Lectures

Canonization of Mother Theodore Guerin (Lecture)

            Attendance: 44

Presenter: John Perry, Local banker and volunteer for Sisters of Providence                             

John Perry will give a lecture on his first-hand experience of being a participant in the canonization of St. Mother Theodore Guerin.

Working with the Indian Tribes of North America (Lecture)

            Attendance: 48

Presenter: Paul Brill, Retired from U.S. Department of Interior                                                      

            Paul will discuss his experiences working with Indian tribes, both in the lower 48 states and Alaska.

Hospice of the Wabash Valley/Visiting Nurses Association Panel and Discussion (Lecture)

            Attendance: 18

Presenters: Dr. Ravi Koduru-Medical Director, Trudy Rupska-Vice President, Barbara Gossett-Clinical Director, Loretta Romanyk-Staff Nurse

This panel  will discuss Medicare criteria for Homecare and Hospice services, as well as specific programs offered by Hospice of the Wabash Valley and Visiting Nurses Association.

The Nature of Live Performance (Lecture)

            Attendance: 57

Presenter: Sharon Ammen, St. Mary of the Woods College Theatre Director                           

            This lecture will discuss the aesthetics and communal spirit of live theatre.

Volunteerism (Lecture)

            Attendance: 15

            Presenter: Dipa Sarkar, Retired M.D.     

Dr. Sarkar will discuss her 17 years of experience with volunteerism in America and compare it to the lack of volunteerism in India.

Tree Stump Tombstones (Lecture)

            Attendance: 29

Presenter: Harriett McNeal, Professor Emerita of Art History, Humanities & Women’s Studies, ISU               

Dr. McNeal will discuss the origins, locations, and diversity of these tombstones and provide examples from all over the United States and Europe.

The Future of American Foreign Policy (Lecture)

            Attendance: 38

Presenter: Robert Puckett, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, ISU

Dr. Puckett will discuss American foreign policy with regards to the War in Iraq and how these policies may change with the coming election.            

Lupus-like Syndromes, Environmental Factors & Novel Therapy (Lecture)

            Attendance: 13

            Presenter: Swapan Ghosh, ISU Professor of Life Science 

Dr. Ghosh will discuss phthalates...chemicals found in adhesives, cosmetics, toys and vinyl products...and their connection to certain diseases…primarily lupus.  The details of his

investigation into this relationship are reported in the Aug. 2005 issue of the "Journal of Autoimmunity".

Leadership Wabash Valley (Lecture)

            Attendance: 12

Presenter: Dixie Brown, Executive Director of Leadership Wabash Valley                                                            

This lecture will discuss what the Leadership Wabash Valley offers to its participants; leadership skills, opportunities and challenges of the region, and how to become an active and informed participant in their communities.

Habitat for Humanity in the Terre Haute Area (Lecture)

            Attendance: 31

            Presenter: Annette Houchin, Executive Director    

This lecture will discuss the nature of Habitat for Humanity program in the Terre Haute area, how it works, how families are chosen, acquisition of building sites, and the Restore program.

Homeschooling Your Children (Lecture)

            Attendance: 28

            Presenter: Donna Paul-Bonham   

Donna Paul-Bonham will discuss her experiences homeschooling her children and working with other home school teachers and children in the Terre Haute community.

The Wabash & Erie Canal 1832 – 1874 (Lecture)

            Attendance: 70

Presenter: Jeff Koehler, Clay County Indiana Historian                                                                

On October 25, 1849, two canal boats made it to Terre Haute on the canal. On February 24, 1876, the lands of the canal were auctioned off at the Vigo County Courthouse. The story of the Wabash & Erie Canal includes Irish laborers, cholera epidemics, crooked deals and inept businessmen, but also spirited driven individuals with a vision of bringing settlers and commerce to the region.

How I Survived Birth and 50 Years in Radio (Lecture)

            Attendance: 86

            Presenter: Ronn Mott, Radio Personality with WAXI

Ron will give us a humorous rendition of his premature birth and experiences as a   radio personality.

Seven Steps to a Sustainable Existence in Your Own Backyard (Lecture)

            Attendance: 42

Presenter: Sister Theresa Boland, member of Sisters of Providence, a religious order concerned with eco-justice and sustainability.                                                  

This is a presentation on Square Foot Gardening, Creating Bird and Butterfly Habitats, and Composting: Bed and Container composting. As we start to design our yards, we reduce the amount of lawn we need to mow. The reduced mowing improves our footprint on the atmosphere by reducing the amount of carbon emissions into the atmosphere and supports diversity of life in our yard.

Valentine Treasures (Lecture)

            Attendance: 45

            Presenter: Dorothy Jerse, Columnist,Tribune Star        

            Ms. Jerse will discuss the history of Valentine greeting cards.

Changing Family Relationships (Lecture)

            Attendance: 13

Presenter: Angela Beachkofsky, Eric Jimenez, Henry Smith and Kalinda Jones, Doctoral Students in the Counseling Department of ISU      

The panelists will discuss the changing roles within families as adult children and their parents age. Concerns such as health, wealth (or lack of it), and decision making will be addressed by the panel. The program is a prelude to the play “Painting Churches” which will open on February 14 at the Community Theatre of Terre Haute.

