MICL “A” Session, August 25-29
Monday, August 25, 10:00 AM-noon: TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD
Art McRae, Coordinator
CAMBODIA, VIETNAM, ANGKOR WAT: Have you ever dreamed of exploring the temples of
Angkor Wat in Cambodia, exploring life on the Mekong Delta by boat or cruising Halong Bay in
Vietnam? This is your chance to live those dreams as we travel Cambodia and Vietnam. We will also
visit Hoi An, the only village in Vietnam left untouched by the “American War.” We may even have
time for a Paris visit to Île Saint-Louise in the heart of Paris.
Vahl Clemensen - Presenter
Monday, August 25, 1:00-3:00 P.M: SEND IN THE POETS II: IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Lynn Hansen Coordinator
Poetry of Place and Humor
1:00-1:25: Poetry of Place and Time – Lynn M. Hansen – Childhood
1:25-1:50: Poetry of Place and Time – Cleo Griffith
2:10-3:00: Poetry and Humor – Sheila D. Landre
Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30-9:30 AM: YOUNG AT HEART/TAI CHI
Arline Wortner, Lila Huff, Doc Wait, Leonard Olives, Jim McCabe, Coordinators
This is a strength training program designed for older adults followed by Tai Chi. You may sit or
stand depending on your physical ability. The program follows the guideline of the “Presidential
Fitness Award.” Participants with problems should have their doctor’s approval.
Tuesday, August 26, 10:00 AM-noon: CIVIL WAR
Gene Richards, Coordinator
Slavery was the cancer that plagued the American scene starting in 1619. The Civil War was the
surgery that stopped the infection and the patient is still in recovery. Join us to discuss this epic time
in American History.
Tuesday, August 26, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM: BEGINNING SPANISH
Suzanne Wilke, Coordinator
This course will cover the basics of Spanish in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Emphasis will be on
conversation. A little knowledge of Spanish may be helpful, but it is not necessary. The class will be
open to anyone with a desire to learn and have fun with a second language.
Wednesday, August 27, 10:00 AM-noon: MODELING COMPLEXITY
Dan Brown, Coordinator
Introduction to complexity science, laying out its concepts and where they apply. Then learning how
modifying different aspects of a complex system affects its behavior.
Wednesday, August 27, 1:00 PM-3:00 PM: WRITERS’ WORKSHOP
Don Rivara, Coordinator
The art of writing is telling an event or an idea well, finding the right words and images to develop a
character, chronicling the great events of our lives – these and many other writing endeavors are
shared with our peers, who provide encouragement and helpful suggestions.
Thursday, August 28, 10:00 AM – noon: WHAT IN THE WORLD
Hugh Brereton, Coordinator
A chance to confront important issues of the day through discussions of events. Here’s your
opportunity to be challenged by your colleagues and visiting speakers, and to share your opinion
about what in the world is going on. Please remember to disagree agreeably!
Thursday, August 28 , 1:00-3:00 PM: BRIDGE
Gene Richards, Coordinator
If you’ve never played the game of Bridge, this is the place to start. Low key instruction in the basics of the
game. If you are an experienced player, join us for two hours of entertainment.
Friday, August 29, 10:00 AM – end of film: FRIDAY AT THE MOVIES, “The Last Stand of the 300”
Betty Boj-Sode/Susan Wiltse, Coordinators
2007
English color
91 mins.
One of the greatest episodes in military history is the heroic stand of 300 Spartans at Thermopylae against the
overwhelming forces of the Persian King Xerxes. Over the years, the actual story has become the stuff of legends,
constantly embellished and increasingly inaccurate, as demonstrated by several recent film versions more concerned with
popular appeal than historical accuracy.
This History Channel video attempts to balance all this with a stirring but considerably more reliable version of the event
with accompanying commentary by leading experts in the field.
The Fifth Century Spartan soldier was a unique phenomenon even in his own time and has remained so throughout
history. Spartan infants were culled at birth to eliminate any showing possible weakness or physical defect. Boys were
taken from their family home at age 7 to be raised in an exclusively male, rigorous, and often brutal military training in
which success by any means was the only acceptable outcome and death in battle was the highest honor. Little wonder
that the Spartans under King Leonidas were chosen to lead the Greek defensive army, some 7000 men from the various
City States. (The Spartan Elders actually had an army of some 9,000 battle hardened warriors, but the deeply religious
Spartans were engaged in a week-long religious observance and would allow only 300 to leave.)
They would face an army led by King Xerxes, assembled over a period of several years from the far-reaching provinces of
the Persian Empire, supported by an equally enormous navy. Estimates of the size of this assemblage of military force
have always been astronomical, but the Greeks probably faced well over 200,000 men.
There was never any question of this army, even with the semi-mythical Spartans at their head, defeating the Persians.
What their heroic stand at Thermopylae, a narrow roadway along a precipitous cliff face that plunged into the sea (and
not a v-shaped mountain pass as is usually shown) did achieve with the sacrifice of the entire 300 was a delay of three
critical days since this was the only route to Athens for the land-based Persian army coming from the North. What is less
well known is the part played by the Athenian navy during this time, also clearly explained in this film.
The intent of this film is not merely to celebrate the heroism displayed by the Spartan 300 at Thermopylae but to remind
us that without this success and Xerxes subsequent withdrawal from his projected conquest of all Greece, the principles of
democratic government just emerging in Fifth Century Athens might never have grown to dominate later Western
thought and the world we know today.
MICL BOOK CLUB: September 25, 1:00-3:00 PM
Carol Sullivan, Coordinator
The selection for this session is Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter.