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2011
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January 2012
FORT LAUDERDALE: FROM "VENICE" TO "ATLANTIS"?
A recent study predicted that rising sea levels are likely to flood a small portion of Fort Lauderdale by 2040, and a much larger portion by 2075. The map below shows how a 3-foot rise in sea level could affect the City. Properties may be "under water" in more ways than financially.
Assistant City Manager Susanne Torriente discusses the City/Regional plans for "Climate Adaptation".
Randall Vitale, Chairman of the Visiong Committee, provided an update on the Visioning process, which has completed the initial phases (four district open houses, individual interviews and compiling the community input), and (if known) the date when the Commission will discuss whether or not to contine the visioning process.
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October 2011
FORT LAUDERDALE ECONOMIC UPDATE
How are our local business faring in these difficult economic times? What does the future look like? What is the impact of government: good, bad or indifferent?
Panelists:
Stan Eichelbaum, President, Marketing Developments/Planning Developments, Inc.
Heiko Dobrikow, General Manager, Riverside Hotel
Doug Eagon, President, Stiles
Frank Herhold, Executive Director Emeritus, Marine Industries Association of South Florida
Ray M. Williams, Chairman of the Board, Valley Bank
Bob Swindell, President/CEO, The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance
Ina Lee/President at Travelhost Magazine
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September 2011
GOVERNMENTAL AND POLITICAL UPDATE
The Republican Party's "Presidency 5" convention will start on September 22 with the straw ballot on September 24, and we will recieve a first-hand report.
Panelists: James G. Kane, Browardbeat.com and Justin Sayfie, Politico.com
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June 2011
FORT LAUDERDALE UPDATE: "BEGINNING OUR SECOND CENTURY"
The Forum is honored to introduce our new City Manager, receive an update from our Mayor, and learn the plans for our Visioning process, which is now underway.
The Honorable Jack Seiler, Mayor of Fort Lauderdale
Lee Feldman, City Manager
Tim Smith, Chair of Visioning Committee
John Fernsler, Wallace, Roberts and Todd, Visioning Consultant
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May 2011
The Forum's Second Annual "Florida Fiction" Panel of Local Authors
Panelists: Steven M. Forman; Cherokee Paul McDonald; and Deborah Sharp
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April 2011
"The Broward Blogosphere"
Panelists: Earl Maucker; Dan Christensen, Broward Bulldog; Buddy Nevins, BrowardBeat.com;
Brittany Wallman, County GovernmentReporter, The Sun-Sentinel
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March 2011
Part III of the Forum's Centennial Series:
RESTORING THE SHINE: How city government, business leaders and citizens worked together to revitalize Fort Lauderdale in the 1980's.
Panelists: Robert A. Dressler, Mayor 1982-1986; Connie Hoffman, City Manager, 1980-90; E. Clay Shaw, Jr., Chair of the Blue Ribbon Citizens G.O.B. Committee (and Congressman and former Mayor); Carolyn Michaels, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce
 PLAY VIDEO
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February 2011
FORT LAUDERDALE'S CENTENNIAL: Preserving our Past and Greening our Future
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January 2011
FORT LAUDERDALE'S CENTENNIAL: CELEBRATING OUR HISTORY 2011 is Fort Lauderdale's Centennial year. Our program will discuss plans for the Centennial Celebration and our fascinating history.
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2010
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November 2010
ELECTION ANALYSIS AND PREDICTIONS Two long-time political observers will offer their opinions about the results of the recent elections, local state and national, and their predictions for the future.
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October 2010
THE ELECTIONS: ISSUES AND CANDIDATES |
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September 2010
Fort Lauderdale: Mid-Term Update September marks the half-way point for the "new" City Commission, which was elected in March 2009. What has been accomplished? What hasn't? What will the second half bring?
- The Budget
- The Visioning Process
- The Centennial Celebration
- The City Manager Search
In addition, newly-elected County Commissioner Chip LaMarca spoke of his plans for the County and North Broward Hospital District Commissioner Joel Gustafson gave an update on the District's reorganization discussions.
