MONDAYS
Battles that Changed the Course of History Part I with Fred Stein
Mondays, 9:00–10:00 AM
Sun City Ballroom
In Person, On-Demand
Decisive battles are those that literally change the course of history either by destroying an empire or by creating the conditions for a major cultural change. The history and consequences of 6 significant battles from the Greeks’ defeat of Persia in 479 BC, the Muslims’ defeat in the Battle of Tours in 732 AD, through the American and French revolutions, will be explored this fall. In Part 2, Winter 2025, 6 more battles will be discussed spanning from the US Civil War to WWI, WWII, to now. As time allows, Fred will also update the class on developments in the Russia-Ukraine War.
COL (ret) Fred Stein served 27 years active-duty Army and commanded at all levels from company through brigade. He served in multiple staff positions including Senior Communications staff, J6, for Operation Support Hope in Rwanda and Operation Enduring Freedom in Bosnia. He co-authored the book “Network Centric Warfare” and has taught LLGTX courses on the Ukraine war, Revolutions in Military Affairs and Information and Disinformation.
Enduring Issues of Political Thought with Dr. John Ray
Mondays, 10:30–11:30 AM
Sun City Ballroom
In Person
Beginning with Plato and Aristotle, certain issues and questions have remained central to any study of politics: freedom vs. order; the meaning of justice, equality and equity; the justification for the state; the role of the state in society; the basis for political obligation; the individual’s relation to the state; the nature of political authority; and what kind of government is best. This course surveys the different answers that have been given to these enduring questions; questions that are still exceedingly relevant today. The goal is for participants to grasp the fundamental questions that these issues raise and gain some evaluative frameworks for considering the political issues of the day.
Dr. Ray received his PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin and taught courses in political science and philosophy at Montana Technological University in Butte for 48 years, retiring as a full professor in May 2023. He was active in environmental issue work particularly in the area of environmental justice. He has given numerous community presentations and taught free classes on politics, political theory and philosophy. His research activity focused on political theory and ethics.
TUESDAYS
NOTE: Beginning Spanish Cancelled for the Fall Term
Whose Voice Counts? A History of Voting Rights with Susan Patterson
Tuesdays 9:00-10:00 AM
First Baptist Church Room E2 209-211
In Person, On Demand
What is democracy and where did it come from? This class will start with a quick look at Greece and early attempts at self-government as well as the philosophies about the rights of man that inspired the founding fathers to set the earliest framework for voting in the United States. From there, we will delve into how, over time, this right was expanded through the women’s suffrage movement, the 20th century’s civil rights movement culminating in the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965, Native Americans’ fight for inclusion, the age restrictions removed by the 26th Amendment, and the ongoing issue of “one person-one vote.”
Susan is a retired lawyer with an English degree from Duke University, and a law degree from Stetson University College of Law. She loves reading, travel, politics, music and learning new things. As a recent transplant from North Carolina, she is trying to adjust to life in the Lone Star State, which now includes teaching classes for LLGTX.
Fascinating Potpourri I with various presenters
Tuesdays, 9:00-10:00 AM
First Baptist Church Room E2 109-111
September 24: Residential Recycling– Debbie Bruner In Person, On-Demand
Come learn about residential recycling “best practices” promoted by the City of Georgetown, Williamson County, and Texas Waste Disposal Systems. Using the award-winning Sun City Recycles as a model, Debbie will describe how individuals and communities working together can structure a recycle program that answers the question of how to properly dispose of everything from plastics and other household goods to electronic and hazardous waste.
Debbie Bruner and her husband, Terry, have lived in Sun City for 14 years and have a son and a daughter residing in Houston. Debbie has a passion for recycling and is currently president of Sun City Recycling, a program that she and two other women started in 2016. The program has been recognized by the Texas State Alliance for Recycling for its “Exceptional Recycling Partnership” and its “Excellence in Environmental Awareness in Education.”
October 1: Coaching Fundamentals: What They Are and How They Heal (Part I) – Bobby Hulme-Lippert In Person, On-Demand
For many, a coach is someone who helps teach and guide us through the early years of life – usually with regard to sports or other extracurriculars. In the past two decades, however, there has been a coaching explosion in the corporate world as well as among adults seeking to better their health, wealth, direction, or relationships. Join Leadership Coach Bobby Hulme-Lippert as he unpacks some of the history of coaching, the fundamentals and brain research behind it, and – in a society where many are exhausted, disconnected, and searching – the healing implications of it.
