Forum Club of the Palm Beaches

FBI special agent Coleen Rowley, one of three whistle-blowers pegged by Time magazine as 2002 Person of the Year, will address the Forum Club Nov. 24 at a noon luncheon at the newly-renovated Cohen Pavillion at the Kravis Center. MORE...

Bob Graham, Florida’s senior senator, will talk about why he dropped his bid to be president and what his plans are for the future when he addresses the Forum Club on Dec. 17. The event will be held at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. MORE...

Bahamian Prime Minister Perry G. Christie will talk about Florida-Bahamian relations when he addresses a noon luncheon of the Forum Club at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center.
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Top officials from Scripps Research Institute, Executive Vice President and General Counsel Douglas A. Bingham and scientist Steve A. Kay, will discuss plans and impacts of their proposed biotechnology center in northern Palm Beach County. MORE...

French Ambassador to the United States Jean-David Levitte will discuss French-U.S. relations and the role he’d like to see France and other European nations play in the rebuilding of Iraq. MORE...

Janet Brown, Executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates, will talk about the upcoming televised presidential debates, which kick off in Miami Sept. 30. She’ll also give an insiders look at past debates she has organized since the 1988. MORE...

Bill Schneider, CNN’s senior political analyst, will talk about the latest presidential politics and polls. Schneider was one of the Forum’s Club most popular speakers during the 2000 presidential election. You can catch him daily on CNN news programs, including Inside Politics. MORE...

The Forum Club of the Palm Beaches joins a number of non-profit organizations in sponsoring a Candidates Forum from 6- 9 p.m. at Palm Beach Community College’s Duncan Theater, 4200 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth. The event is free and open to the public. MORE...

Amb. Joseph Wilson, whose wife’s CIA undercover identity was leaked to the press by the administration shortly after he challenged President Bush’s claim about Iraq seeking uranium from Africa, will open the Forum Club’s season with a noon luncheon at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. MORE...

The Forum Club is pleased to have Mel Martinez, the winner of the Aug. 31 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Bob Graham speak. The event will be a noon luncheon at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. MORE...

The Forum Club is honored to have Betty Castor, the Democratic primary winner for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Bob Graham speak. The event will be a noon luncheon at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. MORE...

On Monday, November 15 2004 CNN’s senior political correspondent Candy Crowley will Monday morning quarterback the presidential election when she addresses the Forum Club at a noon luncheon at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. MORE...

Florida Power & Light Pres. Armando Olivera will talk about the impacts made by the September hurricanes on the electrical industry when he addresses the Forum Club at a noon luncheon at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.
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U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson will make one of his first major addresses as Florida's senior senator when he addresses the Forum Club at a noon luncheon.

The luncheon will be held at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Nelson, a Democrat, becomes the senior senator with the retirement of Bob Graham whose seat is being filled by Republican Mel Martinez. MORE...

Dick Morris, Fox News Channel analyst and one of the most prominent political consultants in America, will address the Forum Club April 13. Morris is universally credited with piloting Bill Clinton to a stunning reelection comeback victory in 1996 and was labeled at the time “the most influential private citizen in America” by Time magazine. He has also consulted for Republicans Trent Lott and Tom Ridge.

Morris will address a noon luncheon at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. Member tickets are $20. Guests invited by members and applicant tickets are $30. Public tickets are $45 and may be ordered by calling (561) 304-0570. MORE...

Former Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Marvin Mounts will be honored, in memoriam, as this season’s Forum Club Roll of Honor recipient. Mounts served as County Solicitor from 1963-2002 and as 15th Circuit Court Judge from 1972 until his retirement in 2002. He passed away in 2004. The award will be accepted by his wife, Polly.

The club’s Roll of Honor was created to accord public recognition to Palm Beach County’s elected public officials who have made significant contributions to the community. Mounts will be the 26th honoree.
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Former Forum Club President Don Chester will be guest of honor at a fundraising barbecue being held to help raise funds to support his expenses as a result of being paralyzed after being hit by a car while jogging Christmas Eve morning. MORE...

Craig Fugate, Florida’s director of Emergency Management, will detail steps Florida is taking to avoid the devastating hurricane aftermath haunting the gulf states after Hurricane Katrina when he addresses the Forum Club Sept. 16.

Fugate replaces FEMA chief Michael Brown as the Forum Club’s season opener. Brown remains on site in the gulf states and is under sharp criticism for slow response efforts by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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MSNBC political correspondent Bill Press has been rescheduled to address the Forum Club during a noon luncheon Dec. 9. Press’s October speech and book signing were cancelled because of Hurricane Wilma.

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Joe Scarborough, host of the popular MSNBC program Scarborough Country and former Republican Florida congressman, joins the Forum Club Nov. 21 to give his views on Washington politics. MORE...

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer will talk about life on the Supreme Court and his new book when he addresses the Forum Club in January. He will include sale and signing of his new book, Active Liberty. MORE...

