SILL launches its 52nd season in January with its hard-hitting Global Issues series featuring acclaimed experts exploring topical issues.
Speakers include former United States Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun, renowned Iran expert, Mohsen Milani, Lee Schneider, an expert on cyber currency, and former judge and prosecutor Charles Schudson.
(December 14, 2022) 2023 marks the 52nd season of Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning’s (SILL) “Global Issues” series. This hard-hitting series, which runs January 10-March 31, features 25 internationally renowned experts discussing a vast range of domestic and global issues. This month’s lectures feature front-page issues examined by leading speakers, including the former United States Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun discussing foreign policy two years into the Biden Administration; renowned Iran expert, Mohsen Milani, exploring US-Iranian tensions as Iran’s populace continues to challenge the regime on individual rights; Lee Schneider, an expert on cyber currency, conducts a wide-ranging discussion about the history of cryptocurrencies and the current market, which is being shaken by bankruptcies and volatility; and the acclaimed former judge and prosecutor, Charles Schudson, who looks at street crime, white collar crime—and presidential crime.
The lectures are presented on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Sarasota; Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. at the Venice Community Center in Venice; and Thursdays at 5 p.m. at the Cornerstone Church in Lakewood Ranch. Lectures will also be available for purchase on video. The 2023 season also features the popular “Music Mondays” series, which presents performances and lively conversations with renowned and emerging performers, January 9-March 27, on Mondays at 10:30 a.m. at Church of the Palms in Sarasota; and Mondays at 3 p.m. at Venice Presbyterian Church in Venice. Season subscriptions for the Global Issues and Music Mondays series are available for purchase now for $85 for 12 sessions. A Flex Pass for 12 tickets to be used at any SILL event throughout the season is $115. Single-day tickets for all programs are available at the door and are $10. A new “Invite a Friend” initiative offers a free ticket to all series subscribers. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit SillSarasota.org or call 941-365-6404.
Bob Deutsch, SILL’s president, says that he’s looking forward to “experiencing a full return to normal in a post-pandemic world. We have another excellent season of entertaining conversations and performances with artists of both local and national prominence for our Music Mondays series and informative presentations on topics of great interest in our Global Issues Series.” Deutsch adds that, over the years, hundreds of SILL attendees have said that SILL’s $85 series subscriptions and the $10 single entry tickets are “among the best deals in town.”
Upcoming lectures include:
Tuesday, January 10: Strengthening America’s Voice in a Changing World with Barbara Stephenson. With competition among the great powers heating up, Amb. Barbara Stephenson will tackle how America can retain an agenda-setting role in world affairs by investing in alliances, re-engaging on trade, embracing the post-war international legal order, and bolstering our own democracy at home. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.; and Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 11: The Case for Following Rules with Barbara Stephenson. Do rules matter? Amb. Barbara Stephenson will take us through real life examples of how America benefits from leading in international rule setting and committing to comply with those rules. Taking case of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Stephenson will explain the pros and cons of American participation in the International Criminal Court. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 12: Diplomacy in an Age of Uncertainty: How the United States Can Defend Its Interests, Promote Its Values, and Keep the Peace in the 21st Century with Thomas Shannon. Amb. Thomas Shannon will address the challenges posed to the liberal international order. Faced with a changing global environment, and struggling with deep political change at home, what can the United States do to shape the future to benefit the American people and our vision of a democratic, open society? Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; lectures start at 5 p.m.
Friday, January 13: Diplomacy in an Age of Uncertainty: How the United States Can Defend Its Interests, Promote Its Values, and Keep the Peace in the 21st Century with Thomas Shannon. Amb. Thomas Shannon will address the challenges posed to the liberal international order. Faced with a changing global environment, and struggling with deep political change at home, what can the United States do to shape the future to benefit the American people and our vision of a democratic, open society. At the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 10 a.m.
Tuesday, January 17: “The State of U.S. Foreign Policy After Two Years of the Biden Administration” with Stephen Biegun. During its first two years, the Biden Administration has confronted a war in Europe, threats in Asia, and ongoing complications in the Middle East. Stephen Biegun will look at how well the Administration has dealt with these challenges and how the President’s leadership might shape America’s role in the world. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.; and Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 18: How Will the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Affect Global Peace and Stability? With Stephen Biegun. Stephen Biegun will address the implications of the Russian incursion into Ukraine. NATO has been strengthened. Military spending has increased in Germany and other European countries. Russia has been weakened and forced to seek new markets and allies. What will these changes bring for global security in the coming decades? At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 19: Iran: Is Reconciliation With the U.S. Possible? With Mohsen Milani. Dr. Mohsen Milani has studied US-Iranian tensions for 40 years. Direct warfare was avoided but proxy wars, assassinations, cyber-attacks, and harsh sanctions took its place. Attempts to break this pattern— the grand nuclear deal, failed. Dr. Milani explores our complex relationship and discusses prospects for change. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m. and Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; 5 p.m.
