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Seminars
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SEMINARS ON CAMPUS

        FRIDAY AFTERNOON           

Spring 2010

All Seminars are 1 to 2:45 p.m. unless otherwise noted below.

Registration: Please call coordinator early to register or go to the Rendezvous on Jan. 29. Do not call the office. 

Sign up for ONLY ONE SEMINAR, but you can register on wait lists for other choices. Please notify the coordinator if you are dropping a class.

Our members are participants in seminars because we pay no professors to lead us. Therefore, without professional instructors, we learn in most classes by doing some of the research, giving presentations of our findings on topics and generally contributing to the efforts of volunteer coordinators on various topics. Most classes will not work without participation of the participants. The few coordinators who do not require member presentations (but do encourage questions or comments in class) are so noted in bold in their seminar descriptions below.

For help in adding some "tech" to your seminar presentations, click here.

Photo: Julius Caesar (David Warren) teaches swordsmanship, a handy skill for today's seniors, to the Ancient Rome seminar. Photo by Susie Mapes.


THE ART AND CRAFT OF WRITING A NOVEL OR A MEMOIR                                         Mendocino 2032

Cleo Kocol, Jean Clark

Get started on the book you've always wanted to write. Fun exercises, tips and stimulating writing in class. Learn to show, not tell. Learn viewpoint, setting and more. Participants will take turns sharing the first chapters of their work and receiving feedback from the coordinators and other participants. Constructive criticism will be given. Learn to think creatively. No subject is taboo, but good taste reigns. Memoir writers must focus on a particular element or elements of their history. (Memoirs are not personal histories.) Class is limited to 12 beginning or intermediate writers.

ASSASSINATIONS FROM JULIUS CAESAR TO JFK                                                   Mendocino 3009

Milo Turaylich, Bob Dinsfriend, Wayne Luney

This class will examine how the assassinations of prominent individuals have impacted history. The focus will be on the historical background that led up to the assassination itself and what changes the assassination had on the course of history. Seminar members will be asked to participate. A list of famous people will be presented, but the seminar participants can give a report of their own choosing. Appropriate films that are 30-minutes to one-hour long are welcome.

BETWEEN TWO WARS: SURPRISING U.S. GROWTH BETWEEN THE WAR OF 1812 AND THE CIVIL WAR                                                    Alpine 144

John Walker, Allen Jamieson

Two previous seminars have brought us from the Revolution to the end of the War of 1812, when the new nation was set for prodigious growth in territories, increasing population from 9 million to 31 million! Encouraging this growth came hundreds of miles of railroad lines, a colorful era of steamboats on the Mississippi (think Mark Twain), new inventions amazing for their time, good and bad politicians (think Andrew Jackson), the ongoing slavery controversy, major literary figures, important new roles for women, etc. We'll learn about many fascinating characters and episodes which helped to create the America we know today.

BONSAI: THE ART OF MINIATURE TREES Eureka 115

Clarence L. Smith, Walt Brainerd

Learn the basics of bonsai design and care. Participants must provide their own trees/shrubs, tools and bonsai pots. We will have some tools available for use during each session. A lab fee of $20 will cover the cost of bonsai soil and wire and must be paid at the time you register for the class. This will be an eight-week seminar. Participants may choose to sign up for another seminar to attend when this seminar ends.

COMPLEMENTARY AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE                                         Mendocino 3013

Jan Polin, Om Bindra, Randy Wichert

Come and learn more about the world of complementary medicine and its potential to help with healthy aging. This class will follow the National Institute of Health's guidelines for effective complementary and integrative medicine, including seminar lectures from experts in the fields of Acupuncture, Ayurvedic East Indian Medicine, Chiropractic, Sound and Laughter Therapy, Homeopathic, Naturopathic, Osteopathic, Energy Medicine, Pedorthic Foot Health and Traditional Chinese Medicine to name just some topics that will be covered. Learn some new ways to support your immune system and heart health, improve your sleep and memory, reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure, and avoid osteoporosis, diabetes, and cancer.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS    Mendocino 1024

John Andrew, Bob Schmidt, Dick Tarble

The Constitution of the State of California is five times longer than the Constitution of the United States, and is the third longest in the world. What role has our unwieldy charter played in the current disaster that is the government of California? Should we scrap the entire document and go back to square one and put together a new one? We will look at what's currently wrong with the state, at the history of the Constitution, and explore possible changes.

ETHICS AND BUSINESS AND PUBLIC POLICY Mendocino 4004

Bob Dinsmore, Brian Kidney

Basic concepts of Ethics will be reviewed with special attention to concepts of moral value, fairness, justice, virtue, and rule systems. Applications will be discussed in business and public policy. Participation by the members of the class will be encouraged. The two class coordinators represent a balanced team. Prejudice and discrimination, conflict of interest, fairness in tax policy, social and legal justice, and numerous other topics will be discussed in detail.

