Basic genealogical research principles will be described. Genealogical rules will be presented, and help will be provided to know what to believe and what deserves skepticism. The principles and methods for genealogical research with DNA will also be discussed by the instructor. If you are serious about genealogy, you must have your DNA sequenced. The rules have recently changed—you must have your DNA sequenced at Ancestry (they no longer allow DNA sequence uploads from other vendors). This is a workshop—identify problems in your ancestry to work on. Bring a basic (paper) pedigree—4 to 6 generations with as much data as possible on birth, death, and marriages.

Instructor: Dick Tolman (Class size limited to 12 students)

R. L. Tolman is a twice-retired medicinal scientist (Ph.D., University of Utah in bio-organic chemistry--specialty DNA) with a consuming interest in history and genealogy; an experienced teacher, lecturer, and writer (120 refereed scientific publications). He won the National Genealogical Society’s Best Family History Competition in 2006 and has published articles in The Register (New England Historic Genealogical Society), Crossroads (Utah Genealogical Society) and Nevada in the West (Nevada Historical Society). He has been a volunteer at the Nevada Historical Society, a Family History instructor at Truckee Meadows Community College/Reno and at the Anacortes (WA) Senior College. He maintains the website www.29deadpeople.com, a site for sourced genealogical essays. He is a pro bono genealogical researcher and prefers to work on impossible problems and those that have been published in error.

This course is an innovative series of 10 theme-based sessions providing participants the opportunity to discover and connect with their own understanding of personal peace. It is non-political and non-religious.

At some point in human history people began to realize that there is a level of consciousness beyond the thinking necessary for day-to-day survival. Think of those famous words ascribed to the Greek philosopher Socrates, “Know thyself.” The same phrase was also said to be written in stone at the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. Some historians believe those words were adopted by the Greeks from the Ancient Egyptians. The inner temple at Luxor was reputed to have an inscription saying, “Man, know thyself, and you are going to know the gods.” The point is that the phrase is not “know your history,” “know your culture,” or “know your society.” It is precisely: “know yourself.”

Rather than teaching what each theme is, the instructors act as facilitators so that participants can come to their own understanding. Each class session consists of a combination of video excerpts from best-selling author and peace educator Prem Rawat’s international talks, along with facilitated time for individual reflection and group discussion. Topics covered include inner strength, self-awareness, dignity, clarity, and others, with the goal of learning about one’s self. The program has been well received in universities, senior centers, and various adult education settings. It is offered in over 80 countries and in 40 languages around the world.

Informative Links: Peace Education Program Course Content Preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gJk4-njcbY

Peace Education Program at Technical University of Denmark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzOaXJqZUrg&t=11s

Course Content is Research-Based:

https://tprf.org/peace-education-program/studies-endorsements/

Instructor: Bev Johnson

Bev is a life-long educator with 30+ years of experience in public schools as a teacher and school psychologist. She holds a master’s degree (M.Ed.) in education from Eastern Washington University and an education specialist degree (Ed.S.) in school psychology from Seattle University. Currently retired, Bev enjoys giving back by volunteering with the Anacortes Schools Foundation and The Prem Rawat Foundation. She is excited about offering Peace 101: Know Yourself, a course she believes can benefit everyone. Bev resides in Anacortes with her husband, Richard and their beloved tabby.

Instructor: Becky Resnick

Becky finished her master’s degree in social work from the University of Washington in 2002 and has been working primarily in geriatrics and palliative/hospice care. She has been a volunteer with The Prem Rawat Foundation, facilitating this course around the Seattle area and during her time living in Rwanda between 2018-2020. When not working she enjoys traveling with her dog Billie in their 1986 VW camper van.

This course will cover the very basics of chemistry necessary to appreciate the nature of atoms and molecules in the world. We will begin with a review of the elements and their behavior, what makes an atom react with other atoms to form molecules and what is a salt and how do they behave. We will move on to simple molecules like water and explain its unique properties such as its ability to dissolve so many salts and yet it does not dissolve fats. Solution chemistry, chemical reactions, energy of chemical reactions and nuclear reactions, the importance of pH, and a variety of chemical topics suggested by the students in the class will be the topics of discussion.

Answers to the following questions will be explained… why does ice float?, why do fireworks produce different colors?, why are sunrises and sunsets so colorful?, why do salts form?, how does rust happen?, why does salt on the road prevent freezing in the winter?, how can we produce more product in a chemical reaction?, how do buffer systems work in carbonated sodas or other foods? In our bodies?, what is an antioxidant?, how does soap work?

With just enough chemistry you will be able to understand so much more of what we experience daily from a chemical perspective in a fun way!

Instructor: Michaela Bertch

Michaela received her B.A. in Chemistry from Goucher College and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a thesis in Biophysics from the University of Connecticut Health Center. She has taught Chemistry and Biochemistry at the college level and Chemistry, AP Chemistry Algebra and Physics at the high school level. Her passion is to teach in a way that helps students master information while enjoying the experience. Teaching at Anacortes Senior College is an opportunity to continue to help others understand a challenging subject which helps to explain the world around us.

The primary purpose of this course is to provide a scientific understanding of today’s changing climate, its consequences and the need to mitigate and adapt to the Earth’s rapidly warming climate. To put the current climate change into context I will begin by covering the history of Earth’s climate changes, which has been influenced by a variety of factors, including the Sun’s radiation, the geographic position of continents, mountain ranges, atmospheric and ocean chemistry and flow, the biosphere, and the Earth’s variable orbital parameters.

This 6-lecture course will contain the following lectures:

• L1 will cover the big picture of the history of Earth’s climate change, since the formation of the Earth four and a half billion years ago. During this history, Earth has experienced periods of fluctuating climates alternating between “ice” ages and “hot” periods.
• L2 will cover climate change during the current ice age: from 3 million years ago until the present. During this ice age, there have been periods of enhanced glaciations separated by shorter, milder interglacial periods, which is our current climate.
• L3 will provide an understanding of the Earth’s climate today and the causes of its natural fluctuations.
• L4 will cover the current on-going, global warming climate caused principally by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases.
• L5 will cover the range of climate change anticipated during the 21st century and Its consequences for humans and the biosphere.
• The final lecture will include the recommendations by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for mitigating and adapting to global warming, and our moral imperative to ensure that future generations inherit from us a sustainable and peaceful planet.

Instructor: Barrie Hughlock PhD

I love science, and have studied science throughout my life, and continue to do so. I have taken many courses in science outside of my major, which is physics. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley and received my doctorate at Brown University. Regarding my education relevant to this course, I have been following the issue of climate change for decades and have read countless articles and books on the subject, most importantly the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports. I have also taken a course at UW, entitled “Climate and Climate Change”. I believe that I have acquired the knowledge necessary to provide a good introductory course, representing the current state of knowledge.