Friday, January 20: Iran: Is Reconciliation With the U.S. Possible? With Moshen Milani. Dr. Mohsen Milani has studied US-Iranian tensions for 40 years. Direct warfare was avoided but proxy wars, assassinations, cyber-attacks, and harsh sanctions took its place. Attempts to break this pattern— the grand nuclear deal, failed. Dr. Milani explores our complex relationship and discusses prospects for change. At the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 10 a.m.
Tuesday, January 24: Beyond Cryptocurrencies with Lee Schneider. Lee Schneider will conduct a wide-ranging discussion about the history of cryptocurrencies and digital assets, and how distributed, decentralized systems might look as the anchor for digital communities in the future. Mr. Schneider will explore our increasingly digital world and what it means for commerce, economics, politics, communication, and recreation. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.; and Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 25: Decentralized Finance as a Gateway to the Metaverse with Lee Schneider. Both decentralized finance (“DeFi”) and the metaverse are much in the news. Lee Schneider will describe what each means and how they fit into the larger digital world encompassing work-life, investing, recreation and downtime. Mr. Schneider will explore questions of how the traditional world and coming digital world intersect, coexist and lock horns. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 26: The Prosecutor’s Art from the Streets to the Suites to the Oval Office with Charles Schudson. Judge Charles B. Schudson returns to SILL to address street crime, white collar crime, presidential crime … whatever the crime, prosecutors must direct investigations, assemble evidence, and present cases to judges and juries. But how? Does the Constitution restrain them? Do their own constitutions guide them? Can corruption or politics influence them? At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m. and Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; 5 p.m.
Friday, January 27: The Prosecutor’s Art from the Streets to the Suites to the Oval Office with Charles Schudson. Judge Charles B. Schudson returns to SILL to address street crime, white collar crime, presidential crime … whatever the crime, prosecutors must direct investigations, assemble evidence, and present cases to judges and juries. But how? Does the Constitution restrain them? Do their own constitutions guide them? Can corruption or politics influence them? At the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 10 a.m.
Tuesday, January 31: Advancing Nuclear Energy with Rodney Adams. Rodney Adams, publisher of “Atomic Insight,” discusses nuclear energy as a proven, ultra-low carbon energy source. Concerns about climate change and energy supply security are stimulating new interest. Nuclear advances are being led by innovators at large companies. Efforts are focusing on systems that will lower costs and improve schedules. At First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; 10:30 a.m.; and Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; 2:30 p.m.
To learn more about the programs in more detail, visit www.sillsarasota.org or call 941-365-6404.
General Information
Lecture Locations and Times:
Sarasota
- Monday Music sessions are held at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota; sessions start at 10:30 a.m.
- Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Global Issues lectures are held at
First United Methodist Church, 104 S. Pineapple Ave. Sarasota; lectures start at 10:30 a.m.
Venice
- Monday Music sessions are held at Venice Presbyterian Church, 825 The Rialto; sessions start at 3 p.m.
- Tuesday and Friday Global Issues lectures are held in the Venice Community Center, 326 S Nokomis Ave., Venice; lectures start at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Fridays.
Lakewood Ranch
- Global Issues lectures are held at Cornerstone Church, 14306 Covenant Way, Lakewood Ranch; lectures start at 5 p.m.
Ticket and Subscription Information
- Series Tickets: The purchase of a $85 series ticket entitles the holder to attend all of the lectures in that series. It cannot be used for lectures in other series. To order tickets using your credit card, visit SillSarasota.org. All ticket sales are final.
- Flex Pass: A $115 flex pass provides for 12 individual entries to any SILL event during the season. Purchase at SillSarasota.org.
- Single Day Admissions: Daily tickets to all lectures are $10 at the door. Payment may be made by cash or check only.
- Video On Demand: For those unable or uncomfortable attending in person, the Music Mondays Sarasota series and two Sarasota Global Issues series will be available for purchase. Each series costs $120 and can be purchased at SillSarasota.org. For those interested in viewing videos of specific events, they can also be purchased on SILL’s website for $15 each.
- Lecture Audio Recordings: Flash drives and compact discs of all of the Sarasota lectures are available for $10 each. Guests can order past, present, and future lectures in the lobby at the end of each lecture. Also available are box sets of 12 lectures of your choice for $85.
About the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning
The Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning (SILL) is a non-profit organization that offers an expert lecture series to provide information on and discussion of the arts and contemporary global issues. SILL is guided by an all-volunteer board committed to modest pricing and enhanced outreach. Visit SillSarasota.org.