Sara Speaks

Spring 2011 -- Mayborn Lecture:

Saturday, April 30, 4 p.m. at the Longhorn Conference Room at the Stagecoach Inn, Salado

The Institute for the Humanities has gone to an exciting new format. Beginning in 2011, the Institute will host a series of sponsored lectures on specific topics.  Leading off the year is the Mayborn Lecture, underwritten by the Frank W. and Sue W. Mayborn Foundation of Temple, TX.  This lectureship was set up to showcase speakers from the media world who will speak on topics having to do with newspapers, broadcasting and other means of news dissemination.

Well known Texas media figure, Evan Smith, will inaugurate this new format on Saturday, April 30. That lecture, Why the News Media Still Matters, will be at 4 p.m. at the Longhorn Conference Room at the Stagecoach Inn in Salado. The cost is $25.00 and is open to the public. Payment may be made at the door.

Evan Smith is the CEO and editor-in-chief of The Texas Tribune, a new online newspaper focusing on the state of Texas.  This new media outlet was founded in 2009, and in its first year in operation won two national Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association and a General Excellence Award from the Online News Association.

Previously Smith spent nearly 18 years at Texas Monthly, stepping down in August 2009 to create The Texas Tribune.  He served as president and editor-in-chief at Texas Monthly for more than eight years — only the third person to hold that title.

On his watch, Texas Monthly was nominated for 16 National Magazine Awards, the magazine industry equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, and twice was awarded the National Magazine Award for General Excellence. Smith also hosted a Lone Star Emmy Award-winning weekly interview program, Texas Monthly Talks, which aired on PBS stations statewide for eight years.

He currently hosts a new show, Overheard with Evan Smith, which airs on PBS stations nationally. Smith is a native of New York, and has a bachelor's degree in public policy from Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., and a master's degree in journalism from the Medill School at Northwestern University.

Wilmer Memorial Lecture:

The annual Wilmer Memorial Lecture will be the first Saturday in June, as always. This year’s speaker is renowned in the toy and invention worlds.  Joel Carter is Vice President of Innovation First, the company that makes the Hexbug – the 2010 specialty Toy of the Year and the number one bestselling toy of last year.

The  Wilmer Lecture will be Saturday, June 4, at the Silver Spur Theater at 3 p.m.  Carter will talk about his company’s invention, the Hexbug and its companion Hex toys, and the company’s commitment to making educational toys. That lecture, as always, is FREE and open to the public. A reception will follow.

The toy that won the Toy of the Year award was the HexBug Nano Habitat Set. The original HexBug — a six-legged beetle-like micro-robot — debuted in 2007, selling more than 1 million units at Radio Shack stores.  The toy is a combination of computer programming and innovated mechanical engineering.

Carter, was a vice president of Radio Shack before joining the team at Greenville-based Innovation First International.

“Toys are not our primary business; we’re really an engineer- and design-driven company building high-end educational robotics, for middle [school], high school and university science,” Carter said.

New Directions:

The Institute has undergone some strategic changes. Due to decreasing revenue, the board decided to change the traditional structure of its two series per year. Instead we will offer a number of free-standing, individual lectures underwritten by various individuals and groups in the community.

To date, we have firm commitments from two local organizations: The University of Mary Hardin Baylor and The Mayborn Foundation. These lectures will be on topics related to the supporting organizations, in this case, education and the media, respectively.   In addition, we are in conversation with other potential sponsor organizations and we hope to be able to offer more than three lectures this year.

Some things have not changed.  We will continue to notify and invite members and others via brochures and postcards detailing upcoming events. Our anchor Wilmer Lecture, underwritten by the Wilmer Fund, will remain the first weekend in June, as always. I remain the director and Erin Burress continues as the Business Manager. Our board remains the same with the addition of Jane Wilmer, one of the organization’s founders. Our mailing address, phone number, email and website area also the same.  

Institute Membership:

The other thing that has not changed is our continued need for your support.  Membership is optional, but your annual membership is greatly appreciated. Membership fees and other contributions help cover our minimal operating expenses and enable us to remain a viable organization. If you desire to join for the membership year 2011 (Jan-Dec.), please print off our membership form and mail to:  P.O. Box  527, Salado, TX 76571

Program Recordings:

Recordings are available for all the lectures given at the Institute during the last 28 years. Audiotapes are $11.00 and CD's are $15.00 each. To order, please contact Erin at the Institute at ifh@vvm.com or at (254) 947-5729.  You my also order by mail.  For mail orders, you may print our Order Form for your convenience.

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