If you’ve never watched a TED talk, you’re missing out on some of the best free knowledge on a wide variety of topics that exists today.
Begun in 1984 as a conference on technology, education and design, TED has evolved into a non-profit organization devoted to spreading ideas one short talk at a time.
TED talks are brief, usually no more than 20 minutes, and cover topics from every discipline and culture. The recorded talks are available free of charge on TED’s website and on YouTube. Talks such as “How to speak so people want to listen” to “Your elusive creative genius” are just two of the most popular. The scope of subject matter is vast.
And now TEDx, an offshoot of TED which allows independent organizers to hold events in their own communities, is headed to the North Fork.
On September 17, a TEDx event will be held at Poquatuck Hall in Orient with the theme “Human Kind.” The idea was hatched by Liz Gillooly of Orient after she found out that anyone can organize a TEDx event.
“At the first TEDx I attended, they showed a little video that described the process of becoming a TEDx organizer. I thought we should do this on the North Fork because there are so many inspiring people out here,” she said.
She applied for and received a TEDx license, found a place to hold the event and then worked with TEDx to come up with a name.
“I originally thought of TEDx North Fork, but they thought it was not place-specific enough,” she says.
She tried for TEDx Orient or TEDx Orient Village — none of these worked out — and finally settled on TEDx Orient Harbor.
After setting up a website and Facebook page to spread the word that they were looking for speakers, Gillooly formed a small committee to review all the applications.
“We selected nine speakers, all from a very diverse background speaking about diverse topics. The theme is Human Kind; it’s all about humanity in different aspects,” she said.
All the speakers have some ties to the North Fork, Gillooly said. Some are summer people, others have lived here previously, but all are connected to the area in one way or another.
“We decided that we wanted to keep it close to home, so we limited it to the North Fork,” she said. “We really wanted to highlight our unique and inspiring talent pool here on the North Fork.”
The four-hour event will feature talks by visual artist Leo Villareal, forensic psychologist Dr. Xavier Amador and local photographer Mary Latham, among others.
Gillooly has hired a professional crew to film the event and stresses that proceeds from ticket sales will all go to the cost of producing the talk, which she hopes to make an annual event.
“No one’s making any money off this,” she says.
Several businesses have sponsored the event and Gillooly welcomes additional support.
TEDxOrientHarbor will be held at Poquatuck Hall in Orient on September 17 from 2 to 6 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. There are 100 seats available for the event.
To see the full list of speakers, become a sponsor or purchase tickets, visit the TEDxOrientHarbor website.
