BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Florida Free Speech Forum - ECPv6.17.5//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Florida Free Speech Forum X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Florida Free Speech Forum REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:UTC BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0000 TZOFFSETTO:+0000 TZNAME:UTC DTSTART:20210101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250908T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250908T130000 DTSTAMP:20250902T222632Z CREATED:20250717T183936Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250902T222632Z UID:898-1757331000-1757336400@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Buckle Up: How Democracies Unravel: Lessons from the Past\, Warnings for Today DESCRIPTION:Sept 8th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \nwith Paul Licata\, Retired Professor of Communications at Valencia College in Orlando \nPlease register by Monday\, Sept 1st.\n \n“Buckle Up\,” a PowerPoint presentation by Paul Licata\, PhD\, retired Professor of Communications at Valencia College in Orlando. Dr. Licata will take attendees on a ride as he explores the historic similarities and differences between the personal\, economic\, and social characteristics that led to the rise of Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump. \nDETAILS\n\nMon\, Sept 1st – Registration deadline\nMon\, Sept 8th – Luncheon at Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\n\n  \nSpeaker Bio\nDr. Licata taught undergraduate classes in communications\, humanities\, and interdisciplinary studies and Holocaust multimedia literature for over 30 years. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Holocaust Memorial Research and Education Center from 2003 to 2009. \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/buckle-up-how-democracies-unravel-lessons-from-the-past-warnings-for-today/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/FFSF-luncheon1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250512T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250512T130000 DTSTAMP:20250508T222157Z CREATED:20250503T154354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250508T222157Z UID:877-1747049400-1747054800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Amplifying Understanding: Reflecting on Florida Free Speech Forum’s 3 Decades and the Road Ahead DESCRIPTION:May 12th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \nwith Jay Whitehead\, Jon Reiskin\, and Allan March \nPlease register by Thursday\, May 8th.\n \n30 years ago FFSF was created by members of the press\, university\, church\, schools and libraries. Using the City Club Forum of Cleveland as an inspiration\, we brought people together to hear a speakers in person and to ask questions to better understand their point of view.  Those exchanges were recorded and aired to a wider community by WUFT.   \nNow much has changed.  Internet has made available so much information in the form of Wikipedia\, talk\, discussions\, lectures etc. \nToday members of the FFSF board will address three questions. How did we develop? What is happening about free speech today?   What does the future look like? Come join the discussion. \nDETAILS\n\nThursday\, May 8th – Registration deadline\nMon\, May 12th – Luncheon at Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\n\n  \nSpeaker Bios\nJay Whitehead\, FFSF President\nJay Whitehead is the current and many-time president of FFSF over the past 30 years. A native of the Nation’s Capitol\, he left DC in the wake of Watergate for grad school and then to Gainesville on a post-doctoral fellowship. Different from my individual research\, helping start the FFSF was a miracle of cooperation of many members of our community\, particularly the press\, the academy\, schools\, churches\, government and libraries. In this luncheon\, he will sketch some changes in that 30 year span and join in a discussion of what the future holds. \nJon Reiskind\, FFSF Vice President\nJon has been active in many groups since the 1980’s including Amnesty International and Planned Parenthood. Active in the local Democratic Party since the 90’s he chaired it from 2004-2012. More recently he chaired the Alachua County Library District Foundation and the Florida Free Speech Forum and is a board member of the Cotton Club Museum & Cultural Center. He organizes a quarterly Civics Series as part of the Community Coalition for Older Adults. \n Allan March\, FFSF Treasurer\nAllan March is a retired physician searching for solutions to 21st century problems such as global warming\, economic inequality\, and threats to our democracy. Presently he is focused on developing an evidence-based mobile phone application that would reduce the risk of heat related illness in outdoor workers laboring in extreme heat by providing them with a schedule of cool-down breaks specific to their activity\, time of day\, and geographic location. During a recent trip to Philadelphia he visited the National Constitution Center where he viewed an exhibit on the First Amendment\, the historic document whose implementation is the cornerstone of The Florida Free Speech Forum. \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/amplifying-understanding-reflecting-on-florida-free-speech-forums-3-decades-and-the-road-ahead/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/FFSF-luncheon.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250414T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250414T130000 DTSTAMP:20250407T221305Z CREATED:20250326T210325Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250407T221305Z UID:868-1744630200-1744635600@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Brechner Center's 2025 Freedom of Information Award DESCRIPTION:April 14th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \nwith Tom Sheck\, Alysia Santo\, and Rachel Lippmann \nPlease register by Monday\, April 7th.\n \nThe Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) has awarded the 2025 Brechner Freedom of Information Award to St. Louis Public Radio\, APM Reports and The Marshall Project for their collaborative investigative project\, “Unsolved.” This groundbreaking project has been recognized for its commitment to transparency and for illuminating crucial issues of public interest through extensive reporting on unsolved murders in St. Louis\, Missouri. \nSince 1986\, the Brechner Freedom of Information Award has celebrated the exemplary use of public records in work that advances government transparency and the public’s right to know. This year’s competition fielded 40 entries from across the country and globally. \nAccording to the judges\, “Unsolved” stood out for its in-depth reporting and impact\, offering an investigative look at the case files and systemic issues that have contributed to a lack of resolution in numerous criminal cases and demonstrated the persistence of the reporting team in getting access to these records after nearly three years of challenging the St. Louis Police Department. \n“Not only did the series make an impact on the community their work led to a change in policy that allows for more data to be accessed to the public\,” said one of the judges\, Kelly Kauffman\, engagement reporter at MuckRock\, a nonprofit that aids people in acquiring public records. \nThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “Hidden Homicides: Violence\, chaos and secrecy inside the Georgia prison system” and The Associated Press’ “Prison to Plate: Profiting Off America’s Captive Workforce” received second and third place\, respectively. \nThe awardees’ work highlights the importance of investigative reporting in holding governments accountable and igniting policy change that limits transparency for all. \n“Public-records journalism saves lives\, saves tax dollars\, and makes our lives materially better\,” said David Cuillier\, director of the Brechner FOI Project. “We need to do everything we can to support this essential contribution to democracy. Freedom of information matters.” \nDETAILS\n\nMonday\, April 7th – Registration deadline\nMon\, April 14th – Luncheon at Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\n\n  \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/brechner-centers-2025-freedom-of-information-award/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/FFSF-luncheon.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250310T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250310T130000 DTSTAMP:20250304T023351Z CREATED:20250224T213504Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250304T023351Z UID:860-1741606200-1741611600@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Persuading from the middle: Embracing the grey areas to increase persuasion and challenge critical thinking. DESCRIPTION:March 10th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith AJ (Amy) Jung\, Ph.D. (she/her)\, Assistant-In Teaching\, Management Communication Center\, Warrington College of Business\, University of Florida\nPlease register by Monday\, March 3rd.\n \nDr. AJ Jung\, like many\, has been concerned about the growing political extremes in the U.S. During her talk\, Dr. Jung will share valuable insights into fostering persuasive conversations in today’s political climate. Additionally\, Dr. Jung plans to incorporate international experiences to provide a global context to these discussions. \nSpeaker Bio\nDr. AJ Jung is a business professor in the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida. She has taught Communication\, Argumentation\, and Intercultural courses around the U.S. for over 20 years and directed an award-winning university speech and debate team for over a decade. As the adult child of religious missionaries to a remote African village\, AJ blends her international experience with academic theories and current events to help students adapt their communication to audiences in ways that are genuine and persuasive. \nDETAILS\n\nMonday\, March 3rd – Registration deadline\nMon\, March 10th – Luncheon at Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\n\n  \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/persuading-from-the-middle-embracing-the-grey-areas-to-increase-persuasion-and-challenge-critical-thinking/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/FFSF-luncheon.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250210T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250210T130000 DTSTAMP:20250204T003201Z CREATED:20250127T010617Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250204T003201Z UID:848-1739187000-1739192400@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:From Strangers to Neighbors: Creating a Welcoming Greater Gainesville DESCRIPTION:Feb 10th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Lauren Poe\, President/CEO of the Greater Gainesville International Center\nPlease register by Monday\, Feb 3rd.\n \nThe talk will focus on the mission and vision of the Greater Gainesville International Center\, with an emphasis on refugee resettlement\, serving our international community and creating a welcoming community in a changing political climate. \nSpeaker Bio\nLauren Poe moved to Gainesville\, FL in 1982 when his father took the Director of Bands job at the University of Florida. Lauren has been a member of the Gator Nation ever since. He completed his BA in History and M.Ed. in Secondary Social Sciences from the University of Florida and taught at Ft. Clarke Middle School and Santa Fe College for 24 years. Lauren was elected to serve on the Gainesville Commission in 2008\, serving two terms before being elected Mayor in 2016. He left office in January of 2023 after reaching his limit on consecutive terms in service. In 2016\, Poe received more votes than any other candidate in Gainesville City electoral history. \nSince leaving office\, Poe has be appointed the President/CEO of the Greater Gainesville International Center\, an local nonprofit organization whose mission is to\, “Elevate\, celebrate\, and empower our local international community and to better connect Gainesville with the rest of the world.” GGIC is now in their third full year of operations under Poe’s leadership\, which has included a formal affiliate partnership with the International Rescue Committee\, allowing GGIC to provide refugee resettlement services for our newest international neighbors. \nDETAILS\n\nMon\, Feb 3rd – Registration deadline\nMon\, Feb 10th – Luncheon at Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\n\n  \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is now closed \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/from-strangers-to-neighbors-creating-a-welcoming-greater-gainesville/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FFSF-luncheon-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250113T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250113T130000 DTSTAMP:20250107T000113Z CREATED:20241127T152749Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250107T000113Z UID:840-1736767800-1736773200@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:John Lewis: Good Trouble and Freedom of Speech DESCRIPTION:Jan 13th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Raymond Arsenault\, John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History emeritus at the University of South Florida\nPlease register by Monday\, January 6th.\n \nSpeaker Bio\nRaymond Arsenault is the John Hope Franklin Professor of Southern History emeritus at the University of South Florida. Educated at Princeton and Brandeis\, he is one of the nation’s leading civil rights historians and the author of several widely acclaimed and prize-winning books\, including Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice (2006)\, The Sound of Freedom: Marian Anderson\, the Lincoln Memorial\, and the Concert That Awakened America (2009)\, and Arthur Ashe\, A Life (2018). His most recent book\, published in January 2024 as a volume in Yale University Press’s new Black Lives series\, is John Lewis: In Search of the Beloved Community. The 2011 PBS American Experience documentary Freedom Riders\, based on his book\, won three Emmys and a George Peabody Award. He has also served as a consultant for numerous civil rights museums and documentary film projects\, including the 2022 PBS American Masters documentary Marian Anderson: The Whole World in Her Hands. Honored with lifetime achievement awards in writing by both the Florida Historical Society and the Florida Humanities Council\, he is also the recipient of numerous human rights and civil liberties awards\, several in recognition of his thirty years as a leader of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida. He lives in St. Petersburg\, Florida. \nFORMAT\n  \n\nInstitute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, Jan 6th\n\n  \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/john-lewis-good-trouble-and-freedom-of-speech/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FFSF-luncheon-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241118T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241118T130000 DTSTAMP:20241112T152354Z CREATED:20241104T193156Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241112T152354Z UID:831-1731929400-1731934800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:A Village Approach: Fostering Literacy Through Community Engagement DESCRIPTION:Nov 18th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Leah Galione\, Founder and Executive Director of PEAK Literacy\nPlease register by Monday\, November 11th.\n \nNote that this month’s luncheon will occur one week later than usual for observance of Veteran’s Day. \nSpeaker Bio\nLeah Galione is a proud UF alumnus and the Founder and Executive Director of PEAK Literacy\, a nonprofit providing free\, evidence-based reading support to underserved students in Alachua County. In the past five years\, she has recruited and trained more than 200 volunteers to teach over 300 kids how to read. Leah also contributes to various boards\, including Intersection Education\, Gainesville Thrives\, and the Alachua County Comprehensive Literacy Planning Committee. Recognized among Our Town Magazine’s Top Three Best Nonprofits in 2024\, Leah is a dedicated leader working to expand literacy access for Florida’s youth. \nFORMAT\n  \n\nInstitute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, Nov 11th\n\n  \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/a-village-approach-fostering-literacy-through-community-engagement/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FFSF-luncheon.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241014T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241014T130000 DTSTAMP:20241007T214612Z CREATED:20240922T035617Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241007T214612Z UID:823-1728905400-1728910800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:The Six Amendment Proposals to the Florida Constitution DESCRIPTION:Oct 14th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Candy Birch\, League Of Women Voters Of Alachua County\nPlease register by Monday\, October 7th.\n \nAt this month’s luncheon\, the League Of Women Voters Of Alachua County Speakers Bureau will discuss the six Amendment Proposals to the Florida Constitution that will appear on the November 5 ballot. \nSpeaker Bios\nCandy Birch retired from Olathe South High School in Olathe KS in 2018 after serving 40+ years as a career educator and high school administrator. She and her husband Marty moved to Gainesville in early 2019. They joined the League of Women Voters of Alachua County right after registering to vote. Prior to moving to Gainesville\, Candy was a member of the Johnson County KS League of Women Voters. She is committed to the League and has vowed to help students and others know more about their government and the important role an informed voter plays in a democracy. Candy served in several board positions in Kansas\, including two terms as president. She attended and participated in the LWV National Convention in 2016\, in 2018 when Kansas received awards for a successful fight against voter suppression\, and in 2024. Her passion to educate has led her to advocate and speak on several League priorities including the environment\, voter registration\, the voting process\, diversity in the judiciary\, education issues\, as well as several local issues. As a current member of the local League\, she serves as the Speakers Bureau chair and is a member of the Voter Services and Health Care committees. She continues her advocacy and education about important issues and resources\, including the VOTE411.org service. \nAdditional speakers TBD \nFORMAT\n  \n\nInstitute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, Oct 7th\n\n  \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/the-six-amendment-proposals-to-the-florida-constitution/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/FFSF-luncheon.