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LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
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n behalf of the Board and the Programming committee, we are pleased to present another exciting season of programs. The season covers a wide variety of topics that include many timely and important issues, on both a local and global scale. Our speakers and panelists bring the expertise and presentation skills to inspire intellectual thought. Based on community feedback, our summer schedule now stretches from early June to mid-October so that our locals can enjoy even more programming. I want to thank all of our attendees, supporters, staff and volunteers for their role in making this past year a success. We continue to grow and improve, adding more programs and increasing the level of an already stellar schedule of presentations. As a result, attendance has increased and donor contributions continue to grow; those are strong affirmations of the improvement that has been made. This success has allowed us to expand our team: Claire Nobel will be joining us as Program Manager. We are excited to work with Claire and are looking forward to adding her expertise and enthusiasm to the team. We welcome your suggestions for topics and presenters that you believe would make great additions to our upcoming seasons. Many of our programs come from these suggestions and speaker introductions and we strive to create events that are interesting and thought-provoking. Enjoy the valley and our summer/fall series. I look forward to seeing you there. Dale Mosier Chairman, Board of Directors
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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hank you for reading this brochure to discover the 2018 Vail Symposium Summer Season. Exploration and the desire to learn is a core component of our mission and I hope this lineup of topics, presented by experts in their field, will engage your curiosity. I want to thank the Programming Committee for their inspiration, hard work and effort in creating this diverse schedule of programs. Many of these programs are evolving while you read this and will continue to do so between now and the presentation date, so be aware that program content may change from the descriptions as outlined in this brochure. We are always evaluating and reviewing other programming ideas and speakers’ schedules and will add programs to the season if the opportunity and timing allow. I encourage you to read our weekly emails and join our Facebook page for the most up-to-date information. We are dedicated to presenting programs that are thought-provoking, diverse and affordable, programs that are balanced and that inspire conversation for our community. We could not achieve these goals without our donors, sponsors and volunteers. On behalf of the board of directors and the staff, I’d like to thank all of them for their generous support. If you appreciate and enjoy the contributions the Vail Symposium makes to your life and your community, I encourage you to grow your involvement: attend more programs, bring a friend, make a donation or volunteer. All of these actions contribute to our success, our growth and our long-term sustainability. I look forward to seeing you at our programs. Kris Sabel Executive Director 2
CONTENTS
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board & staff members
05
support the symposium
06 s u m m e r
programs
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donors
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volunteer spotlight
30
get involved
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thank you to our sponsors
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policies, ticket & p r o g r a m i n f o r m a t i o n
MISSION The Vail Symposium is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to year-round lifelong learning for the Vail Valley community through educational programs that are thought-provoking, diverse and affordable.
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B OARD & STAFF M EMBE RS STAFF Executive Director Kris Sabel Program Manager Clarie Noble Office Manager and Event Coordinator Arzu Basyildiz Marketing Manager Katie Coakley
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Dale Mosier Treasurer Rob LeVine Gary Gilman Andy Kaufman Kathy Kimmel Laurie Kleisinger Mary Lamb Lucas Jeanne Mosier Mary Pat Rapp James C. Ruh
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HONORARY BOARD
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Chair Emeritus Karen Morter
Dale Mosier (Chair) Denis Ainbinder Catherine Bennett Doris Dewton Greg Dobbs Gary Gilman Kat Haber Michael Hazard Kathy Kimmel Laurie Kleisinger Dr. Robert Lipnick Rebecca Matlon Mary Pat Rapp Kathryn Regjo
Terry Minger Priscilla O’Neil Ebby Pinson
ADVISORY COUNCIL Michael Balk Pam Bard Pam Brandmeyer Doris Dewton Tracey Flower Elaine Kelton Michael Losier Jamie Metzl Liana C. Moore Brian Nolan JK Perry Kathi Renman Pamela Smith
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Jeanne Mosier (Chair) Kathy Kimmel Laurie Kleisinger Jim Ruh
S UP PORT THE SYMP OS IUM D O N AT E T O D AY ! Less than 15% of our income comes from ticket sales. The rest comes from you. Your donation ensures that the Vail Symposium can thrive, grow and, ultimately, continue to bring amazing speakers to the Vail Valley.
Make a donation online at www.vailsymposium.org or send a check made payable to Vail Symposium to PO Box 3038, Vail, CO 81658
A donation of any amount is enough to make a difference in your community through the Vail Symposium. Please don’t wait. We need your support today!
DONOR LEVELS Member
$50 - $99
Torch Member $1,000 - $1,499
Spark Member
$100 - $249
Torch Underwriting Member $1,500-$2,499
Candle Member
$250 - $499
Spot Light Member
$2,500 - $4,999
Lantern Member
$500 - $999
Flood Light Member*
$5,000 - $9,999
Arc Light Member*
$10,000+
Donors at the Torch Member level or higher qualify as a major giver and a member of the Lighthouse Society *Contact Kris Sabel for information about benefits at the Flood and Arc Light Membership levels. All donors receive a direct mailing of our seasonal program brochure and acknowledgment in the brochure and on our website.
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS General Lecture Ticket Major Donors Recognition Event
Spot Light
Torch
Lantern
Candle
Spark
4 per program
2 per program
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General program tickets and member passes are transferable. Tickets and passes are not valid for fundraisers, workshops or other events deems “special” unless otherwise noted. Member passes are valid for one year from donation date. For additional information about how to support the Vail Symposium, please contact Kris Sabel at 970-476-0954 or ksabel@vailsymposium.org. The Vail Symposium is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization in accordance with Federal Tax Law and is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions. 5
LIFE AFTER CANCER: HOW TO NOT ONLY MANAGE, BUT THRIVE Cancer survivors are living longer with improved early detection and advances in treatment options, but medically managing cancer is not the only treatment. Lifestyle improvements are being shown to play an important role in cancer survivorship. Survivorship rates continue to improve, both in the state and here in the Vail Valley, which is a testament to the tireless work done by doctors and researchers, the care of the cancer center staff and the indomitable spirit of the patients. But the ultimate goal in life is not only to survive – but to thrive. Join the Vail Symposium and the Shaw Cancer Center as Dr. Patricia Hardenbergh moderates a panel of four experts as they discuss issues affecting survivors and the positive outcomes from successfully managing: sexuality, diet, exercise and overall wellbeing. "Sexual Health in Adults with Cancer: Improving Communication and Satisfaction," with Helen L. Coons, PhD, ABPP. Sexual health is a common concern among adults coping with cancer. This presentation will review the impact of cancer including impacts on body image, sexual functioning and steps to improve sexual well-being and communication in relationships. "Eat to Thrive," with Tracy Crane, PhD, MS, RD. Learn about the latest research and benefits of good nutrition to help you eat to fight - and prevent - cancer. “Choosing the Strong Path,” with Fred Bartlit. Sarcopenia is a little known muscle-wasting disease that impacts everyone. The cause is inactivity; the cure is activity. Fred Bartlit’s mission is to spread the word about sarcopenia so that as people enter their 50s, they prioritize strength training. "Lifestyle Medicine" with Dr. Elizabeth O'Donnell. Dr. O'Donnell will discuss the use of lifestyle interventions such as exercise and diet before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis to optimize outcomes. Fred Bartlit is a partner at Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott. Fred co-founded StrongPath.com and co-authored “Choosing the StrongPath,” both created to educate adults on how strength training can combat disease. Helen L. Coons, PhD is a board certified clinical health psychologist who has worked with adults with cancer and oncology teams for more than 25 years. Dr. Coons is President of Health Psychology Solutions, Boulder and Denver, and faculty, Department of Psychiatry, UCSOM. Tracy Crane, PhD, MS, RD is an assistant professor in the College of Nursing and Associate Member of the Arizona Cancer Center at the University of Arizona. For the last 20 years she has conducted behavior-based intervention studies of diet and physical activity. Elizabeth O’Donnell, MD is the Director of Lifestyle Medicine and a multiple myeloma oncologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center. At MGH, she works to empower cancer patients to reach their optimal level of wellness before, during, and after cancer treatment. Moderator Patricia Hardenbergh, MD has been the Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Shaw Cancer Center in Edwards since the cancer center was founded in 2001. This program is sponsored by Vail Health and generously underwritten by Mary Pat & Keith Rapp.
