Shameless Shilling for 'Duke Forward' Events

[sagegrouse]

I attended a terrific Duke Forward program in Denver last night. Dev11 and I got to socialize with 300+ Duke alums. It was a fun event and quite affordable -- evidently highly subsidized by Duke.

The attraction to me was the program. There was a good update by Dick Brodhead, with a few new things to brag about -- the field hockey Final Four and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry (not necessarily in that order). High points for me were the incredible speakers: Duke nursing prof Janet Bettger on a surprising new measure of health and vitality; Brian Hare, prof. of evolutionary biology, on "survival of the friendliest;" and Duke senior Josh Miller on his new start-up company. There are not the same speakers on every program.

I see two more programs on the schedule:

• Houston on Wednesday, December 09, 2015
• Los Angeles on Monday, January 25, 2016

There is a bit of a fund-raising pitch, but no direct solicitations.

I encourage the Texans and Southern Californians to attend. I'll check and see if more programs are in the works.

[Mike Corey]

Thanks for this, SageGrouse.

Us mid-size city residents remain envious that DukeForward is rightly prioritizing larger places for these events.

[weezie]

...There is a bit of a fund-raising pitch, but no direct solicitations.

Well, I'm sure it's on the way. We're pen pals with Duke Forward. Endless love notes. Mike Corey, would you like me to forward my mailings?

[Mike Corey]

Well, I'm sure it's on the way. We're pen pals with Duke Forward. Endless love notes. Mike Corey, would you like me to forward my mailings?

How generous of you

I shall make like Bobby Hurley and pass.

[Dev11]

Well, I'm sure it's on the way. We're pen pals with Duke Forward. Endless love notes. Mike Corey, would you like me to forward my mailings?

Whether these events happen or not, you're getting lots of solicitation for money, so you might as well enjoy them.

They mentioned to the event ambassadors that Denver is the last planned new city to get a Duke Forward event before the campaign ends next year (2017 maybe, I don't know). I'm glad we got "big city" status because I agree with sage, the event was really well done, and very affordable for those of us who aren't dedicating buildings any time soon. That said, the Dev11 Center for Podcast Excellence will one day be the envy of audiophiles from Durham to Mars.

Credit to sagegrouse for finding me at the event. If you can believe it, he's a pretty nice guy. My mind was busy wandering between the taco bar and the 90 Shillings.

[weezie]

Whether these events happen or not, you're getting lots of solicitation for money, so you might as well enjoy them.

Oh, absolutely right Dev. I've had one gentleman calling and asking to come over to the house in order to fill us in on the new developments at Duke. I think the scene you described sounds much more mingle worthy.