Adventures in Lifelong Learning announces fall program schedule

Sep. 20—BEMIDJI — Adventures in Lifelong Learning begins its spring 2024 season on Sept. 24 and will continue from 10 to 11:30 a.m. each Tuesday through Nov. 12, at the Bemidji Eagles Club, 1270 Neilson Ave. SE.

The season kicks off with the presentation "Preserving the Public Land System: The Original Fabric of Land Ownership" with Kevin Trappe and staff from the Beltrami County GIS Department.

The Public Land Survey System is the surveying method that was developed and used throughout most of the United States to plat, or divide, real property for sale and settling.

Nearly 11,000 original land survey monuments were set from 1871 to 1899 to mark the corners of townships and sections in what makes up the present-day boundaries of Beltrami County, a release said.

A question and answer session will follow the program.

The remaining fall sessions will feature these topics:

Oct. 1: K-9 Police Officer Rachel will introduce her new partner K-9 Doc, a four-legged, furry yellow Labrador Retriever. Bemidji has not had a K-9 program since the early 1990s. Doc is trained in the detection of controlled substances, assists officers in locating evidence, and helps find missing persons and non-violent offenders.

Oct. 8: Lindsey Olding will discuss her new role as Executive Director at Village of Hope, a shelter for families experiencing homelessness. Her transition to this position follows her tenure as the School Liaison for the Bemidji School District. Attendees will gain an understanding of the challenges faced by those at risk of or currently without housing.

Oct. 15: Mary Sue Liapis Norenberg will present, "My Journey from Medical Devices into Corporate Life with Medtronic."

Oct. 22: Attendees can learn about the free market and business in China with Bill Scheela. Scheela will discuss his ongoing business angel field research project in China, which began in 2017. He will explain how Chinese business angels have developed effective investment strategies in high-tech new ventures, which is an investment model very similar to American business angels investing in Silicon Valley start-ups. He will also provide some observations about working in China.

Oct. 29: Janice Haworth will share stories and photos of her travels to Ecuador and South Africa, including the music, culture, scenery and animals. Community members who have been to either of these countries or who are looking for suggestions for a trip or travel "bucket list" are encouraged to attend, the release said.

Nov. 5: David Mather of the Minnesota State Preservation Office will present "The Grand Mound."

Nov. 12: Attendees can learn about the history of the regional library system during Bemidji Public Librarian Sheri Warren's presentation, "Libraries: More Than Books." Warren will cover library funding, services and the future of libraries.

All are welcome. Participants should park in the rear parking lot of the Eagles Club. Refreshments will be served starting at 9:30 a.m.

Programs are free; an at-will donation will be accepted.

For more information or weather cancellations, check the

Bemidji Adventures in Lifelong Learning Facebook page.