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240909T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240909T130000 DTSTAMP:20240904T061218Z CREATED:20240813T040841Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240904T061218Z UID:805-1725881400-1725886800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:YES for Local Public Utilities and YES on At Large Districts DESCRIPTION:Sept 9th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Susan Bottcher and Robert “Hutch” Hutchinson\nPlease register by Monday\, Sept 2nd.\n\nSeptember’s luncheon will be split into two presentations. This November voters in Gainesville and Alachua County will see two local referenda on their ballots. One for Gainesville voters asks whether they want to amend the city charter to abolish the governor appointed GRU Authority Board. The other referenda asks all county voters whether they want to amend the county charter to return to the At Large Districts model of voting for county commissioners. This presentation will give FFSF attendees background on both issues\, the impacts and what would change if they pass. \nYES on At Large Districts (voted on countywide)\nThe intention of our presentation is to educate voters about how the county charter was changed in 2022 to the newly implemented Single Member Districts model of voting for county commissioners and why returning to the At Large Districts model of voting for co. comm. provide better representation. \nThis presentation should run about 15 minutes. \nLearn more about this initiative here \nYES on Local Public Utilities (voted on just in Gainesville)\nThis presentation is to revisit the decade-long fight we’ve had to protect our local public utility from being taken over by an un-elected\, unaccountable Authority board\, appointed by the governor. We will explain where GRU’s governance now stands\, why we advocate for amending the city charter that would dissolve the Authority board and return it to governance by the elected city commission. \nThis presentation should also run about 15 min. \nLearn more about this initiative here \nSpeaker Bios\nSusan Bottcher was raised in Ft. Lauderdale and moved to Gainesville in 1975 to attend the University of Florida. Susan became active in politics in 2004\, joining the Alachua County Democratic Executive Committee and served as chair of the ACDEC Campaign Planning Committee and as State Committeewoman 2008-2012. She worked in varying capacities on political campaigns for progressive candidates for city and county commission\, school board and state and congressional campaigns. In 2008\, she was elected as a delegate for then Senator Barack Obama to the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver\, Co. \nIn 2009\, Susan joined the effort to defeat a local anti-transgender “bathroom ordinance” in Gainesville. This was her introduction to Equality Florida and the important work this organization does throughout the state. The following year she volunteered on the campaign that helped elect Gainesville’s first openly gay mayor. \nSince then she has served on the Gainesville Chapter of the EQFL Steering Committee that plans the annual Gala. She also joined the EQFL PAC 2009-2010\, but resigned to run for the Gainesville City Commission. \nShe was elected to the city commission and served one term until May 2014. At that time\, she joined the State Advisory Council for Ruth’s List of Florida and in late 2015 asked to serve on the RLF Executive Board. Susan is also a life member of the NAACP and a card carrying member of the ACLU. \nAs a straight ally\, Susan knows her support and advocacy helps to amplify the issues and voices of her family members\, friends and neighbors in the LGBTQ community. \nRobert “Hutch” Hutchinson \nFORMAT\n  \n\nInstitute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, Sept 2nd\n\n  \nREGISTRATION\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/let-the-voters-decide/ LOCATION:Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School\, 1201 SE 43rd St\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/FFSF-luncheon.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240513T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240513T130000 DTSTAMP:20240506T211615Z CREATED:20240424T210848Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240506T211615Z UID:793-1715599800-1715605200@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Keeping Up With Technology Becomes Critical for Feeling in Control and Aging Optimally DESCRIPTION:May 13th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Stephen Golant\nPlease register by Monday\, May 6th.\n \nKEEPING UP WITH TECHNOLOGY BECOMES CRITICAL FOR FEELING IN CONTROL AND AGING OPTIMALLY \nFeeling in control of our lives and environment is critical to aging optimally. However\, in the last 8 or 9 years of older people’s lifespans\, this is more difficult because of assaults on our health and mobility. This lecture focuses on how our dwelling environments deserve new scrutiny because they can become effective “control centers\,” enabling vulnerable older people to cope with their declines and losses. The catalyst for the new role of dwellings in older people’s lives is the emergence of gerontechnological innovations relying on digital and sensor technologies. These offer a new category of dwelling connectivity solutions whereby goods\, care\, services\, social supports\, information\, and leisure activities can be delivered to their dwellings. However\, to take advantage of these innovative solutions\, keeping up with technological change is more critical than ever for older people and their families.  \nStephen M. Golant\, Ph.D.\, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida (Gainesville) and was earlier an associate professor at the University of Chicago. His research focuses on older adults’ housing\, mobility\, long-term care\, and technology needs. He is currently involved in various writing and speaking projects.\n\nDr. Golant is a Fellow of the Gerontological Society of America and a Fulbright Senior Scholar award recipient. In 2012\, he received the Richard M. Kalish Award from the Gerontological Society of America for his insightful and innovative publications on aging and life development in the behavioral and social sciences. Print and Web-based media have often featured his research and ideas\, and he has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and blogs addressing the needs of older people.\n\nDr. Golant has written or edited more than 150 papers and books\, including Location and Environment of Elderly Populations (Wiley\, 1979); A Place to Grow Old: The Meaning of Environment in Old Age (Columbia University Press\, 1984); Housing America’s Elderly: Many Possibilities\, Few Choices (Sage Publications\, 1992); The Columbia Retirement Handbook (Columbia University Press\, 1994); Encyclopedia of Financial Gerontology (Greenwood Press\, 1996); The CASERA Report (Creating Affordable and Supportive Elder Renter Alternatives) (Margaret Lynn Duggar & Associates\, Inc.\, 1999); and The Assisted Living Residence: A Vision for the Future (The Johns Hopkins University Press\, 2008). His latest book\, Aging in the Right Place\, was published by Health Professions Press. \nHe is currently a regular contributor to Booming Encore\, a blog designed to support and help baby boomers live their best lives. https://boomingencore.com/ \nFORMAT\n  \n\nCone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Avenue\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, May 6th\n\n  \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/feeling-in-control-of-your-life-and-surroundings-key-to-aging-optimally/ LOCATION:Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Copy-of-2018-Buddy-Davis-Speech.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240408T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240408T130000 DTSTAMP:20240401T210910Z CREATED:20240326T203904Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240401T210910Z UID:785-1712575800-1712581200@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Brechner Center's 2024 Freedom of Information Award: Miami Herald Investigative Team DESCRIPTION:March 11th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Miami Herald investigative journalists Sarah Blaskey\, Joey Flechas\, and Casey Frank\nPlease register by Monday\, April 1st.