FAC spring series of ‘FACtalks’ to begin March 30

The Fort Atkinson Club (FAC) has announced a new slate of “FACTalks,” which is a series of free seminars beginning this spring. 

According to a recent news release, the FAC operates from a beautiful and historical building on the Rock River in downtown Fort Atkinson, 211 S Water St E.  

The first four talks will be held in the FAC theater, which is on the top level of the building. There is an at-grade entrance, and an elevator. Street parking is available.

Talks begin at 7 p.m. and are about 45 minutes each. Talks are followed by a question-and-answer period, the release stated.  

Talks are geared towards the residents of southeast Wisconsin and those interested in lifelong learning. The first four talks will be live and in-person. The last one, on May 25, will use a virtual format. A Zoom link is here: https://www.fortatkinsonclub.org/factalks/, the release continued. 

“I am so pleased to be able to welcome noteworthy people in our immediate area this spring. We have three award-winning authors from the Lake Mills and Jefferson area, and two other local organizations will be represented. All cultivate creativity, in different ways,” FAC Director Jill Kessenich was quoted as saying in the release. 

Short biographies, as supplied by FAC, of two upcoming speakers follow. 

Greg Renz, March 30

Fire Capt. Gregory Lee Renz was involved in a dramatic rescue of two little boys from their burning basement bedroom. He received a series of awards for this rescue including induction into the Wisconsin Fire and Police Hall of Fame in 2006. When he was asked to share the dramatic rescue at several awards banquets, he was moved by the emotional responses he received and was struck by the power of his storytelling. Gregory has always been an avid reader and thought maybe he could craft a compelling novel if he could learn how to get these stories on the page.

In 2008, Renz retired, exchanging his turnout gear for a writing desk to pursue his passion, storytelling. After numerous creative writing courses through the University of Wisconsin and countless workshops, conferences, and revisions, he finally typed “the end” to his book: Beneath the Flames,” which was inspired by two adorable little girls, around 8 and 5 years of age, who lived across from an inner-city firehouse he was stationed at for three years. Those two girls stayed in his thoughts over the years, demanding he tell their story.

Bill Stork, April 13

Dr. Bill Stork is a cradle flatlander who emigrated north across the Cheddar Curtain over 25 years ago and immediately became enamored with every square inch of Wisconsin, and most of her people. As a country vet he has worked shoulder-to-shoulder with folks who’s physical strength is dwarfed by their character and grit. Inspired by John Boy Walton, James Herriot, and Mike Perry, Stork has written three editions of the “In Herriot’s Shadow” series, a collections of short stories in celebration of humanity and an assault on the notion you never get a second chance to make a first impression. 

Storytelling rides his genes like chicken legs and snoring, but his dad’s words ring true: “Son, I never learned a thing with my mouth open.”  Stork lifts values gleaned from listening around the dinner table in Decatur, Ill., and campfires high on the Continental Divide and builds stories that are timely, relevant, and memorable. Stork is a regular guest of Larry Meiller on Wisconsin Public Radio and has appeared on dozens of local radio programs. He’s a frequent participant in Madison, Milwaukee, and Chicago Moth Story Slams and Grand Slams.

Stork lives between Jefferson and Fort Atkinson on a family compound with his wife Sheila and a small herd. 

For more information about FACTalks, contact director@fortatkinsonclub.org, or call 920-568-1720 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., weekdays.