NPRs Ketzel Levine at City Club of Portland June 3

May 21, 2005 -- On Friday, June 3, City Club of Portland will hold its Annual Meeting featuring guest speaker Ketzel Levine, the Portland-based senior correspondent for National Public Radio's "Morning Edition."

City Club's Annual Meeting, which is open to the public, will be held in the third-floor ballroom of the Governor Hotel (614 S.W. 11th Ave.). Doors open early at 11:15 a.m. Program begins early at 12 noon and concludes at 1:15 p.m. Luncheon reservations must be made online at www.pdxcityclub.org or by calling 503-228-7231, ext. 103 or 102, by 2 p.m. Wed., June 1 (members only may call 503-241-9242). Luncheon tickets are $18 ($16 for members of City Club). Coffee/tea table tickets are $5 at the door. General seating, available at the door, is $5 (free for members of City Club).

A Note to the Media
Media are encouraged to attend and are invited to sit in general seating. Please sign in at the registration table on the day of the forum. For broadcast media, an audio press patch will be available, and a riser for videotaping can be provided with advance notice. Contact Tim Krause at e-mail protected from spam bots or 503-228-7231, ext. 102.

About Ketzel Levine
Levine's relationship with "Morning Edition" dates back to 1979, when the show was launched. Levine had already been on staff for two years, producing "Voices in the Wind" with Oscar Brand. Her skills as an arts producer were unexpectedly called into play when "Morning Edition" became the first NPR show to offer regular sports coverage. With no more than an irrational passion for the Yankees, Levine created the sound of NPR sports, and introduced audiences to two unforgettable broadcasters: Red Barber and Frank Deford.

After several years working in London for the BBC (where she made BBC broadcast history as the first American to report on the World Series), Levine returned to NPR as an arts reporter. She met with a number of remarkable people during her tenure, including Leonard Bernstein and Bette Davis, whom she ranks as the toughest celebrity she's ever faced.

In 1990, Levine turned in her NPR staff ID to study horticulture and landscape design. Levine took to gardening like a gunnera in water and immersed herself in the green world. Two years later, she became a commentator for "Weekend Edition Saturday" as the show's much beloved "Doyenne of Dirt." For 10 years, she and Scott Simon entertained "Weekend Edition Saturday" audiences with their ever-irreverent gardening shtick. Levine also began a garden writing career, becoming a contributing editor for Horticulture Magazine and a contributing writer for The Oregonian. In 2000, her book, "Plant This! Best Bets For Year-Round Gorgeous Gardens," was published by Sasquatch Press.

In 2000, Levine returned to "Morning Edition" as a senior correspondent and has reported on everything from the restored prairie at the Bush ranch, an overnight stay in the top of a 30-story high tree, and the 100th anniversary of Madame Butterfly. Her ongoing "Morning Edition" series about people reinventing themselves through their work is called "Take Two."

With an academic background in music, a working relationship with sports, and a passion for plants and animals (her family today includes Zoe Mae, a 63-pound wavy-haired mutt, and Lullah, a long-haired tabby cat), it's anyone's guess what Ketzel Levine will be reporting on next.

About City Club of Portland
City Club of Portland is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic affairs organization that promotes civic engagement and active citizenship to build a stronger community. Through unbiased research and compelling programs, City Club connects citizens with ideas and issues that affect our community. City Club is open to everyone who wants to interact with other citizens and shape the future of our city and state, providing a neutral forum for many diverse voices. For more information about City Club of Portland, visit www.pdxcityclub.org or call 503-228-7231.

NPRs Ketzel Levine at City Club of Portland June 3

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NPRs Ketzel Levine at City Club of Portland June 3

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