OLLI Winter 2024 Catalog

Stay Curious.

Stay Connected.

Winter Term: Jan. 8-Mar. 1, 2024 Ringling College Continuing Studies

OLLI at Ringling College is the Place to Be If • You like meeting people.

• You are age “50 and better.”

• You enjoy intellectual discussions and the lively exchange of ideas.

• You realize that an important part of aging well is staying active mentally and physically.

• Your daily routine is flexible, giving you the freedom to choose your schedule.

If you identify with at least two of the above statements, you’re a perfect candidate for lifelong learning.

There are no tests or grades—ever.

We invite you to come and experience learning for the pure joy of learning!

Index

19-21 Health and Lifestyles

3-4 Index 5 Staff | Advisory Council | Academic Calendar 6-7 Program Information | Academic Policies and Procedures

The Mind Body Connection Searching “Dr. Google.” What Should I Believe?

Understanding Dementia A Whole Health Perspective on Obesity

8 Teach for OLLI

and Overweight

9 OLLI Membership

Lives Well Lived

10-11 Registration Form and Grid

Use Your Brain—For a Change Release Your Inner Visionary in 2024 Get Meditated!

13 Arts Appreciation Glass: The New Hot Contemporary Art Form Picasso and His Women The Star Architects of the 21st Century A Visual Artist's Process and Journey 14-15 Arts and Entertainment

Enhancing Your Memory Through Mnemonics Finding Your Florida Style 21-24 History Russia—A Study in Tyranny This Was Their Lives America's Written Words and Documents

Brain Games

A History of Smuggling in Florida

A Baby Boomer’s Perspective on Digitization

American Power Couples of the 19th Century

in Entertainment

Blacklisted Hollywood

Magic for the Young at Heart

Coming of Age in the 1960s

An Insider’s Look at the Ballet

The Dark Ages Illuminated

The OLLI Movie Club

The Vietnam War and Its Impact on American Culture

Bridge for Beginners—Make New Friends

History Thursdays

and Stay Mentally Sharp

The Great Nuclear War Crisis of 1983:

Master of Suspense: Alfred Hitchcock Films

Why Don't I Know About It?

1930-1940

25 Languages

16 Culture and Travel Chasing the Electric Horseman 16-18 Current Events and Global Affairs

Introduction to French Latin for Beginners, Part 2 25-27 Literature

Voting Behavior and the Electoral Process

20th Century Indian Literature in English—

A Crazy World: Maps Can Help Understand It

Novels and Poetry

World in Transition

World’s Great Literature

The Historic First Federal Prosecution of

The Brothers Karamazov

a U.S. President

OLLI Winter Book Club

Manifest Injustice: Wrongful Convictions

OLLI Mystery Book Club

Immigration Policy in America

The Best American Magazine Writing 2024

America's 21st Century Political Snarl:

Who’s Afraid of Modern Poetry?

Bedrock Basics

Short Story Collective

Southeast Asian Politics

The New Yorker Magazine: Conversations

18 Economics and Finance Advanced Investment Analysis Financial Literacy 101: Concepts and Terminology You Need to Know

Photography by Karen Arango ’13: www.karenarango.com, Daniel Perales, and Payton Adams

Index

28-29 Music Appreciation

36-39 Listening to Women 2024

Conversations with Franz Schubert

40 CONNECTIONS: The Documentary Film Series

On His Death Bed

The Biggest Little Farm

“I Haven't Heard That in Years!” The Forgotten Hits

Last Flight Home

The Swing Era: 1930s Jazz and Its Impact Today Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History

41 Lectures

Rock ‘n’ Roll's Early Years:

The Other Italy—A Journey Beyond Italy’s Grand Tour

The Los Angeles Contribution

The Rosenwald Schools of Florida

29 Philosophy and Religion

42 Program

Exploring Modern Dilemmas Through the

Impact Theatre Comes to OLLI

Eyes of Jewish Tradition Partners With Our Planet: Jewish Tradition

43 Presentations

and the Environment

Seniors—How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

The Spirituality of Nature

of Investment Scams Understanding Medicare: What You Need to Know

30-31 Psychology Psychology of Ancient Wisdom: The Upanishads

44 Making a Gift

Writing Your Life Story: Two Pages at a Time The History of Psychiatry: Winners and Losers Women and the Secret Life of Money

45 Thank You to Our Donors 46-52 Instructor Biographies

Seeing Our Dogs Through a Parenting Lens

53 About Sarasota Art Museum

Dream Work Practice: Exploring the Power of the Symbolic 32-33 Science A Guided Tour Through the Universe Science Wednesdays Exploring 20th Century Physics and Cosmology 33 Technology Demystifying AI for Everyone 34-35 Writing Writers' Workshop Memoir Plus So, You'd Like to Write a Mystery?

Write Like a Dancer

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Staff | Advisory Council | Academic Calendar

Staff Dr. Phyllis C. Brown Director pbrown3@ringling.edu

Meghan Burrows Registration & Operations Assistant

Melinda Whitson Records & Accounts Specialist mwhitson@ringling.edu

mburrows@ringling.edu Sheila Reed Assistant Director sreed@ringling.edu

Renee G. Simon Volunteer Coordinator rsimon@ringling.edu

Advisory Council Holly Freedman Co-Chair Jeff Ryder Co-Chair & Chair Curriculum Committee

Louise Gallagher Bev Harms (Emeritus) Colleen Lundwall Tom Miller, Chair, Membership Committee Mark Moulin

OLLI 2023-2024 Academic Calendar Term Dates

Closings and No Classes

Winter: Jan. 8-Mar. 1* Spring: Mar. 11-May 3* Summer: May 13-June 28

• Nov. 23-24 (Thanksgiving) • Dec. 18-Jan. 2 (Winter break) • Jan. 15 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) • May 27 (Memorial Day) • June 19 (Juneteenth) • July 4 (Independence Day)

* Notes: A one-week break between terms

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Marilyn Pinsky Marion Richter Sam Samelson (Emeritus) Jack Sukin Patricia van der Vorm

Program Information | Academic Policies and Procedures

About OLLI at Ringling College The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College is a program of Ringling College of Art and Design. OLLI at Ringling College operates year-round and is supported through memberships, student registrations, and private contributions. OLLI courses are non-credit and primarily based on a liberal arts curriculum. Tuition varies depending on course length. There are no grades and no tests. Courses are offered purely for the joy of learning.

Instructor Responsibility If a student disrupts a class, the instructor has a responsibility to ask the student to refrain from class disruptions. If the disruptive behavior persists, the instructor has a responsibility to ask the student to leave class.

The definition of disruptive behavior includes not complying with the Student Code of Conduct. It may also include any behaviors or actions considered threatening, abusive, or inconsiderate of other students.

A student may return to class only if they refrain from disruptive behavior. If the student refuses to comply, security will be called and the student will be escorted from the classroom.

Mission The mission of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College is to enrich the lives of mature adults in Sarasota and Manatee counties. We provide affordable and outstanding educational programs and social interaction that covers a broad spectrum of topics that are rich in intellectual stimulation, interactive in scope, and worthy of academic consideration.

The director and the assistant director of OLLI at Ringling College must be notified if an incident occurs where a student is asked to leave the classroom.

Membership A Gold ($85) or Silver ($25) Membership is required to register for a multi-session course. You do not need a membership to register for lectures, workshops, programs, or presentations. Membership in OLLI is not transferable. Spouses or partners must have their own individual memberships. Gold and Silver memberships are non-refundable.

Learning Environment Above all else, our ultimate goal is to provide a stimulating and thoughtful learning experience.

We are committed to creating an intellectually nurturing environment that encourages a collegial exchange of ideas and concepts and enables us to broaden our perspectives and hone our opinions. Sometimes we agree with others’ viewpoints; sometimes we question them and feel the need to present an alternative view. This honest give and take of scholastic discourse, tempered with mutual respect and an open mind, makes for a rare and memorable learning experience.

Registration Options Online: Visit www.rcad.augusoft.net and browse courses.

If you have more than one address, remember to use the address that is associated with the credit card you are using.

Mail or in Person: Fill out the mail-in form. Enclose it with your check or credit card information. You can also drop off your form in Room 105 (Fran Mann Reception Area) on the Ringling College Museum Campus.

Student Code of Conduct We all play a role in maintaining this balance of civility and academic freedom. Here’s how you can do your part.

• Allow others to have their say.

• Respect the rights of others to express their views.

• Listen quietly while the instructor or other

Phone: 941-309-5111 Cancellations If a class is canceled due to under-enrollment, students will receive a full refund.

students are speaking.

• Refrain from quarrelsome interruptions to an instructor’s presentation.

• Ensure cell phones are switched off or muted during the class.

• Comply with OLLI staff and instructor requests.

Students will also receive a full refund if an instructor cancels a class prior to the first scheduled session.

Once a class has started, and the instructor cancels a class for medical or personal reasons, students will receive a prorated refund based on the number of classes held prior to cancellation. Students are expected to pay for course sessions they attend.

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Program Information | Academic Policies and Procedures

Course Refunds If a student drops a course before the first scheduled session, the student will receive a full refund.

If a student drops a course after the first scheduled session, the student will receive a refund minus a 25 percent administrative fee.

If a student drops a course after the second scheduled session, the student forfeits their entire tuition.

There are no refunds for lectures, workshops, or special programs.

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design Photo: Ryan Gamma

Guest Policy Guests are welcome to visit two classes per semester on a space available basis. They must register prior to attending each class by calling the office 941-309-5111.

When classes are closed (all seats filled), guests cannot be accommodated. A guest cannot “bump” a registered student from any class.

Contact/Mail Information OLLI at Ringling College 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236-9117 Office hours: 8 am to 4 pm • Monday-Friday

Building Evacuation Procedures Upon receipt of an evacuation order, all employees and students shall exit via the nearest unaffected exit. They shall proceed quickly and quietly to the designated evacuation relocation point for the area they were in at the time of the evacuation order.

If class is in session, it is the responsibility of the instructor to direct their students from their classroom to the appropriate egress route and relocation point.

Phone: 941-309-5111 Email: OLLI@ringling.edu Website: www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org

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Teach for OLLI

Teach for OLLI Our instructors are vital to the success of OLLI at Ringling College.

They help us in our mission to stimulate intellectual curiosity among mature learners, aged 50 and better!

OLLI at Ringling College wants to expand its team of instructors. We’re also looking for new and innovative courses and program ideas.

If you currently teach for us and know someone who would be a good fit for OLLI, please send us an email at: OLLI@ringling.edu If you are a prospective instructor or have a new course idea, we encourage you to visit our website, www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org to learn more and submit a proposal.

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OLLI Membership

Become a Member The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College is a member-based learning community serving adults aged 50 and older in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Join fellow lifelong learners virtually or on the Ringling College Museum Campus. Enjoy learning opportunities in a welcoming environment.

Our mission is to enrich the lives of our students by offering intellectually stimulating high-quality educational programs. Students get to interact with their peers and form new relationships.

Membership in OLLI is not transferable. Spouses or partners must have their own individual memberships.

Gold and Silver Memberships are non-refundable.

OLLI Offers Programs: Fall

Spring

Winter

Summer

Course Topics Include: • Art Appreciation

• Economics and Finance

• Literature

• Science

• Arts and Entertainment

• History

• Music Appreciation

• Technology

• Culture and Travel

• Health and Lifestyles

• Philosophy and Religion

• Writing

• Current Events and Global Affairs

• Languages

• Psychology

Why Join?

OLLI Member Benefits

200+ courses offered in our academic year

Participation in SIGs (Shared Interest Groups)

Engage with a community of dynamic lifelong learners

Listening to Women: The lecture series

Lectures with subject matter experts

Discount on course fees (Gold Members)

Monthly e-newsletters

CONNECTIONS: The documentary film series

Opportunities to make new friends

Tours of Ringling College Galleries

Volunteer opportunities

Discounted membership to Sarasota Art Museum

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$85 Gold

$25 Silver

Gold members get early registration privileges, a 10 percent discount on courses, lectures, and workshops, and $37.50 is tax-deductible Only members can register for multi-session courses Members enjoy a 10 percent discount at the Bistro

How to join OLLI at Ringling College: Call: 941-309-5111 Visit: www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org

Registration Form Student Information (Please Print Clearly) I am a new student Name (as it appears on credit card) _______________________________________________________ Billing Address _____________________________________________________________ City/State/ZIP _______________________________________ Phone Number ___________________________________________________ Email Address ________________________________________________ Return Completed Forms To

Course Information 8-Session Courses 6 & 7-Session Courses 5-Session Courses 4-Session Courses 3-Session Courses 2-Session Courses Half-Day Workshop

OLLI at Ringling College 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236 Photo Policy By registering for courses, I acknowledge that my photo may be taken while at the OLLI at Ringling College and utilized for purposes of promoting the OLLI. If I do not want my photo utilized, I will step aside when photos are being taken.

Quantity: Quantity: Quantity: Quantity: Quantity: Quantity: Quantity:

x $95 x $90 x $85 x $70 x $60 x $45 x $55

=$ =$ =$ =$ =$ =$ =$

Subtotal = $ Gold Membership Discount (-10%) = $

Top Upper Portion Total = $

Programs (No Refunds) CONNECTIONS (The Documentary Film Series) Biggest Little Farm • Tuesday, Jan. 9 • 2:30-4:30 pm

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Last Flight Home • Tuesday, Feb. 6 • 2:30-4:30 pm

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Gold Member: $12 • Silver Member and General Admission: $15 Impact Theater Comes to OLLI • Monday, Feb. 19 • 3-4:30 pm Free to Gold and Silver Members and General Admission Guests. Pre-registration required.

Lectures (No Refunds) The Rosenwald Schools of Florida • Monday, Jan. 8 • 2:30-3:30 pm Gold Member: $12 • Silver Member and General Admission: $15 The Other Italy—A Journey Beyond Italy’s Grand Tour • Friday, Jan. 26 • 1-3 pm Gold Member: Free (pre-registration required) • Silver Member and General Admission: $15

Presentations (No Refunds) Seniors—How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Investment Scams • Friday, Jan. 26 • 10-11:30 am Free to Gold and Silver Members and General Admission Guests. Pre-registration required.

Understanding Medicare: What You Need to Know • Friday, March 1 • 10-11:30 am Free to Gold and Silver members and General Admission guests. Pre-registration required.

Subtotal = $ Gold Member Benefits

• Early Registration • 10% Tuition Discount • Free Lectures • 10% Discount at the Bistro

Gold Membership Annual Fee: $85 = $ Silver Membership Annual Fee: $25 = $ Tax-Deductible Donation = $ Final Total = $

Method Of Payment Check (enclosed)

Credit Card (Full credit card number required. Registration system does not retain card number.)

