April 2003

Friends of the Library banquet
honors two Montana writers
Prominent Montana writers Patricia Goedicke and Janine Benyus will be honored for their contributions to literature during the Friends of the Mansfield Library 40th Annual Spring Banquet on Wednesday, April 16.

The UM event starts at 6 p.m. at Missoula's Holiday Inn Parkside with a no-host social and exhibits. Dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Banquet tickets are $25 at the door. For more information, call Jerri Balsam at (406) 243-6800 or e-mail her at jerri@selway.umt.edu.

Goedicke will receive the H.G. Merriam Award for Distinguished Contributions to Montana Literature. An English professor in UM's creative writing program, Goedicke is author of 12 books of poetry -- most recently "As Earth Begins to End," which was listed among the top 10 poetry books by the American Library Association in 2000.

Her "The Tongues We Speak: New and Selected Poems" was named a "Notable Book of the Year" by The New York Times in 1990. She also has contributed to numerous anthologies, conducted many poetry readings and workshops, and received a great deal of awards, including the recent $3,000 Chad Walsh Poetry Award for her poem "Hole."

Goedicke, a Missoula resident, is the 25th recipient of the award. Previous winners include such distinguished authors as Richard Hugo, A.B. Guthrie, Annick Smith and James Welch. Last year's winners were Rick Bass and Joseph Kinsey Howard.

Janine Benyus of Stevensville will receive the Lud Browman Award, which honors outstanding contributions to scientific writing. She is the author of six books, including "Beastly Behaviors: A Watcher's Guide to How Animals Act and Why." Her latest book, "Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature," introduces scientists working with nature-based innovations that will change the way we grow food, make materials, harness energy, conduct business and more.

Benyus, who lectures at UM, said she works as a "biologist at the design table," helping designers, engineers and business leaders learn from life's genius. Her next book will explore home as habitat, taking a biological look at human habitat selection, nest building and "What makes us feel at home?"
Previous Lud Browman Award winners include John Craighead, Jack Horner, Dorothy Patent, David Quammen and Dick Manning.

The banquet raises money for The Friends of the Library, an organization that works to ensure up-to-date library holdings for students, researchers and the general public. The group promotes the library; supports temporary library staffing needs; and encourages the donation of books, manuscripts, photographs and other materials to UM.

University Relations | Cary Shimek, Editor
The University of Montana-Missoula
32 Campus Drive | Missoula, MT 59812
phone (406) 243-2522 | fax (406) 243-4520
© 2004 The University of Montana