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| Hundreds of courses. Knowledgeable instructors. Have it your way, online or in-person.  June 2023 FGCU Academy National German Chocolate Cake Day – June 11, 2023 Greetings, The traditionally chocolate cake features rich chocolate layers coated in sweet and nutty pecan frosting — but the dessert isn’t actually German! German chocolate cake was named after an English-American named Sam German, creator of a specific baking chocolate at the Baker’s Chocolate Company. German chocolate cake — the fudge-y, nutty, and oh-so-sweet dessert that we all thought was German! The treat is defined by its rich chocolate cake layers, which are stuck together with coconut-pecan frosting and often topped with maraschino cherries. While many Americans think German chocolate originates from Germany, you’d be hard-pressed to find a German who knows of it. Sam German, an English-American chocolate-maker for The Baker’s Chocolate Company, first created his distinct variety of dark baking chocolate in 1852. In his honor, the Baker’s Chocolate Company named the creation after him, dubbing it ‘Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate.’ This sets the stage for the culinary invention of German chocolate cake, and explains the origin misnomer! German chocolate cake wasn’t actually born until around a century later, in 1957. In Dallas, Texas, housewife Mrs. George Clay sent in her cake recipe to be featured as ‘Recipe of the Day’ on “The Dallas Morning News.” She had called it ‘German’s Chocolate Cake’ after the baking chocolate she used. Over time, however, the ‘s’ has been dropped from the recipe. Unsurprisingly, the recipe took off, spreading mostly through word of mouth. Sales of Baker’s Chocolate reportedly increased 73% in a year as bakers scrambled to make more German chocolate cake. The owner of Baker’s brand, General Foods, began to distribute the cake recipe to other bakers nationwide. Today, many baking companies still make the decadent dessert! So there you have it folks! I hope you can enjoy a piece of German Chocolate Cake today. Everyone is invited and welcome to take classes at ANY of our locations. Make sure to register early as space can be limited. For assistance with registration – call our office (239) 434-4737, and we will be more than happy to assist you.  PROGRAM GUIDE VIEW SUMMER PROGRAM GUIDE NOW! View June Daily Calendar Register Online We are available to assist with registration – 239.434.4737 FEATURE CLASSES  iPhone/iPad: Tips, Tricks & Secrets All Users Should Know in iOS 16 @ The Arlington June 13 | 2:30 – 4 pm @ Brooks Commons Club June 15 | 10 – 11:30 am @ Moorings Park Original Campus June 21 | 10 – 11:30 am The iPhone provides access to phone, voicemail, email, the web, photos, calendars, texting, maps, games and more. iPads have revolutionized computing since their introduction. With its larger screen the iPad is absolutely a viable replacement for your desktop or laptop! Whether you already own an iPhone or iPad, or are considering purchasing one, join us as we explore the capabilities of these remarkable devices. This lecture-style demonstration teaches you the important basics of: installing, reorganizing and deleting apps, using the touch interface, keyboard basics, text selection and editing, Spotlight, Apple ID, settings and more.  Operation Underworld – World War II Mob Alliances @ Brooks Commons Club June 20 | 1:30 – 3 pm As we entered World War II, the U.S. Navy covertly elicited the aid of the Mob to stop spies, saboteurs and dock strikes. “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Albert Anastasia and others answered the call. In this lecture, we discuss what led to the alliance, the impact and the aftermath. JUNE INTERACTIVE SERIES CLASSES  Balance University: Improve Balance, Posture and Flexibility (3-part series) @ Naples Center or Online via Zoom June 16, 23, 30 | 9 – 10 am Balance University is an interactive wellness class, designed to improve balance, posture and flexibility. This program starts with basic balance exercises and progresses to more complex movements over time. Your instructor explains the “whys” and the importance of balance exercises as part of your everyday routine. Join our instructor in a safe and effective low-impact workout on Friday mornings  Acupressure for Anyone® Series: For Health, Body Awareness and Well-Being @ Online via Zoom June 20, July 18, August 22 | 9- 10 am Acupressure for Anyone® – Head Release & Quick Relief Points – @ Online via Zoom June 20 | 9- 10 am Acupressure for Anyone® – Chest Release @ Online via Zoom July 18 | 9- 10 am Acupressure for Anyone® – Abdominal Release @ Online via Zoom August 22 | 9- 10 am Participants may register for the entire series or for any of the individual classes. Acupressure for Anyone® (A4A) puts the extraordinary healing gifts of acupressure into the hands of ordinary people. Based on the wisdom teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, you will learn a gentle finger pressure technique to connect with meridian points on the body. Acupressure formulas are taught for common health issues such as headache, insomnia, colds and flu, digestion, etc. as well as powerful balancing formulas for managing stress and calming the mind and spirit. A handout is provided for the acupressure protocol for home practice as well as a link of a recorded guided version of the practice to watch on demand for 30 days. Bring water and either a rolled up towel or 2 tennis or stress balls to class. Class will be taught seated in a chair. Acupressure is found to be a relaxing, gentle self care practice and is not a substitute for professional medical care. Please consult you doctor if you are not sure if acupressure is right for you.  Great Discussions Group (2-part sessions) @ Online via Zoom June 22 | 10 – 11:30 am In a globalized world, crucial and important topics rise and fall daily. Ripped from the headlines, this program offers the opportunity for substantive discourse on the issues and stories shaping local, national and world events. Our goal is to build consensus, unity and identify practical solutions. Join neighbors, friends and peers, in-person or online, in this interactive, thought-provoking and engaging discussion group. We strive to offer a constructive and respectful forum where conservatives and liberals alike can comfortably and openly share their viewpoints and opinions. Each week participants receive articles for discussion and, where appropriate, videos are shown to help further our dialog. The best discussions arise from a group of diverse individuals offering their personal viewpoints and perspectives informed by their unique life experiences. Together with your opinions and ideas, bring your listening and critical-thinking skills to help enrich us all.  Advanced Mah Jongg Strategies (3-part series) @ Naples Center June 26, 28, 30 | 10 – 11:30 am Please bring your 2023 Mah Jongg Rule Card (from the National Mah Jongg League; call 212-246-3052) and your own Mah Jongg set. Take your Mah Jongg to a higher level. Be prepared to play hands with defensive strategies and faster decision making. Learn when to call and when to wait. Why is this game more about looking and listening than just studying your hand? LOOKING AHEAD See a sample of what is coming over the next week click on any title below for more information Monday June 12 –Ellis Island: The Immigrant Story –Influential Speeches of World War II Tuesday –Franz Joseph – The Last Habsburg Emperor Thursday –The Twilight Zone: Fiction Foreshadows Truth! –Churchill’s Secret Army –The Best of the Best Smartphone and Tablet Apps All Users Should Know – Part 1 Monday June 19 –Alva Vanderbilt Belmont – Slave to Ambition or Champion of Freedom? –Spanish Florida and the Conquistadors Tuesday –iPhone/iPad Settings:iCloud, Notifications, Apple Pay, Emergency SOS and More –Women in Western Music Thursday –Movies and Music Friday –Enlightened Despots: Frederick the Great, Maria Theresa and Catherine the Great –What Does it Really Mean When the Bible and Constitution Say…? Summer Movie Series   International Film and Documentary Discussion Series (4 films) Sundays at Naples Center – 2:00 pm –Shoplifters – June 18 (Japan, 2018, Crime/Drama, 122 minutes, Rated R) –Phoenix – July16 (Germany, 2014, History/Drama, 98 minutes, Rated PG13) –Baby Teeth – August 20 (Australia, 2019, Comedy/Drama, 118 minutes, Rated MA-17) –Retrograde – September 17 (2022, Documentary, 94 minutes, Rated R) Bring FGCU Academy to Your Community If you would like to have FGCU Academy provide programs at your community, click below and send us an email with your information: who the contact person is, their email and phone number along with name of your community. We will be happy to reach out and discuss the possibilities with them. Schedule a Private Education Session for Your Community! Travel The World With FGCU Academy Travel is not reward for working, it’s education for living View our Pre-Recorded Travel Open House Presentation Now   LEGENDARY TURKEY – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure September 1 – 15, 2023 | 15 days Exotic sights, scents, and sounds reign in this fascinating land where Europe and Asia meet. From Istanbul, magnificent “Empress of the World,” to ancient ruins, stunning landscapes, and the dramatic – and legendary – Turquoise Coast, Turkey engages and beguiles, offering us an unparalleled small group experience.  ACROSS SPAIN & PORTUGAL – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure September 10 – 26, 2023 | 17 days Fortified cities and tiny fishing villages, rugged Atlantic coastline and commanding Pyrenees peaks, iconic shrines to both religion and fine art, and intimate lodgings in historic paradores and pousadas – it all awaits on this singular small group journey from Lisbon across the north of Spain, ending in vibrant Barcelona.  SICILY IN DEPTH – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure September 28 – October 9, 2023 | 12 days Crossroads of the Mediterranean … the “toe” in Italy’s boot … “God’s Kitchen” … Sicily is all this, and much more, as we see on our stellar small group journey around this Italian island. It’s lively cities and ancient ruins, temples of man – and of nature, hospitable people and delectable cuisine … a feast for all the senses.  