Meet the Panelist: Lee Woodruff

As co-author of the best-selling In an Instant, Lee Woodruff garnered critical
acclaim for the compelling and humorous chronicle of her family’s journey to
recovery following her husband Bob’s roadside bomb injury in Iraq. Appearing together on national television and radio since the February 2007 publication of their book, the couple has helped put a face on the serious issue of traumatic brain injury among returning Iraq war veterans, as well as the millions of Americans who live with this often invisible, but life-changing affliction.

They have founded the Bob Woodruff Foundation to assist wounded service members and their families receive the long-term care that they need and help them successfully reintegrate into their communities.

Woodruff is a contributing reporter for “CBS This Morning,” reporting on a variety of home, current events and family related topics. Her best-selling book Perfectly Imperfect – A Life in Progress, was followed by her first novel in September, Those We Love Most, which became a New York Times best-seller.

A freelance writer, Woodruff has penned numerous personal articles about her family and parenting that have run in such high-profile magazines as Ladies Home Journal, Real Simple, Redbook, Country Living and Parade.

In addition to freelance writing, Woodruff ran her own public relations and marketing consulting business for 16 years. Before that, she was senior vice president of public relations firm Porter Novelli.

At present, Woodruff lives in Westchester County, New York, with her husband and four children.

Meet the Panelist: Buz Eisenberg

Attorney Buz Eisenberg of the Northampton, MA litigation firm Weinberg & Garber, P.C. has handled a wide variety of civil, criminal, and civil rights cases during his 33 years of practice. For over 9 years he has been representing detainees at Guantánamo Bay, two of whom remain in detention.  As President of The International Justice Network he has been involved in the representation of Bagram detainees, and of other victims of the War on Terror. He has received numerous local, state, and national recognitions, including: 1992 Recognition by The Massachusetts Citizens Against the Death Penalty for successfully advocating to have a Georgia death penalty vacated; The 1999 Massachusetts Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award; a 2006 recognition by Western Massachusetts Legal Services, Inc. for 25 years of service, including as its president; the Southern Center for Human Rights 2007 Frederick Douglas Human Rights Award; the Boston Bar Association’s 2007 Presidents Award; and the 2008 NLADA Beacon of Justice Award. In addition to his practice Professor Eisenberg teaches courses in law and government at Greenfield Community College.

Meet the Panelist: Lt.Col. Henry Detering

Hank Detering is a retired United States Marine. He enlisted after two years at Springfield College, attended flight school as an Aviation Cadet, and was commissioned upon graduation. During his 20 years of service he flew both attack jets and helicopter aircraft. He was an instructor at the Officers’ Basic School in Quantico, VA, and served in numerous command billets with both aviation and infantry units in the United States, the Mediterranean, and the Far East. As a young officer in Viet Nam, Hank flew 100 missions in the A-4 Skyhawk and 150 missions in the A-6 Intruder. He also served with an infantry battalion as their forward air controller. In the mid-80’s Hank commanded a heavy helicopter squadron that supported both the invasion of Grenada and the evacuation of Marines from Beirut. A Distinguished Graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College, Lt. Col. Detering’s personal decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. In 1985 Hank returned to civilian life in Pennsylvania, taught science, and became a high school principal. During his tenure, Octorara Area High School received the National Guidance Counselors Association’s Career Guidance Award.

Meet the Panelist: Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian

The Rev. Dr. Andrea Ayvazian is a long-time activist for peace and justice.  Radicalized in college during the Vietnam War, Andrea has been active in movements for social change for over forty years.  A war tax resister, anti-racism educator, nonviolence trainer, environmental activist, and singer/songwriter, Andrea has sung at countless demonstrations up and down the east coast, participated in direct action, walked across the state of Massachusetts once to protest war and years later to stop climate change, and been involved in countless other movement activities.  Andrea is a graduate of Oberlin College, Duke University, and Yale Divinity School and is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ.  The former Dean of Religious Life at Mount Holyoke College, Andrea now serves as the Senior Pastor of the Haydenville Congregational Church which describes itself as a "gay-affirming, child-centered, peace-loving, justice seeking, song-filled, stubbornly hopeful, ever thankful beloved community."  The Church is known for its extravagant welcome, and its commitment to social justice, earth stewardship, and gay-friendly atmosphere. 

Welcome!

In this blog, you will find information about our production, cast and crew.

Our hope is to facilitate constructive thought and discourse, so feel free to look around and contribute to the discussion!