Get outside with the Chesapeake Forum this spring!  There are classes on birding, conservation landscaping, field trips to Winterthur , Mt. Cuba and Poplar Island.  There are also plenty of classes that don’t require going anywhere but will take you on a journey none the less: Hear the story of Unionville from a descendent of one of the 18 black soldiers who founded the town after surviving the civil war; learn about growth issues facing Talbot County, get help downsizing your home, wow your friends with homemade Italian bread and much, much more.  To see the full listing of courses, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org

Registration for Spring 2023 courses opens on Monday March 27th.  To see the full list of courses and descriptions, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.  Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your email to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

On one particularly memorable birthday, international development expert Bruce Purdy found himself in an uncomfortable position.  The Afghani warlord he’d been sent to help had just told him that if he didn’t turn around and leave immediately, he would personally kill him.  Purdy didn’t need to be told twice, which is why he is alive today to tell that story and others in A Journey Through the Developing World starting Thursday, March 7th.

Purdy takes participants on a wild rollercoaster of a ride from the Civil War in Beirut to the Velvet Revolution in Eastern Europe, and more recently, to the chaos and confusion rising out of the Arab Spring as he discusses the policies, procedures, major actors and tough challenges facing much of the globe.  Learn about the difficulties of rebuilding trust in fragile financial systems, investing in economic development and infrastructure, funding basic services like water and sanitation, harnessing the massive influx of people migrating into urban areas, or grappling with gut-wrenching poverty. Infused throughout the course will be personal vignettes — some humorous and some not so humorous — of more than 45 years of one man’s trek and his quest to make a difference.

Purdy is an international development consultant with more than four decades of experience planning and financing rural and urban infrastructure projects in more than 25 emerging and developing economies. His experience includes planning and implementing donor-funded programs within the water and sanitation, education and transportation sectors, and working directly with national, regional and municipal officials and civil society institutions to create the conditions for reform and to implement policies to improve service provision to local citizens. Purdy holds a B.A. from Ohio Wesleyan University, an M.A. from the University of Maryland, and undertook extensive coursework in strategic and organizational planning at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Purdy is developing the Global Urban Leadership Program in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland.

A Journey Through the Developing World is two sessions, Tuesday March 7th and 14th from 1-2:30 PM. HYBRID (in person at the Peachblossom YMCA, via ZOOM or recording.). To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore. To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your name and email contact information to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

Losing a loved one, leaving a career, moving, getting a divorce or other losses can create trauma, stress and isolation.  Learn how to successfully manage these big life transitions with  Moving On: Navigating Life’s Changes from Chesapeake Forum on March 2nd.

Participants will learn tools to help them define what a meaningful life looks like and how to move forward positively from difficult transitions.  Course instructor Gerri Leder will share how others have navigated life changes to see what lessons can be learned.

Gerri Leder approaches workshops on transition from her training as an executive coach and communications consultant, along with experience and study in managing change. She draws from the work of Richard Rohr, William Bridges, the Kinder Institute and others, to examine personal transition. A certified coach, Gerri holds a BA from the University of Richmond and a Master’s in Business Administration from Loyola University in Maryland.

The workshop will define the upheaval of transition and grant participants the option to participate silently or aloud as the class goes through exercises and tools to help define fulfillment and purpose, and take steps forward to a more fulfilling life.  Among the most important things participants will learn is that they are not alone.

Moving on: Navigating Life’s Changes is one (1) session, Thursday, March 2nd from 3-4:30 PM,  in person at the Peachblossom YMCA or Zoom (no recording), $15.  To register for this or any other Chesapeake Forum course, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your name and best email address  to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

Author and storyteller Jim Duffy of Secrets of the Eastern Shore will share tales of “Delmarva’s Great Dames” in a Lunch and Learn talk and discussion on Mon., March 6 at the Talbot County Free Library branch in St. Michaels, Md. The event begins at noon.

A Cambridge resident, Duffy is an award-winning writer and the author of five books, including two collections of Eastern Shore Road Trips and the brand new Shore Bets: The Delmarva Fun Guide, slated for publication on March 1. He founded the homegrown business Secrets of the Eastern Shore with his wife, the photographer Jill Jasuta, to celebrate the heritage and beauty of the Delmarva Peninsula and inspire people to get out and explore the glories of the Eastern Shore and Southern Delaware.

Duffy has given storytelling presentations along these lines on various topics in dozens of towns up and down the peninsula in recent years. His “Great Dames” talk will focus on fascinating women of Delmarva, some of them quite famous and others little known. His speaking style is casual and humorous. Audience participation and discussion will be very much encouraged.