You see him on Fox News Channel. You hear him on National Public Radio. You read his magazine pieces and books. Juan Williams, one of America’s leading journalists, will talk about America’s political scene when he addresses the MORE...

Will he run for president? New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson joins us March 13 to talk about his trip to North Korea, shared problems with illegal immigrants and what to do about the energy crisis. MORE...

In his first major speech in Palm Beach County since being elected, Sen. Mel Martinez will give a congressional update during a 30th anniversary breakfast of the Forum Club. MORE...

The two leading Republican contenders for governor will square off before the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches during a noon luncheon April 20. MORE...

Wanna know who’s gonna be elected? CNN’s senior political analyst Bill Schneider will give national political projections for the upcoming November elections when he joins the Forum Club Oct. 6 during a noon luncheon.

Recognized as one of the country’s leading political commentators, Schneider has been labeled “the nation’s election-meister” by The Washington Times. He’s one of the Forum Club’s most popular speakers. This will be his third appearance. MORE...

Republican Joe Negron versus Democrat Tim Mahoney. Who is going to fill the congressional seat up for grabs since Mark Foley’s abrupt resignation from Congress amid revelations of sexually explicit messages?

Chances are you have never met either of them. The Forum Club is giving you a chance to meet both and decide for yourselves who will represent the 16th Congressional District. The event will be held at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center. MORE...

U.S. Rep. E. Clay Shaw, Jr., who for more than a quarter century served a Palm Beach-Broward district, will give his congressional swan song before the Forum Club on Tuesday, Dec. 19. The Republican congressman will also talk about the change of power in Washington.

After serving 26 years, Shaw was part of a national Democratic tide that swept Republicans from office in favor of Democratic challengers, in his case state Sen. Ron Klein. MORE...

From the battle for the White House to the battle for Iraqi freedom, NBC’s Natalie Morales will talk about being a national television correspondent in today’s unsettled world when she addresses the Forum Club Jan. 29.

Morales, who joined the Today show as a correspondent in February, sometimes co-anchors the show and fills in regularly at the news desk. She was named one of the “Top Hispanics to Watch in 2005” by Hispanic Magazine.
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Paul Rieckhoff, a nationally recognized authority on the war in Iraq and issues affecting our troops, will share his experiences with the Forum Club March 26.

After serving as a first lieutenant and platoon leader in Iraq, Rieckhoff returned home convinced America’s mission there is flawed. The founder and executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has written a controversial new book called Chasing Ghosts: A Soldier’s Fight for America from Baghdad to Washington that has caught the attention of nearly all major television news shows.

Barnes & Noble CityPlace will host a book signing ( $24.95 Penguin Books) in the lobby following Reickhoff’s noon speech at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. The author will stay and autograph copies. MORE...

Tim Mahoney, a businessman who never ran for office before being elected to Congress in November, will talk about the business of politics when he gives a congressional update to the Forum Club on April 27.

As you may recall, Mahoney started out as a Democratic long-shot challenger of U.S. Rep. Mark Foley and then found himself the victor of the District 16 seat after Foley’s sudden tumble from office and a subsequent strong challenge from Republican Joe Negron. MORE...

On the heels of a legislative session that left unresolved the issue of property tax reform, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist comes May 21 to tackle the heated topic head on and discuss other actions and inactions coming out of the 60-day session.

Joining in the program with be Republican State Sen. Jeff Atwater and Democratic State Sen. Dave Aronberg, who chairs the Palm Beach County’s legislative delegation. They will talk about legislative actions that directly affect this area.

Gov. Crist, who was elected in November, made a promise to the Forum Club during a campaign stop last year that, if elected, he would return to address the state’s largest non-partisan political organization. His May 21 address will close the club’s season. MORE...

Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio will open the Forum Club’s 2007-2008 season on Aug. 27 talking about the special legislative session this summer that produced what is being billed as the largest tax cut in Florida’s history.

Rubio will discuss both the new bipartisan law signed by the governor that forces local governments to slash property taxes and also the proposed Republican-sponsored Jan. 29 constitutional amendment aimed at further lowering property taxes. MORE...

Why did the proposed immigration bill fail? Will our troops be coming home from Iraq any time soon? What’s the progress on getting funding for a hurricane tracking system? U.S. Rep. Ron Klein will address these issues with the Forum Club on Oct. 15 as part of a congressional update.

The Democratic congressman is a former state senator who was elected Congress last November. His district stretches from Fort Lauderdale Airport north to the Martin County line and swells westward at places to take in Lake Clarke Shores, the Acreage and Jupiter Farms. MORE...

In his role as chair of the Republican National Committee, U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez will talk about rebuilding the Republican party and what to do about immigration when he addresses the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches Sept. 17.

Florida Trend magazine calls him “Message Man” on its June cover, saying the GOP is turning to Florida’s junior senator to woo Hispanic voters. The Cuban American senator is a former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush. MORE...

