Arizona Town Hall may be celebrating its 50th birthday this year but the organization, which offers a forum for business, civic and academic leaders to focus on state issues and find consensus, is experiencing some firsts.

For the first time in the organization’s history, the Fall Town Hall will be held in the metro Phoenix area.  And also breaking from tradition, the public is invited to the Tuesday luncheon that will include a special awards ceremony honoring those who exemplify civic leadership.

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, Captain Mark Kelly, will be honored with the Shirley Agnos Legacy Award at this inspiring ceremony that will feature special remarks from a number of their colleagues from the Tucson area. Native American dancers will also perform.

This special event is open to the public and sponsored by Bank of America and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. Tables and tickets can be reserved at www.aztownhall.org/Gabby.

What hasn’t changed is the non-profit’s original mission: to bring together residents using civil discourse and consensus dialogue to advance solutions dealing with the state’s critical issues.

Nearly 130 hand-selected delegates will focus on “Civic Leadership for Arizona’s Future” at the 101st Arizona Town Hall, on Sunday evening, Nov. 25 through Wednesday, Nov. 28 at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer is scheduled to deliver brief remarks at Monday’s luncheon. The luncheon will also feature a keynote address by Cleve Stevens, founder and president of Owl Sight Intentions, an established authority on the psychology of leadership and the technology of personal and organizational transformation. Stevens is also the author of “The Best in Us: People, Profit and the Remaking of Modern Leadership.”

Monday’s dinner will feature Marvin Henry “Mickey” Edwards, former congressman from Oklahoma (1977-1993), vice president of the Aspen Institute and director of its Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership. He’s also the author of “The Parties Versus the People: How to Turn Republicans and Democrats into Americans.”

Both of the speaker events are also open to the public. Individual tickets can be purchased at http://www.aztownhall.org/Events.

The 101st Arizona Town Hall is supported by: Arizona Commerce Authority; The Flinn Foundation; Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation; Snell & Wilmer; Cox Communications; Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and SCF Arizona.

Additional information is available at: http://www.aztownhall.org.