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Spring 2007

(Click here for Adobe PDF file of Academy Registration Form)

Registrations will be accepted by mail or walk-in.

No phone registrations will be accepted.

Friday, January 12 - Rodger Miller, past president of the Academy will speak
on Uganda--Impressions of a Visitor. Rodger and his wife, Carole, had an extensive
visit to Uganda last year and are preparing to return again to visit their son
who works there with an international charitable organization. While visiting their
son and his family, they met many in the community of Kampala, learning about
local conditions, culture and landscape.

Friday, February 9 – Do you have a will? Is it updated? Do you really need
one? Do you want to hear about creative ways to benefit your family and avoid
unnecessary taxes? Do you want to learn about how you can provide for your
family and have a steady stream of income? Plan to attend this monthly meeting
and hear firsthand from two Aiken attorneys, Buzz Rich and Bill Tucker, about the
importance of planned gifts, the various types of planned gifts, and all the benefits
that you can receive by taking care of your estate plans now.

Friday, March 16 – Guitar concert by Alan Knight. Alan is a member of the
Columbia Guitar Society. He teaches guitar at Columbia College and has taught
at Augusta State University. He has performed in concert at various locations in
South Carolina and Georgia, including the Frisson Series at the Columbia Art
Museum, in company with a poet responding to paintings. His musical selections
will include Renaissance classical music, Brazilian music and music inspired by
American folk music.

Friday, April 13 –Earl Kauffman Recognition Day. The speaker will be Fred Cavanaugh, Jr., Mayor of the city of Aiken. Mr. Cavanaugh will speak on “Aiken—Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”. Mayor Cavanaugh has served on the City Council for twenty-one years and the last fifteen he has served as Mayor. He moved to Aiken with his family in April of 1953. He will review how the city has become one of the most unique, diverse and charming cities in the southeast. This would be an excellent opportunity for your friends and neighbors who have recently moved here to find out more about their “newly-adopted city”.

Special Events

Cooking With Amanda
Join us for a delightful cooking class with an essence of wine taught by Joanie Schisler of Amanda’s Cafe. A little bit of knowledge and a little bit of wine is a mating of food and culture. A limited class size of 12 will learn to prepare suppers and light dinners for two. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn new ways to prepare favorite foods and try some new ones.

Dates: Four Mondays: February 19, 26 and March 5, 12
Additional Costs: $120 for four sessions
Time: noon to 2:00 pm
Location: Amanda's Cafe and Grill, 148 Laurens St. SW, Aiken

SHORT COURSES

Participate in a musical appreciation class in four parts. Think of Puccini’s operas:
La Boheme, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Turandot; think of the opera roles for sopranos. Soprano Maureen Simpson, who is a native of Aiken, is the instructor. She has taught at USC, USCA, Benedict College, and is currently teaching at Georgia Southern. She has sung over twenty-five roles in the U.S. and Europe. She is the Director of Music Ministries and the Traditional Choir Director at St. Mary’s Church in Aiken.
Dates: Mondays, January 8, 15, 22, 29
Time: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Location: Penland Building, Room 106

Instructor is Vince Coughlin, President-Elect of the Academy. Vince is a former Senior Patent Counsel for General Electric. He holds an LL.M. degree from Pennsylvania State University (Dickinson School of Law) and a J.D. from the University of Toledo. The course explores the role of the Supreme Court in American law, politics, and history. It outlines the Court’s
development as an institution, from the framing of the Constitution to the present. Discussions
focus on recurring themes of continuity and change, consensus and conflict, as well as the diversity of American Society that prompts many of the cases the Court has decided over the past two centuries. Major focus will highlight the Court’s bold assertion of the power of judicial review under Chief Justice John Marshall, giving the power to strike down state and federal laws. Lectures briefly outline some of the most important justices to sit on the Court, including Roger Taney, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Felix Frankfurter, Earl Warren and William Rehnquist. Landmark decisions for discussion: Marbury, Dred Scott, Plessy, Brown, Roe. Finally, students analyze the political leanings of the present Court and consider power shifts brought about by President Bush’s recent appointments. Vince taught Business Law courses at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Dates: Four Mondays, January 22, 29 & February 5, 12
Time: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Location: Penland Administration Building, Room 106

