economic, aesthetic, and cultural realities of the 99 percent.
> Since Walt Whitman, American poetry has been about democracy. It's been about reaching people on issues they care about in a voice they recognize. 99 Poems for the 99 Percent demonstrates how the aims of poetry are in concert with the aims and ambitions of the vast majority of Americans. It is proof that poetry can speak in a vital, robust, and meaningful way about real issues to real people.
 Part of the purpose of this project to expand the scope of poetry. To that end, I invite all readers and writers to submit a poem for consideration. A large percentage of the poems published on this blog will be chosen through the submission process. So, embrace democracy and send a poem!
>
Guidelines: Please send one poem pasted in the body of an email to 99poems99percent@gmail.com. Feel free to include a cover paragraph and a 1-2 sentence explanation of the poem.  http://99poemsfor99percent.blogspot.com/
>
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>
> CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR POETRY CONTEST: CYCLAMENS AND SWORDS PUBLISHES POETRY, PROSE AND ART
> Deadline: November 30, 2011
>
> Awards: First prize $300, second prize $100, third prize $50 and seven honorable  mentions
>
> Full guidelines at http://cyclamensandswords.com/contest_guidelines.php
> Still accepting submissions for December issue

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To receive WCWF's monthly newsletter, contact Sandra Dorr at <sandydorr@bresnan.net>

 Danny and Uche at Language of This Land

Up Bear Creek / 10nov25011

Today’s date would be Nov. 10, 25011

NORTH AMERICAN CALENDAR … Okay, I’m done with the Julian calendar that the Christians turned into the Gregorian calendar. Time for a new dating system to mark when humans first came to the New World. The latest issue of Scientific American suggests that the exact date is somewhere between 25,000 and 15,000 years ago. So, let’s take the oldest date of that spread, since science has been pushing back that first human step on North (or South) America ever since we started examining the fossil evidence … Of course, we don’t want to set up an arbitrary calendar with no relation to the current system. That would be too chaotic. And there’s a good chance that future scientific breakthroughs will modify the date. So, let’s track the Gregorian/Julian calendar dates in this transition period. Instead of 2011, making Day One the birth of the Christian Christos (“anointed one”), let’s start a North American Calendar that makes Day One the oldest possible first footfall of Homo sapiens on the New World – 25011.

SMART METERS? … There was a very informative seminar I got to attend last weekend in Ridgway about the new automatic meter reading boxes that San Miguel Power Association is in the process of installing, employing California corporation Aclara’s advanced metering infrastructure called TWACS – two-way automatic communications system … I learned of many sensitives for whom “smart meters” are a diabolical torture system that gives them headaches, tinnitus, rashes, fatigue and a host of debilitating symptoms. So debilitating that many have taken to sleeping in backyards or moving to remote areas off the grid. And it’s estimated 3-7% of the population has these electromagnetic sensitivities. For them, installing TWACS meters is a disaster – it will force some to move out of their homes … I learned of privacy issues, in addition to health issues, and the vulnerability of these systems to terrorist disruptions and blackouts … And yet when I talk to SMPA reps, they tell me just the science shows there are no effects. There is no problem. Industry studies are conclusive … Frankly, I’m quite confused. And worried that SMPA is installing these meters without taking the time to educate the public in the face of the spreading controversies over their use … I think it’s time SMPA slowed down, engaged the public with educational seminars showing us what the science is, and explaining the many incidences of physical ailments seemingly attributable to electromagnetic frequencies and dirty electricity … I recommend you visit the dirty electricity website <dirtyelectricity.org> and the website of the principal speaker at the Ridgway seminar, Josh Hart <stopsmartmeters.org> … And I also recommend you call SMPA and get their perspective and information on this issue … Right now, I don’t know which side to trust completely. I think it’s up to every citizen and SMPA coop member to educate themselves on this issue … But I can’t help but feel that the precautionary principle ought to apply. Where there’s this much smoke, something’s on fire. And we need to slow SMPA down, call a temporary halt to the installations of these meters and find out exactly where the truth lies. If we’re forcing even only 3-7% of our citizens from their own homes with this mandatory installation (that even opting out has no effect on), then we’ve all got a problem.

WEEKLY QUOTA … “I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is a shame; two is a law firm; and three or more is a Congress.” -John Adams

OOPS … Left a sentence dangling last week in speaking of Midge Carriere’s passing. Her granddaughter, Wendy Campbell, used to babysit my little ones at Midge’s home. I remember taking 3-year-old Wylder Wilson there one winter evening. Holding him in my arms, I slipped on ice on the way up the driveway. Somehow -- instinct takes over at a moment like that -- I managed to get a hand behind Wylder’s head and cushion the blow as we fell backwards and landed hard … I remember taking her a copy of Jim Davidson’s novel, Mine Work (Utah University Press, 1999), and how pleased Midge was to read his historical fiction story about Rico … Again, condolences to the family. 

