Applications for the 33rd Annual Stillwater Arts Festival are due by April 2.City of Stillwater NEWS | For Immediate Release
Stillwater Public Library at 1107 S. Duck Street in Stillwater, Okla. For more information, call (405) 372-3633 or e-mail askalibrarian@stillwater.org or visit the library online at library.stillwater.org. Library programs are co-sponsored by KOSU 91.7 fm
Citizens invited to library to deliberate on American prosperity Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m.
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Nov. 12, 2009) – Area residents are invited to the Stillwater Public Library, Wednesday, Dec.2 at 6:30 p.m. to consider the country’s financial well-being in a deliberative forum. The forum,“Regaining American Prosperity: Building an Economy that Works for Everyone,” is presented by the library and Stillwater Speaks, an organization dedicated to exploring public interest.
“As the Department of Labor announces the first double-digit unemployment rate in 26 years and as the federal deficit grows to a record $1.4 trillion for 2009, some citizens are asking: “Is America losing its prosperity,” said Renee Daugherty, Stillwater Speaks representative. “We hope this event will give local residents a chance to voice their opinions on three possible approaches to the issue.”
The event will be held in the public deliberation model, which is a way to explore issues that touch the whole community in a moderated environment where all viewpoints are encouraged.
Participants will receive a copy of an issue booklet that it is to be read prior to the forum. The event’s issue booklet was created by National Issues Forums and Hofstra University’s Center for Civic engagement and proposes three potential approaches for the issue of America’s prosperity. At the forum, participants will consider the three possible policy approaches, voice their perspectives and work to find common points shared about the issue.
Stillwater Speaks, local of National Issues Forum, and the Stillwater Public Library are partnering throughout the year to provide quarterly forums to engage citizens in issues that affect their community and their lives.
The library and Stillwater Speaks partnered on the forum "Oklahoma's Growing Demand for Water" earlier this year.
“Our September forum on the growing demand for water was very successful,” said librarian Stacy DeLano. “More than 50 people participated in the forum and we are looking forward to many people sharing their views on this issue.”
People interested in the reports compiled after the September water forum can contact the library for copies.
To register for the Dec. 2 forum, please contact the library by telephone at 405-372-3633 or by emailing askalibrarian@stillwater.org. The program is free and open to those 14 years old and over. For more information, visit the library’s website at library.stillwater.org.
The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Avenue). Library events are co-sponsored by KOSU.
For more information, call (405) 372-3633, visit the web site at http://library.stillwater.org or e-mail askalibrarian@stillwater.org. Library programs are co-sponsored by KOSU 91.7 fm.
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Stillwater Global Affairs Forum: 'Water across the World' at the Stillwater Public Library Aug. 27; 'Drawing Straws: Working Together to Manage Oklahoma’s Growing Demand for Water' on Sept. 9
The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is a quarterly discussion group that focuses on global issues and how they affect the local community.
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Aug. 6, 2009) – The Stillwater Public Library, the Stillwater Global Affairs Forum, and Stillwater Speaks are partnering to present two programs on the future demand for water.
At the Stillwater Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m., Dr. Beth Caniglia will present “Water across the World,” which will explore the global distribution and need for fresh water. Following the presentation, participants will have a chance to ask questions, express opinions, and share ideas.
Dr. Caniglia is an assistant professor in OSU’s Department of Sociology with expertise on transnational environment movement. She has been a consultant to the NGO Steering Committee for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development and is the co-author of a book on multi-stakeholder dialogue sessions.
“Water across the World” is the third installment of the quarterly scholar presentation and discussion program hosted by the library and the Stillwater Global Affairs Forum.
“These quarterly forums address topics that affect the world and that ultimately have impact on our local community,” said forum founder Daniel Mutai. “This quarter we’re excited to be partnering with Stillwater Speaks so that after the global discussion ends, an in-depth discussion of water interests on a local level can begin.”
The local water interest forum will be held at the library on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. The event, “Drawing Straws: Working Together to Manage Oklahoma’s Growing Demand for Water,” will follow a different format called “public deliberation.”
“I’m often asked to define “public deliberation,”” said Renee Daugherty, Stillwater Speaks. “It is a way to explore issues that touch the whole community in a moderated environment where all viewpoints can safely be expressed. A deliberation is very different from a debate or a lecture because the point is not to change minds, but to find the common agreements among people who may disagree.”