03 JUNE
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LIVING AT YOUR PEAK with Fred Bartlit, Helen Coons, Tracy Crane and Dr. Elizabeth O’Donnell, moderated by Dr. Patricia Hardenbergh when Doors open at 1:30 p.m.; program from 2 - 4 p.m. where Westin Riverfront Resort | Avon Gondola Ballroom
HOW THE R A IL R OA D S B U ILT C O LO R A D O In 1868, Colorado was a territory inside whose mountainous vastness lay uncountable riches: gold, silver, coal, zinc, lead, molybdenum and about every other mineral known to mankind. But there was not a mile of railroad to speed the extraction of these minerals or to move people to and from the interior. 150 years ago, the biggest settlement, Denver, had a population less than half that of presentday Edwards. The First Transcontinental Railroad, from the Missouri River to Sacramento, was missing the state in favor of the gentler mountain grades of Wyoming. Said the territorial governor, John Evans, to an early railway builder: "Colorado without railroads is comparatively worthless." The next two decades would see a frenzy of railroad construction in Colorado. Pitched battles would be fought for possession of narrow mountain passes. Above the day to day fights for corporate survival in the mountains, railroad speculators in New York City played one railroad against the other, buying and selling them to each other on a whim. Fortunes were made, and more fortunes lost, in the quest to control Colorado's railroad network. Our own Eagle County is part of this story, starting with the Denver & Rio Grande narrow-gauge railroad that poked its way over Tennessee Pass from Leadville and built into the tiny mining community of Red Cliff in 1881. Join one of the foremost railroad writers in the country, Fred Frailey, and learn why that railroad, which was soon extended to the Colorado River and then into Utah Territory and Salt Lake City, sits idle today, not used by a train for the past 21 years. Why is it rusting away? And do railroads even matter in Colorado today? Put on your boots, bring your Stetsons and prepare to learn about the real Wild West. Fred W. Frailey has written about railroads the past four decades and is author or coauthor of five railroad books, most recently Twilight of the Great Trains (Indiana University Press). His writing appears monthly in Trains Magazine and on the internet at TrainsMag.com. A journalist since age 16, he spent 17 years with the news magazine U.S. News & World Report and 23 years as deputy editor and then editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. Fred's fascination with railroading led to his freelance association with Trains that began with a feature article published in 1979 and continues to this day. This program is generously underwritten by Martha Head.
13 JUNE
SPEAKING LOCALLY with Fred Frailey when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Edwards Interfaith Chapel | Edwards
Photos courtesy of Eagle County Historical Society, Eagle Valley Library District
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AN I NS I DE R ’ S L O O K AT L OB BY I NG IN A M E R I C A You may remember the song, “I’m Just a Bill,” from Schoolhouse Rock, a simple tune providing a simple version of a bill’s journey through congress to become a law. But one of the major elements missing from the song is the influence of lobbyists. Depending on the size and topic of the legislation, dozens — sometimes even hundreds — of lobbyists will be involved, petitioning lawmakers to tweak language and policy points in a bill. But the role of lobbyists is still shady and vague to most of the public and many are painted with a wide, unflattering brush. In this panel discussion, former lobbyists from industry and public interest groups will provide an overview of the recent history of lobbying at the federal level and will participate in a discussion of lobbying activities— both the pros and the cons. Catherine Bennett was a registered lobbyist for more 30 years, based in Washington, DC. In addition to working on Capitol Hill for Congressman Peter H.B. Frelinghuysen, IV, she worked on the professional staff of the National Security Council under the Administration of President Gerald R. Ford. Under the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger and subsequently General Brent Scowcroft, Bennett was responsible for legislative and regulatory issues impacting national security. She then moved to the private sector working in the Washington Government Relations Office of Pfizer, Inc., where she spent 28 years, ultimately becoming a Vice President with responsibility for global trade, investment and international tax policy. Most recently, Bennett worked for Tyco International for 7 years as the Vice President for Global Public Affairs with operations in Washington, Brussels and Beijing; she retired from Tyco in April of 2015. Rick Rogers is the staff vice president for government affairs at FedEx Corporation. He is responsible for helping to shape and promote the interests of all FedEx Corporation operating companies. He works mainly with Members of Congress and related industry associations. He joined the government affairs team in 1989 as a Manager. In 1993, he moved to Washington D.C. to join the federal affairs team. He was promoted to his current position in 2003 and is a threetime recipient of the FedEx Five Star award, the company’s highest employee achievement award. He has also been named one of the top ten lobbyists in DC by The Hill Newspaper. Nancy Zirkin is the executive vice president for the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the nation’s oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition, consisting of nearly 200 national organizations. Though Zirkin officially joined the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights in 2002, she has been a part of its various lobby efforts, including task forces on education reform, hate crimes, affirmative action and judicial nominations since the 1990s. During the mid-1970s, Zirkin worked at several public interest organizations including Common Cause and the Women's Equity Action League, but gained significant experience at the American Association of University Women (AAUW) where she became director of public policy and government relations. She distinguished herself there by rising to chief lobbyist and managing the coordination of the Equal Rights Amendment, Women's Vote Project and Civil Rights Act of 1991. Moderator Ron Elving is senior editor and correspondent on the Washington Desk for NPR News where he is frequently heard on air and online as a news analyst; he also writes for npr. org/politics. He is a regular on the NPR Politics Podcast, consistently a Top 20 podcast on iTunes, and appears in the Facebook series “Ron’s Office Hours.” He was the senior manager for the Washington Desk from 1999 to 2014. Prior to his time at NPR, Ron was the political editor for USA Today and for Congressional Quarterly. This program is generously underwritten by Holly & Ben Gill. The Hot Topic series is generously underwritten by Cindy Engles and Kathy & Neal Kimmel.
20 JUNE
8
HOT TOPICS with Catherine Bennett, Rick Rodgers and Nancy Zirkin Moderated by Ron Elving when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail | Vail
AFT E R E NG A G E M E N T: T H E U NFO LD ING U.S . - CHI N A S T R AT E G I C C O MP ETITIO N AN D WHAT IT M E A N S F O R G LO BA L PEA CE A ND P R O S P E R I T Y
The U.S. has pursued a policy of comprehensive engagement with China since Nixon went to Beijing in 1972. While this policy produced decades of peace and prosperity in East Asia and helped bring China into the international community, nearly all of its fundamental assumptions have been rendered invalid by recent developments and policies pursued by China. Instead of becoming a stakeholder in the international liberal order, China now actively challenges and seeks to undermine it. China’s neomercantilist trade policies have also created tensions with the U.S. and threaten to rupture their bilateral trade worth more than $630 billion per year. The hopes of transforming China into a politically more open society have been dashed due to the country’s reversion to a form of neo-Maoist rule at home after the rise of Xi Jinping—at least, for the near future. In this context, a consensus has emerged in the U.S. and elsewhere in the West that the engagement policy toward China has failed and must be replaced with a different policy. Professor Pei will analyze the causes of the failure of the engagement policy, the emerging contours of a more robust and confrontational China strategy and its potential impact on U.S.China relations. Minxin Pei, PhD, is the Tom and Margot Pritzker ‘72 Professor of Government and the director of the Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies at Claremont McKenna College. He is also a non-resident senior fellow of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31, 2019, he will be the inaugural Library of Congress Chair in U.S.-China Relations. Prior to joining Claremont McKenna College in 2009, he worked for a decade as a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and served as its director of the China Program from 2003 to 2008. Pei was an assistant professor of politics at Princeton University from 1992 to 1998. His research focuses on economic reform and governance in China and US–China relations. The author of three books, Pei’s research has also been published in many prestigious newspapers and journals and his op-eds have appeared in the Financial Times, New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and other publications. He received his PhD in political science from Harvard University. This program is generously underwritten by Pat & Larry Stewart.
