George asked at the end of Open Mic on Friday if I had made any New Year’s resolutions. I have made several New Year’s intentions. For example it is my intention to post at least three times a week on my blog. I’ll make this one post to help fulfill my intention. The January 9th Open Mic was an energetic event with performances by a variety of new talent including a local rock band made up of area musicians. Writer Ray, kicked the evening off with some of his insightful poetry. As usual Ed, George, Stu and I closed out the evening with a jam including several Creedence Clearwater Revival songs. Earlier in the evening Stu sang one of my old favorites, Suzzane, by Leonard Cohen. Good memories. Open Mic is always a highlight of the month. Next Open Mic will be on Saturday, January 24, 2009.
Chautauqua 2010: We’ve formed a steering committee to apply to host the 2010 Chautauqua. We will submit an application to the Nebraska Humanities Council by January 15, 2009. The theme for the Chautauqua is “Bright Dreams, Hard Times: America in the Thirties.” Chautauqua will feature scholars portraying the following historical characters: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Huey Long, Aimee Semple McPherson, Zora Neale Hurston, and Will Rogers. North Platte hosted Chautauqua in1993 and the theme was the American Renaissance. The featured historical characters were: Louisa May Alcott, Fredrick Douglass, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman. I remember Ben going to the library and checking out a copy of Moby Dick after hearing Herman Melville speak at the Chautauqua. Sutherland hosted Chautauqua back in 1997. Excitement is building in North Platte for Chautauqua. If you are interested in being part of Chautauqua send me an email at donk05 at gmail dot com. During the January 6, 2009 City Council meetings I was elected President of the Council for 2009. You will find stories about that meeting here and here. City Ordinance define the role of the President as:
§ 31.04 PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL; ACTING PRESIDENT.
The City Council shall elect 1 of its own body each year who shall be styled the President of the Council, and who shall preside at all meetings of the City Council in the absence of the Mayor. In the absence of the Mayor and the president of the Council, the City Council shall elect 1 of its own body to occupy his or her place temporarily, who shall be styled acting president of the Council. Both the president of the Council and the acting president of the Council, when occupying the position of the Mayor, shall have the same privileges as the other members of the City Council, and all acts of the president of the Council, or acting president of the Council, while so acting, shall be as binding upon the City Council and upon the city as if done by the elected Mayor.
George thanks for the push.