The Richmond Forum Blog

A Student's Recap of Quincy Jones at The Richmond Forum

2012-02-08T14:16:00.006-05:00

By Andrew Jones, University of Richmond Class of 2014 -- I had the pleasure of seeing Quincy Jones at The Richmond Forum on February 4th. For the die-hard fans who have followed me since I started blogging, this is the same forum that hosted Anderson Cooper last year. The Forum is held inside the beautiful Landmark Theater in the heart of VCU, and it is full of beautiful Middle-Eastern architecture and artworks. The venue definitely lives up to its name; it’s a Richmond landmark that has hosted some of the greatest acts in history.

I was sitting in the third row, so I had an excellent view of everything that was going on. The Richmond Public Schools All-City Jazz Band provided some great grooves while we waited for the show to start. Then, the moderator stepped out onto the stage. Guess who he was?

Tim Reid, who was Ray Campbell in the hit show Sister, Sister. Yes, I know there are adults who read this blog, and a lot of y’all didn’t watch Disney Channel in the 1990s. For all of you baby boomers, Tim Reid was the “philosopher of the airwaves” Venus Flytrap in the late-70s show WKRP in Cincinnati (I watched a ton of Nick-At-Nite, so I saw this show a lot during my childhood).

Enough nostalgia. When Quincy Jones walked onto the stage, the entire room erupted in cheers and applause. Just for the record (pun intended), I was one of the youngest people in the audience, so a lot of these people grew up listening to “Q” (I’m going to call him Q from now on; it sounds suave). With Tim Reid anchoring the discussion, Q tackled some pretty good questions concerning the music industry and some of his favorite people to work with. He told stories about when he was approached by Frank Sinatra for the first time, hanging out with Ray Charles as kids, and the lessons he’s learned over the years. The booklet I received at the door has an excellent quote in it: “A conversation with Quincy Jones is like talking to a jukebox loaded with platinum singles.” As the all-time most-nominated Grammy artist (79 nominations and 27 awards), he definitely had plenty to talk about.

I learned that, during the making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Q had to decide on 9 songs out of about 800 in order to create the album. He shared one of his methods for when he has to decide on which tracks make it to the final cut. He takes 12 or 11 songs that he feels are the strongest out of the group, and he immediately gets rid of the four weakest ones. Then, he looks at the seven or eight tracks he has left and looks for four songs from the big group that are stronger than any of those seven or eight songs. That is how P.Y.T. and Beat It were able to get onto the Thriller album; they had originally been left out, but his musical spell-check process found them to be worthy later on. They ended up being singles on the best-selling album of all time.

One of the funniest moments was when Tim Reid asked Q about Lady Gaga. Q just sat there and stared out into the crowd, sipped water, brushed his nose, frowned, etc. He clearly did not care much for her. The crowd erupted in laughter and Tim moved on, exclaiming “Ohhhhkay!”

After a 15-minute intermission, Tim and Q came back onstage to answer some questions the audience had submitted on pieces of paper. Some of them concerned the differences between digital and analog music, whether anyone else in his family was in the music industry, and whether there was any artist (living or dead) that he regrets not working with (Luther Vandross and Bobby McFarren were two names he mentioned; regarding Vandross, Q said he was busy working on Thriller and the E.T. Extra Terrestrial soundtrack, so he simply didn’t have the time). My favorite question was whether he would sign with a label or work independently if he were to enter the music business today. He replied with, “What label? They’ve all been gobbled up.”

One of his responses will always stick with me. The question was: “If music is the language of the world, what is going to happen when the music stops?” Q replied, “I’ve thought about this before. I feel that, if and when the world comes to an end, water and music will be the last things to go. Music is part of our lives; we simply cannot live without it.”

At the end of the show, Q signed one of the portraits behind him for The Richmond Forum. Anderson Cooper did the same thing when I saw him last year, so it must be a tradition. I’d love to see all of those signatures…

It was definitely a night to remember. I got to dress up and go to a formal occasion with residents of the City of Richmond, and I listened to a living legend talk about his life and his experiences. It didn’t hurt that I was less than 20 feet away from him, either.

(This recap of Quincy Jones' appearance at The Richmond Forum is excerpted from the blog of Andrew Jones, a University of Richmond student who attended the program. We share it with permission here.)

The Robert Gates Answer Everybody's Still Talking About.

2012-01-20T14:58:00.006-05:00

Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates gave Richmond Forum attendees much to think and talk about in his stellar presentation and the Q&A that followed. But one question, submitted by a subscriber named Marybeth, generated what may have been the most-talked-about moment of the night. Marybeth asked Gates to use one word or phrase to describe each of the eight presidents he has served.

Laughing, Gates' initial response was, "Oh, geez. This is a family audience, right?"

Then, with the same thoughtfulness and candor that Dr. Gates exhibited throughout the evening, he began walking down the list.

President Lyndon B. Johnson: "Tragic. He wanted to do so much domestically and couldn't extract himself from his fear of taking the country out of Vietnam."

President Richard Nixon: "Probably our strangest president. I'll leave it at that."

President Gerald Ford: "Vastly underestimated. A man of extraordinary courage and intelligence."

President Jimmy Carter: "Couldn't figure out what his priorities were. Tried to do too much and, therefore, accomplished relatively little."

President Ronald Reagan: "I think one of our greatest presidents...Ronald Reagan restored the confidence in the American people and confidence in the American dream."

President George H.W. Bush: "Again, vastly underestimated."

Dr. Gates then spent some time explaining his belief that Presidents Reagan and Bush were exactly the right men for the job at exactly the right times. President Reagan teed up the end of the Cold War and President Bush expertly managed the result, including the unprecedented collapse of a world power, the Soviet Union.

Dr. Gates did not work in the Clinton administration.

President George W. Bush: "Confident. A man of strong convictions and confident in those convictions."

President Barack Obama: "Far more courageous than anybody would have expected when he was elected." Gates called the President's decision to launch the attack that killed Osama bin Laden, "one of the gutsiest calls I have ever seen a president make." He also considered President Obama's decision to approve the military surge in Afghanistan very courageous given its political unpopularity.

Our thanks to Marybeth and everybody else who submitted great questions for Dr. Gates. Thanks also to W. Taylor Reveley III, President of The College of William & Mary, who expertly moderated the Q&A.

Season Subscriptions Are Sold Out, But What About Tickets For Individual Programs?

2012-01-02T08:00:00.002-05:00

Subscriptions for the 2011-2012 season of The Richmond Forum are sold out, but it may still be possible for you to obtain tickets to individual programs. Here's how: Two weeks prior to each program, we begin selling any tickets that have been donated back by subscribers who know that they can't attend that program. These tickets are only available by calling 804-330-3993.

We never know how many tickets might be returned for a program, or when they will be returned, so we encourage you to keep calling right up until the morning of the program. (Sometimes tickets are turned back in at the last minute, if a subscriber becomes ill and can't attend.)

Tickets for individual programs are $36, $50, and $70, depending on the area of the theater. To check availability, give us a call! 804-330-3993.

Dr. Robert Ballard Kicks Off The 2011-2012 Season

2011-11-20T07:03:00.005-05:00

Speaking before a full house at the 3600-seat Landmark Theater, Dr. Robert Ballard wowed Richmond Forum subscribers and patrons with an update since his last visit to the forum 12 years ago. Since then, Ballard's vision of telepresence has become a reality, evidenced by a live video chat with Mission Leader, Dwight Coleman, aboard the E/V Nautilus, exploring off the coast of Israel. Ballard doesn't spend nearly the time at sea or underwater that he once did, thanks to remote command centers in his home and office, and the use of sophisticated, deep diving robots equipped with high definition cameras and manipulators. The new technology is enabling Ballard to explore more vast areas of the oceans than ever before.

Ballard, a natural and passionate presenter working without notes, said that humans have only explored the tiniest percentage of the earth's oceans and natural resources. The United States has the largest underwater holdings in the world he said, yet "we have better maps of Mars." Ballard updated the audience about his latest explorations in the Mediterranean and Black Seas and spoke about the many discoveries still to be made, by his team and by future generations. Among those future explorers are the thousands of students who are now able to follow his explorations live at www.nautiluslive.org.

In a post program survey, 96% of respondents rated Dr. Ballard's presentation as good or excellent.

Sarah McConnell, host of the statewide public radio program, With Good Reason, also received praise as the moderator for the evening's audience Q&A.

Recording artist Susan Greenbaum provided live music before the program and during intermission, as well as a stirring National Anthem.

The Richmond Forum now takes a break for the holidays and will reconvene on January 14, 2012 for an evening with former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

Season Tickets Are In The Mail

2011-10-03T08:27:00.004-04:00

2011-2012 season tickets will be arriving in mailboxes this week, so keep an eye out for yours. Once again, we've included everything you need for a great season, including information about each program, theater and parking details, even advice on how to improve the chances that your question is selected for our Q&A. Plus, the pocket in the back makes it easy to keep track of your tickets all season long. If you do not receive your tickets by October 10th, please call our office at 804-330-3993.

Before each program, watch for an email from The Richmond Forum that will include any program updates and provide a link to an online version of the program book so you can read up before arriving in the theater, as well as a link for submitting your questions for the speaker in advance of the program.

If you know somebody who would love to become a season subscriber, we still have a small number of balcony seats available. (We like to call these our "High Society" seats.) Have them call our office or visit our website before these last seats are gone!

Thanks for your support of The Richmond Forum and we hope you have a great season!

Dr. Robert Ballard's "Nautilus" Begins 2011 Expedition

2011-07-27T14:47:00.009-04:00

Robert Ballard's exploration vessel, Nautilus, has begun its four-and-a-half month exploration of the Black Sea, the western Mediterranean Sea and the coasts of Sicily and Israel in search of ancient antiquity, sites of Neolithic settlements, ancient ships and spectacular undersea geography. The entire expedition is being streamed live at www.nautiluslive.com so you can see every new discovery as it happens, as well as hours and hours of looking. You also hear all of the on board chatter. Yesterday, we were checking in and heard one team member reminding the others, "Remember what Dr. Ballard says...'You've gotta find a whole lot of nothing before you can find something.'"

Today, they really did think they found something as sonar showed what appeared to be a Cold War era submarine wreck off the coast of Turkey. But when they circled back around for another pass, the new angle revealed it to be just a geological feature.

The photo above was taken in the "Control Van" on board. If the crew member on the left looks young, it's because he's a rising high school junior! His job is to record data. Student involvement and education are extremely important to Dr. Ballard. What a great summer gig!

We expect that Ballard will have a great deal to share from this expedition, which will be in its final weeks when he addresses The Richmond Forum in November. We can't wait! Meanwhile, we'll keep checking in live. (It's addictive.)

A small number of seats are still available for the 2011-2012 season of The Richmond, just $155 for all five programs. Visit www.richmondforum.org or call 804-330-3993.

Quincy Jones & Robert Ballard Swap Forum Dates

2011-07-06T13:26:00.003-04:00

In order to accommodate a special project that will take Quincy Jones to the Middle East this fall, his appearance at The Richmond Forum has been moved to our February 4, 2012 date. Dr. Robert Ballard, previously scheduled for that date, will now open our season with his presentation on November 12, 2011. In November, Ballard's exploration vessel, Nautilus, will be in the final weeks of a four-and-a-half month exploration of the Black Sea, the western Mediterranean Sea and the coasts of Sicily and Israel in search of ancient antiquity, sites of Neolithic settlements, ancient ships and spectacular undersea geography. We expect that he will have a great deal of exciting and timely news to share with The Richmond Forum in November!

Retired U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates to Address The Richmond Forum

2011-07-04T07:25:00.001-04:00

We are pleased to announce that newly retired Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has accepted an invitation to address The Richmond Forum on January 14, 2012. Gates retired on June 30th after serving four and a half years as Secretary of Defense under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, a tenure marked by two U.S. wars, U.S. military involvement in Libya, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” and the killing of terrorist Osama bin Laden.

In total, Gates has served eight presidents in a number of leadership and advisory roles, including Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Deputy National Security Advisor. Gates was the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly elected President.

At a farewell ceremony for Gates, President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, and called him, "A humble American patriot; a man of common sense and decency; quite simply, one of our nation's finest public servants."

“Beginning last year, our subscribers have expressed a great deal of interest in seeing Secretary Gates speak at The Richmond Forum,” explained the Executive Director of the non-profit speaker series, Bill Chapman. “We are very pleased to be able to include him in our series next season.”

Gates is the final speaker announcement for the 2011-2012 season of The Richmond Forum. Other speakers for the season include music industry legend Quincy Jones, ocean explorer Robert Ballard, conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer along with former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, and education experts Sir Ken Robinson and Rafe Esquith.

