Lifelong Learning

Fall Term 2026

• The “Road” to Timbuktu

  Preston Burns continues the stories of his travels that began with last term’s presentation on Iran.

  This time, Dr. Burns will take us to the West African city of Timbuktu, Mali, known  since the early 1800s as the “World’s Most Inaccessible Place.” In Islamic circles, it is famous for its Islamic scholarship and is locally known as a major hub for trans-Saharan trade. Dr. Burns will present a brief history of Timbuktu and then describe his adventures in a narrated photographic tour of his travels from Bamako, the capital of Mali, through the Sahel and into the Saharan Desert in search of Timbuktu.

  This course meets on Tuesday afternoon at The Riley Center and via Zoom
  When: 1-2:30 p.m., on 13-Oct (one meeting only)

  Facilitator: Dr. G. Preston Burns grew up in Fredericksburg, Va., graduating from
  UVA with a degree in Economics in 1969 and the Medical College of Va. School of Dentistry in 1973.

  He is the author of two books. "Never Turn Down A Ride" is the story of his hitchhiking alone 10,000 miles around the US, coast to coast starting with only $20, no credit card or cell phone in 56 days. "Leadership Under Fire" is the reranking of the presidents' performances in office according to Adam Smith's principles in "The Wealth of Nations".

  He has also has given lectures on dental procedures that he has developed and his personal adventures to Iran. He still resides in Fredericksburg.

• When Our Music Ruled the World, Part 2

  Following Cale Shipman’s popular presentation that focused on the musical era from Elvis to Elton, Cale will be coming back to CALL to offer three more weeks of music history:

  Week #1...Two performances on the Ed Sullivan Show that changed everything.
  Week #2...The middle years of rock: girl bands, folk music, Motown, Beach Boys.
  Week #3...The British Invasion.

  This course meets 3 Tuesday afternoons at the Riley Center
  When: 1-2:30 p.m., on 27-Oct, 3-Nov & 10-Nov

  Facilitator: Cale has taught CALL classes on "Intro to Astronomy", "Birds of the Lowcountry", “Behind the Scenes of Classic Movies”, and his first music class, “From Elvis to Elton...When our Music Ruled the World". His courses are both informative and fun!

• Putin’s Russia

  Russ Hutchins will look at the Russia that Vladimir Putin inherited and the Russia that Putin envisions as he pursues war in Ukraine and works for control at home.

  This course meets 3 Tuesday mornings via Zoom only
  When: 12:30-2 p.m., on 3-Nov, 10-Nov & 17-Nov

  Facilitator: Russ Hutchins, EDSp, is a retired school Administrator. He has been an OSHER Lifelong Learning Instructor since 2013 and has presented lectures for the University of Kansas, University of West Virginia, Clemson University, as well as the many CALL classes he has offered here at College of Charleston, focusing  primarily on American history and biographies.

• U.S. Vice Presidents

  offered by Russ Hutchins

  50 people have been sworn into the office of Vice President since 1789, each with their own version of what that role, or their president, required of them. Join Russ for a whirlwind tour of those men (and one woman) who helped shape our country.

  This course meets 3 Wednesday mornings via Zoom only
  When: 10-11:30 a.m., on 7-Oct, 14-Oct & 21-Oct

  Facilitator: Russ Hutchins, EDSp, is a retired school Administrator. He has been an OSHER Lifelong Learning Instructor since 2013 and has presented lectures for the University of Kansas, University of West Virginia, Clemson University, as well as the many CALL classes he has offered here at College of Charleston, focusing  primarily on American history and biographies.

• Come Fly with Me

  (The Western Front through the eyes of 3rd Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps)

  offered by John Barth

  This course follows the formation of the RFC and particularly the No. 3 Squadron. We will experience the hardships of early aviation as we deploy to France and have to cope with the onslaught of the early German advances. We’ll cover the Allied retreat in 1914 and then follow 3 years of brutal trench warfare,  flying critical reconnaissance missions in outdated aeroplanes against the Fokker Scourge. We’ll earn our wings as the aeroplane becomes a fierce weapon of war with machine guns and bombs. Some of us become ‘Aces’ but most don’t last a month. We’ll learn the technological advances in warfare that gave this war the title of “The War to End All Wars”. 

  So, come fly with me as I bring the personal experiences of several writers who served with the No. 3 Squadron. We will learn what it was like to fly those 4  years, as we witnessed great losses of life in the air and during those brutal land battles, seeing the horrors experienced by the troops fighting in the trenches.  Yes, many came home but too many were left ‘over there’! 