EXPERIENCING ARCHITECTURE            Library 1522

Tom Dole, Stanley Mofjeld

Architecture creates the spatial framework for our lives. It is possible to get as much pleasure from it as other art forms we experience. This course will cover architecture and architects, the elements that go into the design of a building and architecture as an expression of a culture and its time as well as its individual creative designs. Choose an architect, country, period, or building to share with the class.

FAMOUS BRIDGES OF THE WORLD          Douglass 208

Birte Harley, Dee Brown

How often is a bridge just a means of crossing from one point to the next? In this seminar we will explore the architecture, history and romance of many famous bridges. To name a few: The Pont du Gard, France; Tower Bridge, England; Ponte Vecchio, Italy; The Oresund Bridge, Denmark and Sweden, and of course the Golden Gate, San Francisco. A possible field trip to the Bay Bridge is in the planning. It will be in late spring 2010. This is a members' participatory seminar. The use of visuals, in the form of Power Point, overheads, photos, or documentaries is acceptable. Members may choose a partner from the class roster.

FASCINATING LIVES THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN HISTORY, SCIENCE, POLITICS, MEDICINE, LITERATURE, SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT                   Douglass 209

NOBEL PRIZE WINNERS

NOTE: These two classes have combined!!!!

Linda Schoenhoff, Pam Tureen,Steve Harley

This class will involve reading different biographies, watching biographical videos, and sharing key information about subjects' lives. Participants will select a fascinating life to study and present that person's story to the class. Discussion will follow presentations: what was the socio/political context during the person's life, how was the person memorable, why did you choose him/her, was the story inspirational, educational, and/or cautionary, what did the presenter take away from the story that might apply to his/her own life?                        

Nobel Laureates are chosen from the fields of Literature, Medicine, Economics, Physics, Chemistry and Peace. Select the individual, group of individuals, or organizations from the long history of prize winners for your presentation. You may use any means of presenting your choice, including video, photographs, audio, lecture, Power Point, or any combination. Your topic could include achievements, personal lives, controversies, tragedies or second careers. You may also partner with another classmate.

FLORENCE, ITALY AND THE RISE OF THE RENAISSANCE PERIOD                         Mendocino 1015

David Warren

We will briefly review the fall of Rome and the Rise of the Middle Ages. And then we will cover the reasons for the dramatic changes in history and a rise of the Renaissance Period in Florence, Italy, which occurred between 1450 and 1600 AD. We will visit the city of Florence by way of visual images and we will meet its famous citizens. We will meet the Medici Family and discuss the major artists, philosophers, architects and writers of this period. This seminar is non-participatory; all of the lectures will be presented by David Warren, Ph.D., who will encourage discussion and entertain questions. The syllabus for this course will cost $10 and will be available on the first day of class. (NOTE: This class will also be held during the morning seminar period: click here. Please sign up for one or the other, not both!)

FOOD AND HEALTH - YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!                                                Douglass 214

Norm Eade, Eleanor Thomas

Together we will study and talk about food safety, vitamins and supplements, genetic manipulations, pesticides and herbicides, organic farming, backyard vegetable gardens, buying locally, weight loss programs, etc. We will share ideas on food preparation, recipes, and food samples. This is a participatory class. Besides learning, we intend to make this class lots of fun!

GREAT DECISIONS AND U.S. FOREIGN POLICY 2010                                             Mendocino 1032

Doug Fulton

The Great Decisions Program is designed to encourage debate and to stimulate participation in discussions of important current U.S. foreign policy issues. The Great Decisions Briefing Book (cost $18) published annually by the Foreign Policy Association (FPA), helps participants develop informed opinions about our foreign policy objectives and how they affects our relationships with other nations. Videos provide additional resource material. Topics for discussion include: 1. Special Envoys: Diplomatic Option for Global Issues; 2.Kenya: Internal Disorder; 3.Global Crime: Organized and Growing; 4. Security Relations; 5. Global Financial Crisis: Measures for Solutions; 6. Russia and Its Neighbors: Future Influence? 7. The Persian Gulf: Future Challenges; and 8. Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution: Challenge for the Future. Class size is limited to 25.

"GREAT" WESTERNS PART II (1950's to 1990's)                             Mendocino 4008 12-1:45

Jon Courtway

Welcome to a survey of "Great" Westerns that any fan should know. These are the most influential and important Westerns made. They are not necessarily the "best", but they helped change attitudes toward or influenced the way Westerns were made. We will see The Tall T (1957), Man of the West (1958), Rio Bravo (1959), The Magnificent Seven (1960), Ride the High Country and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962), The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966), Once Upon a Time in the West and The Wild Bunch (1968), High Plains Drifter (1972), and Unforgiven (1992). There will be a handout for each specific film, with time for discussion. NOTE TIME!!! This is a non-participatory seminar.