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May 2010
John Hart, former Broward County Commissioner and business leader, will discuss "DIALOGUES IN DEMOCRACY" Dialogues in Democracy are community based discussions leading to a national conversation regarding the critical challenges facing our democracy. In a sense, they are the Town Hall, Tavern and farmhouse gatherings of the 1770's for today's concerned and enlightened citizens to participate in civil discourse. |
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April 2010
Fort Lauderdale Fiction - Local Authors, Places and Characters Local authors participate in our Forum Panel Discussion: What's it like to be a successful local author? How did you come to this position in life? How do you get your plots and characters? What is your involvement with/impact on our community? Any words of wisdom?
Panelists: Christine Kling, author of the Seychelle Sullivan books. Jonathon King, author of the Max Freeman novels and The Styx, his new historical novel. Elaine Viets, author of the "Dead-End Job" series |
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March 2010
Health Care "Reform": What has Congress done (or not done) for us? It appears that an historic vote will take place this week in the U. S. House of Representatives on the large, complicated, costly and controversial healthcare "reform" bill.
Dr. David Hoskinson, Vice President of MEDNAX/Pediatrix Medical Group has put together a panel consisting of himself, Mel DiPietro, President of Resource Benefits, Inc. and Charlotte Mather, Vice President, Governmental Relations and Public Affairs for Broward Health to discuss the impact of passage or non-passsage of the bill currently and in the future. |
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February 2010
"UN-FUN" FORT LAUDERDALE At the January meeting, "Fun Fort Lauderdale", it was announced that this program would be about some "un-fun" issues facing the City.
INFORMATIONAL UPDATES
The status of Scott Rothstein-related investigations regarding the Police Chief and FLPD officer(s).
The status of the tenure of the City Manager.
PANEL DISCUSSION
Fort Lauderdale's Budget: How Bad Will It Be?
City Auditor John Herbst and Keith Cobb, Chairman a of the Budget Advisory Board will discuss the City's financial projections and process for dealing with the estimated revenue shortfall.
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January 2010
FORT LAUDERDALE FUN! January marks the beginning of an exciting season of major events in Fort Lauderdale. Our speakers fill you in what's happening with the events and their importance to our economy.
Speakers:
Super Bowl & Pro Bowl - John Webb, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
St. Patrick's Day - Chris Wren, Chairman
AirLauderdale - Stan Smith, AirLauderdale
Fleet Week - Joe Milsaps, Chairman, Broward Navy Days, Inc. |
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2009
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November 2009
A Renewed Vision for Fort Lauderdale? On November 17, the City Commission will discuss a new "Visioning" process for our City. How will it be done, and when? Who will be involved? What will it take to be successful?
We'll find out and discuss it.
Mayor Seiler has agreed to report on the Commission's discussions/decisions.
The remainder of the program open for will be general discussion.
PLAY VIDEO
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October 2009
"Fort Lauderdale's Downtown and Urban Core: What's Happening?" Panel Discussion
Panelists:s
The Hon. Romney Rogers - Fort Lauderdale City Commission
Charles Ladd - Chair, Downtown Development Authority
Pamela Adams - Chair, Urban Core Committee of Broward Workshop
Michael Ferber - Chair, Northwest-Progresso-Flagler Heights Redevelopment Board
Ron Centamore - Chair, Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Assn. |
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September 2009
"Fort Lauderdale's Police and Fire Pension Plan: Is There a Better Way?" Police and Fire pensions are a major cost to the City, but are a vital part on our competitiveness in hiring and retaining public safety professionals. Can we find a better way to do this?
This panel will consist of Commissioner (and former Police Chief) Bruce Roberts, FOP President Jack Lokeinsky, former City Manager George Hanbury (currently VP/COO of Nova Southeastern University) and Robert D. Klausner, Esq. (attorney specializing in public employee pension funds).
PLAY VIDEO
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May 2009
"Fort Lauderdale's Economy: What Can We Do Now?" A panel of business leaders discussed what we can do (or start) now to protect and expand our City's economic and employment base during this challenging economic environment. |
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April 2009
"Meet the New Mayor" (#6). Fort Lauderdale's new Mayor, John P. "Jack" Seiler, discussed the City's budget and other challenges facing the new Commission
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March 2009
"Visioning Fort Lauderdale's Future" (#5). A discussion of "Visioning" proposals to involve the community in creating a new Vision for Fort Lauderdale's future.