28 JUNE
GEOPOLITICAL SERIES with Minxin Pei when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where The Sebastian - Vail | Vail 9
THE HEALTH OF AMERICA: HEALTH CARE POLICY, THE ACA AND THE OPIOID CRISIS Health policies range from complex national programs debated by our elected officials like the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 to everyday practices we take for granted such as "employees must wash their hands." Everyone has a stake in health policy: individuals, employers, doctors, hospitals, insurers, legislators. A policy can save lives, just as a gap in policy can leave the window open for a crisis. This two-session program, in partnership with the University of Michigan’s Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation, will explore distinct policy issues in American health care: the past and future of federal and state reform (including the ACA) and using policy to fight the opioid crisis in America. Session One: 6 - 7:15 p.m. Federal and State Health Policy – What Are We Doing? with Dr. John Ayanian, Dr. Mark Fendrick and Christopher Friese The Affordable Care Act had a significant effect on the United States both for individuals and communities. The struggle to adjust the ACA, or to do away with it entirely, continues to this day. It is just one example, albeit a massive one, of how federal and state policies can touch individual lives. Where do we go from here? Session Two: 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. Fighting the Opioid Crisis with Dr. Chad Brummett and Dr. Rebecca Cunningham, moderated by Dr. John Ayanian The opioid crisis is, in many ways, a crisis that came from within health care systems across the United States. Thousands of Americans are dying every year from opioid misuse. It is one of the most urgent and tragic issues facing this country. How can policy help end this crisis? And how can healthcare providers and researchers help today? John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP is the inaugural director of the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. He currently leads a team conducting the federally-authorized five-year evaluation of the Healthy Michigan Plan, which has expanded Medicaid coverage to more than 650,000 adults in Michigan. Chad Brummett, MD, is an associate professor at the University of Michigan where he is the Director of Pain Research and more broadly the Director of Clinical Anesthesia Research. He is the Co-Director of the Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN), which aims to apply a preventative approach to the opioid epidemic in the US. Rebecca Cunningham, MD, is director of the CDC-funded University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center, associate vice president for Health Sciences Research in U-M’s Office of Research, professor of Emergency Medicine, and of Health Behavior and Health Education. Dr. Cunningham also serves on the MI governor’s commission on opioid overdose. A. Mark Fendrick, MD, conceptualized and coined the term Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID) and currently directs the V-BID Center at the University of Michigan, where he is a professor of Internal Medicine of Health Management and Policy in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan. Christopher R. Friese, RN, PhD is the Elizabeth Tone Hosmer Professor and Director of the Center for Improving Patient and Population Health at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. Dr. Friese leads a multidisciplinary research team focused on measuring and improving the quality and safety of cancer care. This program is generously underwritten by Lynn & Jerry Anderson
12 JULY
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LIVING AT YOUR PEAK with Dr. John Z. Ayanian, Dr. A. Mark Fendrick, Christopher Friese, Dr. Rebecca Cunningham and Dr. Chad Brummett when Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Session One from 6 - 7:15 p.m.; Session Two from 7:30 - 8:45 p.m. where Edwards Interfaith Chapel | Edwards
THE MAN WHO FOUND SADDAM AND THE POWER OF LISTENING WITHOUT BIAS How do you find a man halfway around the world, one who most definitively does not want to be found? It takes hundreds of hours of trials, attempts and failures. However, in 2003, Army interrogator Eric Maddox began to discover what gained him the most effective information and started using it repeatedly, ultimately leading him to the information everyone was looking for: the location of Saddam Hussein, the Ace of Spades in the infamous Deck of Cards. Without using torture or physical contact of any kind, Maddox was able to penetrate Saddam Hussein’s most trusted circle to its core. His methods shaped the future intelligence collection for the military and civilians around the world. How did he do it? Through thousands of hours of experience, Eric fine-tuned his ability to listen without bias. In this program, Maddox will discuss the method he uses, called Empathy Based Listening, and share what a powerful tool it can be for those who employ it. Eric Maddox joined the U.S. Army as an infantry paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division after graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1994. After spending three years as an Airborne Ranger, Eric reenlisted as an interrogator and Chinese Mandarin linguist. Since Sept. 11, 2001, Eric has conducted more than 2,700 interrogations while deploying eight times in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) to include multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. In 2003, while assigned to a special operations task force in Tikrit, Eric conducted more than 300 interrogations and collected the intelligence which directly led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. As a result, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Director’s Award and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement. After being hired as a civilian with the Department of Defense, Eric continued to help fight the Global War on Terror (GWOT) until 2014. In May 2015, he earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and is now a private consultant and speaker. This program is generously underwritten by Dierdra & Ronnie Baker and Amy & Jay Regan. The Hot Topic series is generously underwritten by Cindy Engles and Kathy & Neal Kimmel.
18 JULY
HOT TOPICS with Eric Maddox when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; presentation from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Edwards Interfaith Chapel | Edwards 11
UN DE RS TA N D I N G T H E ME S S I N T H E M I D D L E E AST A ND IT S E F F E C T S ON THE U. S . The United States has been the go-to nation in the Middle East for decades. But conflicts in the region have reached a fever pitch; wars there involve more nations than ever before and American influence there is now challenged not only by adversaries like Russia and Iran, but also by longtime allies such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Now is a time of questions: What caused this dangerous instability? Can it be reversed? Is the U.S. still in a position to be the stabilizing power there and, even if it is, can it pull it off? Ambassador Dennis Ross has been a key player in Middle East negotiations and national security issues under four presidents — Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton and Obama — and is often asked to analyze events by major media organizations. He will talk with Vail Symposium’s Greg Dobbs, who spent much of his career as a journalist covering the Middle East, about the multiple messes in the region and give an insider’s insight into whether the US should try to keep its leadership role, what that role might be and the likely results. Ambassador Dennis Ross is counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Prior to returning to the Institute in 2011, he served two years as special assistant to President Obama and National Security Council senior director for the Central Region and a year as special advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. For more than twelve years, Ambassador Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process and dealing directly with the parties in negotiations. A highly skilled diplomat, Ambassador Ross was U.S. point man on the peace process in both the George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. He was instrumental in assisting Israelis and Palestinians to reach the 1995 Interim Agreement; he also successfully brokered the 1997 Hebron Accord, facilitated the 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty, and intensively worked to bring Israel and Syria together. From his “boots on the ground” news coverage in more than 80 countries around the world, particularly throughout the Middle East and Russia (as well as coverage of the U.S. space program), moderator Greg Dobbs is a professional speaker on global affairs, the author of two books and a journalist for almost 50 years, spending most of his time as a correspondent— including roughly two decades as a foreign and war correspondent— for two American television networks, primarily ABC News. Dobbs is the winner of three Emmy awards and the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2017, he was inducted in the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame. This program is generously underwritten by Gina & Jim Lorenzen and Bobbie & Jim Ruh.
30 JULY
12
GEOPOLITICAL SERIES with Ambassador Dennis Ross and Greg Dobbs when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; presentation from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where The Sebastian - Vail | Vail
DEB UNKI N G D E AT H : T H E SC IENC E O F REINC A RN AT I O N A N D E T ER NA L LIFE Our soul is on a perpetual journey between physical lives in the material world to a purely energetic state of being on the other side. Join the Vail Symposium as Mark Anthony the Psychic Lawyer® will present, in an entertaining and intelligent manner, the scientific basis for the existence of the soul, the afterlife, spirit communication and reincarnation. This groundbreaking and uplifting journey bridges the gap between the scientific and the spiritual and removes fear and superstition surrounding spirit contact. Mark Anthony the Psychic Lawyer® is the author of the award winning, critically acclaimed best-sellers “Never Letting Go” and “Evidence of Eternity.” He is a world-renowned fourth generation psychic medium who communicates with spirits. Anthony is an Oxford-educated attorney licensed to practice law in Florida, Washington D.C. and before the US Supreme Court. In England, he studied Mediumship at the prestigious Arthur Findlay College for the Advancement of Psychic Science. Mark is featured regularly on television, major talk radio shows and has been featured in print media worldwide as a psychic medium, paranormal expert and legal analyst in high profile cases. This program is generously underwritten by Mary Lamb Lucas.
