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Hundreds of courses. Knowledgeable instructors. Have it your way, online or in-person.  August 2023 Greetings, that on this day in… 1926 – Fidel Castro was born. Cuban lawyer, politician, 15th President of Cuba. 1960 – The First Two-Way Telephonic Conversation With a Satellite took place. The conversation was made possible due to NASA’s Echo 1, a balloon satellite. It was launched into space on August 12. The satellite worked as reflector – signals sent to it were reflected back to the Earth. 1961 – Construction of Berlin Wall starts The construction on the Berlin Wall, a wall that divided West Berlin from East Berlin started. It was built by the German Democratic Republic or East Germany. 1995 – Mickey Mantle passed away. American baseball player. You can find many lectures on many topics in our upcoming brochure. Check us out and get registered now! 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 August Daily Calendar View September Daily Calendar Register Online We are available to assist with registration – 239.434.4737 FEATURE CLASSES  A Stunning Race: The Kennedy-Nixon Presidential Campaign 1960 @ Bentley Village August 17 | 10 – 11:30 am 1960 was a fascinating time in American history. The nation was at once amid a titanic struggle with the Soviet-led communist threat abroad while benefiting from a strong economy at home. The decisive question for the American electorate was whether to continue the proven Eisenhower era policies of the prosperous but complacent 1950s or to seek and reach higher and chart a new generational path. As standard bearers for their parties, Vice President Richard Nixon and Massachusetts Senator John Kennedy were young, dynamic, brilliant and infinitely ambitious. The campaign resulted in a mythic struggle between these two men resulting in one of the closest results in American electoral history. Ambassador Llorens expertly weaves the political dynamics of that historic campaign with so much at stake for America and the world.  Scandal in Paris @ Bentley Village August 21 | 1:30 – 3 pm Explore the lives of renowned pianist and composer Frederic Chopin and the eminent writer Georges Sand and their tumultuous relationship. Both artists had established their careers in Paris, the cultural capital of Western Europe, and had some of the greatest luminaries of the age in their circle of friends. The romance between Sand and Chopin was unfortunately torn apart by the family dynamics that were reflected in Sand’s children.  Supervised Mah Jongg Play @ Naples Center September 7, 14, 21, 28 Beginners @ 10 – 12:30 pm Advanced @ 1:30 – 4 pm Wouldn’t it be great to have someone looking over your shoulder while playing Mah Jongg to help you decide your next move? Well, now you can! Come join others while a Mah Jongg pro is readily available to assist you when you just don’t know what to do! This is not an instruction class, but supervised play with expert guidance and strategy when asked for. You will play with people of similar ability, make new friends, and improve your game all under the watchful eye of a Mah Jongg expert. GET REGISTERED NOW for September This is a great opportunity to get your game ready to play at the next level! LOOKING AHEAD See a sample of what is coming over the next week click on any title below for more information –Monday August 14 Operation Drumbeat – Second Pearl Harbor –Wednesday August 16 Macintosh Tips, Tricks & Secrets: MacOS Ventura –Thursday August 17 iPhone/iPad Photos App: Photo Management, Editing, Sharing and More The Bayeux Tapestry: A Well-Told Story of the Conquest of England – (note date change from August 7 to August 17th) –Friday August 18 Medieval Knights, Chivalry, and Tournaments –Monday August 21 The Crusades Voyage to Mars The Six Wives of Henry VIII –Tuesday August 22 Cloud Computing Eli Cohen – Israeli Master Spy –Thursday August 24 Cuba: A Nation Frozen in Time iPhone/iPad Notes App: The App Everyone Should Use –Friday August 25 Turkish Delight Summer Movie Series   International Film and Documentary Discussion Series (4 films) Sundays at Naples Center – 2:00 pm –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. 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 |