FORUMS

Fall 2009

Following the afternoon seminars each Friday, an "open forum" is held from 3 - 4 p.m.  The Forum features invited speakers of note who share their views with members, followed by lively question and answer sessions. 

Sept. 11 - NO FORUM

Sept. 18 - Cruz Reynoso – Today’s Hot Legal Issues

Hinde Auditorium

Reynoso is a former Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court (1982-87) and currently holds the Boochever and Bird Chair for the Study and Teaching of Freedom and Equality at the UC Davis School of Law. He will speak on contemporary legal issues such as the first Latina on the U.S. Supreme Court, the legal challenge to Proposition 8 and the limiting of access to the courts as a result of the financial crisis.  

Sept. 25 - Delaine Eastin – Education in the Spotlight

Hinde Auditorium

The former California Superintendent of Public Instruction and a former Democratic legislator from the East Bay, she will discuss current education issues, particularly the major challenges facing schools with current budget slashes.

Oct. 2 - Suheil Totah and Richard Rich – Will the Railyard Ever Happen?                                                   

Hinde Auditorium

This pair from the development firm of Georgia-based Thomas Enterprises will discuss the long-delayed development dream for the Sacramento Railyard. Will it transform downtown and the entire city? Click here for Aug. 11 New York Times story  (drawing from Thomas Enterprises)

Oct. 9 - Dan Weintraub -- Capitol Dysfunction

Hinde Auditorium

The political columnist for the Sacramento Bee will discuss the current legislative dysfunction and possible election and legislative alternatives. 

Oct. 16 - Harley White, Jr. -- Jazz in Sacramento

Mendocino 1003

A jazz musician himself, he will talk about the current jazz scene in Sacramento and how  cuts in cuts in music education are hindering development of future musicians. (photo from Harvey White Jr.)

Oct. 23 – Mayor Kevin Johnson – Sacramento ’s Present and Future

Hinde Auditorium

The Sacramento native, former NBA star and St. Hope founder will discuss the current fiscal crisis in the city and his vision for the future of Sacramento .

Oct. 30 - Kiyo Sato – Dandelion Through the Crack

Hinde Auditorium

The eldest of nine children of a Japanese immigrant family, she grew up on a small farm in Sacramento. She will talk about her book on the history of her family and other area Japanese-Americans, through the internment camp and her career in the Air Force and in nursing. (photo: Sato is presented with William Saroyan International Prize for writing, 2008. photo by Stanford University News Service) click here to read about her Prize

Nov. 6 - Jan Scully – Crimes Against the Elderly

Hinde Auditorum

The Sacramento County district attorney will discuss crime problems in the county, emphasizing crimes against seniors. Here is her Power Point presentation.

Nov. 13 - Ayad Al-Qazzaz – Middle East Update 

Mendocino 1003

The CSUS professor of sociology, who specializes in the Arab and Islam worlds, will provide reflections on Iraq, Iran and Israel and U.S. Foreign Policy objectives.

Nov. 20 (LAST FORUM) - Marilee Flannery – Nature Education’s Budget Hits

Hinde Auditorium

The  director of the Effie Yeaw Nature Center, where school children learn about the area’s animals, plants and Nisenan culture, will speak about the center's success in taking classrooms into the environment and how the county's fiscal crisis will impact this positive program.