People have a picnic at the Old Fort in this 1930 historic photo. (Courtesy of Animas Museum)
To celebrate the return of live lectures, the Fort Lewis College Life-long Learning program will begin the fall season with a sidestep for an outdoor picnic then return to its regular programs in 130 Noble Hall.
At 3 p.m. Sept. 8, members of the FLC Professional Associates will welcome the community to a gala picnic at Old Fort Lewis. The celebration begins with guided tours of the site, followed by a presentation on the history of the Old Fort, a bring-you-own picnic supper, and a presentation on the Indian Boarding School Era.
“We want to start the academic year with a celebration of sorts,” Gary Rottman, chairman of LLL, said. “We’re hoping people will drive the 12 miles west of Durango to the Old Fort at 18683 County Road 141 and join us for a harvest event. There’s plenty of parking for a bring-your-own picnic.”
After the tours, Rottman will introduce Beth LaShell, director, who will discuss the site’s history from 1880, when it was established as a Federal Army Post, to its decommissioning in 1891. LaShell will explain the current educational mission. The picnic will follow, and guests are urged to bring chairs as there are only a few picnic tables. At 6:30 p.m., Majel Boxer, will talk about the Indian Boarding School, which existed from 1892 to 1910. Boxer is associate professor and chairwoman of Native American and Indigenous Studies at the college.
If you go
WHAT: Fort Lewis College Fall Life-long Learning Lecture Series. WHEN: 7 p.m. Thursdays from Sept. 8 to Dec. 1. WHERE: 130 Noble HallTICKETS: FreeMORE INFORMATION: Visit https://bit.ly/3AOnCAf or email Gary Rottman, [email protected].
Since winter 2000, the FLC Professional Associates, a volunteer organization of college supporters, have co-sponsored the free town-gown lecture series with the Office of the President. The goal has always been to present a variety of relevant topics by a mixture of FLC faculty, community members and, when possible, national and international experts.
Sept. 8: Gala Picnic at The Old Fort, begins at 3 p.m. with tours, presentations about general history and the boarding schools by Beth LaShell and Majel Boxer. Bring your own picnic supper and chairs. All are welcome. For map and directions, visit www.fortlewis.edu/LLL/oldfortgala.Sept. 15: Sunsets, Suburbs or the Sublime is the title of journalist Judith Reynolds’ Power Point presentation about different perspectives of the West by photographers from Ansel Adams to Richard Misrach and Jerry Uelsmann.Sept. 22: Marie Curie. A Chautauqua presentation by living-history scholar Susan Frontczak, who will illuminate the scientist who changed the world with the discovery of radium and radioactivity.Sept. 23 (Friday): Erma Bombeck. A Chautauqua presentation by living history scholar Susan Frontczak, who will enact the journalist who wrote a column, “At Wit’s End,” about the lives of American women and families.Sept. 29: Bonanza! Music of the American West will be the focus of Linda Mack Berven’s exploration of the cultural impact of movie music. She will also lead the audience in a singalong.Oct. 6: Horses, Yahoos and Failed Prophecies. Retired psychologist Jim Kimple will apply Jonathan Swift’s wicked satire to the cognitive dissonance we experience in today’s world.Oct. 13: Strong Bones for a Healthy Life. Bone-health expert Clayton LaBaume, PA-C, will examine osteoporosis and how everyone can decrease the risk of breaking bones.Oct. 20: A Return to Civility. Retired diplomat Laurie Meininger will ask how we have become so divisive and what we can do about it.Oct. 27: Influential Books. A panel of community leaders will discuss books that have influenced their lives with an open discussion to follow.Nov. 3: The Force and Beauty of Indigenous Expression. Ethnographer Kathy Fine-Dare will examine dance, shamanic healing, filmmaking and organic farming in Quito, Ecuador.Nov. 10: Become an Umbraphile. Gary Rottman, retired solar physicist, will describe the next total eclipse of the sun and encourage everyone to plan travels now to see it in April 2024.Nov. 17: Misconceptions about Homelessness. A panel of community leaders will address various views on homelessness, plans for a managed camp, the navigation center and the Best Western project.Dec. 1: Talking Trash. Former Durango mayor and current FLC professor of sociology Michael Rendon will talk about why reducing, reusing and recycling still make sense.
See the FLC website for complete information, including names of panelists, at www.fortlewis.edu/LLL.
