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The
Speakers Bureau is a resource for civic, non-profit, educational,
and service organizations across West Virginia. Respected speakers
from diverse fields are available to deliver presentations on
a variety of humanities topics, ranging from quilts to business
ethics.
More than ever before, West Virginians seek programs of substance
offering real learning opportunities. The Speakers Bureau is
an excellent and easy way to provide just such opportunities
for your audience.
The goal of the bureau is to make high-quality public humanities
programs available to the citizens of West Virginia regardless
of economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location.
Presentations are meant to inform and encourage further discussion
among audience members in order to provide both an entertaining
and educational experience.
In most cases, Speakers Bureau programs consist of a 45-minute
presentation followed by a 15-minute discussion period. Other
arrangements are possible but need to be agreed upon in advance
with the speaker.
The West Virginia Humanities Council pays the speaker's fee.
Host organizations are asked to cover travel costs for the speaker,
if possible.
Read on for additional information about speakers, topics,
and hosting a Speakers Bureau presentation. You may call us
at (304) 346-8500 or email
the Program Officer with questions or to discuss your plans
to host a program.
You may click the speaker's name to send an email.
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Dr. Fred Barkey
(no
Email available)
Charleston,
304-346-2030
Dr. Barkey is a professor emeritus at Marshall University
with a specialization in U.S. Labor history. His research
and publications center on the politics, immigration,
technological changes, and culture of the working class
in West Virginia.
Immigrants in West Virginia
An introduction to the waves of early
20th-century immigrants in the Mountain State, focusing
on Italians and Belgians.
The Long
Ton Strike of 1909
An examination of a little known chapter
of, what came to be known as, the West Virginia mine
wars, concentrating on the role of Italian miners.
Industrial
Conflict in West Virginia
This presentation looks at some of the
major causes and theories of the often intense labor-management
conflicts throughout our state history.
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Dr.
John Cuthert
Morgantown, 304-293-3536
Dr.
Cuthbert is curator of Special Collections and director
of the West Virginia Historical Art Collection at the
West Virginia University Libraries. He has authored
numerous articles and books including Early Art and
Artists in West Virginia.
Early Art and Artists in West Virginia
While West Virginia has long been
celebrated for its rich folk arts traditions, the
state's fine arts history is largely unknown. This
presentation focuses on the "other" side
of our artistic heritage. Incorporating an interesting
selection of slides of paintings, drawings, and
prints, the lecture proves convincingly that West
Virginia has both produced and hosted some of the
leading figures in American art history.
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 Dr.
Ken Martis
Morgantown,
304-293-5603
Dr. Martis is professor
of geography at West Virginia University. His research
has focused on the geography of American political culture,
particularly as manifested in the characteristics, elections,
and behavior of the United States Congress.
West Virginia Congressional Elections
Dr. Martis has mapped every congressional election
result for every state from 1789 to present. This
presentation explores, through slides of electoral
maps, the entire history of our state congressional
elections, illustrating the changing political landscape
through time.
West Virginia Congressional
Elections in the Civil War Era
In western Virginia a strong Unionist movement arose
in late 1860. This movement helped create the state
of West Virginia and its unique party structure in
the post-Civil War era. Using slides, the history
of state congressional elections before, during, and
after the war are examined.
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 Dr.
Robert Maslowski
Milton, 304-743-5257
Dr. Maslowski is a Vietnam veteran and an archeologist
with the United States Army Corp of Engineers. He is president
of the Council for West Virginia Archeology, editor of
West Virginia Archeologist, and serves on the board
of directors of the West Virginia Archeological Society.
West Virginia
Archeology
From prehistoric villages and mound builders who once
inhabited our state to recent archeological projects
and discoveries, Dr. Maslowski provides an interesting
overview of the archeology of West Virginia.
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 Dr.
Thomas Michaud
Wheeling,
304-243-2396
Dr. Michaud is professor of philosophy and director of
the Center for Applied Ethics at Wheeling Jesuit University.
