Events

Congratulations to the members of the Candidate Training Program Class of Winter 2010, which graduated this past weekend! Click here or the photo at left for the main alumni page.

Sorensen's central Virginia regional alumni hosted a reception this past Friday evening. The event was part of our re-invented alumni association, which is seeing all-new events for learning and networking among Sorensen Institute alumni. Thanks to Charlottesville Regional Alumni Chair Chris Fairchild (PLP 08) for helping to pull this great event together!

The Sorensen Institute will host its Fourth Annual General Assembly Reception in Richmond, the evening of February 10 from 5-7:30pm. This event, which has become a must-attend gathering in the Richmond political social calendar, will be held at the Suntrust Building. Please mark your calendars now. 

The annual Sorensen GA Reception honors our alumni serving in the Virginia General Assembly. There will be a total of eighteen Sorensen graduates serving in the Assembly this year.

This event is free and open to all Sorensen alumni, supporters, and members of the Virginia General Assembly. At this reception we will also be recognizing the 2009 graduates of any program who are in attendance as well as welcoming any of the members of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2010 who attend.

See you on February 10th!

**PLEASE RSVP to Rachel Casebolt at (434) 982-5234, rachel.casebolt@virginia.edu **

Members of the Candidate Training Program Class of 2009 (Winter and Spring) gathered for a reunion this past weekend in Charlottesville. The event was organized by Alicia Hughes (CTP Winter 2009, PLP 2009) and Frank Fannon (CTP Winter 2009). Both Hughes and Fannon won seats on the Alexandria City Council after graduating from Sorensen's Candidate Training Program early last year.

In fact, a total of seven graduates of the CTP 09 classes were elected to office last year— including four to the Virginia General Assembly (two Democrats and two Republicans).

The CTP 09 Reunion brought together Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in a spirited sense of friendship and celebration— a testament to the strong bonds that are created as a result of the Sorensen experience.

The Sorensen Institute's Candidate Training Program Class of Winter 2010 will meet at historic Carter Hall in northern Virginia on January 28. A Spring class is currently being planned for later this year at James Madison's Montpelier near Orange.

photo courtesy Kala Quintana (PLP 08, CTP Winter 09)

Nearly forty Sorensen alumni from the Hampton Roads region gathered this past weekend in Norfolk. This event, organized by Alumni Regional Chair Ann Flandermeyer (PLP 07) and an Executive Committee of volunteers, is just the first of many such events planned for the Tidewater area this year. photo courtesy Brenda Haegley (PLP 07)

The Sorensen Institute's Bob Gibson and Coy Barefoot participated in a panel discussion recently in Charlottesville exploring civility in public debate and discourse. The event was sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression and titled "Free Speech or Disruption: Balancing the Rights to Speak and Hear."

Panelists included Bob Gibson, Executive Director of the Sorensen Institute; Elaine Jones, retired Director-Counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the first African-American woman to graduate from the UVa School of Law; Robert O'Neil, Director of the Thomas Jefferson Center and former President of the University of Virginia; Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor for Slate.com and a Contributing Editor to Newsweek; and John Whitehead, CEO and Founder of the Rutherford Institute. Coy Barefoot served as the moderator.

This was a fascinating conversation that explored from many angles the role of civility in public discourse today. Click here to watch a complete video of the event.

Mark Your Calendars Now!

BREAKING: The Sorensen Institute is proud to announce that we have confirmed plans for our Spring 2010 Gala.

The Sorensen Gala will be held on Monday evening, April 19 at the Richmond Convention Center. This event will honor the new administration of Governor-elect McDonnell.

Confirmed speakers for this historic event will include the new Governor Bob McDonnell, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, and Attorney General-elect Ken Cuccinelli.

Bob Gibson is the Executive Director of the Sorensen Institute. "We are delighted that all three recently elected statewide officials will be able to join us for this event," Gibson said. "This will definitely be a night to remember."

The Sorensen Gala has fast become one of the most popular, "must-attend" events for anyone working in Virginia politics. The 2008 Gala at which we honored retiring U.S. Senator John Warner was broadcast in its entirety on C-Span.  Click here for more video, podcasts and photos from previous Sorensen Galas.

The Sorensen Gala is the Institute's primary fundraising activity and is held each spring. We are expecting a record turn-out for the April 19, 2010 gala, so if you would like more information about sponsoring a table or purchasing advance tickets to ensure you have a seat, please contact Colleen Smith.

This podcast includes remarks by each member of the Political Leaders Program Class of 2009 on the occasion of their graduation from the Sorensen Institute, Saturday December 12.

Marc Johnson presented the Class of 2009 superlatives at their graduation ceremony on Saturday, December 12 in Charlottesville.