A Printer Friendly Version of this page is available.

SPECIAL EVENTS

COFFEE & OPEN HOUSE

1 Tuesday, Feb. 10 9:30-10:00 Coffee, rolls, and tours 10:00-11:30 Lecture “Water Treatment in Nairobi” 11:30-12:00 Coffee, rolls, and tours FREE! But please register on the form David Kuria knows life in slums: he lived in them on his own after age 13. Now an architect, David is the first in Kenya to build hygienic sanitation facilities in informal settlements there. He engages poor communities in toilet design and construction. Through dues collection and innovative financing schemes with funding partners, facilities then operate as profitable ventures for the urban poor and local businesspeople. Not only is he transforming public health, but his work also represents a shift toward collaborative development between slum communities, city authorities and the business sector. He will discuss social entrepreneurship and how it succeeds in the challenging Kibera slum of 100,000 people. Lecturer: A native Kenyan, David Kuria spearheads innovative sanitation projects for the urban poor. He serves as an Ashoka Fellow, a member of the Rotary Club of Langata-Nairobi and project manager for the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast’s water and sanitation project in Kenya.

WINE & CHEESE OPEN HOUSE

1 Tuesday, Feb. 17 4:30-6:30 pm $5 (both first-time and prospective members are free—but please register) Party! New Location for the open house: We will gather in the same location that we hold classes--Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 S. Colorado Blvd. A talented quartet from the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra will greet you at the spring Open House.  Sip, nibble, and chat. Schmooze with facilitators and fellow Academics, and pick up any hand-outs you’ll need to get ready for your first classes. (Can’t make it? We’ll mail anything you miss.) Bring along friends and neighbors to join the fun and find out what the Academy is all about.  There may still be openings in a class that strikes their fancy.  A note of caution: long before last term’s open house, five classes filled.  Members waiting to enroll that evening were disappointed.

COURSES

The Fall 2008 course offerings are divided into Social Studies & History, Humanities & Fine Arts, Science, Food for Thought, and Building Skills.

SOCIAL STUDIES & HISTORY

WORLD POVERTY The Bottom Billion

Instructor: Bill Korstad 5 Tuesdays, Mar. 3—Mar. 31 10-12 am $35 Lectures & discussion Much of the world is poor, very poor, which results in gross underutilization of the world's human capital. This course identifies the world’s poor, explains why they are poor and remain so, explores their options for getting out of poverty, examines which options work and which don't, and describes the various actors in this important drama. Explore the intractable problem of global poverty and what you could do to help solve this critical challenge to Western civilization. Recommended Reading: Paul Collier, The Billion at the Bottom (Oxford University Press – 2007), (Buy from Amazon). Paul Polak, Out of Poverty (Berrett-Koehler Publishers – 2008), (Buy from Amazon). Stephen C. Smith, Ending Global Poverty: A Guide to What Works (Palgrave MacMillan – 2005), (Buy from Amazon). Instructor: Software entrepreneur Bill Korstad has devoted three years to volunteering for USAID-funded economic development projects in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and North Africa. Those experiences plus his recent participation in a humanitarian project in the Congo have inspired him to research global poverty’s causes and solutions.

THE HIGH COST OF AMERICAN POVERTY - POSTPONED TO THE FALL OF 2009!

Facilitator: Abe Flexer 10 Wednesdays, Feb. 25—Apr. 29 1:30-3:30 pm $60 Discussion, lecture, participant reports, videos Who are America’s urban poor? Why are they poor? Why should we care? What, if anything, might be done to address poverty? This course seeks to foster personal responses to these difficult and perplexing questions, rather than reaching a consensus (though the facilitator admits to having his own agenda). The findings and insights of many disciplines—philosophy, economics, history, biology, sociology, anthropology and literature—will help guide discussions, readings and lectures. Required reading: David K. Shipler, The Working Poor: Invisible in America (Vintage/Random House, 2005) and Jared Bernstein, All Together Now: Common Sense for a Fair Economy (Berrett-Koehler, 2006), (Buy from Amazon). Facilitator: Microbiologist Abe Flexer began indulging his latent interest in economics and US poverty issues after retiring from university teaching and administration. An iconoclast at heart, he looks forward to sharing not only his extensive research but his conviction that economics is “a branch of biology” (!).

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY & THE CONSTITUTION

Instructor: Dan Lynch 7 Wednesdays, Mar. 4—Apr. 29 (skip Mar. 25 & Apr. 22) 1:30-3:30 pm $65 (includes the cost of the book) Lectures, Q&A There is much debate in this country about what role, if any, religion should play in public life. But to insist on the mere “separation of church and state” may not be the best way to safeguard our freedom to believe as we choose.  Join us as we examine the notion that, under the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, the federal and state governments must be not just tolerant of all faiths, but must exercise utterly no power in regard to them. We’ll link this historical perspective to contemporary society by analyzing relevant Supreme Court cases and current issues in the media. Required reading: Daniel Lynch, Our Fading Religious Liberties: How Government Uses Religion (Studio 1712, 2008).  The book will be distributed on the first day of class. Instructor: Lawyer Dan Lynch has handled a number of civil rights and religion/state cases, prompting his concern with “the increasingly dangerous alliance between government and religion.”  He chaired the Colorado Democratic Party and founded the predecessor to the Denver Business Journal.

THE CALVINIST WORK ETHIC Alive, Dead or On Life Support?

Instructor: John Bell 4 Thursdays, Feb. 26—Mar. 19 10-12 am $25 Lectures & discussion If John Calvin were transported to today's western world, nearly 500 years after he sparked the Protestant work ethic, what would he think of capitalism, our personal commitment to work and wealth management, entitlements and the current economic crisis? Join us in exploring how work and our attitudes toward it have changed since Calvin, influenced by everything from the Industrial Revolution to the Age of Information. Instructor: Head Pastor at Wellshire Presbyterian Church since 2000, John Bell earned a degree in economics before embarking on his master’s and doctorate at two prestigious seminaries. He is also deeply committed to participating in an ongoing Jewish-Presbyterian dialogue and volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and the Adult Congenital Heart Association.

THE PERSIAN PUZZLE & MODERN IRAN - FILLED!

Discussion Leader: Sherma Erholm 8 Thursdays, Mar. 5—Apr. 23 1:30-3:30 pm $55 Study, discussion, optional reports strongly encouraged Do Iran’s funding of terrorists and purported plans for nuclear weapons keep you up at night? Join your fellow insomniacs in this exploration of America’s options in the face of growing pressure from Europe and the UN for the US to “do something.”  Knowing that there are no easy answers, we’ll search the past and present for lessons that can guide the future conduct of American policy.  We’ll study Persian history from ancient Persepolis through the reign of the Shahs to today’s Islamic Republic and examine the complicated record of US-Iranian relations. As we gain understanding of the people, culture, and government of Iran, we’ll take a critical look at the policy recommendations put forward by the author of The Persian Puzzle. Required reading: Kenneth Pollack, The Persian Puzzle: The Conflict Between Iran and America (Random House, 2004 or 2005), (Buy from Amazon). Recommended reading: Stephen Kinzer, All the Shah's Men (Wiley and Sons, 2003), (Buy from Amazon).  Ray Takeyh,  Hidden Iran: Paradox and Power in the Islamic Republic (Henry Holt, 2006), (Buy from Amazon). Discussion Leader: Retired public school teacher Sherma Erholm holds a master’s in communication theory and psychology.  As a learning junkie, she has facilitated adult courses in such diverse subjects as futurism, China, Iran, evolution, and the U.N..

ISLAM FROM MUHAMMAD TO OSAMA - FILLED!

Moderator: Walt Meyer 9 Tuesdays Mar. 3—Apr. 28 1:30-3:30 pm $60 Discussion & lecture Explore the history of Islam from its seventh-century beginnings to the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.  We’ll study the life of Muhammad and discuss the Holy Qur’an, both of which are widely misunderstood in the Western world.  We’ll explore the similarities and differences among the three great monotheistic religions—Islam, Christianity, and Judaism—and examine the implications and consequences of the long political history between Islam and the West. At least one Muslim guest will provide some insight into the struggle faced by the American Muslim community in the wake of 9/11. Moderator: Moderator:  Teaching is a passion for retired “technocrat” Walt Meyer, who has presented a series of classes on Islam.  He spent more than 40 years working for the US Air Force and a defense contractor.

REIMAGINING HISTORY’S TURNING POINTS - FILLED!

Discussion Leaders: Lin Anderson, George Blake, Susan Blake-Smith, Bob Coleman, Jon Medved, Greg Raih, and Dick Young 6 Wednesdays, Feb. 25—Apr. 1 1:30-3:30 pm $55 (fee includes copies of the chapters being examined, OR a used book if enough can be located) Short lecture & long discussion, limited to 25 If Napoleon had won at Waterloo, would Americans be speaking French? Would the map of Europe and the social landscape of the US look different if Pizarro hadn’t tasted potatoes in Peru? Join six historians and history buffs to contemplate what might have been—if not for some split-second decision, a fallen hero, or a fortuitous wind that changed the outcome of a key event. Taking the imaginings of prominent historians as a jumping off point, we’ll examine the role of chance in shaping the destiny of nations. Required reading: Chapters from Robert Cowley’s The Collected What If?  Eminent Historians Imagine What Might Have Been (Putnam, 2001) (Provided to participants). Coordinator: A marketing executive and travel-industry veteran, Susan Blake-Smith dates her interest in world history to the 14 years she lived in Mexico, where scrambling up the Pyramid of the Sun was a favorite grade-school field trip. She will be joined each week by individuals who will direct the discussion in their own area of interest/expertise. Retired developer and Napoleon aficionado Lin Anderson will unravel the missed opportunities of France’s last emperor, whose insatiable need for conquest dominated Europe and the world for two decades. An influential businessman who spent 25 years in Mexico, George Blake will join his daughter Susan Blake-Smith in a spirited reexamination of how global history might have changed if Cortez hadn’t defeated the mighty Aztecs. Retired CEO and D-Day expert Jon Medved, whose father stormed the beach at Normandy, will re-envision a world in which D-Day failed. Greg Raih, recently retired from a career at premier accounting firms, will explore how Pizarro’s discovery of the lowly potato might have changed the course of the Spanish and Prussian empires and—through the Irish potato famine—the social landscapes of the US, Canada and Australia. Bob Coleman, a former pro baseball player and globe-trotting executive, will re-enact the Civil War—with a different winner and without an Emancipation Proclamation. Revisiting the birth of our country, retired admiral and active historian Dick Young will help us navigate the “what ifs” of the Revolutionary War.

