SPEAKERS FOR THE 2023-2024 SEASON

October 18, 2023 Dianna Stampfler, Author

"Made in the Michigan Mitten"

Dianna Stampfler is the founder of Promote Michigan, an outlet to support all things about the Great Lake State. She also is a freelance writer and author; her first book, “Michigan’s Haunted Lighthouses” was published in 2019. She has also found a role in promoting the culinary and agricultural tourism market. Michigan is the 2nd most agriculturally diverse state in the country and home to many food manufacturers. This program will introduce the wide variety of foods associated with the state and you will go home knowing Michigan is a feast waiting to be devoured.

November 15, 2023 Allen Pietrobon, Historian

"The Great American Roadtrip"

Dr. Allen Pietrobon is an Assistant Professor of Global Affairs at Trinity Washington University. He specializes in modern American history and foreign policy. Allan believes that nothing is so typically American than the road trip, from settlement of the west by covered wagon to the modern cross country road trip by car. Join us in November as Allen explores the nature and impact of American road tripping from the 1800’s to the present day. This lecture will spur fond memories of your summer travels.

Six Decades of Speakers

1964-1974

1974-1984

March 20, 2024 David Helfand,

Critical Thinker

"Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age"

Dr. David Helfand has been at Columbia University for 45 years as a Professor in Physics and Astronomy. He is considered one of the best critical thinker’s in the country. He developed a course aimed at teaching science to non-science majors. His book, “A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age” was published in 2016 and provides essential tools that every person should use to analyze information. In this day and age, people need a rational approach to personal decision making to weed out the mis- and dis-information.

1984-1994

1994-2004

2004-2014

April 17, 2024 Lori Borgman, Columnist

"I Was a Better Mother Before I had Kids"

Lori Borgman is a national distributed columnist and author of 4 books. You can find her nationally circulated family life columns in more than 400 media outlets each week. She touches on relatable, common subjects like parenting, family and culture. Her style contains humorous observations and thoughtful insights on life. It is like have coffee with a good friend and in April we will end the season smiling.