Salon: Past Events

Salon Information

Sun, 10/31/2021 - 5:09pm — Richard.LeVitt

Salon Program
Jefferson Center Salons present topics of interest to our community, and provide a forum for lively discussion afterward. Topics are selected by a committee of members. We serve refreshments contributed by volunteers and have a brief social time before the start of the program. Salons are typically held on the second Sunday of each month at 4pm at The Jefferson Center, 208 Oak Street, Suite 101 in Ashland. Guests of members and interested visitors are always welcome to join us. NOTE: Due to the Covid epidemic, Salons are being held via zoom. See the Future Salons list for information about upcoming events.

06/12/2022 - 4:00pm	Genetically Modified Organisms: Controversies and Consequences	Dr. John Kloetzel, emeritus professor of biology, will survey the realm of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in a Jefferson Center Zoom event on June 12, 2022 from 4 to 6 pm. Kloetzel will bring in both scientific and public policy perspectives, and facilitate a discussion among participants. GMOs have provoked contentious and passionate debates. Scientific questions about the possibilities of GMO technology form just one part. Rancorous disputes over environmental, health, and legal questions are another. Some have voiced concerns about “playing God”, messing with “Mother Nature”, and the arrogance of geeky scientists trying to “improve” on evolution. Finally, we humans are biological organisms, too. Does gene engineering/therapy in humans, now being used in ways that can be truly lifesaving, qualify as GMO technology too? How might that change our perspectives, and our feelings about this field overall? To join this Zoom event, please register in advance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYoc-ivrjwuGNdnxSmIqvbUlrvMoBJ... After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the salon.
05/22/2022 - 4:00pm	The Future of Water in the Rogue Valley	The water we have enjoyed in the Rogue Valley—for drinking, agriculture, landscaping, and industry—is not guaranteed for the future. Various threats, from climate change to human behavior are emerging. This program will address: Where does Rogue Valley water come from? How is that water being used? What threats do we face? Discussion will focus on what citizens and government agencies, especially local ones, can do to provide water in our area and distribute it fairly. The program will feature Julie Smitherman and Cody Scoggins from Medford Water, with Joseph Graf from the Jefferson Center. To join the Zoom event, please register in advance for this meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsf-uvqDwiG9MPlpu0dtMi6CLqN6C...
04/10/2022 - 3:45pm	Black Freethinkers in America	From times of slavery onward, attitudes toward religion and spirituality in Black communities have been diverse. Racial stereotyping, however, has obscured the breadth, depth, and variety of Black American Freethought. A 25-minute video of a talk by Prof. Chris Cameron of UNC Charlotte highlights the history of these thinkers. The talk was originally delivered at the 2021 convention of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Our online discussion, facilitated by Sandra Coyner, will explore our reactions to the information in the video, how American racism has distorted important aspects of the Black experience, and implications for efforts to promote free thought and rational inquiry while dismantling racism. To register for this event, click on the title to the left.
03/13/2022 - 4:00pm	Separation of Church and State: 2021 Perspectives	Recent years have seen a phenomenon called “Christian nationalism” which seeks explicitly to make our country into a “Christian nation” espousing and furthering a particular type of Christianity. Continuing to keep church and state separated is a primary goal of several national organizations, including the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Jefferson Center member Olena Black attended FFRF’s national convention in Boston in November 2021. A Zoom program features her insights and experiences, as well as short videos of key presentations from that conference. Click to see highlights and resources here: Reference Materials To register for this event, click on the title of this event shown to the left.
02/13/2022 - 3:45pm	Sexual and Relationship Violence: Time for Change	Why aren’t sexual violence and relationship violence gone from our society? Susan Moen, Executive Director and co-founder of the local, non-profit Jackson County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), will review risks, social norms, and stereotypes that encourage sexual violence. She will outline programs and strategies for prevention of harm. Please register for this Zoom conversation by clicking on the event title to the left and then clicking the meeting link in the full event description.
01/09/2022 - 4:00pm	Adapting to Life with Wildfire in our Region	Here we go again! Smoke…and another fire! What should we do? Charisse Sydoriak will lead a discussion on living in a fire-adapted community (FAC). To gain a deeper appreciation of how we can adapt to life with fire she will introduce the basics of wildfire dynamics, define key terms, and identify components of a FAC. We’ll delve into five of ten FAC components: mitigating fire potential, engaging the community, reducing vulnerabilities at home, response strategies, and personal safety. Charisse looks forward to hearing the group’s thoughts and ideas on how to overcome challenges and leverage opportunities so that Southern Oregon can become a fire-adapted region. Please join us! Click on the salon title for more information and for the Link to Register for this Zoom meeting.
11/14/2021 - 4:00pm	Practical Cyber Security	Ken Brown will lead an informational discussion about practical applications of security in the technical age. Topics will include: • A brief dive into generally how computer security works. • An awakening to the reality that no system is completely secure. • How you can best protect yourself regardless of the inescapable flaws. NOTE: The slide deck and recording of the salon are available if you click on the name of the salon to the left. For questions and/or the Zoom link, Email graf@sou.edu
10/30/2021 - 6:00pm	Halloween Party 2021!	Our next Salon is a Halloween party! Join in via Zoom Saturday October 30th, 6 PM. Explore virtues vs. vices, demons vs. saints and keep others guessing which are your favorites. Superstitions? Have any? What are they, that have such power? Come share your ideas. And for trivia fans, there will be scenes from scary movies—guess the movie and win accolades. Wear and share a costume! We’ll gorge on our own food and beverages at home, but please no fangs or blood. This is a family gathering. Contact Joe Graf at graf@sou.edu for Zoom login details.
10/10/2021 - 4:00pm	Brainstorming the Future of Our Rogue Valley – a facilitated Zoom discussion	As we begin to emerge (we hope) from the worst of the pandemic, and reconstruct after devastating fires, we in the Rogue Valley face big challenges resuming “normal” life, but we want to explore opportunities to move beyond the old normal. Many topics could come up, and most are interconnected. That’s one reason an open discussion can help clarify for ourselves what the future of our communities might be like and how we might shape it. Jefferson Center Member Tony Davis will facilitate this discussion on Zoom.
07/11/2021 - 4:00pm	How some in our community are learning how to be anti-racists	Let’s gather to hear a brief presentation from Jefferson Center Board President John Tyler and Tamsin Taylor about the anti-racism group they started last year. Self-titled “The Mature Anti-Racism Group,” they have met each month since early 2020. They have a reading list and a list of videos and other resources which they make available to their members. The purpose of the group is to help members learn more about the history of racism in this country and how white privilege has advantaged those of us who are white.

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