To Friends and Supporters of The Round Table and The Public Forum:
Recently it was announced that Teddy Bart's Round Table would cease
production as part of The Public Forum. This decision was made by five
members of the Board of Directors of The Public Forum, the
non-for-profit entity that was set up a few years ago to build a
statewide television network around the radio show.
This decision by The Public Forum board requires Teddy and Karlen to wind down the program ... for now.
I, along with several other regular guests of The Round Table, are
working to help during this transition and to help plan for the future.
I am a Democratic political consultant but this is a bi-partisan
effort. Jon Crisp, a businessman and Chairman of the Davidson County
Republican Party, and Chip Saltsman, a businessman and former Chairman
of the Tennessee Republican Party, have agreed to help as have many
others who regularly appear on the program.
The five members of The Public Forum board who voted to terminate the
program have resigned, effective August 15th. After that time, all of
us who support The Round Table will be free to dig in and do our part
to revive the show. There are two specific things I would like to ask
you to do depending on how you want to help:
1. Go to
www.thepublicforum.org and sign up for The Forum File so you
can be kept up to date. Also encourage others to sign up for the email
update.
2. If you want to contribute time, talent or money for the future, send
me an email so I can keep up with you. Email me at
fletcher@frcconsulting.biz .
Although I am not speaking for Teddy and Karlen, I am convinced that
The Round Table will be back on the air at some point as it has been
for more than 20 years. Our community has benefited greatly from the
civil, public-spirited discussion of issues of the day on The Round
Table. It is easy to take such an important part of our community for
granted. Perhaps the show will continue as a not-for-profit entity.
Perhaps The Round Table will return to the commercial airwaves. In any
case, it is time for each of us to stand up and be counted.
Forward this message to others in your circle and let's encourage those
in our community to rally around our friends. Our community and our
state needs the civil public discourse offered by The Round Table now
more than ever.
Margaret Mead, the noted American anthropologist and writer, said: A
small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's
the only thing that ever has.
Join us now.
Fletch Bill Fletcher
CEO Fletcher Rowley Chao
1808 West End Avenue, Penthouse
Nashville, TN 37203
