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TEDxRedDeer looking for ‘connections’

First there was the Red Deer Idea Bank, then ReThink Red Deer.Now TEDxRedDeer is looking for people with bright ideas on fostering connections that can be shared through a live Oct. 20 conference, and also put online as motivation and inspiration for others.

First there was the Red Deer Idea Bank, then ReThink Red Deer.

Now TEDxRedDeer is looking for people with bright ideas on fostering connections that can be shared through a live Oct. 20 conference, and also put online as motivation and inspiration for others.

“We can inspire the community — and the world,” said Stephen Golub, a member of the TEDxRedDeer organizing committee, who intends to make the innovative information presented at the TEDxRedDeer event available internationally through YouTube.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design. It’s an annual conference/performance event that’s theatrically staged in California by a non-profit organization dedicated to ideas worth spreading. Richard Branson, Jane Goodall, Bill Gates, former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown have all been TED speakers.

TEDx events are local, independently organized gatherings staged by communities or groups who use the licensed TED idea, but apply their own themes.

They have been held around the world, in places such as Amsterdam, Nairobi and Amazonia, and by groups that include NASA.

The TEDxRedDeer theme will be on “connecting.”

Golub said the theme was selected by 54 participants who met at an April planning session. It could be applied to connections between different generations, between urban and rural residents, arts and business, non-profits and other charities or government, said Golub, who believes the wide-reaching theme can be applied to anything.

He noted a recent study indicated some non-profit groups are getting frustrated because, in devoting so much time to fundraising, they are losing their ability to connect to each other. “They are not sharing ideas . . . the idea is to try to foster connections.”

Anyone interested in presenting ideas on the theme at the TEDxRedDeer conference, or performing at the event, is invited to complete an application form online at www.TEDxRedDeer.com. The speaker application deadline is June 16. Singers, dancers and other performance artists must have their applications in by July 8.

The venue of the conference, which will run from noon to 5:30 p.m., and admission ticket information are to be announced by the end of June. In the meantime, updates will be featured on www.facebook.com/TEDxRedDeer and on Twitter @TEDxRedDeer.

Golub acknowledged that the Red Deer Idea Bank and ReThink Red Deer started the ball rolling on idea sharing.

But he believes TEDxRedDeer will be valuable — and novel — because of the ultimate goal of posting videos of speakers on YouTube or a website. Many young people are also interested in contributing to this latest concept, he added.

The event has received financial support from the Jennifer Polyester Foundation, a family fund administrated by the Red Deer and District Community Foundation.

lmichelin@www.reddeeradvocate.com