THE STRUGGLE FOR EUROPE: 1945-1989

Moderator: Jim Mingle 7 Thursdays, Feb. 26—Apr. 9 1:30-3:30 pm $50 Lecture & discussion; limited to 25 The defeat of Germany in May 1945 left Europe awash in homeless refugees and displaced persons.  The economies of France, England, Germany and Russia were in shambles.  Over the next four decades, Europe remained at the center of global politics: the Soviet Union emerged to dominate eastern Europe, the French and British empires ended, the social welfare state arose and—in some cases—fell, and Communism collapsed.  With each class participant “adopting” a European country, we’ll explore these key events as Europeans saw them.  Join us in this vital examination of the history of our time. Required reading: William I. Hitchcock, The Struggle for Europe: The Turbulent History of a Divided Continent, 1945 to the Present (Anchor Books, 2003), (Buy from Amazon). Recommended reading: David Kynaston, Austerity Britain 1945-1951 (Walker & Co. 2008), (Buy from Amazon), and Tony Judt, Postwar Europe: A History of Europe Since 1945 (Penguin Press, 2005), (Buy from Amazon). Moderator: Historian, veteran traveler, and Anglophile Jim Mingle has a personal goal of walking the length of Great Britain, an endeavor which has opened new perspectives on all of Europe.  He holds advanced degrees in both history and higher education administration.

HOW JAPAN BOMBED AT PEARL HARBOR

Instructor: Dick Young 6 Wednesdays, Mar. 18—Apr. 29 (Skip Apr. 8) 10-12 am $40 Lecture & discussion What do the events leading up to the “date that will live in infamy” have in common with those that preceded 9/11?  Taking a hard look at the relationship between the United States and Japan in the 1930’s, we’ll study the events that led to the attack on Pearl Harbor and its aftermath—the Japanese planning, our code-breaking efforts, the battles that followed, lessons learned, and mistakes made.  We’ll do a step-by-step walk-through of the twenty-four hours before the attack and the clues the United States had that might have changed history if properly recognized and communicated.  We’ll investigate claims that President Roosevelt “knew” about the attack in advance and learn how Admiral Yamamoto lost his fleet and the war at Pearl Harbor. Instructor: Retired Rear Admiral Dick Young is a political activist and history buff who is earning a masters in history forty years after taking his law degree at the University of Michigan.  He has taught this course in the continuing education programs of several universities.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN: HOW HITLER LOST WWII

Facilitator: Bob Mendes 8 Thursdays, Mar. 5—Apr. 23 10-12 am $50 Lecture, video, still images, discussion By the spring of 1940, Britain stood alone against Hitler’s European blitzkrieg. We’ll explore the fascinating story of how an inexperienced and vastly outnumbered Royal Air Force defeated Germany’s mighty Luftwaffe, forced Hitler to call off his planned invasion of England and Russia, and helped change the destiny of the free world. We’ll start with the lead-up to the war, including the coincidental development of top quality fighter planes and the little-known story of Lady Lucy Houston, who kept the company that built the Spitfire in business after the government withdrew support. We’ll also take a look at the inventions of key war material like radar and the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, as well as the US role in the Battle of Britain. Churchill expert Lew House will discuss the prime minister’s role in maintaining morale. Facilitator: Bob Mendes traveled the world as a petroleum engineer before retiring to Colorado.  He researched this topic while living in Great Britain for over a decade.

MACHIAVELLI ON STATESMANSHIP Risking Hell to Save One’s Country

8 Tuesdays, Feb. 24-Apr. 14 1:30-3:30 pm $50 Lectures, Q&A; limited to 20 Long reviled as the father of unscrupulous politics, Machiavelli lives in the popular mind as the cynical champion of the belief that the end justifies the means. We’ll take a second look at this seminal Renaissance thinker through the lens of Sebastian de Grazia’s Machiavelli in Hell. This engaging intellectual biography explores the complexity of Machiavelli’s political philosophy in the context of his life and times and takes into account his plays, poetry, and letters, as well as his better-known writings on statecraft, leadership, and power.  Join us as we reexamine his principles in the light of present-day events. Required reading: Sebastian de Grazia, Machiavelli in Hell (Vintage, 1994), (Buy from Amazon). Recommended reading: Machiavelli, The Prince, (Buy from Amazon), and his play The Comedies of Machiavelli: The Women from Andros; the Mandrake; Clizia, (Buy from Amazon). Facilitator: John Rupainis is a retired clinical social worker with a lifelong interest in the humanities. He has taught adult classes on Montaigne, Lincoln and the Civil War, and Aristotle’s ethics. He has a longstanding interest in history and philosophy.

MACROECONOMICS MADE EASY

Instructor: Jim Kneser 8 Wednesdays, Feb. 25—Apr. 22 (skip date to be announced) 10-12 am $75 (includes copious copies) Lecture, Q&A The credit contraction of 2008 and resulting global recession have brought the critical importance of macroeconomics into every household in America.  Barack Obama has said that addressing the economy will be his first priority upon assuming the Presidency.  We are bombarded with references to fiscal, monetary, and trade policies that seem confusing if not contradictory.  If you would like to gain an understanding of the forces, goals, and tools of macroeconomics, then this course is for you.  Macroeconomics is the study of economic behavior at the national and international level.  We will focus on the overall goals of macroeconomic policy and the tools for achieving those goals.  We will also bring current events into every class session. Required reading: A mega-book compilation of readings addressing current events. Instructor: Jim Kneser, in his tenth year of leading economics classes as a volunteer, has led over 40 classes with over 2,000 class members.  Kneser has an undergraduate degree in economics from Ripon College and an MBA in finance from the Wharton School.  He is also a CPA and worked in private equity specializing in mergers, acquisitions, speculative markets, and corporate finance.  

