Please assist

I still think the basic concept is relevant. That people, ordinary and all people, should get together and share ideas and thoughts in an immediate, personal setting.

And its amazing to meet people on the street who have been to a forum or two and have them mention it or inquire as to its continuity.

Giving people an opportunity for expression, ie your attention is empowering...I think.

So here's the situation. We've lost essentially three co-organizers (Jomo hasn't made it official) and the remaining two (Carl and I) have been taking time off. Its been over a month since the last forum happened and if any amount of momentum was built up through the dry/outdoor season, its probably gone by now. But I'm still thinking about it and I just called the owner of the Underground, the basement of the Madison? building there where Starbucks is, about having the forum there.

Or should I just go solo under the bridge? with some flyering and publicity of course.

Should the format be tweaked? Should the guidelines be amended? What can we do to attract more people? Will you show up? When is a good time? Help. Leave a comment.

COF on winter hiatus

Efforts are being made to find an indoor location until then, keep checking in.

no forum (formally) this week

fyi: I will be out of town and it looks like we don't have enough support to pick up the slack. Organizers are frustrated and losing steam and this might be it for our little experiment. Its too soon to say for sure, I'm not ready to throw in the towel but the way things are headed it doesn't look good. will keep you posted. Thanks!

Corvallis Open Forum Begins its 3rd Season

On April 19th, the sporadic, windy storms came through, followed by sunshine, then more storms. Most Farmers' Market and Earth Faire attendees ran for cover while the Corvallis Open Forum held its own, rain, shine or hail. Co-organizer Joe Mogus showed what a free speech trooper is all about.



We had a few passers-by drop in, but only momentarily. Most folk were too wrapped up in the festivities of the parade and the Market, even as Joe tried to convince them to come to the Forum.


Our first speaker was a young girl who spoke about the ills and dangers of HIV.


Other past regulars such as Joe Magner and Cosmo came to speak, drawing crowds that tended to ebb and flow continuously.



The Forum meets between the market and the Riverfront each Saturday from 11-1. I know we are still relatively comfortable as a society. No food riots or widespread chaos as of yet, but many of us recognize the danger of escalating complacency. One symptom of this is a lack of civil discourse and the abandonment of our First Amendment right. The Corvallis Open Forum hopes to alleviate this and other ills of an isolated, decreasingly communicative society.

COF to resume April 19

We will be sprouting up again on the Riverfront (next to the Farmer's Market) at 11:00am April 19 and every week thereafter, until weather drives us back inside. JoMo and I discussed the lapse this winter and we will be working on finding a suitable location for next winter, possibly on campus.

This season should be especially exciting what with the election year and all. Hope to see you there.