Schedule

June 21

Senior Theatre Project: Plays For, By and About Seniors

Steve Phillips, Ron Richardson and Jayne Luke

The Senior Theatre Project is a professional theatre company that performs short, light comedies for, by and about seniors (and anyone else who hopes to be a senior, loves a senior or just wants to see good theatre). Performers Steve Phillips, Ron Richardson and Jayne Luke return with three new plays (two written by award winning playwright Elaine Jarvik) and a scene from Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful.

This year's new plays are Stuck, a comedy about a first date for two seniors who meet online at a dating website; Pests, about two elderly brothers living together in low income housing; and Together At Last, a gently comic discussion between a man and wife about their final resting place. The selection from Trip to Bountiful (not Bountiful, Utah!) is Horton Foote's beautiful portrayal of an elderly woman's journey home. The plays are presented by Walk-Ons, Inc. a non-profit theatre company funded by the Utah Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts and Zions Bank.

July 5 

Finding the Woman's Voice

Elaine Gause, CEO Utah Girls Scouts

Approximately 80 percent of the guests on Sunday morning news shows over the past eight years have been white males. Speaker Nancy Pelosi is criticized not only for her policies, but for her looks, with various news outlets commenting on her hairstyle and aging facial features. Across the United States, women hold less than twenty percent of local, state, and national elected offices. Girls in school are praised for not "upsetting the apple cart", teen girls mutilate themselves as they struggle to find physical and emotional identity, and young women turn to meth and dangerous diets to live up to the images produced by digitally altered media.

There are many ways to encourage and welcome the voices of girls and women in this world we share. Strengthening the opportunity for female collaborative leadership is as critical now as was strengthening the competitive voices that led our country into economic success in the last century. Women and men of all ages have a place in this transformation of thought and action—the untapped potential of female voices holds much hope for our planet and her people.

Elaine M. Gause is the Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Utah, the statewide organization committed to helping Utah's girls build courage, confidence, and character while making the world a better place. Ms. Gause earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 2000, focusing her studies on nonprofit management and dispute resolution. She previously served as Executive Director of Ogden Nature Center, and as a political consultant in Florida.

July 12 

The Art of the Lobby at the Utah State Legislature

Lincoln Shurtz, Director of Legislative Affairs, Utah League of Cities and Towns

Often referred to as the second oldest profession, lobbying is one of the few constitutionally protected job opportunities. Under the first amendment, this nation established the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, and thus a profession was born. With the complexities and nuances of governance, the need to have specialists that focus on the “ins and outs” of government became of the utmost importance. While the first lobbyist may have been the court jester, there are now thousands gathering at capitols across this nation and throughout the world with the purpose of redressing grievances. So why the bad name? How has lobbying evolved? What role do lobbyists play in policy formulation? How is a lobbyist helping you? Do you know what your lobbyist has done lately? And lastly, how can a lobbyist be a source of good? Lincoln Shurtz will provide insights into the profession as well as a how-to guide for citizens interested in state and local politics.

Lincoln Shurtz plans, organizes and implements a comprehensive communications strategy for 245 cities and towns in Utah. He works closely with elected and appointed officials from many local governments to analyze and affect change in the legal trends effecting Utah's municipalities. Mr. Shurtz serves as the primary liaison for Utah's municipalities before the state executive, legislative and administrative branches. He maintains close contact with local, state and federal decision makers to ensure they understand and appreciate the policy positions of local government on key legislative matters. Lincoln has managed and provided strategic insight in multiple state and local elections and continues to stay active in the election process. He also serves on several committees with business and community leaders to promote a positive image of Utah's local governments.

July 19 

The Impact of the Financial Crisis on the Non-profit Community and Affordable Housing

Don Gomes, Director of the Utah Nonprofits Association, and Darin Brush, Executive Director of the Community Development Corporation of Utah

"Affordable housing," however defined, has always been a problem. In the past, the typical housing non-profit organization offered counseling, assisted with financial incentives and even provided the housing. As the cost of housing escalated in the current cycle, new challenges have emerged. Earned income did not keep up with housing costs, and the gap between the average income and the cost of an average house increased. With the current financial situation, housing costs have dropped, making houses more affordable. However, money for financing has disappeared even for those who are "credit worthy." This situation is not only a threat to potential buyers, but also to the survival of the non-profit groups that serve their communities. Both Dan and Darin are deeply aware of these problems. They will address new elements in the housing crisis and what must be done to maintain non-profit housing agencies in the current financial market.