02 AUG
CONSCIOUSNESS SERIES with Mark Anthony the Psychic Lawyer® when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where TBD
WO RKS HOP : A N E V E N IN G O F IN TE RDI M EN S I O N A L C O MM U NIC ATIO N This special workshop will be led by Mark Anthony the Psychic Lawyer®, author of the best-sellers “Evidence of Eternity” and “Never Letting Go.” The award winning and groundbreaking “Evidence of Eternity” removes fear and superstition from spirit communication, bringing it into the 21st Century; “Never Letting Go” is the uplifting guide on the journey through grief which is recommended by hospices and grief counselors worldwide. In this special program, Mark will connect randomly chosen audience members with loved ones in spirit, illustrating the concept that life is eternal and that it is possible to communicate with our loved ones on "the Other Side." Please refrain from imbibing any alcohol as that could impact your connection through Mark with the spirit world. This program is generously underwritten by Julie Stoxen & Gary Gilman.
03 AUG
CONSCIOUSNESS SERIES with Mark Anthony the Psychic Lawyer® when TBD where TBD 13
AFR I CA M AT T E R S : A P E R SP EC TIV E ON U. S . - A F R IC A R E L AT IO NS The United States has a long and complex history of engagement with Africa. This engagement has largely been driven by “negative” framing about Africa, including as a pawn in geo-strategic battles, particularly the Cold War, and as the location of many conflicts and humanitarian crises. This view and narrative of the continent has tended to obscure opportunities for stronger and mutually beneficial U.S.-Africa relations. In this presentation, Monde Muyangwa will map the historical trajectory of U.S.-Africa relations and speak to the current state of affairs; highlight key political, economic, and security developments and trends in Africa; and assess the challenges and opportunities offered by these developments to address why Africa matters. Monde Muyangwa, PhD, is the director of the Africa Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the nation’s key non-partisan policy forum that tackles global issues through independent research and open dialogue. The Africa Program works with U.S. and African policymakers in its mission to address the most critical issues facing Africa and U.S.-Africa relations, build mutually beneficial U.S.–Africa relations, and enhance understanding about Africa in the United States. Prior to joining the Wilson Center in 2014, Monde served as the Academic Dean at the Africa Center for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University from 2001-2013. Born in Zambia, Dr. Muyangwa holds a B.A. from the University of Zambia and a D. Phil from the University of Oxford, where she was a Rhodes Scholar. Peter Matlon, PhD, has pursued a career in international development, with a particular focus on African agriculture. He was privileged to live and work in Africa for more than 25 years. His work included teaching, research and research management within international agricultural research centers, directing food security activities for the United Nations Development Program and serving as Managing Director for Africa Programs of The Rockefeller Foundation, based in Nairobi, Kenya, from which he retired in 2007. Since his retirement, he has been a member and chair of numerous boards for both US and African-based organizations and is currently an adjunct professor of Applied Economics and Management in Cornell University’s Dyson School.
08 AUG
14
GEOPOLITICAL SERIES with Monde Muyangwa and moderator Peter Matlon when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Hotel Talisa | Vail
ART, A M AT T E R O F M IN D In our modern world of smart phone cameras and Instagram, our connection with art is often distilled down to a single digital picture smaller than our fist. But what do we lose by collapsing our multidimensional world into a tiny, flickering, 2D image? Even when we encounter individual works of art in a museum or gallery, the average time Americans spend looking at a work is between six and ten seconds. How, in our culture of increasing distraction, might we truly connect with the beauty around us? What drives our connection to art? What neural processes underlie our ability to slow down and reflect? How does this intricate interplay of mind and experience inform our aesthetic response? Join art collector JoAnn Gonzalez Hickey, curator Mardee Goff and neuroscientist Flux on an intimate journey into the mind of the observer to answer this radically topical question. In an interactive discussion of the neural processes that underlie human perception and experience, paralleled by a look into the value systems that have been instilled by the art world over time, the audience is invited on a tour from simple visual understanding to the generation of a complex human connection. Focusing on a selection of works on paper from the collection of JoAnn Gonzalez Hickey as a basis for exploring what drives our individual connections to art, the conversation will encourage and challenge us to really look at a work of art with the hope of bringing awareness to how and why we connect to art. A portion of the JoAnn Gonzalez Hickey Collection will be on display at Colorado Mountain College, Edwards Campus, to provide attendees and the public a chance to connect with the art. The JoAnn Gonzalez Hickey Collection is a significant collection of contemporary works on paper with more than 400 international, early to mid-career contemporary artists represented in the collection. While the collection initially focused on abstract works, over time it has been extended to challenge traditional notions of drawing. Flux is a graduate student researcher at CU Boulder with a decade’s worth of research in fields spanning from molecular biology to human behavior. While currently working on a joint PhD in Clinical Psychology and Neuroscience, his research at CU centers around resiliency, specifically working to identify behaviors and biomarkers that facilitate our ability to overcome stress and bolster mental health. Mardee Goff is an independent curator based in Denver, Colorado. Prior to working independently, Goff was Curator of Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA) and was responsible for mounting more than 30 exhibitions of local and international artists. She holds an MA from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and earned a BA in Art History from the University of Colorado, Boulder. This program is generously underwritten by Martha Head.
15 AUG
ARTS & CULTURE with JoAnn Gonzalez Hickey, Mardee Goff and Flux when Doors open at 5:30p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. Exhibit will be open immediately following the presentation. where Colorado Mountain College | Edwards 15
“REMBRANDT: PAINTER AS PRINTMAKER” PULLING TOGETHER THE EXHIBITION
As a keen observer of the human condition, Rembrandt produced original prints covering a Shakespearean universe of subjects drawn from the world around him as well as taking inspiration from the classical past, religious texts, opera and theatre. With memorable insights and a subtle sense of humor, Timothy J. Standring, the Denver Art Museum’s Gates Family Foundation Curator, will discuss what it takes to pull together “Rembrandt: Painter as Printmaker,” the subject of the Denver Art Museum’s world exclusive exhibition which opens September 15 in Denver. Join us to gain a new appreciation of Rembrandt the dramaturge, whose brilliant technical achievements as a painter, draughtsman and especially as a printmaker made him one of the most significant artists of European art. Moreover, you’ll understand the entrepreneurial side of this Dutch Master, an artist who revised his images seemingly without end, why he printed them on different papers and — in the end — why he was incapable of repeating himself. Timothy J. Standring is the Gates Family Foundation Curator at the Denver Art Museum. He received his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and his MA and PhD from the University of Chicago. Standring has been a Fellow at The Clark Art Institute, a Guest Scholar at the J. Paul Getty Museum, and a Senior Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Visual Arts (CASVA) at the National Gallery of Art, in addition to receiving other grants. Standring has curated over seventeen exhibitions at the Denver Art Museum and has published widely on topics that include 17th-century Roman patrons, monographic studies on Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, British watercolor sketching, Poussin’s early works, Van Gogh’s drawings, contemporary realist artists, Degas’s monotypes and Rembrandt’s prints. His next project involves American Impressionism from a French point of view. This program is presented in partnership with Claggett/Rey Gallery and is generously underwritten by Mary Ellen Anderson.
20 AUG
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ARTS & CULTURE when Timothy Standring with Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where The Sebastian - Vail | Vail
CYBERWARFARE: HOW DISRUPTION BECOMES DESTRUCTION Cyberwar is a war on all fronts where countries, companies and individuals come to clash. It is, in its essence, a mosh pit of dire consequence where the pushing and shoving grows to a dangerous point. It might be difficult to grasp the damaging ramifications of non-kinetic warfare when compared to traditional, boots-on-the-ground and aerial fighting. However, as societies become increasingly reliant on digital technologies, the damage done by cyberwar and cybercrime is evolving and becoming more crucial to understand. Attacks on banks, companies and even governments are launched across international borders every day. It might leave you wondering just how strong are our country’s defenses, what effects could attacks of varying size have and how this all boils down to impact a society of individuals who have grown almost completely reliant on technology. Expert James Lewis will address these questions, and more, during this compelling evening program. James Andrew Lewis is a senior vice president and program director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies where he writes on technology, security and innovation. Lewis is an internationally recognized expert on cybersecurity with deep experience in U.S. policy, cyber espionage and international cyber negotiations. This program is generously underwritten by Nina and Ken Wise. The Hot Topics series is generously underwritten by Cindy Engles and Kathy & Neal Kimmel
06 SEPT
HOT TOPICS with James Andrew Lewis when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Lions Square Lodge | Vail
ROCKY ROADS OR SMOOTH SAILING? A DISCUSSION ON THE STATE OF TRANSPORTATION IN COLORADO There are few topics that get locals talking as quickly as transportation. What’s happening in regard to transportation in Colorado? How are we funding our roads now and in the future? And how are we dealing with the pressures of local transit needs throughout the valley? Join us for a discussion with state and regional transportation experts and local ECOTransit Director Chris Lubbers as we explore transportation in Colorado and within Eagle County. This program is presented in partnership with the Vail Valley Partnership.
