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Seminars
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On-campus Mini-Seminars   

Fall 2009

Friday 10 to 11:45 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 11:45 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.

Sept. 11 - Meet Linda Goff, head of Instructional Services, in the Library lobby at the foot of the escalator for an hour tour of what’s where, then meet in room 2022 for a demonstration of library resources available to Renaissance members.  This information will be very helpful when you are preparing a seminar presentation.

Sept 18 - Richard Lui - Finding Your Passion.  It’s what brings you contentment, inner peace, and deep fulfillment.  Come to learn two practical, proven tools to uncover your callings, which may be unconscious or not remembered, and release any stuck place or inner critic messages that could stop you from following your passion or purpose.  Richard’s been a life transition coach for over 30 years in Sacramento and teaches at Sierra College and the Learning Exchange. 

Sept. 25 – Mary McGrath and Brigid O’Malley will regale us with Irish folklore tales in Gaelic and English before heading out to present at the American Conference for Irish studies.  They’ll also tell us how collectors went out in the field and collected stories before the days of recording devices. 

Oct. 2 -- David Humphers:  Health Care Reform in the United States . Should the United States join all of the developed nations and most of the developing nations in providing universal access to health care? Should the U.S. continue to treat health care as free market commodity? This mini-seminar will compare U.S. health care systems with other nations' and explore the century-long efforts to legislate universal access to health care in the United States . The intent is to determine Renaissance member interest in a full semester seminar on health care reform. Humphers is Professor of Social Work, Emeritus, at Sacramento State .  He taught courses on health service systems, mental health services and the history of social welfare. In retirement, he is Director of Health Benefits for the California State University , Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association.  

Oct. 9 – Bob Ralston presents a brief history of the computer as context for predictions about artificial intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology in our lives.  Retired after a career as a Lawrence Livermore Lab physicist, he also has a master’s in psychology.  

Oct. 16 – (NOTE: This week will meet in Sequoia 316 because of the Library's furlough closure) Dick Tarble, a founding member of the Renaissance Society, will tell us how we got started and how we evolved from 50 members to over 1,000 today.  

Oct. 23 – Hank Kocol: The Scientific Method.  How do scientists test nature to determine its workings? What are the steps involved? How do scientists communicate their findings? What are the differences between the terms “theory,” “law” and “hypothesis” as used in science.  

Oct. 30 – Larry Dawes: Memory Matters. Alzheimer’s Disease is now the seventh leading cause of death among older adults in our nation. What is the difference between normal and abnormal memory loss?  What are the causes of memory disorders? Larry Dawes, MSW and geriatric care manager, shares studies and insights to help clarify the many misconceptions about memory and aging.

Nov. 6 -- Cleo Kocol will accompany her presentation about the history of Virginia City, in the Nevada Territory, with slides and read excerpts from her recently published novel, Fitzhugh’s Woman.  The book is set against the history of the Comstock Lode and its fictional characters interact with real historical figures.   

Nov. 13 – Richard Vincent adopts the persona of Dr. John F. Morse, one of Sacramento’s first physicians, for a virtual version of the Old Sacramento walking tour that he conducts for the Old Sacramento Living History Program. Dr. Morse also shares some of his personal experiences traveling to Sacramento in 1869 and anecdotes about living here.  

Nov. 20 – Hank Kocol will speak on Electrical Power Production. How is electrical power produced? What are the basic systems of power production? What are the advantages and limitations of each mode of production? What is the Power Grid anyway? What do we see on the horizon for new sources? How does nuclear production differ from that from fossil fuels? What happened at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island? Bring your thoughts, concerns and questions. Hank has degrees in chemistry and has worked in the area of Health Physics (Radiation Safety) for his entire career. He had a unique perspective during the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979. 

Dec. 4 -- It’s so easy to fall into unhelpful habits when talking to those we know best!  What are the keys to easing communication between family members? And what can you do to improve communication with a family member suffering from memory loss or cognitive problems?  Larry Dawes, MSW, shares tips, advice and examples from his career as a family care advisor and geriatric care manager.