In the Spring the spirit waxes and POETRY blossoms! Poetry is our theme for the seventh Symposia. A Series and our guest presenter will be Mary Jo Thompson, a career public grade school teacher who, for over two decades has allowed her other passion to blossom. Her poems have been published, or will be, in multiple journals such as: the Beloit Poetry, Journal, Indiana Review, Carolina Quarterly, Great River Review, Minnesota Poetry Calendar, Poetry Motel, North Coast Review, Sow’s Ear Poetry Review and Minnesota Monthly. She has collaborated with textile artist Mary Hark to create public installations of poetry and paper; her poem, “Eating the Book,” can be viewed at the Minnesota Center for Book Arts at the Open Book in Minneapolis; her poem, “The Heart’s Map,” is installed at the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul. Mary Jo's poems provide text for Night Voices, a composition by Harry Chalmiers for harp and violin commissioned by the Minnesota Schubert Club. She received an MFA in Poetry from the Warren Wilson College Program for Writers in 2009 her sonnet series, “Thirteen Months,” has been selected by guest editor Kevin Young for inclusion in Best American Poetry 2011. Symposia. A Series is limited to 30 for the four-course, wine-paired, chef-driven, family- style meal. Cost is $30/pp.