Look for details at the bottom of this page!
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​Once you have become a member, please register for desired courses below:


​Interested in learning more about our instructors? 

​Click on the image to the right to find our Instructor Bios!






​
​ZOOM Options 

​Thursdays - ZOOM

9:30 AM - ZOOM
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MEET THE GEORGIA AQUARIUM
Michael Brown, Assistant Manager, Training Programs, Georgia Aquarium.
Class Coordinator
 
Michael Brown has arranged the following six classes to introduce us to the Aquarium. See instructor Bios for information on the class speakers.  The six classes are:
  1. Ornithology - Class will cover topics such as bird anatomy, flight mechanics, communication, and migration patterns. Participants will also learn about the special adaptations of aquatic and coastal birds and their significance to the environment. Class will also highlight important conservation efforts aimed at protecting bird species and their habitats.
  2. Sea Turtle Awareness – Class will cover topics such as the different species of sea turtles, their life cycles, and the incredible adaptations that help them survive in the wild. Participants will also learn about the threats facing them, including habitat loss and pollution, and conservation efforts to protect them.
  3. Marine Ecology – Class will explore how marine organisms interact with one another and their environment, including the roles different species play in ecological balance.  Food webs, keystone species, and the impact of human activities on ocean health will be covered. Participants will also learn about important conservation efforts aimed at protecting marine life.
  4. Sea Otter Awareness – Class will cover topics such as the otters’ diet, their unique adaptations, and how they use tools to survive in the wild. Participants will also explore the challenges these animals face, including pollution, habitat loss, as well as the conservation efforts in place to protect them.
  5. Sharks & Ray Awareness – Class will explore their unique biology, behaviors, and the important roles they play in ocean ecosystems. Participants will gain insight into the diverse species of sharks and rays, their remarkable adaptations, and challenges they face, such as overfishing and habitat loss. Class will also highlight conservation efforts underway to protect these incredible creatures.
  6. Ichthyology (the study of fish) – Class will cover the anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary history of fish species found in both freshwater and marine settings. Participants will learn about the unique adaptations fish have developed, such as camouflage and specialized feeding strategies, and discover their importance in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Class will also highlight conservation efforts aimed at protecting fish populations and their habitats.
11:00 AM - ZOOM
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HOBBIES
Rosemary Woolfitt, Coordinator, Member, SUGA
 
Most people seem to have some sort of leisure activity or activities that they enjoy in their spare time. For some people a leisure activity becomes a completely engrossing hobby, taking up many hours a week or month. Sometimes a hobby is remarkable and interesting for being uncommon. In this course we will consider why people take up hobbies, with presentations live from America and Europe by people with engaging and unusual hobbies: macramé, tango dancing, deciphering old letters, shopping for bargains, playing early music, and long-distance hiking. See Instructor Bios for more information on the below speakers.
July 17:         Hannah Choi – The Theory of Hobbies 
                      Julie Nguyen - Macramé
July 24:         Barbara Reisner – Deciphering Family Letters
                       Rosemary Woolfitt – Letters as Historical Insight
July 31:         George Wieder - Bargain Shopping
Aug 7:           Nicoletta Ronda - Tango
Aug 14:         Gisela McClellan - Early Music
Aug: 21:        Jill Wieder Goodrich - Long Distance Hiking the Camino de Santiago






​​In-Person Options

Wednesdays - In-Person

9:30 am - In-Person
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CURRENT EVENTS
Norman Slawsky, Attorney, Past SUGA President (2023) and Member, SUGA
 