Visa/MC/Discover/AMEX # _______________________________________ CVV Code ____________ Exp. Date ___________

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Registration Grid Gold Member registration begins Tuesday, Nov. 28 | Silver Member registration begins Tuesday, Dec. 5 Please indicate your choice of course(s) from the list below, then complete all information on the registration form.

The number in parenthesis indicates the number of sessions.

Wednesday

Monday

9-10:20 am _____ Exploring Modern Dilemmas Through the Eyes of Jewish Tradition (6) PL106 _____ Best American Magazine Writing 2024 (8) LI153 _____ So, You'd Like to Write a Mystery? (4) WR122

9-10:20 am _____ Voting Behavior and the Electoral Process (5) CV141 9 am-12 pm _____ Writers' Workshop (7) WR107

11 am-12:20 pm _____ Immigration Policy in America (4) CV139 _____ Partners With our Planet: Jewish Tradition and the Environment (5) PL120 _____ Understanding Dementia (6) HL114 _____ Blacklisted Hollywood (8) HS175 _____ Latin for Beginners, Part 2 (8) LA116 _____ Lives Well Lived (5) HL116 _____ Coming of Age in the 1960s (4) HS186 _____ Writing Your Life Story: Two Pages at a Time (6) PY142 _____ (online) “I Haven’t Heard That in Years!”

The Forgotten Hits (6) MA167 _____ A Whole Health Perspective on Obesity and Overweight (2) HL115

11 am-12:20 pm _____ Brain Games (7) AE141 _____ Demystifying AI for Everyone (4) TC136 _____ Glass: The New Hot Contemporary Art Form (6) AP162 _____ Russia—A Study in Tyranny (2) HS183 _____ (online) Memoir Plus (7) WR111 _____ This Was Their Lives (6) HS106 1-2:20 pm _____ Psychology of Ancient Wisdom: The Upanishads (7) PY141 Tuesday 9-10:20 am _____ A Crazy World: Maps Can Help Understand It (8) CV132 _____ Advanced Investment Analysis (8) EC108

11 am-12:30 pm _____ Short Story Collective (7) LI116 1-2:20 pm _____ The History of Psychiatry: Winners and Losers (6) PY143 _____ The Swing Era: 1930s Jazz and Its Impact Today (6) MA168 _____ Who's Afraid of Modern Poetry? (8) LI111 _____ The Dark Ages Illuminated (6) HS180 _____ Science Wednesdays (4) SI108

11-12:20 pm _____ World in Transition (6) CV108 _____ 20th Century Indian Literature in English— Novels and Poetry (8) LI151 _____ America's Written Words and Documents (8) HS184 _____ World's Great Literature (8) LI145 _____ A Guided Tour Through the Universe (5) SI123 _____ American Power Couples of the 19th Century (5) HS185 _____ The Historic First Federal Prosecution of a U.S. President (2) CV142

2:30-4 pm _____ Searching “Dr. Google.” What Should I Believe?

(1) HL113

11 am-12:30 pm _____ Introduction to French (7) LA117 1-2:20 pm _____ The Mind Body Connection (4) HL112 _____ A History of Smuggling in Florida (6) HS154 _____ Manifest Injustice: Wrongful Convictions (8) CV105 _____ A Conversation with Franz Schubert on His Death Bed (8) MA166 _____ The Brothers Karamazov (8) LI152 _____ Picasso and His Women (8) AP163 _____ A Baby Boomer’s Perspective on Digitization in Entertainment (6) AE150 1-2:30 pm _____ OLLI Winter Book Club (4) LI102 _____ OLLI Mystery Book Club (4) LI135

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Registration Grid

Friday

Thursday

9:30 am-12:30 pm _____ Chasing the Electric Horseman (1) TV110 _____ The Great Nuclear War Crisis of 1983 (1) HS188

9-10:20 am _____ America's 21st Century Political Snarl: Bedrock Basics (8) CV143 _____ (online) Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History (8) MA169

10-11:30 am _____ Bridge for Beginners—Make New Friends and Stay Mentally Sharp (6) AE153

11 am-12:20 pm _____ An Insider's Look at the Ballet (5) AE151 _____ The New Yorker Magazine: Conversations (8) LI125 _____ The Vietnam War and Its Impact on American Culture (6) HS187 _____ Financial Literacy 101: Concepts and Terminology You Need to Know (3) EC123 _____ The Spirituality of Nature (6) PL117 _____ Use Your Brain—For a Change (4) HL117 _____ Magic for the Young at Heart (4) AE113 _____ (online) Rock ‘n’ Roll's Early Years: The Los Angeles Contribution (6) MA170

10 am-1 pm _____ Master of Suspense: Alfred Hitchcock Films 1930-1940 (8) AE152 _____ Release Your Inner Visionary in 2024 (1) HL118 10:45 am-1:45 pm _____ Get Meditated! 1st session (1) HL119 _____ Get Meditated! 2nd session (1) HL119 _____ Get Meditated! 3rd session (1) HL119 _____ Get Meditated! 4th session (1) HL119 11 am-12:20 pm _____ See Our Dogs Through a Parenting Lens (1) PY145

1-2:20 pm _____ The Star Architects of the 21st Century (8) AP164 _____ The OLLI Movie Club (8) AE144 _____ Southeast Asian Politics (8) CV131 _____ Exploring 20th Century Physics and Cosmology (8) SI127 _____ History Thursdays (4) HS160

11 am-12:30 pm _____ A Visual Artist’s Process and Journey (1) AP165 12:30-3:30 pm _____ Enhancing Your Memory Through Mnemonics (1) HL120 _____ Write Like a Dancer (1) WR123 _____ Finding your Florida Style (1) HL121

1-2:30 pm _____ Listening to Women (6) CV119

1-4 pm _____ Women and the Secret Life of Money (1) PY144 _____ Dream Work Practice: Exploring the Power of the Symbolic (1) PY146

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Arts Appreciation

Arts Appreciation

New: Glass: The New Hot Contemporary Art Form

New: The Star Architects of the 21st Century Course #AP164 Robert Cassway Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #AP162 Judy Levine Ringling College Museum Campus

Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 29

Mondays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 22-Feb. 26

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

If you have an interest in modern architecture, you do not want to miss this course. More buildings have been designed and built in the first quarter of the 21st century than were constructed in the previous two centuries. This course will examine the work of current star architects, from Rafael Aranda to Peter Zumthor. The work of Pritzker Prize winners such as Richard Rogers, Norman Foster, and Renzo Piano will be discussed, as well as the starring newcomers.

The course will examine how economics, climate change, new materials, and the computer have changed the way architects now design buildings. We'll examine buildings in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, South America, and Asia.

Glass is one of the premier mediums for new and emerging artists to explore. Despite its humble origins in the garage of a Toledo, Ohio museum in 1960, the studio glass movement is now one of the most important, recent advancements in the world of contemporary art. The class will learn about the history of the Studio Art Glass movement and its founding artists. An overview of glass techniques and examples of glass art will familiarize students with materials and techniques. Field trips may include The Ringling’s Kotler-Coville Glass Pavilion, the Basch Collection, and the hot shop at Ringling College of Art and Design.

New: A Visual Artist's Process and Journey

New: Picasso and His Women

Course #AP165 Kelly Parisi Castro Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #AP163 Marie-Agnès Sourieau Ringling College Museum Campus

Friday: 11 am-12:30 pm 1 Session: Jan. 19

Tuesdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27

Gold Member: Free to Gold Members (pre-registration required) Silver Member: $15

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Have you ever wondered why artists choose a particular subject? Why they choose to paint in oil vs. watercolor?

Why they choose certain colors? Every artist has an individual process and journey in creating their work.

From the earliest stages of discovery through the process resulting in the final painting, the instructor will discuss her creative journey as an artist, her move to Florida, and her love of the natural beauty found in her new surroundings.

Along the way, she will describe and show the stages of several paintings done of local environs. This session is a visual feast for art lovers and the art curious.

This course explores the art of Picasso through the lens of the prominent women with whom he shared his life.

They were his lovers, confidantes, and muses as well as the casualties of his serial infidelities and abuse. He had a complicated relationship with each one of them; none stands above the others as an archetypal muse. Picasso, being a profoundly personal artist, took inspiration from his life to reflect directly into his artwork. As such, we will see how his style was transformed with each new relationship and how his feelings and impulses were reflected in the portraiture of these women.

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Arts and Entertainment

Arts and Entertainment

New: Brain Games

Magic for the Young at Heart

Course #AE141 Will Luera Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #AE113 Mark Hogan Ringling College Museum Campus

Mondays: 11 am-12:20 pm 7 Sessions: Jan. 8-Feb. 26 (Note: There is no class on Jan. 15)

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 4 Sessions: Feb. 8-Feb. 29 Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Have you ever wanted to learn a few great magic tricks to entertain your friends at a party, be the “cool” grandma or grandpa magician, or teach your grandkids to be a magician themselves? Well, now is your chance. You'll have a blast learning easy-to-do magic tricks that you can perform anytime and anywhere. You'll also learn card tricks, tricks with money, rope tricks, and tricks with everyday objects found around your house. Magic is just pure fun! Students must purchase a $20 magic kit from the instructor. The cost of the kit is not included in the class fee.

This class focuses on cognitive fitness for the prevention of memory loss and to keep us mentally sharp at any age.

Throughout the class, students will play games and do theater exercises that help strengthen listening skills and short-term memory functions. Students will learn to use their instincts, creativity, and spontaneity as they work together to explore and create improvisational theater in an environment that will be fun and funny every week.

New: A Baby Boomer’s Perspective on Digitization in Entertainment

New: An Insider’s Look at the Ballet

Course #AE151 Jean Volpe Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #AE150 Robert DeFillipi Ringling College Museum Campus

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 5 Sessions: Jan. 25-Feb. 22

Tuesdays: 1-2:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 16-Feb. 20

Gold Member: $76.50 Silver Member: $85

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

The course will cover topics of ballet from the point of view of a former professional ballet dancer who performed around the globe, including New York City. These topics will include the history of ballet, the evolution of the costumes in ballet, the influence of music in ballet, choreographers, “what makes a ballerina great,” and finally, an insider’s look at the Sarasota Ballet.

We have gone from vinyl records to online music. We used to rent videos at Blockbuster and now we stream and watch Netflix. This course provides a recap of the Baby Boomer generation’s experience of digital transformation of entertainment. We will begin by examining our analog origins, share the impact of the digitization of our analog tools, and ponder the future of digital entertainment in the newly emerging era of interactive artificial intelligence.

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Arts and Entertainment

New: The OLLI Movie Club

New: Master of Suspense: Alfred Hitchcock Films 1930-1940

Course #AE144 Joe Cucci Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #AE152 Jeff Ryder Ringling College Museum Campus

Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 29

Fridays: 10 am-1 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 12-Mar. 1

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

The OLLI Movie Club is a casual discussion group. It is not a lecture series. It is like your weekly neighborhood book club. Your homework assignment is to go see a movie. We will meet in class to discuss the film with other folks who love movies. The moderator will pick movies playing in theaters that week as well as those showing on Netflix and Amazon Prime. This is the time when the best movies are getting buzz before the Oscars. The moderator will provide cursory background information and then facilitate discussions that are driven by members of the class.

Alfred Hitchcock was one of the most important and influential directors in film history. His films spanned over 40 years. Some of Hitchcock's most famous films from the 1930s and 1940s will be spotlighted. They include The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Rebecca, Foreign Correspondent, Spellbound, Shadow of a Doubt, Notorious, and Strangers on a Train. Each week, one film will be screened in person with an introduction by the instructor, followed by an instructor-led discussion of the film with the class.

New: Bridge for Beginners—Make New Friends and Stay Mentally Sharp Course #AE153 Abe Lederman Ringling College Museum Campus Fridays: 10-11:30 am 6 Sessions: Jan. 12-Feb. 16 Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 This six-session class is aimed at bridge novices. Consider yourself a novice if you’ve never played bridge, never taken any bridge lessons or if you took some lessons, played bridge a few times and gave up. In this class, you will learn how to play bridge hands. We will teach simple bidding techniques, declarer play, and defense play. Students will spend a significant time in class practicing what they learn from the lessons. At the end of this introductory course, you will be proficient enough to play bridge with other beginners and more advanced players who are willing to help you improve your game. You will also learn that bridge is a wonderful way to meet and make new friends. And did you know that when you play bridge you stimulate both sides of your brain thereby increasing your mental focus? Bridge is the complete package when it comes to social and mental engagement. Warning: Bridge can become addictive!

Join us and let's start this adventure.

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Culture and Travel | Current Events and Global Affairs

Culture and Travel

New: Chasing the Electric Horseman

New: A Crazy World: Maps Can Help Understand It

Course #TV110 Jack and Carmin Merriam Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #CV132 Richard Gelpke Ringling College Museum Campus

Friday: 9:30 am-12:30 pm 1 Session: Jan. 12

Tuesdays: 9-10:20 am 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Find out what it’s like to travel cross country in an Electric Vehicle (EV). This course is part travelogue and part history lesson and has something for everyone. Follow the instructors' journey from Florida to Prince Edward Island, Canada. Their trip will show that it's not only possible to travel and camp with an electric vehicle—it's also comfortable! You will learn about issues such as charging the vehicle, using an electric refrigerator/freezer in the car, and cooking with electric appliances. History lessons will include the beginning of the American Revolution at Meriam’s Corner, Mass., to Yorktown, Va., where the war ended. Join us for the adventure!

Maps are all around us. They are on the GPS on our dashboard, in newspapers, on our smartphones and Tablets, and on cable and network TV. But do we know the history of maps? Do we know how they have been used and or misused in the past? This course sets out to survey the landscape of maps. We will learn how they influence our view of the world and how they can affect us directly. Some topics for which maps are essential to understand are gerrymandering, transportation, borders, major conflicts, religious issues, and great treks. This course will also include fun aspects of maps: trivia, games, and cartoons.

World in Transition

Current Events and Global Affairs

Course #CV108 Peter Mermin Ringling College Museum Campus

New: Voting Behavior and the Electoral Process

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 13

Course #CV141 John Scibak Ringling College Museum Campus

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Mondays: 9-10:20 am 5 Sessions: Jan. 22-Feb. 19

We will be discussing various topics relating to the current world situation. Optional materials for the course will be emailed to participants two weeks before our first class.

The class will be conducted seminar-style, with full class participation. We will consider books, articles, movies, and personal experiences which may help us illuminate what is going on in today’s world. Let’s all learn from each other.

Gold Member: $76.50 Silver Member: $85 Since the establishment of the United States in 1776, when voting was limited to white male property owners, to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, “hanging chads,” and recent efforts by various states to either expand or suppress access, the right to vote in U.S. elections has changed dramatically over time. We will discuss the history and reasons for what happened historically—focusing on more recent history and what might happen going forward. The instructor, a former Massachusetts state representative, will share data and strategies he used to increase voter turnout.

He will also review strategies used by two former Presidents to identify voters and prospective donors and explain key contingencies that influence votes by legislators.

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Current Events and Global Affairs

New: The Historic First Federal Prosecution of a U.S. President

New: Immigration Policy in America Course #CV139 Richard Vengroff Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #CV142 Robert Gary Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 4 Sessions: Jan. 10-Jan. 31

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 2 Sessions: Feb. 20 and Feb. 27

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $40.50 Silver Member: $45

In this course, we will explore the legal, policy, and practical aspects of immigration policy in the U.S. with emphasis on the period from 1965 to the present. These include family reunification, employment, asylum, refugees, and the undocumented. Prospects for immigration reform will also be discussed.

This course will explain the legal intricacies and legal consequences of the indictments of Donald Trump. The course will be taught from the perspective of a former federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice with experience as an assistant United States Attorney and Acting Chief of the Cleveland Organized Crime Strike Force.

New: America's 21st Century Political Snarl: Bedrock Basics

New: Manifest Injustice: Wrongful Convictions

Course #CV143 Robert McClure Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #CV105 Rick Steinmann Ringling College Museum Campus

Thursdays: 9-10:20 am 8 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 29

Tuesdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

What is causing American government and politics to fall into persistent dysfunction and growing disrepute? Why now, in the 21st century, is America acting as a world-class stumblebum on the brink of civil war? The class is built around discussions of those questions and others like them in the instructor’s manuscript Limits to Be Reckoned With.

Neither the instructor nor the manuscript has a political axe to grind. This course is more about American history, culture, and constitutional structure than current political brouhahas.

The instructor will provide students with weekly reading assignments from the draft of his manuscript. Students are asked to read one chapter each week before the class meets and come prepared to participate in interesting discussions. The instructor will open each session with a brief lecture. The course outline and reading schedule will be available on the OLLI website. Click on the “Instructor” tab, then Course Material. Students registered for the course will be emailed the password to retrieve the material.

The course will address “factually innocent” persons who are nonetheless convicted and incarcerated for a crime they did not commit. Discussions will include common contributing factors such as mistaken eyewitness identifications, false confessions, forensic science problem areas, incentivized informants, ineffective defense counsel, and prosecutorial and police misconduct. We will also consider potential remedies to reduce wrongful convictions and the issues that confront those who are exonerated relative to their reentering society. The textbook for the course is When Justice Fails: Causes and Consequences of Wrongful Convictions, 2nd Edition 2021, by Robert J. Norris, et al. Carolina Academic Press.

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Current Events and Global Affairs | Economics and Finance

Current Events and Global Affairs (cont.)

New: Southeast Asian Politics

New: Financial Literacy 101: Concepts and Terminology You Need to Know

Course #CV131 Paul Sarno Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #EC123 Roz Goldberg and Elizabeth Marshall Ringling College Museum Campus

Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 29

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 3 Sessions: Jan. 11-Jan. 25

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $54 Silver Member: $60

What is the significance of the May 2023 election in Thailand, the recent appointment of the fourth new prime minister in Malaysia since 2018, the election of Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., in the Philippines, and the civil war following the 2021 coup in Myanmar? What are the most recent developments in the South China Sea? This course will attempt to answer these questions and many others while explaining the politics that govern the 11 countries of Southeast Asia that extend from Myanmar to TimorLeste. The emphasis will be on events since 1990, and brief histories will be added for background. This exploration should further a general understanding of the region and enhance any anticipated visit to it.

Would you like to improve your financial literacy? If you answered yes, you're exactly the person for whom this course is designed. Whether you know very little about the subject or have some limited knowledge of financial matters, this three-session course will help you better understand basic financial concepts and terminology and how you can apply them in your decision-making. We will also explore the elements of investing, common investment strategies, and basic considerations in estate planning. The class will be very interactive and fun, so please be prepared to participate. Bring your curiosity, your questions, and a pen or pencil.

Economics and Finance

Advanced Investment Analysis Course #EC108 Lauren Rudd Ringling College Museum Campus Tuesdays: 9-10:20 am 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27 Gold Member: $95 Silver Member: $85.50 This course takes students into a more in-depth analysis of equities for possible inclusion in a portfolio. Students will learn about different models and analyze various methods for selecting equities based on quantitative analysis. At the completion of the class, students should be able to create a list of dividend-paying equities to be used in building a profitable portfolio. Reading lists, Excel models, and internet resource website will be provided.

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Health and Lifestyles

Health and Lifestyles

The Mind Body Connection

New: Understanding Dementia

Course #HL112 Herbert Cohen Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HL114 Bonita Garvey Spadafora Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 1-2:20 pm 4 Sessions: Jan. 9-Jan. 30

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 14

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

There are many things in life that can negatively impact us. Our bodies respond to how we think, feel, and act in reaction to these stressors. This is often referred to as the mind-body connection. This course will explore how influences such as family, peer and group interactions, and loss can lead to emotional and physical problems such as anxiety, cardiovascular disease, and fatigue. Learn how to achieve a healthy balance between your emotional and physical health by managing your emotions.

What do Rosalynn Carter and Bruce Willis have in common?

The diagnosis of dementia. What is dementia? Is it all about Alzheimer’s, or are there other types? Why does it occur?

Will I get it? Can I avoid it? We will discuss these questions and related topics like coping with the emotional impact of dementia, communicating with a confused person, and dealing with changing behaviors in a loved one. We will also review legal issues, current research, and treatment options. Class interaction will be encouraged. There is no required text.

New: Searching “Dr. Google.”

What Should I Believe?

New: A Whole Health Perspective on Obesity and Overweight

Course #HL113 Cheryl Brandi Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HL115 Cheryl Brandi Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesday: 2:30-4 pm 1 Session: Jan. 10

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 2 Sessions: Jan. 17 and Jan. 24

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member: $15

Gold Member: $40.50 Silver Member: $45

Many of us rely on the internet and social media for answers to our health questions. How can we know which websites provide health information that is credible and safe? This presentation will provide guidelines for finding reliable internet sources of health information and for evaluating other types of information, such as health news reports.

Students will learn how to expand their library of suitable resources for future use.

The disease of obesity is linked to numerous chronic illnesses and functional disabilities, and its incidence is rising dramatically. Achieving a healthy body weight and better health outcomes is about more than just eating broccoli and walking on a treadmill. Obesity must be understood as a multidimensional chronic disease that afflicts millions of Americans. This two-session course will define obesity as a complex chronic condition and then explore weight management using the American College of Lifestyle Medicine research-based blueprint for health.

Learning more about unhealthy weight gain and obesity benefits those who struggle with weight issues as well as those who wish to help and educate others.

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Health and Lifestyles

Health and Lifestyles (cont.)

New: Lives Well Lived

New: Release Your Inner Visionary in 2024

Course #HL116 Julie Cotton Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HL118 Gail Condrick Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 5 Sessions: Jan. 17-Feb. 14

Friday: 10 am-1 pm 1 Session: Jan. 26

Gold Member: $76.50 Silver Member: $85

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

What can we learn from people who have lived long and had especially satisfying lives? The inspiring, uplifting, and enlightening film Lives Well Lived (which we will watch in our first class) will serve as our springboard to answer this question. Using the findings of the long-running Harvard Study of Adult Development, other readings, and class members’ own experiences, we’ll explore what characteristics are vital to living life in a deeply satisfying manner. We’ll also investigate how to bring more of these ingredients into our lives so that each of us, even during our older years, can still experience joy and fulfillment.

The Release Your Inner Visionary in 2024 workshop will put you in touch with the inner you that is needed at this time in history. Discover more about the attributes, gifts, and challenges that “creatives and visionaries” face at any age. Learn how to bring your visions to form in 2024 and energize your passion to create. Whether you are a visionary of your every day (a writer, artist, or leader), creativity is the key to changing the world and meeting your inner you.

Bring your journal, enthusiasm, an open mind, and prepare to be amazed at your own evolved gifts.

New: Get Meditated!

New: Use Your Brain—For a Change

Course #HL119 Paula Morris Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HL117 Diane Alexander Ringling College Museum Campus

Fridays: 10:45 am-1:45 pm 1st Session: Feb. 2 2nd Session: Feb. 9 3rd Session: Feb. 16 4th Session: Feb. 23

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 4 Sessions: Feb. 1-Feb. 22 Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $49 per session Silver Member: $55 per session

What would you do if five doctors said that you have an incurable disease and in six months, you would lose all cognitive ability to help yourself? That’s what happened to the instructor who is a neuroscience expert. What did she do? She put her knowledge into practice and re-wired her brain. When you re-wire your brain, you get new results— whether that is in the area of health, relationships, finance, or any other area of your life. Imagine what would be possible in your life if you could use that same knowledge and tools. What changes would you want to implement in your life? You'll learn step-by-step how to use your brain to create the life you desire. Sign up now. Space is limited, but you aren't!

Are you struggling with life changes, setbacks, or catastrophes? Have you thought, “How did my life get so out of control, and why am I so unhappy?” If you answered yes, this medical and psychological evidence-based fourpart skills training in mindfulness daily practices is for you.

Much more than meditation instruction, these workshops will introduce dialectical skills so you can experience more meditative moments in your life and empower greater health and well-being. Each week, you will build a toolkit of practices to relax the mind’s reactivity, cravings, and unhealthy coping habits; regulate brain drain from emotional, mental, and pain tendencies; strengthen brain focus and cognition; and establish a foundation of new lifestyle practices to transcend challenges and live more resiliently and well.

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Health and Lifestyles | History

History

New: Enhancing Your Memory Through Mnemonics

New: Russia—A Study in Tyranny Course #HS183 Bob Busch Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HL120 Sandy Chase Ringling College Museum Campus

Mondays: 11 am-12:20 pm 2 Sessions: Jan. 22 and Jan. 29

Friday: 12:30-3:30 pm 1 Session: Feb. 2

Gold Member: $40.50 Silver Member: $45

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

Why is Russia so hostile to the ideas of freedom and democracy? Why does it not view the world with the same perspective as do we in the West? This course is a brief conceptual overview of Russia’s history of tyranny, beginning with the foundations of Russian culture such as early Slavic settlements, Christianity, and the Cyrillic alphabet. We will move on to the reigns of Ivan the Terrible and the Romanov dynasty that dominated early Russia.

We will also examine the two figures—Peter the Great and Catherine the Great—who modernized Russia into a major European power. We will discuss Lenin’s Bolshevik Revolution and the eventual dissolution of the USSR. We wrap up with a discussion of why Russia remains a paradox of political, economic, and military power.

As we age, short-term memory loss challenges us. Where are my keys? What's my password? Did I lock the front door? Why am I in the pantry? But using such mnemonic strategies as acronyms, acrostics, chunking, and music will help counter these challenges. Although you’ve employed many of these devices to master school subjects, you’ll explore research supporting these methods and learn new ones, including visual stimuli and spaced retrieval training, which also help bolster our memory as we age.

This workshop will allow you to share your effective memory enhancements and learn from other participants.

Practicing these strategies will help fortify your memory— and improve your life.

New: Finding Your Florida Style Course #HL121 Gail Condrick Ringling College Museum Campus Friday: 12:30-3:30 pm 1 Session: Feb. 9 Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55 It’s all new: the weather, the activities, and your clothes! In this workshop, you will get tips on how to dress like a native, where to shop (from consignment to high-end shops), and how to create looks that work for Florida and beyond all while having fun. Perfect for seasonal visitors, retirees, and anyone transitioning to a Florida lifestyle. All are welcome.

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History

History (cont.)

New: America's Written Words and Documents

New: This Was Their Lives Course #HS106 Benita Stambler, Ted Medrek, Gary Cross, Marie-Agnès Sourieau, Dent Davis, Tony Moon Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HS184 Monroe Brett Ringling College Museum Campus

Mondays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 22-Feb. 26

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

This Was Their Lives returns with an exciting lineup of six renowned history makers in entertainment, politics, fashion, and beyond. You will learn about their notable achievements, the impact of their work, insights into their personal lives, and why these celebrated figures make fascinating subjects.

Join us for an enlightening journey of discovery.

February 5: Henry Ford—Automobile manufacturer presented by Gary Cross

America’s written words and documents vividly tell the story of our past but also of our present. From the Mayflower Compact to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, a story unfolds that describes not only the foundations of America but also how we arrived at our current place. We can hear Lincoln beginning with “Four score and seven years…,” Franklin reminding us, “The only thing we have to fear…,” and Kennedy imploring us to “Ask not...” The Supreme Court developed a legal foundation beginning with Marbury vs. Madison right up to the present with Dobbs vs. Jackson. And there is Robert Frost reminding us that life has choices in The Road Not Taken. This course will be a fascinating journey.

February 12: Yves Saint Laurent—Fashion designer presented by Marie-Agnès Sourieau

A History of Smuggling in Florida

January 22: Alice Roosevelt Longworth— First daughter presented by Benita Stambler January 29: Beverly Sills—Opera singer presented by Ted Medrek

February 19: William James—Psychologist and philosopher presented by Dent Davis

Course #HS154 Stan Zimmerman Ringling College Museum Campus

February 26: Chuck Berry—Singer and guitarist presented by Tony Moon

Tuesdays: 1-2:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 13 Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 Florida has a rich and colorful history in part because it has always been one of the major conduits for contraband.

Booze, guns, and drugs are just part of the story. Trade in endangered species, slaves, cigars—if it is illegal, it’s been smuggled through Florida. The role of money laundering and disposition of profits will also be examined.

22

History

New: American Power Couples of the 19th Century

New: Coming of Age in the 1960s Course #HS186 Gary Cross Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HS185 Jeffrey Newman Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 4 Sessions: Jan. 24-Feb. 14

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 5 Sessions: Jan. 16-Feb. 13

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $76.50 Silver Member: $85

For many of us, no decade was more consequential or controversial than the ’60s. In this four-session class, we will draw on events and trends from that decade that challenged the past such as the Beatles and psychedelic drugs, the Women’s Rights and Civil Rights movements, Vietnam and the draft, and the generation gap. But we will also consider efforts to affirm traditional social and political values in music, gender roles, politics, and cultural life. Using illustrated presentations and discussions, we will reflect on and rethink memories of our “Coming of Age” decade.

