RALEIGH – If you will pardon a digression today from the usual “Daily Journal” fare of North Carolina public policy and politics, I’d like to answer a question I hear from time to time about the John Locke Foundation: “Why do you hold so many events?”

The question is a fair one, for at least two reasons. First, in this world of 24-hour media, interactive talk radio, and the information cornucopia that is the Internet, many folks in political and policy circles have come to doubt whether it is worth spending limited resources on events that may attract a few hundred, or perhaps even just a few dozen, rather than thousands or tens of thousands of readers, listeners, or viewers.

Second, JLF does indeed host a lot of events. They come in essentially four flavors:

• Headliner luncheons. Our flagship events program, Headliners are typically held at lunchtime about once a month in Raleigh. During the past year, we’ve been building out a Headliner series in several other communities as well, expecting to do one or two Headliners each quarter in Charlotte, Wilmington, and the Triad. We’ll add Asheville to the rotation later this year. Headliners are enjoyed not just by those in attendance but also by thousands of other North Carolinians via video productions aired on our network of public-access cable channels and interviews with Headliner speakers on “Carolina Journal Radio.”

• Shaftesbury luncheons. This is a weekly discussion club hosted and catered by JLF at our downtown Raleigh offices. While Headliner speakers tend towards the famous – media commentators, authors, present or former politicians – Shaftesbury speakers run the gamut from local officials, university professors, historians, entrepreneurs, and journalists to JLF staff members and affiliated scholars. And while Headliners might attract crowds of 100-200 people on average, Shaftesburys are smaller affairs, around 40-50, providing more opportunity for debate and discussion.

• Regional events. JLF’s special outreach projects – such as the North Carolina Education Alliance, the Center for Local Innovation, the Faculty Affiliate Network, and the North Carolina History Project – have been or will soon hosting regional meetings that bring together individuals with shared professional or policy interests. In the case of NCEA and CLI, these often take the form of workshops with well-known experts from around the country on specific issues or governmental challenges.

• Special events. A prime example of this would be our anniversary and awards banquets, held each February. They have become popular opportunities to reach out to a broader audience and to celebrate the organization’s growth and effectiveness. At the event, we confer two annual awards for service to North Carolina – one as a public official, the other as a private citizen. The 2006 anniversary banquet will feature remarks by Winston Churchill III.

So, why do so many events? I am a firm believer in the value of face-to-face communication. Obviously, JLF makes use of a variety of communications media and strategies. But sometimes there is no substitute for sitting down with colleagues, friends, and fellow citizens to share a meal, hear a presentation, and engage in constructive, spirited dialogue. Moreover, think-tank events are a great place to network, to meet politically engaged North Carolinians and get to know the scholars, writers, and commentators whose work you enjoy.

So, if you haven’t attended a John Locke Foundation event lately, or at all, now is the time to seize the opportunity. Whatever your tastes and location, it’s likely you’ll find something to your liking – just check the online event calendar regularly for upcoming dates.

Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation.