The Barrington Cultural Commission is re-creating the 1940s-era Barrington Town Warming concept with a one-day speaker series coming up at Barrington’s White House. Scheduled for Saturday, February 3rd, the event is designed to bring the community together during a cold winter to learn about important topics affecting our community, our citizens and our world today.
The title of the upcoming day-long immersion program is “Reality Check: Where We Are Today and Our Vision for the Future”. Held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Barrington’s White House, the event will feature keynote speakers Hank Paulson, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Chairman & CEO of Goldman Sachs, and Barrington native; environmentalist Wendy Paulson; and WGN radio personality John Williams. Numerous panels throughout the day will focus on topics including economics, philanthropy, government, religion, education, health care, the environment and much more.
Global and regionally recognized panelists for the day include:
- Bill Bishop (Chief Architect, Brick Meets Click)
- Greg Brown (Chairman & CEO, Motorola Solutions)
- Steve Carter (Incoming Lead Teaching Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church)
- Dr. Maria H. Coons (Vice President, Institutional Planning and Strategic Alliances, Harper College)
- Dr. Brian Harris (Superintendent of Schools, Barrington School District 220)
- Captain James D. Hawkins (Commanding Officer, Naval Station Great Lakes)
- Karen Lambert (President, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital)
- Heather Larson (Incoming Lead Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church)
- Laurence Msall (President, Civic Federation)
- David F. Nelson (Founding Member, Barrington Area Community Foundation; Senior Vice President, UBS Financial Services)
- Sam Oliver (President, Non-Profit Consulting)
- W. Bradley Stetson (Chairman & CEO, Barrington Bank & Trust).
The event will be moderated by Village of Barrington President Karen Darch and will include an historical perspective by local author and historian Barbara Benson.
“The ‘Town-Warming’ concept originated in Barrington during the days of the Great Depression in the late 1930s,” says Village President Darch. “Before television and even widespread radio, leaders in Barrington were looking for ways to engage and rejuvenate the community in the midst of a cold winter through topics of the day presented by excellent and nationally known speakers. The event was so popular that it became a national model for these types of events across the country. However, the Town-Warmings came to an end at the onset of World War II, and we are very excited to be bringing this type of intellectually stimulating experience back to our community in the modern age.”
Space is very limited to 120 participants and is filling fast. Tickets are $55 for the day and include continental breakfast, boxed lunch, and a post-event reception sponsored by Barrington Bank & Trust.
CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets today!
Here’s a look at the Barrington Town Warming Program:
- 8:30 a.m. | REGISTRATION/CHECK-IN/CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
- 9:15 a.m. | WELCOME – Karen Darch, President, Village of Barrington
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE – Barbara Benson, Author and Barrington Historian - 9:45 a.m. | “REALITY CHECK: OUR COMMUNITY”
Moderator: Diane Soucy Bergan, Barrington Cultural Commission
Panel Discussion with Dr. Brian Harris (Superintendent of Schools, Barrington School District 220), Heather Larson & Steve Carter (Incoming Lead Pastors at Willow Creek Community Church), Sam Oliver (President, Non-Profit Consulting), W. Bradley Stetson (Chairman & CEO, Barrington Bank & Trust) - 11:00 a.m. | BREAK
- 11:15 a.m. | “REALITY CHECK: OUR WORLD” | Moderator: Karen Darch
Panel Discussion with Laurence Msall (President, Civic Federation), Greg Brown (Chairman and CEO, Motorola Solutions), Captain James D. Hawkins (Commanding Officer, Naval Station Great Lakes) - 12:15 p.m. | LUNCH
- 1:15 p.m. | “VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE: OUR COMMUNITY”
Moderator: Diane Soucy Bergan, Barrington Cultural Commission
Panel Discussion with David Nelson (Founding Member, Barrington Area Community Foundation) and Senior Vice President (UBS Financial Services), Karen Lambert (President, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital), Bill Bishop (Chief Architect, Brick Meets Click) and Dr. Maria H. Coons (Chief of Staff/Board Liaison and Vice President, Institutional Planning & Strategic Alliances, Harper College) - 2:45 p.m. | BREAK
- 3:00 p.m. | “WHAT MAKES THE BEST COMMUNITIES?”
John Williams, WGN radio personality - 3:30 p.m. | “VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE: OUR WORLD”
A Fireside Chat with Hank and Wendy Paulson
Moderator: Lisa Stamos, Barrrington Cultural Commission and Publisher, Quintessential Barrington - 4:30 p.m. | CLOSING COMMENTS – Karen Darch, President, Village of Barrington
- 4:45 p.m. | RECEPTION
The event is presented by the Barrington Cultural Commission. For more information and tickets, go to BarringtonsWhiteHouse.com.
*Above Photo from Quintessential Barrington Article called Spelling Bees, Barn Raisings and Town Warmings.
Completely restored in 2015 to mark the Village of Barrington’s Sesquicentennial celebration, Barrington’s White House at 145 W. Main Street is now a community and cultural center featuring regular performances and events. The elegant and historically significant property is also available to rent for weddings, galas and corporate meetings. For more about the White House’s history and to view their calendar of upcoming events, visit BarringtonsWhiteHouse.com.
