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More recognition of Asheville’s unique character this month, as the American Planning Association’s North Carolina chapter recognized Lexington Avenue as one of our state’s Great Main Streets.
That comes as no surprise to Professional Artist Kitty Love, the new executive director of the Asheville Area Arts council, who has worked tirelessly to promote the Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival and a host of other local arts projects.
Ms. Love will be the featured speaker at LAF’s May 23rd luncheon. She’ll discuss her vision for expanding Asheville’s vibrant arts community and tell us how supporting the arts helps create jobs, builds the economy and enriches our lives.

Here are the details:
WHAT: LAF’s May 23rd Critical Issues Luncheon
WHERE: The Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road
TIME: Food Service begins at 11:45am, the program at 12:15pm
COST: $14 for LAF members, $18 for nonmembers
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED by Friday, May 18. RSVP to Nancy Williams or 250-2353 (email preferred).
NOTE: The Country Club of Asheville has a firm No Denim policy.

The Food Research and Action Center, based in Washington, D.C., recently ranked Asheville third among large metro areas in “food insecurity.” According to the survey, 23.8 per cent of local residents said there were times during the past 12 months when they could not afford to buy the food they needed.
Some have questioned the accuracy of that ranking, but nearly everyone agrees that hunger is a serious problem. At Leadership Asheville's April 25th Critical Issues luncheon, we'll examine those issues. Our presenters will be Chris Cooper, a political science professor at Western Carolina University, who has taken a close look at the survey's methods, and Cindy Threlkeld, executive director of the Manna Food Bank, who has firsthand knowledge of the hunger problem here and what concerned citizens can do about it.

Here are the details:
WHAT: LAF’s April 25th Critical Issues Luncheon
WHERE: The Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road
TIME: Food Service begins at 11:45am, the program at 12:15pm
COST: $14 for LAF members, $18 for nonmembers
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED by Friday, April 20. RSVP to Nancy Williams or 250-2353 (email preferred).
NOTE: The Country Club of Asheville has a firm No Denim policy.

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* Introduce your friends to LAF. As a member, you *
* may bring one non-member to an LAF luncheon for *
* free each year. Here’s how it works: you pay for your *
* luncheon and your guest’s luncheon is on us. Try it! * ***********************************************************

Asheville’s Mission Hospital regularly receives high marks from national rating agencies. Recently, it was named one of the top 15 hospital systems in the country by Thomson Reuters. U.S. News and World Report ranked it among the best in seven adult specialties.
But not everyone thinks Mission is an unmixed blessing. Critics view it asan 800-pound gorilla, determined to expand outside its current geographic boundaries at the expense of other hospitals. There have been other issues, too, including a court case involving workmen’s compensation and criticism from some of its own doctors.
At Leadership Asheville Forum’s March 22nd luncheon, we’ll hear from Mission’s CEO, Dr. Ronald Paulus.
Dr. Ronald Paulus received his MD degree and his MBA, concentration in healthcare management, and BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Before joining Mission in September 2010, he was Executive Vice-president for Clinical Operations at Geisinger Health System. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and speaks frequently on the subjects of health care quality, efficiency and innovation.
Here are the details:
WHAT: LAF’s March 22nd Critical Issues Luncheon (Note: this isa Thursday, not our usual Wednesday)
WHERE: The Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road
TIME: Food Service begins at 11:30am, the program at 12:15pm
COST: $14 for LAF members, $18 for nonmembers
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED by Friday, March 16th. RSVP to Nancy Williams or 250-2353 (email preferred).
NOTE: The Country Club of Asheville has a firm No Denim policy.

Leadership Asheville Forum and the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement will host an evening with Asheville’s new Police Chief William Anderson. This is your opportunity to hear his views and to ask questions about Asheville’s police force. The program is free and open to the public, and will begin at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 in the Manheimer Room, Reuter Center of the NC Center for Creative Retirement on the campus of UNC-Asheville.

