Filter by Subcategory
Course Focus
NASA Returns to the Moon-Should Push on to Mars?
with Carolyn Hopkins
Co-facilitator: Carl Hays
NASA's renewed lunar missions reignite debate about humanity's next giant leap. Supporters argue that living on Mars could expand scientific discovery and ensure our long term survival. Critics warn of extreme risks, high costs and ethical concerns. As we return to the moon, the question grows sharper: should Mars become humanity's next home or remain a distant dream?
Will run
Building Brain-Healthy Habits
with Dawn Orzech
Co-facilitator: Carolyn Hopkins
The US POINTER study led by the Alzheimer's Association showed that a structured healthy lifestyle program combining exercise, healthy diet, cognitive engagement and health monitoring can protect cognitive function. This presentation will explain how brain health is important now and across our lifetimes, help us recognize actions that can help protect our brain health, and assist us in making plans to build brain-healthy habits.
Speaker: Hadi Finerty (Alzheimer's Association IL Chapter)
Will run
Tour the Sam & Ruth Ford House-Session 1, AM-Outing
with Denise Curts-Lueth
Co-facilitator: Ann Hastert
This is a private tour of the Sam & Ruth Ford house at 404 S Edgelawn Drive. This amazing home, often called the Coal or Round house, was built in 1949. The tour will include a personal fascinating narrative from the current owner, Sid Robinson, on his 40 years living there including stories about the original owners, the architect Bruce Goff and the builder Don Tosi. The home is both old & modern. It is a work of art that once inside feels livable and cozy. This is an amazing chance to visit this unique home. 9:30AM - 11:30AM Activity Level: Easy Going
Tour of the Sam & Ruth Ford House-Session 2, PM-Outing
with Denise Curts-Lueth
Co-facilitator: Ann Hastert
This is a private tour of the Sam & Ruth Ford house at 404 S Edgelawn Drive. This amazing home, often called the Coal or Round house, was built in 1949. The tour will include a personal fascinating narrative from the current owner, Sid Robinson, on his 40 years living there including stories about the original owners, the architect Bruce Goff and the builder Don Tosi. The home is both old & modern. It is a work of art that once inside feels livable and cozy. This is an amazing chance to visit this unique home. 1:00PM - 3:00PM Activity Level: Easy Going
Surrounded by Beauty-My Love of Native American Jewelry
with Jennifer Beck
Janet Peterson Smith has spent the last 42 years of her career traveling on the "reservation roads" learning from the artists who created the treasures she sells. Recognized nationwide as an expert in Native American Arts, she has judged in the famed Santa Fe Indian Market and sat on the original advisory board that established the Schingoethe Center for NA American studies in Aurora. Please join us for an amazing fact filled presentation on Native American jewelry and arts!
Speaker: Janet Peterson-Smith
Will run
Create a Beautiful Book Vase
with Ceil Carey
Create a beautiful book vase using materials that Bri from Forget Me Not by Bri will supply. Using a hot glue gun, participants will turn a book into a vase with lovely wooden flowers and greenery. Simple yet elegant! The class fee includes supplies
Presenter: Sabrina Kettley
Invest in Your Brain
with Dawn Orzech
Co-facilitator: Carolyn Hopkins
Multiple studies have shown that healthy lifestyle habits can improve brain health and significantly reduce your chance of developing dementia. Using information from the Alzheimer's Association and "The Alzheimer's Solution" book and related podcast, we will learn more about the brain and specific, simple actions we can take to invest in our brain health. We will also discuss ways to turn this knowledge into daily habits, as a structured lifestyle program has been shown to give the most benefit.
Book: The Alzheimer's Solution by Dean & Ayesha Sherzai, MD (Not Requiired)
Encouraging Civility: Effective Ways to Communicate Through our Differences
with Andrea Danis
Tim Shriver's nonprofit, Project Unite, Inc., was founded with the goal of easing divisions in the country. In searching for the source of this divisiveness his team discovered that it is not disagreements that cause our divisions; it is treating people with contempt when we disagree. This realization led to the development of the Dignity Index, an 8-point scale that measures how we talk to each other when we disagree. This interactive course is based on this scale, which shows the degree of dignity or contempt in speech and how this affects our relationships. Participants will leave with tools and insights needed to ease divisions, prevent violence, solve problems and create a culture built on dignity.
Speaker: AAUW Batavia/Geneva/St. Charles
Will run