Lester Holt, anchor of the weekend editions of both NBC Nightly News and the Today show, will share his journalistic experiences and insight with the Forum Club on Nov. 14.

Holt, who also serves as fill-in anchor and correspondent for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, has covered everything from Hezbollah to hurricanes and terror threats to political upsets. The award-winning broadcast journalist also contributes to MSNBC.

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A decade after his first appearance before the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas returns, this time with his just-released memoir My Grandfather’s Son.

This will be a joint program with the Palm Beach County Bar Association. We anticipate a sellout crowd of 700, but with two organizations splitting the tickets, there will be ticket restrictions on members and no public tickets for sale. Please await your newsletter for details. MORE...

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist will address the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches Jan. 14 – just two weeks before Florida voters go to the polls to decide the fate of his property tax initiative.

Just like in May when the governor addressed the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, we expect another sell-out event. Order your reserved tickets and tables today. Crist is campaigning to convince voters on Jan. 29 to back a plan that would double the homestead exemption and put a 10 percent annual cap on property assessments. The plan is designed to save the average homeowner about $240 a year. MORE...

Dr. Akbar Ahmed, former High Commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britian and renowned scholar on Islam, will talk about the political impact of Islam on the world today when he addresses the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches on Feb. 11.

Dr. Ahmed , Chair of Islamic Studies and a professor of international relations at American University in Washington, D.C., has been labeled the “world’s best-known scholar on contemporary Islam” by the British Broadcasting Company. He has advised Prince Charles and met with President George Bush on Islam. MORE...

Thirty years after the passing of Palm Beach County’s crusty billionaire, John D. MacArthur, the man who now heads the foundation bearing his name is coming to talk about the MacArthur legacy and the impacts his dying gift have made in more than 60 counties around the world.

With assets now exceeding $6 billion, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest philanthropic foundations. It makes grants and program-related investments totaling more than $260 annually. President Jonathan Fanton will talk about the foundation’s work both within the United States and abroad in areas such as global security, human rights and sustainability. MORE...

Two Florida congressmen will go head to head on the controversial issue of Social Security reform when they address the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches March 7. The noon luncheon featuring Republican Clay Shaw and Democrat Robert Wexler will be held at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center. At issue will be President Bush’s proposal to divert some of the Social Security payroll tax to personal retirement accounts. MORE...

New York Times best-selling author John Perkins will take time from traveling the globe to come talk with the Forum Club about Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, his real-life tale of international intrigue and corruption which, during its first week of publication, rose to No. 1 on Amazon.com. Perkins spent three decades as a self-described Economic Hit Man, business executive, author and lecturer and has lived and worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and North America. Barnes & Noble will have copies of his book for sale and Perkins will stay for a book sign following the luncheon.

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Have a bit of Congress with your coffee. U.S. Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) will address an early morning breakfast of the Forum Club on May 23. The 8-9:30 a.m. breakfast will be held at the Cohen Pavilion at the Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach. Buffet lines will open at 7:30 a.m. Member tickets are $20. Guest and applicant tickets are $30 and public tickets are $45. MORE...

Roderick MacLeish, a Boston attorney who has represented more than 300 victims of the Catholic priest abuse scandals, will address the Forum Club Oct. 20 at a West Palm Beach Marriott luncheon. MORE...

Forum Club member Larry Casey has received a presidential appointment as an associate deputy undersecretary of labor for international affairs. He'll deal with such issues as human trafficking, international child labor, trade and treaties. Casey served as district manager to former U.S. Rep. E. Clay Shaw, Jr. MORE...

Sarah Alsofrom, a member of the Forum Club's Board of Directors, has received the "Up and Comers Award" for Advertising/Marketing from the South Florida Business Journal. Nominees for the 40-and-under category came from Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Alsofrom is the marketing director for Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. in West Palm Beach. MORE...

The Board of Directors has selected Wendy Sartory Link as the Forum Club’s new secretary. Wendy is managing partner of Ackerman, Link & Sartory, P.A. in West Palm Beach. The Board of Directors also selected the following members to serve three-year terms on the board: Donald W. Carson, Bill Diamond, Manuel Farach, John J. Fumero, Gale Howden and James R. Young. MORE...

The Board of Directors approved the following new members during its May 31 meeting: Sherman Adler, Dionna Brahs, Clint Cheek, Rhonda Clinton, Jean Rose Creasey, Malcohm F. Cunningham, Arthur DeRuve, Britt Deviney, Jim Eisenberg, Donna Feher, Robert Garvey, Susan Gibson, Pat Gleason, Louise B. Goldberg, Jay Goldfarb, Felicia Goldstein, Majorie Gadarian Graham, Richard S. Granat, Lauren Kurtz, Shannon LaRocque, Thomas Leonard, James MacPherson, Cynthia Martin, W.C. Martin, Robert McFalls, Sean M. McInerney, Bijan Parssi, David L. Peters, Anthony Pirozzi, Faith-Ann Rudick, Tim Stevens, Katherine Waldron. MORE...