Editor,

A very successful fundraising lunch was held at Useless Bay Country Club late last month by members of the Trudy Sundberg Lecture planning team.

We thank all those who attended, and especially our speaker, Bob Whitsitt, who donated his time and shared his unique — and very entertaining — sports perspective.

We also recognize and thank the generosity of our donors and sponsors.

The event marked an important step in achieving our goal of bringing an eminent speaker to Whidbey Island for the annual Trudy Sundberg Memorial Lecture.

The first Trudy Sundberg Memorial Lecturer will arrive on Whidbey Island in May 2016. Hedrick Smith, a former New York Times Washington Bureau chief, has written five books and produced more than 50 hours of documentaries for PBS and Frontline. His most recent book, “Who Stole the American Dream?,” made the New York Times national bestseller list. He is a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter and editor, an Emmy Award–winning producer and is considered one of America’s most distinguished journalists.

Plans for Hedrick Smith’s visit include a formal lecture, open and free to the public, interactions with Whidbey high school and college students, and a private gathering to meet with him on a more informal basis.

This will be the first of many annual lectures to honor Trudy and draw large audiences to discover information and exchange ideas in a setting not readily available to the Whidbey community.

If readers are interested in learning more about the lecture series, and especially if they would like to help plan and host the Hedrick Smith Lecture event on Whidbey next year, please contact me at 360-675-5888 or email mfgold@comcast.net

We welcome readers’ inquiries, ideas and enthusiastic participation.

Marshall Goldberg, chairman

Trudy Sundberg Memorial Lecture Series Planning Team

Oak Harbor