2010 Spring Schedule
January 2010 Public Affairs Forum
Sunday, January 3rd
Bruce Elfant, Travis County Constable Precinct 5
“Criminal Justice Issues in Travis County; Includes Veterans and Upcoming Census”
Bruce Elfant has been a Travis County Constable since 1993 and currently serves as First Vice President of the Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas. In hopes of helping veterans suffering from mental illness and substance abuse, Travis County authorities are looking at creating a special veterans court docket, which would channel those charged into treatment and social services rather than incarceration. Bruce will also discuss the upcoming Census.
Sunday, January 10th
Mark Updegrove, Director of the LBJ Library, Author, Political Commentator.
“Works of the Presidency and Taking the LBJ Library to New Heights of Excellence”
Mark Updegrove, is the Director of the LBJ Library and author of two major works on the Presidency; “Second Acts: Presidential Lives and Legacies After the White House”, and “Baptism By Fire; Eight Presidents Who Took Office in Time of Crisis”. His previous positions include; Publisher of Newsweek, President of Time Canada, and an Executive with Yahoo! Inc. He’s appeared on ABC News, CNN C-Span, Fox News, and NPR. He’ll share his insight into the Works of the Presidency and where he plans to take the LBJ Library, located on the UT Campus right here in Austin, TX.
Sunday, January 17th
Laura Morrison, City of Austin Council Member
“An Inside Look Into the Issues Important to Austinites from City Hall”
Laura Morrision was elected to serve as an Austin City Council Member in June of 2008. Prior to taking office, Laura served as a community volunteer in many roles, including President of the Austin Neighborhoods Council (ANC). As a Council Member she’s the Chair of the City Council’s Emerging Technology and Telecommunications Committee, sits on the Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Committee, member of the Public Health and Human Services Committee and the Audit and Finance Committee. She’ll share her perspective from City Hall and discuss the critical issues important to Austin as we start 2010.
Sunday, January 24th
Terri Burke, Executive Director of the ACLU of Texas
“Righting Texas’ Civil Wrongs”
Terri Burke has been Executive Director of the ACLU of Texas for two years. A lifelong journalist, Terri was previously a political and investigative reporter. Including positions with the Dallas Morning News and the Austin American-Statesman. Despite urban area election results that suggest a more progressive population, our legislature and our courts continue to bow to a small percentage who would rewrite the U.S. Constitution to match their extremist views. Only through integrating grassroots education with lobbying and litigation can we stop the shotgun assault on the Constitution. She’ll discuss the ACLU of Texas’ strategic campaign to change state laws.
Sunday, January 31st
Susan Cooper, Founder of BodyBusiness and M.A. Psychologist
“Rise and Shine: Feeling Good and Longevity”
Susan Cooper, Founder of BodyBusiness and M.A. Psychologist will inspire us to let go of lethargy and rise and shine. She is well known for her excellence in fitness programming. BodyBusiness is rated as one of the top 10 aerobics studios in the US by Shape Magazine. Susan is on the Board of Directors of the International Health and Racquet Sportsclub Association, representing 9,000 fitness and health facilities in 74 countries. Hang onto your seats as Susan Cooper discusses feeling good and longevity.
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February 2010 Public Affairs Forum
Sunday, February 7
No Forum. RE has Howson Hall for Valentine’s Party
Sunday, February 14
Dr. Bruce J. Hunt, Associate Professor of History, UT
“Darwin and Religion”
Amid the many commemorations last year of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his Origin of Species, one issue always took a central place, even if not directly addressed: that of Darwin and religion. What implications, if any, did Darwin’s theory have for religious belief? How have religious responses to Darwin’s theory changed — evolved, one might say — over the past century and a half? What in fact were Darwin’s own religious views, and how did they change during his life? A brief review of these questions will give us a more rounded view of Darwin and his theory, and will shed light on controversies that continue to this day.
Sunday February 21
Alyssa Burgin, Executive Director of the Texas Drought Project
“Perpetual Drought: The Coming Water Crisis in Texas”
Makes the connections between climate change and our already sad state-of-affairs in water management in Central Texas and beyond.