We will have a combination of returning speakers and new faces. Ben Bush (via Zoom from California) will return to tell us about developments in Artificial Intelligence, Richard Belcher will talk to us about state of the news media, a speaker from Georgia Power will talk to us about the utility's plans for the future of power generation, the AJC traffic reporter will talk about Atlanta's traffic, and we may have a speaker on immigration and refugees.  And we will have lively discussions about current news.
July 16 and July 23—Benjamin James Bush is a returning and engaging speaker. He has a Ph.D. in systems science, and graduate certificates in complex systems and evolutionary studies. He also has a B.S. and an M.S. in Mathematics.  His specialty and interest are in artificial intelligence (AI). He likes to develop interesting models and stories using AI and can demonstrate its use, how it can improve thought processes, and how AI can improve collective decision making.
July 30—Richard Belcher has had a 50-year career as an investigative reporter for WSB-TV, WXIA and WAGA. Richard specialized in the workings of government. He has insights into the changes in the reporting and delivery of news and long-term changes in local government. As you know from last year, Richard is an excellent speaker and can lead a lively discussion.
August 6—Shelley Cartwright is the Georgia Power Environmental Affairs manager. She leads their strategic environmental external engagement. Shelley previously served as the Deputy General manager of External Affairs for the Westlands (California) Water District where she provided strategic leadership, public policy development, and public affairs management for the largest agricultural water district in the country. Shelley has degree in civil engineering from Notre Dame, a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters of Laws (LLM) in International Human Rights and Criminal Justice from Utrecht University (in the Netherlands).
August 13—Doug Turnbull is the AJC Gridlock Guy and was the WSB radio traffic reporter for 20 years with Captain Herb Emory. He also does a weekly NASCAR podcast and he has worked as a race announcer since 2012. Doug has covered some of Atlanta’s most exciting traffic stories including floods, snowstorms, plane crashes, bridge collapses and a bus hijacking.
August 20—Justin Howell is the executive director of the Atlanta, Tallahassee and Miami offices of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). Justin will discuss how the recent changes in refugee policies has affected IRC services and staff and how the IRC has responded with resettlement, education, health care, employment and financial services. 
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DRAWING FOR LIFE
Betsy Alexander, Graphic Artist, Member, SUGA
 
Unlock the artist within and see the world in a whole new way! Drawing is a skill anyone can learn, and this class will help you develop a new perspective — translating what you see into expressive, confident sketches. Explore structure, proportion, and detail as you train your eye to see as an artist. Learn how to arrange elements on the page for dynamic, visually engaging drawings. Whether you’re a beginner or someone who already loves to draw, this class will inspire you to sharpen your skills and bring your vision to life on paper.
11:00 AM - In-Person
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VOICES OF PROTEST
Leslie S. Hough, Former Director, Southern Labor Archives and Special Collections, Georgia State University
 
Week 1: Introduction to Voices of Protest
Week 2: Early Roots of Protest Songs and Stories
Week 3:  Voices of the Labor Movement
Week 4:  Voices of the Civil Rights Movement
Week 5: Global Voices of Protest
Week 6: What Voices of Protest call for today
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GEORGIA SERIAL KILLERS AND THEIR STORIES
Adrienne Mintz, Instructor at Senior Enriched Learning (SEL) and Member, SUGA
 
While we’ve all heard of Wayne Bertram Williams and the Atlanta Child Murders, there are several other serial killers whose stories are just as interesting, some with higher victim counts but almost entirely unknown to the public. Have you ever read about these killers?
  • The Atlanta Ripper
  • The Casanova Killer
  • North Fulton Regional Hospital's Angel of Death
  • The Stocking Strangler
  • The Dixie Mafia Hitman
This no-tech presentation isn't about the gory details, although the overall story will be told. Instead, we will explore their life histories, criminal trials, and the consequences of their crimes.  Amazingly, the vast majority were never penalized for the full extent of the terror they inflicted upon their victims and their community.

​Book Club

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Book club meetings are held at Rehoboth Baptist Church following class on each date listed below.  Meetings start around 12:10 pm (after bathroom break!); usually in room A/B, but “listen for announcement”.

Anyone is invited to join the club and should notify Kay so she will add you to the Book club email list.
Summer Term
July 16
August 20
Fall Term
September 17
November 5
​For more information, or if you would like to lead a discussion, please contact Kay Collins:
[email protected]
​SUGA does not promote, recommend or endorse any product, service of activity other than its educational offerings or activities approved by the Day Trip Committee or Board of Directors.
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