A small number of season subscriptions are still available for $155. Subscriptions are available through The Richmond Forum website or by calling (804) 330-3993.

The Richmond Forum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization. All programs are held at The Landmark Theater in Richmond, Virginia.

Richmond Forum Announces New Board Members and Officers

2011-06-10T09:53:00.006-04:00

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization, The Richmond Forum is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of corporate and community leaders. The Board recently approved the nomination of five new Board Members: James R. Conschafter, President & Market Leader at Media General; Anne Lynam Goddard, President & CEO of ChildFund International; Ed Grier, Dean of the VCU School of Business; Daphne Maxwell Reid, Co-owner of New Millennium Studios; and Gary L. Sypolt, CEO of Dominion Energy.

In addition, the Board of Directors named Bruce Kelley as the new Chairman of the Board, succeeding Judith W. Pahren, who led the organization for the last two years. Kelley is a Vice Chairman at The Martin Agency and joined The Richmond Forum Board of Directors in 2008. Linda Warren, Vice President & Controller at Altria, has been named Vice Chair of The Richmond Forum Board. W. Jefferson O’Flaherty, Executive Vice President at Xenith Bank, will continue to serve as the organization’s Treasurer and H. Michael Ligon, Vice President of Universal Leaf Tobacco Company, will continue as Secretary.

Departing The Richmond Forum Board after serving six years each are Susan Greenbaum, Gail Johnson, and Lyn McDermid.

“Our outstanding Board of Directors has always been key to the success of The Richmond Forum,” commented Executive Director, Bill Chapman. “The members of the Board bring their invaluable expertise, experience, ideas, and wisdom to the table. They also bring a tremendous level of passion for what we do. We thank our departing Board Members for their service and look forward to working with the members of the new Board Class.”

A complete listing of the members of The Richmond Forum Board of Directors is available here.

Dear Sponsors…

2011-05-26T11:46:00.005-04:00

There are many ways that The Richmond Forum stands out from other speaker series around the country, but perhaps one of the most remarkable ways is in terms of the generous support we receive each year from Richmond's corporate community. Half of the funding that it takes to produce this series comes from our corporate sponsors. With that level of support, it's not surprising that season subscriptions for The Richmond Forum are among the most affordable in America. It's not uncommon to overhear Debbie, our Ticket Sales Manager, trying to convince a caller that yes, that price is for all five programs, not per program!

So, we heartily thank the 135 sponsors who made this past season possible, as well as those who have already signed on for next season! We recognize them in our program books and many of them from stage, but we just can't say it enough. Thank you for making it possible to produce America's premier public forum right here in Richmond and for making it so affordable for our community!

The Wait Is Over. Season Subscriptions Now On Sale!

2011-05-09T07:21:00.009-04:00

A limited number of subscriptions for the 2011-2012 season of The Richmond Forum go on sale Monday, May 9th at 9:00 AM through The Richmond Forum's website. Available seats in the Orchestra, Grand Tier and Front Balcony are expected to sell out very quickly. Because we move many of our subscribers forward in the theater each season, the greatest availability of open seats for new subscribers is always in the Rear Balcony. Subscribers in this section still have a clear view of the stage and our large video screen means you won't miss a single facial expression from any of next season's fascinating speakers.

The new season will kick off on November 12, 2011 with music industry living legend, Quincy Jones. Considered one of the most significant figures in American popular music, Jones will discuss his life and career. Jones has been awarded 27 Grammys and an Oscar and has worked with legends such as Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Ray Charles, and Michael Jackson. In March, Jones was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Obama.

For the time being, the January 14, 2012 program is being kept under wraps. "We are very excited about this speaker, but we are not yet able to officially make the announcement," said Bill Chapman, Executive Director of The Richmond Forum. Chapman expects to be able to reveal the program this summer.

On February 4, 2012, ocean explorer Robert Ballard will take the Richmond Forum stage. Best known for his discovery of the wreckage of the Titanic, Ballard will address The Richmond Forum on the centennial of the famous sinking. He will provide an update on his current explorations and discoveries, as well as a demonstration of the cutting-edge technologies being used in his expeditions today. Ballard addressed The Richmond Forum in 1999 and is one of a very small number of speakers who have ever been invited for a return engagement due to popular demand by subscribers.

On March 24, 2012, two of the speakers most requested by Richmond Forum subscribers will be paired for the first time ever as they debate the American Social Contract. Conservative, Pulitzer-prize winning columnist, Charles Krauthammer and former Secretary of Labor under President Clinton, Robert Reich will take on the question of whether too many individual freedoms are being lost at the expense of initiatives designed to benefit American society as a whole. This promises to be a very spirited and timely program with two highly respected intellects, liberal and conservative.

Next season will wrap up on April 21, 2012 with a program focused on "Revolutionizing Education in America." According to Chapman, "Nearly every Richmond Forum speaker addresses the importance of an improved education system in America, but we've never devoted a full program to the topic."

Speaking on the subject will be two respected experts, Sir Ken Robinson and Rafe Esquith. Robinson, a creativity expert and renowned speaker, champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence. Robinson's presentation at the TED Conference is the most-viewed and shared online video at Ted.com. Esquith is an acclaimed fifth-grade teacher in Los Angeles; he and his class are the subjects of the PBS documentary, The Hobart Shakespeareans. He has received the National Teacher of the Year Award and was honored by Queen Elizabeth II and the Dalai Lama for his innovative classroom approaches. This will be the first time that Robinson and Esquith appear together for a discussion of education reform.

This year, The Richmond Forum received over 375 speaker suggestions from its subscribers, as well as hundreds of requested program topics. "The suggestions included very well-known big names, as well as a large number of lesser-known names with very big stories to tell," said Chapman. "Every season seems to have its own personality, and we are very excited about the speaker mix and challenging topics that have come together for next season...with one more program still to announce."

For 25 seasons, The Richmond Forum has been fulfilling its mission to "bring the leaders from the world stage to our stage in Richmond--to expand horizons, stimulate conversation and inspire our community."

Past speakers have included former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair; former Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto; Robert Redford; Archbishop Desmund Tutu, Tim Russert, Anderson Cooper; B.B. King; former Mexican President, Vicente Fox, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; former Secretaries of State Albright, Baker, Powell and Rice, and many others.

The Richmond Forum is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization. All programs are held at The Landmark Theater in Richmond, Virginia.

Students Respond to Anderson Cooper

2011-02-24T12:24:00.006-05:00

This is the second season of our Student Room at The Richmond Forum and the feedback and impact has been tremendous. The Student Room is made possible by subscriber donations to the Ralph Krueger Memorial Fund and, this year, by a matching grant from the Wachovia Foundation. This support offsets the cost of running audio and video to a side room in the Landmark Theater where we can accommodate 120 local students, who wouldn't otherwise be able to attend our sold-out programs.

Our speakers graciously visit with the students before going on stage and many return for photos during intermission. After every program, our mail and email overflows with feedback and appreciation from the students. We wanted to share some of the comments received this week from students with Partnership for the Future who were at the Anderson Cooper program.

Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to listen to Anderson Cooper. He made an impact on my life because now I know that I shouldn’t take my life for granted. He talked about how some of the children in Africa are dying every day of starvation and now I realize how lucky I am to be able to eat when I’m hungry. I enjoyed this forum and I hope to come back next month to learn something new.

Ashly Bailey
Franklin Military Academy
Class of 2013

Thank you so much for hosting such a wonderful outgoing person (Anderson Copper) and for allowing Partnership for the Future to experience this. Cooper is a very intelligent and adventurous person. He inspires me that no matter how unrealistic your goal is that if you put your mind and heart in it, it may come true. So I want to thank you again for this opportunity of a lifetime.

Shanice Clarke
George Wythe High School
Class of 2013

The Richmond Forum’s presentation of Anderson Cooper has impacted me greatly. His words and messages are harrowing but extremely moving. He’s taught me that the world and humanity suffers on a much grander scale than I will ever realize but that the greatest feats of man can occur in these horrible situations. Being truthful and factual is his profession and he performs it admirably. Thank you for donating the money to allow Partnership for the Future to attend this Richmond Forum.

Lauren Berkeley
Henrico High School
Class of 2012

I would like to thank the Richmond Forum for allowing Partnership for the Future to attend this

forum and meet Anderson Cooper. I was able to learn that as an aspiring journalist I need to find my own voice. I must continue to enhance my literary skills and I must realize my true potential. I have to be confident in my own capabilities and must fight for a position out there. If I am interested in being a journalist, I must go above and beyond. It’s a tough world out there for journalists, especially because of competition and newspapers are becoming out of date. It will take much diligence, courage, hope, and confidence to become a successful journalist. Again, I would like to say thank you. His encouraging words were definitely necessary.

Lorissa Francois
Henrico High School
Class of 2011

That's just an idea of the student feedback we receive after every program and each "thank you" is for you--for your support.

You can support the Student Room and other Richmond Forum student initiatives with a contribution to the Ralph Krueger Memorial Fund when you renew your subscription, or you can make a secure contribution online any time.

Thanks so much!

Anderson Cooper Returns from Egypt

2011-02-06T09:57:00.003-05:00

Like everybody, we've been anxiously watching events in Egypt and, in particular, monitoring Anderson Coopers reports. He and other journalists covering the uprising there have had some dangerous encounters with pro-Mubarak demonstrators. We're glad to report that Cooper returned safely to the States on Saturday. "It is with a heavy heart that I have decided to leave Egypt...It was a hard decision to leave," Cooper tweeted yesterday.

We look forward to hearing Cooper's first-person perspective on events in Egypt, when he addresses The Richmond Forum during two programs. We will present our usual subscriber program on Saturday, February 19th at 8:00 PM. This progran is sold out.

Cooper has also agreed to repeat his presentation for a first-ever Richmond Forum Sunday matinee. Tickets for the special Sunday, February 20th matinee are still available.

We look forward to having you join us for a very timely program.

Liberian President Focuses on Youth, Economy and Security

2010-11-09T10:35:00.005-05:00

As the first woman head of state of an African nation, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, 72, is ever mindful of the obligations that accompany leadership – not just as president of Liberia but also as a role model in the world. “I am aware of the tremendous responsibility,” she told a sold-out crowd at the Richmond Forum this past weekend in Richmond, Va. “I welcome the challenge with humility.”

Democratically elected in 2005, the Harvard-educated Sirleaf pledged national renewal after a long period of civil conflict and corrupt governance in her homeland. During the 14 years of turmoil, young children were recruited by the warring factions.

Despite the country’s ongoing challenges to rebuild its infrastructure and economy, Sirleaf said she is “bullish” about Liberia’s future as well as that of the African continent as a whole.

“Africa is taking hold of its own destiny,” said Sirleaf, citing country-led poverty reduction programs as one of the centerpiece efforts. “Our civil society organizations are vigorous.”

As president, Sirleaf said her biggest accomplishment has been gaining international forgiveness for Liberia’s crippling national debt, thus freeing up still-scarce resources for education and innovation. “All of our little children are back in school,” she said.

Africa is a continent of young people and growing younger, Sirleaf noted. By 2050, the African youth population is projected to be 1.9 billion strong. On the positive side of that statistic, Africa is home to the world’s “fastest-growing labor force,” she said. But without investment in the critical basics of education, health, shelter, clean water and skills training for these young people, the risk remains high that they will be unemployed and apt to engage in violence. “The civil war, from which Liberia had recently emerged when my administration took over in 2006, was mainly fought by young men for whom the economy held no promise,” Sirleaf said.

Yet, Sirleaf is encouraged by the progress in her own country, including the rekindling of industry and commerce, and noted the harmonizing of economic policies across the continent. “The majority of African countries have created the environment for security and stability,” she said. “The majority are meeting the challenges of human security, jobs, education, health, sanitation clean water, all of those poverty-reducing measures that reduce conflict and instability.”

The above review was kindly contributed by Virginia Sowers, ChildFund Community Manager, who attended the program. ChildFund began work in Liberia in 2003 to help these children, families and communities reconnect and resume their daily lives.

The audience Q&A was moderated by Dr. Christopher B. Howard, President of Hampden-Sydney College. During this session, President Sirleaf addressed her decision to dissolve the Liberian cabinet just days before leaving the country to address The Richmond Forum.

"Complacency had set in a bit," she said while also indicating that the country had entered a "critical period" and she wanted her Cabinet members to set new goals.

"The way to do that was to do something drastic," she said, adding that she expected many of the "young, dynamic, and vigorous" members to be back. "The others I don't know about."

The next Richmond Forum program will be January 15, 2011 when former First Lady Laura Bush takes the stage.