Dr. Bobby Hulme-Lippert is a leadership coach and keynote speaker, and he is the author of Small Stories about Big Things (2024). Prior to this work, Bobby pastored diverse congregations in Atlanta, GA, Richmond, VA, and Georgetown, TX and served in the US Army Chaplaincy.
October 8: Coaching Fundamentals: What They Are and How They Heal (Part 2)- Bobby Hulme-Lippert See Description above for October 1.
October 15: The Roaring Twenties – Gerald Faulkner In Person, On-Demand
The Roaring 20s were a period of American history of dramatic social, economic, and political change that continues to fascinate to this day. Gerald will cover these societal paradigms including the technological and cultural (stage, movies, literature) aspects of this dynamic time period. He’ll also take a look at the influence of sports and its heroes.
Gerald Faulkner has a BBA in Human Resources from City University of New York with a minor in History and has completed all courses for an MBA. He has taught numerous history courses for Lifelong Learners GTX.
October 22: How to Interact with Differently-Abled Minds – Miranda Rose In Person, On-Demand
Are you struggling to effectively connect with someone you know or love with ADHD, autism, learning differences, or perhaps all of the above combined in one mind? As a neurodivergent mother, creator, and education researcher, Miranda Rose will share her firsthand knowledge and teach you three keys to unlocking a neurodivergent individual’s passion, practical skills, and personalized social patterns. Bring an open-mind and heart in celebration of October’s ADHD Awareness Month
Miranda Rose holds a B.A. in Elementary Education, an M.A. in Education Leadership and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Education Leadership and Special Intervention Services at Wichita State University. Her passion is helping neurodivergent learners (ADHD, autistic, dyslexic, and cognitively creative thinkers) and their allies come together to learn differently.
October 29: Longleaf Legends – Early Builders of Georgetown – Liz Weaver In Person
They plied their trade in native limestone and pine from the forests of East Texas and constructed a prosperous, small town on the banks of the San Gabriel River. Who were these men who spent their lives building Georgetown’s early homes, commercial buildings, and churches? Come hear their stories and learn of their unique contributions and building styles that created most of what we know today as Old Town.
Liz Weaver is a local historian and researcher, and has been the historian for Preservation Georgetown since 2017. As a child, she became interested in genealogy and research, inheriting the love from her parents. Over the years, her focus shifted from her family’s genealogy to Georgetown’s, documenting its structures and the people who lived here before us.
Under-recognized Women of Science and Mathematics: “The Matilda Effect” with Dr. Allister McNeish
Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 AM
First Baptist Church, Room E2 209-211
In Person, On-Demand
“The Matilda Effect” is defined as the work that women have done throughout history that never reached posterity and that was attributed to their male colleagues. This course will introduce women of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) who used their special skills to investigate and develop innovations while being ignored by their mostly male colleagues and the rest of society. Worse, many had their work misappropriated by men who published it as their own. Each class will introduce several women who suffered from “The Matilda Effect” and show how their findings relate to our lives today.
Dr. McNeish holds a BS degree in Applied Physics and a PHD in Physics (Quantum Electronics) from Heriot Watt University, Scotland. He also did post-doc work in Lasers in Chemistry at the University of Newcastle, England. He worked in England and Wales before moving to the US where he was Product Developer, Isomet Corp., Springfield VA., and Engineering Fellow, BAE, Austin, TX.
Exploring Reality with Dr. Herman Matthews
Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 AM
First Baptist Church, Room E2 108-110
Max: 15, In Person
What is reality? Are there different realities? What is really real?
This class will explore these questions and how realities are created, maintained, modified and changed. These classes will explore external, Internal and personal realities. So, before the first class, think about what reality means to you. What is real in your life? What does ‘being real’ mean to you? Note — we are not judging right or wrong; we are exploring reality. This is a participatory, interactive experience and the enrollment is limited to 15 participants.
Herman Matthews has a PhD in Physics and was on the faculty at four major universities in the US. He then resigned from academia and was self-employed for 35 years. He was a consultant, produced video and designed and facilitated several hundred workshops and seminars using experiential and non-traditional learning. Herman has worked with many diverse corporations, organizations, cultures, traditions and individuals both in the US and India.
NOTE: Introduction to the Italian Language Cancelled for the Fall Term
Senior Safety: How to Reduce the Risk of Personal Tragedies
Tuesday, October 15 and Thursday, October 17
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Georgetown Public Library Hewlett Room
In Person
Seniors are not the only ones who face personal risks each day, but as we age some risks become more of a threat. We are more likely to fall for scams, more likely to fall, more likely to lose track of our medical treatments, and more likely to become victims of theft and some other crimes. Four different speakers will focus on each of these areas by addressing the most common scams, household and outdoor safety, senior advocacy and crime prevention.