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February 2009
"Fort Lauderdale: A New Direction?" (#4). " The Finalists" Debates between the Candidates in runoff elections Districts 1,3,&4.
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January 2009
"Fort Lauderdale: A New Direction?" (#3). "Meet the Candidates." All Mayoral and Commission Candidates are invited to speak.
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2008
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December 2008
"Fort Lauderdale: A New Direction?" "What's Good, What's Bad, and What Should the New Mayor and Commissioners Do?" (#2). The panel consists of a diverse group of community leaders: Doug Eagon, Genia Ellis, Betty Shelley, Ted Fling and Sheryl Dickie.
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November 2008
"Fort Lauderdale: A New Direction?" "What's Good, What's Bad, and What Should the New Mayor and Commissioners Do?" (#1). Fort Lauderdale will enter a new era with the departure of Mayor Naugle and the possibility of an entirely new City Commission. The Panel consists of four former City Commissioners who have represented each of the districts in the City: John Aurelius, Tim Smith, Carlton Moore and Jack Latona, and Special Guest Connie Hoffmann, Former City Manager. |
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October 2008
"Presidential Debate": Two local office-holders who are important members of their candidates' campaigns debate which candidate will be better for our Country. Speakers: For Senator McCain is The Hon. Ellyn Bogdanoff, State Representative; For Senator Obama is The Hon. Stacy Ritter, Vice-Mayor Broward County Commission. |
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September 2008
"A Survey of the Current Political Scene". Speaker: Michael Putney, Host of Channel 10's "This Week in South Florida" and political columnist for The Miami Herald. |
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May 2008
2008 Legislative Report: What the Florida Legislature Did (and Didn't) Do. Representatives Jack Seiler and Ellyn Bogdanoff gave a report on the recent legislative session. In summary, the session was dominated by the budget, with spending cuts necessitated by a shortfall in state revenues. |
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April 2008
"Is Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Over?" What's happening with our local economy? Michael Cannon, Real Estate Analyst, Cyril Spiro, Regents Bank and Peter Feldman, Developer, gave an update on the state of Fort Lauderdale's real estate economy and related matters. The general consensus was that Ft. Lauderdale and South Florida have a history of "boom and bust", and we have had a "boom" in housing prices and are now having a "value adjustment", which may be worse than usual. |
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March 2008
E. Clay Shaw, Jr.. Clay our Congressman for over 25 years discussed his experiences in Washington including his role in the historic welfare reform. (Shortly after the meeting, Congressman Shaw was recognized as a "Great Floridian" by the State of Florida.) |
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February 2008
"Who should get Florida's Democratic Delegates, Sen. Clinton, Sen. Obama (or both or neither)": Stacy Ritter (Vice Mayor of Broward County) for Sen. Obama and Linda Bird (Democratic activist) for Sen. Clinton gave a spirited presentation as to why their candidate should get Florida's delegates. (The issue was resolved by the DNC only recently, but the controversy is still on-going.) |
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January 2008
"Should Broward County have an Elected Mayor?" George Morgan, Jr., President of the Broward Workshop spoke in favor of the proposal for separately-elected Mayor of Broward County. Dr. George L. Hanbury, Ex. VP/COO of Nova Southeastern University and former City Manager of City of Fort Lauderdale and several other cities discussed the many different forms of Mayor/Commission Governments he had served under in his career. (The County Efficiency Study Committee at one point approved a change, but reversed themselves under strong pressure from County Commissioners and the issue will not be on the ballot). |
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2007
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November 2007
"Property Tax Relief: What the Legislature did and didn't do. What comes next?" State Rep. Jack Seiler discussed fate of the previous tax Amendment (which he had opposed), and said that the Legislature would probably try again, but also that the Budget and Tax Commission could propose Amendments for the ballot, and various proposed Amendments will be on the November 2008 Ballot. |
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October 2007
"Killing the Property Tax Reform Amendment: What Comes Next?" Mayor Eric Hersh and his attorney Jamie Cole discussed their reasons for filing suit to oppose the First Property Tax "Reform" Amendment. The Court subsequently ruled in their favor and halted the proposed Amendment for being "misleading". |