Having Fun With Shakespear:Taming Of The Shrew
Jan Mizelle, a retired English Teacher and Academy member, leads a class in Shakespeare’s comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. This is one of Shakespeare’s best adult comedies. The Shrew, a woman whose tongue cuts to the quick, is vixenish, proud, and dominant. She will be conquered only by a humorist of great power who overcomes her character by a succession of jests and practical jokes of his own invention. This is a play about a very strong woman; the kind of woman who was not at all appreciated in the 1500 – 1600s.
Instructor will have books available to purchase. The book will have notes about the text and explanation of words. Book is not required.
Dates: Four Tuesdays, January 23, 30 and February 6, 13
Time: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: Cedar Creek Community Center

Inside Aiken's Horse World
Learn what it is like to own and train a race horse with Sarah Taylor; Jack Wetzel (who drives his own large coach and team of black horses) speaks on the economic impact of steeplechase racing on the Aiken economy; Joan Winslow, as Head of Aiken Driving Club, speaks on carriage driving competitions; Linda McLean, Master of the Hounds for the Aiken Hounds Hunt Club, explains “riding to the hounds” and fox hunting traditions. Enjoy meeting equestrians active in the Aiken horse community.
Dates: Four Thursdays, January 25 and February 1, 8, 15
Time: 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: Cedar Creek Community Center

Islam
This timely series continues the Academy’s interest in introducing some of the world’s major religions. This four-part series will include two classes on the religious beliefs of Muslims (including the Koran). The third class will introduce Islamic cultural practices, and the last class will offer examples of Islamic art. The instructor is Dr. Arden Bakr who earned a Ph.D. in hydrogeology from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. Dr. Bakr
has taught at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and in Egypt. He has over twenty-five years of experience in interfaith dialogues and in presenting Islam to schools, universities and civic groups. Additionally, he has been active in prison ministry programs as a Muslim chaplain since 1982.
Dates: Four Tuesdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27
Time: 1:45 pm to 2:45 pm
Location: Penland Administration Building, Room 106

Senior Wellnes: Stretching and Strength Training
Work away those morning aches and pains! Two of Hitchcock Healthcare’s exercise physiologists, Jake Youngblood and Shannon Erwin, will explain the importance of staying physically active in these our “golden years.” Everyday exercises will be demonstrated and practiced so that they can be incorporated into daily activities such as gardening and house care. The classes will be conducted at the Hitchcock Healthcare Center. Comfortable clothing recommended.
Dates: Three Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21
Time: 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
Location: Hitchcock Rehabilitation Services, 690 Medical Park Drive, Aiken

The Contemporary Novel
Dr. Peter Mailloux, guest professor from The Citadel, earned his Ph.D. in English
at the University of California Berkeley. He is an expert on the 20th century novel
and has published a biography of the German novelist, Franz Kafka (A Hesitation
Before Birth). The course will begin with the literary influences of James Joyce,
Proust and Franz Kafka on the contemporary novel. Dr. Mailloux will provide
materials and lecture on Toni Morrison, and Richard Powers. The final class will
feature Brooklyn Follies by Paul Auster. To facilitate the group discussion, students
are asked to read the Auster novel (which will be available in the USCA Bookstore)
before the last class on March 12th.
Dates: Four Mondays, February 19, 26, March 5, 12
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Penland Administration Building, Room 106

Great Decisions/Discussions
Class members select topics from the Foreign Policy Association 2007 Manual in this regular spring semester offering. Great Decisions include the following eight topics: Middle East, Climate Change, Mexico (Can Felipe Calderon successfully reform Mexico’s policies on energy, trade and border security and strengthen relations with the USA?), Migration, South Africa, War Crimes (Will the nonparticipation of the U.S. in the international Criminal Court weaken the power of the ICC? What are the challenges in punishing war criminals?), Central Asia, and children--ensuring the safety and proper development of children in the global community. What roles do private donors, governments and international organizations play in ensuring health care, education and safety for the world’s children?

Participants hold discussions on the topics and must purchase the manual for $16.00. The Continuing Education Dept. will order a supply of books which will be available by the end of January. (Please call 641-3563 to check on availability. Exact change or check is required.) Class members are asked to read the first chapter prior to the first class to facilitate better discussions.
Dates: 8 Thursdays, February 22, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 April 12, 19
Time:1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Penland Administration Bldg., Rm. 110

Southern Impressionism at the Morris Art Museum
A three part series: The first session is a slide presentation by the museum curator on paintings in the Southern Impressionism collection on display at the Morris Art Museum; during the second session local painters discuss and show their works and speak to their inspirations for art and choice of painting styles and medium. One of local painters will be Dorothy L. Johnson who is currently a member of the Aiken Artists Guild, Embroiderer’s & Needlepoint Guilds, South Carolina Watercolor Society and displays her work regularly with Gallery on the Row, in Augusta. She teaches in Canada and the U.S. and has studied art in Canada, the U.S., England, Australia and China. Her current emphasis is on painting and figure drawing. She recently added “portraits in pencil” to help students develop confidence with drawing facial features. She also works with fabric art.

