In one large banquet room Wednesday night a listener could hear conversations about literature, politics, astronomy, finances, religion, and yes, even beer.

Dynamic discussions took place among eight people at a table, with a different topic at each of the 40 tables at the sixth annual Great Conversations at the Great Northern Hotel.

This was the first year JoAnn Prost, of Helena, attended the event and just before attendees took their seats, she said, "I'm just on cloud nine."

Prost, 69, is an avid reader averaging about five books a month, so it seems only fitting she sit at the book snob table hosted by Ann Bertagnolli.

This was also Jodi Medlar's first time attending the event. Medlar is the program director for the Women's Foundation who attended to learn about financial literacy.

"The Women's Foundation is particularly interested in financial literacy and what kind of role we can play in elevating it to a bigger issue," Medlar said.

Eighteen-year-old Emily Jones came to get to know the Helena community after recently moving to the Queen City to attend Carroll College.

The reasons people attend the event ranges as wide as the topics discussed throughout the evening.

Mark Johnson, former United States Ambassador, and Cory Swanson, Helena attorney, co-hosted a table where they spoke about what the next president should do in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

Thomas Baumeister, education program manager for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spoke about the traditional bond that's broken between children, nature and play with health and well-being implications not yet completely understood.

Co-founder of Big Sky Brewery Company Brad Robinson hosted a table talking about a subject he is fluent in - beer.

He walked his table of participants through a historic lesson about the legalization of home brewing and brought along samples he graciously shared.

After traveling to Sierra Leone, West Africa, Julie Swanson offered a first hand perspective on poverty and injustice.

Swanson proposed the question to her table, "Why is there injustice and poverty?"

A heartfelt discussion proved that people share in global compassion, but by the end of the event the question went unanswered.

Local attorney Ward Shanahan said there needs to be a better cultural understanding between Americans and developing nations, for example.

Bruce Messinger, superintendent of the Helena Public Schools, said awareness is a key factor.

"People don't know what's going on in their own backyards," he said about local poverty.

The goal of Great Conversations is not to fix the problems of the world, but rather provide a venue to engage citizens in conversations on meaningful topics to spark an interest in subject matter, to share knowledge to inquiring minds and to inspire dialogue with our fellow community members.

Great Conversations is sponsored by the Helena Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission of promoting consistent community investment in the Helena Public Schools to provide rich and rewarding educational experiences.

HEF Executive Director Lisa Cordingley said it is one of the foundation's most popular events because it appeals to people from all walks of life.

"It's an event that draws people from across the community and some consistently come from outside the community," she said.

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com