THE LABYRINTH: A TALK & A WALK

Moderator: Holly Inglis Pick one: Tuesday, Apr. 7 OR Thursday, Apr. 9 10-12 am $5 (nonmembers $10) Interactive Unlike a maze, which is a puzzle, a labyrinth is designed to be navigated without difficulty from the entry to the center and back.  If you’ve never had an opportunity to experience the calming effect of this meditative tool, join this class.  We’ll explore the history and impact of the labyrinth in various cultures from ancient to modern times, including its adaptations for use in churches, hospitals and even school playgrounds.  For those who have difficulty walking, a pencil version will be available.  Everyone else: wear your cutest socks, as we will take off our shoes. Moderator: Holly Inglis is pursuing a doctorate focused on integrating brain research with the life of the church. A longtime church educator, degreed Quaker pastor, and certified labyrinth facilitator, she currently serves as director of children and family ministries at Wellshire Presbyterian Church.

HUMANITIES & FINE ARTS

SLEUTHING SWEDISH DETECTIVE FICTION

Instructor: Irene Gorak 4 Thursdays, Feb. 26—Mar. 19 10-12 am $30 Discussion of the books, lectures, videos Limited to 20 Some of the best crime writers these days come out of Sweden, starting with Henning Mankell, whose Inspector Kurt Wallander may be the best-imagined sleuth since Sherlock Holmes.  Anxious, aging and unhealthy, Wallander – introduced in Faceless Killers in 1991 – offers the perfect antidote to the convoluted artifice of British mysteries and the facile cynicism of the American hard-boiled tradition.  The other works we’ll look at are classics from the 1960s by the husband-and-wife team Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, who inaugurated a tradition of political detective fiction.   The political issues raised in Swedish mysteries, such as immigration, national identity, and the treatment of women, will no doubt play a key role in our discussions.  Beyond this, there are some economic concerns that may encourage us to take a close look at Sweden, where a financial meltdown in the early 1990s, and the government intervention that reversed it, offer interesting parallels with the recent crisis in the United States.  For the first week’s class, please read Sjöwall and Wahlöö’s Roseanna. Required reading: Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, Roseanna (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, 2008), (Buy from Amazon); Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöö, The Laughing Policeman (Vintage, 1992 or Vintage/Black Lizard, 2009), (Buy from Amazon); Henning Mankell, Faceless Killers (Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, 2003), (Buy from Amazon); Henning Mankell, “The Pyramid,” in The Pyramid and Four Other Kurt Wallander Mysteries (New Press, 2008) Any edition, (Buy from Amazon). Instructor: Irene Gorak holds a PhD in nineteenth-century literature from UCLA. A native of Britain, she taught English in British high schools, and later, worked as an adjunct professor of women’s literature, and detective fiction at the University of Denver.

CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN SHORT STORIES Fuel for Reflection

Discussion Leader: Paulette Wasserstein 6 Wednesdays, Mar. 11—Apr. 29 (skip Apr. 8 & 15) 1:30-3:30 pm $40 Discussion, limited to 25 In the words of Ann Patchett, editor of The Best American Short Stories, 2006, “short stories are more daring, more artful, more original than novels….which in turn usually leads to better writing.”   Despite their brevity, short stories have an impact that provokes endless thought and great discussion.  The stories reflect diverse views of contemporary values and cultures; the authors represent a heterogeneous group of ethnicities.  Class discussions will challenge your imagination and offer opportunities for interpretations and arguments about meaning.  You may be “stumped” at times to figure out the author’s intent, but all great works of art should leave questions unanswered!  Each week we’ll discuss 1 or 2 short stories.  This is a repeat of the popular Fall 2008 course. Required reading: Ann Patchett, Ed., The Best American Short Stories, 2006  (Hough-Mifflin Company, 2006), (Buy from Amazon). Discussion Leader: Paulette Wasserstein, PhD, is a master teacher of both writing and literature.  With a classroom setting open for lively discussion and contemplation, she will take each story to a memorable level.

SHAKESPEARE: CUES & CLUES

Instructor: Joey Wishnia 3 Thursdays, Apr. 16—Apr. 30 10-12 am $20 (nonmembers $35) Lectures & oral reading, limited to 13! Delve into Shakespeare from a whole new angle. Find out how to decode the clues to pronunciation and meaning that the Bard embedded in his plays to help actors learn new parts quickly. An actor himself, Shakespeare used rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, and other poetic devices to cue actors who had to work with few rehearsals and sketchy scripts that contained only their lines and the lead-in to them. We’ll see how these same cues can breathe new life into Shakespeare’s plays for readers and audiences today. Instructor: A veteran actor and director with experience on three continents, Joey Wishnia has performed in or directed 19 Shakespeare plays. In addition to teaching speech and drama, he has appeared in films, TV, cabaret and on radio “in its golden years.”

FROM BRIGHT IDEA TO A NOVEL One Writer’s Approach

Moderator: Wick Downing 8 Thursdays, Feb. 26—Apr. 30 (skip Mar. 19 & Apr. 16) 1:30-3:30 pm $55 Lecture, examining literature, discussion, workshop Limited to 10! How does a fiction writer transform an idea into a novel? In this fiction workshop, a successful novelist will guide new and experienced writers step-by-step through his personal method, analyzing selection of settings, characters, tone, voice, narratives, plots, conflicts and other literary choices. Participants will launch their own works of fiction and share their works-in-progress during constructive critiques, illuminated by comparisons with Stuart Little and To Kill a Mockingbird. You won’t want to miss this chance to explore the writer’s craft with fellow writers. Required reading: E. B. White, Stuart Little (Harper and Row, 1945), (Buy from Amazon), and Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird (Grand Central, 1960), (Buy from Amazon). Moderator: Over the past 35 years, lawyer Wick Downing has written suspense fiction, court-room drama and young-reader fiction. With ten published novels and several awards to his credit, he is convinced that “novel writing is first and foremost a craft—and that, like most crafts, it can be taught.”

