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​Once you have become a member, please register for desired courses below:
​Selections listed at the bottom of this page.

​Interested in learning more about our instructors? 

​Click on the image to read our Instructor Bios!






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​ZOOM Options 

​Thursdays - ZOOM

9:30 AM - ZOOM
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POTPOURRI
Ann Levine, Coordinator, Curriculum Chair, SUGA
 
July 16 and July 23: GENERATIONAL GENEROSITY – A THOUGHT EXPERIMENT
Presenter, Bill Witherspoon, Member, SUGA
What would it be like to have the spirits of your ancestors and of future generations at your side as you make giving decisions? Whether you are able to give away a few hundred dollars per year or more, it can be worthwhile to think of kindnesses your ancestors would want repaid, and investments those yet unborn will wish we had made. We will ponder these questions and share resources for learning about ancestors, rating charities, and making limited funds go farthest.
July 30:  YES, THERE ARE STILL WORLD EXPOS– OSAKA, 2025
Presenter, Allan Hing, Professor of Design
A look at the Osaka World Expo that closed last October.  One-hundred and fifty-eight countries addressed the Fair’s theme – “Designing Future Society for our Lives” in pavilion designs and interior exhibits.  There will be a review of this Expo as well as an analysis of past Expos as they relate to the Osaka Expo – this is my 8th Expo!
August 6: FROM DAY 5 TO 19 YEARS: OUR PKU JOURNEY
Presenter, Kristen Vanags, Proud mom of a 19-year-old with PKU
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder that affects the body’s ability to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine. Without treatment, PKU can cause irreversible brain damage, anxiety, depression, and impaired functioning. Fortunately, universal newborn screening allows for early diagnosis and treatment, giving PKU individuals the opportunity for healthy outcomes. When my son was diagnosed at five days old, our family began an unexpected journey—but one that has been filled with resilience, learning, and community. I’ll share our experience navigating PKU and the exciting new treatments and research giving us hope for the future.
August 13:   WHY PUBLIC FUNDING FOR SCIENCE MATTERS
Presenter, Judith Fridovich-Keil, PhD. Professor, Department of Human Genetics
Emory University School of Medicine
At this session, we will learn how public funding enables advances in science and engineering, and how this tiny sliver of the federal budget helps to improve our lives, our health, and our children’s future.
August 20: HUMAN GENETICS 101
Presenter, Judith Fridovich-Keil (see above)
At this session, we will learn some of the basics of contemporary human genetics and how the tools of genetics are being applied to transform medicine, anthropology, forensics, and more.
11:00 AM - ZOOM
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HOBBIES II
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. Sometimes people get involved in an activity for reasons other than interest but they become an expert despite themselves. In this course we will have presentations live from America and Europe from people with various engaging and unusual hobbies.
July 16 - PETER WOOLFITT & HANNAH CHOI
Title: Puzzlehunts!
Peter Woolfitt & Hannah Choi are academics currently living in Bozeman, Montana. For them, puzzlehunts (which only rarely involve jigsaws) have been a source of deep joy, community, and nerdy fun for over a decade! Through puzzlehunts they have spent hours contemplating various subjects including constructed languages, unauthorized Crayola color names, the elevation profile of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and the exact layout of a Latvian luge track.
July 23 - CONNIE CORALLI
 Title: Meet Pizzly the Talking Dog!
“Excuse me” says my service dog by nudging me with his nose.  “Your blood sugar is low.”  For three years, I focused on turning Pizzly the Golden Retriever into a diabetic alert dog. Could he do it? Could I stand the process? Find out, and on the way learn about the exciting world of service dogs, specifically alert dogs, and the amazing things they can do. Connie Coralli is a retired nurse who lives in Dekalb County.
July 30 - PENNY & DEAN RATLIFF
PENNY RATLIFF
Title: Yes, reading is my hobby.
When I retired, I began to think about what I would like to do with my “extra” time.  Then I went through a period in which I found out that I really didn’t have much extra time, but I did find that I had more time to do things that I really liked and things that I are important to me.  I guess that my definition of a hobby is “the way that we meaningfully spend our extra time.”
So, organized reading is my hobby.  I keep lists of what I have read, what I would like to read, and what reading material we actually own.  I also MUST read a news“paper” to begin my day. 
DEAN RATLIFF
Title:  An American Civil War Buff
Dean Ratliff grew up in north Alabama amongst American Civil War battlefields and skirmish sites, hearing stories about relatives who lived before, during, and after the war.  He has visited, hiked around, and camped at many places associated with the war; collected a few books and artifacts; and read, heard, or viewed many sources about the war period.  He is fascinated by the war’s complexity and welcomes the chance to share a little about his interest and experiences.
Aug 6 - MARSHA HUNTER
Title: Madame's Early Creations
Marsha Hunter is a retired Library Media Specialist with over 25 years as an educator. After retiring from Gwinnett County Schools, she became the Archivist for Georgia Power Company in Atlanta, Georgia. She is now managing the library and archives for UFDC. Marsha raised two boys, Robbie and Chris, who have given her three perfect grandchildren, Levi, CJ and Charlie (Charlotte). She belongs to two doll clubs and has served as the Regional director for UFDC Region 9. Her collection consists of cloth Alexander, Alice in Wonderland and Madame Alexander doll clothes.
Aug 13 - 
JILL GOODRICH
Title: Fiestas de San Fermin: More than Running of the Bulls
Ever wonder why people opt in to being chased by bulls down the narrow streets of Pamplona? Many associate this small, Spanish town in the Navarre region with the famous running of the bulls, but did you know that the festival featuring the bulls is actually called Fiestas de San Fermin and the focus goes well beyond the famed livestock, featuring food, family, frolicking (in the streets), flutes (and drums), and the patron saint himself, San Fermin. Our spokesperson from abroad, Jill Wieder Goodrich, returns to SUGA to share yet another adventure she has experienced as of late while living in Spain.
Aug 20 - CRAIG BROWN
Title: The origins of team color in baseball. A look at the 19th-century game -- it was more colorful than you think.
Craig Brown is a baseball historian living in Georgia. He has been recognized by the Society for American Baseball Research for "significant contributions to the knowledge and understanding of historical baseball imagery." His presentation on team color was originally given in 2025 at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown.