\n \nThree investigative journalists from The Miami Herald will discuss their award-winning reporting about Miami corruption at a public luncheon April 8 in Gainesville hosted by the Florida Free Speech Forum. The Miami Herald won the annual 2024 Brechner Freedom of Information Award for “Shakedown City\,” an investigation into government shenanigans within the city of Miami that spawned a series of investigations by the FBI\, Internal Revenue Service\, Securities and Exchange Commission and state ethics commission. The award is administered by the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. \nThe journalists submitted more than 150 public records requests and battled almost daily with city attorneys when the requests were ignored. The Herald’s document-based reporting revealed that Mayor Francis Suarez secretly received $170\,000 from a developer\, and used his clout to secure 13 side jobs\, including for crypto-related ventures\, encouraging staff to convert paychecks to digital tokens. The Miami Herald also won a Brechner FOI Award in 2016 for an investigation into Florida’s child-welfare system\, and in 2007 for illegal case-sealing practices in the Broward court system. \nSpeakers will include:\nSarah Blaskey\, investigative reporter\nJoey Flechas\, City of Miami reporter\nCasey Frank\, senior investigations editor. \n\nFORMAT\n  \n\nCone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Avenue\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, April 1st\n\n  \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/brechner-centers-2024-freedom-of-information-award-miami-herald-investigative-team/ LOCATION:Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Copy-of-2018-Buddy-Davis-Speech.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240311T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240311T130000 DTSTAMP:20240304T221013Z CREATED:20240226T043428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240304T221013Z UID:777-1710156600-1710162000@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Guaranteeing the Right to Vote in Alachua County DESCRIPTION:March 11th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Aaron Klein\, Director of Communications and Outreach for the Alachua County Supervisor of Elections Office\nPlease register by Monday\, March 4th.\n \n\nBIO\nAaron Klein was born and raised in Tampa Mr. Klein is a UF graduate with a BA and MA in Political Science. Before coming back to Alachua County in 2021 he was a communications specialist in Palm Beach County. \n\nFORMAT\n \n\nCone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Avenue\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, March 4th\n\n \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/guaranteeing-the-right-to-vote-in-alachua-county/ LOCATION:Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Picture-Aaron-Klein.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240212T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240212T130000 DTSTAMP:20240205T220327Z CREATED:20240119T221424Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240205T220327Z UID:767-1707737400-1707742800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:LGBTQ Dynamics in Society and the Role of DE&I DESCRIPTION:Feb 12th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nwith Gina Duncan\, Equality Florida’s Regional Development Leader for Central Florida\nPlease register by Monday\, Feb 5th.\n \n\nABSTRACT\nA discussion of LGBTQ rights and protections in society and in the workplace\, the impacts of recent anti-LGBTQ legislation\, and the pivotal role of DE&I initiatives in preserving an inclusive society. \nBIO\nGina Duncan was a corporate leader in the Mortgage Banking industry in Florida for over 30 years. She was with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage from 1997 to 2011\, and served as their Area Manager of Central Florida\, and then promoted to Regional Manager for East Florida\, overseeing 26 branches\, over 250 employees and a multimillion-dollar budget. Gina has also served in leadership roles with the Human Rights Campaign and the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce in Central Florida\, the PRIDE Chamber. Gina was the first elected transgender President of a major Chamber of Commerce in the United States. Gina Duncan served as the state Director of Equality Florida’s Transgender Inclusion Initiative\, TransAction Florida\, from 2014 to 2021. She oversaw a statewide movement comprised of a 1\,200+ person advocacy network and led by the TransAction Florida Advisory Council\, advocating for transgender rights and protections through public policy\, advocacy and educational efforts statewide. She now serves as Equality Florida’s Strategic Partnerships Manager\, providing information and resources to our Florida business community. \nGina was chosen as one of the 100 LGBT Movers and Shakers in Florida (2015)\, has received the Equality Florida Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)\, Orlando LGBT Center’s Trail Blazer Award (2017)\, the Diversity Champion’s Award by the Florida Diversity Council (2016)\, the Debbie Simmons Community Excellence Award at Come Out with Pride in 2018\, and the Pride Chamber’s prestigious Community Champion of the Year\, 2019. She has been featured on the cover of Orlando Weekly\, Watermark and Florida Trend magazines. Gina was presented the coveted Equality Florida Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. \n\nFORMAT\n \n\nCone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Avenue\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, Feb 5th\n\n \nRegistration\nRegistration for this event is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/lgbtq-dynamics-in-society-and-the-role-of-dei/ LOCATION:Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Duncan-Headshot.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20240108T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20240108T130000 DTSTAMP:20240102T032113Z CREATED:20231211T191537Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240102T032113Z UID:760-1704713400-1704718800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Innovations in Computing for the Social Good DESCRIPTION:Jan 8th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nPlease register by Monday\, Jan 1st.\n \n\nABSTRACT\nSociety does not have a shortage of problems. As such\, computing can be seen as an instrument to address many of society’s issues if only researchers could integrate technology with people\, culture\, policy and more. In this talk\, Dr. Gilbert will discuss how his Computing for Social Good research lab has developed innovation solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems. Dr. Gilbert will give demonstrations of some technologies that are being used in the real world and available for others to adopt. \nBIO\nDr. Juan E. Gilbert is the Andrew Banks Family Preeminence Endowed Professor and Chair of the Computer & Information Science & Engineering Department at the University of Florida where he leads the Computing for Social Good Lab. Dr. Gilbert has research projects in election security/usability/accessibility\, advanced learning technologies\, usability and accessibility\, Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCI)\, Human-Centered AI/machine learning and Ethnocomputing (Culturally Relevant Computing). \nHe has published more than 250 articles\, given more than 250 talks and obtained more than $30 million dollars in research funding. He is a Fellow of the ACM\, IEEE\, the American Association of the Advancement of Science and a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors. In 2012\, Dr. Gilbert received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science\, Mathematics\, and Engineering Mentoring from President Barack Obama. \nIn 2023\, Dr. Gilbert was named a laureate of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Joe Biden for pioneering and championing universal design in elections technology to make voting accessible for everyone and increasing diversity in the computer science workforce. He also received the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2014 Mentor Award. He received the 2021 ACM SIGCHI Social Impact Award. Dr. Gilbert received the 2018 Computer Research Association’s A. Nico Habermann Award. Dr. Gilbert has testified before the Congress on the Bipartisan Electronic Voting Reform Act of 2008 and the U.S. House Committee on Administration for the “2020 Election Security – Perspectives from Voting System Vendors and Experts” \nDr. Gilbert received his BS in Systems Analysis from Miami University in Ohio and his MS and PhD degrees in computer science from the University of Cincinnati. \n\nFORMAT\n \n\nCone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Avenue\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, Jan 1st\n\n \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/innovations-in-computing-for-the-social-good/ LOCATION:Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2015-12-10_Juan_Gilbert_preeminence_portrait-6438-scaled.