Historian Speaks on the Role of Virginians in the Founding of Liberia

2010-10-31T10:14:00.006-04:00

On October 28, 2010, Marie Tyler-McGraw discussed her book An African Republic: Black and White Virginians in the Making of Liberia in a special Banner Lecture at the Virginia Historical Society. That lecture is now available online and provides valuable historic context for our November 6th program featuring President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the Republic of Liberia.

The West African nation of Liberia arose from the aspirations of the American Colonization Society, which attempted to persuade free blacks to emigrate from the United States to that colony. Ultimately, the colonization scheme failed, but Liberia endured. No state was more involved with the project than Virginia. Virginians figured prominently among both leaders of the ACS and among settlers building a new life in Africa. In all, 4,000 black Virginians emigrated to Liberia in the 19th century.

In this lecture, Marie Tyler-McGraw tells the story of the founding of Liberia through character studies of some of the key participants and through the stories of important early meetings, including one meeting that took place in Richmond.

The video below is from the noon lecture attended by Virginia Historical Society members, so it does not contain the very interesting Q&A from the 7 PM lecture attended by Richmond Forum subscribers and members of the local Liberian community.

The website referenced by Dr. Tyler-McGraw is Virginia Emigrants to Liberia and is rich with more information including a database of black Virginians who emigrated to Liberia, searchable by name, locality, and in the case of freed slaves, by the name of the emancipator.

Dr. Tyler-McGraw is an independent scholar and public historian. This lecture was co-sponsored by The Richmond Forum.

Condoleezza Rice Publishes The First Volume Of Her Memoirs

2010-10-14T19:40:00.004-04:00

When former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice addressed The Richmond Forum in May, she spoke with great affection and appreciation about the support of her parents and family while growing up in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1950s. Rice called Birmingham at that time, "the most segregated city in all of America." Today, the first volume of her memoirs, Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family, went on sale. This initial volume focuses on her childhood growing up in the racially charged South, as well as her education. She is working on a second volume which will focus on her years in the George W. Bush administration.

Tony Blair and President Sirleaf Issue Joint Statement on Progress in Africa

2010-09-23T08:49:00.003-04:00

This week, world leaders gathered at the United Nations for the MDG Summit to review and accelerate progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals set for 2015, designed to end world poverty. Corresponding with that summit, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf co-authored a statement reporting on the state of progress in Africa and, specifically, Liberia. The article sites two key areas of success: good governance and a thriving public sector. Read the complete article here.

Tony Blair addressed The Richmond Forum in November 2008 and President Sirleaf will be our speaker on November 6, 2010.

A limited number of subscriptions for the 25th season of The Richmond Forum are still available and can be purchased online, or by calling (804) 330-3993.

Newsweek Names Sirleaf Among Top Ten Global Leaders

2010-08-24T08:37:00.005-04:00

Newsweek has compiled a list of the ten world leaders "who have managed to win serious respect." Included on that list is our first speaker at The Richmond Forum this season, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. The magazine dubbed President Sirleaf as "The Rebuilder," citing her work to restore her devastated West African nation after 14 years of brutal civil war that left as many as 250,000 Liberians dead and destroyed much of the nation's infrastructure.

According to Newsweek, "The country has boosted school enrollment by 40 percent, restored power and running water in urban centers, and turned its timber and diamond industries into thriving--and legitimate--trades. Sirleaf also slashed Liberia's external debt from $4.9 billion in 2006 to $1.7 billion today."

A limited number of season subscriptions are still available for $155, which includes all five programs. The season's other speakers are former first lady Laura Bush, Emmy-winning news anchor Anderson Cooper, geneticist George Church, and endurance artist David Blaine.

Subscriptions can be purchased online or by calling 804-330-3993.

Meeting With David Blaine

2010-08-04T18:12:00.013-04:00

David Blaine's fingers are always moving. Sliding. Tapping. Flipping. We sit at a dining room size table with a centerpiece of perhaps three dozen neatly stacked decks of cards. Leaning against the exposed brick wall behind Blaine are eight-foot-tall framed posters promoting, in bold lithography, the early twentieth century feats of Carter the Great and Houdini. David Blaine is a man rooted in the legacy of the world's greatest magicians and endurance artists, and evidence of that surrounds us in his studio.

His fingers continue to fly simultaneously on his iPhone, iPad, the studio's land line, and playing cards. On the iPhone he's deftly working text messages and calls at the same time. He's talking to an art director about the packaging design for a new deck of David Blaine paying cards, confirming a TV network meeting, and discussing the need for him to come up with something really special to blow away President George W. Bush when he visits him later this month. Occasionally, while he's on on a call, I'll pick up my iPhone and check my email. ("Oh, look. I got one, too.") My fingers don't move nearly as fast.

I'm in New York to meet with David Blaine and discuss his presentation to The Richmond Forum on April 16, 2011. It's an opportunity for me to share with him what he can expect at our program and to discuss his preliminary thoughts for his presentation. Last year Blaine wowed a small, but very impressive, audience of the world's leading scientists at the TedMed conference. He presented a 20-minute lecture about his world record feat of holding his breath underwater for over 17 minutes. (Almost as long as the lecture itself!) Other than that, he hasn't been out working the speakers circuit, so his presentation to The Richmond Forum is going to be a one-of-a-kind premiere, much like when Dick Clark came to The Forum in 2003.

I point out that this may be the first time that David Blaine has ever played to an audience that he can't see. Because the Landmark Theater lighting is from a bygone era, our speakers can't see beyond the Orchestra Pit when they're on the stage. "Yeah, that will be different," he acknowledges, scribbling a note. Blaine, after all, turned magic on its heels by putting the focus on his spectators' reactions.

We discuss the schedule for the evening, his computer and video requirements (he'll be sharing some of his personal footage), and the makeup of our Richmond Forum audience. In short, I tell him that our subscribers love to be challenged by an evening at The Forum, and they want to leave with something to talk about. He writes down three words, "history," "science," and "logic."

He stops to take a call. When it's done he returns his attention to me, somehow finishing the sentence that he was in the middle of when the call came in, without missing a beat.

When the talk turns to the substance of his presentation, Blaine grabs a fresh note card from the center of the table and begins outlining his thoughts. He's obviously already walked through it all in his head. His outline is organized, smart, and exciting. It's clear that David Blaine is going to be bringing something special to The Richmond Forum, giving our subscribers something of himself. He breaks off scribbling to punctuate a theme.

"I find things that can't physically be done, and then do them. Doing what seems impossible, for real."

On that note, Blaine's fingers swipe across his iPad. He flips it around and gives me a peek at his next planned feat. It's insane.

"I'll be doing this right after I present to The Richmond Forum," he says.

Richmond, you are in for an amazing evening.

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A limited number of subscriptions to the 2010-2011 season of The Richmond Forum are still available. Just $155 reserves your seat for all five programs. Subscribe online at www.richmondforum.org, or call (804)330-3993.

Free Program For Richmond Forum Subscribers!

2010-07-26T09:20:00.005-04:00

Today is Independence Day in Liberia, which makes it a great time to announce a special free program for Richmond Forum subscribers, in anticipation of President Sirleaf's program in November. Did you know that the first president of Liberia was from Petersburg? The fact is, Virginians figured prominently in the founding and early leadership of Liberia and it's a fascinating story. To share that story, The Richmond Forum is partnering with the Virginia Historical Society to bring historian and author Dr. Marie Tyler-McGraw to Richmond to deliver a special presentation: An African Republic: Black & White Virginians in the Making of Liberia.

This program will be free to Richmond Forum subscribers and will enable you to enjoy President Sirleaf's presentation within a greater historical context.

The program will be presented in the Robins Theater at the Virginia Historical Society at 428 N. Boulevard on October 28, 2010 at 7 PM. Doors will open at 6:30 PM. Please plan to arrive early for best seating. If needed, overflow seating will be available.

Mark you calendar and we look forward to seeing you there!

Meanwhile, be sure to visit Dr. Tyler-McGraw's website: "Virginia Emigrants to Liberia."

Caring About Africa

2010-07-20T13:00:00.011-04:00

In the past week there have been a number of news stories and opinion pieces raising the question of "who cares about Africa?" and a number of our past and future Richmond Forum speakers figure into the discussion. All of which has reminded me of a comment submitted by one of our subscribers after we announced our 2010-2011 season line-up. Referring to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's program in November, the subscriber said simply, "I have no interest in Africa." That subscriber is not alone — among Americans, or among citizens of the rest of the western world. For instance, in today's Christian Science Monitor, Jason Stearns writes about how Anderson Cooper's ratings dropped 20 to 30 percent when he reported from the Congo several years ago.

Similarly, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof has been in hot water this week over an answer that he gave to the question of why many of his columns about Africa seem to portray "black Africans as victims" and "white foreigners as their saviors."

Kristof responded, "...very often I do go to developing countries where local people are doing extraordinary work, and instead I tend to focus on some foreigner, often some American, who’s doing something there. And let me tell you why I do that. The problem that I face — my challenge as a writer — in trying to get readers to care about something like Eastern Congo, is that frankly, the moment a reader sees that I’m writing about Central Africa, for an awful lot of them, that’s the moment to turn the page." (Read more of his response here.)

But should we be turning the page so quickly on Africa? Africa is, after all, the second largest and second most populous continent in the world, after Asia. And although Africa is often viewed as a homogenous continent, its 53 nations are anything but — in culture, government, religion, and economies. While distressing news still comes out of some African nations on a daily basis, there is also much cause for hope from others.

Tony Blair, through his Africa Governance Initiative, has played a significant role in changing the west's perception of Africa and in attracting western investment — to keep up with the investment that is already flowing from a much more interested China.

Among Blair's reasons to be so encouraged by Africa today are the strong, democratic leaders that have recently emerged in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and Liberia where President Sirleaf has brought law and order to her nation after fourteen years of bloody civil war.

When President Sirleaf addresses The Richmond Forum in November she will share her perspective about "Africa and its Place in the World." This program will be challenging and timely, and may give you new reason to care about Africa.

---
Related reading: Africa has finally repositioned itself as a serious player in the international politics of the world.

NY Times: Greg Mortenson & The U.S. Military

2010-07-18T07:28:00.004-04:00

Today's New York Times features a story calling Greg Mortenson an "unlikely tutor" to the U.S. military in Afghanistan. Greg spoke of this growing relationship with the military when he addressed The Richmond Forum in January. According to the story, Greg was one of the last people that General Stanley McChrystal reached out to as he flew from Kabul to Washington DC to be fired by President Obama. McChrystal's email message read, "Will move through this and if I'm not involved in the years ahead, will take tremendous comfort in knowing people like you are helping Afghans build a future."

The Times story ends with a powerful statement of reality.

"Mr. Mortenson acknowledges that his solution in Afghanistan, girls' education, will take a generation or more. 'But Al Qaeda and the Taliban are looking at it long range over generations," he said. 'And we're looking at it in terms of annual fiscal cycles and presidential elections.'"

Greg will be departing shortly to spend the rest of the summer in Afghanistan and we wish him a safe trip.

The First Ladies At The Smithsonian

2010-07-14T08:42:00.005-04:00

My family and I were in DC this past weekend and we spent a good part of Sunday in the National Museum of American History, where one of the most popular exhibits is the First Ladies Exhibition. As we get ready to welcome former first lady Laura Bush to The Richmond Forum in January, it was interesting to visit this exhibit again and consider her in the context of the changing role of first ladies over the years. The exhibit categorizes the first lady's roles as campaigner, hostess, policy advocate, and public face.

The first ladies' gowns are still the centerpiece of this exhibit (Martha Washington was tiny!), but it has grown over the years to include much more and is well worth a visit the next time you're in DC. Or you can visit their online exhibit.

Laura Bush will address The Richmond Forum on January 15, 2011. A limited number of season subscriptions are still available for $155 and may be purchased online or by calling (804) 330-3993. All Richmond Forum programs are held at the Landmark Theater in Richmond.

NY Times: "Cooper Becomes Loud Voice For Gulf Residents"

2010-06-18T14:50:00.007-04:00

According to a June 17th New York Times story, Anderson Cooper has "spent more time in Louisiana--about 20 days--than any other national television anchor since the leak began." The article goes on to discuss how the oil spill coverage has been a "defining moment" for Cooper, who will address The Richmond Forum next season.

A limited number of season subscription tickets for the 2010-2011 season of The Richmond Forum are still available for $155, including all five programs: President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, former first lady Laura Bush, Anderson Cooper, Harvard geneticist Dr. George Church, and David Blaine. Subscriptions can be purchased online or by calling (804)330-3993.

