Schedule 

Saturday, March 5, 2011 Lodi Woman's Club Library, 9:30-Noon
9:30-10:15 – Readings from “A Sand County Almanac”
10:30-Noon - Community Forum: “Lodi Going Green”

The first full weekend in March has been commemorated by the Wisconsin State Legislature and Governor James Doyle as Aldo Leopold Weekend, a time to celebrate the life and works of this Wisconsin conservation leader. The legislation for Aldo Leopold Weekend grew out of the Lodi Reads Leopold event that began in March of 2000.

Lodi Reads Leopold will once again come together to recognize this weekend. The day will begin with community volunteers reading aloud from “A Sand County Almanac.” You are invited to come and listen to your friends and neighbors as they share these words with you.

After the readings, the Community Forum will provide an opportunity to explore how the ideas of Leopold apply to the way we live our lives. This year’s forum topic will be “Lodi Going Green” and will feature a panel talking about different aspects of how Lodi is going green and what more we could be doing as a community. Panelists will include City of Lodi Mayor Mike Bilkey, Bruce Bushnell from Bushnell Ford, Mark Essex from Lodi United Methodist Church, and Chuck Pursell from the Lodi School District. Bill Haupt will moderate the panel, which will be followed by questions from the audience.

Participants are encouraged to continue their discussions at a local restaurant after the Forum. 

Community Readings throughout the month of March

Throughout the month of March the words of Aldo Leopold will be read in the community. Lodi Reads Leopold volunteers, including students from the Lodi Elementary School, have been invited to attend meetings of community organizations and read from the work of Leopold.

If your organization is interested in having a Leopold reader, please contact Patti Herman, (608) 592-5666 or billpatti@charter.net.

Book Discussion Group
Monday, March 28, 2011 - Lodi Woman’s Club Library, 7:00 p.m

On Monday, March 28 at 7 p.m. there will be a discussion of “Last Child in the Woods,” a book written by Richard Louv. In his groundbreaking work about the staggering divide between children and the outdoors, journalist and child advocate Louv directly links the absence of nature in the lives of today’s children to a number of disturbing childhood trends, including obesity, attention disorders, and depression. Come and join others to discuss the themes and implications of this book.

Saturday, March 26, 2011 – River Arts Center in Prairie du Sac – 7:00 p.m.
“Green Fire: Aldo Leopold & A Land Ethic for Our Time”

“Green Fire” explores the life and legacy of conservationist Aldo Leopold and the many ways his land ethic is living in the work of people and organizations all over the world today. The film shares highlights from Leopold’s career that shaped the modern environmental movement. Included in the film is some brief footage that shows Lodi Elementary School students reading at Lodi Reads Leopold.

Leopold Biographer Curt Meine will host a discussion at this event, which is sponsored by the Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance. The event is free, but donations at the door are accepted.

Please contact Patti Herman with any questions about the schedule; billpatti@charter.net or (608) 592-5666.