Franklin leads porch discussion on religious programming initiatives
Robert Franklin believes religion is evolving at Chautauqua Institution.
Robert Franklin believes religion is evolving at Chautauqua Institution.
Education is one of the pillars Chautauqua Institution was founded upon. At Wednesday’s Trustees Porch Discussion, the emphasis was placed on the various options on the grounds for youth education and activities.
Attract, attain, advocate, give. That was President Tom Becker’s mantra at the first Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees Porch Discussion about the Institution’s strategic plan Wednesday morning.
It may be the end of another season for Chautauqua, but for the Institution’s senior administrative staff, it’s just the beginning of nine months spent brainstorming, planning and programming for summer 2015.
When Chautauqua Institution was founded in 1874, it became enshrined in principles of education and self-improvement. Its founders were nine years out of the Civil War and immersed in the turbulence of Reconstruction, abolition and political unrest — but instead of using their leisure time to relax, the forefathers of Chautauqua decided to form a vacation community that nurtured intellectual stimulation.
In an effort to engage in dialogue with community members and to increase its transparency, the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees held an open forum Saturday in the Hall of Christ.
While the bulk of the content at the Chautauqua Corporation annual meeting centered around the president’s report, the first item of business was presenting Hugh Butler as the Chautauqua Property Owners Association’s nominee for the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees.
Chautauqua Institution’s sustainability for future generations was at the heart of this week’s Trustees Porch Discussion, on “Chautauqua’s Financial Planning.”
Chautauqua Institution covers 750 acres, and traversing the grounds from its most northern to most southern points can be quite a hike. But last Sunday, members of the Bestor Society and various Chautauqua Foundation and Institution leaders made the trek to the south side of the grounds for the annual president’s address.
A group of about 60 rain-chilled people huddled, packed like sardines, onto wooden benches in the damp corners of Hultquist Center porch Wednesday morning for the Chautauqua Institution Board of Trustees porch discussion.