Dates: Two Thursdays at USCA February 22, March 1;
One Friday, March 9 in Augusta (see ART AT NOON Talk &
Luncheon below)
Time: 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Location: Penland Administration Bldg., Room 106

The third session (optional) is a Museum luncheon, talk and tour.

The American Short Story & Film: A Comparative Study
Dr. Robert Hart, Professor Emeritus, Glouster College, guides the discussion of four short stories: The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant; The Blue Hotel by Stephen Crane; The Last Leaf by O. Henry; The Displaced Person by Flannery O’Connor.

Each week class members read the assigned short story before viewing the film version of that work. The course is largely student participation in a collaborative learning environment. Discussions follow the viewing of each film. Note: completion of each week’s reading assignment is highly recommended to facilitate better comparisons of the print and film versions of the literary works. Copies of short stories will be provided.
Dates: Four Wednesdays, March 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Cedar Creek Community Center

Science Series with USCA Faculty in Chemistry and
Biology Departments
The Dean of the School of Education, Dr. Jeffrey Priest, will speak about coyotes, a subject he has researched extensively. Associate Professor Garriet Smith (Ph.D., Clemson), will talk on the Ecology of the Bahamas and coral reef disease. Assistant Professor of Biology Derek Zelmer, (Ph.D., Wake Forest University) will offer a class on his special research interest: determinants of parasite community structure in aquatic vertebrates, frogs & fish.
Professor and Department Chair, Physical Chemistry, Monty L. Fetterolf (Ph.D., Univ. of California, Santa Barbara) will take students to the lab to allow hands-on forensic chemistry experiments testing CSI evidence. All armchair CSI sleuths should sign up.
Dates: Four Thursdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29
Time: noon to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Penland Administration Bldg., Room 106

ART AT NOON Talk & Luncheon at Morris Museum in Augusta –
Special Gallery tour of Morris Museum following the luncheon and art talk.

Date: Friday, March 9th
Time: noon
Location: The Morris Museum in Augusta (travel from Aiken on your
own) $13 luncheon fee for Morris Museum non-members; $10 for
Museum members. Early registration required. (Note: Refunds will not be
issued after February 23rd.)

Poetry Around The World
April is National Poetry Month and this class will offer a selection of poems and suggest the pleasures to be found in contemporary poetry. Readings will offer ways to appreciate poetry on several levels. Poems from a variety of contemporary and 20th century writers will be offered: Donald Hall, Poet Laureate at the Library of Congress; former laureates Rita Dove, Billy Collins, and Ted Kooser; Nobel Prize winners in Literature, Shamus Heaney (Ireland), Ceslaw Milosz (Poland), Derek Walcott (The Caribbean) and poets from Wales, Australia, Spain, Israel, Persia, and the American South. Students will have the opportunity to learn how poets create art on themes of faith, war, nature, love and loss. Have fun roving the world of literature in poetic lines. Materials provided. Instructor is Mike Lythgoe who holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing & Literature from Bennington College. Mike’s poetry collection, BRASS, won the Kinloch Rivers contest in 2006 (Poetry Society of SC). His poems were recently published in Easy Street Magazine, Windhover, Innisfree Poetry Journal and Kakalak.
Dates: Three Thursdays, November 2, 9 & 16
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Nursing Building, Room 114

Learning to Play Bridge
This course will consist of 6 lessons by Alan Brooks, geared for the intermediate player. The subject matter will be split between bidding concepts and various strategies used in the play of the hand. The topics covered in bidding will stress placing the final contract, determining forcing bids and an overview on a number of the more popular conventions—Stayman, Jacoby transfers, negative doubles, various cue bids, Blackwood variations and defensive bids over opponent’s NT opening bids. The play concepts will cover holdup and avoidance plays, opening leads, second and third hand play and general play strategy.
Dates: 6 Tuesdays, April 17, 24, May 1, 8, 15, 22
Time: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Penland Administration Bldg., Room 110

Spy Movie Series
End the semester with a final salute to the Cold War, fiction and the Art of film-- then step into the drama of spring. View the BBC Television series based on the LeCarre novel, Smiley’s People over 4 sessions.
Dates: 4 Mondays, April 23, 30, May 7, 14
Time: 1100 a.m. - 12:00 noon
Location: Penland Administration Bldg., Room 106