Jeff McAndrew Named Poet Laureate in NFDL (Audio)

Please welcome Spillman Public Library’s first ever Poet Laureate, Jeff McAndrew! The library plans to incorporate and encourage the use of poetry to unite our community through our new Poet Laureate volunteer position.

McAndrew writes, ““I am deeply honored and humbled to accept the position of North Fond du Lac’s first ever Poet Laureate. It is a privilege to be recognized for my passion for poetry and its ability to bring people together.

As Poet Laureate, I am genuinely committed to promoting the arts and enriching the cultural life of our community. I believe that poetry has the power to transcend boundaries and foster empathy, and I hope to use my position to encourage others to explore the transformative possibilities of the written word.

I am grateful to those who have supported me on my journey as a writer, including my family, friends, and fellow poets. I especially want to thank the North Fond du Lac Spillman Library and the library board for entrusting me with this important role. I look forward to working with them and other community organizations to make poetry accessible to all.

Finally, I want to thank the people of North Fond du Lac for embracing the arts and recognizing their importance in our lives. It is my hope that my tenure as North Fond du Lac Poet Laureate will be a time of exploration, learning, and inspiration for all who call this wonderful community home.“

BIO:

Jeffrey McAndrew is a former radio talk show host and award-winning radio reporter. He is also a published author of four books, the latest of which is a collection of poems called “My Heart At Ease.” (2022) Jeffrey is also president of his local writer’s club called “The Wordsmiths” in North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. Jeffrey was named North Fond du Lac Library’s inaugural Poet Laureate March 2023.

Jeff is a former KFIZ News Director. Click below to listen to Jeff’s conversation with Shawn Kiser on KFIZ Today.