Art in Missoula: Left Brain - Right Brain

December 21 , 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. The Doubletree Hotel, 100 Madison St.

Tom Bensen, director of the Missoula Cultural Council, will report the findings of a national study, Arts & Economic Prosperity III on the financial impact of art and culture in Missoula. Did you know that $34 million in economic activity and 1,174 jobs are generated annually by the nonprofit arts and culture industry in Missoula? “This study clearly shows what the arts and cultural community have known for years; that the arts industry in Missoula contributes mightily to the local economy,” Bensen said.

Barbara Koostra, director of the Montana Museum of Arts & Culture at the University of Montana, will explore the intrinsic values of art through a view of the institution’s permanent collection, a treasure of more than 10,000 artworks and artifacts, from Rudy Autio to Rembrandt. What are the intrinsic values of art? “Art is communication, and good art communicates on many levels across cultures, inviting us to reflect and grow. It inspires us to think about and shape the world,” Koostra said.

Bring your ideas and questions about the values of art in your life and enjoy a lively and festive discussion with fellow Missoulians.

Beaverhead-Deerlodge Timber Partnership: Timber Companies & Conservationists find Common Ground

November 16, 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. The Doubletree Hotel, 100 Madison St.

Jobs in the woods, healthy forests and protection of Montana’s backcountry heritage – is such a vision of forest management possible? In 2006, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership, a coalition of five timber companies and three conservation organizations issued a strategy that called for a larger and steadier supply of timber from the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, more emphasis on forest and stream restoration, and the designation of over 500,000 acres of new wilderness in southwest Montana.

Tom France, Director of the National Wildlife Federation’s Northern Rockies Office and Bob Boschee, General Manager for Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, will provide an update on this historic alliance of interests, the Partnership Strategy and new plans for federal legislation to implement the Partnership’s recommendations.

Russell Street/Third Street Transportation Project

October 19, 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. The Doubletree Hotel, 100 Madison St.

Russell Street is one of Missoula’s busiest roads. But its old farm-to-market model doesn’t meet the needs of modern Missoula. The Russell Street Bridge is the last bridge carrying motorized traffic over the Clark Fork River with only two lanes. No one knows this better than drivers stuck in Russell Street traffic between Broadway and South Third Street West on weekday afternoons. Bicyclists and pedestrians see the road’s shortcomings too. What’s in store for Russell Street?

The City of Missoula, along with its state and federal partners and funding from Sen. Max Baucus’ office, are at work on the Russell Street/South 3rd Street Transportation Project. Long-term, it will reconstruct Russell Street from Broadway to Mount Avenue and South Third Street West from Russell to Reserve Street. The project’s Environmental Impact Statement is in the works with HKM Engineering’s Helena office. At City Club Missoula’s forum on Friday, Oct. 19, Missoula Director of Public Works Steve King and HKM Engineering Project Engineer Jennifer James will present an overview of the project and answer questions: What will the new Russell Street look like? When will the first dirt be moved? What’s taking so long? City officials will be available for questions.

Hunger in Missoula: Connecting Local Issues with National Policy

September 21, 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. The Doubletree Hotel, 100 Madison St.

Every year, one in every eight Missoula residents visits the Missoula Food Bank for help filling their tables. The Food Bank provides emergency food for more than 12,500 people each year. Who are they? Why are their food dollars falling short? How can we help? The Farm Bill being debated in Congress now will do a lot more than make agricultural payments to farmers. It finances most of the food programs we take for granted — food stamps, farmers market promotion programs, the program that delivers meals to more than 400 home-bound elderly Missoula residents each month, and more. What’s at stake?

At City Club Missoula’s September Forum, hear Bonnie Buckingham of the Missoula Food Bank talk about the spectrum of food challenges from the local level to national policy. Buckingham is Program Operations Manager of the Food Bank and has more than 10 years experience working in hunger issues. Bring your ideas on how we can eliminate hunger and help shape food policy for the discussion following the talk. City Club moves to its new venue this month!

Missoula Children's Theatre and It's "Little Red Truck"

July 20 , 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. Governor’s Room, Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins

“The Little Red Truck,” a soon-to-be released documentary film on the Missoula Children’s Theatre, will make its debut this summer at major film festivals across the continent, and will be the subject of conversation at City Club’s July 20 forum.

Begun in the summer of 1970, MCT has become a success in Missoula and throughout North America. This season MCT’s trucks will log 1 million daytime highway miles at shows performed in 50 states, four Canadian provinces, two territories and 14 countries. More than 65,000 children will perform in MCT productions this year, and 750,000 adults, friends and teachers will be in the audience.

“The Little Red Truck,” produced by filmakers Rob Whitehair and Pam Voth from Missoula’s Tree and Sky Media Arts, will highlight the life-altering, positive work of MCT around Missoula and the region. MCT believes the documentary will be a major box office success, and DVD sales will be extraordinary due to the exposure of MCT across North America. The potential for positive and extensive publicity for this community and our way of life is tremendous.

The Future of Bicycling in Missoula

June 15 , 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. Governor’s Room, Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins

Gas prices are up, summer is on its way and Missoula cyclists are commuting, racing, touring, trail riding and running errands. They’re doing it in numbers greater than the national average, and four of 10 UM students bike and walk to school.

