StanSpeaks
February 2012 StanSpeaks Event
The county's newest public forum, StanSpeaks, will feature a 2012 Economic Outlook for Stanislaus County on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 6:00pm at the downtown library.
Where is our county's economy going in 2012?
How will the national an international economic slowdown help or hurt county businesses?
Dr. Kelvin Jasek-Rysdahl, professor of economics at our premier local university, California State University at Stanislaus, and co-director of university's Center for Public Policy Studies, will discuss these and other stimulating economic topics at the February StanSpeaks event.
Dr. Jasek-Rysdahl teaches Public Policy, Economic Education and General Economic Conditions at the university in Turlock. He also conducts extensive research on "quality of life" in the county and has complied revealing reports on our regional economy He earned his doctorate in economics at Colorado State University.
StanSpeaks is a monthly speakers forum sponsored by Stanislaus Library Foundation, a non-profit, volunteer organization supporting the county's 13-branch library system. This non-partisan forum showcases the ideas and views of the county's best and brightest citizens.
Admission to StanSpeaks is FREE.
For more information, contact Bob Dowd, Stanislaus Library Foundation, 209-595-9799.
December 2011 StanSpeaks Event
StanSpeaks, a new speakers forum, features a program next month about the many Good Samaritans in our county...appropriately scheduled for the year-end Month of Giving.
On Monday evening, December 5th, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at the Downtown Library, three local speakers will explore many of the better known and several unheralded good works organizations that make Stanislaus a true "County of Caring"
The panel will feature Dr. Robert Chin, Cornerstone Foundation Medical Group, Ruby Kennedy, Community Activist and Dale Butler, President and CEO of the Latino Emergency Council (LEC).
The moderator will be Elaine Harlin, Director of Operations & Volunteers for Advancing Vibrant Communities, a local group helping people move outside the four walls of their churches into the city streets where they can best serve the needs of our community.
StanSpeaks is a monthly speakers forum sponsored by Stanislaus Library Foundation, a volunteer organization supporting the county's 13-branch library system. This non-partisan forum showcases the ideas and views of the county's best and brightest citizens.
Admission to StanSpeaks is FREE.
For more information, contact Bob Dowd, Stanislaus Library Foundation, 209-595-9799.
November 2011 StanSpeaks Event
StanSpeaks Forum Explores "why Johnny CAN Read...And Excel In School" Ace County Teachers Reveal How.
The County's newest public forum, Stan Speaks will feature a program exploring the caliber and quality of education in Stanislaus County on Wednesday, November 2, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the Downtown Modesto Library.
With 21 percent (or 76,000 residents) of county adults in the lowest literacy level...and 23 percent of high school students dropping out, the County's education system is often criticized as being well below average.
But there are plenty of success stories about education in our county...these achievements will be explained by these two exceptional county teachers:
Ron Vincent - Has 30 years of teaching experience, mostly at Modesto High School. With two Masters Degree's and five teaching credentials, he teaches AVID, the four-year course for college-bound students...AVID boast a 100% graduation rate.
Gary Rohwer - Teaches Humanities/Drama at Aspire Vanguard College Preparatory Academy in Empire. Aspire Public Schools is a pioneer in California charter schools. Rohwer is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine and has a masters degree in Education from University of California, San Jose.
StanSpeaks is a monthly speaker forum sponsored by Stanislaus Library Foundation, a non-profit, volunteer organization supporting the county's 13 branch library system. The non-partisan forum showcases the ideas and views of the county's best and brightest citizens.
Admission to Stan Speaks is FREE and on a first-come first-seated basis.
For additional information, contact Bob Dowd, Stanislaus Library Foundation, 209-595-9799.
March 2011 Press Release
April 2011 Press Release
Stan Speaks Forum Explored "Our Multicultural County" On April 25, 2011.
Stanislaus County's newest speakers forum, Stan Speaks featured a program celebrating multicultural diversity on the evening of Monday, April 25, 2011 at the Downtown Modesto Library.
speakers included Yamilet Valladolid, Modesto Site Supervisor, El Concilio Council for the Spanish Speaking; Bill Dotinga, Board President, PFLAG Modesto (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays); and John Ervin, Director of Community Affairs, Modesto City Schools.
Stan Speaks is a monthly speakers forum sponsored by Stanislaus Library Foundation, the volunteer organization supporting the county's 13-facility library system. The forum features local experts expressing their views on key topics affecting the health, wealth and contentment of all citizens. the non partisan forum will showcase the ideas of the county's best and brightest leaders.
"we created tan Speaks to provide diverse ideas and opinions and stimulate responsible thinking to solve our biggest problem...And of course, this is exactly what our libraries do everyday, providing all citizens with ideas and knowledge to make the county a great place to live," said Carol Shour, President of the Stanislaus Library Foundation.
The Library Foundation, a non-profit organization, supplements existing library funds through fund raising, grants, and/or donors who wish to sponsor a specific project.
Educating county residents about the library's fiscal problems is also an important aspect of the Foundation. Currently 85 percent of the library's budget comes from a 1/8-cent sales tax last approved by voters in 2004. Voters will be called upon to renew the tax in 2012. Declining sales county wide during the economic recession has meant less sales tax generated for the library.
For additional information, contact Bob Dowd, Stanislaus Library Foundation, 209-595-9799.
March 2011 Press Release
The County's Newest Public Forum Spotlighted "Future of Our County" On March 30, 2011
Stan Speaks, Stanislaus County's newest speakers forum, featured local leaders looking at the future of Stanislaus County on the evening of Wednesday, March 30th at the Downtown Library.
This was the kickoff session of this new monthly speaker forum sponsored by the Stanislaus Library Foundation, the volunteer organization supporting the county's 13 facilities library system.
Speakers included Modesto Council member Joseph Muratore, County Supervisor James DeMartini and Co-Founder/President of Advancing Vibrant Communities (Modesto non-profit connecting 3,000 volunteers) Michael Douglass.
Stan Speaks will feature local experts sharing their views on key topics affecting the health, wealth and contentment of all citizens. The nonpartisan forum will showcase the ideas of the county's best and brightest leaders.
"We created Stan Speaks to provide diverse ideas and opinions and stimulate responsible thinking to solve our biggest problems...and of course, this is exactly what our libraries do everyday, providing all citizens with ideas and knowledge to make the county a great place to live," said Carol Shour, President of the Stanislaus Library Foundation.
The Stanislaus Library Foundation, a non-profit organization that supplements existing library funds through fund raising, grants, and/or donor who wish to sponsor a specific project. We also educate the county residents about the library's fiscal problems is also an important aspect of the Foundation.
Currently, 85 percent of the library's budget comes from a 1/8 cent sales tax that was last approved by votes in 2004. Voters will be called upon to renew the tax in 2012. Declining sales county wide during the economic recession means less sales tax generated for the library.
Admission to Stan Speaks is free and on a first come first-seated basis. The Modesto Library Auditorium has a seating capacity of 125 persons.
For additional information, contact Bob Dowd, Stanislaus Library Foundation, 209-595-9799.