Sunday, February 28
Jim Henson
“The Texas Politics Project”
Jim Henson directs the Texas Politics Project and teaches in the Department of Government at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received his Ph.D. In the late 1990’s, he helped design public interest multimedia for the Benton Foundation in Washington D.C. In 2008 he and a colleague established the first statewide, publicly available internet survey of public opinion in Texas. Join us for a fascinating look into the world of political surveying and polling. You’ll also have a front-row seat to the latest survey/polling data on Texas Politics!
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March 2010 Public Affairs Forum
Sunday, March 7th
Karen Huber, Travis County Commissioner
“Top Issues Confronting Travis County”
As one of four Travis County Commissioners, Karen Huber is the elected official representing the residents of Precinct 3 in Travis County. The commissioners and the county judge are the chief policy-making and administrative branch of county government. Karen is a 6th generation Texan. She’ll discuss the important issues facing Travis County, including land use (and lack there-of, which is an issue in itself), environmental issues, including our ongoing concerns about a lack of drinking water in our future, transportation issues, and others. We’ll learn about these issues and engage in Q&A with the newest addition to the Travis County Commissioner’s Court!
Sunday, March 14th
Margaret Perry, Director of Education for Austin Lyric Opera
“The Vital Role of Music in Our Daily Lives”
A native Texan, she’s been a music educator for 36 years. For the past 17 years, Ms. Perry has been the director of Education for Austin Lyric Opera. In April of 2000, she became the founding director of the Armstrong Community Music School, the 1st school in the world to be established by an opera company. In 2003, the State of TX declared a day in honor for Margaret’s 30 years of advocacy and education. Join us for this fascinating and soul-enriching look into “The Vital Role of Music in Our Daily Lives”!
Sunday, March 21st
Paul Sullivan, Executive Director of Veterans for Common Sense,
“America’s Human Toll from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars”
Veterans for Common Sense is a non-profit with offices in Wash. DC., and Austin. Paul has more than 15 years of experience providing advocacy for fellow veterans. He frequently testifies before Congress. Paul has appeared in hundreds of news articles and appeared on “60 Minutes’ in January, 2010. Join us for this significant and powerful look into “America’s Toll from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars”.
Sunday, March 28th
Gardner Selby, Austin American-Statesman PolitiFact Texas Editor,
“Sorting out the Truth in Politics”
Gardner Selby is a longtime Austinite who many of you know from seeing his front-page columns as the Chief Political Writer for the Austin American-Statesman in recent years. Selby has recently been promoted to Editor of “PolitiFact Texas”, a partnership of the Austin American-Statesman and PolitiFact.com. PolitiFact Texas aims to expose the truth in Texas with its “Truth-O-Meter”, which you’ve probably seen in Austin American-Statesman articles. Learn about the fascinating methodology of the Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact.com and this exciting new partnership with the Austin American-Statesman in their ongoing mission to “Sort Out the Truth in Politics”!
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April 2010 Public Affairs Forum
Sunday, April 4 Easter – No Forum
Sunday, April 11
Mary Gordon Spence, Writer, Commentator, Storyteller
“Finding Magic in the Mundane“
Author of “Finding Magic in the Mundane”, Austin humorlosopher (she made up that word) Mary Gordon Spence had an epiphany during a recent funeral service. She decided to celebrate all the paradoxes in life rather than trying to resolve them. Mary Gordon is always on the lookout for magic amid the mundane. As a writer, commentator and storyteller, she regales her audiences with that magic.
A master of diversity, Mary Gordon has taught school—from kindergarten to college, lived in Latin America, worked for a former US president and always keeps her television volume on an even number. She delivers engaging and entertaining presentations around the nation. She writes a regular column for the Austin American Statesman (that appears irregularly), provides commentary for KUT Radio, and is working on her second ook. Get ready to be entertained and stimulated by Austin author and master storyteller Mary Gordon Spence.