The course examines two sets of power couples of the mid-19th century. The first was a married couple—the illegitimate son from an affair and the daughter of a famous U.S. politician. Together they became the most influential and powerful political players in America. The second couple were two ill-educated sisters from a poor midwestern family.

Together they reached heights never before achieved by women in the field of Wall Street finance, journalism, and a run for the presidency. They became a key driving force behind the national suffrage and Women's Rights Movement.

Along the way, they challenged America's financial, social, political, and sexual values in the name of equality. Their agenda still divides America today.

New: The Dark Ages Illuminated Course #HS180 Beverly Jennings Ringling College Museum Campus

Blacklisted Hollywood Course #HS175 Lynda Rizzio Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesdays: 1-2:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 17-Feb. 21 Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 28

After the last Roman emperor in the West was deposed in 476 CE, Europe entered a dark period of history—or so the story goes. In this course, we will look at people and events in what has been called “The Dark Ages.” We will talk about pagans and Christians, emperors, kings and queens, and barbarian kingdoms. Were the Dark Ages really dark—or was there a ray of light? Join the conversation and find out!

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95 The ’50s were considered the “happy days,” resulting in a post-war boom, economic growth, babies born, and moves to the suburbs. But there was a dark, insidious witch hunt taking place. Livelihoods and lives were destroyed. This class will be a study of the Blacklist, its impact on Hollywood and the television industry. This period of time and history will be taught chronologically, starting with the background leading up to 1947 and the Hollywood Ten, to its end in 1960 with Dalton Trumbo's credited screenplay for Spartacus.

Short documentaries will be shown in class, along with film clips, and interviews of those directly affected. A list of films will also be given to watch the week prior to class. Class time will be partially spent discussing the film.

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History

History (cont.)

New: The Vietnam War and Its Impact on American Culture Course #HS187 Alan Grindal Ringling College Museum Campus Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 15 Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 For a large number of us, the Vietnam War was the seminal event of our generation. The war caused many to question America's principles as well as their values. The legacy of this conflict remains with us today. This class will review the history of the war and the many interpretations of its significance and meaning.

February 15: World's Fairs and Midways with Gary Cross For more than a century, Americans have marked progress and pride in world’s fairs; but these spectacles also attracted thrill seekers in amusement midways. Illustrating these exhibitions from Philadelphia and Chicago in the 19th century to Buffalo, St. Louis, and New York in the 20th century, this presentation will show how these attractions changed and what that says about modern America.

New: History Thursdays Course #HS160 Beverly Jennings, Monroe Brett, Gary Cross, and Michael Sherrow Ringling College Museum Campus

February 22: The 1876 Disputed Presidential Election with Michael Sherrow The most disputed presidential election in U.S. history was not decided until two days before Inauguration Day. The forced compromise agreement, forged amidst the nation’s centennial celebrations, would adversely change the course of American history for generations. This talk will look at the state of the country, the presidential candidates and their platforms, and the events and personalities that shaped the outcome.

Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 4 Sessions: Feb. 1-Feb. 22 Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70 History Thursdays is a wonderful, eclectic group of lectures presented by OLLI history instructors. Sometimes they want to know how well a topic will be received before planning a whole course. At other times, they are like filmmakers who have left wonderful things on the cutting room floor. Now, these talks are available for you to enjoy.

New: The Great Nuclear War Crisis of 1983: Why Don't I Know About It?

February 1: Stealing Heaven—The Scandalous Tale of the Medieval Professor and His Nun with Beverly Jennings Heloise and Abelard are a well-known medieval couple.

Abelard’s philosophy is still studied today. Heloise was an unusually educated woman for the time. Why are they famous? How do we know about them? Let’s find out!

Course #HS188 Brian J. Morra Ringling College Museum Campus Friday: 9:30 am-12:30 pm 1 Session: Feb. 9

February 8: Patriotic American Music with Monroe Brett The melodies and songs we have stood to sing, heard at the ballpark, and that accompanied us as we marched into battle—all follow our history and relate our story. “The StarSpangled Banner,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “This Land is Your Land” are historic documents because they changed the attitudes and culture of this country.

Patriotic music was composed by the earliest settlers and is still being written today. A special feature of this session is that students can pick their favorite music.

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55 The workshop will cover the causes, events, and repercussions of the 1983 nuclear war crisis between the Soviet Union and NATO. We will discuss the background, key historical events, and the treatment of the crisis in popular culture in the 1980s. The instructor will use his book The Able Archers as a framework for discussing the worst nuclear war scare since the Cuban Missile Crisis.

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Languages | Literature

Languages

Literature

New: Introduction to French

New: 20th Century Indian Literature in English—Novels and Poetry

Course #LA117 Dianne Tisman Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #LI151 Martha Hill Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:30 pm (Note: Extended time) 7 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27 (Note: No class on Feb. 6)

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27 (Note: Class meets every other week)

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

This introduction provides participants with a foundation in the four basic skills of language learning: speaking (first and foremost), reading, writing, and listening. By the end of this course, participants should be able to provide essential information about themselves. They will be able to relate information about other people in their immediate world (family and friends). They will be able to talk about the days of the week, the date, the time, and the weather. They will also be able to identify everyday objects and items and discuss likes and dislikes. Written work in between classes is optional but recommended and welcomed. There is no text for the class. The instructor will provide class materials.

There is a history of distinguished Indian literature in English.

This class will present an overview as well as concentrate on examples of poetry plus emphasis on three Indian novels: Midnight's Children by Salmon Rushdie, The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai, and The Great Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor. The first class will be an introductory lecture, and there is no required reading.

New: World’s Great Literature Course #LI145 Robert Kendal Ringling College Museum Campus

New: Latin for Beginners, Part 2

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27

Course #LA116 Bradley Maleh Ringling College Museum Campus

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95 In this class, we continue the tradition of Great Books by creating an intellectual community through the practice of text-based, shared inquiry discussions. In addition to reading the great classics of the Western canon, we also explore classic texts of world literature, as well as contemporary works, both fiction and non-fiction.

We read exceptional selections, curated by the editors, from the Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volume 2, Volume F, the 20th century, 2nd edition. About two weeks before the first session, a syllabus with specific readings will be emailed to those registered for the class. Discussion each week will be led by a volunteer from the class.

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 28 Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95 This course is designed as a continuation for those who have taken Latin for Beginners at OLLI or who have recently taken a course elsewhere. You will be expected to have a basic understanding of the Latin case system (nominative, genitive, etc.) and be able to decline and translate nouns from the first and second declensions as well as conjugate first and second verbs. This course begins with Chapter 5 of Wheelock’s Latin, 7th Edition. Please be familiar with the content covered in Chapters 1-4. Join us as we continue to explore the fascinating language and culture of the ancient Romans and the immense influence it has had on our culture and institutions.

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Literature

Literature (cont.)

New: The Brothers Karamazov

New: OLLI Mystery Book Club

Course #LI152 Lawrence DeMilner Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #LI135 Joe Cucci Ringling College Museum Campus Tuesdays: 1-2:30 pm 4 Sessions: Jan. 16-Feb. 27 (Note: Extended time; class meets every other week)

Tuesdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27 Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Fyodor Dostoevsky’s last and greatest novel portrays a family headed by a debauched evil father and the interactions of his sons who are searching for their path in life. The plot includes murder, false imprisonment, two triangular love affairs, and profound debates over major moral issues concerning faith and free choice, evil and forgiveness, the meaning of suffering, and the importance of love. The novel’s psychological depth and gripping storytelling place it securely in the pantheon of the world’s greatest literature. Seminar-style reading and discussion.

Course materials for the recommended text and the reading schedule will be available on the OLLI website. Click on the “Instructor” tab, then Course Material. Students registered for the course will be emailed the password to retrieve the material.

The OLLI Mystery Book Club is a casual discussion group.

The hope is to introduce you to new authors and series.

You’ll read four books with one book being discussed for 90 minutes every other week. The moderator will select the first book; the other three will be selected by the class from a menu that will include books from the earliest forms of the genre to today’s contemporary novels. The moderator will provide cursory background information and will facilitate the discussion which is driven by the members of the Book Club. The first book to read is The Crow Trap

by Ann Cleeves.

New: OLLI Winter Book Club Course #LI102 Carol Ellis Ringling College Museum Campus Tuesdays: 1-2:30 pm 4 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 20 (Note: Extended time; class meets every other week) Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70 “In reality, every reader, while he is reading, is the reader of his own self.” ~ Marcel Proust If you want to expand your reading repertoire, have enlightening discussions about good books, and enjoy a group of thoughtful people, please join the Book Club.

We meet every other week to read four books of a reasonable length. The instructor selects the first book, a contemporary novel, and at our first meeting, the class votes on the next three books (one nonfiction, one 20th-century classic, and an additional contemporary fiction). Newcomers are welcomed into the fold. The first book will be Absolution by Alice McDermott.

26

Literature

New: The Best American Magazine Writing 2024

Short Story Collective Course #LI116 Debbie Mackler and Thomas Miller Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #LI153 Garry Grossman Ringling College Museum Campus Wednesdays: 9-10:20 am 8 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 28

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:30 pm (Note: Extended class time.)

7 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 21

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 “When you read a short story, you come out a little more aware and a little more in love with the world around you…” ~ George Saunders

The National Magazine Awards are one of the most prestigious journalism prizes in the U.S. More than 300 leading journalists read more than 1,000 print and digital media entries to choose the very best articles and stories to honor. They range from intensely personal, to hard-hitting investigative reporting, to lyrical fiction, to incisive cultural criticism. This year's awards went to The Atlantic, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, The New York Times Magazine, and ProPublica, among others. Each week the class will read and discuss one award-winning article. If you thrive on intelligent discussions led by a focused facilitator that will both inform you and offer you the opportunity to evaluate and expand your views, this course is for you.

“Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds, and other minds, and other dreams. They’re journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.” ~ Neil Gaiman We read two short stories each week before class and ask you to come prepared to discuss these stories in a seminar setting. Each week we have different presenters who share their selected stories with the class. Please join us for an exciting and dynamic literary experience.

New: The New Yorker Magazine: Conversations

New: Who’s Afraid of Modern Poetry?

Course #LI111 Lawrence DeMilner Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #LI125 Alan Freedman Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 28

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 29

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

There is a popular view that modern poetry is often difficult and inaccessible. This course will try to give some perspective to this view, taking the position that deep reading and decoding is not the only path to deriving meaning and pleasure from modern poetry. Through seminar-style reading and discussion, it will aim to equip participants with greater experience and confidence in exploring modern poetry. We will begin by addressing the influential Modernist icons and then move on to styles and themes taken up by succeeding generations, most of whom are accessible and enjoyable. There will be approximately eight to 10 poems per week for discussion. The course outline and reading schedule will be available on the OLLI website. Click on the “Instructor” tab, then Course Material.

Students registered for the course will be emailed the password to retrieve the material.

For nearly a century, The New Yorker has been a treasured source of essays, fiction, cartoons, satire, poetry, criticism, and reportage, and its writers occupy a unique place in the pantheon of erudition and wit. In this class, we'll enjoy the magazine even more by sharing our knowledge and opinions on weekly selections from “Shouts & Murmurs,” “The Talk of the Town,” a work of fiction or non-fiction, a movie review, or cartoons. Prior to each week's meeting, you'll receive an email naming items from the prior week's issue to be discussed, so a subscription (either in print or online) is necessary. A stimulating conversation is certain!

27

Music Appreciation

Music Appreciation

New: Conversations with Franz Schubert on His Death Bed

New: The Swing Era: 1930s Jazz and Its Impact Today

Course #MA166 Albert Cohen Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #MA168 Henry Ettman Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 27

Wednesdays: 1-2:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 14

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 From the 1930s into the 1950s, swing and big band jazz became the major form of popular music in America, spawning the first major “youth culture” and dominating the mass media of records, radio, jukeboxes, and movies.

We will explore how the “Swing Era” profoundly influenced today's music and culture. Our course examines the musical, social, technological, and economic forces that shaped the rise and fall of swing. We will explore the music of the artists and bands, the clubs, venues, and films where it flourished, as well as the dances (and dancers), dress, lingo, and the mores of swing. We will also use archival videos, recordings, discussions, insights of surprise guest musicians, and personal memories.

Franz Schubert “discusses” his music, life, and battles with the specter of his imminent death. He talks about his piano music, chamber works, and his attempts at writing meaningful orchestral pieces.

New: “I Haven't Heard That in Years!”

The Forgotten Hits Course #MA167 Tony Moon Online Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 14 Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

New: Broadway Musicals: A Fascinating History

Oldies radio generally plays songs from superstar artists who have had multiple hits during their heyday. But what about those great records from the ’60s and ’70s from artists who were “one or two hit wonders”? This class will bring back those forgotten hits that we often say, “I remember that song but don't remember who did it.”

We will relive those wonderful memories and discuss many of these artist's stories and information on their songs.

Join us for six weeks of major nostalgia.

Course #MA169 Emanuel Abramovits Online Thursdays: 9-10:20 am 8 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 29 Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95 Musicals have been a major part of American theater, from the Tin Pan Alley-driven comedy works of the early part of the 20th century to the integrated musicals that flourished in the heyday years of mid-century America. We'll also explore book musicals, concept musicals, and the arrival of European mega-productions late in the century. We'll profile some of the theater world's leading composers, lyricists, writers, choreographers, directors, and performers.

And we will study some of the most unforgettable shows like Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Showboat, Guys and Dolls, Company, Hair, Cabaret, Rent, Wicked, Hamilton, and many more.

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Music Appreciation | Philosophy and Religion

New: Rock ‘n’ Roll's Early Years: The Los Angeles Contribution

New: Partners With Our Planet: Jewish Tradition and the Environment

Course #MA170 Tony Moon Online

Course #PL120 Susan Spector Ringling College Museum Campus

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 15

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 5 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 7

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Gold Member: $76.50 Silver Member: $85

American popular music was in the midst of a historic change in the mid-1950s. While many of the artists and songs central to this music revolution hailed from the American South, there was a significant contribution from California, specifically Los Angeles. Artists like Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens, The Penguins, and The Coasters were coming out of LA while many local record labels became national rock ‘n’ roll mainstays. All this was happening 20 years before LA's “The Laurel Canyon” pop music breakout in the ’70s with The Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, and others. We will take a nostalgic romp through musical history as we identify the Los Angeles contribution to the early years of rock ‘n’ roll and beyond.

To whom does this world belong? Are we “owners” or “guardians”? How do we strike a balance between preservation and progress? How does Jewish law differ from modern civil law regarding pollution and damages?

