109 Building the Oglebay Foundation: The Journey
from Experimental Farm to Model Municipal Park
Presenter: Eriks Janelsins
Thursday, April 10, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Description: Explore the unique circumstances and
extraordinary leadership by Wheeling citizens in the creation of
the Wheeling Park Commission. Learn more about the legacy
and vision of Colonel Earl W. Oglebay. Discover how parks
provide solutions to some of our society’s biggest challenges
and the impact Oglebay and Wheeling Park have on the
people, landscapes, and economy of the Ohio Valley.
Presenter’s background: Eriks Janelsins is the President &
CEO of the Oglebay Foundation. For the past 12 years, he has
had the privilege of hiking, swimming, learning, playing, and
working in one of the world’s best city parks.
110 9/11 Contextualized
Presenter: Michael J. Strada, Ph.D.
Thursday, April 10, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Description: In this class, George W. Bush’s official 9/11
interview (50 minutes) National Geographic (2012) will be
played uninterrupted; then, questions will be entertained
about Strada’s take on 9/11. Passages will be distributed from
Strada’s book: Foxymoron.
Presenter’s background: Michael J. Strada graduated with
a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York in
1967. He went on to obtain his master’s from Pennsylvania
State University in 1969 and his Ph.D. from WVU in 1977.
Professor Emeritus Strada taught Political Science at WLU
from 1969 until his retirement in 2009.
111 Securing Your Key Information in Cybersecurity
Presenter: Jim Clark
Thursday, April 17, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Description: At home, at work, and at school, our growing
dependence on technology demands greater security online.
For this reason, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility,
requiring awareness and vigilance from every citizen,
community, and country. The news gives all of us pause as we
review millions of shoppers whose account information was
compromised by a recent well publicized incident. The Stop.
Think.Connect campaign we use in the course emphasizes the
fundamental best practices as we interface our key data into
transaction systems using smartphones, tablets, laptops and
public computers. All participants will receive a DVD containing
lots of resources and practical tips to keep our personal key
information secure from hackers.
Presenter’s background: Jim Clark, Chief Technology Officer
at WLU, has taught college level courses on system analysis
and recent cloud computing apps as an Adjunct Professor. He
has adapted and developed a higher education model of the
“lights out” data center. Jim is an alumnus of WLU.
112 Washington DC - A Tour of its Monuments, Museums
and the City
Presenter: Jerry Vinci
Thursday, April 24, 10-11:30 a.m.
Description: This course will discuss the growth of Washington
from swamplands into a bustling city which showcases our
country’s history. What can we learn when we tour our nation’s
capital? The creation of this city, its buildings, outstanding
museums and memorials all have their own stories to tell. We
will discuss the building of several prominent memorials and
the controversies and/or myths which surrounded them, some
still today. Feel the heartbeat of America, and reflect on our
heritage, as we walk together from the Capitol to Arlington.
Presenter’s background: Jerry Vinci is a retired educator
with over 35 years experience as a history teacher and school
administrator. He earned his undergraduate degree at Ohio
University with a major in American History and his M.A. from
WVU. Since his retirement, he has worked as a guide for
student tours to Washington DC and has traveled to the city
over 50 times in his career.
113 How Can I Run for Local Political Office
Presenter: John Bonassi
Thursday, April 24, 1:30-3 p.m.
Description: John Bonassi has a 360 degree understanding
of government and politics. His experience spans from town
halls to the halls of congress. John has been involved in
dozens of political campaigns and will talk about key elements
of a successful campaign starting with character, credentials
and party allegiance. Topics of discussion will include: how
do I gather my campaign team; how do I register to run; how
do I fundraise and how do I deal with the media?
Presenter’s background: John Bonassi is the former Chief
of Staff (Western Pennsylvania Region) for the late U.S.
Senator John Heinz. John served as the President of Council
and Mayor of Green Tree Borough, a Pittsburgh suburb. He
was the Director of Government Affairs for several steel and
coal companies and Vice President of Government Relations
and Public Affairs for several companies in the architecture,
engineering and construction industry. Presently, he is Senior
Consultant, Entrepreneur and Adjunct Professor in the Gary
E. West College of Business at WLU.
114 The Bones of a Story: Finding and Telling Your
Family Story
Presenter: Judi Tarowsky
Wednesday, April 30, 1:30-3 p.m.
Description: Every family has a story: its origins, its
members, its history. But if there is little information to go on,
how do you track down that story? How do you verify family
tales? And why is this information important? Who benefits
from these stories? Storyteller Judi Tarowsky will discuss and
demonstrate the tools that are available to anyone who wants
to research family stories, as well as what this information can
mean to all generations. Then, once you have this information,
how do you share it? Tarowsky will also share an original
story that was developed from personal family histories, and a
children’s story that is a family story shared by many families,
across generations, in one local community.
Presenter’s background: Judi Tarowsky holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in journalism from West Virginia University
and a Graduate Certificate in Storytelling from the School of
Library Sciences of the University of North Texas. She is vice
president of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild and a member
of the Ohio Organization for the Preservation of Storytelling.
115 Investing 101
Presenter: Russell Dunkin
Wednesday, May 7, 1:30-3 p.m.
Description: This course will explore the fundamental basis
for making investments in today’s environment. Students will
learn what matters, and what to ignore, and will understand
if they should invest on their own or work with an advisor.
Presenter’s background: Russell Dunkin is a Certified
Financial Planner at Fort Henry Capital in Wheeling. He is
a graduate of Capital University with a BA in Economics.
Russell resides in Wheeling with his wife and daughter, and
is an avid runner.
116 Preparing for Retirement
Presenter: Daniel Young
Thursday, May 8, 10-11:30 a.m.
Description: This presentation will address two important
issues when considering retirement: Social Security and
health care. This class will discuss how Social Security
fits into your retirement plan, when you should start taking
benefits and tax considerations. Health care costs must
be considered when planning for retirement. Learn how
you can prepare for these costs to help ensure that your
retirement savings stay healthy.
Presenter’s background: Daniel Young is a financial
advisor at Edward Jones in Wheeling. He received a
bachelor’s degree in finance from Virginia Tech. Daniel is
an active member of the community serving on the board of
directors of the United Way of the Upper Ohio Valley. He is
a member of the Rotary Club of Wheeling, Wheeling Area
Chamber of Commerce and Marshall County Chamber of
Commerce.
117 The Good, The Bad & The Ugly - Aging
Presenter: Ann Koegler
Thursday, May 8, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Description: Everyone is aging – we begin at birth - but we
pay more attention to the effects on the flip side of middle
age. There are bonuses to becoming an aging adult, there
are changes we can expect, and there are problems we
hope don’t happen. What are the ‘goods, the bads and the
uglies’ of aging?
Presenter’s background: Ann Koegler earned her
undergraduate degree from West Liberty State College,
her master’s degree from West Virginia University, and her
Practitioner’s Certificate in Gerontology from West Virginia
University. Ann is a licensed social worker in WV and is
the Coordinator with Altenheim Resource and Referral
Services in Wheeling.
Community
University
For Life Long Learning
Spring 2014
Questions?
or contact
Please contact Jeff Knierim,
Dr. Tom Michaud,
Vice President for
Dean of the School
Community Engagement,
of Professional Studies,
at 304.336.8301, e-mail:
at 304.217.2800 Ext. #2,
jknierim@westliberty.edu e-mail: tmichaud@westliberty.edu
Community University at West Liberty
WLU Highlands Center
(entrance is located across from the Marquee Cinemas)
355 Wharton Circle, Suite 200
Triadelphia, WV 26059
westliberty.edu/community-university
Shown here: Amelia Jeffers, president of the
internationally known auction house, Garth’s,
presents a class to an overflow crowd.
Please clip and return registration form along with a $25 check (payable to West Liberty University) to:
West Liberty University
208 University Drive
College Union Box 109
West Liberty, WV 26074
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101
Circle the number/s below that correspond to the number of the courses or lectures that you wish to attend.
Telephone
City
Address
Name
E-mail
State
Community University at West Liberty •Spring Term 2014 Registration Form
Zip Code
116
117
Community
University
This spring, enroll in the Community University at West
Liberty and take part in a “community” of like-minded older
adults interested in the sheer joy of learning. The Community
University is an organization with volunteer presenters.
Courses are shaped by presenters’ and learners’ interests
and include topics from arts and literature, music, travel,
sciences and technology, history, recreation, sports, health,
finance, business and commerce, current events – and
other suggested topics. You are encouraged to register
for courses that are taught in a series of sessions, even
though you may not be able to attend them all. Classes are
conveniently scheduled during the day at the WLU Highlands
Center. There are no entrance requirements, grades or tests.
Your love of learning is what counts!
It’s easy to sign up! Fill out the registration form and
return it with your tuition of $25, entitling you to enroll in as
many courses as you wish during the spring term.
Available Courses:
101
Movies with Art
Presenter: Art Barbeau, Ph.D.
Eight (8) sessions: Wednesday, March 19, 26, April 2, 9,
16, 23, 30, and May 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Description: Movies about children. They’re cute; they’re
lovable. They can be a pain. Here’s a chance for you to relive
your childhood by looking at the world through the eyes of a
child.
Presenter’s background: Art Barbeau is a Professor
Emeritus at West Liberty University. He taught history and
anthropology for 43 years. This is the fourth film course that
Art has presented at the Community University
102 Military Aircraft
Presenter: Jon W. Letzkus
Two (2) sessions: Monday, March 24, 10-11:30 a.m. and
Wednesday, March 26, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Description: View the largest aircraft collection in the world
as we get a private showing of aircraft at the National Museum
of the Air Force at Wright-Patterson AFB. Also, an impressive
view of active military aircraft demonstrating the capabilities
of the U.S. Air Force’s aerial might. Photos taken by the
presenter during his visits to military installations.
Presenter’s background: Jon W. Letzkus is a graduate
of Wheeling College. He retired as chairman of the board
of Ohio State Financial Services, Inc. and as president of
Bridgeport Savings and Loan Association.
103 Wow! Who Lived There: A Virtual Tour of Some of
Wheeling’s Most Notable Homes
Presenters: Jeanne Finstein, Ed.D. and Judi Hendrickson
Thursday, March 27, 10-11:30 a.m.
Description: Wheeling abounds with beautiful houses,
dating from 1798 Shepherd Hall to substantial Civil-war era
and Victorian mansions in North, Centre, South and East
Wheeling and Wheeling Island to more “modern” houses “Out
the Pike” and in outlying areas. Many were owned by people
with interesting stories to tell. This presentation will share
some of those stories, helping us to appreciate the homes
that still stand and remember those that are now just part of
our past history.
Presenters’ background: Jeanne Finstein and Judi
Hendrickson have studied Wheeling’s history for many years,
writing a book entitled “Walking Pleasant Valley” and making
numerous presentations on Wheeling’s history and the people
who were a large part of it. They are both members of the
Friends of Wheeling and other local history organizations.
104 A Baseball Perspective
Presenter: Bo McConnaughy
Four (4) sessions: Tuesday, April 1, 8, 15 and 22, 10-11:30
a.m.
Description: Veteran baseball coach, Bo McConnaughy, will
share his experiences in a sport that he has dedicated his life
to. Learn about the rich tradition of West Liberty University
baseball where he was a player during his college years and
coach for 30 years. Bo will also discuss his career as a player
in the minor leagues and in the semi-pro leagues of the Ohio
Valley as well as his involvement as co-founder of the largest
baseball tournament of its kind, The Beast of the East. You
will also learn how to watch a game from a player’s and fan’s
perspective as well as a discussion of the strategy of baseball:
signs from coaches, pitch location, cut offs, relays and more.
