Monday, January 9, 2017

9:30 – 10:30 THE ARTS

Unpacking Contemporary Art: The Active Viewer

Speaker: Roslye Ultan, University of Minnesota, Senior Faculty, Art History and Visual Culture

How has contemporary art broken down the boundaries between fine art and popular culture? How has it transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary by giving precedence to the idea rather than the work itself? Ultan will address the hidden meaning behind the question, “What does the art ask of us?” with images from current exhibitions at the Walker Art Center.

10:45 – 11:45 PUBLIC POLICY

Understanding the Middle East

Speaker: Todd J. Lefko, President, International Business Development Company, Inc.

The Middle East represents many of the basic issues facing the current and future world. These include migrations, ethnic and religious hatred, non-state terrorists seeking power, great power conflict acting both directly and through agents as well as the impact of energy geopolitics. These factors deeply affect the United States as world leader and our relationships with emerging forces.

11:45 – 12:15 BUSINESS MEETING
12:15 – 1:15 LUNCHEON

1:15 – 2:15 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

How Technology Has Improved Election Administration

Speaker: Grace Wachlarowicz, Assistant City Clerk, Director of Elections and Voter Services,
City of Minneapolis

Wachlarowicz will present a “behind the scenes” overview on preparing for and executing a presidential election. The audience will gain a better understanding of pre-election arrangements, leveraging technology, and the effectiveness of this technology between 2012 and 2016.