Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) Series Covers the Election Process “A to Z”
The Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) at Lone Star College-Montgomery will present a Political Affairs Series entitled: How and Why Does the Election Process Work? The 11-week series will be held on Thursday afternoons from 1-3 pm, September 4-November 13, at LSC-University Center, located on the campus of Lone Star College-Montgomery. With the presidential election taking place this November, and with much interest in the election process generated during the spring primary campaigns, the series includes topics to help the voter understand the election process.
Each session provides an opportunity to become a more informed voter. Regardless of political party affiliation, the lectures are meant to be informative and bipartisan. Questions are encouraged and discussions should prove to be lively but not confrontational.
Sessions include:
(Sept 4) How to be an Informed Voter. Montgomery County elections administrator, Carol Gaultney or another representative from Election Central will describe the non-partisan voter education effort and the procedures necessary to conduct an election. Deborah English, a member of the League of Women Voters-Montgomery County, will describe the organization’s non-partisan voter education projects, which include candidate forums, the voter guide and voter key publications.
(Sept 11 and 18) Why Do We Have Political Parties? Adrienne Cadik, Montgomery County chair of the Democratic Party and Dr. Walter D. Wilkerson, Jr., Montgomery County chair of the Republican Party and other representatives from the two major political parties will report on their political party convention, present the platform for their major party, and describe what the party does before, during, and after the election.
(Sept 25) Let’s Hear from the ‘Third’ Parties. A representative from each of the ‘third’ parties that has a presidential candidate on the Texas November ballot will report on their political party convention and platform. Libertarian Party candidate for US Senate, Yvonne Schick, will be one of the presenters.
(Oct 2) What Should We Look For in the Pre-Election Coverage by the Media? Jim Fredricks, editor and publisher of The Courier newspaper will discuss the role of the media in marketing the candidate. The use of statistical analysis in campaign strategy and prediction of election outcomes will be presented by a political strategist.
(Oct 9) Is Our Vote Secure? Should we be concerned about the integrity of our vote? Should photo IDs be required to qualify voters at the voting precinct? Discussion will follow the viewing of the film “Uncounted”. Helen Bostock, a member of the League of Women Voters-Montgomery County, will moderate the session.
(Oct 16) Does Generational Difference Impact the Vote? Jill Silman, a generational diversity instructor, will discuss the impact that voter age and voter lifestyle may have on election outcome.
(Oct 23 and Oct 30) Choosing Our President. Art Stamm will discuss the essentials for getting quality candidates, running clean campaigns, and understanding the Electoral College.
(Nov 6) Did Your Candidate Win? Why or Why not? This will be a relaxed, non-confrontational, after-the-election discussion of what you learned or did not learn about the political process by following the presidential election coverage. Helen Bostock, a member of the League of Women Voters-Montgomery County, will moderate the session.
(Nov 13) Were the Pundits Right? Carolyn Davis, PhD., a political science faculty member from Lone Star College-North Harris, will present a post-election wrap-up session to assess the impact of the media and statistical analysis on the final outcome.
For more information, please contact Donna Smith-Burns, program manager for ALL and adult personal enrichment , at (936) 273-7259 or visit the ALL Web site at http://Montgomery.LoneStar.edu/ALL. While these classes are free for ALL members, a $35 ALL annual membership is required to register.
The ALL program at LSC-Montgomery provides opportunities for continued intellectual and personal growth for active older adults enjoy. The program provides courses, lectures and more informal activities with no educational pre-requisites.
LSC-Montgomery is located between Conroe and The Woodlands, at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit Montgomery.LoneStar.edu.