Dr. George Church In The News

2010-06-11T09:37:00.004-04:00

Back in March when we announced that Dr. George Church would be a part of our 2010-2011 speaker lineup many of our subscribers said, "Who??" But in the past few weeks they've been commenting about how they're seeing his name pop up everywhere. Well, now you can add the New York Times to that list. A new article titled On a Mission to Sequence the Genomes of 100,000 People profiles Church and his Harvard-based Personal Genome Project.

Church will discuss the "Personal Genomics Revolution" at The Richmond Forum on March 19, 2011 at the Landmark Theater. Other speakers for the 2010-2011 season will include President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, former first lady Laura Bush, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, and endurance artist David Blaine. A limited number of season subscriptions are still available for $155.

Don't Wait To Get Your Tickets!

2010-06-08T13:45:00.004-04:00

The first program of the 25th season of The Richmond Forum isn't until November, but we're already very close to being sold out for season subscriptions. At just $155 for all five programs, The Richmond Forum is one of the best values in America. (A typical phone conversation with new subscribers usually includes us repeatedly saying, "Yes, that's for all five programs...") It's easy to purchase your subscription online and ensure that you won't miss a single program. Or call our office at (804) 330-3993. But don't wait. The few seats we have remaining will be gone soon!

President Obama and President Sirleaf Meet

2010-05-27T17:52:00.004-04:00

President Barack Obama lauded the "heroism" of Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf today, saying her commitment to democracy stands as an example for other troubled African nations. The two leaders met in the Oval Office, and Obama pledged that the United States would stand with Liberia at every step of its democratic development.

"I have been an extraordinary admirer of her work for many years now.... Liberia is now emerging from a very difficult period," Obama said.

"Part of the reason it has been able to emerge is because of the heroism and courage of President Sirleaf. She is committed to the rule of law, made strides in reforming the judiciary and in all these endeavors I want to make sure the people of Liberia understand... that the United States is a constant friend and partner."

Obama said Sirleaf's example should be taken as inspiration to other African nations including, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Niger.

President Sirleaf will be the first speaker of the 2010-2011 season of The Richmond Forum when she takes the stage on November 6th. Subscriptions for the full five-program season are now on sale for $155. Other speakers will include former first lady Laura Bush, Anderson Cooper, Dr. George Church, and David Blaine. Subscriptions are available online or by calling The Richmond Forum at 804-330-3993.

What's Next For David Blaine?

2010-05-17T11:47:00.011-04:00

In this month's Interview magazine, David Blaine reveals that his next physical feat may involve drifting at sea in a giant glass bottle. Really.

"It started because I had a dream one night that I was in a life-size bottle in the middle of the ocean...and now I'm trying to work out how to make that into a physical reality--into a real physical feat," said Blaine.

Fortunately for us, he doesn't plan to set himself adrift until after his February 2011 presentation at The Richmond Forum when he will take us behind the scenes of his feats and explore the question of whether there are really any limits to what the human body can do. Blaine has made a career of dramatically smashing those limits, from holding his breath for over 17 minutes to surviving 44 days without food.

He explained to Interview magazine: "The one I've been obsessed with, that I don't know how it could be done, is the sleep-deprivation record. "It's 11-and-a-half days. I was thinking I'd try to go one million seconds under test conditions, which is 11.57 days or something close to that.

"But I started experimenting, and for some reason it's the hardest. I think you can build up a tolerance to sleep, but it's a really difficult process, because your body recovers during sleep.

"Your immune system builds itself when you're sleeping. So when I would do tests, I would be up for five to six days, and of course I'm hallucinating. But I also start getting these welts all over my body. I'm a super-hypochondriac. So when you're not sleeping, you start seeing things. And you think you're dying of this disease or that disease. It's really tricky on that end. But that's one that I've been really obsessed with for a long time because it's the scariest thing to me."

David Blaine will be one of five speakers appearing at The Richmond Forum next season. Others include President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, former first lady Laura Bush, Anderson Cooper, and personal genomics expert Dr. George Church. A limited number of season subscriptions are still available, starting at just $155 for all five programs.

Liberia's Iron Lady--President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

2010-05-14T08:40:00.003-04:00

The 2010-2011 season of The Richmond Forum will kick off on November 6th with a visit from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia. Her personal story is remarkable and the challenges she has faced as the leader of a nation emerging from fourteen years of civil war seem nearly insurmountable. The 2006 documentary Iron Ladies of Liberia took an inside look at the first year in office of President Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president, as she built a cabinet of other strong women in the hopes that women could repair the damage done to their country by warring men. Part one of the documentary can be viewed below and we hope to be able to host a screening of the entire film in Richmond before President Sirleaf's visit in November.

What Do Betty White And David Plouffe Have In Common?

2010-05-09T12:12:00.003-04:00

I'm watching one of my favorite Golden Girls, Betty White, host Saturday Night Live. A gig she got not because she has talent that has enabled her to have a show business career that has spanned seven decades (although she does have that talent!), but because a random guy in San Antonio, Texas started a Facebook campaign to petition for Betty White to host SNL following her appearance in a Snickers Super Bowl commercial earlier this year. In three short months, the Facebook petition had so many supporters, NBC announced that White would be hosting SNL on May 8, perfectly coinciding with our rescheduled program with David Plouffe. Plouffe is credited with building the most innovative presidential campaign in U.S. history, boldly using Internet-based technologies to set new records for fundraising and grassroots mobilization for Barack Obama. Plouffe took The Richmond Forum stage earlier this evening to share his thoughts on how widespread usage of social media has made the political process much more participatory, and spurred an explosion of digital dialogue about issues and current events.

So what do the two have in common? In both instances, in an incredibly short time period, broad public participation in a social media campaign helped to bring about results that many would have said were improbable, and some would even have said, impossible. Now, I'm not suggesting that the election of the first black President of the United States and an invitation to an octogenarian to host a late night comedy sketch show are events of comparable magnitude. It's just that, in all likelihood, neither event would have taken place in the past year were it not for tapping into the phenomenal power of internet social networking sites that bring previously unconnected people and groups together and unite them behind a common cause. And that changes the game for all of us as to how to implement a vision in our society today.

Join Us In A Twitter Demonstration Saturday Night

2010-05-06T08:42:00.005-04:00

More and more Americans are using Twitter to follow their elected representatives and to comment on the political issues of the day. If you "tweet," please join us in a Twitter demonstration Saturday night during intermission. Just tweet your insightful observation about David Plouffe's presentation (in 140 characters or less, of course) and you'll see your comment, and those of others in the theater, projected on the large screen. You must include the following hashtag in your tweet: #ricforum

After intermission, please remember to turn your mobile devices back off for the remainder of the program.

Subscriptions For Next Season Will Go On Sale Monday Morning!

2010-04-29T09:01:00.005-04:00

A limited number of seats for The Richmond Forum's 2010-2011 season will go on sale to new subscribers this Monday, May 3rd, at 9AM. Please be sure to mark your calendar as we expect to sell out very quickly. This blog post contains everything you need to know to ensure that you get your seats for what promises to be a fascinating season at The Richmond Forum.

Seat Availability

Rear Balcony: 400 seats ($155 each for the five program season)
Front Balcony: 80 seats with only 26 pairs ($190 each)
Grand Tier & Orchestra: 54 scattered singles, no pairs ($240 each)

Landmark Theater seating chart

How to Subscribe

Online: The easiest and quickest way will be to subscribe online Monday morning at 9AM.
Phone (804) 330-3993: Because we have a small staff and only three phone lines, this will be a slower way to purchase your subscription. Our phone lines will be very busy. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to return voicemail messages in a timely fashion, so please keep calling until you reach a staff member. However, we do highly recommend that you purchase your subscription online as we will assign the best available seats in the order that orders are received, whether online or by phone.

Subscriber Benefits

Guaranteed Seating: Subscribers have a reserved seat for each program.
Season Savings: Subscribers save up to 30% off the cost of buying tickets to individual programs.
Priority Seating: As a subscriber, you will be given the first opportunity to renew your seats, improve your seats, and purchase additional seats each season.
Ticket Donation: If your are unable to attend any program(s) during the season, you can donate your tickets to The Richmond Forum for a tax credit.

Mark your calendar for Monday, May 3rd, at 9AM and we look forward to having you join us next season!

David Blaine Pushes the Limits of the Human Body

2010-04-20T12:00:00.002-04:00

Read a great Q & A with David Blaine from TIME magazine. Blaine is variously known as a street magician, illusionist, and endurance artist. When he comes to The Richmond Forum on April 16, 2011, he will go in depth on the topics he touches on in this article: the genesis of his ideas, his research, and the intense training he undertakes to prepare his body for the unbelievable physical feats he attempts, like holding his breath under water for over seventeen minutes!

To be sure you have seats for this intriguing program and all of the other great speakers coming for our 2010-2011 season, make a note on your calendar to subscribe online as soon as new subscriptions go on sale, Monday, May 3!

Tony Blair Announces Partnership with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

2010-04-09T13:30:00.005-04:00

Today a former Richmond Forum speaker and a future Richmond Forum speaker are in the news together.

In this week's TIME magazine, former Prime Minister Tony Blair details how his Africa Governance Initiative will be working with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia to "improve the way government works." Blair calls Sirleaf "one of Africa's most inspiring and visionary leaders" and writes that "the progress being achieved in Liberia is a testament to the resolve of the Liberian people."

President Sirleaf will kick off the 25th season of The Richmond Forum on November 6, 2010. Season subscriptions go on sale May 3rd.

Anderson Cooper in Outside Magazine

2010-04-02T11:39:00.004-04:00

The April issue of Outside magazine includes Anderson Cooper among its "Adventure Icons." According to the preface, "In an era when everything has supposedly been done, these adventure icons ignore convention, court risk, and let their passion lead the way."

You can read the full interview with Anderson Cooper online, in which he talks about his recent coverage of the earthquake in Haiti and the risks inherent with this style of reporting.

Anderson Cooper will be the February speaker at The Richmond Forum next season. Available season subscriptions will go on sale May 3rd.

Online Documentary Introduces Dr. George Church and the Personal Genome Project. (And Explains That Tape on his Forehead.)

2010-03-19T09:00:00.005-04:00

Dr. George Church, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and creator of the Personal Genome Project, will be the fourth speaker in our 2010-2011 season, addressing The Richmond Forum on March 19, 2011. We've had a number of people ask us, "What is personal genomics exactly?"

Below you can view the first of three webisodes where Dr. Church explains what personal genomics is, how the Personal Genome Project got started, and what he hopes to accomplish through his work.

President Obama Donates $100K of Nobel Prize Money to Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute

2010-03-13T11:04:00.005-05:00

Last fall, Greg Mortenson was among the nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was ultimately awarded to President Barack Obama.

This week President Obama announced that he has decided to donate $100,000 of the $1.4 million Peace Prize money to the Central Asia Institute, the organization founded by Greg Mortenson for the purpose of building schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. To date, the organization has built over 180 schools serving mostly girls.

President Obama split the prize money among ten charities, including $250,000 to Fisher House, an organization that provides housing for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers, and $200,000 to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund.

Greg Mortenson addressed The Richmond Forum in January and we applaud President Obama's decision to include his organization among the worthy groups sharing the prize money.

25th Season of The Richmond Forum to Offer Several Firsts.

2010-03-08T12:48:00.000-05:00

From our first-ever sitting head of state to our first former first lady of the United States, the 25th anniversary season of The Richmond Forum promises to be one of our most engaging ever. Learn about the full line-up under "Upcoming Season." Subscription renewal packets will mail March 8th.

Forbes at The Forum

2010-03-07T07:51:00.011-05:00

Steve Forbes spoke to the sold-out Forum audience on Saturday in his typical understated style. He quietly, patiently, yet passionately made his case for capitalism and the free market system. Forbes argued that capitalism is moral, because "free markets force you to pay attention to the needs and wants of other people." In order for a business idea to be successful, it must recognize and respond effectively to another person's need, which then encourages "ever more complex circles of spontaneous cooperation" among individuals and groups, as various businesses rely on each other to help meet recognized needs. Forbes was optimistic about our economic future, focusing on the "$53 trillion in net assets in America, more than any country in the world."

Middle and high school students from several Richmond area schools, as well as some students from VCU watched the program from the student viewing room, which was sponsored for this program by the Powell Center for Economic Literacy in partnership with The Forum's Ralph Krueger Memorial Fund.

NOVA Episode to Explore Pluto's Demotion

2010-03-01T08:23:00.005-05:00

When he addressed The Richmond Forum in November, Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson didn't devote much time to the demotion of Pluto, other than to playfully say to those who were crushed by the news, "Get over it."

The truth is, outraged "Plutophiles" have besieged Tyson ever since he made the decision ten years ago, as director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, to exclude Pluto from a new model of the solar system.

In the Tuesday, March 2nd episode of NOVA on PBS, Tyson will take to the road to interview Plutophiles, those who would like to see the body restored to planetary status, as well as others who concur with Pluto's new status as "dwarf planet." In addition to other astrophysicists, the program includes appearances by Diane Sawyer, Brian Williams, Jon Stewart, and noted Pluto booster Stephen Colbert.

NOVA: The Pluto Files will air locally on WCVE at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, March 2nd.

"Faces of America" With Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Premieres Tonight

2010-02-10T09:41:00.006-05:00

Tonight at 8:00 PM, PBS will air the first episode of a new series called Faces of America, which will be hosted by very popular former Richmond Forum speaker, Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

In this series, the Harvard scholar turns to the latest tools of genealogy and genetics to explore the family history of 12 well-known Americans, including Meryl Streep, Stephen Colbert, Yo-Yo Ma, and Richmond Forum alumni Malcolm Gladwell and Queen Noor.

The program will air locally on WCVE, Wednesdays, February 10 - March 3 from 8:00 to 9:00 PM.

David Plouffe Program Rescheduled for Saturday, May 8, 2010

2010-02-05T09:44:00.009-05:00

Due to the inclement weather and out of concern for the safety of our 3,600 patrons, this Saturday night's Richmond Forum program with David Plouffe has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 8th. If you are a ticket holder, please hold onto your tickets for the February 6th program, as these will be the tickets used on the rescheduled date.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (804) 330-3993.

Meanwhile, we thank you for your support and understanding, and we look forward to seeing you on Saturday, March 6th when we will welcome Steve Forbes to The Richmond Forum stage.

Details of Condoleezza Rice's Memoir Released

2010-01-30T08:11:00.004-05:00

Last February the former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor signed a two book deal with Crown Publishing Group. In a statement this week, Ms. Rice revealed that the first book will focus on her childhood in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1950s and '60s against the backdrop of the civil rights movement.

"After I left Washington it seemed important to write about how my very special parents, my extended family and so many mentors shaped me for the challenges that lay ahead. I decided that was the story I wanted to tell first."

The first book will be titled Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family and is set for an October 12, 2010 release.

Apparently, curious readers will have to wait until the second book to learn more about her time in the Bush administration.

Ms. Rice (we're told she really doesn't like to be addressed as "Dr. Rice") will be bringing her story to The Richmond Forum stage on April 10th and Forum patrons will have the chance to pose their questions to her. (No matter which volume of her life those questions may deal with.)

Obama Asks Plouffe To Oversee Midterm Elections

2010-01-23T23:27:00.007-05:00

President Obama has asked David Plouffe to oversee House, Senate and governor's races in the midterm elections. Read more in this New York Times article:

Obama Moves to Centralize Control Over Party Strategy

Plouffe takes The Richmond Forum stage on Saturday, February 6th to address The Future of the Democratic Process in a Tweeting World.

Republican Politicians Make A Social Media Push

2010-01-19T12:45:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to an interesting story that aired on NPR about how some Republican politicians are using social media.

In his Richmond Forum program on February 6th, David Plouffe will be talking about how technology and the growing use of social media could reshape the political process in America. In fact, in a recent phone call with Plouffe he told us that very soon the revolutionary use of new technologies by the Obama campaign "will look like Jurassic Park." Should be a fascinating program!

Greg Mortenson on Bill Moyers JOURNAL

2010-01-14T11:32:00.004-05:00

This Friday, January 15th, Greg Mortenson is the featured guest on Bill Moyers JOURNAL on PBS. Check your local listings for times.

Greg taped the program just two days before his appearance last Saturday at The Richmond Forum, and I asked him how the interview went. He said it went very well, and that the team at the JOURNAL were so pleased with it that they delayed the program airdate by one week so they would have more time to promote the program. (It was originally scheduled to air last Friday, the night before The Forum.)

Great Feedback on Mortenson

2010-01-11T21:50:00.017-05:00

We have been receiving really great feedback on the content of Greg Mortenson's Forum program!

Here are a few comments from subscribers who attended:

I have attended the Richmond Forum for a number of years and I believe Mr. Mortenson's presentation was one of the best I have attended. This I contribute to the fact that it seems as if he is still untouched by politics and the media in his passion.
Greg Mortenson's eyes shone with a light more than any other speaker I have seen in around 19 years of attending The Forum. He truly has found his passion.
One of the best Forum programs I can remember and I've been attending forever!

And my personal favorite comment (no, not submitted by my husband!):

Met my wife's expectations. Need I say more?

Tickets for this event were in incredibly high demand, and from the volume and enthusiasm of the comments we have received, Mortenson did not disappoint.

Thanks in part to Forum subscribers' donations to the Ralph Krueger Memorial Fund, we were once again able to include over 100 area students in this otherwise sold-out program by setting up a student viewing room at the Landmark Theater where students could watch the program on a large screen. Greg Mortenson visited with the students both before the program and at intermission. His passion for education and his ability to connect and communicate with students was clear the moment he walked into the room. I really think he would have been happy to personally meet and talk with each student if only we had enough time.

Thanks to all who attended, including students from Lee Davis High School, St. Catherine's, University of Richmond, Freeman High School, St. Gertrude's, Midlothian Middle School, Collegiate Middle School, and other area schools in Henrico, Chesterfield, and the City of Richmond.

We've been updating our Forum Facebook over the past several days with photos from the evening and people have been sharing their impressions of the program on our Wall, so be sure to visit and share your own thoughts and opinions!

Midlothian Middle School Students Ready For Greg Mortenson

2010-01-08T13:47:00.008-05:00

Here is a great photo of a group of students from Midlothian Middle School. These students and 100 other area students will be viewing Saturday's sold-out program featuring Greg Mortenson from our student viewing room at the Landmark Theater.

1,300 Midlothian Middle School students have read the youth version of Three Cups Of Tea during the last few months. We are delighted that they will be able to participate in the program, thanks in part to subscriber donations to the Ralph Krueger Memorial Fund.

Reaching Students Around The World

2010-01-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

Two people who will be in the Richmond Forum audience for the Greg Mortenson program Saturday night (January 9th) are Amy White and Drew Austen, both Richmonders currently on a two-year teaching assignment at the International School of Belgrade in Serbia. Both teachers delayed their flight back to Serbia after the holidays by one day so they could be sure to have the opportunity to hear Greg Mortenson speak here.

Amy is teaching Three Cups of Tea to her students this year. She had hoped to receive the books in time to begin the fall semester, but all of the student copies got held up in being shipped internationally to Belgrade! For the first eight chapters, the class shared one copy and focused on students reading aloud.

The books finally arrived, and then they really began in earnest. They focused on two major themes, the idea of a modern hero and how the concept applies to Greg Mortenson, and looking at the world from a global perspective, using newspaper articles to learn more about current events in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and studying the geography of the region.

When classes resume after the holidays, students will begin to write about their own lives and explore how they have impacted those around them. They were also inspired to begin their own service project related to an issue of local concern, and will be raising money for one of the only animal rescue shelters in Belgrade.

Amy brought a number of questions for Greg Mortenson from her students in Serbia. We'll be sharing them with Greg and maybe even asking some of them from the stage on program night. Just a few of the thoughtful inquiries from these young minds:

What is the most important thing Haji Ali taught you?
How has the politics of the area affected your schools?
Do you want your children to follow in your footsteps?

If you know in advance of a question you would like to ask Greg Mortenson, post it early here on the Forum blog or our Forum Facebook to be considered on program night, or be ready to write your question on the question sheet that will be in your program book and hand it to a student usher at intermission.

We look forward to seeing you at the program on Saturday!

The Noor Wodjouatt Ensemble to Provide Authentic Afghan Music at Mortenson Program

2009-12-15T13:43:00.006-05:00

Forum-goers will get a special treat on January 9th when the live music for our Greg Mortenson program will be provided by The Noor Wodjouatt Ensemble.

Noor Wodjouatt, a native of Kabul, Afghanistan, is a leading Afghan music artist from Washington, DC. His style of singing is considered light ghazal, an ancient form of music and poetic recitation that dates back to the 10th century. He uses lyrics from Rumi, which date back to the 13th century.

The Ensemble's performance will be accompanied by Kathak dance, a classical Indian dance that is used for the interpretation and storytelling of poetry.

The Noor Wodjouatt Ensemble has performed at the Kennedy Center and for the U.S. Department of State and we look forward to their performance at The Richmond Forum. They will take the stage before the program, beginning at 7:20 p.m., and again during intermission.

Will Big Business Save The Earth?

2009-12-07T11:32:00.006-05:00

Dr. Jared Diamond, author of the best-sellers Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse, and a speaker at The Richmond Forum in April 2007, shares examples of the ways he sees big businesses effectively, and profitably, helping to protect the environment in this recent New York Times Op-Ed: Will Big Business Save the Earth?

Listen to Greg Mortenson on Marketplace

2009-12-02T21:28:00.003-05:00

Greg Mortenson talked with Kai Ryssdal on Marketplace tonight about building schools, raising money, and how much the U.S. military has learned about working with the Afghan people.

Listen here.

David Plouffe Named One of the Decade's 25 Smartest People

2009-12-01T11:42:00.005-05:00

Who are the greatest minds of the last ten years? That's the question The Daily Beast posed to a panel of "moguls, academics, and more than 40 credentialed geniuses."

We're pleased to see that our February 2010 Richmond Forum speaker, David Plouffe, made the list, coming in at number eight.

Why He Was Nominated: The 42-year-old Plouffe—“the unsung hero” of the “best political campaign in the history of the United States of America,” according to President Obama—reinvented politics in 2007 and 2008. Howard Dean tapped into the power of the Internet as a political tool in 2004, but it was Plouffe and Obama who mastered it, raising unprecedented amounts of money—mostly from small donors—and spreading their message in ways never before attempted. In the end, the Obama campaign out-organized and outspent (a first for a Democratic challenger) John McCain, and Plouffe helped deliver the first African American in the White House.

Also on the list was past Richmond Forum speaker, Malcolm Gladwell.

Fighting Terrorism With Schools

2009-11-25T09:27:00.009-05:00

In case you missed the article by Greg Mortenson in last Sunday's Parade, click here to read it. There's also a nice photo gallery accompanying the article.

In December we will be giving away one pair of tickets to Greg Mortenson's sold-out January 9th Forum program. Details about the giveaway will be shared on The Forum's Facebook, and the winner will be selected from among Forum Facebook Fans, so if you aren't a Fan yet, become one now!

"We're going to show young people how cool science can be."

2009-11-24T08:43:00.005-05:00

On the heels of Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's appearance at The Richmond Forum last Saturday, when he talked about America's declining role as a leader in the "science of tomorrow," President Obama has pledged more support for science education in this country.

In a speech yesterday, President Obama said, "Today, we are launching the Educate to Innovate campaign, a nationwide effort to help reach the goal this administration has set: moving to the top in science and math education in the next decade. We've got leaders from private companies and universities, foundations and non-profits, and organizations representing millions of scientists, engineers, and teachers from across America. The initial commitment of the private sector to this campaign is more than $260 million –- and we only expect the campaign to grow."

President Obama also announced an annual science fair at The White House.

"If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House. Well, if you're a young person and you've produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too. Scientists and engineers ought to stand side by side with athletes and entertainers as role models, and here at the White House we're going to lead by example. We're going to show young people how cool science can be."

Read the full transcript of President Obama's speech here.

Astronomical Opportunity for Students

2009-11-15T06:35:00.017-05:00

I watched most of last night's program featuring Dr. Tyson from the student viewing room that we were able to set-up at the Landmark Theater thanks to donations from our subscribers to our Krueger Memorial Fund. This was a first-time outreach event for The Forum, and it was fantastic! We were able to include close to 100 extra young people in the audience for this sold-out program, including Scouts from seven different area troops, students from Monacan High School in Chesterfield County, from the astronomy club at Godwin High School in Henrico County, and students from Oak Grove-Bellemeade Elementary School (who we did not have enough seats to accommodate to watch the program from the student viewing room, but who joined us there during the intermission visit from Dr. Tyson.)

Dr. Tyson seemed particularly pleased to visit with the students, stopping in before the program started, spending the entire intermission with them answering questions, and even visiting the room again after the program ended.

And what kinds of questions did the students press Dr. Tyson with? The first question was "How and when will the world end?" and the last was "Will you explain the Big Bang?" No problem! In the brief 15-20 minutes that Dr. Tyson was off The Forum stage, he rattled off answers to the biggest questions in the Universe.