Duffy will have copies of his books on hand for sale during a book-signing after the talk. Audience members are also welcome to bring previously purchased copies of Secrets of the Eastern Shore books to the event for an autograph. The St. Michaels branch of the library is located at 106 Fremont Street. The event is free. For an advance taste of Duffy’s work, visit either SecretsoftheEasternShore.com or Facebook.com/SecretsoftheEasternShore.The Lunch & Learn Speakers series is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Coffee and dessert will be provided. For more information, visit www.tcfl.org  or call 410-745-5877.

George Lovic Pierce Radcliffe (1877 – 1974) was a two-term U.S. Senator from the Eastern Shore whose life and civic engagement spanned nearly a century of American history from post-Civil War to Watergate.  Join Chesapeake Forum on March 1st for “The Extraordinary Life and Times of Senator George Radcliffe” and learn about one of Dorchester County’s most illustrious citizens from someone who knew him well – his grandson, George Radcliffe, Jr.

Radcliffe traces the arc of his grandfather’s career across almost 100 years of United States history, from the post-Civil War period to Watergate. Senator Radcliffe worked closely with three U.S. presidents and was a senator during the post-Depression era and World War II. His life parallels many of the significant changes in our country during that period, and he stands in remarkable contrast to much of the politics of today since “Cousin George,” as most called him, was a true gentleman politician, frequently nonpartisan and always using his extensive knowledge of history to make decisions.

George Radcliffe Jr. draws from his recently published book “Call me Cousin George: A Personal Look at the Life of Sen. George L. Radcliffe to create an intimate portrait of the senator and to illuminate both national and local history.  Part of the course includes a visit to the senator’s ancestral home, Spocott Farm, where he spent many years restoring a working wind mill built by his father in 1852 and destroyed in a storm.

The Extraordinary Life and Times of Senator George L. Radcliffe is three (3) sessions, Wednesdays from 10-11:30 AM.  ZOOM, in-person at the Peachblossom YMCA or recording.  $35.  Included in the course fee is a field trip to the 1663 Homestead of Spocott Farm with George Radcliffe, Jr. on March 21st.  To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, send an email with your name and email contact information to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

More than a third of people in their mid-60s will suffer a slip and fall accident. You don’t even have to be doing anything tricky to suffer one – most accidents happen when we’re on level ground.

Join Chesapeake Forum on February 10th as the engaging Jake Cannon, DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) talks about slip and fall prevention and the simple steps we can take to avoid the inevitable in his new class “Avoiding Slips and Falls”.

Physical changes, health conditions — and sometimes medications — make falls more likely as we age. According to the CDC, falls account for 87% of all fractures for people over 65 and are the 2nd leading cause of spinal cord and brain injuries. Half of all accidental deaths at home are caused by falls. Most fall injuries at home happen at ground level (not from a ladder or kitchen stool!). We trip, slip, and fall.

Fear of falling doesn’t need to rule your life!

Jake’s instruction will help you be safer and avoid injury with increased strength, mobility, and range of motion, as well as to have a greater awareness of the things we can do to make our living environment safer.

“Avoiding Slips and Falls” is one (1) session, Friday, February 10th from 1-2:30 PM, HYBRID (in-person at the Peachblossom YMCA, via ZOOM or recording), $15. To register for this or any other class, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational opportunities for adults living on the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send an email with your name and contact information to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

Those who like their history first-hand will have a chance to combine a visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC with the powerful experience of hearing live from a Holocaust survivor in two upcoming Chesapeake Forum courses in February.  On Wednesday, February 1st, Chesapeake Forum will host a bus trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, followed by a rare opportunity to have an online Q & A with a Holocaust survivor, the following Wednesday, February 8th.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a living memorial to the Holocaust, inspiring citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Its primary mission is to advance and disseminate knowledge about the Holocaust; to preserve the memory of those who suffered; and to encourage its visitors to reflect upon the moral and spiritual questions raised by the events of the Holocaust as well as their own responsibilities as citizens of a democracy.

The self-guided Permanent Exhibition, The Holocaust, offers a chronological narrative of the Holocaust through historical artifacts, photographs, and film footage. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will also encounter personal objects and the eyewitness testimonies of individual survivors.  Viewing this exhibition takes 1-3 hours. Other current exhibits include Americans and the Holocaust (45 min), Burma’s Path to Genocide (30 min), Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story (30 min), American Witnesses (30 min), and One Thousand and Seventy-eight Blue Skies (10 min).