FINDING YOUR WRITER’S VOICE - FILLED!

Instructor: Jan Marino 6 Wednesdays, Feb. 25—Apr. 1 10-12 am $40 Workshop, limited to 12 In this creative writing workshop, we will learn to use our imagination, to daydream, to observe, to explore our own truths -- without feeling intimidated or worrying about writing “badly.”   Starting with an exercise as simple as compiling a list of things that have meaning for each of us (all our fender-benders, for example), we will see how character, plot and setting can be developed into stories that give us the power to say what we have to say, whatever our individual strength or focus may be.  Please bring a journal or notebook. Instructor: A well-published writer of young adult and children’s literature, Jan Marino also has years of experience teaching and leading workshops in creative writing. She aspires to “let writers’ imaginations soar without parameters, without criticism”…which has led repeatedly to writers “finding a character with a story, waiting to be discovered.”

MAKING POETRY PART OF YOUR LIFE

Poet: Ted Borrillo 3 Tuesdays Apr. 14—Apr. 28 10-12 am $20 (nonmembers $35) Discussion, reading poetry, writing poetry if you’d like; Limited to 25 Who has time for poetry in today’s hectic world?  Discover how reading and writing poetry can enrich your life. We’ll look at a wide variety of poets—including, among others, Sara Teasdale, Robert Frost, A.E. Houseman, Carl Sandburg, Countee Cullen, Oscar Wilde, Joyce Kilmer, and Shakespeare.  We’ll discuss the steps in writing a poem and how poetry can change the way you look at life and your surroundings, things you might otherwise take for granted.  Through an understanding and love of poetry, we can learn to love life and the uniqueness of its expression in nature, language, interpersonal relationships, and even tragedy.  Come prepared to share your favorite poems—your own or those of others. Poet: Retired lawyer Ted Borrillo is also a published poet who has already made poetry a rewarding part of his life.

CONVERSATIONS WITH A CONDUCTOR

Instructor: Devin Hughes 10 Thursdays, Feb. 26—Apr. 30 1:30-3:30 pm $60 Lecture, listening & discussion If you’ve ever wondered about all the behind-the-scenes stuff concert audiences never get a chance to see or hear, here's your chance to pick the brain of a conductor.  Come prepared with your questions about the interplay between conductor and orchestra. Find out where the conductor gets inspiration for his interpretations and how he communicates them to the orchestra.  We’ll watch videos of well-known conductors in rehearsal and spend some time honing our listening skills by comparing performances of familiar and not so familiar works.  Added bonus: Occasional visits from Lamont student orchestra members to talk about and demonstrate their instruments and explain their roles in the ensemble. Instructor: Devin Hughes is the music director of the Niwot Timberline Symphony Orchestra and is currently pursuing an Artist’s Diploma at the Lamont School of Music in Denver, where he is Assistant Conductor of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra.

THE CATHOLIC MASS – VEHICLE FOR COMPOSERS

Instructor: Robin McNeil 10 Tuesdays, Feb. 24—Apr. 28 10-12 am $60 Lectures, listening to music, Q & A For several hundred years, the Roman Catholic Mass, or celebration of Holy Communion, has offered composers a vehicle for a variety of musical experiments and ways of expressing the original intent of this key liturgical rite.  Join us as we trace the development of this important musical form from roughly 600 A.D. to the present day, through works by such familiar names as Mozart, Haydn, Bach, Berlioz, Verdi, Puccini, Rossini and Brahms, whose “Requiem” stands as a reminder that even secular music can embrace the sacred. Instructor: Music critic and concert pianist Robin McNeil began his study of the piano at the age of 4 at De Pauw University.  He holds a bachelor of music in Performance from Indiana University and a Master of Music in Performance from the University of Illinois.  When he is not performing or writing poetry, Mr. McNeil can be found racing sports cars or flying WWII vintage aircraft.

FROM MUSICAL CONCEPT TO CD

Instructor/Performer: Alan Hood 1 Thursday, Apr. 30 10-12 am $5 (nonmembers $10) Lecture & demonstration How does a musician create an independent CD?  Find out how much work goes into making those entertaining little discs.  A jazz trumpeter takes you behind the scenes from start to finish: from initial concept to selecting the music, making musical arrangements, and assembling performers; from recording to editing, mixing, mastering, and replication. In just a couple of hours, you can add another layer of appreciation to your listening pleasure. Instructor: Dividing his career between performing and teaching at DU’s Lamont School of Music, trumpeter Alan Hood has toured the globe and recorded live with the Phil Colllins Big Band; appeared with the Woody Herman, Glenn Miller and Harry James orchestras; and performed on stage with Ray Charles, Wynton Marsalis and a host of other jazz greats.

