Spring Luncheon - May 30
2024-05-30 11:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Carmel Country Club, 4735 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28226, United States
SPRING LUNCHEON
Date: May 30, 2024
Time: 11:30 – 2:00 pm
Cost: $40/person
Place: Carmel Country Club, 4735 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226
Speaker: Leesa Walker, Director of Instruction, Pickleball Charlotte
Topic: Pickleball, Olympics Bound?
Come join us for our Spring luncheon with an upcoming Summer Olympics theme. Take an Olympic selfie, trade Olympic fun facts and enjoy a group lunch before Senior Scholars adjourns for the summer.
What’s your favorite Olympic sport? How many medals will the USA win?
Lunch includes club sandwich, homemade chips, key lime pie or strawberry parfait dessert, tea or coffee. Gluten free available.
Sign up at the Welcome/donut desk at Friday meetings starting April 19 until May 24.
$40.00 check to SS or cash. Checks must be mailed by 5/24/24.
Mail checks to:
Senior Scholars at Queens
1900 Selwyn Ave
MSC 1409
Charlotte, NC 28274
For questions, text Eileen Griggs at (704) 661-4934.

"Capital L" Leadership: The Story of the Duke Mansion with Peter Blair
2024-05-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: “Capital L” leadership: The Story of the Duke Mansion and the role of civic leadership in a thriving community.
SPEAKER: Peter Blair, President/CEO, The Lynnwood Foundation, Duke Mansion and Lee Institute
Duke Mansion is a rare jewel nestled in the crown of the Queen City, a splendid setting for corporate and civic gatherings, milestone celebrations, and elegant overnight stays.
It’s also been the cornerstone of “Capital L leadership” that was essential in solidifying the health and vibrancy of our community. Hear the stories and learn the role of the Duke Mansion in our city’s history.

BIOGRAPHY
Peter Blair joined the Duke Mansion and the Lee Institute as President and CEO in April, 2022. He spent the previous seven years as the CEO of the Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center. In his role as chief executive, he led a nonprofit with a staff of 450+ and a membership of over 10,000 individuals representing the diversity of the Charlotte community. Previously, he served as chief operating officer of the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Peter Blair Linked In
Duke Mansion
Lee Institute

American Democracy & The Rule of Law in Peril with Michael Luttig
2024-05-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: American Democracy & The Rule of Law in Peril
SPEAKER: Michael Luttig, former US Court of Appeals Judge
Michael Luttig, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals (ret.) for the Fourth Circuit, retired from the bench several years ago.
A well respected conservative jurist, he advised Vice President Mike Pence on and before January 6, 2021, as to the limitations on the role of the Vice President during the congressional session at which the slates of electors certified by the states were formally presented to Congress for counting at a joint session.
NOTE: This will be a Zoom presentation inside PUMC Wolfe Hall

Overall Budget on Housing & Homelessness with Dimple Ajmera
2024-05-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Overall Budget on Housing & Homelessness
SPEAKER: Dimple Ajmera, Charlotte City Council At Large member
Council member Dimple Ajmera will address and share the overall budget regarding housing and homelessness.

BIOGRAPHY
Dimple Ajmera, City Council At Large, is proud to be living the American dream. With little means, her parents immigrated to the U.S. to provide their children with greater opportunities. Proving her tenacity, Ajmera graduated from Southern High School in Durham, graduated from the University of Southern California and later became a certified public accountant. After joining City Council, Ajmera left her six-figure career in order to devote her full attention to her City Council position and a mission she values – helping to make Charlotte a place where everyone has a chance to succeed and prosper, regardless of background or geography. As a mother, she is dedicated to ensuring that all children in Charlotte are given equal opportunity to succeed including access to healthcare and housing.
During her tenure on the City Council, Ajmera has been a fighter with a proven record. Ajmera’s platform includes, but is not limited to, Public Safety, Affordable Housing, a Healthy Environment, Women’s Equality, Economic Development and Infrastructure. She is widely known for chairing the Environment Committee and helping Charlotte become a global leader in sustainability with bipartisan support. The adoption of the Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP) is the city’s first-ever framework to transition to a low-carbon future. Within 24 hours of its passing, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited Charlotte to announce a $2.5 million grant from his foundation toward Charlotte’s efforts to fight climate change.
Ajmera also has a record of bold accomplishments on affordable housing. She played an integral role in securing the funding and neighborhood support for the St. John’s Place affordable housing development. She continues to work to expand access to affordable housing, increase local awareness and action on school safety, and bring traction and economic opportunities to the 69-acre Eastland site, an area left undeveloped for years. As a mother, she knows how important a child’s environment is for their future success and is committed to ensuring safety and security for each child. Ajmera lives with her husband, Dr. Vaibhav Bajaj, and her daughters, Charlotte and Arya.
Ajmera became the first Asian American and youngest woman to be elected to City Council with her historic victory in 2017. Ajmera received the 2018 Global Service Award by Rotary International, the 2019 Blue Sky Award for Public Policy Work by Clean Air Carolina, the Community Advocate Award by Café Mocha Radio, and one of Longleaf Politics’ 54 Top Young Political Stars in North Carolina. She has been recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Mecklenburg County by The Mecklenburg Times and named Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Most recently, she received the NAACP Excellence in Leadership Award.