This course is a collaboration between the Georgetown Public Library and Lifelong Learners GTX as a public service open to anyone, with or without membership. If you are a senior, or if you have seniors in your family, or if you have senior friends, invite them to join you.
WEDNESDAYS
A Sample of World Religions with Alan Rabe, Coordinator
Wednesdays 9:00-10 AM
The Oscar at Georgetown Theater
In Person
This course will focus on six not so well-known religions with active congregations or practitioners in the Georgetown area. Each week, a minister or representative will discuss the history of their faith, central doctrines, and the rites/rituals associated with their beliefs.
September 25: Lakota Ways and Ceremonies – Lisa and Ben Nava
October 2: Holy Cross Coptic Orthodox Church – Rev. Benjamin Abouelkheir
October 9: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Donna Allen
October 16: Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses – Speaker TBD
October 23: Baha’i Faith – Speaker TBD
October 30: Hinduism – Srikanth Sharma Kakar
The 50’s: Changing Times and Changing Tastes in Music with Vic Figurelli
Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00 AM
The Oscar at Georgetown Jon’s Sports Bar
In Person
The 1950s were a decade of significant change in the United States, both socially and culturally. The impact of these changes was reflected in the music of the time, which underwent a dramatic transformation, setting the stage for the music we know today. This course will cover some of the hit songs and their recording artists, ranging from popular ballads to rock and roll, to country, and even to novelty songs. A brief review of some of the major events of the 50s will set the stage for the music presented.
Vic has been a member of Lifelong Learners GTX since 1998. He served on the first operating Board as vice-president and facilities coordinator. He served a total of five years as president in three separate terms. He has presented numerous times for LLGTX, mostly recently “The Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals” and “Beyond the Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals.
Six Flags (or more) Over Texas: A Primer on Texas with Dr. Clark Wernecke
Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 AM
The Oscar at Georgetown Theater
In Person
For those new to Texas or those who would like a refresher, this course will be a brief rundown of the important events in Texas history from prehistory to the 20th century. The course will be divided into 6 sessions: Prehistory, Spanish Texas, Mexican Texas, Texas Independence, Civil War Texas, Post Civil War Texas.
Dr. Wernecke is the retired Project Director for the Prehistory Research Project at the University of Texas at Austin and the Gault School of Archaeological Research, a nonprofit dedicated to research and education regarding the earliest peoples in the Americas. Dr. Wernecke started his academic career with a degree in history from SMU followed by an MBA, an M.A. in Anthropology, and finally his PhD from the University of Texas. He also serves on the Board of the Texas Historical Foundation.
THURSDAYS
Worldwide Travel with Barb Larson, Coordinator
Thursdays, 9:00-10:00 AM
The Oscar at Georgetown Theater
In Person, On-Demand
September 26: Mary Ann Lish will take us to the Heart of India – the Golden Triangle, Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra. We will experience a tiger sighting in the Ranthambore National Park and Hindu pilgrim rituals in the holy Ganges. India is a unique land of vibrant colors, breathtaking landscapes and rich history.
October 3: Don Ladolcetta will share new experiences with the warm and welcoming people on the Isle of Newfoundland. He will also touch on its economics, culture, sights and history. Don’s mother, along with her 9 brothers and sisters, grew up at her father’s lighthouse there.
October 10: Les Wollam, a former professional photographer, will take us on his travels in Spain and Gibraltar as seen through his camera lens. The major cities of Madrid, Cordoba, and Granada along with more highlights are included.
October 17: Ed Padar will highlight Morocco with its historical treasures, imperial cities, cultural diversity, warm hospitality, and delicious cuisine at locations with stunning architecture. Morocco has diverse landscapes of beautiful beaches, mountains and the Saharan desert.
October 24: John Dallen, along with his wife Frances, traveled from Vancouver to Montreal, Canada by train, viewing the beautiful Canadian Rockies, the prairie provinces, the forests and lakes of Ontario and several of Canada’s attractive cities. John will describe the pleasures and pitfalls of traveling across the continent Via Rail Canada.
October 31: Andy Goerdel will share the beauty of, contrasts between, and surprises in store in Thailand, Laos, and Singapore. This is Part 2 of the Southeast Asia travels Andy and Michelle took last year.
