This photo shows MSU Pirsig Chautauqua 1 pm Open Forum Session.
The forum’s Open Microphone was in the center of the room, where you see the persons, standing in line waiting for their turn, to give their testimonial: The speakers, really life experience story tellers, presented very personal statements, as to what their reading of ZMM meant to them. Most presentations, came over to me, as statements of deep personal meaning for the speaker, and in these cases, the teller spoke clearly became very emotional in voice, gesture, & body movements. This was, for me a high point of the conference.

In the near fore ground, paying rapt attention, you will recognize Tom Thornton, Tina DeWeese, and Henry Gurr: Well, correction, just my thick winter coat, since I’m actually behind the camera!! We were all in the front row for hearing the speakers on stage, but forum organizers had other ideas, and put the microphone behind un.

The next photo shows my last view of the MSU Pirsig Chautauqua Afternoon Session, or Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. Sessions were in the Montana State University, Student Union Ballroom.
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As Is The Case For The Previous Photo, Here Are More Useful Links:
1) Oct 18, 2012: MSU’s first announcement of the MSU Pirsig Chautauqua Conference, with many quotes by Chas Pinkava, of the event Organizing Committee. . http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=11543
2) Although, there is much of interest to Pirsig Fans on my ZMMQ Links WebPage, you will be especially rewarded, if you bring up following ZMMQ New Link, and in page search box type DeWeese!!! Especially note the Facebook Postings of Photos of the artwork of Bob Deweese, and separately, Gennie DeWeese.

3) For your interest, below is a long email from Tina DeWeese, about trials & thrills of setting up this Chautauqua Event:
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Subject: announcement...
From: tina@deweeseart.com
Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2012 19:58:28 -0600
CC: HenryG@usca.edu; markrichardson888@gmail.com
To: leelg77@msn.com

Greetings friends!

I've been working with a committee for a few months on a project that I was just today given the "go-ahead" to share, so am excited to tell you about plans that are moving forward.

One of the people on the committee, Charlie Pinkava, has for some time been exploring ways that MSU might acknowledge Pirsig in a more public way beyond the plaque of acknowledgement that he and his class created a couple of years ago - I'm sure you're all familiar with the plaque. Charlie teaches ZMM as his only text in a Critical Thinking class through the Liberal Arts program at MSU. A few meetings with Charlie, my brother Josh, and Michael Sexson, (English prof Emeritus) have evolved to include Waded Cruzado, the President of MSU. With her immense enthusiasm and support, we've begun the process of planning a celebratory event which will honor and dignify Pirsig in ways that he has long deserved through MSU.

The early stages of these meetings involved correspondence with Pirsig, inviting him to join us for this celebration. He has graciously declined, primarily due to his health. We all know his resistance to the lime light…and that he is not comfortable with the celebrity of his fame, but he never the less has accepted the 'honor' of the acknowledgement, and we've begun the process of planning the event. We're thinking it will be in December, and I will inform you all of more specifics as they evolve. I volunteered to be the messenger to inform the "pilgrims", and am initiating this conversation with the three of you with whom I've been in most recent contact. It was difficult not to mention this when you were here, Mark, but the meetings have until now been confidential…so please accept my apologies for not engaging further in that conversation!

All of us agree that such an event would certainly include the 'Pirsig Pilgrims' as much as anyone is able to attend. It's been considered in conversations about your film, Lee…that it would be wonderful if it might be premiered at this event. You and I have talked about this peripherally, and although I know you're working toward December 21st, perhaps this would be an appropriate "prelude" to your greater intention. And although it's not a film about Pirsig's work, it is exemplary of the influence his work has had, which is a great part of the intention of this occasion. Mark brought it up in our recent conversation, that it would be wonderful to premier it at MSU. I hope you might "entertain the notion"…as James Hillman would say…

I'm also thinking that Anthony McWatt might be invited to speak, as his work is so intensively focused on Pirsig's contributions. I know that Pirsig did attend his doctoral graduation ceremony in Liverpool, and has been supportive of the MOQ website initiated (?) by Anthony. It would be wonderful if all of the European pilgrims could attend, but we'll see what happens!

Henry, because you've been so helpful in posting news as it comes up…am wondering if you would like to do so for this occasion. I'll be contacting folks I've met, but am sure there are many others who would be interested in attending, or just being informed. At this point we're looking at mid December, and I know travel might be difficult, but knowing about it sooner than later is a good idea. I'll try to gather dates for you to post ASAP!

There will be more news as ideas come together. I'm excited to TALK about it! It's been tough keeping it all zipped up!

Enough for now. Let me know your questions, ideas…

> XTina

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((Side Note To Dave Matos:: Tina’s email above, was once on ZMMQ News Page, but gone now: Needs posted again. How about new page of Tina’s own?))
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