About The CAL Forum

MISSION
The CAL Forum helps young men grow in character. It prepares them to discover a professional mission in life that is well adapted to their individual talents and will enable them to have an enduring positive impact on their family, friends, and society at large.

THE PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR (for Juniors and Seniors)
High school is the time to begin thinking about career interests. Your interests will affect the college and the major you choose. It is also the time to develop the habits of effective speaking and critical thinking that are essential for success in college and the workplace. A talk on character development precedes each of the presentations listed below:

  • Sept. 15:  Serving as a politician
  • Oct. 20:  Life as a humanities professor
  • Nov. 17:  Building a career in architecture
  • Dec. 8:  Have some patients: a doctor’s life
  • Jan. 19:  A career in computer science
  • Feb. 23:  Planning for summer
  • Mar. 16:  Dealing with adversity
  • Apr. 20:  Engineering & entrepreneurship
  • May 18 : Clear and effective speaking

THE BIG PICTURE SEMINAR (for Freshmen and Sophomores)
Students need to establish the right priorities early in high school. Each topic is examined first in a short talk and then studied interactively in a “break-out” session:

  • Sept. 15:  Making the most of high school
  • Oct. 20:  Studying for success
  • Nov. 17:  Aiming high for college; the college application process
  • Dec. 8:  Character and maturity
  • Jan. 19:  Career considerations
  • Feb. 23:  Choosing extracurricular activities and summer jobs
  • Mar. 16:  Culture: The world of books
  • Apr. 20:  True manliness
  • May 18:  What makes you happy?


MENTORING
Each student is assigned a mentor who will meet individually with him between the monthly sessions. The mentor will help the student make practical goals based on the material presented in the seminars. Mentoring sessions last 45 minutes and will take place at Garber House or Menlough Study Center, or when these locations are not feasible, by phone.:

CAL FORUM STAFF
Mark Gibson, MBA, Technical Architect, AT&T, Inc.
Richard Morton, P.E., Associate Engineer, Contra Costa Water District
Kevin Heaney, Program Director, Garber House; Owner of Law Office of Kevin J. Heaney
Michael Pinto, Ph.D., Hydrogeologist, Dynamic Graphics, Inc.
Tim McDonnell, M.A.Ed., Educational Consultant
Matt Bowman, Program Director, Menlough Study Center; Program Manager, Seton Education Partners

LOCATION
The seminars take place at Garber House at 1827 Oxford St., Berkeley, CA 94709, on the corner of Hearst and Oxford, just across from the Northwest corner of the UC Berkeley campus. Garber House is 4 blocks from the Downtown Berkeley BART Station.

The Cal Forum takes place on the following Saturdays of the 2012-2013 school year:
September 15, 2012
October 20, 2012
November 17, 2012
December 8, 2012
January 19, 2013
February 23, 2013
March 16, 2013
April 20, 2013
May 18, 2013

APPLICATION AND FEES
To apply for the CAL Forum, please fill out an application. A phone interview may be required.
Upon acceptance, students will receive a confirmation letter and a payment form. The seminar fee is $325. Scholarships are available. The CAL Forum is open to high school men who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership abilities.

Contact us
For more information, please contact Mark Gibson at 925-451-6251, or Matt Bowman at 415-595-3487.