Religion in the 21st Century with Rev. Lou Snead
Thursdays, 9:00-10:00 AM
The Oscar at Georgetown Jon’s Sports Bar
In Person, On-Demand
Religion has long shaped world history in profound ways, both for good and ill. Since the Enlightenment era, however, many of the major religions of the world have been challenged by the rise of science and rationalism and have struggled to maintain their cultural authority and influence. This course will explore the meaning and value of religion beginning with the Axial Age when many of the world’s great religions emerged and moved up to the 21st century when many of the traditional religious worldviews and norms have lost their cultural dominance.
Rev. Lou Snead is a retired Presbyterian minister who studied religion in a Master’s degree program at Florida State University before receiving a Master’s of Divinity degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School. He served four urban congregations- one in Virginia and three in Texas during his forty years in ministry. His own spiritual journey began with conservative Christianity and has progressed through a philosophy of religion leading him to appreciate the challenges that many forms of organized religion face in the world today.
Haydn and Beethoven–Teacher, Student. . . Competitors? with Dr. Barry Williamson
Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 AM
The Oscar at Georgetown Theater
In Person, On-Demand
This course will investigate the similarities and differences between these two great composers, including their oft-discussed teacher/student relationship and the divergence of their composition/performance careers and personal lives after that point.
Dr Barry Scott Williamson has a long and revered international career of conducting and teaching. He made his conducting debut at the European Music Festival in Stuttgart, where he finished as one of three finalists out of 63 conductors. Having led 5 international performance tours, Dr Williamson made his Carnegie Hall conducting debut in 2018. He has led the annual Texas Bach Festival since it started in 2017.
Creative Nonfiction–Magic for Your Writing with Dr. Patricia Baldwin
Thursdays, 10:30-12:00
The Oscar at Georgetown
In Person/Zoom Combo
You want to write. Join this hands-on class and learn how to tell your story in a blog, podcast, memoir, family history, travelogue, social media or other nonfiction venue. This class will meet in person for the first, third and sixth sessions; the second, fourth and fifth will be on Zoom. All classes will be interactive. You will hone your communication skills and improve your writing with just a few simple steps. After all, you want to get your ideas in print and read. So, remember: it’s not what you say; it’s how you say it.
Patricia Baldwin is a longtime writer, editor and educator who loves storytelling. She has experience at business journals, daily newspapers, consumer magazines. Recently, she taught writing workshops at Houston-based Writespace. She earned a PhD in higher education and journalism from the University of North Texas. She also holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. She has taught mass communication at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and Texas State University.
Introduction to the 
Italian Language Session Two with Mike Damelio
Thursdays, 10:30-12
First Baptist Church Room E2 205
Limit–20
(This course meets twice a week. Register for the Tuesday class and plan to attend both that one and this one.)
FRIDAYS
Fascinating Potpourri II
Fridays, 9:00-10:00 AM
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church
September 27: History of the Texas Rangers – presented by a representative from the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum, Waco, TX. In Person
October 4: Preserving Nature: Pecan Springs Karst Preserve – Carolyn Stephens In-person
Learn about Hill Country Conservancy’s (HCC) efforts to protect land and water at the new Pecan Springs Karst Preserve. Located near Jarrell, this 1,205-acre preserve features environmentally sensitive land donated to HCC. With rapid growth in Williamson County, the preserve lies in an area expecting 24,000 new homes in the next decade. Learn how HCC is restoring this land and making it accessible to the public.
Carolyn grew up riding horses in the Hill Country, fostering her love for the outdoors. As the Outreach & Engagement Manager for Hill Country Conservancy, she builds community partnerships to raise awareness of environmental pressures and engage in conservation efforts.
October 11: There’s No Business Like Show Business – Ren Weedon In Person, On-Demand
Ren will tell the “inside story” of some of the best loved movies and long-running television shows of the 60’s and 70’s. Join him as he recaps his career as a studio grip for 20th Century Fox and his interaction with some of the biggest stars of the day including Barbra Streisand, Jason Robards, Jane Mansfield, Charlton Heston, Robert Goulet, and James Earl Jones. Participants will be encouraged to interact and ask questions.
Ren Weedon, a former Navy Seal, worked for 20th Century Fox Studios for 5 years as a studio grip after leaving the Navy. During his time with Fox, he worked on developing camera mounts for cars used in the movies and TV and when the studio closed in 1970, his work with them led him to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering.
October 18: What To Know (About Donation) Before You Go – S. Lemuel Bradshaw In Person, On-Demand
This presentation provides information on organ, eye, and tissue donation and the Donate Life Texas Registry. It will show how the decisions of registered donors and donor families can help to save and heal 75 or more recipients. It will address the most common myths concerning donation and provide instruction on how the audience might make their own legally binding donor designation.