Curriculum Committee Meeting - May 8
2024-05-08 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required
Curriculum Committee Meetings are open to Membership.
Join our monthly Curriculum Committee meetings, via Zoom, to hear about upcoming speakers/events or to suggest speakers you know (or have heard speak) and believe would be of interest to your fellow Senior Scholars.
These meetings are always held on the Zoom platform.

The Search for Life Beyond Earth with Rachel Smith
2024-05-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Search for Life Beyond Earth
SPEAKER: Rachel Smith, Head, Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab, Curator of Meteorites, Professor, Physics & Astronomy. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences/Appalachian State University.
Astronomer Dr. Rachel Smith will use new planetarium software called OpenSpace to journey from Earth to our neighboring planets, to far beyond the solar system.
Rachel will discuss some of Earth’s extreme environments and their connections to other worlds where scientists are searching for life. She will also discuss her current research on forming stars and protoplanetary systems across the Galaxy using NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility on Maunakea, Hawaii, with links to exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
NOTE: This will be a Zoom presentation inside PUMC Wolfe Hall

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Rachel Smith is Head of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab and Curator of Meteorites at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. She is jointly appointed as Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Appalachian State University, and Adjunct Professor at UNC Chapel Hill.
Rachel’s research involves observing forming stars across the Galaxy to better understand the chemical pathways involved in the evolution of planets, and in the formation of carbon-based molecules needed for life.
Rachel has utilized several large observatories for her work, and is currently observing massive young stars with NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility on Maunakea in Hawaii.
She has had a long-time interest in the search for life beyond our planet, and how life began and evolved on Earth.

Field Trip: Historic Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery
2024-05-01 10:30 - 12:00 | Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery, 700 West 6th Street, Charlotte, NC, 28202, United States
DATE: Wednesday, May 1, 2024; 10:30 am – 12 pm
COST: $10 payable in cash or check payable to Senior Scholars
ADDRESS: 700 West 6th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 (parking available in cemetery)
Join fellow Senior Scholars for a walking tour of Historic Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery located in Fourth Ward of Uptown. This tour will be conducted by Bill Bibby, Director of City Cemeteries for Charlotte. Bill will cover the history of Elmwood and Pinewood Cemetery and brief biographies of well known, unknown, and interesting decedents in the cemetery.
The cost of $10/person will be presented as a donation from Senior Scholars to Historic Elmwood Pinewood Inc. (HEPI), a nonprofit working to restore and promote the historic city owned cemeteries in Charlotte.
The walking tour will cover approximately 1- to 1-1/2 miles within the cemetery.
Historic Elmwood Pinewood Cemetery

Climate Change and Competition with Mark Kelso
2024-04-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Climate Change and Competition
SPEAKER: Mark Kelso, Queens University
Professor Kelso will discuss how the politics of climate change will impact economics, especially competition among businesses and countries.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Mark Kelso is currently Professor of Political Science at Queens University of Charlotte and the 2017 winner of the Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Murray State University and his doctorate degree in Political Science from Vanderbilt University.
He teaches a variety of courses at Queens, including European Politics, Campaigns and Elections, Environmental Politics and Congress and the Presidency. His research interests include environmental policy, electoral behavior and political leadership. He has published in such journals as Presidential Studies Quarterly and Congress and the Presidency.
He will have a chapter on President Obama’s environmental policies in the forthcoming book, Evaluating the Obama Presidency, edited by Bose and Fritz.

Wildacres Spring 2024 Retreat / April 22-25, 2024
2024-04-22 08:00 - 2024-04-25 17:00 | Wildacres Retreat, 1565 Wildacres Road, Little Switzerland, NC, 28749, United States
SAVE THE DATE!

