A Lively Experiment Goes on the Road to the Rhodes for Common Cause

A Lively Experiment takes to the road at the Rhodes! Good government group Common Cause Rhode Island holds its 45th annual meeting on Tuesday, October 20 at Rhode on the Pawtuxet in Cranston. The public is invited to attend the dinner meeting, and to watch the live taping of a special extended version of Rhode Island PBS's flagship political affairs program, A Lively Experiment. 

Moderator Dyana Koelsch welcomes special guest panelists for this event, Honorable Nellie Gorbea, Secretary of State; Dave Layman, corporate communications consultant and former news editor/anchor; Ted Nesi, politics and economy reporter for wpri.com; and Donna Perry, taxpayer advocate. The show format will be the same as on television, with fast-paced discussion of timely political issues, including the viewer favorite "Outrage of the Week." 

"We are thrilled to partner with Rhode Island PBS to present A Lively Experiment as part of our 45th Annual Meeting," said Common Cause Executive Director John  Marion. "A Lively Experiment and Common Cause have both been an important part of the civic dialogue in our state, and this is a unique opportunity for us to join together to bring that to a live audience."

"Our organizations have talked about bringing A Lively Experiment out to the public for some time," said David W. Piccerelli, president of WSBE Rhode Island PBS. "Now it appears timing and technology are coming together to make it happen. We recognize this is an excellent opportunity to connect to the show’s followers and to the community in a closer, more personal way. Rhode Island PBS is delighted to be working with Common Cause Rhode Island on this first remote taping of A Lively Experiment." 

Rhode Island PBS will record the full hour-long discussion, with a shorter version planned for broadcast at a later date during the show's regular 30-minute time slot, Fridays at 7 and Sundays at noon. The full recording from the event will be made available online. 

For the annual meeting, cocktail reception with cash bar opens at 5 pm. Dinner begins at 6. At the event, Common Cause Rhode Island will present its Distinguished Service Award to Former Board Chair Daniel Siegel. A Lively Experiment will follow at 7 p.m. 

Tickets are $60 per person and are available through the Common Cause RI Web site. For more information about Common Cause Rhode Island’s Annual Meeting, please call (401) 861-2322, or e-mail events at commoncauseri.org. For more information about A Lively Experiment, please call 401-222-3636, or email public at ripbs.org.