A Conversation with Kent Haruf

Author of Plainsong & Eventide
Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 11:30 a.m.
Boulder Country Club, 7350 Clubhouse Rd.
(Reservations and payment due October 4)

In his lecture, author Kent Haruf will describe the fiction-writing process behind his award-winning novels and critically-acclaimed plays. His primary characters in Plainsong and its sequel Eventide, take us back to a place and time with issues not unlike those we’ve experience. Kent will engage the audience with readings from his works and by extemporaneously answering and expanding upon questions and comments.

Kent Haruf was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University. As a graduate student, he attended the Writer’s Workshop at the University of Iowa. A former member of the Peace Corps in Turkey, Mr. Haruf later taught high school English in Wisconsin and Colorado and fiction writing at Nebraska Wesleyan and Southern Illinois Universities. Two of his four novels, Plainsong and Eventide have achieved national best seller status and have been adapted for the stage by the Denver Center Theater Company.

To Shangri-La & Back:
A Historian’s Perspective of Tibet

Drawing from highlights of his recent journey to Tibet, Professor William Wei’s lecture will discuss the current geo-political climate of this controversial region of China. Among the topics that he will cover are: Western (mis)perceptions of Tibet, the history of Tibet’s relationship to and inclusion in the Chinese empire, China’s colonial policies and practices, and the corrosive effect of tourism in Tibet. At the end of his talk, Professor Wei will consider Tibet’s future prospects.

A Professor of History at CU, Dr. Wei’s primary research interests center on modern China, especially the themes of revolution and counterrevolution. His secondary ones are on Asian America, focusing on Chinese Americans in the context of the overseas Chinese Diaspora. Reflecting these intellectual interests are his major works: Counterrevolution in China: The Nationalists in Jiangxi during the Soviet Period (University of Michigan Press, 1985) and The Asian American Movement (Temple University Press, 1993).

He has held a Rockefeller Fellowship, Mellon Fellowship, and Fulbright-Hays Fellowship. In the summer of 1997, he worked as a journalist covering the historic handover of Hong Kong to China. He has participated in the Semester at Sea program, serving on the faculty in summer 2003 and as Academic Dean in summer 2006.

Notes on Wisdom, Hope and Healing

Author Carrie Host’s unquenchable sense of humor in the midst of suffering creates poignant moments of laughter through tears. Bracing, lyrical, and deeply moving, Between Me and the River is a tribute to one life, and all lives rerouted by illness. Ms. Host’s inspirational talk reveals the wisdom of acceptance and the underpinnings of hope.

Her book, a memoir, has received critical acclaim for the author’s ability to “write about her illness with the nuance grace of a poet whose perspective extends beyond her own experience. The author weaves creative metaphor into her harsh reality, striking a balance between hardship and revelation.”

Drawing from her experience with a rare and deadly form of cancer, Ms. Host’s lecture will describe her approach to healing, growth, and liberation. Her message is painful, practical and above all inspirational. Primarily it will describe a blueprint for living that was found by one woman and embraced by many others including cancer victims and those who love them.

Carrie Host lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and three children. She serves on the Board of Directors at the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation. Since Between Me and the River was released, Carrie has made numerous radio and television appearances and is a frequent speaker and keynote speaker at events around the United States.

Food Allergies: Myth vs. Reality

We are all, in some way or another, affected by food allergies. We may have an allergy ourselves, live with someone who does, or have a friend with special dietary needs. Although many of us are affected by food allergies, few of us really understand them. For instance, we may not recognize the symptoms of a food allergy or have a working knowledge of how allergies are diagnosed and treated.

Dr. S. Allan Bock, researcher, clinician, faculty member, noted author and speaker in the area of food allergies will address these and other important issues in his lecture. He will also identify a number of common food allergy myths and replace them with well-documented facts.

Dr. Bock is a practicing physician in Boulder, specializing in asthma, allergy, and immunology. He holds the title of Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. His research interests include the natural history of peanut and tree allergies, and diagnostic testing for food allergies. The author of over 60 manuscripts and book chapters, Dr. Bock has written and published a book for lay consumers entitled, Food Allergy, A Primer for People. Dr. Bock’s work has been recognized and honored through a number of awards including the Founder’s Award from the Medical Advisory Board of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary: A Beacon of Hope

Pat Craig, Executive Director of the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado, will describe how Colorado has come to have the largest population of rescued lions, tigers, and bears in the world.

The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado represents a true labor of love. For over 30 years, Pat Craig has rescued and provided a home for captive exotic and endangered large carnivores. His efforts have been in response to a massive social problem, the captive wildlife crisis. In his lecture, TWAS Executive Director Pat Craig will describe the impact of this problem on society, the three aspects of the facility’s mission, and how Pat and TWAS have become world renowned.

Pat Craig, a native of Boulder, Colorado, began saving captive wildlife as a 19-year old college student. From his family’s farm, he pursued his vision with his own funds and has become a leading expert in captive large carnivore behavior and sanctuary development. He works successfully with the USDA, the U.S., Mexican, and Canadian wildlife agencies, and has received recognition from many sources including the American Veterinary Association and the American Humane Association. Pat and his animals have been featured on National Geographic Channel, 60 Minutes News, Animal Planet, and major documentaries covering the captive wildlife crisis.