Unfortunately, I was forced to miss the first forum in November 2008. Hence I don't know when the decor was changed but I found it last night. I was appalled. Your old decor was perfect suggesting a Roman forum with comfortable looking chairs for the speakers. These decorations and chairs are so busy that they interfere with your concentration on the speakers who were excellent. Add that to the music you insist on having beforehand and at intermission we have an extremely busy place. I would hope that this will be changed shortly. Some background music would be nice but no music would be preferable to what you have now.