FIVE CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS An Artist’s Perspective

Instructor: David Yust 5 Wednesdays, Apr. 1—Apr. 29 1:30-3:30 pm $40 Lecture & slides As your guide through the work of five seminal contemporary artists, David Yust, an award-winning artist and educator, forewarns that “I will do my utmost to avoid driving a tour bus to a known destination.” So prepare yourself for an exhilarating, multi-media ride through the art of innovative architect Frank Gehry, portraitist Chuck Close, and Pop Art icons Red Grooms and Wayne Thiebaud. Capping your adventures will be a tour through Yust’s own abstract imagery in paintings and monotypes, which—he is convinced—is “just as much a part of the real world as imagery from direct observation.”. Instructor: Now in his 44th year of teaching at CSU, David Yust has exhibited his paintings, monotypes, and study drawings at the Denver Art Museum, Arvada Center and Wichita Art Museum, among other venues. The DAM’s Alliance for Contemporary Art and the National Art Education Association have also singled him out for major awards.

ART OF THE NORTHERN RENAISSANCE, Part 1 From Van Eyck to Dürer

Facilitator: Laura Pardee 9 Thursdays, Feb. 26—Apr. 23 10-12 am $60 Video lectures & examination of images Though the great artists of the Italian Renaissance are household names, most of us have trouble even pronouncing the names of masters working north of the Alps during one of the most brilliant periods of European art.  Here’s your chance to explore the rich variety of paintings and prints created during a century marked by stylistic and technical changes fueled by the invention of oil paint and book printing. Professor Catherine Scallen’s DVD lectures are calculated to enrich the time you spend looking at art by sharpening your ability to hone in on detail and by showing you what questions to ask in order to discover something fresh in each viewing. Among the major artists you’ll meet, perhaps for the first time, are Robert Campin, the brothers Van Eyck, Rogier van der Weyden, Petrus Christus, Dieric Bouts, Geertgen tot Sint Jans, and Hans Memling. You’ll also discover the role of engravings and woodblock prints in disseminating artistic ideas in the 15th century and spend some time getting to know that incomparable printmaker Albrecht Dürer. Facilitator: A devotee of art museums at home and abroad, Laura Pardee has long been fascinated by European painting, sculpture, and architecture. Her firsthand experience adds a personal dimension to your virtual tour with art historian Catherine Scallen.  Fred Pardee enjoys providing technical support to Laura’s richly illustrated course.

AESTHETICS OF CHINESE ARTS

Presenter: Keith Meagher 8 Tuesdays, Feb. 24—Apr. 21 (skip Apr. 14) 1:30-3:30 pm $50 Lectures, videos, discussion We can learn much about what the Chinese people consider beautiful and worthwhile by looking at what they keep in museums and put on stage: what they make available to the public indicates what they value.  Using images, texts and recordings, we will examine the graphic arts, poetry and music of China with an eye toward answering such questions as how Chinese aesthetic theory differs from Western approaches, when the early Chinese became aware of their arts and began to collect, and how Western audiences are influencing contemporary Chinese artists and composers (and vice versa). Presenter: An Academy founder, Keith Meagher is fascinated with the connection between culture and history. An experienced facilitator for courses in religion, philosophy and various cultures,  Keith loves delving deeply behind the surface and encouraging students to do the same.

CINEMA: THE EARLY YEARS

Instructor: Len Marino 8 Wednesdays, Feb. 25—Apr. 15 10-12 am $60 Lecture, viewing, discussion This is the first part of a crash course on the history of American cinema, from the earliest images on film in the 1890s to the movie serials of the 1950s.  We’ll see clips and commentary on the directors D.W. Griffith and Cecil B. DeMille, watch Charlie Chaplin and others go about the serious business of making comedy, witness the transition from silent to talking pictures, and study the rise of the studio system and production techniques that are still in vogue today.  No textbook will be necessary; we’ll rely mainly on the visual medium itself to explore the subject matter, along with a few handouts to aid our discussions. Instructor: Len Marino, now retired from a career in advertising and marketing, has never abandoned his first love, the cinema.  A movie theater next to his mother’s shop served as his babysitter starting at age five, and an uncle who worked for a camera and projector company introduced him to old comic films: he was hooked for life!

BALLET LIVE!

Facilitator: Anne O’Connor & Gil Boggs 3 Tuesdays, Feb. 24—Mar. 10 1:30-3:30 pm $25 (nonmembers $40) Lecture, demonstrations, field trip, video Go behind the scenes at Colorado Ballet, starting with a live dance-demonstration of basic ballet history and technique. Next you’ll explore how a choreographer creates a ballet based on Shakespeare; videos will serve as a spring-board for comparing the Colorado Ballet’s Midsummer Night’s Dream with Balanchine’s and Ashton’s interpretations. The class will conclude with a tour of CB’s studios and costume shop and a rare opportunity to watch CB’s Midsummer rehearsals. Facilitators: Gil Boggs, Colorado Ballet’s current artistic director, was a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater in New York for 17 years.     As education and outreach director at Colorado Ballet, Anne O'Connor helps CB reach thousands of students, teachers, families, people with disabilities and lifelong learners throughout the state.

COLORADO BALLET TICKETS

A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1 Saturday, Feb. 28 Performance begins at 2 pm Ellie Caulkins Opera House $40 (nonmembers $50); must receive by Feb. 1 Group tickets are available for Colorado Ballet’s opening performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Talk about flower power!  Enjoy watching an impish forest creature place one petal in the wrong place, inciting passions, heartache, confusion and comedy. Those taking the three-week Ballet Live! class will enjoy comparing the performance to the video and the rehearsal they observed.  Seats are in the first three rows of the Mezzanine on the far side where the section flares outward affording an excellent view of the stage. There are 20 discounted reserved seats and payment must be received by February 1.