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231211T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231211T130000 DTSTAMP:20231210T134743Z CREATED:20231202T014422Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231210T134743Z UID:752-1702294200-1702299600@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Fast and Furious: Florida’s Relentless Assault on Free Speech DESCRIPTION:Nov 13th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nPlease register by Monday\, Nov 6th.\n \n\nSpeaker Bio\nBobby Block\, Executive Director\, First Amendment Foundation \nBobby Block has had a four-decade career in journalism\, including contributing to the Wall Street Journal’s coverage of 9/11\, which earned a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News in 2002. \nHe co-authored the book “Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security\,” and has reported on various conflicts across the globe\, including Rwandan genocide in 1994\, and the executions of more than 8\,000 men and boys by Serbian forces in a Bosnian village in 1995. \n“Never has the work of the Foundation been more essential than it is now at a time when reporters and citizens across Florida are being stonewalled and denied their right to access government information\,” Block said in a statement. “Public records and Sunshine laws are being routinely disregarded across Florida with seemingly no fear of reprisals. This cannot be allowed to stand for the sake of our democracy.” \nIn addition to the Wall Street Journal\, Block has also reported for the Tribune Company\, Reuters and the Independent of London. He has also contributed to the New York Review of Books. \n\nFormat\n \n\nCone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Avenue\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, Nov 6th\n\n \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/fast-and-furious-floridas-relentless-assault-on-free-speech/ LOCATION:Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bobby-Block.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231113T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231113T130000 DTSTAMP:20231106T225033Z CREATED:20231025T165049Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231106T225033Z UID:740-1699875000-1699880400@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:The "E" Word: Reframing and Understanding How Equity Impacts Everyone DESCRIPTION:Nov 13th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm\nPlease register by Monday\, Nov 6th.\n \n\nSpeaker Bio\nDr. Dakeyan Chá Dré Graham\, CEO and Founder of Re-Imagining Equity and Learning (R.E.A.L.)\, advocates for student\, educator\, and parent empowerment and opportunity as the Director of Educational Equity and Outreach for Alachua County Public Schools. He actively travels the nation delivering keynote speeches\, professional development seminars\, and workshops in the educational\, instructional\, musical\, and DEIA (Diversity\, Equity\, Inclusion\, and Access) spaces. He is also widely sought out as a music clinician\, having worked with band and orchestra students and ensembles across the southeastern United States. The 2019 Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year\, Dr. Graham was selected in July 2019 as the 2020 Florida Teacher of the Year\, representing 74 school districts and more than 195\,000 teachers. During the 2019-2020 school year\, Dr. Graham was on sabbatical from teaching and served as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. In this role\, he toured the state delivering motivational speeches and workshops focused on empowering teachers to create the most impactful learning experience possible for their students. \nHe holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education (University of Florida)\, a Master’s in Educational Leadership (Concordia University)\, a Doctorate of Philosophy in Music Education (University of South Florida)\, a Doctorate of Education in Learning Design and Performance Technology (Florida State University)\, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting (University of Florida). \nDr. Graham is blessed to share life with his wife\, Casey (also a former educator)\, and daughter\, Aaliyah. His passion is to fight for ALL students to have an equitable educational experience tailored to their unique and individual needs in order for them to purse the best version of themselves. He works to continue positively impacting the next generation of world changers. \n\nFormat\n \n\nCone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Avenue\n11:30 – Lunch\n12:00 – Presentation begins\nRegistration deadline – Mon\, Nov 6th\n\n \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/the-e-word-reframing-and-understanding-how-equity-impacts-everyone/ LOCATION:Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/D.-Graham-Headshot-Braids-DOE-Cropped.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20231009T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20231009T130000 DTSTAMP:20231002T205717Z CREATED:20230925T215353Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231002T205717Z UID:732-1696851000-1696856400@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Communicating about climate change: Informing the public about the threats we face – and what to do about them. DESCRIPTION:Oct 9th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \n \n\nwith Nathan Crabbe\nFlorida is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as extreme weather and rising sea levels. But the way we communicate about climate change can increase divisions and make it more difficult to reach consensus on solutions. Nathan Crabbe\, former opinion editor for The Gainesville Sun\, discusses the challenges of informing people about the climate threats facing the state in his new role as editor of The Invading Sea website. \nSpeaker Bio\nNathan Crabbe is editor of The Invading Sea\, a website featuring news\, commentary and educational content about climate change and other environmental issues affecting Florida. The website is managed by Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Environmental Studies. \nNathan previously worked for The Gainesville Sun newspaper from 2005 to 2022. He served for most of that time as the paper’s opinion and engagement editor. He also covered the University of Florida and environmental beats as a reporter. \nBefore that\, he investigated wrongful convictions for the Innocence Institute of Point Park University in Pittsburgh\, Pennsylvania\, and covered the environmental and county beats as a reporter for the Napa Valley Register in Napa\, California. He lives in Gainesville with his wife and two children \n\nFormat\nNote this forum will be held at a new location (Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Avenue). Please aim to arrive at 11:30 for lunch. The talk itself is scheduled to begin at noon. \nPlease register by Monday\, Oct 2nd. \nRegistration\nRegistration is closed \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/communicating-about-climate-change-informing-the-public-about-the-threats-we-face-and-what-to-do-about-them/ LOCATION:Cone Park Branch Library\, 2801 E. University Ave.\, Gainesville\, FL\, 32641\, United States ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/fa8e9039-c6c8-4f30-a341-f97d77910b07-1011124559_fl_gai_crabbemug.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230911T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230911T130000 DTSTAMP:20230908T134627Z CREATED:20230830T144745Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230908T134627Z UID:724-1694431800-1694437200@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:September Luncheon with Janet Coats DESCRIPTION:Sept 11th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \n \n\nPresenter Bio\nJanet Coats\, Managing Director of the Consortium of Trust in Media and Technology\nMs. Coats has been at the forefront of the seismic shifts in journalism and information culture over the last 25 years. She’s led large multimedia news organizations\, done groundbreaking work in civic engagement and reader outreach\, and built her own consulting company focused on engagement and sustainability strategies for non-profit and entrepreneurial news organizations. She is presently the Managing Director of the Consortium on Trust in Media and Technology\, College of Journalism\, University of Florida \nCoats is the former Executive Director for Innovation and Strategy at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. In that role\, she has oversight of the school’s media literacy efforts through its News Co/Lab\, the News21 national student reporting program\, faculty teaching associates\, and grant acquisition for sponsored research.