Capital Region

Tales from the cockpit is a lighthearted look back at some of the funny things that happened to the instructor while flying all over the world for almost 40 years. Lou will share stories of things that happened both on and off the plane, all showing what can happen when you least expect it.

It’s your funeral, so have it the way you want it! This course explores death and dying in a non-threatening, light-hearted way. It will help attendees become comfortable talking about death; ease the burden on the loved ones; ensure that health care wishes are known; and limit unwanted financial expenses. The loved ones we leave behind deserve better than a mess to clean up after us, so let's have some fun doing what needs to be done. Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions, do assignments between sessions, and share their thoughts, concerns, and plans with other course members.

We will trace the history of automobile styling from its horseless carriage beginnings through the decades of cultural and technological influences to its current state.

We’ve all got family histories, some more intriguing than others. But turning our ancestors’ tales from simple word-of-mouth recollections into a novel that’s descriptive, detailed, and filled with tension is daunting. Especially when your long lost relatives are no longer alive and there is little factual information upon which to draw. On the other hand, sometimes the writer prefers to remain faithful to the actual story rather than embellishing it to follow a dramatic arc. Author Kyra Robinov describes the challenge of both recreating the survival story of her grandmother Luba in her fictional Red Winter and finding the drama in her father’s story, which spanned the 20th century and the globe, in her non-fiction memoir/biography, HiStory.

This course will examine how we can live better together. In an interactive environment, we will be the teachers and learners together as we learn principles of dignity and respect toward others who have different political, cultural, and religious viewpoints. To guide our discussions, we will be using the book Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict by Donna Hicks. Participants are encouraged to read the book prior to the course.

Americans typically think of the 1950s as a decade where women left the World War II labor market and resumed the roles of wife and mother. But labor market forces, trends in education, and pent-up consumer demand propelled many wives and mothers back into paid employment. Why did this happen? How did it affect employers and families? And what were the implications of this trend for the women's movement?

It’s your funeral, so have it the way you want it! This course explores death and dying in a non-threatening, light-hearted way. It will help attendees become comfortable talking about death; ease the burden on the loved ones; ensure that health care wishes are known; and limit unwanted financial expenses. The loved ones we leave behind deserve better than a mess to clean up after us, so let's have some fun doing what needs to be done. Participants are encouraged to attend all four sessions, do assignments between sessions, and share their thoughts, concerns, and plans with other course members.

Many of us plan our vacations, at least in part, with some spiritual or patriotic motivations. It might be visiting and appreciating the grandeur of a National Park, what some have called “Nature’s Cathedrals.” It might be visiting a heritage or historical tourism park, like Colonial Williamsburg. Or it might be visiting a memorial, museum or commemorative site like the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This course will look at eco-tourism and relations with Native American tribal groups who hold certain sites as sacred.

Socrates was an Ancient Greek philosopher who had a profound effect on Western civilization. Using an approach similar to his Socratic method, this forum will offer an open round table discussion during each session in which all attendees will be welcome to contribute to the discussion. A topic will be selected during each monthly session, and participants will have the opportunity to share their opinions without interruption. The expected outcome of this unique learning experience is for everyone involved to learn and discuss interesting philosophical issues with others on many interesting topics in an open and respectful environment.

Many of us plan our vacations, at least in part, with some spiritual or patriotic motivations. It might be visiting and appreciating the grandeur of a National Park, what some have called “Nature’s Cathedrals.” It might be visiting a heritage or historical tourism park, like Colonial Williamsburg. Or it might be visiting a memorial, museum or commemorative site like the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This course will look at eco-tourism and relations with Native American tribal groups who hold certain sites as sacred.