Enjoy 3 nights in a Blue Ridge Parkway Mountaintop Resort with 75 of your Senior Scholar friends!
Engaging lectures by NC Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls and Political Science Professor Chelsea Kaufman.
Waterfalls, hiking paths, fresh air, local entertainers, 8 home-style, all-you-can-eat meals!

All this for only $285/double occupancy.
Reservations start January 19, 2024 and will fill up fast!
Details Here

Lunch Bunch - April 19
2024-04-19 12:00 - 14:00
We have booked Leo’s restaurant for Friday, April 19, 11:45 a.m.
Limited space available!
If you register and find you can’t attend, please email LunchBunch@SeniorScholars.net so that we can offer your seat to another member.
Leo’s Italian Social
Southpark location
4720 Piedmont Row Dr.
Charlotte, NC 28210

Affordable Housing with Tom Hanchett
2024-04-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Affordable Housing
SPEAKER: Tom Hanchett, Community Historian
Community historian Dr. Tom Hanchett is completing a book for UNC Press on the history of one of America’s most pressing issues: affordable housing. He’ll share some of his Charlotte research, from public housing in the 1930s to today — and looks forward to your comments.

Current Events in Healthcare with Brad Wilson
2024-04-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Healthcare Financing for Medicare/Medicaid
SPEAKER: Brad Wilson, CEO Emeritus, BlueCross BlueShield of NC
Brad will discuss the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, it’s implementation and potential impacts and what President Biden and President Trump are saying about their respective positions are/may be on the Act and other important healthcare issues.

BIOGRAPHY
Brad Wilson served as CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina. Prior to that, he served as Counsel to the Governor of North Carolina. Brad now teaches business and law at Wake Forest University. He currently serves as interim Director of the North Carolina Museum of History.
JAMA Network

New Member Orientation - Friday April 12
2024-04-12 09:00 - 09:45 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
All members old and new are invited to attend in person or via Zoom, our New Member Orientation meeting.
Learn more about the organization including how to meet people, join events and how you can help the organization – the best way to meet new people!
In person meeting is in Room 106 in PUMC.

Curriculum Committee Meeting - April 10
2024-04-10 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required

Coping with Copyright with Matthew Asbell
2024-04-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Copyright Law
SPEAKER: Matthew Asbell, Partner, Lippes Mathias
NOTE: This presentation will be via Zoom at Wolfe Hall.
As AI takes over our lives, how are we impacted regarding using materials we may have copied from an online source? Join us for this fascinating topic to make sure you are following the law correctly.
With extensive knowledge and background in information technology, entertainment, medicine, and a range of other fields, Matt Asbell, works with clients in diverse industries.
Matt assists clients in clearing, obtaining, enforcing, and defending trademark, patent, design and copyrights in the United States and throughout the world, while also advising on domain names, social media and related issues.
Matthew serves as an adjunct professor of law and frequent guest lecturer at Fordham University and The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University), and has taught at Columbia University and the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia (ISDE) in Madrid, Spain.
He hosts a weekly podcast on the intangible aspects of business and frequently appears in the media to discuss significant cases and topics relevant to the law surrounding intellectual property.

BIOGRAPHY
Www.matthewasbell.com
Www.lippes.com

Multiple Points of Entry with David Fisk
2024-03-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Temple Beth El, 5101 Providence Rd, Charlotte, 28270, United States
TOPIC: Charlotte Symphony – Multiple Points of Entry
SPEAKER: David Fisk, President & CEO, Charlotte Symphony
A newcomer’s guide to the Charlotte Symphony.
NOTE: Location change. This presentation will be at Temple Beth El. Speaker will be via Zoom.

Directions to Temple Beth El:

Enter Shalom Park at the light – 5007 Providence Rd.
At the T-intersection, turn right, then make an immediate right.
Turn left into parking lots for Temple Beth El.

BIOGRAPHY
David Fisk joined the Charlotte Symphony as its President & CEO in 2020. Prior to that he served as Executive Director of the Richmond Symphony in Virginia for 18 years, having previously held leadership roles in the UK and Ireland with a chamber orchestra, a symphony orchestra, an international arts festival and a sculpture park. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Manchester, and a postgraduate performer’s diploma specializing in piano accompaniment from the Royal Northern College of Music, where he also studied singing, composition and conducting.
David’s musical life began early, as a boy chorister for five years at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, which made him realize his life would be in music one way or another. Studying cello led to a deep affinity for orchestral and chamber music, and learning organ at St. Paul’s developed his love of church and choral music into adulthood. Though he started out as a professional musician, and still continues to play piano and organ to this day, David made the turn in his early twenties to arts management, to which he has ever since dedicated his career.
David is married to the Irish opera singer and voice teacher Anne O’Byrne. They live in Dilworth and have two grown children, both currently studying in Europe.