July 26 

Impressions of Utah and the Future of Planning in Salt Lake City

Frank Gray, Director of Community and Economic Development for Salt Lake City

Frank Gray came to Salt Lake City as the Director of Community and Economic Development with an international reputation in urban planning and 20 years of experience with the city as a consultant. So what was there about the Becker administration that brought Frank to Salt Lake when he could be spending his winters in Scotsdale, Arizona and his summers in Sweden? What has happened to "one of America's best planned cities" as far as its growth and development? What needs to be done in the next decade to maintain the city's vitality and quality of life? As part of Mayor Becker's administration, Frank Gray will play an important role in the future of Salt Lake.

August 2 

Emotional Intelligence and Its Relevance to Workplace Competence and Success

Ellen Richardson, Owner of The Richardson Group, a human resources and management consulting firm

Organizations are increasingly recognizing, identifying and recruiting for key areas of competence referred to as "soft skills." These skills are often viewed as being equally or more important than both IQ and "hard skills" such as educational background, technical competencies, and subject-matter expertise. Among the soft skills most sought after are those identified by Daniel Goleman and other researchers as "Emotional and Social Intelligence" which include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness and relationship management. Ms. Richardson will review the history and research surrounding the concepts of EQ (Emotional Quotient) and SQ (Social Quotient), and the current methods used for assessing these. She will also present both research and anecdotal evidence surrounding the ramifications of these competencies in business and professional life.

Ellen Richardson is an internationally accredited executive coach, assessment expert and Senior Human Resource Professional (SHRP). Among her clients are companies such as Boeing, Iomega, Harmon Music Group, and Stampin' Up!

August 9 

A Spiritual Journey Through Film

Richard Dutcher, Movie Director

Religious themes pervade the movies of director, screenwriter and actor Richard Dutcher. With films like God's Army (2000) and Brigham City (2001) Dutcher earned himself the label "Father of Mormon cinema." In these movies, contemporary Mormon culture provides the backdrop for gripping stories and the emotional and spiritual struggles of his characters. In 2007, however, Dutcher left the LDS church because of—as he puts it—"theological differences." On his website, Dutcher alludes to an increasing complexity of his films over time that reflects his journey toward a more universalistic worldview. His 2008 movie Falling chronicles the emotional and spiritual breakdown of a Los Angeles videographer. Dutcher's most recent work, the horror movie Evil Angel (2009), is based on the story of Lilith, according to Jewish mythology, Adam's first wife in the Garden of Eden. In his presentation, Richard Dutcher will talk about the mutually stimulating relationship between his movie making and his spiritual outlook.

August 16

The Making of Charles Darwin

Bruce Dain, Associate Professor of History, University of Utah

Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is one of the landmarks of the nineteenth century. Yet most nineteenth-century "Darwinians" either rejected or failed to understand the core of Darwin's theory, natural selection of random, heritable variations. Even among biologists, Darwinism became authentically Darwinian only in the twentieth century. One scholar deems Darwin's impact on the nineteenth century "the nonDarwinian Revolution." What, then, was Darwin's Darwinism and how were his ideas understood by his contemporaries? How does Darwinism's social and cultural impact relate to the evolving Darwinian research tradition among biologists? Specifically, how do Darwin's ideas hold up in light of contemporary genetics research? Some scholars argue that Darwin's Darwinism itself was primarily a social product, a result of the tumults of industrialization and imperialism in nineteenth-century Britain. If this is indeed the case, how relevant are Darwin's ideas to a society several generations later? Bruce Dain will address these and other questions about our current understanding of Darwin's life, work, and impact.

Bruce Dain has a PhD from Princeton University and is the author of the book A Hideous Monster of the Mind: American Race Theory in the Early Republic (Harvard University Press, 2003). He teaches in the history department and the honors program of the University of Utah.

August 23

Who is Treemonisha? An Exploration of Scott Joplin's Opera

David Owens, Mary Craig, Alexis Baigue and Friends

Just past the turn of the 20th century and into the waning years of his life, Scott Joplin—who was already becoming widely recognized as the King of Ragtime—made a radical departure into the world of Grand Opera. Conceived in the European tradition—a tradition with which Joplin had little direct experience—this melding of what seem to be two opposing musical forces produced a work of singular fascination. Unique and idiomatic, Treemonisha (published in 1911) provides both the connoisseur and the curious with an enlightened foray into one man's attempt at expanding the bounds—both in music and in concept. As intriguing as the work is musically, perhaps its greater notion is in the radical and progressive social and cultural statement of its libretto.

David Owens, Music Director at the First Unitarian Church, actors and singers Mary Craig and Alexis Baigue, and local musician friends will provide a musical and probing look into not only who—but what—was Scott Joplin's Treemonisha.