Connecting People
With Nature
Wachiska Program and General Meeting —
Thursday, November 13, 7:00 PM, Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street,
and also via YouTube link:
Beyond Words: The Poetry of Nature
with Twyla M. Hansen
Twyla M. Hansen’s newest poetry book is Feeding the Fire. She is the 2023 Winner-Nebraska Book Award and Finalist-WILLA Literary Award. She is a Larksong Writers Place board member, Humanities Nebraska Speaker’s Bureau creative writing presenter, and was the Nebraska State Poet 2013-2018. Her honors include: Nebraska Literary Heritage Award, Lincoln (NE) High School Distinguished Alumni Award, and Nebraska Center for the Book President’s Award. Her book, Rock•Tree•Bird won the 2018 Nebraska Book Award and WILLA Literary Award. Twyla’s writing is published in periodicals: Briar Cliff Review, The Café Review, Oakwood, Prairie Schooner, South Dakota Review; anthologies: More in Time: A Tribute to Ted Kooser, Nebraska Poetry Sesquicentennial Anthology 1867-2017; and websites:
Poetry Town (georgebilgere.com), Academy of American Poets, Poetry Foundation, Poetry Out Loud, and many more.
Hansen first started writing in a poetry class in the early 1980s at Nebraska Wesleyan University when she was employed there as the grounds manager and arboretum curator. I had never written a poem before that class, but discovered I had something to say, and did not stop writing when the class was over. For me, writing poetry is an on-going practice of paying attention.
She writes, “ I had never written a poem before that class, but discovered I had something to say, and did not stop writing when the class was over. For me, writing poetry is an on-going practice of paying attention.” Hansen has published eight books of poetry, of which four are still in print. Her newest book will be published by WSC Press in 2026. A running theme in all of Hansen’s books is place--this place on the Great Plains, and nature--including her own wildlife habitat/pollinator-friendly yard and the environment. She writes, “I believe it is not enough to just appreciate one’s surroundings in poetry, but to advocate for all creatures who inhabit our soil, water, and air.”
Join Wachiska on Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 PM at Lincoln’s Unitarian Church, 6300 A Street.
This free, in-person talk will also be live-streamed on YouTube at: https://youtube.com/live/RpOvZZUWf9k?feature=share
No registration needed. Check Wachiska’s website for links to past programs.
November 2025 Calendar of Events
November 3 Educataion Committee 6 PM Zoom
November 10 Conservation Committee via zoom, 6:30 p.m.
November 13 General Meeting and Speaker Series, 7 PM
Twyla Hansen, Unitarian Church
November 15 Newsletter Deadline: Noon
November 18 Board Meeting via Zoom, 7:00 p.m.
Join Wachiska Today
Become a member of the Wachiska chapter of the National Audubon Society and support environmental conservation, education, and outreach in Southeast Nebraska.
Click HERE for details.
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In September 2021, the Wachiska Board adopted the National Audubon’s Statement on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as the Chapter’s own goals:
The birds Audubon pledges to protect differ in color, size, behavior, geographical preference, and countless other ways. By honoring and celebrating the equally remarkable diversity of the human species, Audubon will bring new creativity, effectiveness and leadership to our work throughout the hemisphere.
Wachiska Audubon Society's vision is to share the experience and love for nature and help protect its diversity.
Join friends and neighbors to show your concern about our climate and our elected officials. Stop by the Wachiska office and pick up your Climate yard sign.
Signs that say “VOTE with CLIMATE in Mind” are available for $10 each. They are made of material that will hold up well to the elements and come with a metal holder to push into the ground. You are encouraged to put your signs out now for the fall elections. Since they are so durable, they could easily last three or four years even if kept out all year.
NEW! Wachiska is on YouTube
The photos on this website were taken by Wachiska members. Many thanks to Bruce Wendorff,
Linda Brown, Paul Johnsguard, Tim Knott, Stu Luttich, John Carlini and Elizabeth Nelson.