Why Disengagement from the Middle East is Harder than You Think with Professor Sylvie Toska
2024-03-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Why Disengagement from the Middle East is Harder than You Think
SPEAKER: Professor Sylvie Toska, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Davidson College
The presentation will discuss past and present US interests in the Middle East, and examine reasons why US disengagement from the region is, and will continue to be, difficult. It also discusses failures of US policy in the region and provides policy suggestions for the future.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Toska is a Middle East and International Relations specialist with a PhD in political science from Cornell University.
Her first book, which is forthcoming with Oxford University Press, is titled: “Revolutionary Emotions: Emotions and the Spread and Success of Revolt.” This book builds on over 6 years of field work in the Middle East.
She is currently working on a second book, which examine intelligence success and failure in the Middle East.

Outsmart the Outbreak with Dr. Katie Passaretti
2024-03-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Outsmart the Outbreak: Winning the War Against Future Infectious Disease Threats with Dr. Katie Passaretti
SPEAKER: Dr. Katie Passaretti, Vice President, Chief Epidemiologist for Atrium Health
Review factors contributing to emerging pathogens, past and more recent pandemic successes and failures, and what we can do better when facing the inevitable next infectious disease threat.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Catherine Passaretti completed medical school, internal medicine and infectious disease training at Johns Hopkins. She currently is Vice President, Chief Epidemiologist for Atrium Health and is a Clinical Professor in Internal Medicine, Section for Infectious Diseases at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Curriculum Committee Meeting - March 13
2024-03-13 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required

Earthquakes - A Lot of Shaking Going On with Kenneth Taylor
2024-03-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Earthquakes — Alot of Shaking Going On
SPEAKER: Kenneth Taylor, North Carolina Geological Survey; N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ)
Travel over several of time in the eastern half of our country to see the number and severity of earthquakes in the Eastern and Central Part of the US.

BIOGRAPHY
Born in North Carolina — Interest in earthquakes began after the 1971 San Fernando in California. I did not feel an earthquake personally until many years later.
In 1971, I lived at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. That year, the San Fernando earthquake in California got me excited. I am a seismologist / geophysicist / geologist. When I went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I was the Teaching Assistant (TA) for the geophysics professor — Dr. Christine Powell (as an undergraduate).
After getting my undergraduate degree in geology, I went to the University of South Carolina in Columbia. With my M.S. I got a job at Teledyne-Geotech in Dallas, Texas as a research geophysicist. Teledyne-Geotech made the most advanced borehole seismometers in the world. We even recorded a volcanic eruption in Mexico with sensors that were hundreds of miles from the volcano.
After a few years at T- G, I moved with my wife to St. Louis to complete my doctorate in geophysics. I chased earthquakes across the Midwest as well as recording seismic events in the Arctic Circle. The team I was part of during the second summer in the high artic recorded the last soviet underground nuclear test.
I got a Congressional Science Fellowship after completing my Doctorate. I spent that year in the Washington area as worked for Senator Harry Reid.
After that, I came back to North Carolina and lived in Asheville, and Wake County working for the State Government ever since.

New Member Orientation - Friday March 8
2024-03-08 09:00 - 09:45 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States

Policing in 2024 with David Robinson
2024-03-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Temple Beth El, 5101 Providence Rd, Charlotte, 28270, United States
TOPIC: Policing in 2024
SPEAKER: David Robinson, Deputy Chief, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Deputy Chief Robinson will provide insights into the security and public-order issues facing Charlotte this year and beyond and the plans of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department to meet those challenges.
NOTE: Location change. This presentation will be at Temple Beth El.
Directions to Temple Beth El:

Enter Shalom Park at the light – 5007 Providence Rd.
At the T-intersection, turn right, then make an immediate right.
Turn left into parking lots for Temple Beth El.