SCIENCE

BRAIN GAMES: IMPROVE YOUR MIND

Playmates: Bennie Bub, Abe and Bobbie Flexer, Russ Haskell, Larry Matten, Mike Sarche, Sandy Stolar, and Jacquelyn Wonder 10 Tuesdays, Feb. 24—Apr. 28 12:15-1:15 pm - FILLED! NEW: 11:00-12:00 $40 Activities, games, puzzlers, talk-back To borrow from Robert Frost, “The brain is a wonderful organ.  It starts working the moment you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get to retirement.”  We all suffer from brain rot, but it’s not an irreversible condition.  Come with us as we engage in a series of fun and sociable exercises to train, strengthen and stretch that three-pound mass between our ears, by infusing it with novelty, variety and challenge. Playmates: Bennie Bub is a South African neurosurgeon board-certified in three different specialties on three continents. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1976, he practiced in Denver as an anesthesiologist for more than twenty years before founding a successful database company, from which he retired to indulge his love of music, travel and reading.  For variety Bennie has gathered others with backgrounds in memory, learning, and teaching.

HOW MEMORY WORKS - FILLED!

Instructor: Jacquelyn Wonder 6 Wednesdays, Feb. 25—Apr. 1 10-12 am $60 (includes a book’s worth of copies) Lecture, discussion, & exercises “We remember,” Anais Nin once said, “to taste life twice, in the moment and in the retrospection.” But does your memory seem to be missing some taste-buds lately? This course will reawaken your long-term memories through a “Structured Life Review”—a highly focused and personal revisiting of “grand themes” in your life. Paradoxically, this approach also promises to improve your short-term memory. Learn how to use your life story to increase memory, watch memories being formed (through fMRIs), practice three new ways of remembering, and use more of your brain. You’ll emerge with new motivation and tools to strengthen all your memories, past and to come. Required reading: The notebook which will be handed out on the first day of class. Instructor: Author/co-author of three books on memory and the brain, Jacquelyn Wonder notes that she won a prestigious institute position after remembering the names of 40 trustees on first meeting. Currently she is collaborating with PBS on a series about memory, an extension of her innovative teaching and research on enhancing memory.

A 21ST CENTURY SCIENCE BOOK CLUB

Facilitator: Mark Plummer 3 Thursdays, Feb. 26, Mar. 26, Apr. 30 1:30-3:30 pm $20 Discussion, limited to 15 Do new advancements in science intrigue you, but you’re short on like-minded enthusiasts with whom you can share your latest reading? This exciting new book club promises to solve your dilemma. The facilitator will launch the group’s discussions with William H. Calvin’s A Brief History of the Mind and can suggest additional readings, but the second and third books will be selected by the group.  Please come with recommendations of books you have read and enjoyed.  Members may become so enthused that they’ll decide to continue after the Academy term ends. Facilitator: A semi-retired chemical engineer with his own company and a strong background in math, chemistry and physics, Mark Plummer enjoys keeping abreast of the latest advancements in all areas of science.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

EXPERTS & ENTERTAINERS

Organizer: Lois Martin 9 Wednesdays, Feb. 25—Apr. 22 12:15 – 1:15 pm $35 or $5 each ($10 each nonmembers) One lecture free per Member New: One Guest free during the term Lecture, Q&A Lois Martin, founding editor and publisher of the Aurora Sun, has put together another appetizing array of experts and entertainers for this noon-hour lecture series. Pack a lunch, gather your friends, and join your fellow Academics for this weekly buffet of new ideas. A) Feb. 25 “IQ: Myths, Meaning & FAQs”  What does IQ mean and can it be measured accurately?  Ed Schreiber, an accomplished computer engineer, musician, and actor, will unravel these and other IQ mysteries, as well as demystifying high-IQ societies like Mensa. B) Mar. 4 “Mollies in the Rockies: The Story of the Colorado Irish” Labor historian and theatre founder James Walsh will explore the struggles of Irish immigrants whose search for work led them to Rocky Mountain mining camps. Walsh launches his presentation with a 15-minute theatrical monologue by a 19th-century Irish miner in Leadville. C) Mar. 11 “It All Started at Camp Hale”  Based at Camp Hale, Colorado’s famed 10th Mountain Division of skiing soldiers was honored for its successful WWII battles. Several of its members went on to play a landmark role in the American skiing industry. Learn about this uniquely talented group of men from insider Lt. Col. (Ret.) Earl Clark. D) Mar. 18 “Prevent Cardiovascular Disease in Your Family: New Tools in Early Detection and Prevention” Founder and medical director of Colo. Heart & Body Imaging, Dr. James Ehrlich will explain the state-of-the-art technologies that can precisely identify individuals vulnerable to cardiovascular disease and prevent millions of future heart attacks and strokes. E) Mar. 25 “Impotent Giant: How to Claim the High Ground in American Government”  A seasoned psychologist, Korean War commander, and critic of America’s “narcissistic, self-aggrandizing leadership,” John Lyke dissects the current political climate and the need to return the electorate to its rightful role “in a nation that is not just capitalist but democratic at its core.” F) Apr. 1 “Ancient Herbs/Modern Uses” Uniquely qualified with both a degree in nutritional chemistry and certification in Celtic herbal healing, Colleen Willette will guide us through the role of herbs in ancient lore and their resurgence today in medicines, foods, cosmetics and household cleaners. G) Apr. 8 “Solar in 2009: Ready for Prime Time?” Is solar technology primed to play a major role in our energy strategy? Mike Mendes, a veteran of the alternative energy industry, will examine basic solar technologies and the role of federal tax credits and Xcel energy credits and rebates in the economic viability of solar energy. H) Apr. 15 “A Master Storyteller Celebrates Life, Laughter and Humanity’s Oneness”  Karen Fox, a teacher, writer and actor, has been called “The Crazy Sane Woman” for her entertaining and thought-provoking repertoire of life-affirming stories. Be prepared to both laugh out loud and see yourself anew. I) Apr. 22 “Designing the Colorado Garden: A Personal Quest” Lorraine Sherry, Master Gardener, will reveal how some novices and experts have created urban and country gardens of distinction that reflect their lifestyles and personalities.

