NCMC announces fall Luncheon Lecture lineup
PETOSKEY — North Central Michigan College’s popular Luncheon Lecture series returns this month.
The fall semester lineup includes:
Sept. 29 — Monarch Butterflies: The monarch butterfly is on the endangered species list with a shrinking habitat throughout its long 2,500-mile migratory route to Mexico and back. Lauri Juday is on a mission to protect its fragile existence. She maintains a pollinator garden in Charlevoix County that is a certified way station for butterflies, bees and various species of birds. She tags monarchs to document their travels. Juday will share her passion and offer ways others in the community can pitch in to help.
Oct. 13 — Electric vehicle: Gas stations are everywhere, but what about filling up the battery in your shiny new electric vehicle? Electric utility companies will play an essential role as they help build and support the infrastructure needed to provide electrical charging for EVs. Thomas Mann, energy programs manager for Great Lakes Energy, will explain what his company is doing to figure out some of the pieces of the puzzle that must be solved to facilitate the growth of EVs.
Oct. 20 — EV Hazard Mitigation: Modern vehicles pose all sorts of new hazards to emergency responders. Large high-voltage batteries present brand-new risks on top of existing hazards associated with air bags and other complexities that reveal themselves after a crash. Al Welsheimer, chief of the Resort-Bear Creek Fire Department, has a special responsibility to prepare his rescue personnel for the many hazards they may encounter in the course of their rescue work to save lives. He explains the new world of emergency response.
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Nov. 3 — Habitat for Humanity: The affordable housing crisis is said to be the biggest social challenge of our time. Executive director Sarah Ulrich and senior development officer Kyle Ulrich will talk about how Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity is tackling the issue of affordable home ownership head on. Their local nonprofit went from building one or two homes a year to adding 32 homes in one local subdivision and 11 more in East Jordan, Boyne City and Pellston. They will explain all of the aspects of this very complex and creative project that will benefit families for decades to come.
Nov. 17 — Weather forecast: Staff from the National Weather Service office in Gaylord will review our recent weather and offer some prognostications on what we might expect in the months ahead.
Dec. 1 — Quilts: The Little Traverse Bay Quilters Guild creates quilts to provide comfort and inspiration for many people in our community, such as quilts for children, quilts for hospice patients, placemats for Meals on Wheels and quilts to honor military sacrifice. Tresa Keys, coordinator of Quilts of Valor, will be joined by other quilters to display their work, explain their charitable mission and invite others to tell their quilting stories.
All of the programs in the Luncheon Lecture series take place at noon on Fridays in the college’s Library Conference Center on Howard Street in Petoskey. Cost is $15 and includes a buffet lunch at 11:30 a.m. To register online, go to ncmclifelonglearning.com/events. Email dcannon1@ncmich.edu to register for multiple programs or call (231) 348-6705.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: NCMC announces fall Luncheon Lecture lineup