A subscriber popped his head into the student viewing room to see what was happening just in time to see Dr. Tyson pulling a Scout up to the front of the room to pretend to be a meteor to help answer another question, and the subscriber commented, "You know, this could change these kids' lives!"

Thanks to Dr. Tyson for spending so much time with our young people, thanks to the teachers and parents who coordinated with us to get their kids to the program, and an especially big thanks to the subscribers who donate to the Krueger Fund for making the student viewing room possible. We hope this is just the first of many events like this one!

Greg Mortenson Hospitalized

2009-11-13T15:26:00.005-05:00

Greg Mortenson has been hospitalized for viral carditis, an inflammation of the lining of his heart, possibly contracted during his latest trip to Afghanistan.

According to Mortenson, the inflammation "gives me an oxygen saturation around eighty-five percent on room air (for most people it's around 99 percent)." Additional tests are now being conducted by his doctors.

The Richmond Forum wishes Greg all the best for a speedy recovery.

Greg is scheduled to address The Richmond Forum on January 9, 2010.

And so it begins...

2009-11-05T08:46:00.003-05:00

It has been widely considered to be just a matter of time before Carly Fiorina, former Hewlett-Packard CEO, threw her hat into the political arena.

When she addressed The Richmond Forum in January 2008, one audience member asked the question, "Would you ever consider running for president?"

To which she laughed and replied,

"Well, first of all, I'm flattered by the question. Thank you. My husband, who's in the audience, is whispering, 'No...no...no!' But I get asked the question enough that it causes me to at least consider that maybe one of these days politics is in my future."

Months later, Fiorina served as an economic advisor to John McCain and she was rumored to be given some consideration as his running mate.

Yesterday Fiorina, who has recently completed chemotherapy for breast cancer, announced that she is launching a campaign in California to unseat three-term Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer. Fiorina will be running as a Republican.

"After chemotherapy, Barbara Boxer just really isn't scary anymore," quipped Fiorina.

This should be an interesting campaign to watch as the opinions are already heating up, including this editorial in the Los Angeles Times.

Visit Carly Fiorina's new campaign site here.

This Sunday--Plouffe on Meet The Press

2009-10-30T08:00:00.002-04:00

This weekend on Meet The Press , David Gregory will interview David Plouffe, Barack Obama's campaign manager, and The Forum's featured speaker at our February 6, 2010 program. On Sunday's program Plouffe will be discussing his new book The Audacity to Win, about his work on Obama's campaign. The book is scheduled for release on November 3rd.

When he comes to The Richmond Forum, Plouffe will be sharing his perspective on the future of the American democratic process in a world of tweeting Senators, blogging constituents, social networks for every special interest and policy position, and untold new ways for administrations to communicate directly with citizens. Should be fascinating!

Botany of Desire Tonight

2009-10-28T11:01:00.005-04:00

Tune in tonight to see the documentary The Botany of Desire, based on the book of the same name by Michael Pollan. The program airs tonight on WCVE Richmond PBS & WHTJ Charlottesville PBS at 8pm. Check listings for your local PBS station.

Pollan spoke at The Richmond Forum last April with Marion Nestle.

Greg Mortenson Named One of "America's Best Leaders"

2009-10-24T17:30:00.005-04:00

U.S. News & World Report has just named Greg Mortenson one of "American's Best Leaders" for 2009.

The magazine writes, "Greg Mortenson has been instrumental in furthering the cause of education, particularly for girls, in unstable areas of Pakistan. In so doing, Mortenson has also become an unofficial adviser to U.S. officials seeking a way forward in Pakistan and Afghanistan."

Read the full article here.

Greg Mortenson will be appearing at The Richmond Forum on January 9, 2010.

What Got Neil Interested In Science?

2009-10-08T11:08:00.007-04:00

Check out what got Neil deGrasse Tyson into science when he was 9 years old...

Source: NOVA scienceNOW

Will Greg Mortenson Be Awarded The Nobel Peace Prize on Friday?

2009-10-06T08:28:00.006-04:00

This is Nobel Prize week.

Yesterday the Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to three Americans focused on age research "for the discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase." Two more Americans were among this year's recipients of the Nobel Prize in Physics "for the invention of an imaging semiconductor circuit—the CCD sensor."

The prize announcements will continue daily until the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize Friday morning at 4:00 AM Eastern time. Greg Mortenson, who will be addressing The Richmond Forum on January 9th, is among this year's Peace Prize nominees.

I, for one, plan to set my alarm clock a bit earlier than usual Friday morning!

President Tony Blair?

2009-10-02T13:28:00.003-04:00

The Times in London is reporting that "Tony Blair is in line to be proclaimed Europe's first president within weeks if the Irish vote 'yes' in today's referendum."

Read the full story here.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair addressed The Richmond Forum last November 1st.

Changes in The Richmond Forum Staff

2009-09-28T11:59:00.005-04:00

We're happy to welcome a new face to The Richmond Forum team!

Debbie Mangolas has joined The Forum as Office & Ticket Sales Manager. In that role she will be the primary contact for subscription sales and renewals, as well as single ticket sales prior to each program.

This responsibility was previously handled by Heidi Thompson, who became a new mom in June. Heidi has now returned to The Forum in a part-time role as our Community Outreach & Marketing Manager, and we're glad to have her back!

As we speak, Debbie and Heidi are working side by side to get our season tickets ready to mail to subscribers this Thursday, October 1st. Watch for them in your mailbox starting on Friday or Saturday!

Big Programs, Small World

2009-09-08T07:02:00.006-04:00

The week after Labor Day things always seem to start to really kick into gear around The Forum offices as we anticipate the upcoming season. We start to put together the ticket mailing (scheduled to go out on October 1st), the phones start ringing again as subscribers and sponsors return from vacations and everyone's kids go back to school, and the finer details of the November program begin to be finalized, this year an "Out of This World Evening" featuring astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson on Saturday, November 14.

Last week was exciting for us as we heard from Richmonders whose time is currently being spent far from home, but who are planning months in advance to try to attend this season's Richmond Forum programs.

Two were teachers currently on assignment at the International School of Belgrade in Serbia, one of whom is teaching Greg Mortenson's book Three Cups of Tea to her students. We also heard from a soldier currently deployed in Afghanistan who contacted us last week to see how he could get tickets to The Richmond Forum when he returns home in the spring. We are so thrilled that people who are traveling extensively throughout the world are finding that The Richmond Forum still offers them an opportunity to hear speakers that they couldn't hear anywhere else, and that through the use of technology we can so quickly and efficiently communicate and connect with each other. How small the world we share has become!

We'll be sharing more details on stories like these throughout the season. We look forward to enjoying the programs with everyone this year. We have a lot planned for you, and we are so glad you will be joining us!

Details About Greg Mortenson's Follow-up to "Three Cups of Tea" Released

2009-08-28T10:26:00.005-04:00

When we first invited Greg Mortenson to appear at The Richmond Forum, we knew that he was scheduled to release a follow-up to the best-selling Three Cups of Tea in December, but we didn't know any further details. Now those details are being released.

The new book will be titled Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The publisher's description reads:

In this dramatic first-person narrative, Greg Mortenson picks up where "Three Cups of Tea" left off in 2003, recounting his relentless, ongoing efforts to establish schools for girls in Afghanistan; his extensive work in Azad Kashmir and Pakistan after a massive earthquake hit the region in 2005; and the unique ways he has built relationships with Islamic clerics, militia commanders, and tribal leaders even as he was dodging shootouts with feuding Afghan warlords and surviving an eight-day armed abduction by the Taliban. He shares for the first time his broader vision to promote peace through education and literacy, as well as touching on military matters, Islam, and women-all woven together with the many rich personal stories of the people who have been involved in this remarkable two-decade humanitarian effort.

Three Cups of Tea has been a favorite of Richmond book clubs, especially since it was announced that Mortenson will be addressing The Richmond Forum on January 10th. Stones into Schools is scheduled for release on December 1st, so you'll have a few weeks to read it before The Forum. Amazon.com is now taking pre-orders.

The Richmond Forum Loses a Board Member and True Friend

2009-08-26T09:47:00.006-04:00

This morning we were deeply saddened to hear of the death last night of our good friend Henry Fine. Henry was a current member of our board of directors, and in June he assumed the role of our treasurer.

Henry brought his smile, sense of humor, and clarity to every board meeting and his passion for The Richmond Forum was evident to all. He could always be counted on for a well-timed laugh and for razor sharp good sense.

His favorite quote was "In the land of the blind, a one-eyed man is king." Henry was born with one eye.

Henry will be greatly missed by The Richmond Forum family.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Karin, Kevin and Allison. And, of course, "Claire the Wonder Dog."

How Many Richmond Forum Speakers are Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

2009-08-14T13:01:00.012-04:00

Earlier this week, former president of Ireland Mary Robinson and Archbishop Desmund Tutu were among this year's sixteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded by President Obama at a White House ceremony. Both are alumni of The Richmond Forum, Tutu speaking in 2000 and Robinson in 2004.

This got us wondering... How many Richmond Forum speakers have received this high honor?

After some research by Dee, here's the impressive list.

Neil Armstrong
James Baker
Tony Blair
William F. Buckley, Jr.
Bill Cosby
Walter Cronkite
Tommy Franks
Jack Kemp
B.B. King
Jean Kirkpatrick
Henry Kissinger
Jim Lovell
David McCullough
George McGovern
George Mitchell
Colin Powell (two-time recipient)
Mary Robinson
Dick Rutan
Norman Schwarzkopf
Margaret Thatcher
Desmund Tutu

See more photos from this year's ceremony.

Steve Forbes to President Obama...

2009-08-11T13:35:00.003-04:00

At this writing, President Obama is addressing health care reform at a town hall meeting in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Yesterday, Steve Forbes used his Intelligent Investing column to discuss his belief in the need for free enterprise in the American health care system to help drive down costs.

"...we must realize that today's hybrid system in not a capitalist one. President Obama, in turn, must realize that his worthy goal of universal health care can only be realized by bringing genuine free enterprise to the system," writes Forbes.

Read the full column here.

Steve Forbes, Chairman and CEO of Forbes, Inc. and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Magazine and two-time Republican candidate for president, will address The Richmond Forum on March 6, 2010.

"Fresh" screening at The Byrd Theatre on September 24th.

2009-08-10T08:14:00.008-04:00

If you enjoyed the April Richmond Forum program with Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle, you might want to mark your calendar for this Richmond documentary screening in September. Fresh features Michael Pollan and Virginia farmer Joel Salatin.

There will be a panel discussion following the screening at The Byrd.

According to an email to The Forum from Terrance Jackson, "Fresh also features urban farmer Will Allen, who in 2008 was awarded a $500,000 Genius Grant from the MacArthur Foundation. This event will be used to raise money to allow people from Virginia to attend Mr. Allen's Growing Food and Justice Gathering in Milwaukee."

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson launches new radio program

2009-07-24T10:41:00.006-04:00

Tyson is now the host or StarTalk Radio, a one-hour commercial radio program devoted to all things space. The program is currently airing only in Los Angeles and Washington DC, but you can listen online anytime.

The first programs have tackled everything from time travel to the search for alien life to an exploration of space tourism.

Dr. Tyson will kick off The Richmond Forum this season on November 14th. Four season subscription seats are still available. No kidding...four.

Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. speaks out

2009-07-23T08:47:00.007-04:00

For the past week America has been seeing the news stories and mug shot of Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., arrested in his own home in Cambridge. Now we are finally hearing the story from Dr. Gates himself.

Dr. Gates addressed The Richmond Forum in March 2008, one of our most highly-rated programs in recent years. Skip has many friends here in Richmond and we wish him the very best!

Tom Friedman on Greg Mortenson

2009-07-20T11:03:00.003-04:00

New York Times columnist (and popular past speaker at The Richmond Forum) Tom Friedman recently had the opportunity to see Greg Mortenson in action in Afghanistan. He wrote about Mortenson's impact in his July 18th column.

Mortenson, the co-author and subject of Three Cups of Tea will appear at The Richmond Forum on January 9, 2010.

"FOOD INC" to screen in Richmond this Saturday

2009-07-08T15:08:00.005-04:00

This news just in from Tricycle Gardens:

"The recently released film, Food Inc, will be opening this coming Saturday, July 11th at Movieland at Boulevard Square, 1301 N. Boulevard at West Leigh St. Showings are at 4:00 and 7:00.

Following the 4:00 show, Lisa Taranto, Director of Tricycle Gardens, will appear in a panel discussion sponsored by Whole Foods. Tricycle Gardens will have an information table in the lobby following both shows.

Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma appears in the film. He recently was a speaker for the Richmond Forum and visited two of our community gardens. We are excited that information is getting out about issues with our food supply and agricultural system that affect us all on a daily basis."

In preparation for Michael Pollan's appearance at The Forum in April with Marion Nestle, I got to take a sneak peek at some advance scenes from Food Inc and it is very well done. Check it out!

Digitized Forum Program Books

2009-07-08T11:42:00.006-04:00

A lot of work and good content goes into The Richmond Forum's program books. This summer we're working on making an archive of Forum program books available online for subscribers, students, researchers, anyone.

Here's an initial test.

What do you think?

New Season of NOVA ScienceNow Begins Tomorrow Night

2009-06-29T09:58:00.007-04:00

PBS's NOVA ScienceNow series, hosted by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson kicks off the new season on Tuesday, June 30th. The program airs locally on WCVE at 10:00 pm.

The season opener examines artificial diamonds that are indistinguishable from the real “girl’s best friend," how researchers determined the source of the anthrax used in the 2001 anthrax attacks, and the pitch-correction software called Auto-Tune that can make anybody sing like a star.

Dr. Tyson kicks off the 2009-2010 season of The Richmond Forum on November 14th.

Reza Aslan Sees "Bald Faced Election Fraud" In Iran.

2009-06-15T15:53:00.005-04:00

Reza Aslan, who addressed The Richmond Forum this past January, is speaking out about the recent election in Iran and believes we are witnessing a slow-moving military coup.

Read his column in today's Daily Beast.

The Forum Welcomes Corbin Bly Thompson

2009-06-15T09:11:00.004-04:00

Heidi Thompson, Director of Patron Services for The Richmond Forum, and her husband Doug proudly welcomed a new baby last week. Corbin Bly Thompson was born on June 10th, weighing in at 8 lbs., 11 oz. Corbin is the couple's first child.

Congratulations!

Great Season Behind Us, Fantastic Season Ahead

2009-06-02T11:17:00.007-04:00

The Richmond Forum has wrapped up a successful 2008-2009 season and we are officially turning the page and looking ahead to 2009-2010! Response to the speaker line-up for the upcoming season, which was built entirely from suggestions made by subscribers, has been incredible so far. We are down to just 23 scattered single seats available for subscription throughout the Landmark theater, and we've had numerous inquiries about how to get tickets for individual programs next year (Hint: Join The Forum's e-mail list to get regular updates about ticket availability and Forum events and activities.)

If you haven't had a chance to subscribe yet, don't wait to call the office at (804) 330-3993, the few tickets we have left are going quickly, and a subscription is the best way to guarantee that you will have a seat for the programs you are most interested in next year.

So far, the program we are probably hearing the most buzz and excitement about is the January 9, 2010 program that will feature Greg Mortenson, whose inspirational story about building schools for girls in the most remote and volatile regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan is told in his book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace... One School at a Time. I even talked with one new subscriber who had tentatively planned a trip to New York to hear Mortenson speak, but then learned The Forum was bringing him to our stage in Richmond!

We're excited about all of our programs next season and we're glad you are, too. We'll be spending the summer planning for the programs and working on new ways that we can extend our mission--to expand horizons, stimulate conversation and inspire our community--so please share your thoughts and ideas, through this blog, through Facebook, or by giving us a call at the office or sending us your ideas through e-mail.

We thank everyone for all the support of our programs this season, and we look forward to seeing you at The Forum soon!

Longtime Friend of The Forum Passes Away

2009-05-13T11:33:00.004-04:00

Late yesterday evening, The Richmond Forum lost a good friend when Todd Pankoff passed away after a long illness.

In preparing to write about Todd, I went in search of a photo of him and found that to be a very difficult task. I flipped through hundreds and hundreds of photos before I finally found one. In many ways that speaks volumes about Todd's involvement with The Forum. He was always behind the scenes and he was rarely standing still long enough for a photo.

Todd Pankoff (right) backstage with Chris Wallace in 1993.

From about 1989 to 2005, Todd produced over 75 Richmond Forum programs. And he did it all as a volunteer, even though he made his living as a professional producer. Todd called all the shots backstage, making sure the speakers were in the wings ready to go, calling lighting and audio cues, making sure every program rolled like clockwork. He was integrally involved in the look of the programs, from the stage design to the production of The Forum's first opening video.

The Board of Directors of The Richmond Forum recently honored Todd with a resolution recognizing his many years of service. A framed copy, in rich hand calligraphy, was presented to Todd and his son just last week. We wanted him to know how much his volunteer service to The Forum means to us to this day.

The resolution read:

WHEREAS Ralph Krueger established The Richmond Forum as a volunteer organization and recruited Todd Pankoff as the head of production for The Richmond Forum; and

WHEREAS Todd Pankoff gave his many talents to The Richmond Forum as a volunteer for over fifteen years, producing over 75 programs and helping to establish The Richmond Forum as one of America’s preeminent public forums; and

WHEREAS his leadership and expertise made it possible for The Richmond Forum to relocate and successfully stage its programs at the University of Richmond for two seasons during the renovation of the Landmark Theater; and

WHEREAS Todd Pankoff was instrumental in not only production, but also program development, creative direction, and the solicitation of sponsors; and

WHEREAS Todd Pankoff’s selfless, voluntary contribution of talent, time, expertise, and passion benefited The Richmond Forum in so many ways and for so many years and is a contributing reason for the continued success and high standards of The Richmond Forum to this day,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors of The Richmond Forum on this the 29th day of April, 2009 to commend this resolution of grateful appreciation and recognition to Todd Pankoff for his invaluable and lasting contributions to The Richmond Forum.

2009-2010 Richmond Forum Subscriptions Now On Sale!

2009-04-30T13:59:00.011-04:00

A limited number of seats are now available to new subscribers for The Richmond Forum's exciting 2009-2010 season. Subscribe online now, or call The Forum offices at (804) 330-3993. Seats are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, and we expect seats to sell out quickly!

The 2009-2010 Richmond Forum season includes speakers you won't want to miss, such as former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Steve Forbes, editor of Forbes Magazine, Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, David Plouffe, campaign manager for Barack Obama, and the host of PBS's NOVA ScienceNow series, astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Click here for more details about our 2009-2010 speakers.

Forum subscribers enjoy the following benefits:

Guaranteed Seating - subscribers have a reserved seat for each program.
Season Discount - save up to 30% off of 2009-2010 single ticket prices.
Priority Seating - opportunity to renew and improve your seats each season.

Putting the Seating Puzzle Together

2009-04-23T14:15:00.015-04:00

Bill snapped this photo of me today working on seating assignments for renewing subscribers for next season. I'm smiling because we're just about done! Often people think that we have a computerized seating system, but as you can see from the huge seating chart on my lap and the nub of a pencil in my hand, we still do things the old-fashioned way. Keeping the system in-house and simple in this way has helped us avoid passing along Ticketmaster fees and surcharges to our subscribers over the years, which could add as much as 8% to 10% to ticket prices.

Subscribers renewing their same seats go right onto the seating chart and into our database as orders are received. We hold the renewal forms from subscribers requesting seat changes until after the renewal deadline so we can look for the best available open seats. We do read and take into consideration every single seat change request that comes in, and in most cases, we are able to move people at least a little bit each season.

By far the most numerous requests are for aisle seats, front row seats, and centrally located seats, so those are the hardest to come by and see the least turnover each year, but please don't ever think we have just ignored your change requests! Our goal is always to get subscribers in the best possible seats we can, so we nudge and shift and pencil in and erase, working towards seating current subscribers in the best available seats before we open up subscriptions to new subscribers on May 1st.

If you are a current subscriber who has renewed for next season, thank you so much for your continued support. It is truly your participation and commitment that make our programs possible. If you are not a subscriber yet but would like to be, join our e-mail list today. On May 1st, subscriptions will become available to new subscribers and we would love to have you join us.

Trinity Students Work and Play Green

2009-04-20T14:04:00.013-04:00

Trinity Episcopal School students play an important role on Forum program nights, helping with greeting, seating and the collection of audience questions at intermission. I learned on a recent visit to Trinity that students there have started a garden on campus! What a perfect example of the types of action that Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle noted people are taking to begin to make changes to our food culture.

Here is an excerpt from an article about the garden and other environmental activities in which Trinity students participate that appeared in Trinity's magazine, Titan Trail:

Environmentally-conscious students at Trinity find that their passion for the natural world permeates their time outside the classroom as well as in it. Spending time on the river, working outside, or contributing to the green practices on campus is more like play than work. Students for Environmental Action, known as the SEA club, find that their volunteer work provides a rewarding sense of purpose. SEA club members can be found emptying classroom recycling receptacles weekly.

They’ve built a vegetable garden between the Academic Building and the Science Discovery Center, to be nourished with compost pile and irrigated with rainwater collected in barrels. The compost pile is growing daily with apple cores and banana peels from student lunches (no meat or dairy products allowed). The club plans to grow salad greens and flowers this spring.

Plants were just starting to pop up when I was at the school last week, but we hope the students have a burgeoning garden as the weather continues to get warmer!

What Did You Buy At The Farmers' Market?

2009-04-19T09:21:00.015-04:00

Living salad bowls, homemade cherry and pear butter, heirloom seeds, organic herb plants and bison meat were just a few of the things I heard people buzzing about! Hundreds of people attending last night's Forum program featuring Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle made time to visit the Farmers' Market in the Landmark Ballroom, sponsored by Virginia Grown, an initiative of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services designed to help Virginians learn how easy and beneficial it can be to buy from local farmers, producers and food processors. Among the shoppers were Pollan and Nestle themselves! We saw Michael Pollan buying some seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, while Marion Nestle seemed particularly interested in the Wild T Bison Farm tent.

The market was a perfect complement to the program content. If you were at the program last night, are you looking at your cereal box a little more skeptically this morning, wondering what it might really be saying to you, aside from "snap, crackle, pop"? I am!

Setting aside the fact that the breakfast cereals we buy at the grocery store are highly processed, with lengthy ingredients lists that often contain unpronounceable or unrecognizable items, we learned last night that even choices we might consider healthy are at least worth a closer look.

For example, my breakfast today was a bowl of Kashi Go Lean High Protein & High Fiber Cereal, with sliced organic strawberries, topped off with organic milk. That sounds pretty good, right? Looking more closely at the labels and packaging, my breakfast cereal is not making dramatic and dubious health claims that it can save my life or prevent disease, so that's good, but, there are three sugars included in the relatively short ingredients list, and the cereal is presented as a "functional food," with extra protein and fiber to give it nutritional value beyond what the ingredients might have in their unaltered states. My organic strawberries were shipped up from Mexico, adding a huge fossil fuel factor to my consumption of them, and my organic milk also had to travel pretty far from the cow it came from to make its way into my cereal bowl!

Nestle and Pollan laid out the complexity of the challenges we face to do something as simple as eat a healthy diet in our day to day lives--when figuring out what to buy at the grocery store, when considering and crafting agricultural policy and farming methods, and when determining how our food system will be regulated and marketed. However, they both also offered some pretty simple steps that we can all take starting today: seek out minimally processed foods with short ingredients lists, buy locally produced foods, and cut back on portion sizes, or, as Michael Pollan puts it succinctly, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

What were your impressions of last night's program?

A Few Tickets Left For The Michael Pollan & Marion Nestle Program!

2009-04-17T15:39:00.005-04:00

I can’t wait for the program tomorrow night.

I've always been so grateful that several years ago a friend suggested that I read The Omnivore's Dilemma. At that point, I had already begun shopping and eating more consciously, but Pollan's work inspired me to read even more on the subject, and ultimately helped me realize how worth my time it would be to take the few extra steps involved with eating more locally and thereby more healthfully.

Already a shopper at area farmers' markets and Ellwood Thompson's, after a year on the waiting list I was able to join the Victory Farms CSA last year and have thoroughly enjoyed the access to the wide variety of ultra-fresh locally grown veggies that our area CSAs offer. My family also started getting most of our meat and eggs through the Richmond buying club for Polyface Farm, the Virginia farm featured prominently in The Omnivore's Dilemma, and have enjoyed learning about and sampling meats from the numerous other local farmers that offer meats, eggs, and cheeses in central Virginia. So far, I haven't purchased a cow share (which is what you have to do in Virginia to legally have truly fresh milk), but that is next on my list to consider!

You can imagine my delight when Michael Pollan's name began showing up as a requested speaker on our surveys. The response we have received to this program, right from the moment we announced it, has been overwhelming. It couldn't be more timely. Food and food safety has been a huge news topic this year, from lows like the scary stories about salmonella in American dietary staples like peanut butter and spinach to highs like the inspirational stories about the planting of the White House garden and the rise in the numbers of farmers' markets and backyard kitchen gardens popping up in our communities across the country.