BUILDING SKILLS

WATERCOLOR STUDIO FOR NOVICES & OLD HANDS - FILLED!

Instructor: Sharon Rouse 6 Tuesdays, Feb. 24—Mar. 31 10-12 am $40 Studio—Limited to 20 Watercolor is a seductive and exciting medium with a character all its own.  Explore its idiosyncrasies as we learn how to deal with washes, glazes, and color mixing. Discover your own potential as you unleash the power of this most demanding yet rewarding medium.  Open to both beginners and experienced artists.  After registering you will receive the materials list for papers, paints and other supplies. Instructor: Sharon Rouse, an experienced teacher of adult classes and workshops in a museum environment, has been accepted in various shows and appears in private collections.  She is a supervisor for art student teachers at Metro.

PUTTING YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER A Matter of Life and Death Decisions

Instructor: Larry Matten 8 Tuesdays, Feb. 24—Apr. 14 1:30-3:30 pm $60 (includes a large notebook of materials) Lecture & discussion Here’s your chance to get an overview of estate issues and their tax implications from an experienced elder-law attorney before going to see your personal lawyer. We’ll examine the Colorado laws governing estates, end-of-life health issues, and transfer of wealth as we explore various scenarios that could affect the decisions you make about your financial and health-care future.  Are the "Five Wishes" the best choice? What if you are unable to make decisions? Whom can you turn to?  Do you really need a will? Is there an advantage to having a living trust?  Why put off getting your house in order any longer?  Sign up today. Instructor: After a long career as a professor of biology and botany, Larry Matten began a second career in 2000 as an elder law attorney specializing in estate planning and Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security issues. He has recently retired from the practice of law and returned to his first love, teaching.

CHESS FOR BEGINNERS

Instructor: Larry Matten 8 Thursdays, Feb. 26—Apr. 16 10-12 am $40 $20 Chess workbook, required Lecture & playing Give your mind a work-out.  Learn the game of kings (and queens).  You don’t have to know a thing about chess to have fun in this class—just share an interest and willingness to learn this classical game.  There will be a weekly tutorial and review of the basic moves.  Opening moves and defenses will be discussed, as well as end-game strategies. Learn the algebraic notation for record-keeping during a game.  Recreate and follow games played by chess masters.  Solve chess problems.  A round-robin matrix will be set up so that each person will have an opportunity to face every other player.  As the group advances, we’ll introduce variants such as speed chess and team chess.  Chess boards and pieces will be provided. Instructor: In addition to his background in biology, botany, and law, Larry Matten is an avid chess player.  He enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and has coached elementary-school chess teams.

BEGINNING BRIDGE, CONTINUED (Permission Required for New Participants)

Instructor: Sally Kneser 5 Tuesdays, Feb. 24—Mar. 24 1:30-3:30 pm $40—Continuing Participants $45—New Participants (includes Ch. 1-6 flash cards) Lecture & card play The class Bridge for Beginners & Never-Evers continues in the spring with the final three chapters of Bidding in the 21st Century.  After a day of review, these more advanced topics will be covered: overcalls, takeout doubles, and the Stayman convention.  This class is limited to continuing participants plus individuals who receive permission and agree to read the material already covered in the fall term.  Telephone Sally Kneser, 303-770-0788, to discuss joining the group. Required reading: Audrey Grant, Bidding in the 21st Century (Baron Barclay Bridge, 2007), (Buy from Amazon). Be sure to get the 2007 version, not an older one. Instructor: Everyone’s favorite bridge instructor, Sally Kneser takes her passion for bridge to the classroom with humor, patience and clarity.  She keeps busy as a member of two book clubs and as Director of the Academy.

COMPUTER TIPS - FILLED!

Instructor: Sally Kneser, final day’s guest: Bennie Bub 5 Thursdays, Mar. 5—Apr. 2 12:15-1:15 pm $25; $7 for each individual session Demonstration, Q&A, limited to 35 with preference to those who sign up for all 5 classes. During five one-hour demonstrations, you will learn to use your computer more effectively. Each week you will be assigned homework for the next week.  Choose one, some or all of the following sessions: A) Learn how to create folders and move files.  These simple skills will help you organize your computer and locate items more quickly.  This lesson will also cover how to attach files into an email and how to open and store files from others.  B) Discover why Excel is the best place to create databases, sort lists, and do simple math, such as adding up your charitable deductions.  C) Expand your use of Word with many shortcuts and discover how easy it is to create address labels.  D) Find out how easy it is to use PowerPoint and create a slide show or plan a lecture at the Academy; this class will start with the basics and proceed as far as the group can travel in an hour.  E) For those who would like to produce more creative and professional PowerPoint presentations, Bennie Bub will explain his magic. Instructor: Sally Kneser uses her computer every day and loves sharing the tips that she has picked up.  In addition to managing the Academy’s business, she has volunteered as the “keeper of the files” for several nonprofits.  She keeps busy as a member of two book clubs and as Director of the Academy.