FAQ
FAN leadership works in close consultation with school administrators, nonprofit leaders, clinicians, and community members to explore potential speaker and relevant topics. We solicit recommendations from our speakers, our audience members, and our professional colleagues. FAN is fortunate to have a board, staff, and Liaison Council that are filled with avid readers and learners who generously offer wise counsel. We work closely with our bookseller, The Book Stall, to schedule speakers on book tours. We also receive solicitations from experts from around the country who wish to be considered for a FAN event.
Our topics and speakers are curated with a focus on messages that are open, ethical, inspirational, and constructive.
If you have a topic or speaker suggestion, please fill out the contact form — we value your input!
It depends!
Sometimes a speaker or topic is a specific request of a school administrator. Sometimes there’s only one auditorium that is available on the night we are trying to book. Sometimes it’s a niche topic and we want a smaller auditorium. Sometimes the speaker is an alum of a school. Sometimes a topic is particularly relevant to a school’s mission or strategic plan. We always try to book where parking is easy whenever possible. We avoid venues with a lot of street parking if it’s a snowy month.
If you have a venue suggestion for a FAN event, let us know!
“Free and open to the public” is not a slogan. It’s a guiding principle for a society defined by compassion and inclusion.
We want knowledge to be accessible as possible to as many people as possible.
No tickets, no RSVPs, no hassle, no friction — we’re focused on learning and community.
No. The Book Stall is our exclusive bookseller, and as an independent book store, they operate on thin margins. We are honored to support them, and are are grateful for help in booking authors and managing book sales.
The Book Stall’s Winnetka store has a special display of FAN books, and sometimes they have a few signed copies left over from the event.
Typical FAN evening programs last 75 to 90 minutes, which includes Q&A.
Grand Rounds talks last 60 minutes, with 30 minutes for Q&A, 90 minutes total.
Book signing takes place after Q&A.
FAN programs are typically suitable for youth ages 12+. We always indicate an age guideline on our flyers. We welcome younger children, too, if the accompanying adult feels that the child has the behavioral skills to attend a lecture.
Most of our events are recorded — check out our “Video” page, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to get updates whenever we post a new recording.
Every so often a speaker asks that we not record the event, and we always comply.
Typically within 72 hours after the event. Please note that not all programs are taped, unfortunately.
Easy! Please email FAN Executive Director Lonnie Stonitsch at lonnie@familyactionnetwork.net — she will be pleased to discuss the various partnership options available.
FAN is pleased to leverage its resources for the benefit of its member schools, organizations, and corporations. We can identify topics and speakers, and offer counsel on fees, event logistics, and promotion. Contact FAN Executive Director Lonnie Stonitsch to learn more: lonnie@familyactionnetwork.net
FAN’s Liaison Council (LC) is a large group of representatives from the schools, non-profits, and corporations that contribute financially to FAN’s work.
The LC meets monthly, September through May, to preview upcoming FAN events and to explore best practices for promoting FAN programming within their various communities (school, professional, civic, and personal).
Liaisons volunteer at our events, and promote FAN events within their various networks using best practices.
Liaisons work to deepen the connections between FAN and its sponsors by leveraging FAN’s many resources.