12 SEPT
SPEAKING LOCALLY when Doors open at 7:30 a.m.; program from 8 - 9:30 a.m. where Colorado Mountain College | Edwards Campus 17
RU S S I A N AT TA C K S O N D EM O C R A C Y: WH AT’ S NEXT ? All American security agencies have agreed that Russia interfered in the last U.S. elections. In 2015, a $50 million DARPA study concluded that Russia had already made significant efforts to attack the medium of the press and its freedom. With the advances in technology and the success of the Russians and other malevolent parties creating chaos in our elections and democratic values, it is extremely concerning where this will lead for the 2018 elections and beyond. Russia is seeking to exploit the Democratic systems of the west by sowing chaos through disinformation, attacks on political figures and institutions, assaults on the voting process, targeting of critical infrastructure, support for extremist parties and fringe views and state economic coercion. In this program, Laura Rosenberger and Rand Waltzman will describe the issues, discuss technologies to be further employed, the past success and failures of cyber-attacks and future potential successes in both the US and European spheres. Laura Rosenberger is director of the Alliance for Securing Democracy and a senior fellow at The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF). Before she joined GMF, she was foreign policy advisor for Hillary for America where she coordinated development of the campaign’s national security policies, messaging and strategy. Prior to that, she served in a range of positions at the State Department and the White House’s National Security Council (NSC). As chief of staff to Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken and earlier as then-Deputy National Security Advisor Blinken’s senior advisor, she counseled on the full range of national security policy. In her role at the NSC, she also managed the interagency Deputies Committee, the U.S. government’s senior-level interagency decision-making forum on our country’s most pressing national security issues. Rand Waltzman is currently a Senior Information Scientist at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, CA. Prior to joining RAND, he was the acting chief technology officer of the Software Engineering Institute (Washington D.C.) of Carnegie Mellon University. Before that he did a five-year tour as a Program Manager in the Information Innovation Office of DARPA where he created and managed the Social Media in Strategic Communications (SMISC) program and the Anomaly Detection at Multiple Scales (ADAMS) insider threat detection program. Rand joined DARPA from Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Laboratories (LM-ATL), where he served as Chief Scientist for the Applied Sciences Laboratory that specializes in advanced software techniques and the computational physics of materials. From his “boots on the ground” news coverage in more than 80 countries around the world, particularly throughout the Middle East and Russia, moderator Greg Dobbs is a professional speaker on global affairs, the author of two books and a journalist for almost 50 years, spending most of his time as a correspondent— including roughly two decades as a foreign and war correspondent— for two American television networks, primarily ABC News. Dobbs is the winner of three Emmy awards and the "Distinguished Service Award" from the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2017, he was inducted into the Denver Press Club Hall of Fame. This program is generously underwritten by Brian Stockmar. The Hot Topics series is generously underwritten by Cindy Engles and Kathy & Neal Kimmel.
13 SEPT
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HOT TOPICS with Laura Rosenberger and Rand Waltzman, Moderated by Greg Dobbs when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; Program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Hotel Talisa | Vail
EN VI ROM ED I C S : I M PA C T S O F C LIMATE CHA NGE ON H U M A N H E ALTH “As we advance into the twenty-first century, humanity faces an unprecedented challenge to environmental health in climate disruption due to global warming,” writes Dr. Harvey Fineberg in the foreword to Drs. Jay Lemery and Paul Auerbach’s book, “Enviromedics.” Though many of us have concerns about the effects of climate change on Earth, we often overlook the essential issue of human health. The global environment is under massive stress from centuries of human industrialization and the projections regarding climate change for the next century and beyond are grim. The impact this will have on human health is tremendous and we are only just now discovering what the long-term outcomes may be. However, there are strategies to prepare for—and prevent—these impacts, especially in vulnerable communities. Join us for this special program that will help clarify the science, dispel the myths and help guests understand the threats of climate change to human health, both physically and emotionally. Kim Knowlton, PhD, senior scientist and deputy director, science center for National Resources Defense Council, focuses on the public-health impacts of climate change and advocates for strategies to prepare for — and prevent — these impacts, especially in vulnerable communities. She has also studied heat- and ozone-related mortality and illness as well as the connections among climate change, infectious illnesses, flooding, aeroallergens and respiratory ailments such as allergies and asthma. Knowlton was among the researchers who participated in the Third U.S. National Climate Assessment Report and the New York City Panel on Climate Change. Jay Lemery, MD, is Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Chief of the Section of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine and an affiliate faculty member of the Colorado School of Public Health. He is a past-president of the Wilderness Medical Society and has provided medical direction to health care providers operating at both poles, most recently serving as the EMS medical director for the U.S. Antarctic Program. Dr. Lemery has expertise in austere and remote medical care, as well as the effects of climate change on human health. This program is presented in partnership with Walking Mountains Science Center. The Environmental Awareness series is generously underwritten by Holly & Buck Elliott.
20 SEPT
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS with Kim Knowlton and Dr. Jay Lemery when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Antlers at Vail | Vail 19
WH AT' S NEXT F O R N O RT H KO RE A P OL IC Y? North Korea continues to be a country regarded with fascination and, at times, fear. Shrouded with an air of mystery, the inner workings of North Korea’s government, including its enigmatic leader Kim Jong-un and his family, remain unfathomable to the majority of Americans. Join the Vail Symposium for a very special evening that will explain and enlighten audiences about this often perplexing country. Expert Jung H. Pak will share insight into what makes Kim Jong-un tick, including his childhood, family influences and his time outside North Korea. From the transition of power from his father, Kim Jong-il, to his rise to absolute power at any cost, including assassination, Pak will share her extensive knowledge, including an analysis of the Trump Administration's policy on North Korea and how North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been maneuvering despite the US "maximum pressure" strategy. She will also offer an outlook for what we are likely to see in the coming months. Jung H. Pak, PhD, is a senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at Brookings Institution’s Center for East Asia Policy Studies. She focuses on the national security challenges facing the United States and East Asia, including North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction (WMD) capabilities, the regime’s domestic and foreign policy calculus, internal stability and inter-Korean ties. Pak is also focused on developing interdisciplinary forums to bolster regional dialogue on counterterrorism, nonproliferation, cybersecurity, and climate change. She also has interests in broader U.S.South Korea relations and regional dynamics. Pak is an accomplished intelligence professional specializing in East Asia political and security issues with strong academic credentials. She has held senior positions at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Prior to her work in national security, Pak taught at Hunter College in New York City and studied in South Korea as a Fulbright Scholar. This program is generously underwritten by Rob LeVine.
