Wisconsin English

Joe Salmons, professor and a founder of the Wisconsin Englishes Project at UW-Madison, will explore the kinds of English spoken in our state, including pronunciation, words and word forms, and grammar. He will look at how key features of Wisconsin English have developed over time – and how remarkably recent they are – and how they are changing and becoming more distinct today. Our group is just developing a new set of maps about English in Wisconsin and we’ll walk through what they can tell us about language in the state.  [At this point, we have huge amounts of information and can customize the presentation around things that people are particularly interested in. So, please send along any questions about language and dialect ahead of time. And we always look forward to lots of Q&A.

Diane Forsythe sponsored this program in honor of her parents
Jane and Ernie Lindgren.

Earth Day: A Journalist's Reflections after 50 years

Bill Berry a journalist and writer has covered the environment most of his life. His 2014 book, "Banning DDT, How Citizen Activists in Wisconsin Led the Way," was named the top nature book of 2014 by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association. He writes a regular column for Madison's Capital Times newspaper frequently on environmental topics.

Barry will review the 50 years after the first Earth Day in 1970. He has covered environmental issues for most of those 50 years and will look at how the awareness generated in 1970 has continued to impact key environmental decisions at the state and national level. Examples will include issues of local, state and national importance, such as how the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act affected Wisconsin's natural resources and the public's understanding of environmental issues. Berry uses colorful anecdotes and stories gathered from five decades to add a human dimension to his work on the "environmental beat."

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Please thank Helen Robinson for sponsored this program.

The Chemistry of Paint Drying: It's more Fascinating than it sounds!

Allison Fleshman, PhD is a tenured physical chemist at Lawrence. Paintings embody human expression, but they also encompass quite a bit of chemistry! From the optical properties of varnish, to the pigments that produce vivid colors, Fleishman will take you on a chemical adventure into the captivating world of oil paintings. She has spent several years watching paint dry, and will assure you, it is quite a fascinating endeavor!

Changing Story of Poverty & Homelessness in our Community

Lori Prahl, Mission of Hope Ambassador, will speak on homelessness in our Waupaca community. Prahl founded the Mission of Hope House - the first homeless shelter in Waupaca County. She will include statistics on poverty and homelessness in Waupaca County as well as information about Mission of Hope House and other community resources available for the homeless in Waupaca. Prahl has information about how citizens can help end poverty and homelessness.