ISRAEL: TIMELESS WONDERS – View Full Itinerary/Travel Brochure October 14 – 25, 2023 | 12 days Encounter a land of extraordinary beauty and belief, of spirit and story, history and hospitality. From modern Tel Aviv to scenic Upper Galilee, ancient Tiberias and storied Nazareth to Jerusalem, “City of Gold,” we engage all our senses in a small group encounter with this extraordinary and holy land, with a five-night stay in Jerusalem at the legendary King David hotel. FGCU Academy Travel 2024 Call for More Info – 239-434-4838 Travel Brochures will be available Summer 2023  Moroccan Discovery, May 12-27, 2024 This land of dramatic contrasts invites us to encounter its ancient ruins and sacred mosques, endless desert and storied mountains, imposing kasbahs and spirited souks. As we travel from the imperial cities of Rabat, Fez, and Marrakech to the High Atlas and vast Sahara, we open our eyes, and hearts, to a truly foreign land, an age-old culture, and genuinely hospitable people.  Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania, August 13-28, 2024 “On safari” … it’s one of the most alluring phrases in all of travel. And Kenya and Tanzania count among the most alluring places to be “on safari.” As our small group travels from grasslands to highlands, to reserves and national parks, we enjoy intimate game drives, see stupendous landscapes, stay in excellent accommodations, and meet gracious local people.  Exploring Iceland, August 15-25, 2024 It’s a surprising, even astonishing land; one of massive glaciers and rumbling volcanoes, bubbling mud holes and powerful waterfalls; hugely abundant bird life and just 340,000 people; and where the sun never sets for six splendid weeks. It’s also perfect for exploring in a small group, as we discover traveling the breadth of the country and getting an up-close view of this natural “wonderland.”  Southern Italy & Sicily, September 4-18, 2024 Delight in a special exploration of Italy’s southern climes, from striking Sicily and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast to unheralded Apulia, the alluring “boot heel” where a vivid history, unique architecture, and bountiful plains join the sun and sea in creating a prized (and crowd-free) region. Add Italian hospitality, outstanding cuisine, and notable lodgings for la dolce vita, small-group style.  Scotland: Highlands & Islands, September 9-20, 2024 “My heart’s in the Highlands,” said Robert Burns – as will you, as we travel from city to country, mainland to island, on this sweet journey. From loch to loch and glen to glen, we encounter stunning natural beauty and welcoming clans, while city life serves up the colorful past – and cosmopolitan present.  Provincial French Countryside, September 27-October 11, 2024 Experience the beauty, allure, and hospitality of provincial France, at an easy pace and in a unique style. Anchored by stays in vibrant Toulouse and enchanting Paris, the journey features diverse Languedoc, the remote Dordogne, the lovely Loire Valley, and historic Normandy as we stay in charming rural inns and small country hotels. It’s a small group tour de force!  New Zealand Adventure, October 10-25, 2024 It’s a tale of two islands as our small group journeys from New Zealand’s North to its South, through lively cities and pristine fiords, past lush farmland and enchanted forests in a land where the outdoors is the national shrine. Add engaging “Kiwis” and intriguing indigenous cultures – it’s a pure New Zealand experience.  Southeast Asia Odysseys, October 31-November 18, 2024 Engaging, diverse, intriguing … This just begins to describe Southeast Asia and our small group odyssey. We cruise the Mekong through Laos; explore the spectacular – Angkor Wat – and the sublime – Ha Long Bay; and engage with local farmers and hill tribespeople on this comprehensive, well-paced adventure DONATE NOW FGCU Academy Needs Your Support Today to Ensure that Our Critical Mission of Senior Education and Enrichment Continues! FGCU Academy is ready to serve the SWFL community for the 2023 Season—Learning, Growing, Sharing, Socializing. I am excited to welcome you this year to the new FGCU Naples Center, which is located at 704 Goodlette Frank Rd N, Suite 330 in Naples. Also, we have two new locations in Lee County, Pelican Landing in Bonita Springs and the FGCU Kleist Center on main campus. As always, both locations are open to all our students. Our passion keeps us moving forward and your donations will do the same. Please take a few minutes to consider donating to ensure our continued success. All amounts make a difference in strengthening the work we do in the community. Your gift will allow the Academy to offer more than 1,500 diverse and fascinating programs at more than fifteen locations throughout SWFL. Please visit our website to review the rich and varied programmatic offerings that are available this year. Through our mission we promise to enrich the lives, minds and social well-being of more than 10,000 SWFL adults and seniors during our 2023 season. Donate online at https://www.fgcu.edu/academy/givenow I am grateful for your consideration to support this vital community outreach program this year. I look forward to seeing you at a FGCU Academy program soon. Please contact me directly at jguerra@fgcu.edu or 239-434-4838 with questions or to learn more. In gratitude, John J. Guerra Director of FGCU Academy FGCU Academy Collier / Lee / Charlotte FGCU ACADEMY NAPLES CENTER 704 Goodlette-Frank Rd N Suite 330 Naples, FL 34102 239-434-4737 fgcuacademy@fgcu.edu |