Ballard Blows the Audience Away with Tales of Deep-Sea Exploration

Sacramento Speakers Series Rounds out This Year’s Season with the Man Who Discovered the Titanic, Dr. Robert Ballard on Tuesday, April 2^nd

The Sacramento Speakers Series welcomed one of the world’s most accomplished and well known deep-sea explorers, Dr. Robert Ballard to Sacramento as he spoke at the Community Center Theater on Tuesday, April 2^nd.  The six-part lecture series showcases contemporary insights from some of today’s most influential figures in a candid and relaxed setting.  Dr. Ballard is probably best known for his discovery of the RMS Titanic wreckage in 1985.

Dr. Ballard impressed the audience by saying that his mission is to go where no one has gone before…on planet Earth.  Ballard encouraged the exploration of our oceans as he believes our planet’s future to be here on Earth, not in space.  This is evident through his historic discoveries of hydrothermal vents near the Galapagos Islands in 1977, the German battleship Bismarck in 1989, the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in 1998 and the wreckage of John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 in 2002.    

In addition to his field work, Dr. Ballard is also an educator.  He is a professor of oceanography at the University of Rhode Island and has pioneered distance learning in American classrooms and around the world with the JASON Project.  The JASON Project is an award-winning program that provides educational materials, courses and workshops to more than 1 million students and 25,000 teachers annually.  The program is designed to motivate and inspire students to pursue interests and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

Dr. Robert Ballard’s talk is sure to inspire those in attendance through his natural storytelling ability and animated presentation skills.

For more information about the Sacramento Speakers Series and the 2013-2014 Season visit them online at sacramentospeakers.com

Leakey Educates the Sacramento Speakers Crowd

Paleontologist, conservationist, educator and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Louise Leakey spoke to a sold-out crowd of Sacramento Speakers Series patrons Wednesday, February 27, 2013.  She spoke passionately about her work in the field as well as the future of her research.

Leakey is the youngest member of the famous Leakey family of fossil hunters in East Africa. With an adventurous spirit and unwavering focus on the advancement and understanding of human origins, she has spent much of her life leading expeditions into the remote badlands of northern Kenya. From these groundbreaking forays, Dr. Leakey and her team have yielded some of our deepest insights into what it is that makes us human.

Her team, The Koobi Fora Research Project, has made discoveries that have shaped modern thinking on the journey of humanity over the past 4 million years. One of the most publicized discoveries, Kenyanthropus platyops, challenged the earlier theories on the path of human evolution. Whether the fossil can be classified as a new genus, separate species, or unique looking individual is still up for debate.

From her earliest childhood spent among the nomadic desert people of Lake Turkana, Leakey has developed a deep attachment to the wildlife and cultural heritage of northern Kenya. Today she draws on her scientific background in human origins to work with the local communities in building a future for this region in a dramatically changing world.

Leakey co-directs the state of the art research center in the Turkana Basin where the rigorous process of search, excavation, and paleoecological and geological analysis make it one of the most comprehensive sources of information regarding the origins and evolution of humans.

Simultaneously, Dr. Leakey's work has allowed her to gain a unique perspective on the protection of the desert environment in Africa. Dr. Leakey also works with wildlife authorities to preserve the unique flora and fauna of Kenya's remotest National Park and World Heritage Site. Additionally, she is involved with various community projects near the Ethiopian border, in an effort to improve the welfare of people on the National Park boundaries.

She was recently selected to participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The aims of the summit revolve around better understanding the problems and risks the world faces in the future. 

Michelle Rhee Says "We Have Gone Completely Soft"

The Sacramento Speakers Series presented education reform advocate and StudentsFirst founder and CEO, Michelle Rhee at the Community Center Theater on Tuesday, January 29th as part of this year’s lineup.  The six-part lecture series showcases contemporary insights from some of today’s most influential figures.   Interestingly on January 8th, speaker Thomas Friedman commented on the fact that America has lost its competitive disposition.  Michelle Rhee seems to agree as she stated “we have gone completely soft” in her visit to Sacramento.

Michelle Rhee began her lecture with some light dialogue about husband and mayor of Sacramento, Kevin Johnson, but then went right into her thoughts on America’s public school systems.  Rhee makes known that the current generation of children will be the first in history not to be better educated than their parents.  She continues to emphasize that “there is no greater issue than what to do with our public school system.”  Rhee also spoke of her time as Chancellor of Washington, D.C. public schools as recalling the dilemma, “How do you go about fixing a system where almost everything needs fixing?”

