Welcome to a new season of the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning. For over four decades, SILL has been proudly serving the Sarasota public, offering a lively exchange of ideas and information on a variety of topics. Over the years, we have presented an amazing array of interesting and prominent speakers, a number of whom will be returning in this 42nd season. We again will welcome renowned global experts such as Dr. Sonar Cagaptay, Ambassadors Molly Williamson and Stapleton Roy, as well as long-time favorites Jerry Pubantz, Martin Walker and our own Bob Barylski. Dr. Norman Ornstein will help us understand how to cope with our growing political divergence. Among the speakers new to Sarasota is Dr. Thomas Gouttierre, Director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska. Our program committee, led by Beth Cotner and Peter Huber, has identified issues of vital interest and assembled a stellar cast of experts to present them to our audiences.

Music Mondays is bringing another exciting line-up including former Boston Symphony principal harpist, Ann Hobson Pilot, local singing sensation, Maria Wirries, and Jesse Rosen, President & CEO of the League of American Orchestras. You can read more about the music series in the Music Overview, click Music above.

SILL continues to reach out to retirement communities in and beyond Sarasota with SILLSelect, a special live transmission and/or DVD of selected lectures.

And finally, I want to call your attention to the SILL Seminars. This season the Seminars will return to THURSDAYS at GWIZ! There will be eight Seminars in total, seven in Sarasota and one in Venice. These Seminars are a unique opportunity to engage a speaker in meaningful dialogue. How often do you get to have a conversation about the crucial issues of the day with an ambassador or renowned global consultant? Our regular attendees are devoted to this format and say it adds a unique depth of perspective to SILL’s program. The Seminars are not to be missed! Space is limited, so do sign up soon.

I will look forward to greeting you at the SILL lectures.

Joy McIntyre, President