2009 Winter Issues and Ideas Strand

2009 Winter Term

Issues and Ideas Strand

Using Forest Service Natural Resource Databases to Track Invasive Species

Wednesday, Jan. 7, 1:30
Dave Hohler of the National Resource Information System, USDA Forest Service, Washington Office will present a demonstration of the Natural Resource Information System Invasive Species Application as an example of the databases they have developed. He will show how they are used to do work in the Forest Service. This is one of 35 applications, ranging from fish, wildlife, and water to visitor use patterns that the team built and deployed for the agency in the last eight years. He also will discuss the challenges with implementing standardized computer tools in a decentralized agency.
Host: Ed Heath

Columbia Basin Agriculture: Innovation on the Dry Side

Wednesday, Jan. 14, 9:30
In response to economic, technological, environmental, and social factors, agriculture in eastern Oregon is undergoing dramatic changes, particularly in the Columbia Basin. As a case in point, Marty Myers, Manager of Threemile Canyon Farms in Boardman, will describe production practices, conservation strategies, marketing methods, economic impacts, and social effects of this large, vertically integrated producer of milk, potatoes, vegetables, and wheat.
Host: Bill Hohenboken

CoHousing: Building Old Fashioned Sustainable Neighborhoods

Wednesday, Jan. 21, 9:30
Steve Brown, founding member and past president of CoHo CoHousing Ecovillage in Corvallis, will share the experience of developing and living in a cohousing community. He will discuss the history of cohousing and speak to the richness, advantages and disadvantages, responsibilities and demands of living in community.
Host: Becky McKenzie

Great Decisions

Wednesdays, Jan. 28, Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 9:30
For 55 years the Great Decisions Program has engaged groups across the nation on subjects of interest in foreign affairs. Information for the classes is provided in a briefing book which members are asked to buy ($16.00) that places each issue in historical context and provides background, current policies, and alternative policies. Classes open with a video update of the issue followed by group discussion and an opinion ballot for the National Opinion Ballot Report so that views can be expressed on each topic. Class size will be limited to 36 to facilitate discussion. The topics for 2009 are U.S. & rising global powers, Afghanistan/Pakistan, energy & the global economy, the Arctic, U.S. & Egypt, global food supply, Cuba after Castro, and universal human rights. The first topic to be discussed will be U.S. & rising global powers. The class members of this class will select which topic to drop from ALL’s schedule. The remaining six topics will be discussed in the order that they are listed in the briefing book.
Host: Bill Kemper

Galapagos - 172 Years After Darwin’s Visit

Thursday, Feb. 19, 9:30
In September and October 1835, Charles Darwin spent only five weeks in the Galapagos Islands. His findings there formed much of his theory of evolution. ALL members Marc and Bill Kemper visited many of the same islands 172 years later in September 2008, while traveling on the ship National Geographic Polaris. They will share their pictures and impressions of this special place, as well as show a short DVD of pictures by a National Geographic photographer with comments from the naturalists onboard.
Host: Bill Kemper