He writes a monthly business ethics column for The State
Journal and has directed ethics education programs for
personnel at several major companies.
Sports and Ethics in America
Today
Since sports are such a major feature of our society,
both as recreation and as business, it is important
to ask, "Are sports today building and revealing
the kind of ethical character we want?" This interactive
presentation focuses on sports of all types and levels
in order to evaluate our attitudes and expectations
regarding sports ethics, sportsmanship, and the role
sports should have in our lives and society.
What's Wrong
with Rights?
Have rights been separated from responsibilities for
our nation's citizens today? This presentation treats
the broad topic of citizens' rights and responsibilities
as well as focusing on specific topics like human, civil,
welfare, and animal rights.
The Virtue of Business
Ethics
Dr. Michaud draws from his broad experiences to emphasize
a common sense approach to ethics. He involves the audience
in the discussion and tailors it to fit the interests
of your business, professional association, civic or
non-profit organization.
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 Gerry
Milnes
Elkins,
304-637-1334
Mr. Milnes is coordinator of Folklife Programs at the
Augusta Heritage Center of Davis and Elkins College. An
accomplished musician, filmmaker and author he has been
collecting songs and stories in West Virginia for over
twenty-five years.
Traditional Music of West
Virginia
Beginning with the ethnicities of the early settlers,
the program relates those influences to the shaping
of traditional string music, a form now recognized the
world over. Various stringed instruments, vocal styles,
and religious and secular musical forms are discussed
and demonstrated.
West Virginia Folk Arts
This program includes a slide presentation and discussion
of the various genres of material culture found throughout
the state. It includes regional traditions from early
pioneer settlement, eastern European traditions form
the Northern Panhandle, and occupational expressions
of lumbermen up to the role of the craft revival of
the 1960s.
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 Barbara
Smith
Philippi, WV
304-457-3038
Ms. Smith served as chairperson of the Division of Humanities
for over twenty years at Alderson-Broaddus College before
retiring. She is now a freelance writer, editor, and medical
ethicist.
The Ethics of Medicine
This program begins with a presentation on the basic
principles of philosophical and medical ethics including
their history, development, and current status. Legislation
regarding patient rights is also discussed.
Death and Dying in Appalachia
The history of practices related to death and dying
in Appalachia is outlined with particular focus on family
burial customs and cemeteries. A slide presentation
is used to highlight these practices.
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 Professor
Jean Edward Smith
Huntington, 304-696-4015
Professor Smith was a finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer
Prize for his book Grant. His published works also include
John Marshall: Definer of a Nation. He is the John Marshall
Professor of Political Science at Marshall University.
General Ulysses S. Grant
The nation's first four-star general and a two-term
president who guided the country through the post-Civil
War era is the focus of this presentation. Smith draws
from his critically acclaimed biography, Grant, to discuss
the man, the soldier, and the national leader.
Chief Justice John Marshall
John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United
States of America, had a profound impact on the shaping
of American law, politics, and power. Smith discusses
who Marshall was and why he is still important today.
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 Fawn
Valentine
Alderson, 445-7929
Ms. Valentine is a weaver, author, and adjunct professor
at Mountain State University. She currently serves on
the board of directors of the American Quilt Study Group.
West Virginia Quilts and Quiltmakers
Cultural and economic factors including access to
fabrics, design models, and sewing techniques have
influenced the art of quilt making since the 18th
century.
These influences provide illuminating details about
the circumstances and lifestyles of those who made
them.
Scotch-Irish Quilts in
West Virginia
The history of emigration from Lowland Scotland to
the Ulster Plantation to colonial America is embodied
in quilts stitched by descendants of Appalachian Scotch-Irish
pioneers. Demonstrating religious precepts and clan
family structure in their quilt construction, they
created a distinctive style of quilts previously unrecognized.