​​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
 
The Current Events class will include speakers from broadcast, online and print news media; local and state government; as well as a federal agency on how we spend; and a discussion of solar energy in Georgia. There will be time for discussion, questions and answers. The schedule is evolving based on current events. ​
July 15—Timothy Ewing is an economist and analyst with the Southeast Regional Office of  the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) who will discuss the methods used to compile and report the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and other measures of inflation which are used to set interest rates, determine SSI annual cost increases, and to give us a sense of economic health. Timothy is the author of a report on amusement and theme parks and another on distilleries. 
July 22—Bill Witherspoon is a SUGA member and an accomplished educator and geologist.   
Bill has a Ph.D. in geology and taught for many years at the DeKalb County Fernbank Science Center.  He has been recognized as the Georgia Outstanding Earth Science Teacher and is the co-author of Roadside Geology of Georgia. He has given numerous talks and walks to describe our local geology.  Bill is also an accomplished communications specialist for videos and other media. His presentation will be about solar energy in Georgia which can be available to many of us.  
July 29—Doug Turnbull is the 11Alive  traffic and transportation reporter 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. Doug is an engaging speaker who can lead a lively discussion of Atlanta traffic and transportation.  
August 5—Jennifer Dorian has served since 2020 as the president and CEO of Public Broadcasting Atlanta better known as WABE. Jennifer presided during the pandemic and has helped to renovate WABE programming. Before WABE, Jennifer had several senior roles with Turner Broadcasting, Warner Media, Coca-Cola, and Pizza Hut. She moved to Atlanta when she was 12. Jennifer will describe WABE’s structure, its goals and how to survive in these challenging times without federal funding. 
August 12—Peter Hubbard is the Georgia Public Service Commissioner for District 3 which is a portion of the Atlanta metro area (although PSC members are elected statewide). Peter was elected in November 2025 for a one-year term and will be on the ballot for a full six year term in November 2026. Peter is an experienced energy expert with industry experience, including developing solar and battery resources, running energy models, market analysis, pricing, risk and is focused on consumer affordability.  He has degrees in math and physics, and international economics and environment. Peter has run three marathons, bicycled from Canada to Mexico, and enjoys kayaking and gold prospecting.  He met his wife while serving in the Peace Corps in Morocco.
August 19—Josh Marks is an environmental attorney and President of Georgians for the Okefonokee. He is the founder and managing partner of GreenMark Law, LLC that focuses on renewable energy, environmental compliance, real estate development, sustainability, and natural resource protection. Earlier in his career, he worked on similar issues at private law firms and the EPA. As President of Georgians for the Okefenokee, Josh has worked extensively and effectively over the last six years to protect the Okefenokee from proposed mining, and during the 1990s he was the leader of a successful fight against DuPont strip mining at the swamp. Josh will discuss his work to protect the Okefenokee over the last 30 years and describe the latest developments involving this national treasure. Josh attended Dartmouth College and Georgia State University Law School. 
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GROWING WISER
Margo Geller, Professional Counselor and Retirement Coach. Member, SUGA
 
Learn unique stress management tips from a high energy and passionate professional counselor and life coach. Discussion topics are related to Health, Relationships, Finances, and Fun!  Come prepared to share current challenges as well as success stories in this discussion-based class.  Together we will inspire each other to do something small that’s hard to do.  Support from others who understand is invaluable. 
11:00 AM - In-Person
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INSIDE SUGA: INTERVIEWS
Judy Plecko and Roy Sobelson, Interviewers, Members of SUGA
 
This course was first offered in Spring, 2023 and again in Winter, 2025.  We have only scratched the surface of learning about our fellow SUGA friends, so we will continue this summer with our member interviews. Senior University is a cross-section of people from different occupations and areas of the country and the world. Did you ever wonder about some of your fellow members? This is your chance to learn more about them in a structured way.  Members will be interviewed with insights gained about how they came to SUGA and what they like most about it.  If you ever watched “Inside the Actors Studio” you will especially enjoy this class.
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TRUE CRIME:  FAMOUS CASES AND FACES
Sharen Dorcon, Member, SUGA
 
An overview of true crime which includes information on: Serial Criminal Offenders, Investigators, Profilers, Investigative tools (e.g. Forensics), Unsolved Cases, Prosecutors, Attorneys, The Innocence Project, and Media influence. Some of the topics covered will include a female "crime boss," a murder investigation involving a handmade submarine, an F.B.I. agent and his unusual collaborator, a serial arsonist (a twist here), a museum robbery, a 1940's L.A. unsolved murder mystery, America's "first known serial killer," and a look at a ransom note. 

​Book Club - See our 2026 selections!

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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
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July 15
Becoming Madam Secretary
Stephanie Dray
Aug. 19
In the Shadow of the Greenbrier
Emily Matchar
Fall Term
Sept. 16
There Are Rivers in the Sky
Elif Shafak
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Nov. 4
Isola
Allegra Goodman
​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 or activity other than its educational offerings or activities approved by the Day Trip Committee or Board of Directors.
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