Trip to Africa - Kenya & Tanzania (Lecture)

            Attendance: 65

Presenter: John and Peggy Apgar, world travelers. John is a retired businessman and  both are very active volunteers in the arts community.                                               

John & Peggy Apgar will take us on their adventure to Africa via power point/slideshow to the distant regions of Kenya and Tanzania.

 "Touched By Luciano" (Lecture)

            Attendance: 91

            Presenter: Stephanie Salter, Assistant Editor/Columnist, Tribune Star

The Saturday Spectator (Lecture)

            Attendance: 57       

Presenter: Fred Nation, Former Editor of the Saturday Spectator

Glimpses into the life and times of The Saturday Spectator, published from 1904 until 1980, will be revealed by Fred Nation, who was editor from 1974 until 1979. This popular weekly featured political news, reports from the social world of Terre Haute, editorials which provided food for thought and conversation.

Ten Things I Hate About CSI (Lecture)

            Attendance: 30

Presenter: Dr. Roland Kohr, Vigo County Coroner

Dr. Kohr will use a power point presentation comparing actual crime scene investigations in this area with the techniques the television series uses to solve causes of death in an hour or less.

Quilts, the Underground Railroad and the Civil War (Lecture)

            Presenter: Richard Becker, Associate Professor Emeritus of Business, ISU

This lecture discusses the use of quilts by the Underground Railroad and how the quilts were also used by the soldiers of the Civil War.

A Perspective of Being Deaf (Lecture)

Presenter: Dr. David Geeslin, CEO and Superintendent of the Indiana School for the Deaf

What is it like to be deaf? Why is there a deaf community? Historically, what have deaf people contributed? Dr. David Geeslin will give a short glimpse of the life of deaf community members.

Palaces of St. Petersburg (Lecture)

Presenter: Elena Brophy, Ph.D. in Geology, Born in Moscow

Elena will speak on Russia and show the film of the St. Petersburg palaces. The four palaces that will be in the movie are Peterhof, Pavlovsk, Gatchina & Tsarakoe Selo Palaces.

 Advances in Alzheimer’s Disease Research (Lecture)

Presenter: Dr. Taihung Duong, Acting Director, Indiana University School of Medicine Terre Haute

Alzheimer’s disease has been identified and studied for over a century. What have past research studies concentrated on and is there a need for new approaches?

Washington National Cathedral (Lecture)

Presenter: Craig McKee, President of National Cathedral Association

Terre Haute attorney Craig McKee will tell us about this magnificent cathedral, now halfway through its Centennial Celebration (2007-2008). Craig is a 30-year volunteer with the 13,000 member support group, the National Cathedral Association, and currently serves as president of the NCA's 18-member governing board. 

The German-Americans (Lecture)

Presenter: Ronald Dunbar, ISU Professor of German and Chair, Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics

From the “Pennsylvania Dutch” to the German Jews, German immigrants have left a lasting, if sometimes invisible, footprint on American Life. Who came, why and when, and the heritage they have left behind will be discussed, including a look at Germans in Vigo County.

Women of India: Their Deprivation and Destiny (Lecture)

Presenter: Dipa Sarkar, Retired M.D.

Dr. Sarkar will discuss the past and present situation for women in India. She will talk about their deprivation of dignity, love, care, access to medical care and education and how there are now some possibilities for improvement in women’s situation.

The Seven Wonders of the World: Then and Now (Lecture)

Presenter: Dorothy Drummond, Retired Faculty in Geography, ISU

Dorothy Drummond will dip into her slides and experiences to tell us of the sites that were chosen, some that were not chosen but could well have been, and some from the Ancient World that still remain a legend among humanity’s greatest architectural achievements.

Wound-Healing Center at Regional Hospital (Lecture)

Presenter: Christina Marietta, Certified Hyperbolic Technologist and Safety Director, and Bobbie Mason, RN and Program Director

At any given time, almost six million Americans suffer from chronic, non-healing wounds. Some are associated with complications from diabetes and other related vascular disorders. Other types include pressure sores and traumatic wounds. The Terre Haute Regional Hospital Center for Wound Care uses the most up-to-date approaches to wound healing and remains current in new scientific advances in wound care.

I’m not a feminist, but…” (Lecture)

Presenter: Veanne Anderson, ISU Associate Professor of Psychology & Women’s Studies   Veanne Anderson, on sabbatical this semester doing research on perceptions of women and feminism, will discuss her research.

Wetlands (Lecture)

Presenter: John Mutchner, President of Wabash River Development & Beautification Corporation

John Mutchner and Max Miller (Chairman of Wetlands Committee) will discuss the Wabash Riverfront Development and Beautification Inc., a committee that recently received approval for status as a not-for-profit corporation. This group has designed a long-term riverfront development plan for the Wabash River. The group proposes commercial and residential development along the eastern bank of the Wabash River, with a wetlands preserve and green space west of the river.

To register for any of these special events, call the Osher Lifelong Learning registration office, 812-237-8707.