BIOGRAPHY
Deputy Chief David Robinson joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as a member of the 122nd Recruit Class in 1996. He was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief on October 6, 2022. As the Deputy Chief of the Patrol Services Group, he oversees approximately 1200 sworn and civilian employees, within 13 Patrol Divisions and Airport Law Enforcement.
With over 27 years of dedicated public service to the City of Charlotte, Deputy Chief Robinson has held many assignments to include, Major over the Administrative Services Bureau and Central Patrol Service Area, Captain of the Central and Hickory Grove Patrol Divisions as well as Captain over the Recruiting Unit. As a Lieutenant, Deputy Chief Robinson was assigned to the Homicide Unit where he supervised four squads of Homicide Detectives dedicated to bringing justice to murder victims and their families. Additionally, Deputy Chief Robinson served as a Supervisor in the Steele Creek Division and the Street Crimes Unit after seven years as a police officer.
As an innovative leader within the Law Enforcement Profession, Deputy Chief Robinson is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), an organization which works to address the most crucial issues facing law enforcement today. He currently serves as a member on the IACP Victim Services Committee, which supports cooperation and assistance between law enforcement and other crisis intervention providers to improve services and treatment for crime victims. Deputy Chief Robinson also graduated from the inaugural session of CMPD’s Command College in 2017.
From a young boy, Deputy Chief Robinson grew up in Charlotte, NC where he was educated in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, (CMS). Following graduation from Independence High School, he attended Appalachian State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, December of 1995. It was only three (3) short months later, March of 1996, when he made the very important life decision to join the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Since that time, Deputy Chief Robinson has worked tirelessly to build collaborative partnerships within the community, while engaging with the citizens of Charlotte on a human level, one positive interaction at a time.

Lunch Bunch - February 23
2024-02-23 12:00 - 14:00
We have booked Red Rocks and Bricktops restaurants for Friday, February 23 at noon.
Registration will start soon. Limited space available!
If you register and find you can’t attend, please email LunchBunch@SeniorScholars.net so that we can offer your seat to another member.
Red Rocks
Southpark location
4223 Providence Rd #8
Charlotte, NC 28211
Bricktops
6401 Carnegie Blvd #1B
Charlotte, North Carolina 28211

Understanding Indonesia with Dr. Kevin Fogg / GREAT DECISIONS Topic
2024-02-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Understanding Indonesia
SPEAKER: Dr. Kevin Fogg, Associate Director, Carolina Asia Center, UNC-Chapel Hill
Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country, has more Muslims than any other country on earth, is a center for global biodiversity, and is the biggest player in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations–and yet it is not well known or understood in the United States.
This presentation will unpack how Indonesia fits into our modern world and what is next for the country after its 2024 elections.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Kevin Fogg is the Associate Director of the Carolina Asia Center at UNC-Chapel Hill and teaches in the university’s Department of History.
Dr. Fogg came to UNC from Oxford, where he taught for eight years in the Faculty of History, Brasenose College, and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. He did his undergraduate degree at Duke, and he completed his master’s and doctoral studies at Yale.
He is a historian of Southeast Asia, specializing in Islamic societies and post-colonial Indonesia.
New Mandala blog run by the Australian National University provides interesting perspectives on Indonesia (often politics) in English, usually about once a month: https://www.newmandala.org/
The Inside Indonesia online journal is written by academics for a non-specialist audience, and treats a broad range of topics in Indonesian society: https://www.insideindonesia.org/
Elizabeth Pisani’s book _Indonesia, Etc._ provides an engaging introduction to the archipelago, although now about a decade old: http://indonesiaetc.com/

Field Trip: Catawba Cultural Center
2024-02-20 11:00 - 13:00
DATE: February 20, 2024; 11 am – 12 pm tour and demonstration.
COST: $10 payable in cash or check payable to Senior Scholars.
WHERE: Catawba Cultural Center, indoors, elevator available, standing for half hour during tour of museum.
ADDRESS: 1536 Tom Steven Rd, Rock Hill, SC (30 miles from PUMC).
CARPOOLING: From Queens University Sports Complex, 2229 Tyvola Rd, meet up at 10:00 am.
The Catawba have lived along the Catawba River for more than 6000 years. Demonstrating an uncanny knack for making beneficial alliances during the colonial and Revolutionary eras, and for navigating the shifting sands of US domestic Indian policies, the Catawba have managed to maintain their identity as a people, and to carry their heritage forward into the 21st century. Today, the Catawba remain a vibrant, modern, and rapidly growing tribe.
Please join us on February 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Catawba Cultural Center. The staff will provide a guided museum tour of exhibits including archeology finds, games, basketry, pottery, lifestyle, and dwellings. Staff will also present a pottery demonstration covering a brief history of Catawba pottery, different tools used, significance to Catawba culture, and show basic hand-building techniques.
Afterwards, visitors are welcome to picnic, explore the walking trails, and visit the Trading Post, which is the world’s largest buyer and seller of Catawba pottery, art and other objects.
Catawba Culture