Is there a concern for the animal world? What issues concern you regarding our environment today? Each session will focus on a different concept as we examine ancient texts (in English translation) and explore what our sages taught and the challenges we face today.

New: The Spirituality of Nature Course #PL117 Dent Davis Ringling College Museum Campus

Philosophy and Religion

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 25-Feb. 29

New: Exploring Modern Dilemmas Through the Eyes of Jewish Tradition

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 Who doesn’t love a beautiful sunset? Or the smell of the salt air? Or the sound of birds? But what does it all mean?

This course is an introductory exploration of the relationship between spirituality and nature. Nature has long been a part of the religious/spiritual landscape and continues to be important today for people, whether religious or not. This course ventures through a wide-ranging typography of natural spirituality, focusing on key ideas, history, and the people involved. We will look more deeply at the notion of spirituality and explore contemporary spiritual practices in a natural environment.

Course #PL106 Susan Spector Ringling College Museum Campus Wednesdays: 9-10:20 am 6 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 14 Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 Is it a sin to tell a lie? How much profit should business owners make? Can we balance economic development with environmental concerns? Can we balance the rights of individuals with the needs of the common good? What is our responsibility to the homeless and to those who are hungry?

Who should have genetic testing, and who should be told the results? These are some of the topics we will explore— from the words of ancient sages to modern philosophers.

All texts are in English. People of all faiths are invited to attend this class and add their thoughts as we explore the modern ethical dilemmas we face today. If students have taken this class before, new topics will be studied.

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Psychology

Psychology

New: Psychology of Ancient Wisdom: The Upanishads

New: The History of Psychiatry: Winners and Losers

Course #PY141 Barbara Shocket and David Eisner Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #PY143 Stephen Dvorin Ringling College Museum Campus Wednesdays: 1-2:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 10-Feb. 14

Mondays: 1-2:20 pm 7 Sessions: Jan. 8-Feb. 26 (Note: There is no class on Jan. 15)

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Mental illnesses are a leading cause of distress, impairment, and disability. Historically, well-intended but outlandish interventions have been promoted and ultimately rejected; many serendipitous discoveries have proved highly beneficial. This course is a historical review of “losers” (e.g., lobotomy, dental extractions, racism, controversies in diagnosis) and “winners” (e.g., lithium, antipsychotics and antidepressants, cognitive-behavioral therapies) and “undecideds” (convulsive therapy). Attendees will be both appalled and amazed.

In this world of contention and duality, how do we channel ancient wisdom teachings in emotionally and spiritually constructive ways? This is one of the questions we will explore in this class, using the Eknath Easwaran translation of The Upanishads (Nilgiri Press, 2007) as our textual literary resource. We have selected The Upanishads as our point of departure, because these timeless texts open pathways between individual human psychology and cosmic great integrity. Participants should bring a copy of the Easwaran translation of The Upanishads to class for interactive reading and discussion.

New: Women and the Secret Life of Money Course #PY144 Eva Thomson and Gloria Schmorr Ringling College Museum Campus

Writing Your Life Story: Two Pages at a Time Course #PY142 Mary Ziegler Ringling College Museum Campus

Friday: 1-4 pm 1 Session: Feb. 9

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 24-Feb. 28

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

This workshop is designed from complementary points of view: to raise awareness of what drives our actions; gain a greater understanding of our relationship with money; and become sensitive to influences that impact our choices.

The presenters have decades of experience guiding thoughtful discussions on the pervasive influence that money plays in our lives. We will start with a brief overview of behavioral economics—a blend of psychology and economics. Then move into small groups to talk about beliefs, biases, fears, and joys. Students will then share stories, responses, and experiences with the full group.

Participants will gain insights into making financial choices that will give you greater confidence in your decision making. Please join us!

Have you ever wanted to write about some of the events of your life, but wondered where to begin? This course will inspire you to get started, two pages at a time. Your story is important, whether you are writing for yourself or your loved ones. We will use Guided Autobiography (GAB), a proven process developed and researched by the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies, to unlock forgotten memories so you can write about them. This is a great way to find new meaning, put life events into perspective, and connect with others. Participants write on a common theme each week and enjoy the satisfaction of sharing life experiences in a small, supportive group. No previous writing experience is necessary.

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Psychology

New: Seeing Our Dogs Through a Parenting Lens

New: Dream Work Practice: Exploring the Power of the Symbolic

Course #PY145 Wendy Lyons Sunshine Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #PY146 Katherine Best Ringling College Museum Campus

Friday: 11 am-12:20 pm 1 Session: Feb. 16

Friday: 1-4 pm 1 Session: Mar. 1

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member: $15

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

Take a journey of discovery into how best practices for helping at-risk children align with best practices for dog handling. We’ll dig into parallels between raising children and dogs, exploring the why and how of approaches that benefit all the little ones in our care. We’ll identify core needs shared by kids and dogs, and foundational strategies that can be used to meet those needs for dogs—often in unexpectedly simple ways. We’ll consider parenting styles, and how they influence outcomes, and why love alone isn’t always enough.

For anyone interested in their own dream analysis this is an introduction to dream work practices that will help you begin the process of translating your dreams. Bring at least one dream or your dream journal, paper and pens and even colored pencils to this hands-on workshop to begin tending to your dreams. Participants will have an opportunity to share a dream in a small group to practice listening to dreams symbolically as well as attending to the associations of various images or patterns that may be occurring in their personal lives.

Understanding how to explore images with a metaphoric lens and archetypal perspective will be a key part of this workshop. Exploring the etymology (or root) of the words or the living images that present in dreams will help to unpack the significant and profound messages that come to us each night. Join us on this journey to the dream world.

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Science

Science

New: A Guided Tour Through the Universe

New: Science Wednesdays

Course #SI123 Kenneth P. Bechis Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #SI108 Alan Grindal, Frank Sulzman, Kenneth P. Bechis, and Jason Robertshaw Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 5 Sessions: Jan. 9-Feb. 6

Wednesdays: 1-2:20 pm 4 Sessions: Jan. 17-Feb. 7

Gold Member: $76.50 Silver Member: $85

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

This five-session class, with new material, includes: 1. Our home territory in space: the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon. Where did we come from, what's our future?

2. Our amazing solar system: new discoveries and mysteries—oceans on Jupiter's and Saturn's moons, thousands of undiscovered Plutos, Planet X, and a trip to Mars. 3. Our Milky Way Galaxy: star nurseries and graveyards, other Earths, rogue planets, black holes, pulsars, and deadly spiral arms. 4. The realm of the galaxies: galaxy clusters, collisions, gravitational waves, the cosmic web, and the James Webb Space Telescope's journey to the beginning of time. 5. The great beyond: the expanding universe, dark matter, dark energy, parallel universes, other dimensions, and the end of everything. Each class will also describe what's visible in Sarasota's skies that evening and include a vignette of a groundbreaking female astronomer.

Science (cont.)

The objective of science is to gain an understanding of nature. This enables us to develop tools that apply Nature’s Laws to improve our daily lives. Science Wednesdays is a series of lectures dealing with a broad range of sciences, including physics, biology, health, and medicine.

January 17: The Biological Roots of Violence with Alan Grindal Aggression is a component of our evolutionary behavioral toolkit. Violence has often proven to be adaptive in obtaining food, warding off predators, and gaining access to mates.

Communal living, however, requires restrictions on such behavior for the common good. In most humans, powerful limbic drives are restrained by frontal lobe inhibition and control. This presentation will review the anatomic framework of violent actions as well as the biologic conditions that lead to such behavior.

January 24: Exoplanets with Frank Sulzman Exoplanets are planets that are found outside of our solar system. Since the Nobel Prize winning discovery of 51 Pegasi b in 1995, this exciting new field of astronomy has blossomed. Today more than 5,300 exoplanets have been confirmed. This presentation will describe the methods used to find exoplanets and how their year length, mass, temperature, and other characteristics are determined.

January 31: Space Exploration: How Does it Benefit Our Lives Here on Earth? with Kenneth P. Bechis Many people think of space exploration as astronauts floating around on the ISS or collecting rocks on the Moon, or as billion-dollar space telescopes taking pretty pictures of distant galaxies. While it's easy to believe that there are more pressing problems that need to be solved first here on Earth, exploring the cosmos benefits our daily lives in many ways—from potentially life-saving GPS and weather satellites to solar panels, cell phones, pacemakers, insulin pumps, and even dental braces! And let's not forget the technology now being developed to protect our planet from an extinction-level asteroid impact. Come see how space exploration is also very much “down to Earth.”

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Science | Technology

Technology

New: Demystifying AI for Everyone

February 7: Coral Restoration: Innovative Science from Mote Marine Laboratory with Jason Robertshaw Dive into coral reef research with Mote Marine Laboratory.

We will explore the latest research, innovative techniques, and serious challenges in our efforts to save Florida's iconic coral reefs. Discover the unique biodiversity, economic impact, and ecological importance of our reefs through stunning visuals, compelling storytelling, and interactive discussions.

Course #TC136 Ronni Loundy and Gayle Yaverbaum Ringling College Museum Campus Mondays: 11 am-12:20 pm 4 Sessions: Jan. 22-Feb. 12 Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70 In this course, we will unravel the complexities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and make it understandable to individuals of all skill levels. We will explore fundamental concepts, experiment with several AI applications, and discuss ethical considerations. You'll gain an understanding of how this technology works, its impact on society, and its potential for change. We will also address misconceptions and demystify common myths. Join us to unlock the secrets of AI and embrace its transformative potential.

New: Exploring 20th Century Physics and Cosmology Course #SI127 Gary Feldman Ringling College Museum Campus Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: Jan. 11-Feb. 29 Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95 Starting in the early 20th century, we discovered that the most fundamental laws of nature were like nothing we had imagined before. The special and general theories of relativity completely changed our notions of time and space. Quantum mechanics shredded our notion that nature is deterministic and exposed behaviors that can only be described as magic. Astrophysicists used these tools to achieve new insights into the history and composition of our vast physical universe, resulting in new surprises, such as the discovery that 95% of the universe is composed of dark matter of unknown origin and puzzling dark energy. We will explore all these developments of the last 120 years in a non-mathematical manner.

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Writing

Writing

New: Writers' Workshop

New: So, You'd Like to Write a Mystery?

Course #WR107 Ellen Brosnahan and Jo Horne Schmidt Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #WR122 Teresa Michael Ringling College Museum Campus Wednesdays: 9-10:20 am 4 Session: Feb. 7-Feb. 28

Mondays: 9 am-12 pm 7 Sessions: Jan. 8-Feb. 26 (Note: No class on Jan. 15)

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

This course provides aspiring writers, mystery fans, and book lovers with a basis for those interested in mysteries and mystery writing. In this four-session course, the student will learn the subgenres of mystery writing and their associated tropes/characteristics. The class will examine the four-act structure and story arc and at what points to plant the clues and red herrings to enhance tension and suspense.

The elements of point of view, characterization, plot, setting, and pacing will be identified using popular fiction. Finally, traditional, independent, and hybrid paths to publication will be discussed.

The Writers’ Workshop provides an interactive setting for writers to share their work and receive feedback from one another. In this workshop, members read five to 10 pages of their finished work or work-in-progress and then have it critiqued (not criticized) by others. Constructive feedback acts as a motivating factor for further revising and editing.

Writers of all experience levels are welcome. All genres are embraced. This class offers a non-threatening experience among a group of individuals who wish to improve their craft.

New: Memoir Plus Course #WR111 Ronni Miller Online Mondays: 11 am-12:20 pm 7 Sessions: Jan. 8-Feb. 26 (Note: No class on Jan. 15) Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 Memoir Plus is a hands-on writing workshop using the raw material of one's own life to write fact or fiction stories.

Documenting and expressing these stories are ways to understand life better. Motivational suggestions from the Write It Out® program include in-class, sensory exercises and spontaneous writing activities that stimulate feelings, memories, and experiences. Assignments suggested on the syllabus incorporate these exercises and allow for individual interpretation. Positive feedback from the facilitator and fellow students supports learning and creativity. Sharing stories in a supportive environment promotes pleasure.

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Writing

New: Write Like a Dancer Course #WR123 Gail Condrick Ringling College Museum Campus Friday: 12:30-3:30 pm 1 Session: Feb. 2 Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55 The Write Like a Dancer workshop reveals seven secrets choreographers use to create original works and how you can apply them to your writing projects. Learn to generate new ideas, find your inner writing rhythm, and connect to your creative source. You’ll experience this process step-bystep with class writing exercises and prompts. Discover new insights and inspiration for your work. Perfect for writers of any genre, from novels to newsletters. Bring your journal and an open spirit, and prepare to write as a dancer—dances!

No prior writing experience is necessary.

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Listening to Women 2024

Keeping Hope Alive January 18 Speaker: Charlayne Hunter-Gault Interviewer: Liz Walker Even when we’re faced with challenging times these days, history has kept me hopeful, not least the voices of women I knew personally... like my Mother and both Grandmothers and from a history I was taught that dates back generations.

Early on, in my all-Black schools, I was, as is said, properly taught. So that while I was about 5 or 6 and my first role model was a dashing white woman by the name of Brenda Starr, a short while later, in my all-Black school, I learned about Ida B. Wells, a Black journalist who was a crusader for freedom, justice, and equality. And in time, the history lessons I got—not just in school, but in my entire village— yes, it takes a village—those lessons created armor for me and keeps me keepin’ on.

Listening to Women 2024 Course #CV119

Charlayne Hunter-Gault is an Emmy award-winning journalist. She began her career at The New Yorker, becoming the first Black reporter for the Talk of the Town section, then joined The New York Times, where she established the Harlem Bureau, the first of its kind. She eventually joined PBS News Hour as its first substitute anchor and national correspondent.

The author of five books, Hunter-Gault lives in Sarasota and on Martha’s Vineyard.

Listening to Women is a weekly series which recognizes women whose brilliance and fortitude have reshaped industries and who are making a difference in today’s communities. At each session, we will hear the personal stories of women, driven by a cause, with the passion and determination to have achieved success in a variety of fields.

Thursdays: 1-2:30 pm 6 Sessions: Jan. 18-Feb. 22 Gold Member: $81 Silver Member and General Admission: $90

Liz Walker is a former journalist, co-founder of a girls’ school in South Sudan, ordained minister, and the creator of a community trauma healing program being replicated across the country. She is the retired pastor of Roxbury Presbyterian Church in Boston.

Rev. Liz is the creator of Can We Talk, a community-based clinically-supported program focused on collective trauma and healing that is currently being replicated nationwide.