27 SEPT
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GEOPOLITICAL SERIES with Jung Pak when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Antlers at Vail | Vail
TH E L AW O F T H E C O L O R A D O R IV ER : CO NF L I C T A N D C O L L A B O R ATIO N The mighty Colorado River is a source of life flowing through seven Western U.S. states and Mexico, providing water to nearly 40 million people; it’s the backbone of agriculture, tourism, recreation, irrigation and hydropower industries in the West. The river basin has a complex history of governance at the State, Federal, and local level known as the “Law of the River.” Famously over-allocated at the time of signing, the Colorado River Compact of 1922 is the cornerstone of the Law of the River and dictates the management of the river’s flows between Upper Basin and Lower Basin states. How do water managers take on an already over-allocated river with growing stressors such as drought, climate change and an ever-growing population? What will happen if water levels continue to drop in Lake Powell and Lake Mead? What is a “compact call” and what will it mean for Western states, as well as Eagle County as a headwaters community? Join John McClow, Anne Castle, Pat Mulroy and Eric Kuhn and learn from these experts intimately involved in the management of the Colorado River Upper and Lower basins for answers to these questions as well as the innovative strategies being implemented to combat the growing threats to the river such as the Drought Contingency Plan, System Conservation Pilot Program, Minute 319 & 323 and more. Anne Castle is a senior fellow at the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment at the University of Colorado, focusing on western water policy issues. From 2009 to 2014, she was Assistant Secretary for Water and Science at the U.S. Department of the Interior where she oversaw water and science policy for the Department Eric Kuhn is the General Manager of the Colorado River District. He has served on the Engineering Advisory Committee of the Upper Colorado River Compact Commission since 1981. In 2006, Eric was appointed by Governor Owens as an at-large representative on the Colorado Interbasin Compact Committee, a position he continues to hold. John H. McClow is a graduate of the University of Colorado and Colorado Law. He has represented the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District since 1991, becoming full-time General Counsel in 2006. He represents Colorado in the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group. Pat Mulroy is a former senior fellow at the Metropolitan Policy Program. In addition, she serves as the senior fellow for climate adaptation and environmental policy at UNLV’s Brookings Mountain West. She previously served as the general manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Mulroy also serves as the program lead for water resources and technology at the Desert Research Institute. She is a founding chair of the Western Urban Water Coalition, and she was a founding member of the Water Utility Climate Alliance. Moderator Holly Loff has served as the executive director of Eagle River Watershed Council since 2013. This program is presented in partnership with Eagle River Watershed Council.
03 OCT
SPEAKING LOCALLY with Anne Castle, Eric Kuhn, John McClow and Pat Mulroy Moderated by Holly Luff when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Hotel Talisa |Vail 21
IN S I DE HO U S E O F DA R K NES S , HO US E OF L I G H T: T H E R EA L S TO RY OF “ THE C O N J U R IN G ” In 1970, Roger and Carolyn Perron purchased what seemed to be the home of their dreams: the Arnold Estate, located just beyond the village of Harrisville, Rhode Island. It seemed the idyllic setting in which to raise a family and the couple unwittingly moved their five young daughters into the ancient and mysterious farmhouse. But soon the true nature of the house made itself known: It was a portal to the past and a passage to the future. Secrets were kept and then revealed within a space shared by mortal and immortal alike. Time suddenly became irrelevant, fractured by spirits making their presence known then dispersing into the ether. One such spirit called Bathsheba was unwittingly unleashed and set about asserting her dominance as the mistress of the house in a myriad of ways, including the form of fire. The subject of the 2013 film “The Conjuring,” the story of the house in which Andrea Perron spent ten years of her life has been a closely-guarded experience. Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated this haunting in a futile attempt to intervene on the family’s behalf and they consider the Perron family saga to be one of the most compelling and significant of a famously storied career as paranormal researchers. Join Andrea Perron, the eldest sibling, for an unabridged account of a supernatural excursion. This tale is an inspiring testament to the resilience of the human spirit on a pathway of discovery: an eternal journey for the living and the dead. Andrea Perron is the author of "House of Darkness House of Light," a supernatural trilogy which is the true story behind the 2013 feature film, "The Conjuring." She has also co-authored the historically-based mystery / thriller "In a Flicker" with George R. Lopez. In her frequent travels, she lectures about spirituality, metaphysics and all phenomena considered paranormal, concentrating her research in Ufology, a lifelong curiosity and fascination. It is her passion, bearing new fruit in recent years. Earning a B.A. in Philosophy and English from Chatham College in 1980, she has since worked in several fields as an entrepreneur, youth counselor and actor, pursuing a variety of eclectic interests over the decades. Currently, Andrea is writing the screenplay of her haunting family saga, collaborating within the film industry to bring their true story to light on the silver screen.
10 OCT
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CONSCIOUSNESS SERIES with Andrea Perron when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; Program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Hotel Talisa | Vail
OR BS AND T H E A F T E R L IFE: SU RV I VA L O F T H E S O U L What are orbs and what do they mean for our lives? In this fascinating program, Virginia Hummel will discuss the link between the orb phenomenon and our true identities as eternal souls. Learn how orbs are connected to near-death experiences and the human soul as validated by doctors, scientists and healthcare workers. View orb photographs with human faces of deceased loved ones requested to appear as orbs and learn the secrets of great orb photography. Virginia’s connection with the orb phenomenon started with the appearance of a brilliant ball of light or orb, twenty months after the death of her son. From there, it led to people, places, research and experiences that revealed the workings of a divine plan and clues to our eternal nature hidden in plain sight. Virginia Hummel is the author of four books and co-producer of an upcoming documentary on healing grief through Spiritually Transformative Experiences (STEs). She has been a researcher and experiencer of the orb phenomenon for more than a decade. Virginia is Chairman of Orb Encounters at Eternea.org and the creator of OrbWhisperer.com, a website dedicated to the research, education and exploration of the orb phenomenon. This program is generously underwritten by Cathy & Bill Bethke.
11 OCT
CONSCIOUSNESS SERIES with Virginia Hummel when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where Hotel Talisa | Vail
LAND CONSERVATION VS DEVELOPMENT: WHAT WILL BE OUR LEGACY? The conversation debating conservation versus development is constant… and has been for centuries. The line between “progress” and “preservation” is a fine one, sometimes creating Hatfield and McCoys out of customarily amenable folks. In Eagle County, the discussions are cordial, but ongoing, and the decisions as to what will be the lasting legacies in our valley are far-reaching. In this special edition of the Vail Symposium’s Community Conversations, join several community leaders and stakeholders in conversing about key points on the conservation vs. development discussion. Questions such as, “How can we meld anticipated growth with conservation?” “What do we want this county to look like 50 years from now? How about 200 years from now?” will be discussed. Audience participation is encouraged, so bring your questions and your open minds. Jim Daus joined Eagle Valley Land Trust in 2014 as its executive director. Jim is a member of the VVP Economic Advisory Council, the CSU Extension Advisory Council and frequently attends community planning meetings to encourage progressive land conservation techniques. Rob LeVine is graduated from Colorado College in 1978, moved to Vail and immediately started working at the Antlers at the front desk, becoming General Manager in 1987; he retired from that job in 2016. Rob is a member of the Vail Symposium board of directors and is a past board chairman. This program is generously underwritten by Brian Stockmar and is presented in partnership with the Eagle Valley Land Trust.
18 OCT
COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS with Rob LeVine and Jim Daus when Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; program from 6 - 7:30 p.m. where The Sebastian - Vail | Vail 23
TH E S TATE O F T H E VA L L EY Join us as we explore the latest hot issues of the day in Eagle County. Housing, health insurance, transit, workforce development and sustainability continue to present community challenges. This will be an interactive panel discussion between local leaders from throughout the valley and the audience. The audience is encouraged to come prepared with questions. This program is presented in partnership with the Vail Valley Partnership.
07 NOV
SPEAKING LOCALLY when Doors open at 7:30 a.m.; program from 8 – 9:30 a.m. where Colorado Mountain College | Edwards
E V E R E V O LV I N G P R O G R A M S Due to the nature of ever-evolving local, national and international current events, the program descriptions that you read in this brochure are accurate at the time of printing. However, as our speakers are experts in their fields, their presentations may morph to address current situations. Additionally, the Vail Symposium keeps several dates open in each season to allow us to add programs. These dates and programs are not included in this booklet.
For the most up-to-date information on the program and schedule, as well as expanded descriptions and biographies of speakers, please visit the events page of our website (www.vailsymposium.org/events), follow our social media channels or subscribe to our newsletter. We update these digital outlets on a regular basis.
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We are pleased to acknowledge the following donors for their support of the Vail Symposium for gifts received between May 1, 2017 and May 1, 2018. All gifts received after May 2, 2018 will be acknowledged in our winter brochure.
