06/22/2026
WORKING POET - Dr. JANET STUTZ
By Ed Fink
Stutz is her name
Jingles, songs, rhythms and rhymes are her game
Not her meme, but mine!
Poised to present, to the podium she strode
Her poetic verses ready to be told
A stanza, bonanza would entertain and delight!
Featured speaker at a recent Rotary Club of Madison West Middleton meeting was Rotarian and accomplished poet Dr. Janet Stutz. My own weak effort above is a response to her end of talk challenge. Give poetry a go!
In addition to writing, Janet Stutz is a former teacher, principal and, in her capstone post, Superintendent of the Grinnell-Newburg Community School District in Iowa. Stutz now serves as South Central Regional Co-Op VP for the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. Janet is also one of our own Rotarians.
At some point in life’s journey, one may recall a formal introduction to poetry by a language arts teacher. An even earlier exposure to poetry may have been a ditty that rhymed, perhaps as part of a children’s storybook.
Dr. Seuss comes to mind. Maybe, your memory conjures up a parent’s voice reading a Dr. Seuss book to you at bedtime, or even receiving a book of his at your kindergarten, high school or college graduation. Perhaps, you were inspired by the line in “The Places You’l Go,” it being "So... get on your way!" However, as we’ve learned, rhyming is just one representation
of the art of poetry. Janet Stutz’s, poetry presentation to the Rotary Club of Madison West Middleton was enlightening, fun and offered a creative challenge at its conclusion. Always the teacher, Stutz had her audience take pencil in hand and try writing a bit of poetry ourselves. No grades were issued, for which this writer is grateful.
Stutz spoke of many different poetic approaches. In fact, a quick bit of research lists (take your choice), 3, 4, 9, 10, 12, 15 and 20 varieties thereof.
Janet Stutz’s personal initiation to poetry was from her dad, Ralph J.
Gilfether, former Mayor of Willowick, Ohio, who doubled as the family Easter Bunny. In his latter role, the big bunny would hide the family’s Easter baskets, leaving behind tips as to where they could be found.
The clues, written by Janet’s father, were in the form of limericks. Stutz has carried on the family’s poetic tradition, as has her daughter.
Janet Stutz considers herself a lyric poet, perhaps because of its rhythmic and musical form, two characteristics common also to limericks, though lyric poems are likely more serious than its more comic or b***y relative the limerick.
As a junior in high school, Janet found herself in an English class for the talented and gifted. Her sixteen year old self decided she was not qualified for the class and told Mr. Silva, her teacher, she didn’t belong.
He countered by telling her they would find her niche. Obviously, this future superintendent of schools did belong. Thank goodness for the Mr. Silvas of the world!
As an adult, Stutz dabbled in writing poetic verses for birthdays,
anniversaries, graduations, retirements, etc.
a younger woman, Janet always thought she would enjoy playing the guitar. On her 35th birthday, Janet’s husband bought her a guitar and set her on a course of lessons. She enjoyed it, and then took up the piano.
While Stutz liked her music lessons, she told her instructor she didn’t aspire to be able to play like the pros, but wanted to write melodies to accompany her poetic verses. And, now she can!
Stutz and her photographer brother John Gilfether combined to create a published book of poetry and landscape photos, titled “Discover Beauty Through Challenges.” In it, Janet includes a poem inspired by a sad incident from her early days as a teacher. A fellow faculty member came to Janet’s classroom seeking volunteers for a play she was planning to direct.
A young boy was one of the first to raise his hand, but his enthusiasm was immediately dashed by the drama teacher. Her response to him was a firm “no!” That memory never left Janet, inspiring a poem she called “The
Labeled Child.”
In it there is a message to teachers, about “breaking the
crutch,” seeing the possibilities in a child rather than perceived limitations.
After giving her presentation, Janet was asked if she would author a poem, the subject to be of her own choosing. For this article she wrote:
On Being a Rotarian
Gathering globally with a common vision
Serving communities, aligned in our mission
To build lasting peace and goodwill that will endure
Through fellowship, service, and motives that are pure
To serve as Rotarians is an honor we share
Connecting with neighbors to show that we care
One project at a time, we answer the call
Planting the seeds of abundance for all
We nurture a world for the tomorrows ahead
Vibrant and peaceful, healthy and fed
For Rotary opens new doors everyday
Through leadership and service, we pave a new way
To give of ourselves is the ultimate art
Changing the world, one project, with heart
(J. Stutz June 2026 - copyrighted
(Poem Used with permission)
To learn how you can be a Rotarian, contact
[email protected]
Janet Stutz Abby Benbow Middleton Cross Plains Times-Tribune Middleton Chamber of Commerce Mary Feldt Leo Edelstein Bill Mowbray Aune & Associates Inc, American Family Insurance Andrew T. Drake