\nPrior to joining Arizona State\, Coats was founder and CEO of Coats2Coats Consulting in Sarasota\, Florida\, an independent consulting firm focused on helping clients create relevant content\, develop community engagement and outreach strategies\, and build business plans focused on both philanthropic and earned revenue. She worked with non-profit newsrooms\, both public media and entrepreneurial startups\, to develop content strategies\, engagement and transparency methodology and revenue diversification approaches.\nFrom 1994 – 2009\, Coats held leadership positions at several news organizations\, including Senior Vice President of News and Executive Editor for The News Center in Tampa\, Florida\, and Executive Editor of the Sarasota (Florida) Herald-Tribune. From 2003-2004\, she served as Dean of the Faculty of The Poynter Institute\, a professional training school for journalists and communications professionals.\nCoats served as a Pulitzer Prize juror five times\, including as chair of the Public Service and Investigative Reporting juries. She served on the board of the American Society of News Editors\, twice chairing the national convention. \n\nFormat\nOur forums are now held at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). Please aim to arrive at 11:30 for lunch. The talk itself is scheduled to begin at noon. \nPlease register by Monday\, Sept 4th. \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed for this event. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/september-luncheon-with-janet-coats/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Janet-Coats.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230508T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230508T130000 DTSTAMP:20230504T203312Z CREATED:20230423T035657Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230504T203312Z UID:716-1683545400-1683550800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:How I Got Here and What I’ve Learned Along the Way DESCRIPTION:May 8th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \n \n\nPresenter Bio\nKay Abbitt\, Alachua County School Board\nKay Abbitt is currently representing District 5 on the Alachua County School Board. She taught in Alachua County schools for 10 years. She started a company that provided federally funded free tutoring to students in Florida and North Carolina which successfully served thousands of students. With her daughter\, she co-founded Boulware Springs Charter in NE Gainesville. This school was recognized a National ESEA Distinguished school in 2019 for gains made by students in the lowest quartile. Boulware has been recognized by the Florida Dept of Education as having high performing charter status. After retiring in 2022\, Kay decided to pursue her school board seat to work with district schools. \n\nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our forums are now held at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). Please aim to arrive at 11:30 for lunch. The talk itself is scheduled to begin at noon. \nPlease register by Monday\, May 1st. \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/kay-abbitt-alachua-county-school-board/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/kay-abbitt.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230410T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230410T130000 DTSTAMP:20230406T175732Z CREATED:20230330T130425Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230406T175732Z UID:710-1681126200-1681131600@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:The Winner of the Brechner Center's Freedom of Information Award for 2023 DESCRIPTION:April 10th at 11:30 – 1:00 pm \nSpeaker Bio:\nOur eighth forum talk of this year will take place Monday\, April 10th. The speaker(s) will be one or both of the winners of this year’s Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award winner. \n \n\nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our forums are now held at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). Please aim to arrive at 11:30 for lunch. The talk itself is scheduled to begin at noon. \nPlease register by MONDAY\, April 3rd. \nRegistration\nRegistration for this event has ended. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/the-winner-of-the-brechner-centers-freedom-of-information-award-for-2023/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Brechner-Center-logo-square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230313T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230313T130000 DTSTAMP:20230309T220227Z CREATED:20230214T140542Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230309T220227Z UID:700-1678707000-1678712400@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Student Speech Rights and Social Media: The Case of the Cursing Cheerleader DESCRIPTION:March 13th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \n \n\nPresenter Bios\nClay Calvert\, UF Professor of Law & Brechner Eminent Scholar Emeritus\nClay Calvert is Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida where until January 2023 he held a joint appointment as Professor of Law at the Fredric G. Levin College of Law and Brechner Eminent Scholar in Mass Communication in the College of Journalism and Communications. In 2021\, he won the University of Florida’s Teacher/Scholar of the Year Award and\, in doing so\, became a member of UF’s Academy of Distinguished Teaching Scholars. Calvert has authored or co-authored more than 150 law journal articles on freedom of expression-related topics. He is lead author of the undergraduate media law textbook\, Mass Media Law\, 22nd Edition (McGraw Hill 2023)\, and is the author of Voyeur Nation: Media\, Privacy\, and Peering in Modern Culture (Westview Press 2000). Calvert received his J.D. with Order of the Coif status from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law. He later earned a Ph.D. in Communication from Stanford University\, where he also completed his undergraduate work in Communication\, earning a B.A. with Distinction. Calvert is a member of both the State Bar of California and the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. \n\nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our forums are now held at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). Please aim to arrive at 11:30 for lunch. The talk itself is scheduled to begin at noon. \nPlease register before THURSDAY\, March 9th. \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed for this event. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/student-speech-rights-and-social-media-the-case-of-the-cursing-cheerleader/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/CalvertHeadshot.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230213T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230213T130000 DTSTAMP:20230209T214300Z CREATED:20230115T144332Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230209T214300Z UID:689-1676287800-1676293200@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Is America ready for Voting Reform? The benefits of Ranked Choice Voting\, and why it's being adopted around the nation. DESCRIPTION:Feb. 13th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \nRank My Vote Florida was founded in 2019 by Florida citizens who were working on ranked choice voting in their own cities in Florida. The focus of Rank My Vote Florida is the statewide passage of RCV\, while at the same time assisting efforts to get RCV passed for local elections. \n \n\nPresenter Bios\nJohn Severini\, Executive Director\nSince 2016 John has helped to lead the RCV effort to see ranked choice voting used in Florida. A retired Information Technology business owner with 30+ years of experience\, John is determined to fix our broken political system and believes that “ranked choice voting is a simple change that would increase voter choice\, dissuade divisive campaigns\, focus candidates on issues\, encourage more candidates to run\, electing leaders that represent the majority of voters. Most importantly it will lead to less polarization & better governing” \nDaria Laylock\, Statewide Coordinator of Outreach\nDaria is the Statewide Organizer at Rank My Vote Florida. Daria has traveled the country working across party lines as an organizer to pass quality legislation and elect high-value candidates. Daria joined the Rank My Vote Florida team in December of 2022 with the goal of modernizing our election process. \n\nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our forums are now held at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). Please aim to arrive at 11:30 for lunch. The talk itself is scheduled to begin at noon. \nPlease register before THURSDAY\, Feb 9th. \nRegistration\nRegistration is now closed. \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/is-america-ready-for-voting-reform-the-benefits-of-ranked-choice-voting-and-why-its-being-adopted-around-the-nation/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/FFSF-Feb-2023.