REDISTRICTING … Club 20 recently testified in Denver against the proposal to move the east end of San Miguel County into House District 59, and leave the west end (and Norwood) in the 58^th – proving once again that Club 15 doesn’t speak for San Miguel County, and our decision to leave that group was a wise one.

TRUE COST ACCOUNTING … From paved roads to exploration tax breaks to military action to secure our oil supply lines, the Feds subsidize the real cost of gasoline in this country. In Britain it costs about $10 a gallon these days. But even that cost doesn’t take into account the social and ecological damage done by driving – from carbon emissions to bad air and polluted waters ... According to Economics for Equity and the Environment Network, you should add in about $9 more a gallon to offset those impacts. And thus, the true cost of a gallon of gas ought to be $19 a gallon ... And it will cost our children even more.

THE TALKING GOURD

The only thing

he ever really stroked

was my ego.

-Shannon Johnson

Colorado Springs

Up Bear Creek / 3nov50011

First Americans here as

early as 25,000 years ago

NEW WORLD CALENDAR … I’ve been toying for years with a new calendar to match our Christian-refined Graeco-Roman calendar and yet reflect our ancient history as humans in the New World – the arrival of the first Homo sapiens in North and South America being the baseline date that seemed the most relevant for our species (not just one religious sect). For the last few decades, 12,500 Before the Christian Era [BCE] – or 14,500 years ago -- seemed to be the earliest fossil evidence for humans in this place. The theory went that Clovis people migrated over the land bridge across the Bering Sea and populated the New World … However, recent archaeological finds have thrown that timetable (and that theory) into disarray. The November issue of Scientific American details the change in thinking of pre-history in the New World and the real dates for the arrival of H. sapiens – somewhere between 25,000 and 15,000 years ago … Voilà, a new calendar start date emerges (more on this next week).

MIDGE CARRIERE … One of the kindest and sweetest of the elders in the region, it was very sad to hear of her passing. I remember an interview I did years ago in Norwood with Mildred Carriere for the newspaper – she told wonderful stories and had a great grasp of Telluride’s history. And she had wonderful family in Norwood, including her daughter Charlotte Royer and son Moe Carriere … She will be dearly missed.

WEEKLY QUOTA … It’s not the mistakes you make, it’s what you make of your mistakes.

RICK CABLES … Our former USFS regional forester has taken a job under Mike King at the Dept. of Natural Resources, in the Hickenlooper administration, overseeing the merger of the Division of Wildlife with the Division of State Parks. It’s a cost-cutting measure, but not at the expense of one program over the other (although State Parks is broke and DOW has significant hunting revenues). It just takes out some senior management positions and combines them into one, and leaves most everything else intact – perhaps a few duplicated services … I’ve liked Rick since we met years ago. I’ve known a number of regional foresters for the Rocky Mountains, and Rick has been the most accessible, willing to listen, and supportive of his forest supervisors as well as local governments. Since his USFS office was in Denver, moving from Federal Heights to Sherman Street near the Capitol wasn’t a big jolt. In fact, it beat moving to DC, which could have been his career track, if he’d chosen that … As another Colorado hand did – Jim Hubbard – former State Forester who’s gone on to become Deputy Chief … But who wants to go to DC these days when the politics are so acrimonious. It’s almost gridlock at the top. Nothing much can get done. And Rick likes to get things done. He and GMUG Forest Supervisor Charlie have lots of claims to fame, but none more controversial recently than the denial of the ski expansion into Crested Butte’s Snodgrass Mountain. The matter went all the way up to Asst. Ag Secretary Harris Sherman (another friend of Telluride) and their decision stood … But what I like most about Rick is his philosophy of devolving authority down to the grassroots – a deeply Green thought. In the new Div. of Parks & Wildlife, he’s using “regionalization” to get district managers more involved in state planning and operations – and for tailoring state decisions to their local regions … When I pressed him on an OHV question, he produced Tom Morrissey, his state trails program manager. And commissioners from four alpine counties who share a unique OHV ranger program have already started a conversation with Tom … Things may not work in DC. But in Denver, and in San Miguel County, some bureaucrats and some local elected officials are trying to get things done.

TELLURIDE TIRE … Stuart Armstrong was giving away free raffle tickets for a ski pass to folks who loaded up on four new snow tires this year. Even without giveaways, I like Stuart’s prices and quick, friendly service down in Illium Valley … This is one place where goods are “cheaper in Telluride.”

THE TALKING GOURD

Mazurka

Early morning snow flurry melts

within an hour.

During which, Dream Queen,

what did you achieve?

I listened to a crow's mazurka

on a pebble roof.

