KOSU plans gala event at Oklahoma History Center

Friday, August 8, 2008

Dinner and program to feature NPR Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan
 
(August 8, 2008   Stillwater, OK) – KOSU, the state’s public radio (91.7 fm Stillwater-Oklahoma City, 107.5 fm Bartlesville-Tulsa and 101.9 fm Okmulgee-Henryetta) will hold its first ever gala benefit for the station Friday, September 26,  at the Oklahoma History Center, 2401 N. Laird in Oklahoma City.
 
Individuals and businesses are invited to be part of this very special evening, which begins at 6 p.m. with a corporate sponsors reception, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.
History in the Making: An Evening With KOSU will highlight presidential politics.  The dinner will include classical and jazz music entertainment from OSU music department professors Lanette Compton, Paul Compton, Jonathan Martin, Igor Karaca, George Speed, Zarina Stepanova and Laura Talbott.
 
Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director Bob Blackburn will present an historical perspective of Oklahoma’s connection to national politics.  OSU President Burns Hargis will introduce NPR Talk of the Nation host Neal Conan, who will lead a panel discussion on the 2008 presidential race from an Oklahoma perspective.  The interactive conversation will also feature audience questions for the panelists and moderator.  
 
Audience members will have the opportunity to win one of several prize drawings throughout the evening. The program will be recorded and broadcast on KOSU.  
 
“We are very excited to bring NPR’s Neal Conan to Oklahoma for this timely conversation,” said Kelly Burley, KOSU Director.  “It will be an informative and fun evening celebrating the many new reasons to listen to KOSU just weeks before one of the most anticipated presidential elections in recent memory.”
 
KOSU recently expanded its news programming to include Talk of the Nation weekdays at 1 pm.  Other new programs include Fresh Air, Marketplace, The World, BBC News, This American Life, Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me, To the Best of Our Knowledge, Speaking of Faith, Weekend America, The Writer’s Almanac, American Routes, Piano Jazz and Jazz After Hours.  For a complete program schedule, visit www.kosu.org.
 
Corporate sponsorships are available for the KOSU Gala event.  The Oklahoma Historical Society and Stillwater National Bank are among the major sponsoring organizations.  Individual tickets are $100 and all proceeds benefit KOSU.  For reservations, call 800-228-4678.