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20230109T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20230109T130000 DTSTAMP:20221230T195758Z CREATED:20221230T195758Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221230T195758Z UID:684-1673263800-1673269200@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Reflections from The Gainesville Sun’s last executive editor DESCRIPTION:Jan. 9th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \nDouglas Ray will discuss the rise and fall of community newspapers and consider the path forward for the Fourth Estate. His career tracked the corporate consolidation of print journalism\, saw its salad days and secured a Pulitzer Prize for breaking news coverage\, but also the great unwinding. Now leading a communications team at the University of Florida\, Ray remains cautiously optimistic for community journalism as new models emerge. \n \nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our forums are now held at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). Please aim to arrive at 11:30 for lunch. The talk itself is scheduled to begin at noon. \nPlease register by MONDAY\, Jan 2nd. \nRegistration\n\n\n \n TicketsLuncheon $20/person payable at the door (cash or check only) or online via this form. No charge to attend if not having lunch (special seating section only).LUNCH Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n VEGETARIAN LUNCH Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n ATTEND WITHOUT LUNCH (NO CHARGE) Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $0.00\n \n \n Quantity \n Total number of ticketsTotal price of tickets\n $0.00\n \n Contact DetailsPlease enter your contact details. If you are reserving more than one ticket\, please provide guest names in the fields that appear.Name*\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Email*\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Additional GuestsPlease list additional guests\, including first and last name\, and ticket type (optional).NOTE: REGISTRATION CAN ALSO BE MADE BY PHONE\, CALL (352) 338-8352Payment optionsHow would you like to pay\n \n \n Pay online\n \n \n \n No lunch (free attendance)\n \n Submit \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/reflections-from-the-gainesville-suns-last-executive-editor/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Image.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20221212T113000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20221212T130000 DTSTAMP:20221122T162751Z CREATED:20221122T162751Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221122T162751Z UID:680-1670844600-1670850000@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Where Nature and Culture Meet DESCRIPTION:Dec 12th from 11:30 pm – 1:00 pm \nRobert “Hutch” Hutchinson will weave together several tales about how Alachua County became the place “Where Nature and Culture Meet”\, providing insight into the people and events that have forever shaped the landscape of our community. \nSpeaker Bio:\nRobert “Hutch” Hutchinson served as an Alachua County Commissioner for twelve years where he was involved in land conservation\, comprehensive planning\, mental health and homelessness\, racial justice\, animal welfare\, public health\, and other issues. Hutch’s community involvement has included directing Alachua Conservation Trust and the Gainesville Downtown Redevelopment Agency\, and he has worked for the Florida Museum of Natural History\, Gainesville Regional Utilities\, The Florida Nature Conservancy\, Santa Fe College\, and served on a dozen boards of non-profit agencies. \n \nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our forums are now held at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). Please aim to arrive at 11:30 for lunch. The talk itself is scheduled to begin at noon. \nPlease register by MONDAY\, Dec 5th. \nRegistration\n\n \n TicketsLuncheon $20/person payable at the door (cash or check only) or online via this form. No charge to attend if not having lunch (special seating section only).LUNCH Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n VEGETARIAN LUNCH Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n ATTEND WITHOUT LUNCH (NO CHARGE) Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $0.00\n \n \n Quantity \n Total number of ticketsTotal price of tickets\n $0.00\n \n Contact DetailsPlease enter your contact details. If you are reserving more than one ticket\, please provide guest names in the fields that appear.Name*\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Email*\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Additional GuestsPlease list additional guests\, including first and last name\, and ticket type (optional).NOTE: REGISTRATION CAN ALSO BE MADE BY PHONE\, CALL (352) 338-8352Payment optionsHow would you like to pay\n \n \n Pay online\n \n \n \n No lunch (free attendance)\n \n Submit \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/where-nature-and-culture-meet/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Hutch-portrait-2022.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20221114T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20221114T130000 DTSTAMP:20221102T133603Z CREATED:20221018T184501Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221102T133603Z UID:671-1668427200-1668430800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Medical Aid in Dying: A Global Perspective DESCRIPTION:Nov 14th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm \nSpeaker Bio:\nBarbara Toeppen-Sprigg\, MD\, MPH\, is a retired Family and Preventive Medicine physician. Her practice in Ohio included direct patient care\, residency teaching\, and organizational responsibilities. She has been teaching on End-of-Life Choice for the last seven years\, primarily in Ocala\, Florida. Her other interests include kayaking\, hiking\, and studying about metabolic health. \n \nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our first forums are now held at 11:30 at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). \nPlease register by MONDAY\, Nov 7th. \nRegistration\n\n \n TicketsLuncheon $20/person payable at the door (cash or check only) or online via this form. No charge to attend if not having lunch (special seating section only).LUNCH Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n VEGETARIAN LUNCH Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n ATTEND WITHOUT LUNCH (NO CHARGE) Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $0.00\n \n \n Quantity \n Total number of ticketsTotal price of tickets\n $0.00\n \n Contact DetailsPlease enter your contact details. If you are reserving more than one ticket\, please provide guest names in the fields that appear.Name*\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Email*\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Additional GuestsPlease list additional guests\, including first and last name\, and ticket type (optional).NOTE: REGISTRATION CAN ALSO BE MADE BY PHONE\, CALL (352) 338-8352Payment optionsHow would you like to pay\n \n \n Pay online\n \n \n \n No lunch (free attendance)\n \n Submit \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/barbara-toeppen-sprigg/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/unnamed.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20221010T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20221010T130000 DTSTAMP:20221102T133122Z CREATED:20221003T143913Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221102T133122Z UID:667-1665403200-1665406800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Sweetwater Creek Loop: Reclaim a creek\, connect neighborhoods DESCRIPTION:Oct 10th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm \nSpeaker Bio:\nRon Cunningham is a career newspaper journalist who has been writing about Florida for half a century. A 1975 graduate of the University of Florida\, he began his journalism career as a beat reporter for the Ft. Lauderdale Sun Sentinel. In 1976 he became higher education reporter for the Gainesville Sun\, and later served as Tallahassee Bureau Chief for the New York Times Florida Newspapers. He was editorial page editor of the Gainesville Sun for 30 years before his retirement. In retirement\, Ron continues to write columns\, book and theater reviews and magazine articles for the Sun and other Florida publications. He also has a blog called FREEGNV. After his retirement\, Ron was appointed Executive Director of Bike Florida\, during which time he planned and oversaw several small group and mass bicycle tours around the state. He has been married to Jill Cunningham\, accounting professor at Santa Fe College\, for 40 years. He has two adult children\, Jennifer\, who lives in Bethesda\, Md. and Andrew\, who lives in San Francisco. A native of Lancaster\, Pa. Ron has lived in Florida since the age of 7. \n \nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our first forums are now held at 11:30 at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). \nPlease register by MONDAY\, Oct 3rd. \nRegistration\n\n \n \n Oct 2022\n \n \n TicketsLuncheon $20/person payable at the door (cash or check only) or online via this form. No charge to attend if not having lunch (special seating section only).Lunch Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n Vegetarian lunch Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n No lunch Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $0.00\n \n \n Quantity \n Total number of ticketsTotal price of tickets\n $0.00\n \n Contact DetailsPlease enter your contact details. If you are reserving more than one ticket\, please provide guest names in the fields that appear.Name*\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Email*\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Additional GuestsPlease list additional guests\, including first and last name\, and ticket type (optional).NOTE: REGISTRATION CAN ALSO BE MADE BY PHONE\, CALL (352) 338-8352Payment optionsHow would you like to pay\n \n \n Pay online\n \n \n \n No lunch (free attendance)\n \n Submit \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/sweetwater-creek-loop-reclaim-a-creek-connect-neighborhoods/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Ron-Cunningham-scaled.