December 2023 AFTA at a Glance
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| Hundreds of courses. Knowledgeable instructors. Have it your way, online or in-person.  November 2023 FGCU Academy Spirit is a state of mind – FGCU Academy is where you expand your mind! “Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers.” –Kahlil Gibran Greetings, FGCU Academy hopes that everyone enjoyed their long holiday weekend. I know it is just what I needed. We have a full week ahead of us – view the schedule below. As we near the completion of our winter-spring catalog, we will be entering the courses into our system and they will be live by mid-December. We are very excited about the line-up ahead and we think you will be too! Twenty Five ways in twenty five days 1. Consider purchasing gift certificates for membership / course for someone else. 2. Register yourself for a course you wouldn’t normally take. 3. Ask a friend to join you. 4. Tell 5 people in your community about FGCU Academy! 5. Register for a Day Trip! 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 Brochures are Now Available – Scroll below to view them Day Trips & Special Events December Daily Calendar For assistance with registration – Call 239.434.4737 FEATURE CLASSES  General Black Jack Pershing @ Naples Center or Online via Zoom November 27 | 10 – 11:30 am John J. Pershing, who led U.S. forces in World War I, is one of the most respected and honored military leaders in history. An 1886 graduate of West Point, he had a distinguish- ed military career spanning over four decades. Among his career highlights: commanding Black troops during the Indian wars and at the Battle of San Juan Hill; promotion from Captain to Brigadier General by President Teddy Roosevelt, with whom he fought in Cuba; combatting terrorism in the Philippines and Mexico; commanding AEF; and promotion to General of the Armies. Join this fascinating look at the life and career of a military icon.  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. @ Moorings Park Grande Lake | December 8 | 10 – 11:30 am @ Naples Center or Online via Zoom | December 12 | 10:30 – 12 pm Free to everyone… DAY TRIPS & 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 information 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 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 Thursday November 30 –Britain: The Morning Star of the Reformation –iPhone/iPad Apps: Camera and Taking Great Photos Friday December 1 –Balance University –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 Pre-registration is strongly suggested – We sold out for November Movie International Film and Documentary Discussion Series (3 films) –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 2024 Pre-Recorded Travel Open House Presentation Now click on the link above to view now FGCU Academy Travel 2024 Call for More Info – 239-434-4838 View Travel Brochures Below  Classic Safari: Kenya & Tanzania, August 13-28, 2024 16 days for $11,196 “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 high- lands, to reserves and national parks, we enjoy intimate game drives, see stupendous landscapes, stay in excellent accommodations, and meet gracious local people. View Brochure  Exploring Iceland, August 15-25, 2024 11 days for $6,692 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.” View Brochure  Southern Italy & Sicily, September 4-18, 2024 15 days for $6,674 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. View Brochure  Scotland: Highlands & Islands, September 9-20, 2024 12 days for $5,896 “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. View Brochure  Sensations of Lyon & Provence 2024 River Cruise September 17 – 28, 2024 12 days from $5,469 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 11 days from $4,925 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 15 days for $6,297 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! View Brochure  New Zealand Adventure, October 10-25, 2024 16 days for $8,124 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 farm- land 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. View Brochure  Southeast Asia Odysseys, October 31-November 18, 2024 19 days for $7,597 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 View Brochure 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] |