  Week 1: Prewar years - 1839 to June 1914, the RFC’s fledgling years.
  Week 2: WWI starts in August of 1914, and the RFC squadrons are deployed to France.
  Week 3: Covers 1915: Welcome to trench warfare.
  Week 4: Covers 1916: The year of attrition - the Somme and Verdun.
  Week 5: Covers 1917: the German retreat and the end of the stalemate.
  Week 6: We’ll end with the armistice in 1918 and look back on what we learned.

  This course meets Wednesday afternoons at the Riley Center
  When: 1-2:30 p.m., on 14-, 21- & 28-Oct, 4-, 11- & 18-Nov

  Facilitator: John Barth graduated from Lehigh University and then served in
  the USAF, earning a master’s degree in systems management before leaving
  the service to work for a defense contractor. He has long had an interest in
  World War I aircraft and the history of flight, so he is looking forward to
  revisiting that era again. This will be the second time he has offered students
  the opportunity to join him on the missions of the 3rd squadron.

• Battle of the Ironclads: Monitor vs. Virginia

  offered by Bruce Tucker

  Participants will gain a better understanding of the significance of the Civil War naval battle between the USS Monitor & CSS Virginia that took place March 9, 1862. Join presenter Bruce Tucker and learn about the years leading up to this battle, the ships and their designers. Hear about the preliminary battles before the March 9th encounter and the aftermath for both vessels in the months that followed.

  This course meets Thursday morning via Zoom only
  When: 10:30 a.m. to noon on 22-Oct (one class only)

  Facilitator: Bruce Tucker has been an adjunct part-time lecturer for the Rutgers Osher Lifelong Learning Institute or the past 10 years. Bruce received the  Marlene Pomper Distinguished Teaching Award in 2015. He is a retired  Information Technology Project Manager. He holds a BA in History and Political Science from the City University of New York and a Masters of Science in Information Systems and Project Management from the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.

• Reader’s Theatre: Canterbury Tales

  The Canterbury Tales were written in the 14th Century in what we now call Middle English. Geoffrey Chaucer’s work not only proved that great literature could be written in English, it also proved that great stories could survive for centuries. Continuing our tradition of offering a Reader’s Theatre, we will all learn a bit about pronouncing words in Middle English. For those brave enough, we will offer the opportunity to read portions of the tales in the English in which they were written. We will, however, read primarily in modern English. The rewards will be great, as the ironic, iconic, slightly irreverent and sometimes bawdy tales are a reward in and of themselves.

  This course meets Friday mornings at the Riley Center Conference Room
  When: 10:30 a.m. to noon on 16-, 23-, 30-Oct & 6-, 13-, 20-Nov

  Facilitator: Presenter Diana Barth taught English literature at the secondary school level and worked as a newspaper reporter. She earned her law degree later in life and was admitted to the bars of Maine and Massachusetts, practicing family and regulatory law. Now retired, she has returned to her love of learning and literature, serving as the head of the committee for Charleston Area Lifelong Learning.

• Mahjong 101

  As an avid player with over a decade of experience, Debbie Lapidus has had the pleasure of not only mastering this captivating game but also sharing its joy with others through personalized instruction. Mahjong, with its unique blend of strategy, luck and social interaction, stands as an engaging and intellectually stimulating pastime that appeals to a wide demographic. The first class will cover the fundamental rules, tile recognition, basic strategy, and the objective of the game. The following two classes will provide invaluable hands-on practice, reinforce learning, and allow players to internalize the flow of the game.

  • To allow for one-on-one instruction, class size will be limited to 8 persons.
  • Participants, please bring $14 to the first day of class to pay for the necessary 2026 Mahjong card (which is yours to bring to any ongoing mahjong group you join after the class). 

  This course meets 3 Friday afternoons at the Riley Center Conference Room
  When: 1-2:30 p.m., on 30-Oct, 6-Nov & 20-Nov (no class 13-Nov)

  Facilitator: With over three decades of experience as an educator, Debbie Lapidus recently retired from the classroom and is ready to share her passion for lifelong learning. As a former teacher, she knows how to break down complex concepts into simple, manageable steps. She is thrilled to bring her patience, enthusiasm and structured approach to the teaching of a beginner American mahjong class. Her goal is to prepare participants to navigate mahjong’s official hands and rules to be able to play confidently in groups or clubs.