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| Hundreds of courses. Knowledgeable instructors. Have it your way, online or in-person.  November 2023 FGCU Academy What Does Thankfulness Mean to You? Greetings, To reference an old adage, those who have a spirit of thankfulness usually see their life glass as half full, while those who struggle to find the positive in life and express gratefulness often see it as half empty. Regardless of which glass you drink from each day, there are ways to cultivate a thankful heart, which, in turn, can lead to a host of positive benefits, such as better health, higher productivity, healthier relationships, more satisfaction with life, relief from stress, and defense against depression. FGCU Academy is thankful to see so many new faces along with the old ones this Fall. We had a successful Wine Tasting Event this past week and we have a sold out bus trip to Little Havana this Tuesday. Registrations have increased for lectures as well. We are currently putting our Winter/Spring 2024 program guide together and it is looking good. Many new and interesting topics. Look for this program guide in mid-December online. Print copies will be available at local libraries throughout Lee and Collier counties by end of Decem- ber. Mail copies will go out first week of January. 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.  Click Below to view any topic –FGCU Academy Website –View Fall Program Guide –DONATE –Register Online –November Daily Calendar –TRAVEL 2024 –Day Trips & Special Events For assistance with registration – Call 239.434.4737 FGCU Academy and Mare Terra Restaurant Thank you to all who came out and joined us for a fun time at our Appetizers with Wine Pairing Social Event at Mare Terra. Owner Sal Sinzieri and his amazing staff out-did themselves for this special event. Our sommelier Kiril Tsarev was well versed in his knowledge of the wines that were paired with the wonderfully planned plates of food prepared by Mare Terra’s chef. Everything was perfect! We look forward to hosting more events like this to share with all of you!     FEATURE CLASSES  FGCU Academy 2024 Travel Open House Join FGCU Academy online as we formally unveil our 2024 travel excursions including Kenya & Tanzania, Iceland, Southern Italy & Sicily, Scotland, Provincial France, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. This year we also are featuring two remarkable river cruises, Sensations of Lyon & Provence and Jewels of the Rhine. Nine exciting and luxurious tours are planned for the upcoming travel season starting in May 2024, and we invite you to learn about them all. Through unique and interesting itineraries, participants experience life outside the classroom, visit historic sites with local guides, experience another culture – its customs, cuisine, language and history – and delight in conversation and laughter with fellow explorers who share a love of travel and a sense of adventure. @ Cypress Cove | November 17 | 10 – 11:30 am @ TwinEagles | November 20 | 4 – 5:30 pm @ Bentley Village | November 21 | 10 – 11:30 am Free to everyone…  The Making of Modern China @ Naples Center or Online via Zoom | November 14 | 10 – 11:30am China emerged from a “Century of Humiliation” and a 20-year civil war and is now one of the world’s leading economies and global policy shapers. How did the Chinese governing system evolve? Does China’s more authoritarian model meet the challenges of the 21st century? How should the U.S. respond to China’s rise? This lecture reviews China’s global investment program (Belt and Road Initiative) and considers the pros and cons of China’s approach to global economic engagement. What are the long-standing traditions of China that are now incorporated into Com- munist China? Is China really a Communist state with market characteristics? Where is China headed? Join a 40-year national security affairs analyst as he examines all of these important questions.  The Versailles Settlement @ Naples Center or Online via Zoom | November 14 | 10 – 11:30am By 1918, after four years of horrific war, the combatants of World War I were ready for peace. The national leaders faced the daunting task of contending with collapsed empires, redrawing the map of Europe, balancing fairness with a desire for revenge, paying for the appalling devastation and soothing the bitter memory of war. This lecture explores the issues confronting the “Big Four” and the debatable success of their solutions.  iPhone/iPad Settings: iCloud, Notifications, Apple Pay, Emergency SOS and more @ Naples Center or Online via Zoom | November 14 | 10 – 11:30am Settings is one of the most important Apps on your iPhone/ iPad; it is where you customize and control how your device functions. If you have not spent quality time in the Settings app, you do not fully understand how your devices can work for you. This lecture-style presentation explores how to configure the most important settings on your iPhone and iPad, including iCloud, Notifications, Focus, Display & Brightness, Privacy, Emergency SOS, Apple Pay and many more.  Apple Watch Tips, Tricks & Secrets of the New Watch OS 10 @ Naples Center or Online via Zoom | November 15 | 10 – 11:30am Join this lecture-style presentation as we explore the many features of the Apple Watch. It’s not just about telling time, it’s about phone calls, email messages, maps, music, photos, health tracking, Apple Pay, fall detection and so much more.  