Rhee provided some of her strategy to transform our education system into being more effective.  First and foremost, she stated that “we have to begin to honor and respect the teachers for the incredible jobs that they do.” Children are taught in schools from a variety of areas, whether it be inner city or rural, but the teachers need to be able to engage the minds of their students and effectively educate them regardless of geographic location.  Children can receive “wildly different” teaching experiences, but Rhee insists that is why we have to make absolutely sure that our children are in the presence of good teachers every day.

Michelle Rhee notes that "we need to regain the competitive American spirit.”  Rhee does not let the children off of the hook either, pointing out that if children want to compete for jobs when they grow up, they need to be willing to put in the time and work hard.  The children will no longer be competing for jobs in their local area, but rather with people in China, India and the rest of the world.  Parents can support the reform of our public schools by “being the change” in their communities and backing decisions, not based on their political agenda, but that put students first.  Rhee who has two daughters of her own supports parental involvement in school systems and says “more moms should run school districts.”

The audience was given plenty of food for thought and was encouraged by Michelle Rhee and Mayor Kevin Johnson to be engaged in the community in an effort to better the Sacramento public school system.

By: Ken Tronnes

Average Is Over: Thomas Friedman Inspires Sacramento Speakers Series Audience

New York Times Columnist, Thomas Friedman spoke at the Community Center Theater on Tuesday, January 8^th as part of our 2012-2013 series.  We received great interest prior to Friedman’s appearance and we are happy to report a sold out series.  

Thomas Friedman emphasized that we, America, are not what we used to be and that “average…is over.”  Friedman discussed the idea that Americans have slipped into a state of complacency and no longer strive for “that little extra,” which we were once known for.  He also affirmed that Americans can no longer live by the words of Woody Allen stating “90% of life is just showing up.”  Friedman focuses on a need to “think like an immigrant, think like an artisan, think like a waitress at Perkins Pancake House on Highway 100 in Minneapolis” in that nothing will be handed to us and that we must take pride in the work that we do.

Friedman concluded his talk with the idea that a person’s curiosity and passion quotient are more valuable than ones’ IQ in a hyper-connected world.  People need to be passionate about what they do and strive to invent, re-invent and re-engineer their job while doing it.  No longer, can you expect promotions and new positions based upon length of service, but rather you need to create the situation where you have to be promoted or offered positions.  Many walked away with a new look on their everyday lives and  are calling Friedman the “best speaker yet.”

Next up for the Sacramento Speakers Series will be education reform advocate, Michelle Rhee.  She will speak on Tuesday, January 29^th at the Community Center Theater.

The event will be held at the Community Center Theater in Downtown Sacramento at 8:00 pm on Tuesday, January 29^th.  Doors open at 7:00 pm.

For more information about the Sacramento Speakers Series and the 2012-2013 Season visit them online at sacramentospeakers.com

President Bill Clinton - December 4th, 2012

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Ken Tronnes- ken@sacramentospeakers.com

Director of Business Development & Marketing

916-388-1100

SACRAMENTO IN AWE FOLLOWING ‘LARGER THAN LIFE,’ PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON

The Sacramento Speakers Series was honored to bring 42^nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton to the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento.  President Clinton marks the second engagement of our 2012-2013 season and a better venue could not have been chosen to set this unique event apart from this year’s already exceptional lineup.

Immediately upon the opening of the doors, the venue was buzzing with excitement as patrons filled the hallways on the way to their seats eagerly anticipating the moment President Bill Clinton would take the stage.  President Clinton’s remarks merely touched the surface of what he would later expand upon throughout an extensive question and answer session, moderated by Sacramento Speakers Series Managing Principal, Mitchell S. Ostwald.  The questions asked provoked the spontaneous thoughts of the President and enabled patrons to view him in a truly candid setting. 

When addressing a question relating to students interested in pursuing a career in politics, the President recommended, first and foremost, that they expose themselves to different types of people and to learn to listen and speak to them.  President Clinton demonstrates this as he captured the audience with his humble approach and is ability to relate with people from all walks of life. 

Linda Reed (bottom right) of Rio Americano High School

with students participating in our Share the Vision Program

We have received a great deal of attention through local media sources following President Clinton’s visit, including a video segment from Sacramento’s KCRA 3: Former President Bill Clinton speaks in Sacramento, which featured participants from the speakers series student program, Share the Vision.  The speakers series remain committed to bringing the highest caliber of speakers to evoke thought in the community. 