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220912T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220912T130000 DTSTAMP:20220819T154917Z CREATED:20220819T154917Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220819T154917Z UID:661-1662984000-1662987600@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Public Defenders: who we are\, what we do\, and why we are important DESCRIPTION:Sept 12th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm \nSpeaker Bio:\nStacy Scott holds a BA from the University of Florida and a J.D. with honors from the University of Florida College of Law. She has worked in the private sector as a criminal defense attorney for over 20 years\, litigating criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felony cases. She has served as Assistant State Attorney and Assistant Public Defender. Stacy was appointed Public Defender of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in 2010 and has been re-elected since then. She has become an effective policy advocate in Tallahassee on issues relating to criminal justice and on funding for Public Defenders statewide. Stacy has received the 2017 and 2018 President’s Award for exemplary legislative advocacy on behalf of Public Defenders. She is an instructor in the Trial Practice program at UF’s law school and has been coach of the Trial Team\, leading to two national civil rights championships. \n \nFormat\nThis year our meetings will resume being in person (with lunch). Our first forum is Monday\, September 12th at 11:30 at the Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road (behind the Hilton UF Conference Center). \nPlease register by Thursday\, Sept 8th. \nRegistration\n\n \n \n Sept 2022\n \n \n TicketsLuncheon $20/person payable at the door (cash or check only) or online via this form. No charge to attend if not having lunch (special seating section only).Lunch Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n Vegetarian lunch Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $20.00\n \n \n Quantity \n No lunch Quantity\n \n \n Price:\n $0.00\n \n \n Quantity \n Total number of ticketsTotal price of tickets\n $0.00\n \n Contact DetailsPlease enter your contact details. If you are reserving more than one ticket\, please provide guest names in the fields that appear.Name*\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n Email*\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Guest Name\n \n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Ticket type (optional)\n \n Additional GuestsPlease list additional guests\, including first and last name\, and ticket type (optional).NOTE: REGISTRATION CAN ALSO BE MADE BY PHONE\, CALL (352) 338-8352Payment optionsHow would you like to pay\n \n \n Pay online\n \n \n \n No lunch (free attendance)\n \n Submit \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nIf you’d like to be added to our email list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/public-defenders-who-we-are-what-we-do-and-why-we-are-important/ LOCATION:Aloft Hotel\, 3743 Hull Road\, Gainesville\, Florida\, 32607 ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/stacy-scott.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220509T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220509T130000 DTSTAMP:20220727T134337Z CREATED:20220727T134337Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220727T134337Z UID:654-1652097600-1652101200@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Saving Florida’s Springs – Time is Running Out DESCRIPTION:May 9th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm \nSpeaker Bio:\nOur ninth and last forum talk of this year will take place next Monday\, May 9th at Noon via Zoom (see links below). The speaker will be Dr. Robert L. Knight\, Director of the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute speaking on “Saving Florida’s Springs – Time is Running Out.” \n \nFormat\nFor the time being we will continue having our forums virtually\, via Zoom but are planning to have them in person in the 2022-23 season. Details to join the meeting online are sent to everyone on our email list the week prior to the meeting. If you’d like to be added to our list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/saving-floridas-springs-time-is-running-out/ LOCATION:Online (ZOOM) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Bob.webp END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220411T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220411T130000 DTSTAMP:20220727T134810Z CREATED:20220727T134810Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220727T134810Z UID:657-1649678400-1649682000@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award DESCRIPTION:May 9th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm \nSpeaker Bio:\nOur eighth forum talk of this year will take place next Monday\, April 11th at Noon via Zoom. The speaker(s) will be one or both of the winners of this year’s Brechner Center for Freedom of Information Award\, Hannah Dreier and Andrew Ba Tran of The Washington Post for their FEMA’s disasters series. \n \nFormat\nFor the time being we will continue having our forums virtually\, via Zoom but are planning to have them in person in the 2022-23 season. Details to join the meeting online are sent to everyone on our email list the week prior to the meeting. If you’d like to be added to our list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/brechner-center-for-freedom-of-information-award/ LOCATION:Online (ZOOM) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Brechner-Center-logo-square.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20220314T120000 DTEND;TZID=UTC:20220314T130000 DTSTAMP:20220307T150813Z CREATED:20220305T185513Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220307T150813Z UID:648-1647259200-1647262800@www.floridafreespeechforum.org SUMMARY:Does the Attack on Critical Race Theory Reflect a Two-Tiered right to Free Speech DESCRIPTION:March 14th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm \nSpeaker Bio:\nMichelle Jacobs is an Emeritus professor\, having just retired from twenty – eight years as a professor of law at the University of Florida College of Law\, and the Racial Justice Term Professor for the 2020-2021 academic year. She taught Criminal Law\, Criminal Procedure\, White Collar Crime\, International Criminal Law and Critical Race Theory. Prof. Jacobs’ scholarship focuses on access to justice for communities marginalized in and by the law. In particular\, she concentrates on Black women’s experience with violence perpetrated by the state\, whether it is when they are accused of crime\, as victims of crime\, or at the hands of violent police. She tries to highlight the plight of Black women criminalized by the state for daring to protect their own lives against intimate partner violence\, as well as the invisibility of Black women’s struggle against all forms of police violence. She is a frequent media commentator on racial bias in the criminal justice system\, and on police violence\, particularly as it relates to police murders and sexual assaults of Black women and girls. In addition\, she gives frequent interviews to the press and lectures on the subject of Critical Race Theory. \n \nFormat\nFor the time being we will continue having our forums virtually\, via Zoom. We hope to be able to schedule the forums later this spring in person (maybe with lunch). We will be evaluating the impact and progress of the Omicron variant of Covid-19\, etc. and keep you informed. Details to join the meeting online are sent to everyone on our email list the week prior to the meeting. If you’d like to be added to our list\, please reach out via our contact form or join as a member to be automatically added to our email list. URL:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/event/critical-race-theory-and-free-speech/ LOCATION:Online (ZOOM) ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.floridafreespeechforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/jacobs-michelle.jpeg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR