September 22, 2010
ELEANOR MAYNE,Free Lance Journalist in Afghanistan

Working in Afghanistan from 2007-2009, Eleanor was as an advisor to the State Department tackling the opium poppy concerns. Born in England, Eleanor studied genetics at Cambridge University. After four years she changed careers to journalism and worked as a staff reporter for a national newspaper. In Kabul, Ely wrote about issues from the Afghan scouts to women’s prison conditions. Ely is a keen runner, having completed desert and arctic ultra marathons. She is engaged to Spokane native Michael Baumgartner.

October 27, 2010
REPRESENTATIVE CATHY McMORRIS RODGERS, Congresswoman, 5th Congressional District

Born to a farming family with deep roots in Eastern Washington, Cathy worked her way through Pensacola Christian College in Florida and later earned her Executive MBA from the University of Washington. She served five terms as a Legislator in Olympia. In 2004 Cathy was elected to Congress where she serves in her 3rd term representing Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional district. Cathy and Brian are the parents of a three year old son, Cole, and are expecting a baby girl in December. Cathy is a former member of Spokane College Women’s Association.

November 17, 2010
SHARON HANEK, Liberty and Freedom

Known as Research Mom among educators. Sharon will tell the story of her father being taken to Japan and left with an uncle while his mother came back to America. He was educated in Japanese reading, writing and speaking and was later helpful in writing the Constitution of Japan after WWII. Sharon will be speaking on Liberty and Freedom.

January 26, 2011
CHRIS CARGILL, Washington Policy Center, E. WA Director

Chris was born and raised in Spokane, graduating from Gonzaga University with a degree in Broadcast Communication Studies and a minor in Political Science. He worked in TV news in Spokane for 10 years. Cargill will speak to eastern Washington citizens’ interest in property rights, education, environment, legislation, and business entrepreneurs.

February 23, 2011
Dr. JIM EDWARDS, The Barman Declaration

The Barman Declaration Dr Edwards is the Bruner-Welch Professor of Theology at Whitworth University. He graduated from Whitworth in 1967 and became a member of the staff in 1977 after attending Princeton Theological Seminary, University of Zurich in Switzerland, University of Tübingen, Germany and receiving his PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is an expert on the voice of the Confessing church in Germany refusing to be a part of Hitler’s nazification of the church and the avoidance of “cheap grace.”

March 23, 2011
JAY RICHARDS, Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute

Money, Greed and God: Why Capitalism is the Solution and Not the Problem

Mr. Richards is a well known author of several books including Money, Greed and God, and co-author of The Privileged Planet with astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez. He is a recent Visiting Fellow at the Heritage Foundation, and a Research Fellow at the Acton Institute. Richards is the executive producer of several documentaries including The Call of the Entrepreneur, The Birth of Freedom, and Effective Stewardship. His work has been covered in publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal and has testified before Congress.

April 27, 2011
JERRY KLINGER, President of the Jewish Historical Preservation Society

Spokane is privileged to have the first Jewish Synagogue in Washington State. Mr. Klinger officiated at this dedication service several years ago. He will relate the story of an Austrian Jew, Theodore Herzel, and three Christian ministers, Gladstone, Hechler and Grauel, who were instrumental in the establishment of the State of Israel, the Balfour Declaration involvement in displaced Jewish children, and the ship Exodus.