ARC LIGHT MEMBER $10,000 and above
Antlers at Vail* Colorado Mountain College* Donovan Pavilion | The Grand View* The Frechette Family Foundation The Four Season’s Resort Vail* Hotel Talisa* Jeanne and Dale Mosier*** Town of Vail Vail Daily* Vail Resorts Epic Promise*
FLOOD LIGHT MEMBER $5,000-$9,999
Alpine Bank Anonymous Colorado Mountain Express* Holly and Buck Elliot Cindy Engles Martha Head Kathy and Neal Kimmel The Sebastian Vail* Slifer Smith and Frampton Foundation The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain *
SPOT LIGHT MEMBER $2,500-$4,999
Anonymous Ainbinder Family Trust Dierdra and Ronnie Baker Pam and Richard Bard Doris Dewton and Richard Gretz ** Gary Gilman and Julie Stoxen Mary Lamb Lucas Rob LeVine and Evelyn Pinney El Pomar Foundation Mary Pat and Keith Rapp Amy and Jay Regan Susan and Richard Rogel Jim and Bobbie Ruh Brian Stockmar TV 8* Vail Board of Realtors Vail Health Vail Public Library Nina and Ken Wise
*** The entire 2018-Summer Season is graciously underwritten by Jeanne and Dale Mosier
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*Denotes gift made wholly or partially in-kind
** Longtime members of the Patrons Circle
TORCH UNDERWRITING MEMBER Lynn and Jerry Anderson Mary Ellen Anderson Patty and John Bailey Cathy and William Bethke Phil and Beverly Freedman Holly and Ben Gil Kitty George Dr. Andrew and Lynn Kaufman Dr. Robert and Janie Lipnick Gina and Jim Lorenzen Priscilla O'Neil Fred and Sandy Pack Marlys and Ralph Palumbo Kathi Renman and Jim Picard Pat and Larry Stewart Laura Tumperi Vail Daily
Reese and Alberta Johnson Art and Elaine Kelton Michele and Buzz Larson Steven and Susan Marton Joseph and Brenda McHugh Mountain Digital, Inc.* Frank and Allison Navarro R.J. Croteau and Karen Nold Eric Noreen and Suzie Hill Diane Pitt and Mitch Karlin Art and Lindsay Reimers Ski Butlers* Carel and Mark Slatkoff Riverwalk Wine and Spirits* Beth and Rod Slifer Tim and Lisa Swift Town of Minturn Bonnie Vogt Gena Whitten and Robert Wilhelm George and Elizabeth Wiegers Wyndham Resorts Vail
TORCH MEMBER
LANTERN
Norma and Juan Carlos Aziz Michael and Marcy Balk Jimmy and Marka Brenner Sallie Smith and James Butterworth Susan Kaemmerlen and Paul Chapman Claggett/Rey Gallery Steve and Amy Coyer Crazy Mountain Brewing Company* William Day ECOTV* Pete and Carole Feistmann Harry and Susan Frampton Tom and Margie Gart Jean Graham and Phil Smith Jane and Ray Heller Kent Hopkins Tom and Verna Howard Jay and Kirk Huffard Artie and Jodi Israel Dr. Maurice and Jan John
The Estate of Carol Cockrum Dr. David Cohen TJ Conners Fred Distlehorst Andrea Eddy Loren Hershey George and Lizette Lamb Peter MacDonald Gordon Marshall Heather McInerny Marilyn and Kurt Metzl Melinda and Eric Phannenstiel Anne Prinzhorn Ann and Tom Rader Howard and Cathy Stone Kaye Summers Marjorie Vickers Sharon and Bob Winders Women’s Foundation of Colorado
$1,500-$2,499
$1,000 - $1,499
*Denotes gift made wholly or partially in-kind
$500-$999
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S PA R K $100-$249
CANDLE $250-$499
Anonymous Larry and Sandra Agneberg Linda and George Brodin Phil and Sunny Brodsky Diane and Jeff Brundage Stan and Mary Ellen Cope Jim and Suzanne Donohue Jack and Kathleen Eck Doris Gobec Barbara Hogoboom Pam and John Horan-Kates Helena and Peter Leslie Sue and Rich Jones Laurie and Terry Kleisinger Tania Landauer Sheila Mossman David Naus John Katopodis Bob and Margie Dugan Suzanne and Ed Padilla Anne Roberts Cynthia Schmeiser Ken and Connie Scutari Robyn Specthrie Spencer Wise Madeline and Les Stern Emily Zeigler
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Anonymous (x3) Jacqueline Arnold Anni Barta Roger and Margo Behler Barbara Behrendt Michael Beltracchi Dick Cleveland and Kathy Langenwalter Alan and Sylvia Danson Greg Dobbs Charles Dolan and Susan Mackin-Dolan Charly Ford Georgia Fox Jane Hall Jane and Thomas Healy Barbara Krichbaum Anne and Robert Louthan Barbara and Edward Lukes Lynn Marior Gloria McMahon Jeanne McQueeny Martha Milbery Cheryl K. Moskal and Richard Jackson Michael Offutt Judith Olson Skip and Adelle Picking Jerome and Phyllis Darnell Bob Abramson Joe Parsons Collier and Ann Kirkham Robert Rush Nancy and John Snyder Stephen Snyder Robin and Tim Thompson Deborah and Richard Travers Norm Vogel Robert Warner Christopher Wise Kelsey Wise
volunteer spotlight
NINA AND KEN WIS E
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he Vail Symposium could not run without our volunteers. From set up to tear down and clean up, they are the driving force behind making our programs run smoothly. In addition to being donors, Nina and Ken Wise are a dynamic duo on our volunteer team. They were generous enough to answer a few questions for us to shed a little light on themselves and the Symposium. VS: How long have you lived in the Vail Valley? Where are you originally from? N&K: We initially purchased our home in Edwards in April 2016 as a second home. It became our primary residence in June 2017. We are both from the Midwest and spent most of our adult lives raising three children in St Paul, Minnesota, vacationing every year in the mountains. Most recently, prior to purchasing our home here, we spent five years living and working in Bratislava, Slovakia and Moscow, Russia and traveling in Europe and Asia. VS: When did you first start volunteering with Vail Symposium? What prompted you to get involved? N&K: We first started attending the Symposium events soon after purchasing our home in the Valley and reading about the speaking events in the Vail Daily. Noticing a need, we frequently stayed around after the events to help with teardown. That was such an easy way to help out; we were attending most events anyway, so why not stay an extra 30 to 60 minutes to help with teardown? We then reached out to Kris Sabel to offer to volunteer as needed, including with office work, and event set-up and teardown. With Kris, we are exploring other ways we can be of further service to Vail Symposium. VS: What recent programs have you particularly enjoyed? AND/OR is there a particular series that you are interested in/enjoy? N&K: We love the breadth of the subject matter of the events. The exploration/ adventure series is so inspirational! We love that so many of the speakers are focused on giving back in their endeavors (They often make us wish we were younger!). With both of us having financial backgrounds, so we also very much enjoy the finance/ business series. As we age, we find the health series to be very informative. We often bring visiting guests to the events – our adult children loved the Bitcoin event. VS: What do you enjoy most about volunteering? N&K: In deciding to make the Valley our new home, we knew we wanted to reach out and become involved in the community. We wanted to become involved in ways that we enjoy and that are flexible since we travel a lot. The Vail Symposium has been a wonderful fit for us. We are passionate about its mission and its service to the Valley and we feel like our volunteer and financial contributions make a difference. VS: What do you think makes the Vail Symposium special? N&K: The Vail Symposium is a relatively small non-profit organization that effectively provides unique speaking series to the Valley. The quality of the speakers and the topics are inspirational, interesting, relevant and diverse. We encourage new residents of the Valley to get involved. If you are like us, reaching out can initially be a bit outside of your comfort zone, but very rewarding!
