2009: OUR YEAR IN REVIEW

January

Hall Institute Communications Director Richard Lee provides live commentary on Barack Obama’s inauguration for Times Now, a television news channel in India.

Lee also serves as a panelist at a symposium on what the new President should do in his first 100 days in office.

February

A panel of experts in green infrastructure technology discuss the technical points of delivering green energy to the market at a conference sponsored by the Hall Institute.

Hall Institute Executive Director Michael Riccards takes part in the Congressional Celebration of Lincoln's 200th Birthday on February 12 in Washington, D.C. Riccards is New Jersey's official liaison to the nation Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

Richard Lee discusses New Jersey’s 2009 campaign for Governor as a panelist at the New Jersey Political Science Association’s annual meeting at the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University.

March

Hall Institute Trustee Robert P. Haney is the honoree at the institute’s first Gala Reception.

Michael Riccards and Richard Lee are among the speakers during Leadership New Jersey’s Seminar on Politics and Government.

Lee presents his research essay on media coverage during the Vietnam War era at a journalism history conference at Marymount Manhattan College and serves as panelist during the New Jersey Communication Association Conference. In addition, I Wanna Rock’n'Roll All Night, a new book about the rock band Kiss that he helped edit, is released.

April

Richard Lee takes part in A Fiscal Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste, the Annual Symposium of the State Chapters of the Association of Government Accountants and American Society for Public Administration

May

The Hall Institute co-sponsors the first debate between the Republican candidates for Governor. The 60-minute debate between Chris Christie and Steve Lonegan took place at New Jersey Network studios in Trenton.

Michael Riccards is a special guest speaker at Legacy of Lincoln: Celebrating Lincoln's Bicentennial, the annual law day luncheon presented by the Mercer Vicinage Superior Court and the Superior Court Advisory Committee on Minority Concerns in partnership with the Mercer County Bar Association.

Richard Lee is one of the panelists at The Newspaper Crisis, a conference presented by the Policy Research Institute for the Region at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.

June

During the Trenton Book Fair, Richard Lee interviews poet and playwright Amiri Baraka and leads a discussion about Baraka’s life and work.

July

The Hall Institute moves to new offices at 224 West State Street in Trenton and unveils a re-designed website with new interactive features.

The Hall Institute holds its Second Annual Hall Institute at the Trenton Thunder Day. Communications Director Richard Lee throws out one of the ceremonial first pitches before the start of the game.

August

The Hall Institute takes part in ProPublica's Stimulus Spot Check program by monitoring the progress of four New Jersey projects that are receiving federal dollars under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

September

The Hall Institute’s 2009 Governor's Virtual Debate begins with opening statements from the candidates.

Michael Riccards is among the panelists at a forum on the environmental positions of the candidates for Governor. The forum is presented by the Hall Institute in partnership with the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

Bruce and New Jersey in the 21st Century, Richard Lee’s paper on how Bruce Springsteen has managed to retain his connection with our state and its working class, is presented at Glory Days, an academic symposium at Monmouth University.

War and the Media: Essays on News Reporting, Propaganda and Popular Culture, a new book published by McFarland & Company, features a chapter authored by Richard Lee. Lee’s chapter, “Protest Music as Alternative Media During the Vietnam War Era,” explains how protest music raised issues that were absent from mainstream media during the 1960s.

October

The Hall Institute is part of a consortium headed by Leadership New Jersey that sponsors a Lieutenant Governor debate and forum at Monmouth University.

Michael Riccards testifies before the Assembly Republican Policy Committee as part of the panel’s efforts to gather information to help draft legislation to combat corruption.

A Twitter Debate brings the Hall Institute’s 2009 Governor's Virtual Debate to a close.

Richard Lee serves as one of the discussion leaders for Gannett NJ's live chat during the October 1 gubernatorial debate among Governor Jon Corzine, Republican Chris Christie and independent Chris Daggett.

Lee speaks about the use of the internet in politics during the New York State Communication Association’s 67th Annual Conference. At the conference, he is elected to the association’s executive board.

November

Richard Lee provides election night commentary and post-election analysis for WNBC television in New York City.

Angelo J. Genova, Esq., a leading labor and trial law lawyer, is selected as the recipient of the Hall Institute’s 2010 Annual Achievement Award. Genova will receive the award at the Hall Institute’s 2010 Gala Reception on March 18, 2010, at the East Brunswick Hilton.

A Hall Institute survey finds that television is the most popular means of learning election results in New Jersey.

December

The College Board and American Higher Education, a new book by Michael Riccards, is published by Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.

The Hall Institute is honored by Leadership New Jersey for its work on the October 8 Lieutenant Governor Forum and Debate.

The Hall Institute is awarded a $5,350 grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities, to support Abraham Lincoln: An American Life Lecture Series.

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The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Our goal is to foster constructive debate and discussion and build a stronger, better New Jersey.

Since our inception in 2005, the Hall Institute has been at the forefront of public policy in our state. We conduct research and present public forums on timely topical issues, such as public pensions, health care reform and higher education funding. The institute has had a strong presence in New Jersey’s last three statewide elections by sponsoring online “virtual debates” that provide citizens with substantive information on where the candidates stand on the major issues confronting our state.

The Hall Institute website features more than 400 papers and provides a platform for individuals and organizations to express opinions and offer ideas and suggestions.

We also produce our own public affairs television program and use podcasts, blogs and social networking to share our work and seek feedback. In addition to our other activities, the institute has published two books -- The State of the Garden State and Reaction and Reform in New Jersey. Both are compilations of the major papers posted on our website. A third volume, Creating A Common Future: New Jersey and Public Policy, was published online.

Located in Trenton at 224 West State Street, the institute was established by George E. Hall, a successful business executive and a leading philanthropist who lives in Middletown, N.J.