Topics of Current Interest

Topics for discussion will be selected from current events. The class facilitators will present factual point/counterpoint data to kick off lively interactive discussions. They will select a topic for the first session; then the class will identify topics it wants to discuss in subsequent sessions. The goal is to increase understanding of current topics of controversy and debate.

Instructor: Rich Daniels is a retired CEO of McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital in Oxford. Bill McKnight retired from General Electric Aircraft Engines as a Senior Technologist.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 9:00–10:15am
Location: online

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Petticoat Breeches and Short Gowns: 17th and 18th Century Dress

Who wore petticoat breeches? Are 18th century short gowns still worn today? In this class we will study the many types of dress in the 17th and 18th centuries, including extravagant men's fashions, complex women's styles, and the practical dress of working people. We will examine how political upheaval, technological advancements, and significant movements in the arts influenced dress from the courtiers at Versailles to the slaves in America.

Instructor: Sara Butler is Professor Emerita of Art. She is currently on the Boards of the Butler County Historical Society and ILR.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 9:00–10:15am
Location: online

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Opera: Cultural, Political, and Literary Accents

Rossini's Barber of Seville, Verdi's Rigoletto, and Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor will be presented with some discussion of their respective roots in the Enlightenment, the Risorgimento, and Scottish literary traditions.

Instructors: Andrea Ridilla, Professor of Music, teaches Oboe and Opera Appreciation at Miami; Anne Morris-Hooke, Professor Emerita of Microbiology, has enjoyed a lifelong passion for opera.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 9:00am–10:15 am
Location: online

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For Your Children/Grandchildren: Investing for Retirement

Save your kids and grandkids thousands of dollars over their lifetime of investing with the information that will be presented in this course. This course is NOT a financial planning course. I will make specific, non-conventional wisdom recommendations with respect to what (securities), how (specific steps), and who (which brokers). The first three weeks are spent presenting information that will enable you to accept with complete confidence the specific recommendations that are made in week four. Week five will present specific recommendations, again violating conventional wisdom, for withdrawing from your now giant-sized portfolio. The course concludes with a shift in emphasis from investing for retirement to investing during retirement.

Instructor: Thomas Schaber is a Senior Investment Advisor with Investing for Retirement, LLC.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 10:45am–12:00pm
Location: online

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Pete Seeger and the Power of Song

This course will look at the life and music of Pete Seeger, the banjo player who was the father of American folk music. It will draw on my biography of Seeger and in four sessions will look at key contributions. It will draw on personal experiences—I interviewed him many times—and will include performing his most famous songs (with my guitar). Week 1: Labor and Political Issues; week 2: Civil Rights; week 3: Vietnam; week 4: Environment & Other Causes.

Class text: Participants will be offered the instructor’s Seeger book at author's discount ($10), but it is not required.

Instructor: Allan Winkler, Professor Emeritus of History, was chair of the Department of History, Associate Dean in the College of Arts and Science, and University Distinguished Professor of History.

4 Tuesdays: March 30–April 20; 10:45–11:45 am
Location: online

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Discovering Nature in Your Own Backyard

You don’t have to travel far to find inspiration and fulfillment in nature. From microscopic soil life to migrating monarch butterflies to incredible apex predators, you can find them all without ever having to leave your community. Learn how to discover and appreciate wondrous things you may have been overlooking, perhaps even in your own backyard. All new topics for this session.

Instructor: Shannon Pennington is a naturalist with the Warren County Park District and Mother Nature’s Classroom, LLC

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 10:45 am–12:00pm
Location: online

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Mother Nature is Calling All Painters...That’s You!

This class is for beginning or experienced oil or acrylic painters. Learn landscape techniques to complete a work at home or in a classroom with social distancing for your safety. Students will use a photo provided but can bring their own supplies similar to those on the list provided or purchase from DickBlick.com or any source of their choice.

Instructor: Marian Fisher has been working in oils since retirement in 2008. Marian was a speaker at our 2020 Brown Bag lunch and hopes some of those listeners will join her for this class. She is an active member of Arts Alliance Painters and Women's Art Club of Cincinnati.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 12:30–1:45pm
Location: hybrid, as noted in course description
Supplies: Supply list will be furnished upon registration.

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Tuesday Brown Bag Lecture Series

Each week the Brown Bag Lecture Series presents a speaker who will discuss a topic of interest and importance. Plan to enjoy this ILR tradition.

March 30 – Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell – Dr. John DiPaola has researched for years trying to find the perfect complement to our philosophy on healthcare. Stem cells offer a healthy process by helping people heal naturally without drugs or surgery. Since graduation from chiropractic college, Dr. DiPaola practiced in Atlanta, Georgia, for nine years, and for the last 13 years in southwest Ohio.

