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Summary of Previous Friday Seminars
and Seminar Topic Ideas
Spring 2003 to Spring 2013
Shown below is a list of seminars offered by the Renaissance Society on campus on Friday afternoons for the last several years (some years are missing).
This is informational to help anyone interested in coordinating or co-coordinating a seminar. A brief description of each seminar is in the activity catalog for that semester; those past catalogs are available at the Renaissance office.
If you have questions about any seminar, you can contact the coordinator(s) shown below or one of the Seminar Committee Co-Chairs: Muzza Eaton, Marilyn MacBride or Barbara Parker. Contact information is available in the Membership Directory or through the Renaissance Office (278-7834).
Also below is a list of seminar topics that have been suggested by various people. Perhaps one of these topics will catch your interest in becoming a seminar coordinator soon!
Jump to:
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2003
Seminar Topic Ideas
Spring 2013
- Art/Entertainment
- American Popular Music - By Decade, Mike Harkins
- Beautiful Singing in Opera and Art Song, Ken Carter/Len Miller
- Experiencing Architecture, Dan Keller/Larry Emery
- Real Rock ‘N’ Roll, Bob Lang
- Some of the Best Films You Have Never Seen, Jon Courtway
- Watercolor Painting, Barbara Peck/Ken Kinyon
- Culture/Societies
- Cultural Statements in Film and Documentaries II, Birte Harley/Steve Harley
- South America - What North Americans Don't Know, Allen Jamieson/Kathleen Olson
- Scandinavian History and Culture, Elaine Bjorgan Duxbury/Mary Euretig/Joan Meagher/Lynn Poole
- The TED Talks: Ideas Worth Spreading, Allan Keown/Gwen Stephens/Virginia Sturdevant
- Economics/Government
- Great Decisions, David Peters/Nell Farr
- Healthcare in California: What Makes It Tick, Marty Keale/Tom Swift
- History
- California and the Civil War, Nancy Samuelson/Gloria Luney/Charles Donaldson
- Canada and its Relationship with the United States, Wayne Luney
- Combatants and Courtesans: Women in History, Ed Sherman/Jeannette Hanna
- The Enlightenment, Ed Sanborn/Joyce Mundel
- Greek Mythology in Art, Literature and Music, David Warren
- Literature/Drama/Languages
- Beginning Spanish, Kathie Micallef
- Reading Like a Writer, Ron Tochterman
- Personal Development/Sports
- Creating a Healthy Kitchen, Anne Evans
- Self-Publishing Our Memoirs, Biography or Other Personal Book, Marian Kile
- Writing Personal Histories, Tom Carroll
- Science/Philosophy
- Jesus and Christian Origins, J.L. Tobey
- Religion and Society in Tension, Dick Pitcher
- The Search for Spirituality, Jan Polin/Marilyn Reynolds
- Technology
- Blogging for Fun and Advocacy, Duane Campbell
Fall 2012
- American Popular Music – By Genre, Mike Harkins
- 2012: Armed for Peace, Randy Wichert/Fran Styron
- Beginning Spanish, Kathie Micallef
- Classical Music Through the Ages, Robert Seyfried/Noelle Anderson/Len Miller
- Cohousing Study Seminar, Anne Geraghty/Gloria Reynolds/Ardie Andrews
- Composers of the Great American Songbook and Their Songs, Don Taranto/Pat Ryan
- Critical Thinking, Richard Kowaleski
- Film Noir and Cult Films, Jon Courtway
- Geography, Wayne Luney
- History of Science Fiction in Film, David Lockwood/Douglas Griebner
- Inventing a Nation, 1773 to 1793, Ed Speegle/David McGuire
- Japanese Feature Films Portraying Early and Feudal Japan, Tom Swift/Harriette Work
- Jesus and Christian Origins, J.L. Tobey
- Justice: Doing the Right Thing, Chuck Scarcliff
- The Maya: Ancient Civilization, Resilient Survivors, Beth Mann/Nancy Westerberg
- Plato, The Republic, Tom Slakey
- The Plays of Arthur Miller, Ron Tochterman
- The President's Crossroads, Herb Cohen
- The Renaissance Beyond Florence, Kathy Beasley/Ed Sanborn/Marty Keale
- Underground Wonders – More than Tunnels and Caves, Doris Keller/Carolyn Mack
- Understanding Plate Tectonics and Traveling to Amazing Places on our Shaky Earth, Richard Rypinski/Richard Fuller
- Visionaries and Villains: Famous and Infamous Men and Women in History, Ed Sherman/Dottie Higbee
- Watercolor Painting, Barbara Peck/Ken Kinyon
- Working Class Literature, Cathy Hackett
- World War II, Garey Young/Al Wolfgang
- Writing Personal Histories, Tom Carroll/Fred Chapman/Gail Hulse
Spring 2012
- American Popular Music - By Decade, Mike Harkins
- America's Gilded Age (1880 thru 1910), Allen Jamieson/Wayne Luney
- California: 1820 - 1869, Richard Fuller
- California's Social Protest History in the Parks, Claire LeDonne
- Challenges to American Power, Herb Cohen
- Creating a Healthy Kitchen, Ken and Anne Evans
- Dante's Divine Comedy, Tom Slakey
- Don Quixote, Jim Gallant/Jean Cawood
- Great Decisions 2012, David Peters/Nell Farr
- Greek Mythology in Art, Literature and Music, David Warren
- How to use PowerPoint 2010, Marian Kile
- Intriguing People, Organizations, etc., Steve and Birte Harley
- Introductory Spanish, Carol Purin
- Inventing a Nation 1774 - 1789, Ed Speegle/Beth Mann
- Islam History and Geopolitics, Bob Taylor/Brady Torres
- Japanese Feature Film, Thomas Swift/Doris Keller/Al Gallardo
- More Great Stories - More Great Literature, Chuck Scarcliff
- Navigating the Night Sky, Jack Russell
- See the USA from its Waterways, Judy Zimmerman/Ken Mack
- The National Film Registry and Film Noir, Jon Courtway
- Using the Future to Understand Our Times, David Lockwood
- The Short Stories of Raymond Carver, Ron Tochterman/John Bowman
- The Supreme Court, the Constitution, John Andrew/Bob Schmidt
- The Vikings, Elaine Bjorgan Duxbury
- Watercolor Painting, Barbara Peck/Ken Kinyon
- Writing Personal Histories, Anne Conway/Allen Strong
Fall 2011
- A Brief History of the Crime Novel, Bill Mahan
- Assassinations from Julius Caesar to JFK, Miyo Turaylich/Pat Ryan
- American Popular Music - By Genre, Mike Harkins
- Beethoven and Friends, Bob Seyfried/Len Miller
- Contemporary American Art and Artists, Fran Styron/Carolyn Mack
- Critical Thinking, Richard Kowaleski
- Depressions and Recessions, Wayne Luney/Garey Young
- Don Quixote, Jim Gallant/Jean Cawood
- Great Stories - Great Literature, Chuck Scarcliff
- Humans Living and Traveling in Space, Joy Skalbeck/Doris Keller
- Japanese Americans - Their Story, Mas Hatano/Tom Swift
- John Henry Newman Sermons, Tom Slakey
- Lies and Statistics, Ken Moody
- Menu for the Future, Susan Sundell/JoAnn Peter/Anne Evans
- Money and the Power Elite, Larry Whitlock
- Museums of the World, Betty Anderson/Barbara Kletzman
- San Francisco Noir, Jon Courtway
- Stay Healthy with Complementary Medicine, Jan Polin/Tom Murphey
- The 12th - 14th Centuries: A Turbulent Time, Ed Sanborn/Kathy Beasley
- The Amazing Brain, Paul Micheli
- The Plays of Tennessee Williams, Ron Tochterman
- The Vikings, Elaine Bjorgan Duxbury
- Watercolor Painting, Tim Weishahn/Barbara Peck
- Women Who Have Made a Difference, Claire and George Roper
- Writing Personal Histories, Anne Conway/Allen Strong/Claire Smurr
Spring 2011
- A History of Human Migration, Paul Micheli/Lloyd Money/Muzza Eaton
- American Popular Music - Part 2, Mike Harkins
- Bonsai: The Art of Miniature Trees, Clarence Smith/Walt Brainerd
