Mini-Seminars

Friday, 10 to 11:30 a.m., Library 1522

Joy Skalbeck

The Renaissance Society Mini-Seminars feature Renaissance members or outside speakers who give one-session talks on a subject of general interest.

Unless otherwise noted, they are held in Room 1522 of the CSUS library between 10 and 11:30 a.m. There is no advance signup, but be advised that we are not allowed to have more than 54 persons in the room. Sometimes it is necessary to turn away members. Admittance is on a first-come, first-served basis.

PLEASE NOTE: No food or drink (except bottled water) is allowed in the library. 

MINI-SEMINARS are subject to schedule change. Please check with this Website or The Recorder to be sure of what's on the docket each Friday.

CSUS Library Logo

Evacuee 1942 Knee replacement


Business Agency Logo


Holocause Denial
Feb. 3:
Here is a chance to become familiar with the University's vast database and expansive book collection. The Library tour is for new and continuing members, beginning at 10 a.m. near the check-out desk at the stairway leading to Room 1522.
Feb. 10: Note Speaker and Topic Change!
Lisa Smith-Youngs from Eskaton will present a guided autobiography program. Learn how to get started writing your own life story.
Feb. 17:
"My Three Years in an American Internment Camp During WWII." RenSoc member Mas Hatano will discuss and show slides about events before, during (including military service) and after his WWII experiences.
Feb. 24:
Dr. Harold and Laura Jackson, an orthopedic surgeon and a physical therapist, will explain hip and knee replacement: What the surgeon looks for, what the surgery entails and the rehab process.
March 2: Note Speaker Change!
RenSoc member Nancy Samuelson will describe the Civil War U.S. Sanitary Commission, the forerunner of the American Red Cross.
March 9: Note Speaker Change!
Deborah Braver, California Department of Corporations: "How to Protect Yourself From a Variety of Scams and, If You Are Scammed, What Recourse You Have."
March 16: Note Speaker Change!
Holocaust Denial: Most people have difficulty imagining how one might deny the existence of one of the singular events of the 20th century. What's behind this movement and why do we need to know about it? Dr. Nick Burnett will provide some historical background and talk about the movement and its tactics.
March 23:
Spring Break; No Seminars.
March 30:
Chavez Holiday; No Seminars.
Canis Major Constellation Italian food


Supreme Court Seal Native plant


Cohousing
April 6:
"An Introduction to Navigating the Night Sky." RenSoc member Jack Russell will show you how to locate the major constellations, stars and other sights in the night sky. He is a backyard astronomer whose recent interest is in the spectra of stars.
April 13: Note Speaker Change!
Food plays a major role in the Italian lifestyle. But what, when, and how do Italians eat? Explore the Italian approach to eating and how food influences everyday life in Italy with Jeanne Campanelli and her chef husband, who have been cooking Italian for over 30 years locally and in Italy. They will also compare some American versions of "Italian food" to their Italian counterparts. Participants should bring their taste buds!
April 20: Note Speaker Change!
Professor John Sims of UOP McGeorge School of Law: "Are we Letting the Supreme Court Rewrite the Constitution in Their Decisions?"
April 27:
Pam Bone, Master Gardener and UC Davis consultant: "The Dos and Don'ts of Landscape Gardening in the Sacramento Region."
May 4:
Senior Cohousing: Pro-active adults creating their own retirement communities. Cohousing creates some of the most socially and environmentally sustainable neighborhoods being built in the United States and is an alternative for older adults dissatisfied with typical senior housing options. Kathryn McCamant, nationally recognized cohousing architect and author, will share with us her 25 years of experience in designing, building and living in cohousing, where the privacy of individual homes is combined with extensive community facilities.