Weekly Presentations
Join us for Monday presentations at 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. with a social break between sessions. We meet at Park Circle in the:
Charleston Atlantic Presbytery
4701 Park Place W
North Charleston, SC 29405
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Be Our Guest
Come to any Monday afternoon meeting as our guest to see if CCR is for you.
Just check in for free at the front registration desk.
Click here for a printable scheduleFall 2026
September 14 1:00pm
Mark Viney,
Colonel (Retired), United States Army
Vietnam & Its Enduring Impact on Modern American Conflicts
From the perspective of Mark Viney, a professional military officer, historian, and strategic planner, he will relate how the American experience during the Vietnam War continues to influence how we view and wage modern conflicts.
September 14 2:30pm
Meaghan Silsby,
Executive Director, American Red Cross
The American Red Cross Local Impact
Meaghan Silsby will highlight the powerful impact of the American Red Cross across the Lowcountry—showcasing its lifesaving work in disaster response, blood services, military family support, and community preparedness.
September 21 No CCR – Yom Kippur
September 28 1:00pm
Wojciech Milewski,
Music Director, Summerville Orchestra
TBD
Wojciech Milewski will discuss - TBD
September 28 2:30pm
CCR’s C.A.L.L. Teachers
Preview Fall 2026 C.A.L.L. Classes.
Preview of selected classes.
October 5 1:00pm
Thomas (Tom) Holcombe,
Retired from GE Manufacturing Software
History of H L Hunley
The Confederate Navy had no fleet to break the maritime blockade of southern ports. One design they considered was a submersible vessel. The HL Hunley submarine was the 3rd iteration. Tom Holcomb will cover the Hunley design and provide details about its attack on the USS Housatonic.
October 5 2:30pm
Sonia Lennartz,
Yoga Teacher, Holy Cow Yoga Center
Energy, Balance, and Vitality: Insights from Chinese Medicine
Sonia Lennartz will introduce the basic principles of Chinese Medicine and how they relate to the body’s energy system and overall health. She will explore key concepts such as Qi, Yin and Yang, and balance, as well as practical insights into how supporting healthy energy flow can enhance vitality, resilience, and overall well-being.
October 12 1:00pm
Gil Jacobs,
Former Chief of Staff, National Security and Records Information,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
US Immigration: Facts and Their Role in US History Since 1891
Gil Jacobs will discuss the history, laws and regulations of US Immigration and various refugee and asylum programs that he was involved with.
October 12 2:30pm
Andrew Shuler,
Living Historian
Thyme for a Tincture: An Exploration of 18th Century Medicine
Do you know the difference between a spice and an herb? Andrew Shuler will explore the fascinating world of 18th-century medicine! Discover the curious remedies healers prescribed. From herbs and tinctures to leeches and lore, learn the surprising roots of healthcare.
October 19 1:00pm
Sandra Nikolajevs,
President and Artistic Director of Chamber Music Charleston
One Musician’s Journey from Performance to Creating a Musical Organization
Chamber Music Charleston President and Artistic Director Sandra Nikolajevs will combine live bassoon performance with personal storytelling, tracing her path from performer to founder of a thriving musical organization. She will illuminate the creative process behind building a chamber music performance—and a lasting artistic community.
October 19 2:30pm
Frank Szewczyk,
President/CEO, International Forwarding Academy
International Freight Forwarding, The Movement of Cargo.
Frank Szewczyk will discuss his personal journey through 50 years in international freight forwarding—an industry that has taken him across continents, through changing technologies, and alongside remarkable people. He will offer a glimpse into a profession that quietly keeps the world connected.
October 26 1:00pm
Norm Levine,
Professor of Geology and Environmental Geosciences, CofC
Living in the Lowcountry: Hurricanes, Tides, Earthquakes, and More:
What Can you do?
A Hazards Specialist’s view of the Charleston Region: What everyone should know and what everyone should do.