- Cultural Statements in Film & Documentaries, Birte and Steve Harley
- Film Noir, Jon Courtway
- Florence, Italy, Renaissance Period, David Warren
- Great Decisions & U.S. Foreign Policy 2011, Doug Fulton
- Hawaii: More than "Aloha", Sue Erlich/Betty Christoff
- "The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts..", Herb Cohen
- Menu for the Future, Susan Sundell/JoAnn Peter
- Modern Japan from Perry to Present, Tom Swift
- 9/11 Re-Examined, Larry Starn
- Peoples of North America, Doris Keller/Coby Bonner
- Poetry: An Introduction, Debbie Russell
- Reconstruction - America's Ugly Scar, Nancy Samuelson/Dennis Kohlmann
- Songs of Protest and Social Justice, Dick Tarble
- Trojan Wars, Bunny Bonewitz/Ed Speegle
- Watercolor Painting, Ken Kinyon/Barbara Peck
- World War II, Bert McBride/Bob Dinsfriend
- Writing Personal Histories, Anne Conway/Allen Strong/Claire Smurr
- Writing Your Retirement, Barbara O'Donnell
Fall 2010
- A History of Human Migration, Paul Micheli/Lloyd Money/Muzza Eaton
- A History of the Mystery Novel, Bill Mahan
- Critical Thinking, Richard Kowaleski
- Down River, Claire and Marge LeDonne
- Facing Challenges in Contemporary Africa, Betty Anderson/Mary Schrock
- Famous American Reformers/Muckrakers, Bob Taylor/Joy Skalbeck
- Femmes Fatales of Film Noir, Jon Courtway
- Following the Mid-Term Congressional Elections, Al Keown/Dick Tarble
- Great Trials in History, Mike Sands
- Militarism and Permanent War, Nell Farr/Brigitte Jaensch
- Modern Japan (And Its Films), Tom Swift/Bruce Joplin
- Music - American Popular Music, Mike Harkins
- Music - Blues/Rock, Ele Meux/Jim Winter
- Music - Greatest Classical Works, Bob Seyfried/Len Miller
- Science and Society, Ranny Eckstrom/Hank Kocol/Lois Wren/Pam Tureen
- Shakespeare's Great Speeches and More, Charles Scarcliff
- The Art and Craft of Writing a Novel or Memoir, Cleo Kocol/Norma Streeter/Jean Clark
- The Impact of Geography, Wayne Luney/David Goldstein
- The Internet - A Genie or Pandora's, Box George Roper/Ken Moody
- Watercolor Painting, Ken Kinyon/Barbara Peck
- Writing Personal Histories, Allen Strong/Anne Conway/Claire Smurr
Spring 2010
- Art and Craft of Writing a Novel or Memoir, Cleo Kocol/Jean Clark
- Assassinations from Julius Caesar to JFK, Milo Turaylich/Bob Dinsfriend
- Between Two Wars - War of 1812 & Civil War, John Walker/Allen Jamieson
- Bonsai - The Art of Miniature Trees, Clarence Smith/Walt Brainerd
- Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Jan Polin/Om Bindra
- Constitutional Conventions, John Andrew/Bob Schmidt
- Ethics and Business and Public Policy, Bob Dinsmore/Brian Kidney
- Experiencing Architecture, Tom Dole/Stanley Mofjeld
- Famous Bridges of the World, Birte Harley/Dee Brown
- Fascinating Lives That Made A Difference, Linda Schoenhoff/Pam Tureen
- Florence Italy, The Renaissance Period, David Warren
- Food and Health - You Are What You Eat, Norm Eade, Eleanor Thomas
- Great Decisions & U.S. Foreign Policy 2010, Doug Fulton
- Great Westerns Part II, Jon Courtway
- Humor Never Killed Anyone, Doug Barr/Dottie Higbee
- National Health Care Reform, David Humphers/Thomas Swift
- Native Peoples of North America, Doris Keller/Bob Taylor
- Nobel Prize Winners, Steve Harley
- Pop-Pourri (Music), Mike Harkins
- 20th Century Music You Can Listen To, Len Miller
- Science and Society, Ranny Eckstrom/Hank Kocol
- Vietnam, A War That Defies Description, Al Wolfgang/Nancy Samuelson
- Watercolor Painting, Ken Kinyon/Catherine McCormick
- Writing Personal Histories I, Jan Schroeder/Allen Strong
- Writing Personal Histories II, Dan Keller
Fall 2009
- Blues Music - A Survey, Ele Meux
- California Small Towns, Marge & Claire LeDonne
- Critical Thinking, Richard Kowaleski
- English Literature Classics, Richard Peter/Jim Kimberlin
- Famous and Infamous Californians, Louise Driggs/Al Gallardo
- Genealogy, Carol Byers
- Great Westerns of the 30s, 40s & 50s, Jon Courtway
- Healthy Aging, Stan Greenberg
- Mexico and Latin American, Carlos & Gloria Borja/Bruce Joplin
- Mystery Writers, John Walker
- Outstanding Breakthroughs, John Andrew
- Readings on Human Rights, Charles Scarcliff
- Recession History, Dan Keller/Phyllis Mills
- The American Mind, Larry Whitlock
- Geography, Wayne Luney
- The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts, Herb & Jane Cohen
- Watercolor Painting, Ken Kinyon/Catherine McCormick
- Writing Personal Histories, Jan Schroeder/Allen Strong
Spring 2009
- Africa, Betty Anderson/Mary Schorck/Kathleen Micallef
- Ancient Rome, David Warren/Lois Warren
- Bonsai: The Art of Miniature Trees, Clarence Smith, Walt Brainerd
- Documentaries, Birte and Steve Harley/Dee Brown
- Film Noir, Jon Courtway
- Great Decisions & U.S. Foreign Policy, Doug Fulton
- Music of the Enlightenment (1750 -1830), Robert Seyfried/Jane Sagehorn
- President's Wives, Joy Skalbeck/Rina Humphers/Pam Tureen
- Reading Proust - Vol.6, Karen Ewing/Kay Mogavera
- Reconstruction - America's Angry Scar, Nancy Samuelson
- Scientist's Insights That Shaped Our World, Muzza Eaton/Hank Kocol
- The American Mind, Larry Whitlock
- The New U.S. Republic, Allen Jamieson/John Walker
- Watercolor Painting, Ken Kinyon/Catherine McCormick
- Writing Personal Histories, Jan Schroeder/Dennis Kohlmann/Irina Kravtchenko
Fall 2008
- American Interventions, John Andrew/Nell Farr
- Experiencing Architecture, Stan Mofjeld/Tom Dole
- Grand Opera! Eliane Watson
- Great Explorers, Wayne Luney
- Great Trials in History, Mike Sands/Bob Taylor/Joy Skalbeck
- Magical Egypt, Erika Vagt
- Mixed Bag of Films, Gloria Luney/Marion Isaac/John Liberty/Jon Courtway
- Mystery Writers, John Walker
- Reading Proust, Karen Ewing/Kay Mogavero
- Science Fiction Literature, Ele Meux
- South Asia, Onkar Bindra/Al Wolfgang
- The Etruscans, Paul Micheli
- 20th Century Poetry, Chuck Scarcliff
- 200 Years of American Popular Music, Mike Harkins
- Untold Stories of Old Sacramento, Marge & Claire LeDonne
- Watercolor Painting, Catherine McCormick/Ken Kinyon
- Writing Personal Histories, Jan Schroeder/Dennis Kohlmann/Irina Kravtchenko
Spring 2008
- Ancient Greece, David & Lois Warren
- Ancient Greek Mythology, Don McHugh
- Beginning Genealogy & Research, Carol Byers/Marian Kile
- Bonsai: The Art of Miniature Trees, Clarence Smith/Walt Brainerd
- Documentary Film Seminar, Birte & Steve Harley
- Espanol for Active Learners, Noelle Anderson/Elaine Moody/Jerry Nussbaum
- Experiencing Art, Tom Dole
- Great Decisions & U.S. Foreign Policy 2008, Doug Fulton
- A History of Mythology - Part II, Paul Micheli/Lloyd Money/Muzza Eaton
- Jazz, Len Miller/Ray Gump
- Museums of the World, Betty Anderson/Barbara Kletzman
- National and State Parks, John Walker
- Nonfiction Critique Group, Pat Schrader
- Reading Proust's "Remembrances Past", Karen Ewing/Kay Mogavero
- Reading The Economist, Hugh Gibbons
- Watercolor Painting, Catherine McCormick/Elizabeth Schwantes
- Writing Personal Histories, Sandy Rea/Jan Schroeder
Fall 2007
- Africa, Nancy Westerberg/Terry Moss/Jessica Seyfried/Betty Anderson
- Ancient Greece, David & Lois Warren
- California Agriculture, Marge & Claire LeDonne
- Characters of the American Revolution, Allen Jamieson/John Walker
- Civil Liberties and the Bill of Rights, Bob Schmidt/John Andrew
- Espanol for Active Learners, Noelle Anderson
- Global Warming, Dick Tarble/Dottie Higbee
- Great Musical Performances, Bob Seyfried/Len Miller
- A History of Mythology, Paul Micheli/Lloyd Money/Muzza Eaton
- A Mixed Bag of Films, Marion Isaac/Gloria Luney
- Reading Proust's "Remembrances Past", Karen Ewing/Kay Mogavero
- Watercolor Painting, Tom Dole/Catherine McCormick/Elizabeth Schwantes
- Writing Personal Histories, Sandy Rea/Shirley Campion/Jan Schroeder
- World War II, Bert MacBride/Garey Young
Spring 2007
- Ancient Greece: Its Influences on Us Today, David & Lois Warren
- Ancient Greek Mythology, Don McHugh/Sid Anderson
- Bonsai, The Art of Miniature Trees, Clarence Smith/Walt Brainerd
- Classical Music, David Smith/Len Miller
- Critical Thinking, Richard Kowaleski/Dottie Higbee
- Great Decisions, Doug Fulton
- How to Be a Smart Consumer, Marilyn MacBride/Bob Seyfried
- If You're Happy and You Know It, Donna Auwaerter
- Movie Classics, Garey Young
- Museums of the World, Betty Anderson/Mary Groesbeck
- Search for Spirituality in America, Bill McGunnigle/Jan Polin
- Spanish for Beginners, Lawrence Spivock
- Teas of the World, Birte Harley/Dee Brown
- The Abraham Religions, John Walker/Bruce Joplin/Gloria Luney
- Watercolor Workshop, Dick Meagher/Catherine McCormick
- Western European Men and Women of Ideas, Wayne Luney
- Writing Personal Histories, Ranny Adell
Fall 2006
- American Men and Women of Ideas, Wayne Luney
- Bach to Beethoven to Brahms, Bob Seyfried
- Changing Behavior, Attitudes and Emotions, Ralph Anderson/Dick Auwaeter
- Complementary Medicine and Qi Gong, Jan Polin
- Emerging Infectious Diseases, Muzza Eaton
- Floods, Past and Future, Mike Weber/Dick Tarble/Art German
- Movie Comedies, Jennifer Kerr/Susan Leber
- Native People of North America, Coby Bonner/Marilyn MacBride
- Sacramento's Storied Past, Marjorie LeDonne/Claire LeDonne
- Shakespeare - Lite, Angelee Caston/Bunny Bonewitz
- Beginning Spanish - "Beyond Buenos Dias", Peter Milne/Lawrence Spivock
- Storytelling, Zach Taylor
- The Abraham Religions, Bruce Joplin/John Walker/Gloria Luney
- Watercolor Workshop, Dick Meagher/Catherine McCormack
- Writing Personal Histories, Ranny Adell
Spring 2003
- Spring 2003 Bonsai: The Art of Miniature Trees, Clarence Smith
- Classic Films, Jeanne Ott
- Genealogy: Your Family History, Jim Middleton/John Andrew
- Great Cities of the World, Art German/Bea Petrocchi
- Great Civilizations of the Americas, Ada Roscoe/P.J. Garrido
- Great Decisions, Doug Fulton
- Investment Strategies, Rex Little/Lindy Asch
- History of Ireland, Dennis Kohlmann/Vince Vandre
- Lewis and Clark and Their Epic Adventure, Nancy Samuelson
- Life Changes in Bereavement, Raul Rodriguez/Mona Farris
- Popular Music of the Early 20th Century, Harry Grafe
- Origins of Monotheism, Paul Micheli/Don Woodside
- Perfecting Mind-Body Management, Bob Mathews
- P.C. Computer, Ernie Stokes
- Reading Short Stories Aloud, Walt Kersey/Jean Clark
- Shakespeare II, Carole Bay
- Watercolor Workshop, Richard Meagher/Elizabeth Schwantes
Potential Seminar Topics
- Poetry: An Introduction
- Who Owns the Media
- The Supreme Court
- Etiquette for Today's Traveler
- Alaska
- Health Care Costs
- Oceans
- Irish History
- Korean War
- Development of the Environmental Movement
- Acrylic Painting
- Impressionism and Post Impressionism
- Sculpture and Sculptors
- Celebrate Sacramento (Art, Heritage Areas, American River, etc.)
- Pharmaceuticals (Vitamins, Research Trends, US vs Other Countries, etc.)
- Comparative Religions of the World
- Scandinavian Countries
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