Speaking topics

Dan Rottenberg is available as a speaker on several subjects, including:

—The Education of a Journalist: My 70 Years on the Frontiers of Free Speech.
—Finding Our Fathers: The joys and pitfalls of tracing Jewish ancestors.
—The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.
—Death of a Gunfighter: The tragic hero Jack Slade and the opening of the American West.
—In the Kingdom of Coal (Dawn of America’s coal industry)
—Anthony Drexel: The Man Who Made J.P. Morgan.
—Family Business: The Value of Outside Mentors.
—What’s Wrong With the Media?
—Inheritance: Seminars for potential inheritors.
—Understanding Donald Trump.

Future speaking engagements

June 7, 2024 (Friday lunch, noon)— Anthony Drexel, The Man Who Made Wall Street. Right Angle Club, at the Philadelphia Club, 1301 Walnut St., Philadelphia. Members and guests only. Contact: Robert Lohr, bob@lohrandassociates.com.

Recent speaking engagements

March 13, 2024 (Wednesday, 6 p.m.)—”Let’s Talk” series at Society Hill Towers, community room, Philadelphia. The Education of a Journalist. Society Hill Towers residents only. Contact: Donnamarie D’Alicandro, ddalicandro@societyhilltowers.com.

February 20, 2024 (Tuesday, 2 p.m.)— Penn’s Village, at First Presbyterian Church, 201 South 21st St. (at Walnut St.), Philadelphia. The Education of a Journalist.  Contact: Info@pennsvillage.org or (215) 925-7333.

June 1, 2023 (Thursday lunch)— Franklin Inn Club, 205 S. Camac St., Philadelphia. “My Neighbor, Harry Belafonte.”  (215) 732-0334.

May 18, 2023 (Thursday, dinner)— Acorn Club, 1519 Locust St., Philadelphia. The Education of a Journalist. Members and guests only. (215) 735-2040.

March 15, 2023 (Wednesday, dinner)— Society Hill Synagogue, 418 Spruce St., Philadelphia. The Education of a Journalist. Contact: Sahar Oz, (215) 922-6590.

February 10, 2023 (Friday lunch)— Philadelphia Club, 1301 Walnut St., Philadelphia. The Education of a Journalist. Contact: Jay Stiefel, (215) 605-2211 or rstiefel@gmail.com.

January 5, 2023 (Thursday)— Cosmopolitan Club, 1616 Latimer St., Philadelphia. “What Frank Rizzo Can Teach Us About Donald Trump.” Contact: Meg J. Berlin, megberlin271@gmail.com.

November 29, 2022 (Tuesday), 2 p.m.: “My Secret Life at the Free Library”: Grand re-opening of the Free Library’s Newspaper and Microfilm Department. Skyline Room, Central Library, 1901 Vine St., Philadelphia, 4th floor. To view a video recording of this talk, click here.

August 23, 2022 (Tuesday), 6:30 p.m. “The Rise and Fall of the Philadelphia Inquirer,” at “Coffee & Conversation” series, Lombard Swim Club, 2040 Lombard St., Philadelphia. Contact: Sharon Ross, sharonlross@comcast.net or (610) 766-0045.

April 4, 2022, noon (Monday). Kelly Writers House, U. of Pennsylvania, 3805 Locust St., Philadelphia.  The Education of a Journalist. Live discussion with Dick Polman. Contact: Jessica Lowenthal at jalowent@writing.upenn.edu

March 16, 2022, 7 p.m. (Wednesday). U.of Pennsylvania Class of ’64. The Education of a Journalist. Zoom talk for members and guests. Contact: Sandra Fisher at Reunion@ben.dev.UPenn.edu.

March 10, 2022, 12:30 p.m. (Thursday). Franklin Inn Club, 205 S. Camac St. Philadelphia. The Inquirer’s “Black City, White Paper” apology. Conversation with former Philadelphia Inquirer executive editor Bill Marimow. Live talk (also via Zoom) for members and guests. Contact: Roberta Kangilaski at jaankang@verizon.net.

February 27, 2022 (Sunday), 10 a.m. PST. Jewish Genealogy Society of Orange County, CA: “Finding Our Fathers (and Mothers, Too): The Joys and Pitfalls of Tracing Jewish Ancestors.” Zoom talk. Contact: Bob Altman at rdaltman@gmail.com.

February 24, 2022 (Thursday), 12:30 p.m. Franklin Inn Club, Philadelphia. The Education of a Journalist. Zoom talk for members and guests. Contact: Roberta Kangilaski at jaankang@verizon.net.

September 28, 2021, 6 p.m. (Tuesday). Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment). Zoom talk.

September 21, 2021: Coffee and Conversation series, Lombard Swim Club, Philadelphia: “What Frank Rizzo Can teach Us About Donald Trump.”

August 22, 2021: Greater Washington (CT) Coalition for Jewish Learning: “Finding Our Fathers (and Mothers, Too): The Joys and Pitfalls of Tracing Jewish Ancestors.” Contact: Lois Schein.

December 10, 2017 (Sunday), 10:15 a.m. Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Philadelphia. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment). 615 N. Broad St., (215) 627-6747. Contact: Michael Coleman, coleman.mmc@gmail.com.