Prior to the event, participants will read a copy of a short issue book created for the topic. At the forum, participants will consider the issue book’s three possible policy approaches to deal with growing demands for water. Participants will share their perspectives and then work together to identify the costs and consequences of each approach and to describe compromises they are willing to make.
“We want to hear every perspective in Stillwater,” agreed Daugherty. “Whether you care passionately about water issues or not, every person in Payne County has some experience with water and we want you to share it. Ultimately, we hope to get Stillwater deliberating habitually as a community.”
These events are not associated with the Oklahoma Comprehensive Water Plan, but findings from the deliberative forum will be gathered and made available to local citizens and policymakers.
Interested participants can register for the deliberative forum before Sept. 3 at the library, by telephone at 405-372-3633 or by emailing askalibrarian@stillwater.org. Registrations will be taken until Sept.3. Issue books will be provided to each registrant prior to the program. Registration is not required for the global program on Aug. 27.
For more information, contact the Stillwater Public Library at (405) 372-3633 or askalibrarian@stillwater.org, or visit on the web at library.stillwater.org. The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Avenue). Co-sponsored by KOSU.
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Stillwater Global Affairs Forum: 'Agribusiness in Africa' at the Stillwater Public Library June 17
The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is a quarterly discussion group that focuses on global issues and how they affect the local community.
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / June 10, 2009) – The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum will have a special summer session “Agribusiness in Africa—Oklahoma know-how impacting the world” on Wednesday, June 17, at 6 p.m. in the Stillwater Public Library. The forum, a quarterly discussion group that focuses on global issues and how they affect the local community, has invited Calvin Burgess, CEO of the Dominion Group of companies in Guthrie, to discuss how his business is affecting the people of Kenya.
In 2003, Dominion Farms leased over 17,000 acres in the Nyanza Province of western Kenya and to farm rice and other grains with the goal of creating a market economy that relies on hard currency from dependable wages.
“The education and social status of the local Kenyan people leaves them dependant on donors to continue to subsidize their meager lives to exist at the current level. This must end. The donor community has with its best intentions made the locals a dependant society,” said Burgess. “Dominion is leading the way to provide the knowledge and example of viable business and corporate social responsibility working hand in hand to change directions and build hope for this generation (of Kenyans) and those to follow.”
Burgess will explain how his company got started in Africa, the challenges of creating a business in Africa, and the impact the business has had on the local Kenyan community.
Following the presentation, participants will have a chance to ask questions, express opinions, and share ideas.
“This discussion and presentation will be an excellent opportunity to gather pioneering information,” said forum founder, Daniel Mutai. “It will be helpful for community members involved in church missions to developing countries, for students and professors studying and teaching abroad, and for people interested in business entrepreneurship and philanthropic outreach.”
This program is free and open to the public.
Two more forums have been scheduled for the year including; “Water” on Aug. 27 (rescheduled from Aug. 26); and “Terrorism” on Nov. 4.
For more information, contact the Stillwater Public Library at (405) 372-3633 or askalibrarian@stillwater.org, or visit on the web at library.stillwater.org. The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Avenue). Co-sponsored by KOSU.
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Stillwater Global Affairs Forum: 'Immigration and Migration' at the Stillwater Public Library May 6
The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is a quarterly discussion group that focuses on global issues and how they affect the local community.
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / April 27, 2009) – The public is invited to participate in the Stillwater Global Affairs Forum’s discussion on "Immigration and Migration" Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m. at the Stillwater Public Library.
Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is a discussion group that focuses on global issues and how they affect the local community.
The immigration and migration discussion will be led by Dr. Patricia A. Bell, head of OSU’s Department of Sociology, and Tim Huff, manager for OSU's International Students and Scholars Program.
Dr. Bell’s studies on the topic have included the intersection of globalization, migration, and resource distribution, while Huff’s interest includes international legal immigration, especially as it relates to students and those seeking employment. Forum participants will be asked to weigh in on all issues associated with immigration and migration.
“U.S. immigration and global migration are becoming very contentious issues, especially during this era of globalized commerce and relations,” said forum leader, Daniel Mutai. “All people are welcome to be a part of this informative and spirited discussion. A broad spectrum of comments, opinions and viewpoints are welcome for this discussion regardless of belief or position on this issue.”
