May 2012 Newsletter

Volume 1 Issue 7

From the Director:

Greetings, friends and supporters of The Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions. This has been a busy month here at the Institute as we welcome a new team member and prepare for the official launch of our latest initiative, The Village Square. I hope you will consider becoming part of this vital organization whose goal is to spark a new level of public policy debate in Pinellas County. Membership is only $68 for a season of four quarterly dinner forums focusing on the most challenging issues of the day. The kickoff will be May 22nd, with Florida Governor and Senator Bob Graham as the keynote speaker. (See article below.) Village Square members will have priority seating for this event, which we expect will sell out. To join, visit our website at www.spcollege.edu/solutions.

--David Klement, Executive Director

Tickets Still Available for Bob Graham Dinner

Former Gov.
Bob Graham

There is still limited seating available for the May 22nd forum featuring Florida Governor and U.S. Senator Bob Graham as the keynote speaker. As reported in the April issue of The Policy Institute Digest, Gov. Graham will help the Institute launch the St. Petersburg College chapter of The Village Square, a popular public debate forum co-founded in Tallahassee by SPC President Dr. Bill Law.

Gov. Graham's topic will be "Restoring Civics Education and Renewing Our Democracy." He has made the improvement of civics education a prime focus of his public service since retiring from elective office in 2004. Partnering with former Congressman Lou Frey, he has launched an ambitious campaign to bring civics back into the mainstream of public education. Together, they joined with former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to promote passage of a state law requiring that Florida students in middle school take a semester-long civics class.

Dinner tickets are $30 for Village Square members or $40 for non-members. To register, go to spcollege.edu/solutions

Institute Welcomes New Staff Member

Katie Ramsberger

Katherine"Katie" Ramsberger has joined the team of the Institute for Strategic Policy Solutions. She replaces Janet Long, who has left St. Petersburg College to seek election to the Pinellas County Commission.

In her capacity as Project Manager, Ms. Ramsberger will direct the launch of The Village Square at St. Petersburg College, the new non-partisan public debate forum that is a spinoff of the popular organization co-founded in Tallahassee by SPC President Dr. Bill Law. It addresses matters of local, state and national importance in a factually accurate, civil format.

Ms. Ramsberger grew up in St. Petersburg, attended Pinellas County Schools, and is a graduate of St. Petersburg College. She holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications from USF.

Board of Directors to Meet, May 14

The Institute's Board of Directors will hold its quarterly meeting on May 14 from 6 - 8 p.m. It will be held in Room 1-450 at the EpiCenter, 13805 58th Street North, Largo. The public is invited to attend. Among business items up for discussion will be the Institute's agenda for the new fiscal year beginning July 1.