September 14
10:00  Proctor & Gamle - An American Classic
     Lou Boudreau
     For more than 173 years Procter and Gamble has been an integral part of the nation's history. As an example of what free enterprise can achieve, its story is truly American. The history of P&G is really a series of strategic choices in meeting the needs of consumers initially in America and today world-wide.
1:00   Gastronomy Firsts!
    Jane Siebert
     Isn't it delightful to enjoy a special meal in one of our favorite restaurants? But where was the first restaurant? Who were the first great chefs? Who were the first food critiques or gastronomes? Who wrote the first cookbooks? This presentation will explore briefly the beginnings of the culture of cooking and serving fine food. What we take for granted in our dining out experiences today has evolved from a rich historical and sociologically interesting background.
2:00   "The Bookshop" - A Play
     Patti Siberz
     The performance of this one woman, one act play by Ms. Siberz will remind you of some of your favorite old books and will also illustrate the fate of the small independent bookshop.

September 21
10:00  Western Expansion of the United States and the Remarkable Term of President Polk
     Peter Lacques
     We will discuss the economic, cultural, and political aspects of the expansion of the United States beyond the original 13 colonies. Emphasis will be on President Polk's remarkable term which saw the conclusion of continental growth.
1:00   The Punic Wars: Rome vs. Carthage (264-146 BC)
     John Pinto
    This presentation will summarize the 120 year conflict between Rome and Carthage, two titans of the ancient world struggling for dominance of the Western Mediterranean. The three Punic Wars were momentous events in the development of Western Civilization. Although Rome was ultimately victorious, it narrowly escaped defeat by Hannibal, one of the greatest military leaders of all time. Most historians agree that the world today would be a very different place if Carthage had won its clash with Rome.  

September 28
10:00  Robert Frost: The Road Less Remembered
     Jerry Higley
     Robert Frost: The Road Less Remembered, the life and poetry of perhaps 20th century America's best poet, including discussions of a few of his most important poems.
1:00   Community Creation and Control of Crime
     Dick Vandiver
     Humans aren't born into the world as either "criminals" or "saints", they are made that way by a combination of physical, mental and environmentally generated characteristics. Be prepared to challenge your deepest assumptions about the nature of Crime, Criminals and the Community Reactions to both. Why hasn't the scientific study of Criminology over the 20th century eliminated our "Crime Problem"? Can crime be studied using the methods of science? Is crime control merely an exercise in futility and a political activity rather than social engineering based on carefully conducted scientific studies?

October 5
10:00  Timber Harvesting in the Pacific Northwest
     Steve Bowers
     Timber harvesting options in Oregon's forests. Discuss the various issues such as selecting a harvesting system (bulldozer, cable, farm tractor, etc.) and the ramifications on the woodland owner's property and the "purse" - how these operations are employed, the skill levels required and the safety issues of each system.
1:00   Fossils - The Ultimate Antique Road Show
     Dr. William Orr
     This presentation explores a number of technical innovations that we imagine characterize our culture. Some of these include snap fasteners, velcro, plywood, etc., which have in fact been used by both plants and animals for millions of years. I will use the fossil record as well as modern biology to demonstrate that little is really new. Attendees are encouraged to bring any fossils they may own for identification by Dr. Orr.

October 12
10:00  The Art of Inner Fitness
     Pam Ballo, Life Coach
     Would you like extra energy, less stress and more joy? We spend a lot of time focused on external fitness, but inner fitness often drives physical wellness. Come learn simple tools for aligning your mind and body with the rest of your life.
1:00   The Amazing Wood Duck
     Al Rice
     This duck with the only long slicked - back crest in the duck family is a very coloful waterfowl; nesting in the natural tree cavities or in special wood boxes along the water. Making and placing these wood boxes along the water has been a passion for Al Rice. We will hear his story and the story of the amazing wood duck.
2:00  The Tillamook Burn
     Peter Lacques
     The Tillamook Burn was a series of four major forest fires that occurred from 1933 to 1951 and burned 555 square miles in an area north and east of Tillamook. It was a natural disaster that devastated a huge area, and bankrupted the counties involved. We will discuss the devastation and rehabilitation of what is now designated at the Tillmook State Forest.