Two additional forums have been scheduled for the year including “Water” on Aug. 26 and “Terrorism” on Nov. 4. In addition, a June forum focusing on local businesses in Africa is tentatively being planned.
Each forum includes a presentation by a local scholar after which participants have a chance to ask questions, express opinions and share ideas.
“We hope that Stillwater Global Affairs Forum (SGAF) is slowly but steadily becoming an integral part of our community by providing a platform for discussing contemporary global affairs affecting all of us,” said Mutai.
The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is free and open to the public.
Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck St. and 12th Ave.).
For more information, call (405) 372-3633, visit the web site at http://library.stillwater.org or e-mail askalibrarian@stillwater.org. Library programs are co-sponsored by KOSU 91.7 fm.
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Stillwater Global Affairs Forum: 'Invisible Children' & 'The Rescue' at the Stillwater Public Library April 7
The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is a quarterly discussion group that focuses on global issues and how they affect the local community. On April 7 watch two documentaries about child soldiers in Uganda.
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / March 18, 2009) – The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum and the Invisible Children Advocacy Group of Stillwater will host a screening of the documentary films “Invisible Children-the Rough Cut” and “The Rescue” in the Stillwater Public Library auditorium Tuesday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 pm.
The Invisible Children films tell the story of the children of Northern Uganda who have been kidnapped in the middle of the night and forced to fight as soldiers in Africa’s longest running war.
Filmed in 2003 by three young men who traveled to Africa looking for a story, “Invisible Children-the Rough Cut” shows the plight of the child soldiers. This film has influence students on American colleges and high school campuses and has spurred several nationwide events designed to bring awareness to this little known issue.
"This viewing is important because so few people have heard about the situation in Uganda," said Daniel Mutai, founder of Stillwater Global Affairs Forum. “While many students and faculty on college campuses have become familiar with this war, most people in the community still have not heard about it.”
The films are free and open to the public. To learn more about the child soldiers of Uganda, visit http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php.
The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is a quarterly discussion group that focuses on global issues and how they affect the local community. Three more forums have been scheduled for the year including “Immigration” on May 6; “HIV and AIDS” on August 26; and “Terrorism” on Nov. 4.
Each forum will include a presentation by a local scholar after which participants will have a chance to ask questions, express opinions and share ideas.
The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck and 12th Ave.). For more information, contact the Stillwater Public Library by phone at (405) 372-3633 or by e-mail at askalibrarian@stillwater.org or visit the web site at library.stillwater.org. Library programs are co-sponsored by KOSU.
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New forum to discuss global affairs kicks off Feb. 11 with the topic 'World Food Crisis' at the Stillwater Public Library
(download 323kb .pdf)
(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Jan. 5, 2009) – The public is invited to participate in a new forum that focuses on global affairs at the Stillwater Public Library starting Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.
The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is a quarterly discussion group that focuses on global issues and how they affect the local community.
“We're all in it together, and solutions have to begin with us having a conversation and an understanding of these challenges within our local communities,” said forum founder and OSU graduate Daniel Mutai. “Even if you think you don’t know much about world issues or think your views are unpopular, we want everyone to join the conversation.”
The first forum topic will be “World Food Crisis.”
According to Dr. Mike Dicks, OSU agricultural economics professor and topic leader,“While the U.S. has plenty of food now, the resources required to produce this food come from all corners of the globe. As world conflicts spread with growing food scarcity, our supply chains will be threatened and more Americans will be called to service. It is truly a problem for the entire world," Dicks said.
Three more forums have been scheduled for the year including “Immigration” on May 6; “HIV and AIDS” on August 26; and “Terrorism” on Nov. 4.
Each forum will include a presentation by a local scholar after which participants will have a chance to ask questions, express opinions and share ideas.
The Stillwater Global Affairs Forum is free and open to the public.
Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Stillwater Public Library is located at 1107 S. Duck St. (the corner of Duck St. and 12th Ave.).
For more information, call (405) 372-3633, visit the web site at http://library.stillwater.org or e-mail askalibrarian@stillwater.org. Library programs are co-sponsored by KOSU 91.7 fm.
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Contact: Sherry Fletcher, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Phone: 405.742.8362
E-mail: sfletcher@stillwater.org
Web: stillwater.org