American Quilt History
Through the centuries American quiltmaking illustrates
women's responsibility to family and community. This
presentation focuses the lens of material culture
to identify American quilts with regard to physical
components, cultural influences, and philosophical
interpretation.
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Dr.
Mark Wilson
Charleston,
304-343-9457
Dr. Wilson is chair of the Division of Business at
University of Charleston. He has conducted extensive
research on recipients of the Nobel Prize in economics,
including West Virginian John Forbes Nash, Jr.
The Life and Theory of
John Forbes Nash, Jr.
Bluefield native John Nash, subject of the Academy
Award-winning film, A Beautiful Mind, has made brilliant
contributions to the study of economics and political
science. His recovery from schizophrenia is an inspiring
story of a genius and a native son.
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 Phyllis
Wilson Moore
Clarksburg, 304-622-0485
Ms. Moore is an award-winning author of poetry,
essays, and short stories. Her research related to the
multicultural literary history of West Virginia can be
accessed through MountainLit.com and the West Virginia
Folklife Center at Fairmont State College.
Authors of West Virginia
An informative and sometimes humorous power point presentation
featuring significant state authors. These authors have
carved their own niche in the literary legacy of West
Virginia and beyond.
Children's Authors of West
Virginia
A power point presentation featuring selected multicultural,
award-winning children's authors of the state. These
authors represent the varied life styles, ethnic and
racial groups, and geographic regions of the state.
The program can be fashioned for general or specific
audiences.
Multicultural Literary
History of West Virginia
This power point presentation features authors from
ethnic and racial groups who contributed their unique
voices to state literature. The emphasis is on authors
recognized nationally and internationally.
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IT'S EASY TO HOST
A SPEAKERS BUREAU PRESENTATION!
· Speakers are
contacted directly by the organization wishing to
host the program.
· Speakers should
be booked at least ONE MONTH IN ADVANCE of the date
of the program. Give careful thought to the time and
the day the program is scheduled to maximize your
audience.
· Speakers complete
a booking form and send it to the Council. The Council
then sends the host organization PUBLICITY MATERIALS
about the speaker and the program for use in promoting
the event.
The host group must make a reasonable assurance of
an AUDIENCE OF AT LEAST 20 PERSONS. It is the responsibility
of the host organization to adequately publicize the
speaker to ensure a successful event that will benefit
the community.
· Be sure to confirm
with the speaker any technical considerations such
as slide projectors, power point presentations, cassette
players, or screens.
· Host groups are
asked to cover all or part of the speaker's mileage
at $.365 per mile. If the host group is not capable
of paying mileage the Council will do so. (Please
note that when host groups help with travel costs
it makes more presentations possible for more groups.)
· Council funds
available to support the Speakers Bureau are not unlimited.
Speaker availability is on a "first-come, first-served"
basis.
· Host groups are
eligible for no more than TWO Council-funded speakers
between November 1 and October 31. Additional presentations
are possible but without Council funding.
· The program is
not available to grades K-12.
· BE CREATIVE!
Speaker presentations might supplement a larger program
offered by your group. Perhaps a topic relates to
an exhibit, a community initiative, a special event,
or can be augmented by a local panel interested in
the topic.
· The only form
you need to complete and submit is a Host Evaluation
that the speaker will provide you. This lets us know
how you evaluated the speaker. The speaker handles
all the other paperwork!
WHO CAN BENEFIT
FROM THE SPEAKERS BUREAU?
Civic and service organizations, historical societies,
libraries, colleges, museums, arts and artist organizations,
festivals, churches, conferences, local celebrations,
historic sites, municipal agencies, senior centers,
alumni associations, health care facilities, training
centers, athletic organizations, clinics, seminars,
symposia, guilds, special academies, summer programs,
and additional groups or functions are all potential
hosts for Speaker's Bureau programs. WHY
NOT YOURS?
For any additional information regarding
this project,
email the Program
Officer
Read
more about this program in our Press section.
Back to Programs Front Page
Return
to the West Virginia Humanities Council main page
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