HUMOR NEVER KILLED ANYONE         Mendocino 3011

Doug Barr, Dottie Higbee

What Einstein meant to say was that "Humor is 99 percent perspiration and 1 percent inspiration." Join us as we seek our inner hues. We will attempt to create humorous works of art, in whatever medium suits the students. We will study comedians like Jonathan Winters, Robin Williams, Dave Berry, Gary Larson and Garrison Keillor. Loud presentations, eating, drinking and anarchy will be encouraged. You must be able to pass a laughter examination, and leave your left brain at home. Continuing education credits will apply for all disciplines that lack substantial humor, such as law, accounting, financial planning, medicine, insurance, banking and government.

NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM         Douglass 206

David Humphers, Thomas Swift

This seminar will operate as a forum to examine the current national health care reform debate. Short lectures and video presentations will precede participant questions and discussion. Health care and health care costs in the United States will be compared with the other developed and developing nations to examine how they have achieved universal access to health care at approximately half of the per capita cost as health care in the U.S. Each session will focus on a different topic; for example: illness prevention, treating chronic illness, nationalized single payer systems, and free market health insurance, and how they differ.

NATIVE PEOPLES OF NORTH AMERICA Douglass 110

Doris Keller, Bob Taylor

Unlike most of us learned during our education, a closer examination of Native American history and tribal groups reveals a fascinating diversity of languages, life styles, cultures, religions, subsistence, settlement patterns, social organizations and political survival. We will research the historical development of individual groups and leaders to determine how they interacted with their environments, adjusted to changes in their way of life, and the adjustments and adaptations they were forced to make in the expansion of the United States by European settlers. Reading lists and suggested research topics will be available for class presentations.

POP-pourri (Music)                                       Alpine 204

Mike Harkins

This new seminar is a complement to my "200 Years of American Popular Music" lecture series (but attending "200 Years" is not a requirement). Each weekly session will offer music (and videos) that span the decades from 1890's to present day. The play list is taken from the Grammy Hall of Fame as well as other selections from the American pop charts through the years. Focus is on the major Grammy genres of pop (both traditional and modern), blues, jazz, R&B, country, and rock. With the wide range of eras and genres there should be something for everyone. This is a non-participatory seminar.

20th CENTURY MUSIC YOU CAN LISTEN TO Capistrano 227

Len Miller

A sampling of 20th century music will be presented emphasizing video performances and documentaries. The final selection of material will be based on participant input and the coordinator's choices. Among the composers being considered are Mahler, Stravinsky, Sibelius, Copland, Ives, Gershwin, Britten, Elgar, Rachmaninov, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Ravel, Vaughan Williams, and Korngold. The focus of the class will be on learning about and experiencing the music, the musicians and the composers. There will be no lectures.

SCIENCE AND SOCIETY                       Mendocino 2009

Ranny Eckstrom, Hank Kocol

Curious about science and engineering? Wonder about evolution, astronomy, biology or geology? Concerned about how safe genetic engineering, bridges and water supplies are? Feel scientifically challenged? This seminar will address interesting and often misunderstood topics in science and engineering. Participants are invited to make seminar presentations or invite outside experts to speak about topics of relevance in today's world. Invited expert topics include: the brain, medical imaging safety, stem cell research and climate change. An optional tour of the Bay Bridge construction site is also being planned. The seminar will enrich your understanding of current scientific topics and the lives of scientists.

VIETNAM, A WAR THAT DEFIES DESCRIPTION Alpine 156

Al Wolfgang, Nancy Samuelson

Vietnam, our most misunderstood war and second only to the Civil War, our most divisive. It is now possible, 35 years later, to see that the war was more complex, more morally ambiguous, than either the doves or hawks maintained. But the trauma of Vietnam continues to influence our foreign policy. In this seminar we will examine America's involvement in Southeast Asia, what led up to it and the subsequent fallout. The seminar will be loosely structured, with participants making presentations and leading discussions. The focus will be on the political, social and economic issues of the period, not the battles.

WATERCOLOR PAINTING                         Kadema 266

Ken Kinyon, Catherine McCormick

Discover your own creative ability through the beauty and excitement of transparent watercolor painting. Ability to draw is helpful. This semester is for beginning to advanced students. Members of the class will do some instruction in principles and elements of design. Students may choose their own projects. Critiques of completed paintings will be made by class members if desired and guest experienced artists will be invited. Call Catherine McCormick to register.

WRITING PERSONAL HISTORIES

To accommodate all who are interested, we are offering two classes:

Class I: Jan Schroeder, Allen Strong, Barbara Quattrin Mendocino 3007

Class II: Dan Keller Mendocino 4005

For those of you who intend to record your life history for your family, begin with this class. Participants will be encouraged to bring typed pages of about 500 words to share each week. Lots of support and ideas will be given to those who want it, but no critiques. Not only will the class stimulate your recollections of major events in your lifetime, but you will have the opportunity to meet and know other Renaissance members in a small group setting. Each class will limit its size to 20 members.