Ideas On Tap ceases monthly conversations
In 2018 Mike Smith, a native Mississippian launched Ideas on Tap, a monthly humanities-based community discussions about important issues. Each program included a panel discussion featuring knowledgeable participants who presented a wide spectrum on the topic, as well as a chance for audience members to share their thoughts, and questions. Due to the lack of community support, and attendance I had to make the difficult decision to cease the monthly interactive conversations.
I would like to personally thank those who supported me since launching this initiative in 2018, some attended every month for three years running. A special thanks goes out to Ryan and the team at the Union Eatery and Brewery for providing us a venue to host the monthly community discussions.
To say I didn't enjoy putting these monthly programs together is an understatement, but when the average attendance goes from 20 to about 8 sometimes, 5 people would show up it no longer was a passionate and pleasurable experience. When the pandemic hit, we took a sabbatical, and re-launched IOT in late 2021 from there I guess the citizens no longer saw the value of such discussions.
It is my fervent hope in the very near future that some individual or organization would see a need to host such interactive community discussions for citizens to come and enjoy themselves in a relax atmosphere to be part of a community dialogue. In the meantime, since we're not meeting formally continue to keep your Ideas on Tap.