Speakers and Moderators: Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Liz Walker, Dr. Linda Billings, Dr. Rangsook Yoon, Stephenie Frasher, Lisa Bechtold, Suriya Khong, Dr. Rachel Shelley, Melanie Custer, Dr. Brook Parker-Bello, Dawn Sakes, Jasmin Graham, Raven Harrison, Magrieli Rodriguez Ruiz, and Carlee Jackson Bohannon

Listening to Women is made possible, in part, with support from our sponsors.

My People Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives by Charlayne Hunter-Gault will be for sale at the SHOP in Sarasota Art Museum. A book-signing will be held in the Historic Lobby at 2:30 pm on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.

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Listening to Women 2024

Why Are We Exploring and Exploiting Space? Who is “We”?

And What’s the Point?

Curating Life from Seoul to Sarasota February 1 Speaker: Dr. Rangsook Yoon Interviewer: Stephenie Frasher

January 25 Speaker: Dr. Linda Billings

Rangsook Yoon has never let boundaries limit her curiosity.

She moved from Seoul, South Korea to the U.S. in 1995 to study art history. She has lived and worked in four languages, five countries, six states, and 12 cities. Yoon will discuss how she has gone from being immersed in European art to building bridges between communities and contemporary artists from around the globe. She will share her life’s journey, past exhibitions, and dreams for future ones. And she’ll talk about her vision for Sarasota Art Museum as a shared public space, open to creativity and change. Join us for a conversation between two globetrotting art professionals about cultural heritage, the power of art, and the power of community.

More and more actors—governments and corporations —are entering the business of exploring and exploiting space, with an increasing focus on establishing a permanent human presence there. Advocates talk of creating lunar bases, Mars colonies, and orbital communities. Should they come to pass, what’s the value of these endeavors?

NASA says it’s planning to establish a permanent presence on the Moon and eventually send people to Mars “for the benefit of humankind,” but NASA does not offer any details about benefits. A growing number of scholars in the social sciences and humanities are engaged in a critique of how space-faring nations and corporations are going about the business of expanding human presence in space. Linda will explore these critiques.

Following the session there will be a curator tour in Sarasota Art Museum galleries by Rangsook Yoon.

Dr. Rangsook Yoon joined Sarasota Art Museum as Senior Curator in December 2022. Originally from South Korea, she studied at Korea University in Seoul and the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University before becoming an art history professor. She has held multiple museum curatorial and directorial positions, published wideranging scholarly essays, and curated over 30 exhibitions.

Dr. Linda Billings is a consultant to NASA’s astrobiology and planetary defense programs at NASA headquarters. Billings earned her doctorate in mass communication from Indiana University. Her research interests include science and risk communication, social studies of science, and the history and rhetoric of science and space exploration. She is co-editor of and contributing author to Reclaiming Space: Progressive and Multicultural Perspectives on Space Exploration.

Stephenie Frasher’s passion is art education. A docent at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. for 16 years, she is now a docent at Sarasota Art Museum and the Arts Engagement Chair for Arts Advocates. Stephenie moderates monthly art talks interviewing artists, curators, community leaders and historians.

Interviewing provides an in-depth learning experience for the audience and one she looks forward to pursuing.

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Listening to Women 2024

Women With Purpose—Ensuring Our Childrens’ Future

Melanie Custer, Director of Operations of Take Stock in Children, Sarasota County, joined the company in 2014 with 20-plus years of management experience. She has a bachelor’s degree in engineering from University of Pennsylvania on an Army ROTC scholarship. Following active duty service as an Army Transportation and Logistics Officer, she became a management consultant with KPMG Consulting. As a firstgeneration American, attending college on a full scholarship, Melanie is passionate about providing opportunities for students.

February 8 Speakers: Lisa Bechtold, Suriya Khong, Dr. Rachel Shelley Moderator: Melanie Custer Four women raised in different parts of the country and in different cultures have come together to create opportunity for deserving students in Sarasota County. Dr. Rachel Shelley, Suriya Khong, Melanie Custer, and Lisa Bechtold are women with the passion, and vision to provide mentoring, post-secondary education and hope for over 400 current students in our community. In this session, they will talk about their childhoods, their educational journeys, and what made them choose this path to ensure a great future for so many children. One of the stories you will have to hear to believe….and you still might not believe it after you hear it told.

Freedom is An Inside Job February 15 Co-presenters: Dr. Brook Parker-Bello and Dawn Sakes In this session the profound effects of shame in combating human trafficking and violence will be discussed. Brook will share from her own life (with questions from Dawn) and with history about the circle of shame and its affects on her life as a woman, a woman of color, and a survivor. She will break down how shame relates to all facets of life and builds a bridge of empathy for all human beings to experience.

Lisa Bechtold, Executive Director of Take Stock in Children, Sarasota County, has had the honor of providing scholarships, mentors, and hope to deserving students for 23 years. Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in criminology from the University of Florida. After several years working with youth in detention centers, Lisa found that a mentor and a path to post-secondary education could be the cure for students in need of hope.

Dr. Brook Parker-Bello is an author, thought leader, justice advocate, techie, and survivor champion against human trafficking. She is also the founding CEO Emeritus of More Too Life, Inc., an anti-human trafficking organization providing direct victim care, and in 19 years, has rescued over 10,000 victims. She is the founder of a new mental healthcare tech startup called VR Eval that was selected to participate in the Techstars Founder Catalyst Program. Her new book, Shame Undone, came out in October 2023 and has been optioned for a motion picture.

Suriya Khong, Vice President of Teen Initiatives for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto counties, oversees a range of youth programs focused on leadership, service, entrepreneurship, and career development. With degrees in child psychology, sociology, and a juris doctorate from the University of Minnesota, she advocates for youth leadership and amplifies youth voices in legal settings, clubs, and the community.

Dawn Sakes, Executive Director of More Too Life, Inc., has made strong connections with community leaders and was identified as a subject matter expert to expand services for unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in Sarasota County.

Dawn received a certificate of merit from the Sarasota Police Department for her work with homeless youth and has served on numerous local and state committees. She has been instrumental in the passage of key legislation relating to Medicaid buy-in for children, supportive employment, and autism treatment.

Dr. Rachel Shelley became principal of Booker High School in 2011 after decades as a professional educator.

In that capacity, she has brought her personal experiences growing up in Sarasota’s low-income housing, coupled with her passion and understanding, to inspire and guide students facing similar challenges.

Rachel works tirelessly to instill belief in her 1,300 students, encouraging them to aim higher and pursue bright futures.

She’s earned multiple Principal of the Year awards and is the recipient of the key to the city of Sarasota.

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Listening to Women 2024

Beyond White Sharks and White Men

Magrieli Rodriguez Ruiz is a nontraditional undergraduate student at State College of Florida. She’s currently pursuing a marine biology and ecology degree and will continue her studies at University of South Florida. Magrieli is an active member of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), looking to break barriers in the science community, and is an intern at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium with the Sea Turtle Conservation & Research Program.

February 22 Speakers: Jasmin Graham, Raven Harrison, Magrieli Rodriguez Ruiz Moderator: Carlee Jackson Bohannon This session features a panel discussion with women of color in shark sciences, highlighting their journeys in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and the current state of affairs in marine STEM, particularly shark science. They will take a deep dive into representation: how far the marine STEM fields have come, how far they still have to go, and how to get there. Along the way, we’ll learn about the importance of sharks and their relatives and how inclusive conservation can help protect sharks and shift public perception from fear to fascination.

Carlee Jackson Bohannon, Director of Communications of Minorities in Shark Science (MISS), is a shark and sea turtle scientist with a master’s degree in marine biology from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (FL) and has worked with the NSU shark tagging program researching the effects of provisioning tourism on nurse sharks in Belize. Her interests lie in how different human activities and urban development affect sharks and their habitats. Carlee received the 2022 Justice in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion award from the Florida Marine Science Educators Association.

Jasmin Graham is a shark scientist and environmental educator who specializes in elasmobranch (shark and ray) ecology and evolution. Jasmin is the President and CEO of Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS), an organization dedicated to ensuring that equitable representation of historically-excluded minority groups and communities from the Global South in shark and marine science, is the norm rather than the exception.

Raven Harrison graduated from Florida Southern College in May 2023 with majors in marine biology and biotechnology. She currently works as a conservation educator at Walt Disney’s Animal Kingdom and plans to pursue a doctorate to study the microbiome of elasmobranchs. Raven wants to help more women of color pursue careers in the fields of conservation and marine biology.

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CONNECTIONS

The Biggest Little Farm (2018)

CONNECTIONS has been a vital part of OLLI’s program offerings since 2017 when we were known as the Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy. The communal viewing experience offers our students the opportunity to connect to many of today's pressing global issues via the penetrating perspectives of contemporary films. After watching a film together, students can engage in a facilitator-led conversation about the film's content and impact, which forges deeper learning and social connections.

Film #FS129 1 hour 30 minutes Tuesday, Jan. 9 • 2:30-4:30 pm Ringling College Museum Campus Gold Member: $12 Silver Member and General Admission: $15 We will begin 2024 with a wonderful film that we featured in 2020 and that highlights each of the CONNECTIONS themes: people to people, people to the environment, and people to animals. The Biggest Little Farm will touch your heart in a big way while also imparting a great deal of wisdom about the complexity of nature. It chronicles the eight-year saga of a young couple as they attempt to farm 200 acres of barren land. Featuring gorgeous cinematography and perfectly pitched narration, this film provides a blueprint for healthier living, sustainable farming, and a more harmonious relationship between human needs and Mother Nature.

As the name CONNECTIONS implies, the themes for our films showcase the connections humans have with each other, with our physical world (including technology), and with other species that share our planet. CONNECTIONS is offered in our fall, winter, and spring terms, with two films in each term for a total of six per year.

Julie Cotton, a member of the OLLI Advisory Council, is the coordinator and host of this series. Julie has a doctorate in human development and is a former organizational consultant and executive coach.

She is an aficionado of documentary films and a skilled facilitator of group conversations.

Last Flight Home (2022) Film #FS130 1 hour 40 minutes Tuesday, Feb. 6 • 2:30-4:30 pm Ringling College Museum Campus Gold Member: $12 Silver Member and General Admission: $15 This poignant film is a deeply personal portrait of the filmmaker's father's final days. We witness his extraordinary life filled with incredible success and devastating setbacks, and most importantly, an innate goodness that won him the enduring love and support of his family. Through intimate verité footage, Last Flight Home takes us on a heartwrenching ride, illustrating a modern-day success story built on the power of human connection. His family demonstrates their deep love for him and one another as they prepare for his death. We join their journey and learn that what really matters is how we live before we die.

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Lectures

The Rosenwald Schools of Florida

The Other Italy—A Journey Beyond Italy’s Grand Tour

Lecture #LC198 Liz Coursen Ringling College Museum Campus

Lecture #LC196 Robert Gaglio Ringling College Museum Campus

Monday, Jan. 8 2:30-3:30 pm

Friday, Jan. 26 1-3 pm

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member and General Admission: $15

Gold Member: Free to Gold Members (pre-registration required) Silver Member and General Admission: $15 Since 2012, when Robert Gaglio visited Italy and met his Sicilian family for the first time, he has been on a path to discover all of Italy.

Join Robert as he shares some of his experiences along his journey seeing off-the-beaten-path places often overlooked by tourists. From the Dolomites’ Marmolada to the unique food experiences in the region of Le Marche to walking among the treasures of the ancient world in Sicily, his experience has been an amazing journey filled with beautiful landscapes, delicious foods and wines, and deeply cultural encounters.

Join award-winning Sarasota author Liz Coursen as she presents The Rosenwald Schools of Florida in celebration of Florida Jewish History month. In this engaging and fast-paced program, Liz will tell the exciting story of how the successful inter-racial and inter-religious collaboration between Julius Rosenwald, Chicago philanthropist and CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Booker T. Washington, principal of the Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, Alabama, set the stage for the modern-day Civil Rights Movement.

Robert Gaglio is an author, educator, Italian chef, and tour specialist. He founded Italian Culinary Tours in 2014 with a growing staff of specialized guides and organizers. Robert utilizes local artisans, villas, chefs, musicians, and gourmet grocers. He is passionate about providing unique Italian tours that offer guests an extensive cultural experience and a sense of what it’s like to live like an authentic Italian in all its richness. Robert has dual citizenship, splitting his time between Italy and Florida.

Liz Coursen, an award-winning author, editor, and publisher grew up bouncing between Sarasota and Brunswick, ME. Liz attended Southside and Pine View schools, and went on to graduate from Emory University (GA). While at Emory, Liz started a lawn care business and played ice hockey all four years—as the only girl on the team. Ten of Liz’s 14 books are about American English punctuation and grammar, and she has lectured about American English best practices as far away as India. Liz is a member of Toastmasters International, a member of Business Network International, and is an active member of the Church of the Redeemer, where she enjoys being a lector.

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Program

The Story of Impact Theatre

Walter Gilbert is a fourth generation Sarasotan. He attended public schools both during and after segregation.

He has been president of the Sarasota County NAACP and the Sarasota Ringling Redskins youth football. Walter has served on the North County Civic League, the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross, and as Chairman of the Sarasota Housing Authority Board of Directors. Walter is the Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion at Selby Botanical Gardens, founder of the Gilbert Mural Initiative with Rosemary Art and Design District (RAAD) and a member of the Board of Directors for the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC), and co-founder of the Impact Theatre project.

Lecture #LC197 Walter Gilbert and Bette Zaret Ringling College Museum Campus Monday, Feb. 19 3-4:30 pm Gold and Silver Members and General Admission: Free (pre-registration required).

Impact Theatre is a community-wide educational initiative that shines a light on the common history of oppression and persecution of both African American and Jewish peoples and strives for human rights and peace. Impact Theatre re-imagines a collaborative world exemplified by Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel who, together, joined forces and stood tall to fight for civil rights and peace. Through this impactful, meaningful, and memorable program, Walter Gilbert and Bette Zaret, co-founders of Impact Theatre, will share how the program connects area teens to partner with local Holocaust Survivors and African American elders who bore witness to and survived the suffering from oppression, segregation, and persecution. Impact Theatre is nonsectarian and secular and does not engage in any religious or spiritual discussions. Join us for an informative and engaging presentation and overview of the Impact Theatre project.

Bette Zaret successfully transformed brands and built sustainable businesses for a number of Fortune 100 companies during her 40-year career in domestic and international strategic brand marketing. She earned a bachelor's of art degree (cum laude) from Syracuse University (NY) and an advanced executive degree from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management (IL). In 2021, Bette joined the staff of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee to lead its Holocaust Education Initiative. In this role, among her many achievements, she helped co-found the Impact Theatre project, in the hopes of creating a safer, kinder, more respectful, and peaceful place for our neighborhoods, our communities, and our world.

