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Fall 2008 Public Programs

UNH Manchester is pleased to offer a variety of public lectures and performances each semester. Events will be added throughout the semester so please check the website periodically for the most up to date schedule of events. 

The events are open to everyone and are free of charge unless otherwise noted. They will take place in the third floor auditorium at the University Center, 400 Commercial Street. Parking is available at the parking garage on Canal Street or at any city metered parking areas, such as Arms Lot which is located on the riverside of the building.

For additional information, or to be added to our mailing list, please contact the Office of Marketing & Community Relations, 603-641-4306. Please contact us at least three weeks prior to the event if you need special accommodations.

• Brown Bag Lecture Series
• Books in the Mill
• Manchester Celebrates Quebec 400
• Saul O Sidore Series

Brown Bag Lecture Series
Wednesday’s from 12:00 – 1:00, third floor auditorium

September 10

Eating for Energy

We've probably all reached for the occasional candy bar or energy drink for a boost to get through the day. Well, before you do, learn about healthier food options that can also increase your energy.
Presented by Kelly Lang, Wellness Coach and Founder of Green Life Wellness

September 17, 12:00

How to Hire & Work with an Interpreter, From A to Z

Learn more about the process of hiring a sign language interpreter, what constitutes a qualified interpreter and what the legal requirements are for hiring an interpreter. In addition, the role and ethics of a sign language interpreter and tips on how to best work with an interpreter will be covered.
Presented by Jack Hoza, Associate Professor of Sign Language Interpretation, and Patrick "Pax" McCarthy, Lecturer of American Sign Language

Wednesday, October 1st, 12:00

"I Approve This Message!" Getting Out the Vote in England and America

Polling, pandering, and political chicanery; some things haven't changed! Indeed these things have been a familiar part of the electoral process for centuries, in Old World and New, as we are reminded in the satirical paintings of William Hogarth and George Caleb Bingham.
Presented by Andy Stangel, Adjunct Faculty Member

Wednesday, October 8

Breathing and Moving into Health and Well Being

We can easily learn ways of dealing with the things that diminish our energy, focus, and satisfaction. Much of our daily stresses are exacerbated by our reaction and lack of tools to deal with these physical and mental triggers. We may not be able to change things that have happened, but we can change how they affect us. Join us for a free workshop that will explore breath, movement and guided imagery as simple but indispensable tools for dealing with stress. You will experience Nia movements and guided breathing exercises for increased vitality and awareness, and, inner balance.
Presented by Lisa Jones, Certified NIA Instructor & Breath Coach

Wednesday, October 15, 12:00

Education in Exile: Teaching in a Tibetan Refugee Community in the Himalayas

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet was forced to flee his homeland in 1959, he settled in Dharamsala, a hill station in the Himalayan foothills of northern India. Dharamsala is now the center of a vibrant Tibetan refugee community. Hear about one woman's experience living and working in Dharamsala, where she taught English to Tibetan refugees and experienced firsthand the beauty of their ancient, rich, and tragically threatened culture. Join her for a discussion of her adventures in India, where she braved monsoon downpours, and roaming livestock to get to language class; learned about the rules of cricket from sports-crazy monks; studied Buddhist philosophy with a respected lama; and discovered that ultimately her Tibetan students were the true teachers.
Presented by Carolyn White, Associate Professor and Library Specialist

Wednesday, October 22, 12:00

Urban Safety

Be proactive and learn how to keep yourself safe and aware of your surroundings. A presentation about personal safety everyone should appreciate.
Presented by Officer Paul Rondeau, Manchester Police Department

Wednesday, October 29, 12:00

Pro Bono Computing

Like many businesses, non-profit organizations often face challenging IT projects and often lack the resources to address the challenges. The Computer Information Systems program at UNH Manchester is responding to these IT needs by having students work together with local organizations to tackle real-world projects. The experience also allows students to gain experience in teamwork and effective communication skills.
Presented by Mihaela Sabin, Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, and students in the CIS program

Wednesday, November 12, 12:00

Friends Helping Friends with Mental Illness/A How To Strategy

Watching someone you care about deal with a mental illness can be difficult. When possible, it's a good idea to seek advice or resources on how you might be able to help. Learn how to talk to them about it and what to do.
Presented by Ken Snow, M.S.W., A.C.S.W., Vice President of Community Relations for The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester

Wednesday, December 3rd, 12:00

Britain's Supporters in the Revolutionary South: A Different Perspective on the War for Independence

Americans view their struggle for independence as a glorious fight for liberty; many people in the 1770s and 1780s saw the conflict in a different light. Dr. Piecuch will examine the motives of those who supported the royal cause in the southern colonies, and discuss their efforts to help the British achieve victory.
Presented by Jim Piecuch, Assistant Professor of History, Kennesaw State University, GA

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UNH Manchester Books in the Mill Fall 2008
Alternative Histories

Join UNH Manchester librarians and book group guest leaders for discussions of the books and (when available) their film adaptations. Discussions will be held in the Library mezzanine conference room at 6:30 pm. For more information please call the library at 603-641-4173.