The next speaker lined up for the series will be on January 8^th at 8:00 pm as New York Times Columnist; Thomas Friedman comes to the Community Center Theater.  Doors open at 7:00 pm.

Remember the night of December 4th, 2012 through a selection of photographs below:

For more information about the Sacramento Speakers Series and the 2012-2013 Season visit them online at sacramentospeakers.com.

Sacramento Speakers Series Welcomes President Bill Clinton to Memorial Auditorium Tuesday, December 4th

The SacramentoSpeakers Series is a community lecture series that showcases six evenings of topical insight from today’s news makers in politics, journalism, education, science and more.  The Sacramento Speakers Series host this season’s second event on Tuesday, December 4^th as they welcome President Bill Clinton to one of the most historic and recognizable buildings in Sacramento, the Memorial Auditorium.

President Clinton was the first Democratic president in six decades to be elected twice-first in 1992 and then again in 1996.  Under his leadership, the country enjoyed the strongest economy in a generation and the longest economic expansion in U.S. History, including the creation of more than 22 million jobs.

After leaving the White House, President Clinton established the William J. Foundation with the mission to strengthen the capacity of people in the United States and throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence.  The foundation has staff and volunteers around the world working to improve lives through several initiatives.  Clinton is the author of three best-selling books; My Life, Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy and GIVING: How Each of Us Can Change the World.

The Sacramento Speakers Series received acclaim following their first event with CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta. Series patrons called it “a truly inspiring talk” and stated that Dr. Gupta was “fabulous…a very polished speaker” and “a wonderful first speaker to kick off the 2012 season.”

The event will be held at the Memorial Auditorium in Downtown Sacramento at 8:00 pm on Tuesday, December 4^th.  Doors open at 7:00 pm.  Single tickets are still available!

For more information about the Sacramento Speakers Series and the 2012-2013 Season visit them online at sacramentospeakers.com, call (916) 388-1100 or email us.

     

Sacramento Speakers Series Welcomes Sanjay Gupta to the Community Center Theater Tuesday, October 23rd

The 2012-2013 Sacramento Speakers Series line up is an impressive list of nationally acclaimed speakers. The fun begins on Tuesday, October 23rd as the 8th season of the Sacramento Speakers Series kicks off to welcome multiple Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent for CNN, Sanjay Gupta, M.D. to the Community Center Theater located in the heart of Sacramento.

Gupta, a practicing neurosurgeon, plays an integral role in CNN’s reporting on health and medical news for American Morning, Anderson Cooper 360°, CNN documentaries, and anchors the weekend medical affairs program Sanjay Gupta, MD. Gupta is also known for his contributions to CNN.com and CNNHealth.com. His medical training and public health policy experience distinguish his reporting on a range of medical and scientific topics including brain injury, disaster recovery, health care reform, fitness, military medicine, HIV/AIDS, and other areas. Gupta contributes to the CBS newsmagazine 60 Minutes and Evening News with Scott Pelley. He is the author of two best-selling books, Chasing Life (2007) and Cheating Death (2009), both of which became companion documentaries for CNN. In 2011, Forbes magazine named him one of the “Ten Most Influential Celebrities” and he proves to be a must-see show.

Gupta truly inspires as shown through his humanitarian efforts at the front lines of some of the most severe crisis including the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the flooding in Pakistan and as one of the first journalists to arrive in Haiti after the massive earthquake in January of 2010. President Bill Clinton is the second keynote speaker of the series on December 4th, 2012, Clinton calls Gupta “the World’s Doctor” and calls Gupta's book, Cheating Death “a truly provocative and fascinating reading experience.”

Managing principal and attorney Mitchell Ostwald describes the Series as “an extraordinary community experience that gives our patrons an opportunity to hear about and question renowned and influential people from a wide variety of backgrounds on an even wider variety of topics.” Come listen. Go think.

The event will be held at the Community Center Theater in Downtown Sacramento at 8:00 pm on Tuesday, October 23rd. Doors open at 7:00 pm.

For more information about the Sacramento Speakers Series and the 2012-2013 Season visit them online at sacramentospeakers.com

'Like' us on Facebook and 'follow' us on Twitter to stay up to date on the Sacramento Speakers Series and this year's featured speakers.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Tiffany Kelly- tiffany@sacramentospeakers.com

Director of Marketing

916-388-1100