Field Trip to the Holocaust Museum is Wednesday, February 1st. One (1) session, 9 AM to 4:30 PM.  $65.  Please note:  The bus leaves the Easton Fire House at 315 Aurora Park Drive at 9 AM sharp.  To register for, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

The following week, on Wednesday, February 8th, the United States Holocaust Museum is offering Chesapeake Forum the opportunity to connect with a Holocaust survivor remotely via video conference. The program consist of a 30-minute interview between a museum staff member and a Holocaust survivor followed by time for questions and comments from the audience.

An Hour with a Holocaust Survivor is Wednesday, February 8th from 10 – 11 AM.  ZOOM (no recording).  $15.  To register for this or any other Chesapeake Forum course, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your name and preferred email to info@chesapeakeforum.org.

If February is for lovers, it is also for cooking at Chesapeake Forum with two tasty courses coming up.  First, channel your inner chocoholic with a Chocolate Dinner Cooking Class taught by Chef Henry Miller from Two if By Sea in Tilghman Island on February 5th.  That’s right, chocolate in every course – all five of them.  How he’ll do it is anyone’s guess but you can be sure that the outcome will be delicious.

This is the first time Chesapeake Forum has done this type of course so we pre-paid for a limited number of seats.  Once they go, it may be difficult to add on to the event.  Reservations are non-refundable but seats can be transferred up until the Thursday prior to the event.

Price includes five courses, all with chocolate,  tasty tastes, two glasses of wine, tax and 20% gratuity. Learn some imaginative ways to bring chocolate into your Valentine’s Day planning. But at the end of the day, it’s really about socializing with friends!

Chocolate Dinner Cooking Class is one (1) session, Friday February 5th at, from 4-6 PM.  In-person at Two if by Sea in Tilghman Island. $55.  To register, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org

A few weeks later, Larry Paz is back with It’s all Greek to Me: An Adventure in Greek Cooking on February 14 or 28th.  After teaching us how to make Paella last semester, Larry will introduce us this winter to the wonderful world of Greek cooking with a focus on two specialties that often come to mind when thinking of Greek food:  Greek salad and Moussaka.   To top off the experience, Larry will finish with a desert of Baklava.  (What’s Greek for “Yummm”?).  At the conclusion of class, students will enjoy a wonderful lunch made from all of these specialties.

Classes will be held at the Oxford Community Center.  Due to the popularity of Larry’s courses, we are scheduling two dates.  It’s all Greek to Me is February 14th or 28th from 10-12:30 AM in person at the Oxford Community Center. $35.  To sign up, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.  Please note that class sizes are limited to 16 and will sell out quickly.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities to residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send an email with your name and contact information to info@chesapeakeforum.org

Those who like their history first-hand will have a chance to combine a visit to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC with the powerful experience of hearing live from a Holocaust survivor in two upcoming Chesapeake Forum courses in February.  On Wednesday, February 1st, Chesapeake Forum will host a bus trip to the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, followed by a rare opportunity to have an online Q & A with a Holocaust survivor, the following Wednesday, February 8th.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a living memorial to the Holocaust, inspiring citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred, prevent genocide, and promote human dignity. Its primary mission is to advance and disseminate knowledge about the Holocaust; to preserve the memory of those who suffered; and to encourage its visitors to reflect upon the moral and spiritual questions raised by the events of the Holocaust as well as their own responsibilities as citizens of a democracy.

The self-guided Permanent Exhibition, The Holocaust, offers a chronological narrative of the Holocaust through historical artifacts, photographs, and film footage. Throughout the exhibition, visitors will also encounter personal objects and the eyewitness testimonies of individual survivors.  Viewing this exhibition takes 1-3 hours. Other current exhibits include Americans and the Holocaust (45 min), Burma’s Path to Genocide (30 min), Remember the Children: Daniel’s Story (30 min), American Witnesses (30 min), and One Thousand and Seventy-eight Blue Skies (10 min).

Field Trip to the Holocaust Museum is Wednesday, February 1st. One (1) session, 9 AM to 4:30 PM.  $65.  Please note:  The bus leaves the Easton Fire House at 315 Aurora Park Drive at 9 AM sharp.  To register for, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

The following week, on Wednesday, February 8th, the United States Holocaust Museum is offering Chesapeake Forum the opportunity to connect with a Holocaust survivor remotely via video conference. The program consist of a 30-minute interview between a museum staff member and a Holocaust survivor followed by time for questions and comments from the audience.

An Hour with a Holocaust Survivor is Wednesday, February 8th from 10 – 11 AM.  ZOOM (no recording).  $15.  To register for this or any other Chesapeake Forum course, visit https://chesapeakeforum.org.

Chesapeake Forum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing lifelong learning opportunities for residents of the Eastern Shore.  To receive Chesapeake Forum’s newsletter, please send your name and preferred email to info@chesapeakeforum.org.