Presentations - December 2004 / January 2005
| The Men's Center Board appreciates the volunteer presenters who return from time to time and welcome first timers. Their presentations add a new dimension to our weekly Wednesday night gatherings.
Please take time to read the descriptions and plan to attend if they stimulate your interest. Bring a friend to share the experience and acquaint him/her with the Men's Center. Each presentation is intended to promote personal growth, stimulate your interest in a topic, and to give you an opportunity to interact with other attendees. We are always looking for new presenters and topics. Please call Randy at The Men's Center, 612-822-5892 with your ideas and names. We appreciate your help. |
Presentations are the sole responsibility of the presenter(s). The Men's Center does not endorse, takes no specific position, nor does it hold any opinion on the presentations, or of any information imparted, or of the presenter(s) themselves.
The Men's Center is a RESOURCE for the community, a clearing house for information of all kinds, agreeable or not, to one's beliefs. Listen, participate and make your own decisions. All groups meet at TMC, 3249 Hennepin Ave. So, Suite 55, unless otherwise noted. These low cost presentations are shown in the Calendar of Events and a more extensive description follows. No pre-registration is needed; entrance fees collected at the door are:
|
December 2004 / January 2005
Men's Rights in Divorce
Presenter: Jim Gerharter
When: Wed. Dec. 1, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Open to Men and Women
Jim will focus this presentation on men's rights and responsibilities in domestic relationships and pre-divorce actions which can help or hinder men in protecting their rights.
Jim Gerharter is a Minneapolis attorney practicing in the Uptown area. He has 21 years experience as a lawyer He is a longtime member of the Men's Center and has made numerous presentations at the center.
A Circle of Warriors
Presenter: Andy Mickel
When: Wed. Dec. 8, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
The Mankind Project is an organization of men working together to improve their lives and help other men. As New Warriors "We are an order of men called to reclaim the sacred masculine provides a model for men to generate and maintain a world in such a way as to include and yet rise above one's own issues for the betterment of one's self, one's own family, tribe, nation and race."
We are all familiar with a man's physical tools (a hammer, a sword, a plow.....) Is this enough? What about integrity, commitment, action and clarity? I know that most men want and need these tools. The New Warrior Training Adventure can help. Join a circle of warriors to ask questions and hear how the adventure adventure has changed men's lives.
"The initiation of men is the hope of the world." - Don Jones, former chairman, ManKind Project.
Achieving Financial Success
Presenter: Justin Cronen
When: Wed. Dec. 15, 7:00-9:00 p.m..
Open To Men and Women
This presentation is open to both men and women and is to be very interactive. Topics I will present range from cash flow management to 401K options and common mistakes to avoid during a life transition period. The presentation will give attendees a solid understanding of what their options are as well as pros and cons of each. After the presentation I will answer any questions people have.
Justin specializes in helping individuals achieve their financial goals through a long term relationship based on trusted and knowledgeable advice. Key areas include retirement and educational planning as well as making the most of your current situation and managing income taxes.
Retirement, or is it Refirement?
Presenter: Norm Petrik
When: Wed. Dec. 22, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Many men look forward to retirement to shed the burden of workday life, others fear retirement and wonder what they will do when employment is not part of their weekly schedule. Whichever feeling better describes you, come and share and also watch the video, "Retirement or Refirement" by James Gambrino which will help you find more meaning after retirement.
Norm is 69 years old, retired September 3rd, as a psychologist for 37 years at St Cloud VA Medical Center and a member of the Men's Center Board. He began the retirement support group at the Men's Center 4 years ago to help him deal with fears of retirement. The group meets monthly the 3rd Sunday of each month from 5:30p.m.-7:00 p.m. Please come!
Holiday Party
Presenter: Norm Petrik, J. C. Hancock
When: Wed. Dec. 29, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Come to the Men's Center Holiday Potluck Dinner Party. Bring a dish to share, beverage will be provided. J. C. Hancock will lead us in singing of both men's and holiday songs.