Unveiling the Skies: Preview of Sullenberger Aviation Museum with Kayla Adams and Misty Sweat
2024-02-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Unveiling the Skies: Preview of Sullenberger Aviation Museum

SPEAKER: Kayla Adams, Director of Education, and Misty Sweat, VP of Education and Programming, Sullenberger Aviation Museum
Join us for a sneak peek into the upcoming Sullenberger Aviation Museum, set to open its doors this summer in the growing city of Charlotte, NC. See a preview of the new state-of-the-art $30 million campus and get a glimpse of the museum’s innovative exhibits that will showcase the evolution of aviation technology, the pivotal moments that have defined modern air travel, and the people of aviation that have made it happen.

BIOGRAPHY
Kayla Adams is the Director of Education at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum (SAM).
Kayla is driving the development of SAM’s comprehensive education program. Her role involves orchestrating educational visitor experiences, including guided field trips, special educational programming, and makerspace engagement.
She also supports the development of SAM’s newly structured volunteer program. Kayla holds a Master’s in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University, specializing in museum educational programming.
With over a decade of experience in educational programming, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her position, ensuring that Sullenberger Aviation provides enriching and educational experiences for visitors while preserving the heritage of aviation.
Introducing Dr. Misty Sweat, a dynamic educational leader with a passion for innovation and a commitment to shaping the future of aviation education. Currently serving as the Vice President of Education at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum for the past year, Dr. Sweat brings over 15 years of invaluable experience to the field of education.
Dr. Sweat’s journey began as a high school math and science teacher, where her dedication to fostering student growth and curiosity for improving outcomes quickly set her apart. Over the years, she transitioned into leadership roles by spearheading groundbreaking programming and introducing and providing training for transformative initiatives across five different districts spanning two states.
Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership from the University of Memphis, Dr. Sweat’s academic foundation laid the groundwork for her future in educational leadership. Her commitment to continuous growth and expertise led her to attain a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from East Tennessee State University.
In her current role, Dr. Sweat is at the forefront of designing the educational and volunteer programs while also spearheading outreach and workforce development initiatives at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum. As the museum prepares to open its doors next summer, her visionary leadership and innovative approach promise to create an engaging and impactful educational experience for visitors, students, and aviation enthusiasts alike.

New Member Orientation - Friday February 16
2024-02-16 09:00 - 09:45 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States

Curriculum Committee Meeting - February 14
2024-02-14 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required
Curriculum Meetings are open to Membership.
Join our Curriculum meetings to hear about upcoming speakers/events or to suggest speakers you know (or have heard speak) and believe would be of interest to your fellow Senior Scholars.

The Importance of Fungi in Promoting Healthy Plant and Forest Growth with Dr. Andrea Porras-Alfaro
2024-02-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Only
TOPIC: The Importance of Fungi in Promoting Healthy Plant and Forest Growth
SPEAKER: Dr. Andrea Porras-Alfaro
Fungi are diverse and abundant. They are an integral part of plants and soil communities. This talk will discuss the importance of fungi on agriculture and forest health.
NOTE: This presentation is Zoom only. There will be no in-person meeting at PUMC. You must register via the Zoom button above to get access to this presentation.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Andrea Porras-Alfaro is a mycologist. She studies plant-fungal interactions including fungi associated with orchids, desert plants, and grasslands. She obtained her Ph.D. from University of New Mexico and she is currently a Program Director at the National Science Foundation.
https://sites.google.com/site/andreaporrasalfaro/

Inherit the Land with Gene Stowe
2024-02-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Inherit the Land; Jim Crow Meets Miss Maggie’s Will
SPEAKER: Gene Stowe, Author
Two antebellum white spinster sisters in Marvin, NC, raised a black man and then his daughter as their own beginning in Reconstruction.
The women left them their 800 acre homeplace, a will upheld against all odds by two White juries in Monroe in the 1920’s. The personal relationships and economic empowerment left Marvin untouched by Jim Crow to this day.

BIOGRAPHY

Graduated from Monroe High School 1972
UNC (religion) 1975
Lutheran Theological Seminary (MTS) 1983
Reporter for the Charlotte Observer 1981-1993
Teacher, head of writing and religion program for Trinity Schools Inc. in South Bend, IN 1993-2012
Freelance writer 2013 to present