Thursday, September 4, 6:30 p.m.: Fatherland by Robert Harris

It is 1964. The Nazis have won World War II, and Hitler's empire now extends all over Europe. A Berlin detective is dispatched to investigate a murder, and with the help of an American journalist uncovers secrets that reach to the top of the government and could overthrow the German Reich.

Thursday, October 2, 6:30 p.m.: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

Historical fact: Franklin Roosevelt once suggested Alaska as a refuge for Jews displaced by the Second World War. Pulitzer Prize winner Chabon's clever historical fiction: European Jews did settle in the far north, and are now about to be removed from their new homeland. In this witty noir mystery/alternative history novel, policeman Meyer Landsman investigates the death of a neighbor against the backdrop of Alaska's Jewish community.

Thursday, November 6, 6:30 p.m.: The Plot against America by Philip Roth

In Roth's speculative history, the isolationist Charles Lindbergh defeats Franklin Roosevelt in 1940; he proceeds to make peace with Hitler, and then issues in a series of anti-Semitic national programs. In the chilling era that follows, rife with hatred and bigotry, one Jewish family attempts to maintain their identity in the face of institutionalized persecution.

Thursday, December 4, 6:30 p.m.: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde

Set in an alternative 1985 in which time machines are common, the classics are revered, and the Crimean War rages on, Fforde's whimsical novel is a surreal delight. When a fiendish literary thief uses time travel to steal famous literary characters right out of their manuscripts, detective Thursday Next literally enters the pages of Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre to save its fictional heroine!

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Manchester Celebrates the 400th Anniversary of Quebec

On a rocky point high above the St. Lawrence River, French explorer Samuel Champlain founded the first permanent French settlement in North America on July 3, 1608. The Algonquin called it Quebec, or "where the river narrows," (cbc.ca). In 2008, Quebec City, Canada celebrates the 400th anniversary of Champlain's feat.

Many thousands of immigrants of French heritage from Quebec found new lives in Manchester, New Hampshire, particularly during the era of industrialization from the mid-19th Century into the early 20th Century. In celebration of the 400th anniversary of Quebec, the Manchester Historic Association and UNH Manchester have partnered to offer a series of community events.

Thursday, September 25, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

Taste of the Old Country in the New: The Franco-Americans of Manchester

Manchester is one example of the many industrial centers that attracted immigrants from Quebec in numbers large enough to warrant the creation and maintenance of an infrastructure of religious, educational, social, cultural, and commercial institutions that helped preserve this community's language and traditions. Discuss life in one of America's major Franco-American communities. To be held at UNH Manchester, 400 Commercial Street, in the third floor auditorium. Presented by Robert Perreault, Faculty, Modern Languages & Literature at Saint Anselm College. Funding Provided by the New Hampshire Humanities Council

Sunday, September 28, 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Walking tour of Old St. Augustin Cemetery

Presented by the Manchester Historic Association

$10 general public, $5 members of the Manchester Historic Association

This walking tour, led by local historians Richard Duckoff and John Jordan, will explore the lives and times of Manchester's earliest French Canadian immigrants, many of whom were parishioners of St. Augustin church, the first Franco-American parish in the city. The tour will include the stories of leading figures in Manchester's Franco-American community, as well as those of ordinary folk. Pre-registration is required by calling (603) 622-7531.

Tuesday, October 7, 6:30 - 8:30 pm

Pardon My French! - A play with music by Susan Poulin & Gordon Carlisle

In the land of hyphenated identity, Susan Poulin sets out on the sometimes humorous, sometimes treacherous path to reconnect with her Franco-American heritage. Her rollercoaster ride of self-discovery leads her to some surprising places. From the origins of Franco-American Spaghetti to the textile mills of Skowhegan, from logging camps on the Canadian border to being hypnotized to find the French in her head, Susan is determined to reclaim her first language and in the process reclaims a whole lot more. She's doing the assimilation samba and it's not as easy as it looks. The play is performed in English with some French references. To be held at UNH Manchester, 400 Commercial Street, in the third floor auditorium. Funding provided by the Smyth Foundation

Saturday, October 11, 9 am - 12:30 pm

"Miles of Mills" Walk

Presented by the Manchester Historic Association

Admission: $20 general public, $15 members of the Manchester Historic Association

Walk the entire Amoskeag Manufacturing Company millyard with local historian Robert Perreault and Aurore Eaton, Interim Executive Director of the Manchester Historic Association. This program will honor the people who have lived and worked along the banks of the Merrimack River in Manchester. These include the Penacook Indians who fished at Amoskeag Falls, the early European settlers, and the many thousand of mill workers who toiled in the mile of brick factories along the river. This event will also celebrate Quebec 400 by honoring the Franco-Americans of Manchester, who made up a large proportion of the workers in the Millyard during the industrial era. Lunch will be provided at the Millyard Museum at the end of the walk. Pre-registration is required by calling (603) 622-7531.

