A Fitz presentation may be coming your way

Here in my newsletter I'll post updates from time to time about this Arizona Progressive's public appearances

Yours truly performing my cartooning talk before a conference audience. When my pen is uncapped no one in the audience is safe.

In this newsletter I will shamelessly announce upcoming appearances in hopes that I might meet some of you in person, like the delightful Mike Caprio, who came up to me after my presentation to a packed hall, last Wednesday, at the Green Valley Forum. Mike’s a retired Screen Actors Guild performer who you may recognize from films such as “Amistad”.

Hint: He’s in the courtroom scene.

Mike Caprio, actor, fan and progressive troublemaker with some clown with a marker from Tucson.

When I have a show to promote I’ll give you an advance warning here in this newsletter.

Shows such as my Old Pueblo Radio Show, or a Fitz Comedy Show at Laffs, or yet one more fundraiser for blisters or bunions in the hope I’ll get to meet you face to face.

I am honored by the groups that invite me to cheer them on. Like these folks.

In early September I’ll be delivering the keynote for the 2023 US Submarine Veterans National Convention at the El Conquistador 

Up there in Paradise my ‘Nam vet brothers and the Master Sergeant have to be amazed at my good fortune to have the privilege salute and cheer on such patriots.

At the Green Valley Forum I revealed now that I am retired from the newspaper business I can finally come out of the closet

I revealed I was…drumroll… a liberal!— and that it was not easy being closeted in Casas Adobes, all these years, here in the realm of Oro Valley, where so many of my neighbors believe the BIG LIE. You know, the BIG LIE that lubricated catheters can be painless.

Not to mention the other BIG LIE: You know when a nurse says, “You’ll feel a little pressure.” Uh huh. A little pressure. Liars.

Back to Green Valley.

I began with my favorite political joke

A joke stolen by Mo Udall from Theodore Roosevelt. Allegedly. Mo and his good friend, Barry Goldwater, were enjyoing each other’s company when Mo asked Barry, “Why are you a conservative?”

“Well, Mo, my grandpa was. And my dad was, too. It just makes sense that I would be a conservative as well.”

“Following that logic, Barry, suppose your grandpa had been a jackass, and your dad had been a jackass, too. What would that make you, Senator?”

“A jackass. Like you, Mo.”

The ability to laugh at ourselves is an act of faith. A theme I repeat throughout my talks. Our acceptance of satire about ourselves is an act of faith that our republic will endure the slings and snickers of outrageous jibes.

By the time I finished my hour long presentation, explaining how the spawn of a military family would end up a progressive I had earned a standing ovation, which warmed my heart and spun my bowtie.

I recently was the guest of Tucson’s wonderful, amazing, entertaining “Unscrewed Theater” Improv group

I was there to help my gifted, talented, brilliant, funny friends celebrate their 9th Anniversary with Tucson’s notable meteorologists as fellow guests. You’ll recognize the notable meteorologists by their hands.

Me, Fitz, with Tucson’s notable meteorologists as fellow guests posing with thecast of “Unscrewed Theater”, celebrating their 9th Anniversary .

My conference programs are highly interactive, and mostly improvised in the moment, to insure the content is relevant to my audience. I use my life experiences as a cartoonist as an excuse to invite willing attendees to join me on stage to be caricatured by “The Fastest Draw West of the Potomac”, and to enjoy their moment of fame, as I gently quiz them about themselves and their life experiences— while spotlighting the value of humor. Phew. Long-winded, I know.

If you or your group or conference may be interested in booking a Fitz presentation contact me here and your email address will get to me:

Here I am, below, the Fastest draw west of the San Pedro, sketching the gracious and lovely New 4 meteorologist Shea Sorenson and her husband at the “Unscrewed” show, celebrating their new family addition- due any moment. Congratulations!

Unfortunately, my friends, my only public appearance in February will be a private appearance at the Arizona State Conference for Public School Counselors in Scottsdale.

Should be fun. I wonder if Tom Horne will be in the audience?

Here are a few of groups I’ve entertained in the past:

Pima County Sheriff’s Department, ENRON, Tucson Festival of Books Founders Banquet, Association of Arizona Healthcare Volunteers, Pima College Staff, New England Realtors Association, Old Pueblo Women’s Club, Superior Courts of Canada, Beverly Hills Bar Association, City of Tucson Transportation Department, Arizona Association of Realtors, Planned Parenthood of Arizona, Goodwill Industries, University of Arizona Cancer Center, Raytheon, 88-Crime, League of Women Voters, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, The Center For Innovative Training, Executive Women International, Habitat for Humanity, Institute for Edible Oils, Sertoma, National Association of Realtors, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Arizona Tax Conference, Black Women’s Task Force, Emerge Domestic Violence Shelter, Louisiana Realtors Association, United States Tennis Association, League of Cities and Towns, Alzheimer’s Association, Bank One Fidelity Title, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Association, 379th Bomb Wing, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Door and Hardware Institute, Del Webb, US Cutting Tool Institute, Homebuilders Association, Eller Business College, Tucson Children's Museum, Masons, Retired Officers Association, Civitan, Rotary, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, Soroptimists,Wholesale Beer Distributors, Pearl Harbor Survivors, United States Postal Service, Society of Professional Engineers, Federal Credit Union, Inland Press Association……..