The Berkshire Forum

05/31/2016

Maybe time for this idea again?

09/14/2010

Tweet with the hash and it will play on the http://www.theberkshireforum.com/ home page!

Click here to see the events for September 14-16, 2010 at The Berkshire Forum. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.

09/13/2010

Berkshires Gets the Conversation Going

PITTSFIELD -- A three-day forum organizers call "unprecedented" for the area will kick off on Tuesday, bringing together business leaders and innovators to discuss the economic future of the area.

The Berkshire Forum will run Tuesday through Thursday at The Colonial Theatre, with dozens of featured speakers, panel discussions, musicians and movies. Co-organizers Tina Chase and Mary Collins George see the forum as a chance to bring people from a variety of backgrounds together in town-hall style meetings to discuss entrepreneurialship and innovation as a way to improve the economic sustainability of the area.

"We're trying to bring the best of the Berkshires together all in one place and get the conversation going," Chase said.

Chase and Collins George, co-owners of Chasing George LLC, have experience producing large-scale destination conferences. Now they want to use their experience to produce an event focused on the betterment of all of Berkshire County.

"The whole goal is to have it be a community building event," said Collins George. It's not just Northern Berkshire, Central Berkshire or Southern Berkshire -- it's kind of all of Berkshire County getting together to build a more stable and sustainable community."

The organizers say they have tried to keep the price down -- tickets are $50 -- to remain viable for as many locals as possible while addressing the need for some people to customize which portions of the mid-week forum they can attend. For Massachusetts educators and students, however, attending is free.

"It's the future of Berkshire County and we're hoping to kind of reinvigorate the local economy and try and figure out how to get our local youth to stay, or come back to the area and produce more jobs and start their own businesses," said Chase.

Monday September 13, 2010 PITTSFIELD -- A three-day forum organizers call "unprecedented" for the area will kick off on Tuesday, bringing together business leaders and innovators to discuss the economic future of the area.

09/13/2010

Get out tomorrow and vote and then stop by The Berkshire Forum at the Colonial Theatre (we're just across the steet from the polling station).

The Welcome Reception (4:00 - 6:00 pm in the Colonial Lobby) will be catered by Castle Street Cafe, Guido's Fresh Marketplace, Baba Louie's, Pittsfield Rye Bakery, Ooma Tusoro's, and Marketplace of the Berkshires.

Click here to see the events for September 14-16, 2010 at The Berkshire Forum. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.

09/11/2010

(Albany Times Union) The Berkshire Forum's "Cleantech: Building Sustainable Communities" panel

The panel will be moderated by WAMC Berkshire bureau chief Charlie Deitz. Panel participants include: Spencer Reiss of Wired magazine; Alan Cummings, co-founder and CEO of Seldon Technologies; Tyler Fairbank, CEO of EOS Ventures LLC; Steve Nelson, president and CEO of Solar Electric Service Corp; and Stephen Sears, principal of Berkshire Renewable Power LLC.

Where: The Colonial Theatre


When: Thursday, September 16, 8:20 a.m.

The Berkshire Forum's "Cleantech: Building Sustainable Communities" panel - The Colonial Theatre - Event - Times Union - Albany NY

09/10/2010

(Rural Intelligence) Berkshire Forum : A Three Day Think Tank Debuts in Pittsfield

The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield is being turned into a Think Tank called The Berkshire Forum from September 14 -16. Tina Chase and Mary Collins George—veteran organizers of the Gilder/Forbes Telescom Conferences who work out of offices above Tom’s Toys in Great Barrington—are bringing together some five dozen intellectuals, financial and technology experts, community and business leaders for lectures, panel discussions and performances. “We’ve always wanted to put together a conference in the Berkshires, and we decided that if we had one here it had to be Berkshire-centric,” says George. “We wanted to make this accessible.”

The conference is charging a single admission fee of $49.99 for all the programs. “Teachers and students get in for free,” she says. “Since we’re having it in the middle of the week, we expect people who can’t take full days off will pick and choose the programs that most appeal to them.” Many of the heavy hitters are speaking after office hours: Bill Little, former chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will speak on Tuesday night on “The Future of Business: Stabilizing the Fluctuating Job Market to Achieve Economic Growth at the Local Level,” and Dr. Sanjoy Mahajan, associate director for Teaching Initiatives at MIT’s Teaching and Learning Laboratory, MIT, will lead a round table discussion on “Advocating Excellence” in education. “He’s one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard,” says George....

Rural Intelligence presents preservation, conservancy, passages, distinguished achievements, awards, honors, scholarships, engagement, wedding, birth announcements; obituaries, memorial services within the Litchfield County, Connecticut, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Columbia And Dutchess Countie...

09/10/2010

Tweeting at the forum? Use the hashtag so we can see what you are thinking!

09/10/2010

BerkshireFineArts.com 2010 Berkshire Forum coverage....

SURPRISING CONNECTIONS

All 2010 Forum talks and panels will be presented in a town hall format, affording attendees the valuable opportunity to ask questions and bounce ideas off those on stage. Ample downtime will be built in to The Forum schedule in order to allow attendees and program participants to swap stories and discuss opportunities.

