University Club programs are open to the public and are held Tuesdays in the Padua Room of the Hughes Community Center, 1700 Danbury Road, Claremont, California. Meetings start at 11:30 AM. The $20 meeting fee includes a buffet lunch. Membership applications are available at each meeting. Map to Hughes Community Center
April Program Chair: Mel Boynton
April 2 – “Supermassive Black Holes in Galaxies”
Speaker – Dr. Stephen A. Naftilan, Emeritus Kenneth S. Pitzer Chair of Physics, Claremont McKenna College
We now believe that larger, more massive galaxies have supermassive black holes in their nuclei. Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, has a 4 million solar mass black hole at its center. What is the evidence for the existence of these black holes? How did they get there and which came first, the black hole or the galaxy? How do they evolve over time and how do they orchestrate the evolution of the galaxy they are in? Finally, what happens when galaxies collide? Professor Stephen Naftiland will address these questions and discuss the latest theories. And we will see plenty of pretty pictures! Professor Naftilan earned a B.S. from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve. In addition to astronomy, his research interests include how spiders locate the site of prey capture with web vibrations, the role of the Federal Reserve Bank as a lender of last resort, stimulation modeling and abundances in low mass stars.
Introduction: Tom Helliwell
Fellowship: Mel Boynton
Greeters: Lori McGrath, Tom Helliwell
April 9 – “The 11th Annual Claremont Film Festival, the Finest Films from throughout the World”
Speaker – Vincent Turner, Manager of the Claremont Film Festival
The Claremont Film Festival will celebrate their 11th year this May. The festival features remarkable short films from around the world. It’s founder, Vince Turner, will discuss the event’s success along with what makes a good film and what will be the future of film in the internet, digital age. His talk will include the economics of film festivals, what festivals look for, and the pros and cons of going to film school. He will also announce new endeavors of the festival and how they will affect the movie-going audience in Claremont.
Vince Turner and local volunteers started the Claremont Festival in 2009 with the opening of the Laemmle Theatre. Vince teaches accounting at Cal Poly Pomona, and hosts online classes for 80,000 students worldwide. He is a former elected trustee of the Ventura County Community College District. He has a masters degree in business administration and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor.
Introduction: Bob Knell
Fellowship: Don McDonald
Greeters: Pat Kelly, Art Parker
April 16 – “Opioids, Pain and Addiction: Fact and Fiction”
Speaker – Dr. Stephani Sutherland, Neuroscientist and Journalist
An estimated 37,000 people died from opioid overdose in 2017, and millions more are addicted. But as many as 100 million Americans also live with chronic pain—a much less talked-about public health crisis. Opioids are clearly not a solution to chronic pain, but the problem is complicated.
Dr. Stephani Sutherland is a neuroscientist, science journalist, and a Claremont native. After earning a B.S. in psychology from Cal State Fullerton, she earned her PhD in neuroscience, studying pain-sensing nerve cells, at Oregon Health & Sciences University in Portland in 2001. Since then, she has worked as a freelance journalist for publications including the Los Angeles Times, Scientific American, New Scientist and BrainFacts.org. Dr. Sutherland also taught science and writing courses at Washington State University, where she worked as an academic advisor for science students. Since 2013, she has focused on writing about pain research and opioids. She is a frequent contributor online at the Pain Research Forum and RELIEF.news.
Introduction: Don McDonald
Fellowship: Anne Sonner
Greeter: Peter Boniface
April 23 – “My Claremont History and First Months as a Claremont City Council Member”
Speaker – Jennifer Stark, Claremont City Council Member
Raised in Claremont, University Club member Jennifer Stark is inspired by family and friends whose decades of community service have helped define Claremont’s unique character. Jennifer is a new member of the Claremont City Council. She is a community activist and volunteer, involved in many programs that contribute to the environment, well-being, education and enrichment of our community. She also teaches yoga at Pomona College. Educated in the Claremont public schools and Pitzer College, Jennifer Stark is married to David Berke (also a Claremont native). They have three children. Jennifer is enthusiastic about working tirelessly to bring people together and to keep Claremont a great place to live and work. Bring your questions about local issues!
Introduction: Andy Winnick
Fellowship: Pat Kelly
Greeters: Bob Knell and Julia Arias
April 30 – “The United Nations Today and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (the Global Goals)”
Speaker – Mel Boynton, Past President of the Pomona Valley United Nations Association
For over 70 years the United Nations has been successful in its primary goal, to prevent another world war. In the same time, many other responsibilities have been added: human rights, feeding the hungry, addressing climate change, assisting refugees, women’s rights, and more. Since 2000, the 193 member countries have looked forward with the millennium goals and now the 2015 global goals to address poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice for all.
Mel Boynton is the immediate past president of the University Club and has a master’s degree in economics from Cornell University. He has been active in the local, regional and national United Nations Association of the United States of America since 2014. Mel was a state regulator and technology executive in Minnesota before retiring to California in 2003. He is a USMC veteran and has traveled to over 35 countries.
Introduction: Art Sutton
Fellowship: Bob Knell
Greeter: Anne Sonner
Birthdays: TBA