Bette is currently a master's candidate in Holocaust and Genocide Studies with Yeshiva University (NY).

Nov. 14 and Dec. 19, 2023 Time: 2:45-5 pm • Fee: $5 per person • Location: Bistro • Register at 941-309-5111

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Presentations

Seniors—How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Investment Scams

Understanding Medicare: What You Need to Know

Lecture #LC175 Lisa Trueba Roberts Ringling College Museum Campus

Lecture #LC155 Janet Lambert Ringling College Museum Campus

Friday, Jan. 26 10-11:30 am

Friday, Mar. 1 10-11:30 am

Gold and Silver Members and General Admission: Free (pre-registration required).

Gold and Silver Members and General Admission: Free (pre-registration required).

This session will provide information on how seniors can avoid becoming victims of investment fraud. The presentation will include an overview of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); offer strategies for smart investing; tips to avoid fraud; and planning for diminished capacity. Attendees will learn how the SEC protects investors; who to call if they suspect that they have been offered an investment that may be fraudulent; and details about the SEC website www.investor.gov which has investor alerts about current fraudulent schemes and other important information.

While retirement is an exciting time in a person’s life, understanding the process for your health care coverage can be challenging and sometimes overwhelming. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for individuals turning 65, for younger individuals with disabilities, and for individuals with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).

In this session, you will get a better understanding of how Medicare works and how to supplement what Medicare may not cover for both your healthcare and medications.

The session will explore these topics and more.

Bring your questions and join the discussion.

Lisa Trueba Roberts is the Chief Attorney Advisor at the Miami Regional Office U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Lisa has been an attorney with the SEC for over 25 years.

She supervises the Investor Assistance Specialist and conducts financial literacy outreach on behalf of the agency to promote the Commission’s mission to protect investors. She has presented to OLLI groups throughout Florida and Louisiana.

Roberts is also an adjunct professor at the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. She is a member of the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Cuban American Bar Association, and the South Florida Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

• When am I eligible?

• How do I apply?

• What is the cost?

• Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage.

• How to choose plans.

• What are all the commercials trying to tell you?

Janet Lambert is an independent licensed insurance agent and owner of Janet Lambert’s Insurance, LLC. She is a Florida native, born in Tampa.

Janet understands the importance of health insurance and has a passion for educating individuals about Medicare and Medicaid. Janet is a registered dental hygienist.

She also enjoys arts and crafts, Bible studies, gardening, and the beach.

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Making a Gift

Making A Gift Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is a part of Ringling College’s Continuing Studies program. OLLI provides educational opportunities taught by instructors who possess a broad range of knowledge and expertise.

Our home, on the Ringling College Museum Campus, will become the gold standard for lifelong learning communities. This new facility provides a thought-provoking setting that creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue among our learning community through opportunities to engage in stimulating courses and lectures.

Gifts to OLLI enable us to continue providing a wide array of classes and lectures that broaden and inspire the intellectual curiosity of our members at an affordable cost.

Your gift could support OLLI’s mission; underwrite a session, workshop, or lecture series, or another area of your choosing. If you would like to make a gift, please go to www.ringling.edu/giving, or call us at 941-309-4733.

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44

Thank You To Our Donors

Thank You To Our Donors The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College is grateful to have generous, consistent donors. It is their extra financial support that allows us to offer an affordable and outstanding program. Donations are always appreciated. The following honor roll of donors represents gifts given between June 1, 2022-May 31, 2023.

Ms. Beverly A. Harms Mrs. Jo Hennelly Mr. Sam Samelson The Bernard Osher Foundation Mrs. Shirley Foss Mrs. Judith Schwartzbaum Mr. and Mrs. Alan Freedman

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sukin

Mr. Jeff Ryder and Mr. J. Alvin Stout Mr. Joseph Cucci Dr. Albert Tripodi and Ms. Fran Harris

Mr. Jose A. Garnham and Ms. Barbara Lausche Mr. John C. Metz

Ms. Marilyn L. Pinsky Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Wey

Ms. Barbara Osmon

Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Ms. Leslie Meeker and Mr. Enver Bismillah

Ms. Lisa Kauffman

Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Tschirhart

Clarence Blanton

Ms. Jesse Lazarus

Mr. Michael Vlaisavljevich

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Eckl

Ms. Sara Miller

Joan Wexler

Mr. Jon Freedman

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Miller

Archer L. Seely-Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Goldis

Mr. and Mrs. Jay Richter

Exit Art Boutique, Longboat Key

Mr. and Mrs. Alan B. Grindal

Ms. Sue Rupp

Just Because Boutique, Sarasota

Hal and Peggy Hayden

Michael Sherrow

The Welcome Club of Sarasota, Inc.

Mr. John Hockenberry

Ron Shoemaker

Dr. Susan Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Steinmann

Ms. Linda Bailey Ms. Maxine Becker Mr. Gilbert Bosse, Jr. Ms. Bette Boysen Mr. Anthony Cancro Dr. Julie Cotton

Ms. Victoria Frigo Mr. and Mrs. Alvin I. Gerstein Ms. Rosalie Y. Goldberg Ms. Jan M. Haynes Mr. and Mrs. William Herring Mr. and Mrs. Ira and Jessica Hymoff

Lynda Irvin Mr. Robert K. Kendal Mr. David Lionel Jennifer McKechnie

A special thank you to our Gold Members for their generous support through their membership this year. If we inadvertently overlooked your name, please accept our apologies and contact us to make the correction.

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Instructor Biographies

Cheryl Brandi is a Whole Health Educator™ (WHE) and adult nurse practitioner (NP) with years of experience in managing chronic diseases and providing health education. She holds a doctorate in nursing science (University of San Diego), a post-master certificate as a nurse practitioner (University of South Florida), a diploma (WHE) from the National Institute of Whole Health, and certification as a Holistic Stress Management Instructor. (p. 19)

OLLI instructors possess a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and experiences. These biographies are small snapshots showcasing the lives and careers of these valued team members.

Emanuel Abramovits has been a concerts promoter since 2000, presenting dozens of shows by international artists, from Pop icons like Journey, to classical artists like Itzhak Perlman, staging along the way, epic orchestral extravaganzas, and winning a prestigious “Event of the Year” award. While directing the cultural activities of Union Israelita de Caracas for 11 years, Emanuel has released multiple books, and organized lectures and art exhibits. (p. 28)

Monroe Brett has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in secondary social studies education from George Washington University (D.C.). Monroe taught U.S. history, world studies, and advanced placement economics at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Beltsville (MD), where in 2001, he was selected as the school’s best teacher who made a difference. (pp. 22, 24)

Diane Alexander holds graduate degrees in psychology, business, and cognitive neuroscience. She turned her knowledge and passion into a highly successful international organization (The MindWorks, Inc.). The London Times declared, “The MindWorks’ programs are the best of their kind in the world.” Her second career has been as a graduate school professor in the field of business neuroscience. She was named “Professor of the Year,” by the student body. (p. 20)

Ellen Brosnahan was a middle school language arts teacher in St. Charles (IL) for many years. As a clinical assistant professor at Illinois State University, she supervised student teachers at all grade levels. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Western Illinois University and a master’s in curriculum and supervision from Northern Illinois University. (p. 34)

Kenneth P. Bechis retired from Northrop Grumman as chief scientist in the Space Operations/Environmental Solutions Division and Intelligence Systems Sector Distinguished Technical Fellow. He holds a bachelor’s in astronomy from Harvard (MA), a master’s of science in physics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Massachusetts, and is a former NASA Payload Specialist Astronaut. (p. 32)

Bob Busch holds a master’s degree in Soviet Studies.

He studied basic Russian at the Defense Language Institute and graduate Russian at the U.S. Army Russian Institute in Bavaria. He was a diplomat in Moscow in the early 1980s.

He traveled extensively throughout the USSR, specializing in the Central Asian Republics. A later assignment was as a Liaison Officer to the Soviet military in East Germany. (p. 21)

Katherine A. Best holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in public health and is a licensed clinical social worker.

Katherine is a Jungian psychotherapist in private practice and a former professor. She completed her post-doctorate in Archetypal Pattern Analysis and Dream Patterning with Dr. Michael Conforti of the Assisi Institute (CT). For seven years she studied directly with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, author of Women Who Run With the Wolves. In addition, she studied Dr. Stephen Aizenstat’s post-Jungian approach of dream tending at Pacifica Graduate Institute (CA). She later served on dissertation committees for Pacifica. (p. 31)

Robert Cassway is an award-winning architect who has taught at the University of Michigan and Temple University (PA) and was a visiting lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania. He has won local, state, and national awards and has designed projects throughout the U.S., the Bahamas, and Britain. (p. 13) Kelly Parisi Castro is a visual artist, former adjunct professor of Studio Art at Washington College (MD), and co-founder and executive director of Air. C artist residency program in Chestertown, MD. Kelly was a Fellow at the Virginia Center for Creative Art. She worked with her husband at Castro Arts LLC, an architectural firm where she designed books and exhibition graphics for numerous publications, studios, and museums. Kelly is also a coach for creative writers and artists. (p. 13)

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Instructor Biographies

Joe Cucci took a film appreciation course in college, and hasn’t stopped going to movies ever since. He participates in movie groups and thoroughly enjoys hearing what others think about movies. Joe retired from Procter & Gamble after a career in sales. (pp. 15, 26)

Sandy Chase has a master’s degree in education.

She has over 30 years designing and presenting classes/ seminars, most recently, Life on Key, a music-memory workshop praised by Tidewell, NeuroChallenge Foundation for Parkinson’s, and JoshProvides Epilepsy Foundation.

Sandy is coauthor of The Resolutionary War and a songwriter. She founded WordMasters, a writingeditorial service. (p. 21)

Dent Davis, a retired Presbyterian pastor, graduated from Vanderbilt University Divinity School (TN) and has doctorates from Columbia Theological Seminary (GA) and the University of Tennessee. He has served as faculty at Columbia Theological Seminary, teaching spiritual growth, as President of Scott Peck’s Foundation for Community Encouragement, and as a business consultant. (pp. 22, 29)

Albert Cohen has worked as a classical music critic for more than 42 years (20 for a Gannett newspaper in New Jersey). In Florida, he is music critic for the Sarasota HeraldTribune and Pro-Opera magazine and former music critic for the Orlando Sentinel and Tampa Bay Times. Albert was also managing director of the Music Critics Association of North America for 13 years. (p. 28)

Robert DeFillippi is emeritus professor of strategy and international business at the Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University (MA). His previous scholarship has focused on innovation in creative and cultural industries.

He has published five books on these topics. The concepts and applications for the proposed course are based on his latest publication Transformational Innovation in the Creative and Cultural Industries (Routledge Press, 2023). (p. 14)

Herbert Cohen is a psychologist and marriage and family therapist. He taught at New York University and the State University of New York (Purchase). Herbert received his doctorate in psychology from Columbia University (NY) and is the author of Snap Out of It, a book dealing with stress, addictions, and anxiety. (p. 19) Gail Condrick is an author, teacher, and certified Caroline Myss archetypal consultant. She frequently speaks on topics of creativity, spirituality, and empowerment. For 25 years, Gail led an award-winning staff creating TV programming in Fairfax, VA. She is a University of South Florida graduate and the author of Walking the Grove and online classes “Your Destiny is in Your Closet,” “Art of Observation,” and “Release Your Inner Archetype” series. (pp. 20, 21, 35)

Lawrence DeMilner is a retired economist who spent the bulk of his career with the International Monetary Fund.

After retirement, he taught several years at the Downeast Senior College in Maine. He has degrees in Russian and economics. (pp. 26, 27) Stephen Dvorin is a retired psychiatrist with experience in private practice, community psychiatry, and the training of clinicians. He was simultaneously active in professional organizations and mental health advocacy groups.

Following his retirement from clinical practice, Stephen taught diagnosis and psychopharmacology in a mental health counseling program for 14 years. Stephen has emeritus status at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and St. John Fisher University (NY). (p. 30)

Julie Cotton is a longtime OLLI member who, in addition to being an instructor, is a member of the OLLI Advisory Council and hosts the documentary film series CONNECTIONS. Julie has a masters and a doctorate in psychology and worked as a human resource executive, an organizational development consultant, and an executive coach. (pp. 20, 40) Gary Cross, like most of you, went to high school and college in the 1960s and has long been fascinated by that decade’s continuous impact. As a professor of history at Penn State and author of books about modern popular culture, he taught the ‘60s, recognizing the diversity of opinion about it and trying to think about it in fresh ways. (pp. 22, 23, 24)

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Instructor Biographies

Richard Gelpke has a doctorate in law and policy from Northeastern University (Boston). He worked in the department of geography, and earth science at the University of Massachusetts for more than 20 years.

His areas of interest are historical and physical geography environmental issues, and mapping. (p. 16)

David Eisner is a doctor of psychoanalysis (National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis Certified Psychoanalyst). David offers interactive seminars encouraging participants to individualize and integrate the gifts of art, music, literature, cinema, and psychoanalysis into deepening perspectives on the wonders, challenges, and complexities of everyday life. (p. 30)

Roz Goldberg spent 27 years at Merrill Lynch (ML) as a financial advisor, senior marketing manager, and investment banker. One of her “claims to fame” was her ability to elucidate complex financial products to both brokers and investors, enabling them to understand and appreciate these investments. For 10 years before her retirement, Roz was the Managing Director of the Private Equity Group for ML Wealth Management. (p. 18)

Carol Ellis is a lifelong reader who joined the book club four years ago and became its leader last year. Carol says, “The more I lead, the more I learn about great books, extraordinary writers, and the pleasure of discussing books in depth with some special people.” She is a retired physician and medical educator and loves Sarasota. (p. 26)

Alan Grindal is a neurologist, a consultant at the Memory Disorder Clinic at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, and is on the clinical faculty of Florida State University Medical School.

