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Salon: Past Events

Salon Information

Thu, 05/09/2024 - 12:00am — Daniel.Curtis

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 third 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. See the Future Salons list for information about upcoming events.

10/16/2022 - 4:00pm Healthcare and Firearms: Two Oregon Ballot Measures

Should healthcare be a constitutionally established right in Oregon? Should firearm purchases be further restricted? Oregonians will attempt to answer these questions when they vote on Measure 111 and Measure 114 this November. Both of these ballot measures are likely to prove controversial.

Two knowledgeable people, both long-time members of the Jefferson Center, will provide more information and facilitate discussion about these issues. Sandra Coyner serves on the board of directors of Healthcare for all Oregon, which advocates for reform of health care finance. Raoul Salem is a member of the Oregon State Shooting Association and has studied the provision of Measure 114 in detail. While each of them has views on these ballot measures, the intent of the discussion is not to promote one position or another, but to encourage exchanges of viewpoints among attendees.

This in-person event is free and open to the public. It will take place in the Jefferson Center’s space, suite 101, in the Old Armory Building, 208 Oak Street., in Ashland.
09/11/2022 - 4:00pm No Jefferson Center Salon in September

There will be no Salon in September. Please stay tuned for information about the October salon, scheduled for October 9th.
Thank you for your patience and continuing support of The Jefferson Center.
08/14/2022 - 4:00pm There Will Not Be a Salon in August; See You in September
07/10/2022 - 4:00pm Local Journalism: Covering Disagreement in the Community

The Jefferson Center will host a discussion via Zoom on July 10, 2022 from 4 to 6 pm, examining the challenges and dilemmas journalists confront as they cover contentious local issues. We’ll discuss the role of media in community controversies, conflicts, and disagreements with two experienced local journalists: Bert Etling, formerly editor of the Ashland Daily Tidings and founder of the news website Ashland.news, and Erik Neumann, interim news director at Jefferson Public Radio.
Please register in advance by clicking on the title to the left and following the zoom link in the longer description of the event.
Local journalists often face difficult choices, and their coverage may reverberate in relatively small communities. They may feel squeezed between the goals of full and accurate reporting and avoiding offense to some segments of the community. This is especially true if those they might offend are powerful, influential, and can exert pressure on media to soften their stance.
How should journalists handle coverage of controversies? Do “both sides” deserve equal consideration in these cases? How far should reporters go in refuting controversial claims?

Bert Etling is executive editor at Ashland.news, which launched earlier this year. He edited the Ashland Daily Tidings from 2014 to 2019, overseeing a five-fold increase in local content and 30% increase in circulation.

Erik Neumann is interim news director at Jefferson Public Radio. He earned a master's degree from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism and joined JPR as a reporter in 2019 after working at NPR member station KUER in Salt Lake City.
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.

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The Jefferson Center 208 Oak Street, Suite 101 Ashland, OR 97520