What’s the future of bicycling in Missoula as the city grows? At City Club Missoula’s next lunchtime forum on June 15, six cycling specialists from various bicycle arenas will discuss the possibilities and the realities. What will transportation look like as bicycle and walking trails grow in popularity and traffic? What will be the benefits? Where and what will the conflicts be? How can bicyclists and motorists become more educated to increase safety for all? Where are the resources to accommodate new patterns of transportation?

Come hear these bicycle specialists:

• Bob Giordano, Director of the Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Free Cycles
• Jim Sayer, Director of the Adventure Cycling Association
• Dave Shaw, Trails and Park Development Manager for the Missoula Parks and Recreation Department
• Phil Smith, Bicycle-Pedestrian Program Manager for the City of Missoula
• John Weyhrich, President of the Montana Bicycle Racing Association
• Nancy Wilson, Director of Associated Students of the University of Montana Office of Transportation

Bring your ideas and questions about biking and enjoy a lively discussion with fellow Missoulians.

Planning and Paying for Missoula County Public Schools

May 18, 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. Governor’s Room, Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins

Superintendent Jim Clark will discuss the successes and failures of the 2007 Montana Legislature in regard to K-12 public education. Jim Clark will talk about the district’s May 8 elementary and secondary levies and other avenues that the district is pursuing to raise awareness and build support for public schools.

During table discussion, he will seek your ideas on the budget priorities and funding for public schools. MCPS serves more than 8,700 students in grades K-12; the district’s annual budget is expected to top $56 million in the 2007-2008 school year.

Special Event: Endangered Places in Missoula? — 17th Annual Missoula Historic Preservation Awards

May 11, 2007 - 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Parkside at the Wilma

Find out what criteria the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission and Preserve Historic Missoula use to determine what is worth preserving in Missoula. You will have an opportunity to say what you think should be preserved and participate in an Architectural Treasure Hunt. The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the 17th Annual Missoula Historic Preservation Awards. The winners will be on hand to tell stories about their projects and talk about the events and circumstances that inspired them to dedicate their efforts to documenting and preserving pieces of Montana’s history.

Light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served, and wine will be available for purchase. There will be no charge to attend, but donations at the door would be appreciated to cover expenses. Join Discussion

Missoula Community Performing Arts Center

May 18, 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. Governor’s Room, Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins

Featuring a presentation from the Missoula Community Performing Arts Center, a nonprofit with a mission to bring a functional and enterprising performing arts center to Missoula. Amy Rue, Excecutive Director, will lead a panel presentation on the group’s proposal including Missoula’s need, exploratory research, funding, timeline, and architectural plans.

Missoula is brimming with dancers, musicians, actors, comedians, and performing artists. Missoulians have a taste for performances at both the amateur and professional levels. The following questions will be addressed: Does Missoula need a performing arts center? If so, where should it be? How much will it cost, and who will benefit? What are the long term impacts to the city and to Western Montana?

Preserving Quality of Life in the Face of Growth: Lessons Learned in Other Communities

March 16, 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. Governor’s Room, Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins

Missoula is no secret anymore. Its beautiful setting, outdoor recreation, cultural life and robust economy are attracting people from around the county. How do we hold on to the things we love about the valley as we embrace the future?

“Missoula is a unique place, but we can learn from the successes and failures of other unique places,” says Millar. “Quality of life is of paramount importance to the people who live here and the people who are considering moving here.”

Millar will discuss three areas where his work in Missoula is focusing: code revision; housing challenges; and city-county cooperation in the urbanizing area. He’ll talk about the toolbox of ideas tried by other Western towns in situations similar to Missoula’s.

City Hall vs. CO2: Local Government Tackles Global Warming

February 16 , 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. Governor’s Room, Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins

Missoula Mayor John Engen presents the case that local governments and the average citizen can make a difference in the issue of climate change. Many mayors of small and large cities across the United States, concerned with the slow pace of change at the federal level, have come to the conclusion that climate change is a local issue with global consequences and have committed themselves to making a difference at home and around the world.

As mayor of the City of Missoula, a community with a rock-solid conservation ethic, John Engen is working with organizations and individuals in and out of government to chip away at global waorming through education, organization and practical change. Mayor Engen will offer the municipal perspective on climate change and present some of the best practices he has picked up from leaders across the nation.

Rock Creek Development

January 19 , 2007 - 11:30a.m. – 1:00p.m. Governor’s Room, Florence Building, 111 N. Higgins

Speakers will be Missoula Alan F. McCormick, representing the developer of The Ranch at Rock Creek, and John Menson, president of the Rock Creek Protective Association.

McCormick’s client, Michael Barnes of LEMB Co., has proposed a 36-lot subdivision on 80 acres with an additional 112 acres set aside as common areas.  Menson’s group favors much less density, some suggesting one home per 40 acres.

McCormick will explain why his client believes the Rock Creek development is good for the area, meeting the traffic, wildlife and water quality concerns.  Menson will show why his association believes the proposed development has economic, environmental and quality of life implications for the state in general because of the lack of meaningful regulation.

Following the speakers, forum attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the issues at their tables and to question the speakers.  The City Club forum is timely as the Missoula County Commissioners have placed the Rock Creek zoning district density issue on the agenda of their Jan. 24 weekly meeting at 1:30 p.m. in Room 201 of the County Courthouse.