Norm Petrik is the Men's Center Program Committee Chair, among his many other activities. J. C. Hancock has volunteered holiday entertainment for many years at the Men's Center.
No Presentation
When: Wed. Jan. 5, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
A Circle of Warriors
Presenter: Andy Mickel
When: Wed. Jan. 12, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
The Mankind Project is an organization of men working together to improve their lives and help other men. As New Warriors "We are an order of men called to reclaim the sacred masculine provides a model for men to generate and maintain a world in such a way as to include and yet rise above one's own issues for the betterment of one's self, one's own family, tribe, nation and race."
We are all familiar with a man's physical tools (a hammer, a sword, a plow.....) Is this enough? What about integrity, commitment, action and clarity? I know that most men want and need these tools. The New Warrior Training Adventure can help. Join a circle of warriors to ask questions and hear how the adventure adventure has changed men's lives.
"The initiation of men is the hope of the world." - Don Jones, former chairman, ManKind Project.
How to Recognize & Resist the Many Social Pressures to Feel Crazy
Presenter: Jim Duffy
When: Wed. Jan. 19, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
A few decades ago psychoanalyst Theodore Rubin wrote and lectured masterfully about the very many pressures our society places on us to become self-hating. In other words, he wrote about the many ways society tries to make us feel crazy and bad about ourselves. Learn at this seminar about Rubin's ideas on social pressures to use poor judgment (i.e, to feel "crazy") and to falsely believe that we are ever unworthy human beings (i.e., to feel self-hatred). As time permits, we may lean as many as 50 different ways in which our society routinely tries to make us crazy and feel bad about who and what we are. Resisting so much destructive influence begins by recognizing the very many destructively conflicting social pressures placed on all of us.
Jim Duffy is a writer and freelance researcher in a wide variety of areas of the human studies. He is a humanist, educator and consultant whose popular presentation and many subjects at the The Men's Center have been well received as both interesting and useful as well as often controversial.
Humor Everyday
Presenter: Dr. Hal Schippits
When: Wed. Jan. 26, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Humor can be used as a great way to cope with life difficulties, as well as add to its enjoyment. It can be used to ease tension in both personal and professional situations, while increasing problem solving and other creativity skills. The key is to use only positive humor for relationship building opportunities. Dr. Schippits will lead an open discussion on how humor can help as well as hinder a person achieving their life goals, as well as giving ideas on how to sharpen one's skills in identifying humor in everyday life situations.
Dr. Hal Schippits is a native of Chicago, Illinois, an ordained United Church of Christ minister, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, as well as a Clinical Psychologist. With over 30 years of experience in the fields of mental health, chemical dependency, and developmental disabilities, he has had countless opportunities to see the importance of healing humor in people's lives. He looks forward to sharing his ideas and message with the members of the Men's Center.
Tobacco, the Tobacco Industry and LGBT Populations
Presenter: Antonio Cardona
When: Wed. Feb. 2, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Open to Men and Women
Research on adult tobacco use consistently shows a higher prevalence among lesbian/gay/bisexual/ transgender (LGBT) populations than among the general populationÑreasons why are largely unknown, and counterstrategies are critical. Tobacco industry marketing, uncovered when the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) forced companies to share its internal documents, provided insight. The American Legacy Foundation uncovered the industry campaign Project SCUM (Sub-Culture Urban Marketing) aimed at gays and the homeless. The formerly secret documents revealed specific marketing toward LGBT, whose rates increased when the MSA banned youth (but not other population) advertising. The industry reaches out to LGBT persons through direct and indirect advertising, community outreach, and sponsorships. Messages to LGBT have been relatively absent from advertising until recently, creating receptivity to such overtures. Reducing LGBT smoking rates is a public health challenge that will require exceeding the sense of validation tobacco advertising has created in LGBT communities.
Antonio Cardona is currently the Community Outreach Coordinator for Rainbow Health Initiative. Rainbow Health Initiative recently received a grant from the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco to develop a strategic plan to address tobacco use in the Minnesota GLBT community. This presentation was prepared by Perry Stevens, consultant.