Sun., April 18th
Brewster McCracken, Executive Director, Pecan Street Project
“Reinventing the Energy Delivery System”
Former Austin City Council Member Brewster McCracken, now the Executive Director of the Pecan Street Project, will be our speaker on April 18th. McCracken will share this exciting adventure in community-wide collaboration to establish Austin as America’s Clean Energy Laboratory and fully re-invent the energy delivery system. The Pecan Street Project is an ambitious effort to empower customers and innovators to use the energy system in new ways while making energy cleaner, water usage more efficient, and the economy stronger. Join us for exclusive and exciting speech and Q&A!
Sunday, April 25
Fady Joudah, Palestinian Poet, Translator, and Physician
“The Middle East: Poetry and Politics“
Fady Joudah was born in Austin, Texas in a Palestinian refugee home. He is a physician of internal medicine in Houston and a field member of Doctors Without Borders. He is also a world class translator and poet. He is well published in the field of medicine. He has held posts in Darfur and Zambia. His literary works have appeared in several journals and anthologies. His translation of Mahmoud Darwish’s most recent poetry is in the Butterfly’s Burden from Copper Canyon Press. He is the recipient of the Yale Series for Younger Poets Award for 2007 (the first Arab American to be awarded the prize); he was finalist for ForeWord magazine poetry book of the year in 2008. Dr. Joudah will speak on the Middle East and how his experiences have shaped his careers in medicine and poetry. Please welcome this outstanding native son of Austin.
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May 2010 Public Affairs Forum
Sunday, May 2
John Pipkin, Author of acclaimed best-seller, “Woods Burner” and College Professor.
WOODS BURNER – A Book About Henry David Thoreau.
John Pipkin, who holds a Doctorate in Romantic Poetry from Rice U. and served as Executive Director of the Writers’ League of Texas from 2006 to 2008, draws a detailed picture of then 26-year-old Thoreau as a conflicted man, on of the verge of abandoning his literary aspirations. A year before he embarked on his Walden experiment, Thoreau was responsible for a forest fire that consumed 300 acres of Concord’s woods. There has always been a debate about how his guilt over the fire impacted the rest of his life and his decision to move into the cabin in the woods. Pipkin draws on Thoreau’s feelings of isolation and indecision. This story deals with Unitarians at that time, including Thoreau’s friend Ralph Waldo Emerson. Pipkin illuminates a dramatic episode in Thoreau’s life and turns it into a gripping and profound work of fiction. You won’t want to miss this program by one of our own Austinites about one of our own spiritual family.
Sunday, May 9
David Oshinsky, U.T. Professor in History
Polio: A Look Back At America’s Most Successful Public Health Crusade
David Oshinsky holds the Jack S. Blanton Chair in History at the University of Texas and is a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at New York University. His books include “A Conspiracy So Immense: The World of Joe McCarthy,” which won the Hardeman Prize for the best book about the history of the U.S. Congress; “Worse Than Slavery,” which won the Robert Kennedy Prize for its distinguished contribution to human rights; and “Polio: An American Story,” which won the Pulitzer Prize for History. His reviews and essays appear regularly in the the New York Times and other national publications. His latest book, “Capital Punishment on Trial” was published this year.
Sunday, May 16
Jaron Winston, MD, President of Senior Adults Specialty Healthcare and Vice President of Senior Adults Specialty Research
Enhancing the Quality of Life for Senior Adults
Dr. Winston is nationally know and internationally acclaimed for his dedication to enhance the quality of life for senior adults through psychiatric support services. His many articles have set the highest standard for clinical research about depression and dementia. His services provide support for family and patients and education about growing older as we live longer. Among many positions and in addition to his practice, he is Medical Director of Geriatric Services at St. David’s Pavillion and Section Chief, Dept. of Psychiatry, St. David’s Medical Center. He has been called on by the Attorney General’s office for numerous forensic evauations. Dr. Winston has devoted himself to treating geriatric patients and teaching countless people how to lead a productive, active, and rewarding life in the later years. He maintains that there is no age at which a person has to stop growing emotionally, stop maturing, and stop increasing intellectual growth. If you are growing older or have family members who are physically aging, you won’t want to miss Dr. Winston’s advice on how to cope and flourish in later years.
Sunday, May 23
Evan Smith, Editor in Chief and CEO of the Texas Tribune
Welcome to the Future of Journalism
Evan Smith spent nearly 18 years at Texas Monthly Magazine. While Smith was at Texas Monthly, the magazine was nominated for 16 national awards. He has also hosted a weekly TV program, Texas Monthly Talks, which has aired since 2003 on PBS stations across Texas. In 2009 Evan left Texas Monthly. Last November he Co-Founded the Texas Tribune, a non-profit, non-partisan public media organization exclusively focused on public policy, politics, and government which posts original journalism online at www.texastribune.org. Join us for an engaging speech and Q&A into the world of new media with the man at the center of it all, Evan Smith!
Sunday, May 30
Virginia Raymond, J.D., PhD, Director, The Texas After Violence Project
Listening for a Change
The Texas After Violence Project listens to the first-person narratives of people directly affected by serious violence; criminal investigation and legal processes; incarceration; and the death penalty. In the last two years, the project has interviewed and recorded over eighty people: family members of murder victims and executed persons, police officers and deputy sheriffs, defense lawyers and prosecutors, clergy, public advocates, media witnesses to executions, and others. By carefully listening to people tell their own stories in their own ways, the project helps to deepen our understanding of theviolence in our communities, and to stimulate critical, constructive conversations about how we might most effectively prevent violence and respond to it when it does occur. In May, the first set of public interviews conducted by the project will go online at the new Human Rights Documentation Initiative of the University of Texas Libraries.
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June 2010 Public Affairs Forums:
Sun., June 6th, Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell “My First Year as Austin Mayor”
Lee Leffingwell is an Austin native. He grew-up in South Austin. Lee served as an officer and pilot in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. He was a pilot for Delta Airlines for 30 years. After retiring from Delta, Lee became a full-time community volunteer in Austin, with a focus on Environmental issues. He served 5 years on Austin’s Environmental Board. In 2005 he was elected Council Member, and re-elected in 2008. In 2009 he was elected Mayor of Austin. Join us for this exciting speech and Q&A into the Mayor’s 1st year and a view into what’s to expect in Austin going forward!
Sun., June 13th, Karen Kreps, author of “Intimacies; Secrets of Love, Sex & Romance”
You may know Karen Kreps from her candid explorations of intimacy in her weekly column that appeared in “The Good Life Magazine” for over 7 years. She’s also hosted hundreds of discussion groups about love at BookPeople. Her work has been published in national magazines, newspapers, and online sources. Karen has a Master of Arts Degree in Cinema Studies from New York University and works as an independent producer of creative web content and social media. Learn more about her book at www.trueintimacies.com and her social media at www.netingenuity.com. Bring your open-mind and sense of humor for this fascinating interactive exploration of true intimacy, and the love, sex, and romance of healthy relationships!
Sun., June 20th, Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo
Appointed Austin Police Chief in July of 2007, Art Acevedo serves as the eighth police chief in the 87 year history of the Austin Police Department. He’s the first Hispanic to lead the City’s police force. With more than two decades of law enforcement experience, he oversees a department of 2,200 personnel. Born in Havana, Cuba, Acevedo migrated to the US with his family in 1968. He grew-up in California. He’s married and is the father of 3 children. Join us for this exclusive presentation and Q&A to hear first-hand how the 1st three years have been and what to expect going forward from the leader of Austin’s law enforcement!!
Sun., June 27th, Austin UU’s Live Music Showcase
We are fortunate to have a plethora of emerging musicians and artists in Austin. With so many talented musicians Austin has to offer, we’re hosting a Live Music Showcase where four different local musicians will share two songs each to give us a taste of their amazing talent! We’ve invited local musicians Charlie Faye, Kalu James, Noelle Hampton, and Ruby James to all shower us with their love and talent. Join us for this amazing and unique live music showcase! After all the musicians have played we’ll also entertain an audience Q&A.
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