Who Will Be The First White House Farmer?

In response to Michael Pollan's call for a White House Farmer, you can now cast your vote for who you think should fill this auspicious role. There are five Virginia farmers in the running, including Charlie Collins, from Victory Farms in Hanover (Charlie is currently running a close 5th!), and Joel Salatin, from Polyface Farms, who figures prominently in Pollan's book, The Omnivore's Dilemma.

Pending approval from the President, of course, the White House Farmer will be charged with creating an organic fruit and vegetable garden on five south-facing acres of the White House Lawn. The bounty of the garden will be used by the White House Chef, as well as donated to area food banks.

The polls close tomorrow (January 31st) so don't wait to vote! It would be great to have a Virginia farmer named as the first White House Farmer, just in time for Pollan's visit to The Richmond Forum on April 18, 2009.

TIME Magazine Has 10 Questions for Smokey Robinson

"On the day that Berry Gordy started Motown, there were five of us there. He sat us down and said, 'We are not going to make black music. We're going to make music for people. We're going to make music for the world.' However, on that day and for years after that, I am positive that none of us dared to dream that the music of Motown would become what it has become."

Check out more from Smokey in this great article from yesterday's TIME Magazine, 10 Questions for Smokey Robinson.

Do you have a question for Smokey that you'd like to have him answer when he appears at The Richmond Forum? Start posting your questions here!

Meanwhile, available tickets for Smokey Robinson's Saturday, February 21, 2009 appearance at The Richmond Forum will go on sale beginning February 2.

Questions From the Audience Stimulate Dialogue

Saturday's program featuring Reza Aslan and Jon Meacham was another example of a Richmond Forum tradition of creative pairings of speakers. From Malcolm Gladwell and Alvin Toffler to James Carville and Newt Gingrich, The Forum has a rich history of bringing disparate speakers together on our stage to share their viewpoints and insights.

While the individual presentations of the two speakers are always educational and entertaining, these pairings really seem to come to life when the audience gets involved during the Q & A. The questions from the audience draw the speakers beyond the safety zone of their prepared remarks and defined perspectives, and into a real conversation with each other about where their ideas and outlooks intersect, and where they don't.

The same held true for this program, where the importance and value of audience participation was really exemplified by the fascinating Q & A. I even spoke with one couple who commented that as much as they enjoyed the individual presentations of both speakers, they really would have loved to see both parts of the program be Q & A, to see more of the speakers interacting directly with each other.

Q & A wouldn't be nearly as interesting or pertinent to our community as it is without audience participation, and we are always thrilled to see how active and engaged The Forum audience is with the programs. To share more thoughts on Saturday's program, and to learn what other Forum attendees are thinking about it, check out the brand new Online Forum Discussion Board.

Al Hawanim at The Richmond Forum on Saturday

This Saturday's Forum program is right around the corner. We're excited to hear what Islam expert Reza Aslan and Newsweek editor Jon Meacham have to say about Faith and Politics, and we're also really looking forward to hearing the musical guests for the evening, Al Hawanim.

Al Hawanim is a dynamic ensemble of three women who specialize in the performance and scholarship of music from the Arab World and the Middle East. Anne Rasmussen, Anne Elise Thomas and Nicole LeCorgne will perform turath, or "tradition," music on instruments such as the qanun (75-stringed zither), 'ud (11-stringed lute), darabukka, tabla and daff (drums), and the riqq (tambourine). The musicians will perform prior to the program and will take the stage again at intermission.

A limited number of tickets are still available ($27-$55). To purchase tickets, call (804) 330-3993. The program will take place this Saturday, January 17, 2009, at 8pm at the Landmark Theater.

Tickets Selling Quickly for Aslan & Meacham

A limited number of tickets are now available for The Forum's January 17 Faith & Politics program featuring Islam expert Reza Aslan and Editor of Newsweek magazine Jon Meacham, but they are moving fast.

If you would like to attend the program, call The Forum offices at (804) 330-3993. If you are a Forum subscriber who will not be able to use your tickets, please let us know.

All programs take place at the Landmark Theater and begin at 8pm. We hope to see you at The Forum!