UNEXPECTED INSIGHTS

The Berkshire Forum is fueled by ideas worth spreading and inspirational stories worth sharing. Cutting-edge Berkshire innovations will be illuminated, potentially profitable entrepreneurial initiatives will be investigated, and regional business achievements and job-creating enterprises will be celebrated.

INSPIRATIONAL DISCUSSIONS

For three days, 2010 Forum speakers and panelists will deliver an unbounded stream of thought-provoking content. Forum participants, sponsors and panelists will deliberate on and debate the sustainment and expansion of capitalism in Western Massachusetts, employment, entrepreneurship, the state of the 2010 economy, and the prospects for Berkshire-based cultural and commercial business endeavors.

REMARKABLE PEOPLE

Talks and panels will be amplified by performances, readings, and presentations by local writers and artists, and punctuated by book signings featuring local authors. The work of area artists and the genius of local businesses will be demonstrated throughout the event...

A three-day conference promising inspiring ideas and stimulating dialogue led by a remarkable network of business owners, economists, social innovators, technology visionaries, cultural enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and thought leaders—bound by a devotion to region worth preserving and an interest in s...

09/10/2010

Be Part of the Conversation!

THE BERKSHIRE FORUM

WHAT: A three-day event with over 60 national and regional business leaders and entrepreneurs as speakers and panelists, 6 musical and dance performance, 5 short films, and 16 local author book signings.

WHERE: The Colonial Theatre, South Street, Pittsfield, MA

WHEN: September 14-16, 2010

COST: $49.99 for full three event/ Events occur all day and attendees may pick and chose which presentations to attend at their leisure.

Click below link to get your tickets or by call the Colonial box office at 413.997.4444 to receive the local Chamber members 20% discount.

Following is a sample of what will be happening at this landmark event, click below to view, download and print the complete 2010 Berkshire Forum agenda.

THE BERKSHIRE FORUM WHAT: A three-day event with over 60 national and regional business leaders and entrepreneurs as speakers and panelists, 6 musical and dance performance, 5 short films, and 16 local author book signings. WHERE: The Colonial Theatre, South Street, Pittsfield, MA WHEN: September 14...

09/09/2010

iBerkshire's coverage of The 2010 Forum...

The Berkshire Forum’s “Cleantech: Building Sustainable Communities” panel will take place in Pittsfield, Mass on the Colonial Theatre stage at 8:20 am on Thursday September 16.

The panel will be moderated by WAMC Berkshire Bureau Chief, Charlie Deitz, and Spencer Reiss of Wired magazine will serve as a commentator on the panel.

“Once upon a time, the Berkshires were the high-tech capital of the world. It could happen again.”
- Spencer Reiss, Contributing Editor, Wired magazine

Confirmed panel participants include; Alan Cummings, Co-founder and CEO of Seldon Technologies in Windsor, Vermont, Tyler Fairbank, CEO of EOS Ventures LLC in Hancock, MA, Steve Nelson, President and CEO of Solar Electric Service Corp in Washington, MA, and Stephen Sears, Principal of Berkshire Renewable Power LLC in Dalton, MA...

2010 Berkshire Forum schedule includes Boston Globe editor Marty Baron, NPR host Jessica Harris, Spencer Reiss of Wired, plus music and film entertainment.

09/09/2010

Some nice coverage in the Benningon Banner today...
http://www.benningtonbanner.com/entertainment/ci_16026773

Performances, local films added to forum lineup

PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Six short performances by local musicians, singers and dancers, and five film shorts by local directors have been added to the 2010 Berkshire Forum program.

Opening night of the Forum, Tuesday, Sept. 14, will close with a FODFest Youth Concert, produced by the Friends of Daniel Pearl, showcasing the talent of local students.

In addition to being a journalist (North Adams Transcript, 1986; Berkshire Eagle, 1988), the late Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was a talented musician. FODFest honors his memory. Proceeds from the concert will benefit local public school music programs.

The schedule for the remaining two days of the Forum is punctuated with additional performances, including "Annie"; John Williams’ "Duo Concertante" and Handel-Halvorsen: Pasacaglia Duo for violin & viola; Cabaret-to-Go, The Kabbalah of Bob Dylan; and a Youth Alive dance performance.

Attendees will also be treated to screenings of film shorts by local filmmakers courtesy of the Berkshire International Film Festival (BIFF). This year’s film lineup includes, "Cowboy Yoga," "Bach of Antarctica," "Breaking Pattern," "Little Red Jiving Hood," and "Stone River." The forum will wrap Sept. 16, coinciding with downtownPittsfield’sThird Thursday festivities.

An inaugural rate of $49.99 for the full three-day event is currently being offered to the community, with an additional discount available to members of all area Chambers of Commerce. Educators and students will be offered complimentary seating with the presentation of a teacher/student ID, subject to availability. Tickets are on sale through www.TheBerkshireForum.com, or by calling the Colonial box office at 413-997-4444.

Wednesday September 8, 2010 PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Six short performances by local musicians, singers and dancers, and five film shorts by local directors have been added to the 2010 Berkshire Forum program. Opening night of the Forum, Tuesday, Sept. 14, will close with a FODFest Youth Concert,...