Tickets are on sale now for the Salem appearance of former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, F.W. de Klerk.
He speaks on "Challenge of the Century: Managing Diversity," Friday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the Elsinore Theater.
He will be in the state capital for a fundraiser for the Medical Foundation of Marion and Polk Counties MedAssist and Project Access Program. His lecture will benefits the programs.
Tickets are $20-$75, available at the Elsinore Theatre Box Office or by phone with a credit card at all TicketsWest locations.
MedAssist provides access to life-saving prescription medications at no charge to qualifying residents of Marion and Polk Counties. To-date in 2009, the program has served 200 patients who live at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty line and cannot get these necessary prescriptions any other way. During the first 10 months of 2009 the free medications accessed through MedAssist had a total retail value of $1,133,577.34.
Frederik Willem (F.W.) de Klerk, former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, continues the tradition of notable speakers to the Medical Foundation of Marion and Polk Counties, such as Dr. Jane Goodall, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Barbara Bush, Christopher Gardner and Duchess Sarah Ferguson.
President de Klerk's topic, "The Challenge of the Century: Managing Diversity" explores what he feels are the primary sources of conflict in the modern world; religious, ethnic, and cultural differences among nations.
De Klerk discusses the important lessons of negotiation, management of change and leadership that led to the peaceful end of apartheid under his leadership. Focusing on the risks and sometimes leaps of faith involved in this fundamental agreement to bring lasting peace, de Klerk offers insights into how his success can be translated into any organization's business model.
Born the son of a senior cabinet minister in Johannesburg in 1936, de Klerk was inaugurated in 1989 after the resignation of President P.W. Botha. He served until Nelson Mandela's election to the post in 1994. During this period he initiated and presided over: The inclusive negotiations that led to the dismantling of "apartheid"; the freeing of imprisoned leader of the African National Conference (Mandela) the adoption of South Africa's first fully democratic constitution; the dismantling of the South African nuclear program to include its nuclear weapons and promotion of non-proliferation globally.
For more information go to www.elsinoretheatre.com or call the theatre at 503-375-3574 for more information.