Here are the details:
WHERE: Reuter Center, North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement at UNC Asheville For more information, call the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement at 828/232-5181.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 3, 2012, 7:00 pm
COST: Free and open to the public

Like similar protests across the country, Occupy Asheville has generated strong feelings -- both for and against the movement. As of today, it's unclear what will happen to the Occupy Campsite when the Asheville City Council meets on February 14th to revisit the issue. Whatever happens, Occupy Asheville is likely to be a continuing source of debate and controversy.At LAF’s February 22nd Critical Issues luncheon, we’ll hear two perspectives on the issue. Speaking for Occupy Asheville will be community activist and frequent Occupy spokesperson Naomi Archer. A viewpoint from the City Council will be presented by freshman Councilman Marc Hunt.
We hope you’ll join us for this interesting and provocative program
Here are the details:
WHAT: LAF’s February 22nd Critical Issues Luncheon
WHERE: The Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road
TIME: Food Service begins at 11:30am, the program at 12:15pm
COST: $14 for LAF members, $18 for nonmembers
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED by Friday, February 17th. RSVP to Nancy Williams or 250-2353 (email preferred)


February 2, 2012: Evening Forum
A Celebration of Appalachian Music

Leadership Asheville Forum and the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement will host an evening celebrating Appalachian Music, including its connections to Scotland and the Scotch-Irish who immigrated to our region. Theprogram is free and open to the public, and will begin at 6:30 pm on Thursday, February 2, 2012 in the Manheimer Room, Reuter Center of the NC Centerfor Creative Retirement on the campus of UNC-Asheville. The program will feature Dr. Douglas and Darcy Orr, with musical support byJoe and Karen Holbert. All four are accomplished performers of Celtic and Appalachian music. Dr. Orr served as President of Warren Wilson College from 1991 until his retirement in 2006, and is co-authoring a book on Appalachian music with Fiona Ritchie, host of NPR’s “The Thistle & Shamrock”. Darcy is the art editor of the book, which will be published by the UNC Press. The performance will last about an hour and will be followed by a half-hour for questions and discussion. Please join us for aninformative and entertaining evening. Here are the details:
WHERE: Reuter Center, North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement at UNC Asheville For more information, call the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement at 828/232-5181 or 828/232-5181
WHEN: Thursday February 2, 2012, 6:30 pm
COST: Free and open to the public

Now that the sales tax referendum has passed, what will ABTech use the money for? Hank Dunn has been invited to answer these questions.

Here are the details:
WHAT: LAF’s January 25th Critical Issues Luncheon
WHERE: The Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road
TIME: Food Service begins at 11:30am, the program at 12:15pm
COST: $14 for LAF members, $18 for nonmembers
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED by Friday, January 20th. RSVP to Nancy Williams or 250-2353 (email preferred).

Everyone knows that college athletics – especially football – is big business. One college conference recently reported a billion dollars in revenue from its athletic programs. Some say that kind of money inevitably leads to corruption – like paying top players and violating recruiting standards. Others argue that college players should be paid for their efforts, and therein lies the crux of a growing controversy. At LAF’s November 16th luncheon, a panel of local experts will discuss this important issue and offer their perspectives. Our panelists are David Brown, former UNCA Chancellor, who now works part-time for the Atlantic Coast Conference, Janet R. Cone, Director of Athletics at UNCA Asheville and a member of the NCAA’s Division 1 Leadership Council, and Keith Jarrett, senior sportswriter for the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Here are the details:
WHAT: LAF’s November 16th Critical Issues Luncheon
WHERE: The Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road
TIME: Food Service begins at 11:30am, the program at 12:15pm
COST: $14 for LAF members, $18 for nonmembers
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED by Friday, November 11th. RSVP to Nancy Williams or 250-2353 (email preferred).

Job creation. Gay rights. Scandal at the ABC Board. These and a host of other issues will confront candidates for the Asheville City Council running in the November election.
At Leadership Asheville Forum’s October 26th luncheon, we’ll host a panel discussion among the six finalists who will vie for three open City Council seats.
It may be your last chance to see and hear from the contenders firsthand and find out where they stand on the issues that matter to you.
Here are the details:
WHAT: LAF’s October 26th Critical Issues luncheon
WHERE: The Country Club of Asheville, 170 Windsor Road
TIME: Food service begins at 11:30am, the program at 12:15pm
COST: LAF Members $14, non-members $18
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED by Friday, Oct. 21st to Nancy Williams or 250-2353. (email preferred).