In the program on Saturday, Marion Nestle is going to help us read through food labeling and marketing so we can really understand the nutritional value of our purchases. Her book, What to Eat? is an invaluable aide to anyone trying to understand what to buy and what not to buy at the grocery store. Michael Pollan is going to help us understand how politics and agricultural policy have shaped the food choices that are widely available to us in this country, and how the food choices that we make going forward can affect the health of our bodies, our environment, and our culture.

We will be selling the few tickets we still have available until 2pm Saturday, so call The Forum office at (804) 330-3993 if you are interested in attending this program!

Reza Aslan's New Book To Be Released On Tuesday.

2009-04-17T15:21:00.003-04:00

Islam expert, Reza Aslan's new book, How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror, is scheduled for release this Tuesday, April 21st. Aslan was a speaker at The Richmond Forum earlier this season, along with Newsweek editor, Jon Meacham.

So what is a "cosmic war?" Aslan equates it to a "ritual drama in which participants act out on Earth a battle they believe is actually taking place in the heavens."

A review of the book can be found at Slate.com.

Michael Pollan interviewed in today's Style Weekly

2009-04-15T09:22:00.005-04:00

Speaking about his appearance at The Richmond Forum this Saturday with Marion Nestle, Pollan says:

"I look forward to engaging with her about the food industry and how it might be part of the solution. We’re at this very interesting moment where we have a government that seems sympathetic to the food movement. There are opportunities for reform, so we’ll talk about the state of the food movement and whether we stand at a moment where we can change the system."

Read the entire interview here.

Allow Time to Visit the Farmers' Market in the Landmark Ballroom on April 18th!

2009-04-13T09:29:00.010-04:00

We're excited that in conjunction with our program In Search of Real Food, featuring Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle, a farmers' market will be open in the Ballroom this Saturday night, downstairs at the Landmark Theater! The Forum has been working closely with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to make this market possible for Forum attendees on program night.

Theater doors will open a little early on Saturday, beginning at 6:30pm, so you can explore the market, or you can visit the market at intermission and after the program.

Please bring cash or checks for purchases. Vendors will hold your purchases for pick-up after the program.

Ten local growers will be selling their products at the theater, including:

Croftburn Farm Meats
Dave and Dee's Mushrooms
Fall Line Farms
Homestead Creamery
Lavender Fields Herb Farm
Manakintowne Specialty Growers
Red Rake Organic Farm
Southern Exposure Seed Exchange
Victory Farms, Inc.
Wild T. Bison Farm

If you don't have tickets yet, it's worth a call to the Forum office (804-330-3993) at the end of this week to see if any subscribers have released tickets for this sold-out program, in which case the seats will be available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis. (The farmer's market will only be open to program ticket holders.)

Past Forum Speaker, Queen Noor, Knights Stephen Colbert

2009-04-09T14:52:00.003-04:00

It happened just this week when Queen Noor of Jordan appeared on The Colbert Report and asked Stephen to sign the Global Zero declaration to reduce the world's nuclear stockpiles to zero. Colbert agreed to sign on, as the leader of the Colbert Nation, if Queen Noor would agree to knight him, which she did. Watch below.

Queen Noor addressed The Richmond Forum, along with Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan in February 2003. (Anybody remember the weather that night?)

Greg Mortenson In The News

2009-03-27T12:55:00.010-04:00

I just received the following email about Greg Mortenson, who will be addressing The Richmond Forum next season.

(March 27, 2009 12:48 PM EDT)

Just thought you might like to know that Greg has been selected as "World News with Charles Gibson's" "Person of the Week." He will be profiled on the broadcast tonight.

It's certainly been an exciting week for Greg. On Monday he was in Islamabad to receive the Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan), the country's highest civilian award, for his courage and humanitarian efforts to promote education and literacy in rural areas of the country for the last fifteen years.

Check him out on ABC tonight!

On The Phone With Pollan And Nestle

2009-03-27T09:35:00.001-04:00

I just got off of a phone call with Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle in which we discussed their upcoming appearance at The Richmond Forum on April 18th. Both are very excited about the event and are clearly looking forward to taking the stage together. And given the way that the growing "Food Revolution" is all over the news, the timing of this program could not be more perfect.

Since our call took place at 8:30 this morning, I knew that Michael Pollan must not be on campus at UC Berkeley today. It turns out, he's in DC. Yesterday he visited with the White House chef and today he's headed to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to meet with Secretary Tom Vilsack. In recent interviews, Pollan has been pretty clear in his concern about the appointment of Vilsack to this post saying, "There's not a lot there to get hopeful about." But in our call this morning, Pollan clearly indicated a more positive attitude, saying Vilsack is turning out to be a "big surprise." After his meetings in DC, Pollan indicated that he would be ready to report to The Richmond Forum audience on the "state of the movement" and the "potential for reform."

On program night, Marion Nestle will take the stage first and speak from a "hard science" standpoint—nutrition, food safety, labeling, etc. Pollan will then approach the subject from a political and agricultural standpoint. Then the two will address questions collected from the audience during intermission.

This is really going to be a great evening and we look forward to seeing you there!

Condoleezza Rice Loves Led Zeppelin?

2009-03-25T10:13:00.002-04:00

Watch Condoleezza Rice on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night. The former Secretary of State will be addressing The Richmond Forum next season on April 10, 2010.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

What a Night with Terry & Howie!

2009-03-22T06:51:00.001-04:00

This had to be one of the most fun Forum programs I've attended. Football legends Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long kept everyone in the Landmark Theater laughing uproariously for two hours straight! Sharing stories about topics as wide ranging as their favorite game moments to underwear to Holy Water, it was absolutely impossible to predict where their dialogue would go next.

As easy as it was to be thoroughly entertained by Terry and Howie's banter and storytelling, program moderator Ben Hamlin did a great job circling the conversation around throughout the evening and drawing out the guys' opinions on important topics and current issues in football.

My cheeks may be sore from laughing so much last night, but my brain is feeling the effects of the program, too. You didn't need to be a football expert to be completely engaged and entertained by this program, and in fact, not knowing a lot about football history may have made the program even more interesting for me. There are a number of topics that were discussed last night that I want to learn more about and talk over with some of my friends who are more knowledgeable about the game and its history, such as:

-When Terry Bradshaw started playing football, he made $25,000 a year and got a $100,000 signing bonus that he spread out over 10 years. Additionally, at that time, all the players worked some type of job during the off-season. Terry worked at jobs as varied as used car salesman to fishing guide to working on a pipeline, then took the field again each year to make sports history. How did football go from there to Albert Haynesworth's recent $100 million dollar contract with the Redskins?

-I learned that there are many, many former NFL players who are suffering from injuries they sustained during their careers, yet they can't afford surgeries they need. Terry and Howie shared that just between the two of them, they have had 20 surgeries for football-related injuries...and those are only the surgeries after they retired! While they are in the position that getting the medical care they need is not an issue, both men made the case that more has to be done to help other former players--by the leagues, the players' union, and people like themselves who are in a position to contribute--so these former players can get the medical care they need.

-A member of the audience asked a question about the Rooney Rule, which I need to look up and learn more about. The question led both Terry and Howie to talk a bit about the depth of coaching talent in football and the importance of moving past the "good old boy" network where the same coach might bounce from team to team for years, even if he doesn't have a great record, a practice which doesn't leave enough opportunity for new talent to rise up.

And, interspersed with hilarious tangents and stories, there were many more game-related issues discussed and expanded on by Terry and Howie. The rapport you see between these two on Fox on game days is definitely genuine, and it was a real treat to see two friends have so much fun on The Forum stage, and to get to go along for the wild ride!

We'd like to hear what you thought of the program. You can share your comments here on the blog, start a topic on the Online Forum, or see what fans are saying on our Facebook. Thanks for your support!

Forum Executive Director Interviewed for Comcast Local Edition

2009-03-16T14:39:00.001-04:00

The Richmond Forum's Executive Director, Bill Chapman, was recently interviewed by Antoinette Essa for Comcast Local Edition about the exciting upcoming 2009-1010 season. The interview will begin airing on the local segment of CNN Headline News later this month, but you can preview it here!

How To Get Tickets To Forum Programs

2009-03-09T10:57:00.001-04:00

Demand for tickets for our upcoming March and April programs has been very high, but there are some ways to increase your chances of being able to get tickets for these Forum events.

The March 21st program featuring legendary athletes Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long is sold-out right now, but because subscribers can donate tickets they cannot use back to The Richmond Forum, our available ticket inventory does fluctuate, and often a call into the office at (804) 330-3993, particularly the few days just prior to a program, will be worthwhile as we will have a few tickets available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets for the April 18th program In Search of Real Food, featuring best-selling authors on food and nutrition, Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle, will go on sale beginning at 9am March 30th. To receive an e-mail notification about ticket availability, be sure to join our email list, or you can call the office at (804) 330-3993 to request to be added to the email list, or to inquire about ticket availability after March 30th.

We recently announced our fantastic 2009-2010 season line-up of speakers. If you are a current subscriber, don't forget to renew your subscription prior to the March 31st renewal deadline. If you are not yet a subscriber, but would like to be, join our e-mail list or call the office at (804) 330-3993. New subscriptions will become available beginning on May 1st.

We always do our best to make sure every seat in the Landmark Theater is filled on program nights, and we want as many people to be able to join us as possible. If you are a subscriber and you know you can't use tickets for an upcoming program, please consider donating your tickets back to The Forum so someone can attend in your place. Thank you!

Robbin Thompson to Provide Music for March 21st Program With Terry Bradshaw & Howie Long

2009-03-09T09:46:00.001-04:00

Virginia recording artist Robbin Thompson will provide the musical entertainment before Terry and Howie take the stage on March 21st, as well as during intermission. Robbin has played in bands with Bruce Springsteen ("Steel Mill"), written songs with the likes of Eagles' bassist Timothy B. Schmit and Phil Vassar, won The American Song Festival twice and The International Songwriting Contest in 2007. He has also toured around the world, most recently Denmark and Sweden. His music has also been heard in commercials and films, as well as campaigns to fight human trafficking in Southeast Asia.

We look forward to welcoming Robbin back to the stage of The Richmond Forum. His performance will begin at 7:25 p.m., so plan to get there a little early!

The Krueger Fund Helps The Richmond Forum Extend Its Mission Into Schools

2009-03-04T19:48:00.001-05:00

An exciting program for area students was recently funded in part by The Ralph F. Krueger, Jr. Memorial Fund. The Krueger Fund, which is funded solely by donations from Richmond Forum subscribers, supports and advances the mission of The Richmond Forum to bring leaders from the world stage to our stage in Richmond to expand horizons, stimulate conversation and inspire our community, with a particular emphasis on helping to bring educational, inspirational speakers together with students throughout the greater Richmond community.

On Thursday, February 12, Meadowbrook High School hosted the 2009 International Baccalaureate Forum. Thanks to a grant from the Krueger Fund, Meadowbrook invited Morehouse College graduate and Harvard law student, Darrell Bennett, Jr., to be the keynote speaker for the evening.

An IB program graduate himself, at the age of 19 Mr. Bennett authored a book entitled Daring to Be Different: 25 Tips for a Life of Success. Citing examples from his own life and lessons he learned from his parents about the keys to being a successful person, Mr. Bennett's presentation highlighted how IB helps students develop the skills they need to be successful in college and beyond. Mr. Bennet also spoke at the IB World Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, his comments can be viewed on YouTube.

The feedback we've heard from students and teachers at Meadowbrook has been fantastic, and The Forum was thrilled to be able to support this program through the Krueger Fund!

Get Your Questions in Early for Terry and Howie!

2009-03-03T10:41:00.000-05:00

What would you like to ask Terry Bradshaw and Howie Long when they come to The Richmond Forum on March 21st?

Something about their early careers in the NFL? Or about their experiences in Hollywood? (Did you know Terry has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?) Or would you like to ask Terry a question about his singing career? Or would you rather ask something related to the issues facing professional football today?

As always, we'll be collecting audience questions at intermission, but you can also get your question in early. Just post it here as a comment or email it.

Smokey Robinson is a "Black American."

2009-02-24T10:37:00.001-05:00

Saturday night, during the question and answer period, Smokey Robinson riffed a small portion of a poem that he wrote a while back for the Def Poetry Jam called "A Black American." The Forum audience really semed to appreciate it.

To see Smokey deliver the full poem click here. Warning: Some might find the language objectionable.

Watch it. Then come back here and comment!