April 6 – Where Karl Marx Went Wrong – Peter and Gudrun Seifert. Gudrun and Peter lived in Germany as children (7 and 9) and experienced the end of World War II. Peter ended up in Russian-occupied East Germany, which in 1949 became “Communist." At 19, Peter escaped to West Germany to finish college and found Gudrun, who already lived in the "West." They married and came to the USA in 1964 and Middletown three years later. Thank you, America!

April 13 – From One Friend to Another: How My Family’s Search for a Kidney Led Me Back to My Own Dorm Room. Mo Emlemdi is 22 years old and attends the University of Cincinnati. During his sophomore year, he was diagnosed with kidney failure. Hear Mo’s story about his journey from the day he was diagnosed with kidney failure through a year of dialysis and the struggles he went through that year. Fatima Emlemdi, Mo’s mom, is a former Visiting Assistant Professor in the Center for American and World Cultures.

April 20 – Adventures of a WWII American Red Cross Girl – LeOna Kriesel was a Red Cross Girl from Minnesota who served during WWll. General Dwight Eisenhower said it best… "(their) readiness to meet the needs of the well and minister to the wounded has often seemed the friendly hand of this nation, reaching across the sea to sustain its fighting men." Gabrielle Strand, a member of ILR’s Curriculum Committee, is a retired Lakota School District teacher.

April 27 –Living Off the Grid – Part 2 – The dream of living off the grid began in 1963 and, as technology improved the dream, became a reality. This presentation will revisit and update Mike’s previous presentation as the technology has continued to evolve. Michael Clements served as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman during the Vietnam War where he received a Purple Heart for wounds received during the Tet Offensive. In the ensuing years, he received certification in Disaster Control from Safety Systems Emergency Response School, Industrial Loss Management from NFPA, and Community Emergency Response from FEMA. He founded Critical Care Services, Inc., in 1982 and served as its CEO until his retirement.

Coordinators: Sharon Chapman is a retired executive assistant. Frank Chapman is a former president of Armco Building Systems and Business Manager of Middletown City Schools.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 12:30–1:45pm
Location: online

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Frank Lloyd Wright: Man, Myth, Mystery, and Master

Frank Lloyd Wright is doubtless the best known American architect. Although many people are familiar with his early "Prairie Style," there is much more to his very long career. We will discover the roots of Wright's work and its extraordinary development by looking at his buildings through his biography, the complex relationships in his personal and professional life, and considering both standard and recent research about his work. The intention is to arrive at a deeper understanding and appreciation of his work.

Class Text: There is no text for the course, but a suggested reading list will be supplied during the first class.

Instructor: Robert Benson is Professor Emeritus of Architectural History and Theory and former Chair of the Department of Architecture and Interior Design. His interest in Frank Lloyd Wright began while he was in high school and has only grown stronger since then. In his other life, he is a composer with over 100 items in print from six publishing houses.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 2:15–3:30 pm
Location: online

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How Did the Union Navy Help Win the Civil War?

The Union Navy was America’s first 600-ship navy. It led in technical innovation and was the first to maintain a steam-powered blockade, leading to the economic strangulation of the Confederacy. Its armed riverboats provided mobility for Grant and Sherman's armies in the West. It was the first to operate ironclad vessels in combat and learned how to fight the first use of submersibles and mines. The approximately 55,000 sailors and officers made an outsized contribution to Union victory.

Instructor: Gary Johnson brings his experience as a former naval officer in nuclear submarines and as an amateur historian to tell the little-known story of the Civil War Navies.

Class text: Provided by the instructor and mailed by ILR (one per household) prior to course start date. Extra copies available from instructor for $10.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 2:15–3:30 pm
Location: online

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South American Wines and Industry

Explore the South American wine industry with us as we study the geography, soil, climate, and grapes of Argentina, Chile, Brazil, and more. We will discuss the impact of the arts and important wine personalities as well as commercialization efforts to bring the wine to market. Indeed, we will also enjoy wine tastings from each region.

To comply with health and safety requirements, you have two class options: 1) gather with a small, socially-distanced group in a yet-to-be-determined location in your area; or 2) participate online from your home. Those participating from their homes will pick up wine samples on the afternoon of the class in a TBD location based on the needs of the student group. Please note that if there isn’t ample interest for an on-site group in your area, everyone will be remote.

Instructors: Nicholas Gantenberg was a researcher at university, government (NIH), and corporate R&D labs. He operated a digital marketing franchise and now works as a wine director for a local shop. Melanie Cedargren is the owner and operator of The Spicy Olive, an original tasting emporium for fresh olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and fine wines.

5 Tuesdays: March 30–April 27; 4:00–5:15 pm
Location: hybrid, as described above
Supply fee: $55, payable with registration