RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS
What Civil War Are We Talking About? Southern Honor and the Myth of the Lost Cause
Thursday, March 30
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Cheezem Education Center
In the aftermath of a brutal Civil War, many southerners justified their sacrifice by creating a romanticized version of the War. Prominent people like South Carolina’s Wade Hampton and LaSalle Corbell Pickett, widow of the famed Confederate General, promoted a version of the War that justified the South’s secession, casting doubt on the real causes of the conflict. This presentation explores this 19th century manifestation of “fake news” and its lasting consequences on the national memory and understanding of the Civil War.
Ron Roth is former director and CEO of the Reading Public Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania, and director of the Nebraska Museum of Art of the University of Nebraska. He has curated or co-curated numerous exhibitions from the Patriotic Paintings of N.C. Wyeth to a major exhibition with international glass artist Dale Chihuly. As an independent curator and consultant, he researched and wrote the script for the permanent exhibition area of the Central Pennsylvania African American Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania, and its exhibit on the Underground Railroad in central Pennsylvania. Roth’s recently published book, The Civil War in the South Carolina: How a Confederate Artillery Battery and a Black union Regiment Defined the War, received outstanding critical praise.
This Program is sponsored by South Carolina Humanities. The mission of South Carolina Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. This not-for-profit organization presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-base experiences that reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state.
Programs are free and open to all.
Registration is suggested; click here to register.
OLLI Gardening Group
Wednesday, April 5
3:00 p.m.
Cheezem Education Center
Share ideas, learn from others about gardening techniques, soil, plants, design and more - broaden your knowledge and find support from other gardeners who have similar challenges with their Upstate landscape. The group also enjoys speakers on various gardening topics and occasional field trips. Open to current OLLI Members only.
April 5: Kite Hill Brewery – go behind the scenes to see how beer is made at our local brewery…maybe even sample a few.
For more information and future topics, contact the facilitator, Susan Creamer, at smcreamer@gmail.com.
OLLI Book Club
Friday, April 7
10:00 a.m.
Cheezem Education Center
Our books are selected by group vote and selections include fiction and nonfiction, contemporary and classic. Discussion is informal and participation is encouraged. Open to current OLLI Members only.
April 7: Vanderbilt, The Rise and Fall of an American Empire by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe
For more information, contact the facilitator, Maureen Williamson, at williamsonmj@att.net.
Tech Talks
Friday, April 14
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Cheezem Education Center
Do you need technical help? Someone to answer your questions about your phone, laptop, or other handheld devices? Well, we are here to help! Clemson OLLI has partnered with the Pickens County Library System to provide basic troubleshooting assistance for phones, tablets, laptops, and e-readers. Held at the Cheezem Education Center on Friday, April 14, appointments will be held every 15 minutes, where a librarian will give you personal help and answer your questions.
Appointments are limited and required; no drop in appointments available. Please call 864-633-5242 to reserve your seat.
Trivia Night
Thursday, April 20
4:30 p.m.
Cheezem Education Center
Join us at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16 at the Cheezem Education Center for history, science, and literature trivia. OLLI Member and Clemson Professor Emeritus of English Skip Eisiminger will host two sets of 20 questions each with a different winner announced for each set.
OLLI’s “Trivia Night” is not a Jeopardy clone; it involves no buzzers, no clocks, no pressure to perform or speak in public. Once the moderator asks a question, contestants have all the time they need to write down their answer. There are two warm-up rounds before the “money” rounds to help everyone feel comfortable. Participation costs $2 per person and all fees are added to a prize pot. The winners of the two sets of questions receive the prize pot from the night. All money collected from the night is split between the two winners! Don't miss out on this OLLI Member-only night of trivia and friendly competition!
We Love Our Members
Wednesday, April 26
5:00 p.m.
Kite Hill Brewery
Hosted by Volunteer Board of Advisors
In the spirit of community, our Volunteer Board of Advisors invites all new/potential/current/lapsed members to join them at Kite Hill Brewery in Patrick Square after each monthly Board meeting! Kite Hill Brewery offers a variety of alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, and food available for purchase. The Board wants to get to know everyone, as well as introduce themselves if you have not had the chance to meet them!
When you order, make sure to tell the bartender you are with OLLI. Kite Hill Brewery is generously donating 10% of all orders back to OLLI!