Nov. 6, 2015 (Friday)— Society Hill Synagogue, 418 Spruce St.,Philadelphia.  (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment). Contact: Larry Spector, (215) 264-0700 or hspector@gmail.com.

Oct. 18, 2015 (Sunday)— Penn Center House, 1900 J.F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment). Contact: Deborah Komins, (215) 564-1451 or dkomins@msn.com.

August 19, 2015 (Wednesday)— Philadelphia City Institute, 1905 Locust St., Philadelphia. (Contact: Mickey Portnoy, cell 215-681-5342, home 215-829-1929.)

April 22, 2015 (Wednesday, breakfast, 7:30 a.m.)— Chestnut Hill Rotary Club, Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Contact: Eliot Schwartz: elliot7360@gmail.com.

April 15, 2015 (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.)— Kennedy House Cultural Society, 1901 J.F. Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment).

March 22, 2015 (Sunday, 10:15 a.m.)— Beth Am Israel synagogue book club, 1900 Kennedy Blvd., Philadelphia. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.)

March 4, 2015 (Wed.), noon to 2 (lunch)—”Harold’s Table” at Thomas Breslin Learning Center, 100 S. Broad St., 10th floor, Philadelphia. Sponsored by American Jewish Committee and Temple University’s Feinstein Center for American Jewish History. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.). philadelphia@ajc.org or (215) 665-2300.

February 20, 2015 (11:30-1:30)—  Philadelphia Club, 1301 Walnut St., Philadelphia. Lunch.  (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.)

January 19, 2015 (10 a.m.)— Golden Slipper Lifetime Learning program, Adath Israel Congregation, Frankel Hall, 250 N. Highland Ave., Merion Station, Pa. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.) Contact: Cheryl Blumenthal, (610) 359-8632, x. 11.

December 16, 2014 (Noon-1 p.m.)— Book signing at Barnes & Noble, 1805 Walnut St., Philadelphia. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.)

December 2, 2014 (6 p.m.)— Franklin Inn Club, 205 S. Camac St., dinner. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.)

November 16, 2014 — Main Point Bookstore, 1041 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, Pa. (610) 525-1480. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.)

October 22, 2014— Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, Pa. (215) 887-8700. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.)

October 9, 2014— Chestnut Hill College, Commonwealth Chateau, Sugar Loaf Hill, 9230 Germantown Ave., Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, 7:30-9. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.) Contact: Drew Westveer, westveerd@chc.edu.

October 8, 2014— Union League, 140 S. Broad St. (at Sansom), Philadelphia. (215) 563-6500. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment.) For more details, visit www.ulheritagecenter.org.

Sept. 21, 2014— Gershman Y, 401 S. Broad St., Philadelphia. Brunch, 11 a.m. (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment).

Sept. 16, 2014— Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia— book launch for The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment, 6:30-8 p.m.

Sept. 10, 2014— Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (The Outsider: Albert M. Greenfield and the Fall of the Protestant Establishment).

Testimonials

“What a wonderful talk.  I learned a lot. as did other attendees. Many of the attendees told me afterwards how much they enjoyed your remarks and thanked me for inviting you to speak.    I also felt the quality of questions evidenced strong interest and engagement in your presentation. All in all, it was a very good event, which I knew it would be because you wrote a fascinating and timely book and because you’re a very experienced storyteller.”
Michael Coleman, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Philadelphia, December 2017.

“A fascinating introduction to Albert M. Greenfield. The women of Dona Gracia Hadassah group learned so much about this ‘gentleman’ who helped shape our city.”
Penny Bernick, Dona Gracia Hadassah, Philadelphia, March 2016

“Let me say how very much I and my fellow residents at Cathedral Village enjoyed your stimulating presentation. I had many people say to me how good they thought it was.”
Libby Browne, Cathedral Village, Philadelphia, May 2016.

“Thank you for acting as moderator at our Family Business Succession program. You kept the program focused and meaningful to all who attended.”
Scott A. Isdaner, Isdaner & Co., Bala Cynwyd, Pa., November 2005.

“Thank you for a marvelous evening. Not only are you a gifted writer but you are also a superb public speaker. In my experience, it is rare to find that combination in one individual…. I’ve had such wonderful buzz from your program.”
Caroline Piven, program chairman, Cosmopolitan Club of Philadelphia, 2004.

“Your combination of research information and humor really made for a most enjoyable evening.”
Tranda Fischelis, Christ Church, Philadelphia, 2004.

“The reviews keep coming in and all I hear is praise!”
Terry Snyder, Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington, Del., 2004.

“It was informative, and you delivered the information most dramatically.”
Molly Slattery, Acorn Club, Philadelphia, 2003.

“Thanks again for coming to Fresno. We have received a lot of positive feedback on your presentation and the luncheon. One participant wrote, ‘I came away from this function with a renewed pride for family business and our community’.”
Eric McCormick, Fresno (Calif.) Family Business Institute, 2002.

“I just wanted to thank you for your informative and interesting talk on Jewish genealogy. Feedback indicated everyone enjoyed the program and many were motivated to get started on their own family’s history. Did you know that two members of our congregation discovered they had a relative in common?”
Janice Colbert, Temple Israel, Greenfield, Mass., 2001.

Contact information