Anne Valley-Fox

From How Shadows Are Bundled, UNM Press, 2009

Up Bear Creek / 27oct50011

Mail-in Ballots & Instant Runoff Voting

ENDORSEMENTS … Shucks. Off-season elections are hard … Thank goodness for the mail-in ballot. Something my postal union Dad always championed (although I bet he might be cursing first-term Obama the way he cursed second-term Bush, given all that hasn’t happened – Guantanamo, Iraq, Afghanistan, job turnaround – and the little that has, thanks mostly to a dysfunctional split-party Congress) … I can see good arguments on both sides for and against the small state tax increase for education. I’ll probably vote for it, even though I pay for a public education system that I don’t use, preferring the Telluride Mountain School for my children, in spite of the added cost … And I must say that I really haven’t an opinion on the Norwood School Board elections. I’m just sad that Marty Hollinbeck threw in the towel, as she was a breath of fresh air at the Norwood School. And I hope she’ll stay involved, as one of my fellow Green Party members in the county … In Telluride’s municipal elections, it’s tricky for me since I know some of those running very well. Like my birth-twin David Oyster (Aug. 18. 1945) and activist Chris Myer – both of whom have been regulars at our ten-year-running noon Peace Walk down Colorado Avenue on the 11^th of every month. Glad I don’t have to choose between those two, both of whom would be good mayors … Plus, I think Stu has done a fine job as mayor, winning the presidency of the Colorado Association of Ski Towns and managing to fairly represent one of the most intelligent (and fractious) communities on the Western Slope (To-Hell-U-Ride) … Thom Carnevale has also done well as an incumbent councilmember, and I love his column that keeps us abreast of the liberal side of the national argument … Eileen McGinley is an old friend and ally on many causes (although, like everyone, we disagree sometimes on some things). She’d be a good councilperson … Mark Buchsieb has always had the community at heart …  I think Benjamin Steenblik would make a great young person’s rep on council … And I just met Kristen Permakoff, who seems genuinely interested in contributing to the political discourse after 17 years here (how did we never meet?) … It’s a cliché, but in these times of government-bashing, it’s good to have a great slate of able citizens from many different perspectives running for elected office as potential representatives of the Town of Telluride … I’ve heard a lot of bad-mouthing of Instant Runoff Voting (and Aspen and Boulder have had some problems with the results), but it will be good to give this ballot innovation a local test drive. It seems to be one way to open the political process to multiple candidates in the face of a two-party lock on the electoral system in this country (although it may not work so well in non-partisan elections) … Oh, and don’t forget to put a stamp on your mail-in ballot – even voting isn’t free anymore.

NORWOOD … I just have to say, I’m sure loving Norwood these days. Our wonderful Uncompahgre Medical Clinic not only has a superb new sliding-fee dental wing, but it’s one of the state’s leaders in moving towards Behavioral Medicine … The Farmer’s Market was small this summer, but a great alternative to long-distance foods … Although I was out of town, I heard Wright’s Stuff fundraiser dinner was a great success … The whole community is proud of Robin Snyder’s award as Colorado Early Childhood Professional of the Year for her excellent work as Director and Lead Teacher of the Norwood Preschool (preschool education being a field I actually trained for in college) … Cheers to our Sheriff’s Office for the naming and capture of (most of) the bad guys & gals in the legal pot grow-op raid … Wonderful to see Wright’s Mesa ranchers get a third cutting of hay this year … Kudos to county poet laureate Ellen Metrick’s directing of a youth production of the Tempest at the Livery … And the list goes on…

ELEGY … “I am not among those fortunate enough to have called Michael Johnson a friend, although our relationship was always amicable. There were, however, two unusual aspects to our relationship. His daughter, Loren, and mine, Chanoane, were playmates when children. Loren would come down into the canyon to spend the night with us, or vice versa, as children often do. As a result, Michael and his wife, Bev, would invite me along on family camping trips to the canyons of the West End, when Wright’s Mesa was beginning to feel the heavy hand of winter, and my daughter was off in the Front Range with her mother … That Loren could come down to spend the night was unusual in light of the more unique aspect of our relationship. You see, I live in a house that Michael built. He did not build it as a spec house, but as a place for himself and his family. He and Bev lived in a small attached shed, now a mud room, while he build the rest of the house. It was the early ‘80s and Michael was a contractor. Unfortunately his business came upon hard times (my understanding is that it was due to circumstances beyond his control), and he was forced to sell his home to meet his financial obligations … I had loved the place from afar and put in the fest offer I could muster without ever setting foot. Some Texans outbid me by about 10%. It was money for which I knew Michael and his family had a great need, yet I got the home! Michael’s comment was, “I didn’t build the place to be a hunting lodge for some Texans. I built it to be the home for a little girl.” … He got his wish. I raised Chanoane here in a home we both dearly love, and I am to this day grateful for the understanding heart of Michael Johnson.” – Jim Rosenthal of Naturita Canyon

THE TALKING GOURD

Now That You

Think you

Know

You

Better

Let Go

-Jack Mueller

Log Hill Village