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GET INVOLVED THERE ARE MANY WAY S TO HELP THE SYMPOSIUM THRIVE:
Volunteer at a program or in the office Tell a friend about the Symposium Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Submit a program idea Become a member Make a donation
thank you to all of our winter 2017-18 volunteers Donna Albani Kim Blackford Paul Chapman and Susan Kaemmerlen Israel Frausto Anne Hatch Diann Haynes Sara Iafrate Dudley Irwin
Debbie King Laurie Kleisinger Tania Landauer Penny LoFaro Mary Lamb Lucas Nicole Lucido Pat Montgomery
Debbie Robbin Gail Sinclair Deborah Ferris Travers Kathy Walter Leila White Ken and Nina Wise Betty Ann Woodland
Jeanne Mosier Pamela Olson
Interested in Becoming a Vail Symposium Volunteer? Contact us at arzu@vailsymposium.org
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VAIL SYMPOSIUM DREAM VACATION RAFFLE
D
o you want to support an organization that’s near and dear to your heart and potentially win a fabulous prize at the same time? The annual Vail Symposium raffle is your way to accomplish both! We’re offering an amazing seven-day vacation to one of the most popular destinations in the country: our hometown of Vail. Our backyard is a legendary destination offering a plethora of outdoor adventures from skiing in the winter to hiking and biking in the summer and incredible scenic views year-round. Because this vacation experience can be used as you like, you can share the winnings with friends and family as you see fit. Do you have relatives coming to visit for a weekend? Let them experience the luxury of the Four Seasons. Is a special event coming up? Splurge on yourself with one of the gift certificates to a fine dining experience in Vail. You’re free to share as you like—or enjoy it all yourself.
“The Vail Symposium put together such an incredible ‘Dream Vacation’ package that we were able to share the love by donating two of the many items to an Eagle County School and by giving some friends a very special stay in Vail,” said Shelly Gruner, the 2017 raffle winner. “It has been a special treat for us to go to the Vail restaurants. The list goes on and on. So grateful to be the Lucky Winner of the best raffle ever!” Tickets are just $25 apiece or purchase a pack of 5 for $100. The more tickets you purchase, the more you help a great non-profit organization continue to provide quality programming for the community.
The Vacation in Vail includes*: • A seven-night stay for two at the luxurious Four Seasons in Vail, including daily breakfast for two. • Two 50-minute spa treatments at the Spa at the Four Seasons Resort Vail • Six days of complimentary lift tickets for two • A snowmobile (winter) or ATV (summer) tour with NOVA Guides for two • Certificates for dining at five of Vail and Beaver Creek’s best restaurants * Prize package does not include airfare. Tickets are available for purchase from July 1, 2018 – Sept. 9, 2018. The winner will be drawn at random at 1 p.m. on Sept. 9, 2018. For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.vailsymposium.org and click on the Raffle page. Thank you to all of the businesses who support the 2018 Vail Symposium Raffle:
photo courtesy of VLMD and Jack Affleck
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Diverse. Thought-Provoking. Affordable. Free, Seven Days a Week VAILDAILY.COM
Spacious studio suites to 4-bedroom condominiums located just 150 yards from the Lionshead Gondola. All condos boast a full kitchen, private balcony and gas fireplace. Enjoy the picturesque pool, free parking and so much more.
Ask about our special Vail Symposium lodging discounts! 32
(855)887-0571
antlersvail.com
EXPLORE VAIL’S NEWEST LUXURY RESORT Towering ponderosa pines. Majestic stands of aspens. And sparkling, trout-filled Gore Creek right in our own backyard. Hotel Talisa, Vail’s newest luxury hotel, captures your undivided attention with serene, mountainside beauty and four seasons of activity. In fact, Hotel Talisa is Vail’s only luxury resort with an on-site ski lift. And just five minutes away are the shops and restaurants of Vail. Rounding out all of your alpine adventures is easy with elevated spa and dining experiences –all just inside our doors. Join us at Hotel Talisa for moments worth collecting. EXPLORE THE DESTINATION AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERINGS AT HOTELTALISA.COM.
800.420.2424
Vail Resorts EpicProimse is proud to foster life-long learning alongside The Vail Symposium during the 2018 season.
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T H AN K YOU TO OUR S P ON S ORS A simple ‘thank you’ does not even begin to describe the overwhelming gratitude we have for our sponsors. Our mission to provide thought-provoking and affordable programming would not be possible without the backing of our community. We invite you to continue to support our valuable Vail Symposium sponsors and the mission to better our community.
Giving Back to the Community: Liv Sotheby Broker Andie Ohde will donate a portion of the commission from any referral sales to support the Vail Symposium. Please mention this program if you choose to work with Andie on your next real estate transaction.
SWEET DREAMS ACCOUNTING
MOUNTAIN DIGITAL, INC.
Brochure design by Carly Arnold Creative. Brochure printing and mailing by Old Gypsum Printer. The Vail Symposium thanks you for your help and hard work! 34
POLICIES, TICKET & P ROGRAM INFOR MAT ION RESERVE IN ADVANCE AND SAVE Did you know you can receive $10 off the ticket price of most of the programs just by purchasing your tickets in advance? Just go to www.vailsymposium.org or give us a call at 970-476-0954 before 2 p.m. on the day of a program to receive $10 off the door price. Tickets must be paid for at the time of purchase to receive the discount. Students, teachers, Vail Resorts employees, Eagle County Government employees and members of the Vail Valley Young Professionals Association (VVYPA) may be eligible for an additional discount.
TICKET SALES Please note all ticket and/or pass sales are final and non-refundable. Tickets and passes must be paid for at the time of purchase and are transferable. Complimentary tickets offered to donors per the benefits are also transferable.
TICKET DONATIONS If you are unable to attend a program, please call our office at 970-476-0954 to donate your tickets to area students. You will receive a tax acknowledgement letter for each ticket you return and the sincere gratitude of the Vail Symposium and local students.
PROGRAM OFFERINGS We are not a political organization. We strive to present speakers who can address thoughts and ideas from all viewpoints. Our speaker’s views do not necessarily represent the views of the Board and the Vail Symposium.
THIRD PARTY MATERIALS No third party material will be distributed or handed out at Vail Symposium programs, events or meetings without the prior consent of the Executive Director, Board Chair or Program Committee Chair. All materials must be submitted at least 48 hours in advance of a program, event or meeting for consideration. No exceptions. No guarantees.
VENUES & DIRECTIONS All venues and directions are listed online at http://vailsymposium.org/venues-and-directions/.
LATEST UPDATES All information listed as ‘To Be Announced’ or ‘TBA’ will be announced first on www.vailsymposium.org and Vail Symposium social media sites. All current program information can be found on www.vailsymposium.org, Facebook or Twitter. Please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at Vail Symposium to stay up-to-date on the latest Symposium news, announcements and events. 35
6.3.18
PERMIT #30
PAID
GYPSUM, CO
US POSTAGE
NONPROFIT ORG
P ROGRA M S AT- A -GLA N C E Life After Cancer: How to Not Only Manage, but Thrive
6.13.18
How the Railroads Built Colorado
6.20.18
An Insider’s Look at Lobbying in America
7.18.18
The Man Who Found Saddam and the Power of Listening Without Bias
VA I L , C O 8 1 6 5 8 970.476.0954
7.12.18
The Health of America: Health Care Policy, the ACA and the Opioid Crisis
VA IL S Y M P O SI U M P O BO X 3 03 8
6.28.18
After Engagement: The Unfolding U.S.China Strategic Competition and What it Means for Global Peace and Prosperity
7.30.18
Understanding the Mess in the Middle East and Its Effects on the U.S.
9.13.18
8.2.18
Russian Attacks on Democracy: What’s Next?
8.3.18
Enviomedics: Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health
Debunking Death: The Science of Reincarnation and Eternal Life Workshop: An Evening of Interdimensional Communication
8.8.18
Africa Matters: A Perspective on U.S. - Africa Relations
8.15.18
9.20.18 9.27.18
What's Next for North Korea Policy?
10.3.18
The Law of the Colorado River: Conflict and Collaboration
10.10.18
Art, A Matter of Mind
8.20.18
Inside House of Darkness, House of Light: The Real Story of “The Conjuring”
9.6.18
Orbs and the Afterlife: Survival of the Soul
9.12.18
Land Conservation vs Development: What Will Be Our Legacy?
“Rembrandt: Painter as Printmaker” Pulling Together the Exhibition Cyberwarfare: How Disruption Becomes Destruction Rocky Roads or Smooth Sailing? A Discussion on the State of Transportation in Colorado
10.11.18 10.18.18 11.7.18
The State of the Valley
VA I L S YMP OS IU M P.O. Box 3038 | Vail, CO 81658 970.476.0954 • info@vailsymposium.org • www.vailsymposium.org Facebook, Twitter and Instagram | @VailSymposium
#ForTheLoveOfLearning