Presenter’s background: Except for the years that he was
playing pro ball, Bo McConnaughy has been associated with
West Liberty athletics in some fashion since he arrived on the
WLU campus in the fall of 1966 as a college freshman. He
was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 1970 and spent four
years in pro ball before returning to the Ohio Valley. During his
tenure as head baseball coach at WLU, his teams won seven
WVIAC Northern Division titles and five league titles.
105 The World of Wine
Presenter: Aron Massey
Four (4) sessions: Wednesday, April 2, 9, 16 and 23, 1:303 p.m.
Description: This is the third offering of “The World of Wine”
at the Community University. This course introduces the topic
of wine through a geographic perspective. Examine what wine
is, how grapes are grown, winemaking techniques and grape
growing regions across the globe. New regions and wines will
be covered during these sessions. If attendees want to take
part in optional wine tasting during each presentation,
they will need to bring a wine glass and pay a small fee of
$5 per week to offset the cost of the wine.
Presenter’s background: Aron Massey is a geography
professor at West Liberty University. He has taught several
college level courses on wine at Kent State University. Aron
has worked professionally at a winery and continues as a
consultant for multiple aspects of the wine industry.
106 PowerPoint for Dummies
Presenter: Earl Nicodemus
Thursday, April 3, 10-11:30 a.m.
Description: Quit being boring and start being amazing!
This class is for anyone who wants to improve his or her
effectiveness in working with groups of people. If you are
involved with church, Sunday school, youth camps, civic
organizations, radio or television, or any other activities
which require you to communicate face to face with groups
of people, then this workshop is for you. Learn how to clearly
define and refine your message and how to effectively create
a visually powerful PowerPoint presentation. Learn how to
set up and connect a data projector and get some tips on
effectively using PowerPoint during your presentations.
Presenter’s background: Earl Nicodemus served for
ten years as the Chair of the Department of Professional
Education at West Liberty University and has more than
40 years of higher education experience in the field
of instructional technology. He has made numerous
presentations at professional conferences, has served
as the President of the West Virginia Educational Media
Association, and is a recipient of the Edgar Dale Award
from the Association of Educational Communications and
technology.
107 Adventures in Transportation, Part 2
Presenter: Dale Rothert
Thursday, April 3, 1:30-3:00 p.m.
Description: A continuation of a course offered last fall by
Dale Rothert who shows photographs of a variety of unusual
transportation happenings. You will see how transportation
has evolved from its beginning up to the present. Then look
at where a President stopped in our area for breakfast on
the way to Washington. Next, how coal gets removed from
the ground for transportation elsewhere is explored. A rare
view of a top secret spy plane, how the prisoners of war got
home from North Vietnam, and much more.
Presenter’s background: Dale Rothert came to the
Wheeling area in 1967 to start news-talk format in radio
broadcasting. He worked in local radio for 18 years. Dale
served as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner and holds
Advanced flight and ground instructor certificates. He taught
ground school at several local colleges and schools in their
adult education programs.
108 Addiction: The Basics, Current Issues, Treatment
Presenter: Patrick Condron, MSc.
Four (4) sessions: Monday, April 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1:303:00 p.m.
Description: This 4-session course will cover topics such
as how drugs work (“uppers, downers, and all-arounders”!),
the genetic and environmental factors which may contribute
to chemical dependence, and emerging drugs of abuse
(“Bath Salts”, “Krokodil” etc.). Current issues such as
legalization and decriminalization, harm reduction ( e.g.
needle exchange programs), and treatment issues will also
be addressed.
Presenter’s background: Pat Condron is executive
director of Lazarus House Inc. in Wheeling, which provides
residential care for men and women who are transitioning
from addiction to wellness and independence. He received
a Master’s degree in Addiction Science from King’s College,
London, and Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a
certified addiction counselor and specialist, and has worked
in the area for several years.