As always, Forum panelists are matched up with a wonderful Valet for the evening who is a volunteer and special friend of The Forum. At An Evening With Our Favorite Writers, Kurt Vonnegut's valet was Peterson Toscano, Advisory Board member and experienced valet. Peterson and Kurt stayed glued to one another's side all evening, indulging in their own intriguing conversations backstage. Peterson was so taken with his experience with Kurt that he wrote about it on his own BLOG at www.petersontoscano.com. He wasn't alone in his need to BLOG - both Jennifer Weiner and Colin McEnroe reflected about their Forum experience on their own BLOGs following the February 4th program!

Margi Kimball, daughter of Mike Kimball, President of Forum sponsor CASE Partners, is a true, die-hard fan of Kurt Vonnegut. Needless to say, she was ecstatic when she learned that she'd be sitting next to Kurt at dinner! Not only did she get to meet her literary hero, but they shared a playful banter in which Kurt proposed marriage to Margi and she replied, "My dad is right here if you want to ask for my hand." Her father asked Kurt if he had a profession. Kurt's clever response? "No... but I could support her in the style to which she would like to become accustomed." What a guy!

The lobbies were buzzing with activity on the night of the Forum. CivilTango.org, The Forum's new online community, was launched at An Evening With Our Favorite Writers, complete with plasma screen projection, people posting online and real tango dancers!

YOUTH Forum members Claire Glasspiegel (left) and Jacque Johnson, both of Simsbury, volunteered many hours to organize a book drive for the Greater Hartford Literacy Council on the night of the Forum. Together they called all of the evening's ticket purchasers to encourage people to bring gently used books, and they collected the books on the evening of February 4th for what became a very successful book drive. Way to go girls!