‘Friends’ to host several November events

STAFF REPORT - Where are we going? Where are we now? These are just two of the questions that will be discussed at a Thursday, Nov. 8  panel discussion called “Economic Summit to Explore the Impact of the 2012 Presidential Election,” moderated by island resident John Kissinger.

Kissinger and the panelists are all part of the Boca Economics Group, a group of 10 island residents with various business backgrounds that meet regularly to discuss and review current macro-economic issues.

They will be addressing a number of issues which are critical to the U.S. and global eco-nomic environment from a perspective of the likely policies to be followed by the victor of the Presidential contest and the new Congress.

Kissinger will lay out the federal fiscal situation based upon the most recent CBO estimates.

Also included will be a commentary on the potential impact on healthcare, federal taxes, and the status of the fiscal cliff.

Mike Giobbe and Walter Meanwell will address the U.S. capital markets and the likely investment climate over the foreseeable future as a result of the elections and current macro issues. Jeff Swift will tackle structural trade deficits, public debt, private debt and the economic consequences at that point in time.

The cost for the discussion is $10. It will be held in the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium at 3 p.m.

On Friday, Nov. 9 a film forum will be held, showing the movie “Water, Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink.”

It will also be held in the community center auditorium at 3 p.m. The cost is $10 and the moderator will be Fred Schlegel.

Panelists will include John Hardwick, Jim Williams, Bill Blomquist and Bobby Lue.

Movie viewings are free, and will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. It is approximately 90 minutes long and was made in 2009.

Narrated by Malcolm McDowell, this award-winning documentary from director Sam Bozzo posits that we're moving closer to a world in which water – a seemingly plentiful natural resource – could actually incite war. As water becomes an increasingly precious commodity, corrupt governments, corporations and even private investors are scrambling to control it, which leaves everyday citizens fighting for a substance they need to survive. View More images >>

The Friends of the Boca Grande Community will be hosting both programs.

On Friday, Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. an “Introduction to Microsoft Word” class will be held at the community center.

On Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. Friends will present “Madama Butterfly” from the Met Opera.

A change has been made to the date of the Literature Forum discussion of “The Things They Carried,” by Tim O’Brien. It will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m.

Call 964-0827 for tickets and information on any of the Friends programs.