October 19 Offsite
10:00  Field Trip - From Jails to Ales
     We will begin the morning tour at the Lincoln County jail for an inside view of the facility. Your tour guide will be selected by Lt. Jaime Russell and will cover bookings, records, meals, restraint chairs, attorney rooms and all the inner workings that make our local jail operate efficiently. We will break into smaller groups and observe the inmate's housing and recreation areas. We will also observe a criminal courtroom in action.
12:00   
     We will re-group across the Yaquina Bay Bridge at the Rogue brewery where we will have lunch in the pub's meeting room. This will be followed by a tour of the brewery, aging tanks, warehouse, and other operations. Time permitting, we will also be allowed a peek at the Rogue distillery where whiskey and vodka are made. Rogue brewery has a loyal worldwide following and is a major local employer.

October 26
10:00 Hiking in Norway
     Thoralf Gamlem
     A photographic representation of a 466 mile, 32 day hiking tour from Oslo to Trondheim. Journeying along one of the world's most beautiful and undiscovered pilgrim trails, Mr. Gamlem and his companions adventured in the unique and wonderful country.
1:00   The Cold War - Not Your Ordinary Conflict!
     Larry Martin
     Its origins, nature and characteristics; hot spots and boiling points; resolve, reform and restructuring; prospects for the future.

November 2
10:00  Fixing the Ur-text of an Ancient Document
     Dr. Kempton Hewitt
     This fast paced and informative presentation will introduce the centuries-old field of textual criticism as both a science and an art. Dr. Hewitt, an internationally known biblical scholar and linguist, will discuss the basic concepts currently in use when dealing with the discovery of manuscripts unknown in earlier times. He will explain how this science has been applied to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls when counterbalanced with the documents we know as The New Testament.
1:00   Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 
     Dr. Ned Brittain
     We will view a Teaching Company tape about Alzheimer's disease and talk about it and other dementias. If time permits we will discuss some recent neuroscience research.

November 9
10:00  Turkish Traditions and Culture
     Sener Otrugman
     The family, daily life in urban and rural lifestyles, food habits, hospitality, ceremonies, death and burial customs, education, military service, soccer, entertainment and any other aspect that may come up. We will wander off the beaten tourist path. You are encouraged to come prepared with questions.
1:00   Broadway Musicals
     Margaret Ogle and Mary Kimball
     Continuing the popular DVD series on Great American Music, this program will include the Broadway Shows of the 1950s and 1960s, including My Fair Lady and Bye, Bye Birdie.

November 16
10:00  Diving in Bonaire
     Bori Olla
     This presentation will begin with excerpts of underwater videos made while diving in the reefs and waters of the Caribbean island of Bonaire, and will serve as an introduction to an overview of various research projects done by Mr. Olla in his career as a marine biologist with and emphasis on fishes of the Pacific Northwest ocean.
1:00   Origin of Food Words - (final of a series)
     Sener Otrugman
     Recipes travel from culture to culture, their names morphing in the process. To follow their path is to discover surprising connections; food names contain world history. Here we'll explore and examine a few famous and obscure examples.

November 23
10:00  Tango - Music and Dance, From Barrio to Concert Hall and Salon
     Kanwal Sachdeva and John Pinto
     Tango is danced throughout the world from Helsinki to Mumbai. The dance, in all its flavors and styles, will be illustrated through video clips. Our presentation also focuses on Astor Piazzolla, one of the foremost composers of the late 20th century. Piazzolla's music is steeped in tango but is no longer stricly for dance. His compositions merge tango with jazz and classical to form a new musical vocabulary.
1:00  Jewish Holidays 101
     Mindy Spencer
     An explanation of the significance of the best known and a few lesser known Jewish holidays.
 

Thanksgiving/Christmas break - Start again January 18, 2011