The Fig Tree is celebrating its 30th year of publication with a breakfast buffet, lunch buffet and an anniversary dinner.
The breakfast buffet begins at 7:15 a.m. and the program at 7:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 12, in Cataldo Hall at Gonzaga University.
The lunch buffet begins at 11:45 a.m. and the program at noon, Friday, March 14, also in Cataldo Hall at Gonzaga University.
Breakfast speakers include Dale Soden, history professor at Whitworth University; Bridget Cannon of Volunteers of America’s Crosswalk program for street kids; the Right Rev. Jim Waggoner, Jr., bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, and Twa-le Abrahamson, director of air quality for the Spokane Tribe and organizer of the SHAWL Society efforts to clean up uranium waste on the reservation.
The lunch speakers are Jim McPherson, journalism professor at Whitworth and member of the Northwest Alliance for Responsible Media at Gonzaga; Bishop Emeritus William Skylstad of the Catholic Diocese of Spokane; Roberta Wilburn, director of graduate studies in education at Whitworth and president of the Spokane Ministers’ Fellowship, and Janice Marich, vice president of community relations for United Way of Spokane County.
A video and slide show will share stories of the past year, plus the story behind the design of the masthead and logo, the choice of the name, the emerging mission and the unique role of The Fig Tree newspaper, website, resource directory and social media, according to a press release.
Editor and founder Mary Stamp will also offer an overview of The Fig Tree’s media approach.
“The benefits are opportunities to articulate our model of journalism,” Stamp said in a press release, “to tell The Fig Tree story. Like public broadcasting, The Fig Tree is available free but is supported by the sponsorships of readers and by the support of advertisers.”
For information or to reserve by March 6 for the breakfast and March 10 for the lunch, call 535-1813, email mary@thefigtree.org or visit www.thefigtree.org.
The Fig Tree also plans a 30th Anniversary Dinner at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 30, at Whitworth University, featuring Michael Kinnamon, an internationally recognized scholar and leader in the ecumenical movement. He is visiting professor of ecumenical collaboration in interreligious dialogue at Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry.
For information or for tickets at $50, call 535-1813 or email mary@thefigtree.org.
