Events

Have you ever wondered how your water softener works; what's behind the plastic abbreviations of those recycle triangles; how soaps and detergents clean; and what happens as you bake bread? This course looks at the basic chemistry behind all of these household products and related chemistry processes at a level that students will understand! There's no need to have prior knowledge of chemistry to profit from the course. We can see the creative mind of God in chemistry. God has created a marvelous universe that works according to easily understood chemical principles. This program is an eclectic look into some of the many chemical principles that we encounter daily. If you think you hate chemistry, maybe this course will change your mind! About the instructor: Tom Sanders. Tom Sanders is a resident of Dock Woods and has been a fan of science and mathematics since elementary school. He loves reading about math, physics, chemistry, and science in general. Particularly he enjoys how math and science show the glory of God and His creative power! Tom taught high school chemistry for five years at Germantown Academy. After a 33-year career as a research chemist, Tom retired from Rohm and Haas/Dow in 2011. He and his wife, Shirley, raised two sons.

Are you curious about what living in Egypt would be like for an American? Or what life was like in Kuwait directly after the liberation of that country after the Gulf War? Presenter Judy Lambert lived in the Middle East for 17 years. She will discuss history, share stories of daily life, and present artifacts and pictures. About the instructor: Judy Lambert. Judy is currently retired from 50 years in education, having first served as a history teacher and then as the admissions director of American International School in Cairo, Egypt. She has lived in the five countries and all three of her children graduated from high school overseas. She currently works part time at Souderton Mennonite Homes as a receptionist. Judy loves to share her travel adventures.

This presentation was initially a colloquium delivered as part of the 2014 renaming ceremony of NASA's Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. Mark Tuttle will share his off-screen insights and outtakes from the First Flights television production. The making of the TV documentary series First Flights with an internationally renowned icon presented many challenges and gave Tuttle unique insight into the world of celebrities. The presentation features still and video footage, and will provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse of traveling for three years with Neil Armstrong in the U.S. and then later during the First World Air games held in Turkey in 1997. About the instructor: Mark Tuttle. Mark H. Tuttle has had a long and varied career in media creation and distribution. Working closely with his wife, Donna, they dubbed and sold to television Japanese anime of classical children's stories; created and sold a worldwide network TV series with Neil Armstrong; and created shows for PBS and large-screen video art installations. Over the years they also published books and magazines for the Baptist World Alliance and many other non-profit organizations.

Explore the cultural history of immigrants in southeastern Pennsylvania and how they impacted the growth of the region and influenced everyday life. See photos and artifacts from instructor Ryan Conroy's personal collection and archive for an exciting visual experience. About the instructor: Ryan Conroy. Ryan has volunteered with multiple local non-profit organizations and businesses in providing historical research, and has authored articles for magazines, websites, and blogs. He serves as acting president of the Spring-Ford Area Historical Society, serves on the council for Royersford borough, and served as a past president of the Historical Society of the Phoenixville area. Ryan has a history show on a local news outlet, Voxipop, called Timeless Tales. He enjoys sharing his love for history and knowledge of his favorite subjects, including local history, photography, immigration, and military history.

In this class Erik Kratz will share about God's amazing hand in his baseball career and the interactions that he was able to have because of Him. This class will offer ample time for questions from the audience, as Erik will share about his career and life as a professional baseball player. About the instructor: Erik Kratz. Erik Kratz grew up in Telford and graduated from Christopher Dock Mennonite High School (now Dock Mennonite Academy). He is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite University, where earned a B.A. in business administration. Erik played 19 professional baseball seasons as a catcher. He and his wife have been married for more than 20 years and have three children. Erik's family is a part of Souderton Mennonite Church.