Saturday, October 18, 10 am - 4 pm

Amoskeag 30th Anniversary Celebration Included with regular admission to the Millyard Museum

This all-day series of activities will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the publication of the ground-breaking book Amoskeag - Life and Work in an American Factory City by Tamara Hareven and Randolph Langenbach. Included will be dramatic readings from Amoskeag, a tour of the Millyard Museum including the exhibit "Nous sommes ici! We are here! A Celebration of Manchester's Franco-American Heritage," and an interview with Robert B. Perreault, who worked on the project team for the Amoskeag book.

Thursday, October 23, 6:30 - 8:00 pm

French-Canadian Music and its Cross-Cultures

Learn more about the migration of French-Canadians and the evolution of their traditional music, its arrival in North America from France, its crossing with Indian culture during the evangelization of Acadia and Quebec, its growth alongside English culture after British colonization and its expansion from Acadia to Louisiana. Samples of traditional songs accompany the discussion. To be held at UNH Manchester, 400 Commercial Street, in the third floor auditorium. Presented by Lucie Therrien, writer and performer from Portsmouth, NH. Funding Provided by the New Hampshire Humanities Council

Sunday, November 2, 2:00 pm

La Bonne Chanson: A Celebration of Franco-American Music

Presented by the Manchester Historic Association with the Majestic Theatre

$20 general public, $15 members of the Manchester Historic Association

This concert will showcase talented performers from The Majestic Theatre in a celebration of the popular music of the older generation of French-Canadians and Franco-Americans. Included will be delightful selection of songs in French - melodic, romantic, playful, and humorous. The concert will take place at the Millyard Museum at 200 Bedford Street in Manchester, NH. Light refreshments will be served.

Saturday, November 8, 10:30 AM

Amoskeag - Life and Work in an American Factory City by Tamara Hareven and Randolph Langenbach.

Presented by the Manchester Historic Association Book Discussion

This book, published in 1978, speaks eloquently about the lives and times of Manchester's industrial workforce in the early 20th century. Discussion will be led by Robert B. Perreault. Pre-registration is required by calling (603) 622-7531.

Visit www.manchesterhistoric.org for more information about upcoming events at the Millyard Museum.

Visit the Franco American Centre's website for information about events taking place in Manchester, www.francoamericancentrenh.com.

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Poverty in America - Saul O Sidore Lecture Series

Monday, September 22, 1:00 - 2:00 PM
A two-part lecture.

Part I: Who Shall Assist the Poor? An Inquiry into the Role of Markets, Private Charity and Government

Preceding Dustin's talk, Dr. Birch will give an overview of a paper he wrote dealing with the problems associated with assisting the poor. The paper uses the writings of Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments, to frame some of the economic, psychological and ethical issues regarding how best to assist the poor. Using Smith's own economic and ethical thought and invoking the work of modern economists (e.g., the concept of "public goods") a case is made for the government to assist the poor although the precise type of assistance and the complementary role of private charity and markets is a fertile topic for debate. Presented by Tom Birch, Associate Professor of Economics

Part II: Children Are Poor Because the Mothers Are Poor

Drawing upon 25 years of welfare advocacy work in NH, Sara Dustin will discuss the interplay between the very low status our society assigns to welfare mothers and the increasing poverty of their children. To bring the attitudes and prejudices that underlie our current public welfare policies to light, Dustin will conduct some interactive thought experiments with the audience during her talk. For example, she will ask the audience to think about how our welfare policies would change if we came to view young women raising small children alone as performing a vital labor service that is fundamental to the functioning of our economy and society. Presented by Sara Dustin, UNH Manchester student

Wednesday, September 24, 1:00 - 2:00 PM

A Home for Everyone - NH's Plan to End Homelessness

Over the past two decades, the words homeless and homelessness have become part of the American political and social vocabulary. The good news is that, through research, technology, and broader communication, we are becoming more aware of the causes and results of homelessness, and we have come to realize that these formerly invisible people are part of the fabric of our communities. The bad news is that every year there are more and more people in our state who are chronically or temporarily homeless. Learn more about NH's 10-year plan to end homelessness.
Presented by Keith Kuenning, Executive Director of the NH Coalition to End Homelessness

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