Lemuel Bradshaw is a 2-time heart recipient, whose career began as a volunteer for Donate Life Texas, in 1999. The decisions of two families of heroes have allowed him to raise three daughters, attend the University of Texas, and welcome 10 grandchildren. Now, as the Director of Communications for United Tissue Resources, he works to give others the second chance that he was given.
October 25: How a Fish Changed the World – Ron Snell In Person, On-Demand
The humble cod enabled global exploration, slavery, and vast riches. It impacted geopolitics and then, due to human carelessness, it nearly went extinct.
Ron Snell has neither relevant education nor experience in this topic. He does, however, have a curiosity that takes him deeply into subjects that catch his attention, and this is one of those. He has previously presented for Lifelong Learners GTX about leaf cutter ants, European eels, and the history of musical instruments.
November 1: Bigger Than Baseball: Discovering the Real Magic of the Minor Leagues – Tim Jackson In Person, On-Demand
As America’s pastime, professional baseball has been a fixture in communities across the country for over a century, but few understand what truly makes Minor League Baseball unique.
Tim Jackson serves as the General Manager for the Round Rock Express Baseball Club, Triple-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Entering his 15th season, Jackson oversees all of the day-to-day business and baseball operations of the team and works closely with the Team President on all Express sales efforts.
Pride and Prejudice and the Pill with Dr. Guy Guidici
Fridays 10:30-11:30 a.m.
San Gabriel Presbyterian Church
In Person, On-Demand
Elaborating on his hour-long summer lecture, Guy will continue to explore the cultural phenomenon of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice by examining questions such as “Why does this Jane Austen 1813 novel still matter so much today?” and “Why the many adaptations, endless pages of fan fiction, and legions of devoted ‘Janeites’?”
Dr. Guy Guidici has taught literature in cross-disciplinary programs, in dreaded “sophomore lit” classrooms, and in casual conversations with people willing to stand still for a while. He also enjoys teaching a series of adult electives at First Presbyterian Church in Georgetown on historical topics ranging from the Christian Call to Hospitality to Living Through the Reformation. He manages to work Hamlet into nearly every course and conversation.
Landscaping and Gardening with Limited Water with Martin Byhower
Friday, October 18, 1:30 – 4:30 PM
Sun City Activities Center, Rooms 1 & 2
Maximum 25
In Person
NOTE: This class and the one on October 25 cover the same material. Join Martin as he discusses landscaping techniques and plants that can survive and thrive despite sustained heat and drought, periodic freezes and ice storms, deer depredation, and HOA regulations and watering restrictions. Participants also will learn how to achieve beautiful, pollinator-friendly xeriscaping using groundcover alternatives to turf, drip irrigation with more mulch, less rock, and hardy native and adapted plants. The first hour will be a classroom discussion/demonstration with slides and hand-outs followed by a tour of the Native Plant Garden located on the side of the Activities Center and a visit to Martin’s backyard for further plant and landscaping options and discussion.
Martin Byhower is a Texas Master Naturalist and the owner of “It’s Your Nature”, a native plant landscape design and sales business. He has given numerous courses and workshops on landscaping and wildlife for LLGTX and the City of Georgetown and his own backyard garden will be featured on an October episode of Central Texas Gardener on Austin’s PBS station. He is also a professional birding guide and an award-winning lifelong science educator with degrees in biology, geology and teaching.
Landscaping and Gardening with Limited Water with Martin Byhower
Friday, October 25, 1:30 – 4:30 PM
Sun City Activities Center, Rooms 1 & 2
Maximum 25
In Person
NOTE: This class and the one on October 18 cover the same material. Join Martin as he discusses landscaping techniques and plants that can survive and thrive despite sustained heat and drought, periodic freezes and ice storms, deer depredation, and HOA regulations and watering restrictions. Participants also will learn how to achieve beautiful, pollinator-friendly xeriscaping using groundcover alternatives to turf, drip irrigation with more mulch, less rock, and hardy native and adapted plants. The first hour will be a classroom discussion/demonstration with slides and hand-outs followed by a tour of the Native Plant Garden located on the side of the Activities Center and a visit to Martin’s backyard for further plant and landscaping options and discussion.
Martin Byhower is a Texas Master Naturalist and the owner of “It’s Your Nature”, a native plant landscape design and sales business. He has given numerous courses and workshops on landscaping and wildlife for LLGTX and the City of Georgetown and his own backyard garden will be featured on an October episode of Central Texas Gardener on Austin’s PBS station. He is also a professional birding guide and an award-winning lifelong science educator with degrees in biology, geology and teaching.