Saginaw Valley Torch Club
Saginaw/Midland/Bay City Local Torch Club ... Promoting professional fellowship since 1928
  • Home
  • Dinner Reservation Form
  • 2022-2023 Talks
  • 2023 Guest Night
  • Club Events & Calendar
  • About
    • 2022-2023 Executive Board
    • Prior Executives >
      • Past Presidents List
      • 2021-2022 Executive Board
      • 2020-2021 Executive Board
      • 2019-2020 Executives
      • 2018-2019 Executives
      • 2014-15 Executives
      • 2017 - 18 Executives
      • 2015-16 Executives
      • 2013-14 Executive Team
    • Contact Us
  • Meeting/Event Images
  • Past Years' Talks
    • 2022 Guest Night
    • 2021-2022 Talks
    • 2020-2021 Talks
    • 2019-2020 Talks
    • May 2019 Guest Night
    • 2018-2019 Talks
    • May 2018 Guest Night >
      • Guest Night Photos
    • 2017-18 Talks
    • 2017 May Guest Night
    • 2016-17 Talks
    • 2016 May Guest Night
    • 2015-2016 Talks
    • 2014-15 Talks
    • 2013-14 Talks
  • Members Only
    • SVTC Bylaws
    • Audio Visual at the Midland Country Club
    • 2015-16 Membership >
      • Roster - 2013-2014
      • Roster - 2012-2013
    • Document Index >
      • Recruit & Retain Members
      • Speaker Recruitment
      • Summary of Recent Past Torch Talks
      • Club By-Laws
      • Torch International Docs
      • Roberts Rule of Order
      • Torch - Facts & History
      • IATC Membership Application
    • Event Feedback Poll
    • Speaker Submissions
    • Board Member Business >
      • Board Mtg Notes
      • Finance
      • Program Committe Docs
      • Member Recruitment
      • By-Law Revision
      • Potential Member Vote
    • Membership Meeting Notes
  • Urgent Member News
    • Submit Alert Request
  • Blog
  • Website Feedback
  • Completed Talk Vu-graphs
  • Torch Club International Bylaws
  • Club Roster

2017-2018 FINAL Presentation Schedule

Below is the current lineup for the Saginaw Valley Torch 2016-2017 dinner presentation meetings.  Check back prior to meetings to check for updates (typically on the member urgent message page)
Date
Speaker
Topic & Abstract
October 3, 2017
Renee Harvey
Witch Hunt
Between 1482 and 1782 around 100,000 people across Europe were accused of practicing witchcraft. Some 40,000 to 50,000 were tortured and executed. Though most accused were female, men were accused as well. Women were believed to be morally and spiritually weaker than men, therefore, particularly vulnerable to diabolic persuasion.
November 7, 2017
Dale Schultz

The Jervis Bogie, a Revolution for Railroads and Civilization
The Jervis bogie of 1832 substantially improved dynamic stability of a steam locomotive moving on a track.  This innovation and an understanding of its effectiveness prompted a dramatic expansion in railroad systems.  This expansion both enriched and destabilized the existing social order, catalyzing many changes during the following decades.  The talk will describe Jervis, the nature of the innovation, its dramatic impacts, and a reference to cause and effect from technical innovation with implications to the present day. .
December 5, 2017
Tina Van Dam
The Bottom of the World at the 66th Parallel
  From the brave explorers in wooden ships seeking new trade routes, to whalers and fur traders seeking fortune, to scientists seeking an understanding of a frozen and pristine world, the cold and wild waters of the southern ocean have long dared men to cross to the seventh continent, Antarctica.
  Penguins, seals, whales and albatross live in a majestic and beautiful setting where survival of the fittest is the only rule.
  Now the power and drama of this ever-changing ice world are available to adventuresome travelers. Tina Van Dam will share the lessons and images of her recent expedition to this polar region.
.
January 9, 2018   
Dave Rogers
Dave has been a reporter, columnist, and city editor for several newspapers and has won national awards for his work. He has taught journalism at Michigan State University, Northwood U., and Delta College and has written or edited several books on Michigan history.
     
The French Empire’s Enduring Influence on Michigan
French explorers and missionaries had a major role in settling Northern Michigan. Beginning in the 1600s, French aristocrats like Cadillac and LaSalle, along with Jesuit and Recollect priests, laid the groundwork for the society we have today. The discussion will involve how and why Detroit replaced Michilimackinac as the hub of development in this region. The reason this happened may surprise you. 
February 6, 2018
Sam Miller

Medical Innovations Initiated During the American Civil War That Apply Today and the Rest of the Stories
During the Civil War, an estimated 620,000 died of battle injuries and even more died from disease. Pandemics swept through the encampments. The mix of the northern city multitudes having some buildup of immunities laid waste to their rural comrades who were highly susceptible.
  Despite the slaughter, medical technology moved at a rapid pace. Key advancements included triage of the injured, ambulances, anesthesia and analgesics, plastic surgery, prosthetics, nurses as an invaluable team member, sanitation, embalming, and pavilion hospitals. These advances led to today’s medical practices.

March 6, 2018
Danny Krebs
Danny Krebs earned a PhD in Physics and retired from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.  His grandfather was quarter-blood  Choctaw and attended Jones Academy, an Indian school in Hartshorne, OK; as did his father and uncle. His great-great grandfather was a judge for the Choctaw Nation and migrated to Oklahoma from Mississippi at the time of the Indian removal.

The Trail of Tears
The story of the subjugation and forced migration of the five "civilized tribes" of the American southeast is one many contradictions.  The "trail of tears" removals to present-day Oklahoma were cruel and ineptly executed, but the efforts of missionaries before and after the removals were effective at improving living conditions among the tribes.  Many tribes became partially assimilated.  Many pure and mixed-blood tribal members competed successfully with pioneers for wealth and status in the newly developing economy of the Southeastern United States. But that success was one of the reasons for the removals. 
April 3, 2017
Bill Soper
Is It 1984 yet?
Since first published in 1949, George Orwell's novel depicting a bleak totalitarian future in the year 1984 has become even more relevant today. It is now possible to listen in on millions of phone calls, read a huge number of e-mails, and even observe individuals in their homes using their own electronic devices. The need for government to detect an impending terrorist threat has eroded many of the protections we used to take for granted. Can we still protect free speech, personal privacy and even the right to think without penalty? Or are we the frog in the beaker, slowly but willingly surrendering without a whimper?.
May
Guest Night
Guest Night is organized by the club's program committee and the board and planning begins in the Dec/ 2017/Jan 2018 time frame
Presentations in work and pending assigned date and details:
None:  All assigned and pending board approval & schedule release

Compete documentation on next year's schedule
Version:  4/1/2016 - Author: D. Williams

Picture

SagValTorch.com

Saginaw/Midland/Bay City Local Torch Club ...
   - Promoting professional fellowship since 1928
   - For the life-long pursuit of learning

Proudly powered by Weebly