As the Children.s Museum relocation proposal moved toward consideration by the city.s Plan Commission in May and possible subsequent action by the City Council, the Public Affairs Committee presented a forum featuring two of the principals involved in this vital discussion: Jennifer Farrington, president & CEO, Chicago Children.s Museum, and Alderman Brendan Reilly(42nd Ward).

In January 2007, Democratic Senator Jim Webb galvanized America with his powerful, uncompromising response to President Bush's State of the Union Address. On Friday, June 20, he discussed his book, A Time to Fight, with members and guests. His stirring, populist manifesto calls upon voters to make the choices that he believes will change America for the better in this election season.

Webb, the junior senator from Virginia, is an Emmy award.winning journalist and the author of nine books, including the bestselling cultural history Born Fighting and the classic novel of the Vietnam War, Fields of Fire, as well as Lost Soldiers, The Emperor's General, and three other novels. As a Marine in Vietnam, he received the nation's second- and third-highest awards for combat heroism. He served as Assistant Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration.

The Illinois Constitution (adopted in 1970) contains a provision that automatically places a constitutional call question on the ballot every twenty years. On November 4, 2008, Illinois voters will decide again whether to call a Constitutional Convention, or "Con-Con."

On July 11, 2008, the Public Affairs Committee, in partnership with the University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA), presented a debate on whether Illinois citizens should convene a Con-Con. The program featured a leading Con-Con proponent, Illinois Lt. Governor Pat Quinn, and Con-Con opponent Dawn Clark Netsch, Professor of Law Emerita at Northwestern University and former Illinois State Comptroller.

The debate was moderated by IGPA senior fellow (and former state representative) James D. Nowlan, who is also an adjunct distinguished professor of public policy at Knox College.