October 26 2:30pm
Charlton Brownell,
Program Director, Charleston Climate Coalition
Fun DIY Ways To Make Charleston More Climate Resilient
In addition to advocating for policy change, there are hands-on DIY ways that we can make our properties more resilient to the effects of climate change. Charlton Brownell will discuss planting rain gardens to catch runoff from our roofs and driveways and other green infrastructure installations to prevent flooding.
November 2 1:00pm
Leslie Skardon,
Charleston City Council District 12 for James Island.
Local Government and the 2026 Midterm Elections
Councilwoman Leslie Skardon, a member of Charleston City Council, will share information on the role of City Council, key updates in the City of Charleston and the importance of voting in the 2026 midterms, including the extension of the half-cent sales tax.
November 2 2:30pm
Bill Cosgrove,
Retired US-EPA
General Maurice Rose: A Forgotten Commander in World War II
Bill Cosgrove will discuss the death of General Maurice Rose in combat during the spring of 1945. General Rose was not only one of the most outstanding Divisional Commanders in the European Theater of Operations, he was also the son of a Jewish Rabbi. He was killed in action leading his troops from the 3rd Armored Division near Paderborn, Germany.
November 9 1:00pm
Joseph McGill Jr,
Executive Director of the Slave Dwelling Project
Herb Frazier,
Charleston City Paper
Sponsored by SC Humanities
Sleeping with the Ancestors: How I Followed the Footprints of Slavery
Joseph McGill, Jr. and Herb Frazier will talk about Joseph McGill spending nights sleeping in slave dwellings across the nation and writing the book, Sleeping with the Ancestors. They will also discuss their upcoming book, Divided Loyalty.
November 9 2:30pm
Harlan Greene,
Emeritus Scholar in Residence, Addlestone Library, CofC
Porgy’s Ghost: Dorothy Heyward’s Life, Works and Contribution to an American Classic.
While many know the story line of Porgy and Bess, the great American opera set in Charleston, and they may remember that it was the work of George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward, that is not the whole story. The woman who helped create this classic has been left out of the narrative. Harlan Greene will examine her life (she had 7 plays on Broadway and wrote 2 novels) and restores credit to her.
November 16 1:00pm
Alaine Mills,
Registered Sports Dietitian, MUSC Health & Wellness Institute
Nutrition for Lifelong Health
Alaine Mills will provide an overview of how nutrition influences healthy aging, digestive health, and metabolism. Topics will include nutrient needs later in life, the role of the gut in overall wellness, and evidence-based strategies for maintaining muscle and vitality through diet.
November 16 2:30pm
Tracey Booth Owens,
Author and daughter of artist Jim Booth,
Owner, Jim Booth Legacy Art
Beacon of the Lowcountry: Exploring the Life, Art and Legacy of Artist Jim Booth
If you live in the Lowcountry, chances are you’ve stood in front of a Jim Booth painting. Jim’s daughter Tracey Booth Owens will discuss her new book, Beacon of the Lowcountry: The Life, Art, and Legacy of Jim Booth, a vibrant, visual, and emotional walk through the life of an artist who didn’t just paint the Lowcountry — he lived it.
November 23 No CCR – Thanksgiving
November30 1:00pm
Karyn Amira,
Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Political Science Department, CofC
Trumpism in the Aftermath of the 2026 Midterms
Donald Trump’s political career has dominated much of public life for the last decade, despite moments of meaningful Democratic victories. Karyn Amira will discuss the results of the 2026 midterms and how they can shape the remainder of Trump’s presidency and his movement, more generally.
November 30 2:30pm
Michael Lyons,
Adjunct Professor of History, CofC
A Seat at the Table: Black Republicans in Charleston During Reconstruction
Michael Lyons will tell the story of a group of Black men who, with their white allies, built the Republican Party in Charleston and then ran the City Council for seven of the nine years of Reconstruction. They governed the city well and proved that Reconstruction could work. They were maligned in their own day and forgotten in ours.
December 7 12:00pm Member Luncheon