He has taught numerous courses at OLLI at Ringling College on brain science and history. (pp. 24, 32)

Henry Ettman has taught adult education jazz courses in Florida since 2004. As a jazz drummer who studied under Max Roach, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, and others and as a university educator, he has extensive experience in jazz management and booking, jazz education, and research. He is currently working with the National Jazz Education Network. (p. 28)

Garry Grossman is a professor of law, an attorney, and a former software developer. His formal training in facilitating and public speaking makes him a popular and engaging teacher and discussion leader at OLLI and elsewhere. (p. 27)

Gary Feldman, an emeritus professor of physics at Harvard University (MA), is still active in experimental research on elementary particles. At Harvard, in addition to teaching upper-level undergraduate courses in electrodynamics, quantum mechanics, and elementary particles (for two decades), he offered a far-ranging general education course for non-scientists on the subject of “Time.” (p. 33)

Martha Hill, a graduate of Bard College (NY) and Monmouth College (NJ), is a passionate lifelong reader of both good and bad books. Martha’s enjoyment of teaching is based on interaction with students to enjoy and illuminate the course materials and the joys of the written word. (p. 25)

Alan Freedman has a journalism degree from Boston University (MA). Until retiring, he was public affairs director at a New York electric utility, responsible for government relations and corporate communications. Previously, he had been a financial writer and an advertising account executive at a major book publisher. Alan has been an OLLI instructor for nearly a decade, focusing on technology and media topics. (p. 27)

Mark Hogan is a passionate amateur magician who has been performing and teaching magic for over 30 years.

He is currently a moderator of magic clubs at two schools in Cincinnati, OH and St. Martha's School in Sarasota. He has also taught magic at OLLI, in Cincinnati and in Sarasota, for several years. He has written two books for beginning magicians, for both children and seniors. (p. 14)

Robert Gary is a former U.S. Department of Justice prosecutor with the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section. Robert has run numerous complex federal investigations and has received awards and commendations from the Attorney General and the Director of the FBI. (p. 17)

Beverly Jennings has a master’s degree in history and taught at a Kansas City college for 15 years. Beverly’s field is the ancient and medieval world. One of Beverly’s favorite quotes about history is: “The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.” (pp. 23, 24)

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Instructor Biographies

Bradley Maleh obtained his master’s degree in Latin and ancient Greek literature at Wayne State University (MI) and his bachelor’s in Latin and ancient Greek from the University at Buffalo (NY). He began studying Latin while in high school.

Bradley has been teaching and tutoring Latin and ancient Greek for over 15 years, to students in middle and high school, college, and seniors. (p. 25)

Robert Kendal served as a county government manager in Maryland for 30 years before moving to Sarasota in 2002.

For more than 13 years, he has participated in the former “Great Books” class as both a member and occasional weekly discussion leader. (p. 25) Abe Lederman is a retired software entrepreneur who sold his software business to a company in Great Britain in 2020.

In March of 2023, Abe moved from New Mexico to Sarasota with his two dogs. Abe has been playing competitive bridge for 40 years. Since moving to Sarasota, Abe has developed several new bridge partnerships. He is active in a couple of bridge clubs in Sarasota, and he plays online. (p. 15)

Robert McClure retired from Syracuse University (NY) as the Maxwell School’s Professor of Citizenship and Democracy. He is the author of two books and numerous articles, he has worked as a legislative aide in Congress, campaign operative, party precinct committeeman, and journalist. Twice named teacher-of-the-year at Syracuse, he holds a doctorate in government from Indiana University and a bachelor’s degree in English composition from DePauw University (IN). (p. 17)

Judith Levine has photographed the art of Tibet, West Africa, Egypt, and Indonesia. She creates limited-edition jewelry and owns Phoenix Art Workshops. Judith has a bachelor’s degree in art and art education and a master’s degree in visual arts from Montclair State University (NJ), where she was on the art education faculty. (p. 13)

Theodore Medrek has worked as a performing arts critic, reporter, editor, and columnist for newspapers in and around Boston, including the daily Boston Herald. Previously, he was a co-founder and manager of the Northern Connecticut Ballet based in Windsor, CT, where he choreographed ballets to the music of Stravinsky, Debussy, Verdi, and Massenet and performed a variety of ballet character roles. (p. 22)

Ronni Loundy graduated from the Ohio State University with a degree in mathematics and continued her graduate work in software development at Wright State University (OH). She is a former college software development instructor who then went on to form her own company that provided custom software and hardware support. Presently she provides technical support for Windows and Android products. (p. 33)

Peter Mermin has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Antioch College (OH), a master’s in psychology from the New School for Social Research (NY), and a doctorate in psychology from Union Institute (OH). Peter taught at Southampton College and Suffolk Community College on Long Island for 34 years. He actively promotes humanistic and spiritual values. (p. 16)

Will Luera is the director of improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, artistic director of Improv Asylum, director of Big Bang Improv, and serves as the artistic director emeritus of Improv Boston. He sits on the board of CreArte Latino, a Latino-centric cultural community center in the Sarasota area. Will tours globally as an improv comedy actor, instructor, director, and performs and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. (p. 14)

Jack Merriam is a Florida native, retired environmental scientist, and served aboard a U.S. Navy diesel-electric submarine. Jack and his wife, Carmen, installed roof-top solar with battery storage in 2018 and bought a Tesla Model Y EV with a home charger in 2022. They outfitted it with a roof rack, Yakima cargo box, refrigerator/freezer, and a tent that attaches to the car. On March 1, 2023, the Merriams left for a five-month sojourn north. (p. 16)

Debbie Mackler is a registered nurse/case manager; her love of literature, especially short stories, offered a distraction from the career stresses of health care.

She has facilitated many book clubs and led multiple reading programs in North Carolina. She is grateful for her twin, Donna, who as library supervisor, influenced and encouraged her to love books. Debbie is passionate in continuing that legacy with and for other enthusiasts. (p. 27)

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Instructor Biographies

Teresa Michael is the award-winning author of the Mariposa Café Mystery Series. After a career in healthcare administration, she is now a full-time author. She is a creative writing graduate of Eckerd College (FL) and the University of Cincinnati (OH). She is a member of the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the Florida Writers Association. (p. 34)

Jeffrey Newman holds a master’s degree in history and taught high school history for a number of years. He also served as the principal of Attleboro Comprehensive High School, one of the larger high schools in Massachusetts.

Jeff spent nearly a decade in the Rhode Island State House as a top aide to both the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor. (p. 23)

Ronni Miller has won awards for her fiction. Published books for adults and children include novels, short stories, essays, and plays. In addition, she is the founder and creator of Write It Out® a motivational and expressive writing program since 1992—facilitated in the U.S. and Italy. As a Book Midwife, she guides clients to birth their books. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Boston University (MA). (p. 34)

Lynda Rizzio is a retired educator, with a passion for film, especially the “Golden Age” of Hollywood. She worked at the American Film Institute (AFI) in the early ’80s, and it was there that she realized the importance of film restoration, especially as it pertained to documenting history. As a teacher, she has led film study groups, and has used film as an important visual tool and as a springboard for discussion. (p. 23)

Thomas Miller is a retired business owner, educator, and consultant. He worked in the menswear industry for more than 40 years in New York state. Since becoming part of OLLI, Tom has rediscovered his love of literature and particularly the short-story form. Tom and his wife are year-round residents of Sarasota. (p. 27)

Jason Robertshaw is Programs Manager for Virtual Learning for Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. Jason connects with audiences of all ages through Mote’s award-winning distance learning programs. He is a certified Florida Master Naturalist and Instructor. He serves on the boards of the Florida Marine Science Educators Association and the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration. Before Mote, he worked in public television and environmental project management for the state of Florida. (p. 32)

Tony Moon spent 55 successful years in the music business as an artist, agent, songwriter, producer, and publisher. Moving to Nashville, Tony became guitarist and conductor for Brenda Lee. He has won awards, with songs released by well-known artists. Tony currently administers an entertainment company and does music research for Sarasota’s Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. (pp. 22, 28, 29)

Lauren Rudd is president of Rudd International Asset Management. He is a syndicated newspaper columnist who has been writing about Wall Street and the economy for over 26 years. A recognized public speaker, television commentator, and publisher of The Rudd Report, Lauren has a bachelor’s degree in economics and computer science with high honors from the University of Maryland and did graduate work for a doctorate in economics at the Wharton School (PA). (p. 18)

Brian J. Morra is a decorated former intelligence officer and retired senior aerospace and defense executive.

The Able Archers is his first historical novel in a series of seven. The Able Archers has been optioned by Legendary Entertainment, which plans to produce a TV series based on the book. Morra also will appear in Netflix's new “Turning Point” series on the Cold War. (p. 24)

Jeff Ryder is a two-time Emmy Award-winning writer for his work on Guiding Light. He also was vice president of daytime programming, director of mini-series, and director of casting at NBC. He recently retired after 20 years as a professor and associate dean at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia (PA). (p. 15)

Paula Morris has a master of arts degree in education and a bachelor of science in business. She is one of 5,500 yoga therapists worldwide conferred CertifiedInternational Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT).

A school educator, a yoga and meditation teacher since 2007, and yoga therapist since 2016, Paula studied Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction through the University of Massachusetts Medical Center’s Oasis Institute. Paula offers private therapy and workshops to educate, equip, and empower living well. (p. 20)

Paul Sarno is a retired trial lawyer. He has taught courses on Southeast Asian history and political science at OLLI at Ringling College and other locations in Sarasota. In addition to wide-ranging readings, his most recent visit to the region was to Thailand and Myanmar in 2018. (p. 18)

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Instructor Biographies

Bonnie Garvey Spadafora graduated from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, and earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s in public health from the University of South Florida. She spent 15 years at Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a charge nurse in neuroscience and rehabilitation and as a clinical instructor. Before retirement, she was on the nursing faculty at Manatee Community College (now State College of Florida). (p. 19)

Jo Horne Schmidt is an award-winning and critically acclaimed author. She was also co-author of Parkinson’s Disease For Dummies. She has taught at the college level and is a popular presenter of hands-on workshops at writing seminars and conferences. Her most recent novels are: The Winterkeeper and Monica’s War. She is currently working on a memoir about the death of her husband and her own journey into widowhood. (p. 34) Gloria Schmorr is a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience in the treatment of adults and children. She has over 40 years of experience in addressing numerous issues including depression, anxiety, and relationship difficulties. Gloria completed her master’s degree at the University of Chicago (IL) and her doctorate at The Institute for Clinical Social Work (IL). Gloria is licensed in Illinois and Florida. (p. 30)

Susan Spector has a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in Jewish studies, and has spent her life as a Jewish educator and community volunteer. She was the director of Akron Jewish High School and a faculty member of Akron Melton Adult Mini-School and Kent State University (Ohio). She has presented Jewish ethics workshops in Sarasota, Akron, (OH), and Chautauqua Institute (NY). (p. 29)

John Scibak is a psychologist who held academic positions at Indiana University, the University of Massachusetts, and Westfield State University (MA). Despite having never taken a political science course, John ran mid-career for elective office and served 16 years in the Massachusetts legislature.

His research interests have focused on voting behavior and what drives the public and legislators to vote the way that they do. (p. 16)

Benita Stambler has a master’s degree in teaching and a doctorate in education. She previously taught classes in history, literature, art, and biography for OLLI. (p. 22) Rick Steinmann is a retired criminal justice professor with a long-term interest in wrongful convictions. He has taught several seminars on the topic, including to undergraduates at the University of South Florida. He earned a bachelor’s in sociology, a master’s in criminal justice, and has a juris doctorate degree. (p. 17)

Michael Sherrow was born and raised in New York City and lived there his entire life before coming to Sarasota.

Michael is a student of the history of the city. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Baruch School at the City University of New York and a juris doctorate from St. John’s University (NY). Michael is a retired member of the New York Bar. (p. 24)

Frank M. Sulzman is a former NASA scientist who was involved in Mars missions for many years. After serving as an investigator on several space flight experiments, he joined NASA Headquarters in Washington as a member of the senior executive service to manage the biomedical research program, and later served as the radiation program executive at the Johnson Space Center in Houston (TX). (p. 32)

Barbara Shocket holds a master of science degree and is a licensed mental health counselor. Barbara is currently involved in creating and teaching interactive classes that promote personal insight by synthesizing art, literature, and depth psychology. Her focus is pan-historic and metaphysical. She believes that through the lens of ancient wisdom teachings, the universality of all experience emerges. (p. 30)

Wendy Lyons Sunshine writes about the human-dog connection for PsychologyToday.com and is the author of Tender Paws: How Science-Based Parenting Can Transform Our Relationship with Dogs. Wendy coauthored the award-winning bestseller The Connected Child and Raising the Challenging Child. Wendy is former editor of Sarasota SCENE magazine and has taught writing at Ringling College of Art and Design and Rutgers University (NJ). (p. 31)

Marie-Agnès Sourieau is professor emerita at Fairfield University (CT). She is a specialist in 19th and 20th century French and Francophone literature and culture. She has published extensively and is presently an assistant editor of The French Review. (pp. 13, 22)

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Instructor Biographies

Gayle Yaverbaum holds both a master’s and a doctorate in computer science. She has taught technology courses at the college level, chaired the commission that developed guidelines for worldwide accreditation of computing programs, and visited numerous computing programs worldwide. Gayle was the director of information technology programs at Penn State Harrisburg (PA) and a teacher of information technology for over 25 years. (p. 33)

Eva Thomson holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s in business administration from the University of Massachusetts. Her career spans four decades in finance.

From a director of Massachusetts Finance Agency, to chief financial officer of a small venture fund then building her own successful financial advisory firm—Thomson Financial.

Eva has served on seven non-profit boards, three as treasurer. She was the first woman director of the Bank of Western Massachusetts. (p. 30)

Mary Ziegler is a retired professor from the University of Tennessee with a doctorate from Columbia University (NY) in adult and continuing education and a master’s degree from the University of South Florida in counseling. Mary is a certified instructor for Guided Autobiography from the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies (CA) and is enthusiastic about learning and growth across the lifespan. (p. 30)

Dianne Tisman has been a French teacher for 27 years.

Dianne currently teaches and tutors online and in person.

In addition to teaching, she served as World Language Department Chair for 10 years. Dianne lived in France for seven years and worked as Directrice Pédogique for Language Power France where she taught all levels of English to business and professional people. (p. 25)

Stan Zimmerman is a reporter, writer, and author with awards from National Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists, and the U.S. Naval Institute.

He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in journalism. Stan is the author of four books, including A History of Smuggling in Florida. (p. 22)

Richard Vengroff is an emeritus professor at the University of Connecticut. Richard holds a doctorate and a master’s from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University (NY), and a bachelor’s from Stony Brook University (NY). Richard has more than a decade of experience working with all categories of immigrants.

Richard is certified by the U.S. Department of Justice as an immigration counselor. (p. 17) Jean Volpe studied, performed, and/or taught with The Juilliard School of Music (NY); Zurich Ballet (Switzerland); New York Theater Ballet; Metropolitan Opera Ballet Company (NY); Ballet School of New York; 92nd Street Y (NY); and the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory of the Sarasota Ballet. (p. 14)

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