Coalition plans to bring nationally known speakers to Q-C

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By Ed Tibbetts | Saturday, August 16, 2008 |

Beginning this fall, Eastern Iowa Community College and a group of area corporations will launch an annual speakers series aimed at drawing nationally known figures to the Quad-Cities.

The series, called Viewpoint, will begin Oct. 21 when former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw is scheduled to speak at the Adler Theatre, Davenport, just two weeks before the general election. Brokaw also hosts the network’s “Meet the Press” program.

Organizers say the series is unique in that it will establish an ongoing means of drawing household names to the area each year to engage people on topics of public interest.

“We feel there is a strong need for a series of this type in the Quad-Cities,” said Pat Keir, chancellor of the college.

Former Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Singletary also will be part of the first year’s lineup. He’s slated to speak April 9. Singletary, an assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers, also trains corporate leaders on such topics as diversity, managing stress, balancing life and work, and motivation.

Organizers say Brokaw’s appearance, coming just two weeks before a presidential election, will provide valuable insight.

“We’re excited about it,” said Gary Mohr, the college’s director of external affairs.

The first year of the series will offer the two speakers, but after that the plan is to offer three. This round was limited by budget constraints, Mohr said.

Lectures and speeches in the Quad-Cities by distinguished figures are not uncommon.

This year, in fact, St. Ambrose University’s Women for Social Justice is bringing Ninotchka Rosca, a writer and one of the most prominent women’s rights activists in the Philippines, to speak about human trafficking. Her speech is Oct. 21, too.

But Viewpoint organizers hope the star-power of the speakers, their message and an annual trio of events will make this series unique.

“It’s a benefit to the community as a whole to know we can bring in people of this caliber,” said John Riches, a spokesman for Alcoa. “It adds to the quality of life in the Quad-Cities.”

Alcoa, the John Deere Foundation and the Quad-City Times are major corporate sponsors.

Tickets are $69, $86 and $99 and include both speakers. About 1,500 tickets will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. The series must be purchased as a package.

Mohr said more than 500 tickets will be distributed free to high school students and another 200 to college students at a reduced rate. Those tickets are being provided by the Riverboat Development Authority and Scott County Regional Authority.

The series will not only include remarks by the speakers but also a question-and-answer session. Each is designed to last an hour.

The Viewpoint series, Mohr said, has a $150,000 annual budget and is committed to at least a three-year run.

Organizers are currently seeking speakers for the next round. Future topics could include international affairs or the economy, Mohr said.

“We’re going to probably look in those areas but not exclusively,” he said.

Ed Tibbetts can be contacted at (563) 383-2327 or etibbetts@qctimes.com.

Series sponsors

Eastern Iowa Community College, Alcoa, the John Deere Foundation and the Quad-City Times are major sponsors of the Viewpoint series.

Other sponsors are: Iowa-American Water Co., Quad-City Bank & Trust, Molyneaux Insurance, Genesis Health Systems, St. Ambrose University, Ryan Companies U.S. Inc., MidAmerican Energy and R.W. Baird.