Are You an Informed Collier County Voter? @ Moorings Park Grande Lake| November 16 | 1:30 – 3 pm Most of us don’t know as much about what’s on our ballot as we’d like to – especially the farther down the ballot we go. And yet the people we elect at the state and local levels decide how much we pay in taxes and how that money is spent, the kinds of growth and development that are allowed, how quickly our communities recover from hurricanes and how they prepare for the future, who hires our school superintendent and what’s taught in our local schools, and more. In this lecture, we will learn about the more than a dozen state and local government offices that will be on our August 2024 ballot and who currently hold them. Whether you are a new or long-time Collier resident, this lecture will help you be a more informed voter. SPECIAL EVENTS  Miami Millionaire’s Row™ Boat Cruise & Bayside Marketplace @ Miami | December 12 8 am – 6 pm Enjoy a fully-narrated 90-minute cruise and enjoy spectacular views of Biscayne Bay, the Miami Skyline, Port of Miami, Fisher Island, Miami Beach and Millionaire’s Row™ – the Homes of the Rich and Famous™. Soft drinks, cocktails and light snacks are available for purchase. A modern yacht offers the utmost comfort and style. Each vessel features an air-conditioned lower salon enclosed in picture windows, as well as an upper-deck where you can take in the fresh ocean breeze and an awning that will protect you from direct sun- light and light seasonal showers. After the cruise, enjoy time for some lunch and shopping at the Bayside Marketplace, one of Miami’s most popular destinations. Departure inform- ation will be emailed 3 days prior to trip. Itineraries are subject to change. No refunds within 10 business days of departure. LOOKING AHEAD See a sample of what is coming over the next weeks click on any title below for more information Monday November 13 –Russian-American Paradox –Diana: Death of a Princess Tuesday November 14 – iPhone/iPad: Tips, Tricks & Secrets of Apple’s Newest Operating System iOS 17 –The Constitution and the New “Imperial Presidency” Thursday November 16 –From Laboratory to Bedside – How Biopharmaceutical Companies Discover and Develop New Drugs –iPhone/iPad Apps: Camera and Taking Great Photos moved to November 30 Friday November 17 –Cutting the Cord – now at FGCU Main Campus –Whatever Happened to the Great American Railroad? Monday November 20 –King George III –Whatever Happened to the World’s Fair? Thursday November 23 –HAPPY THANKSGIVING Monday November 27 –General Black Jack Pershing –Five Eyes: Global Espionage, Eavesdropping and the Collection of Communications Intelligence –Climate Change – Sources and Solutions Tuesday November 28 –iPhone/iPad Apps: Apple Mail and Safari –Mary Queen of Scots Wednesday November 29 –A Stunning Race: The Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Campaign 1960 –Computer and Internet Security for Desktops, Laptops, Phones and Tablets Thursday November 30 –Britain: The Morning Star of the Reformation Friday December 1 –The Woman Question – Should They Vote! –Nuclear Power – The Essential Component in a Strategy to Mitigate Climate Change FALL Movie Series   International Film and Documentary Discussion Series (3 films) 2:00 pm – Sundays at Naples Center International Film and Documentary Discussion Series (3 films) –Tell No One – November 12 – (France, 2008, Drama, Not Rated, 125 min) Margot was murdered by a serial killer eight years ago, and her husband, Alexandre, continues to mourn her death. One day, the police discover two dead bodies near Alexandre’s home, along with a cache of evidence implicating him in the crime. On the same day, Alexandre receives an email with a video showing his wife alive and well, along with a simple message: “Tell no one.” With the police breathing down his neck, Alexandre goes on the run. About Elly – December 10 – (Iran, 2009, Drama, Rated PG, 119 min) A young teacher on a vacation to northern Iran with three middle-class families goes missing before she is able to be introduced to a suitor. 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 2024 recording coming soon! FGCU Academy Travel 2024 Call for More Info – 239-434-4838 Travel Brochures Coming Soon  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 color- ful past – and cosmopolitan present.  Sensations of Lyon & Provence 2024 River Cruise September 17 – 28, 2024 It is no surprise that the South of France is recognized as the birthplace of photography, its unrivaled beauty includes the finest examples of French 15th-century architecture, with Roman ruins and sun-soaked vineyards nestled at the foot of colossal mountain ranges. Spend three nights in Nice along the stunning French Riviera and enjoy a visit to Monte Carlo, playground of the rich and famous. Sail the Rhône and Saône Rivers while exploring ports of call in Chalon-sur-Saône, Lyon, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon and Arles, all the while experiencing the rich history and picturesque beauty of Southern France. View Brochure  Jewels of the Rhine, 2024 River Cruise September 20 – 30, 2024 Enjoy a cruise on the romantic Rhine River where UNESCO World Heritage sites, gothic cathedrals in Cologne and Strasbourg, historic fortresses, and picturesque canals greet you in the various ports of call. Sail through the scenic Rhine Gorge and experience the beauty and splendor of the Rhine. Along with the two-night stay in Lucerne, Switzerland, set against the dramatic Swiss Alps, you’ll have an amazing holiday on this adventure with Mayflower Cruises and Tours. View Brochure  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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] |