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MCA Speaker Series

The list below provides information about each presentation.

Click on a presentation title for additional information or to register. 

All speakers in this series are members of MCA.

MCA Speaker Series

  • MCA Speaker Series - Higher Education in America: Past, Present and Future.

    • November 30, 2023
    • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Iser Jewish Cultural Center or on Zoom
    • 190
    Register

    Higher Education in America: Past, Present and Future

    Presenter: MCA Member Steve Yussen

    A brief history of higher education in the US, from colonial times to present, considering the 5 W's (Who, What, Where, When, Why), critical inflection points, and how its future may be shaped by demographics, technology, new providers, and new views of learning.

    Bio

    Dr. Steven Yussen held positions for 48 years as professor of educational psychology, child development and psychology at the Universities of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, and also as Dean of Education at Iowa and Minnesota.

    While his formal teaching and research focused on thinking, memory and reading, he was an avid observer of the larger world of colleges and universities.

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  • Deciphering the National Popular Vote

    • December 13, 2023
    • 10:00 AM
    • Nina Iser Center and Streaming
    • 257
    Register


    Deciphering the National Popular Vote

    presented by Suzanne Low

    COED


    Most Americans, when asked, respond yes to the question “Should the U.S. President be the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the entire United States?” But that is not our current state-by- state winner-take-all system. The National Popular Vote (NPV) law, which works with the electoral college and does not require a constitutional amendment, has been signed into law by governors of both parties in 16 states and the District of Columbia, representing 205 (76%) of the votes necessary to implement this legislation. When states representing 270 electoral votes (the number needed to elect the President) have passed the law, the National Popular Vote will go into effect. When effective, it will guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and D.C. combined. The law will ensure that every vote will be equal throughout the U.S., regardless of where you live, and that every vote, in every state, will matter in every presidential election. Our goal in Florida is to pass this law by 2024.

    Suzanne Low is District Chair of Floridians for National Popular Vote (NPV) and NPV Chair of the League of Women Voters of Collier County. She has lived in Southwest Florida since 1997, serving as Director of Florida Operations and financial advisor for an independent wealth management firm until her retirement in 2016. Before moving to Florida, she worked as an attorney for 16 years in New Jersey.

    Suzanne was President of the Estate Planning Council of Naples, President of the Financial Planning Association of Southwest Florida and Charter Class member of Leadership Bonita. She served as a Board member of PACE at Immokalee, the Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida, League of Women Voters of Collier County and Temple Shalom of Naples. Suzanne speaks about the National Popular Vote to civic, leadership, adult education and community groups. Suzanne has a BA with Distinction from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, an MA from Indiana University and her JD from Rutgers School of Law

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  • MCA Speaker Series - Exploring Addiction: Why Is It So Misunderstood

    • January 04, 2024
    • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Iser Jewish Cultural Center or on Zoom
    • 195
    Register

    Exploring Addiction:

    Why Is It So Misunderstood


    Presenter: MCA Member Jeff Daiter


    Addiction is often mired in a host of predetermined biases that only serve to stigmatize those suffering from this debilitating illness. 

    jeff will explore the origins of substance dependence with the intent to further everyone’s understanding of this relapsing medical disorder.

    Bio

    Dr. Jeff Daiter graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1991 and completed his Residency in Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto.

    He went on to specialize in Sleep Disorders Medicine, receiving a Fellowship from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.  Later, he added Addiction Medicine to his focused practice area, achieving certification by the American Board of Addiction Medicine, the Canadian and American Societies of Addiction Medicine as well as a Fellowship from the latter.

    As co-founder of the Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres, he built up a network of over 90 addiction clinics across Canada.

    Having since retired, Jeff now spends half the year with his wife here in Naples. He's also the CEO and co-founder of InVintory wines incorporated. A wine platform that is now in 143 countries and helping over 100,000 collectors manage their wine collections.

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  • From Green Beret to the Director of the Secret Service

    • January 17, 2024
    • 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
    • Nina Iser Center and Streaming
    • 125
    Register

    Instincts

    My Career from Green Beret to the 19th Director of the US Secret Service

    presented by Lew Merletti

    COED


    Lew began his career with the Army's 5th Special Forces Group (aka Green Berets) in the jungles of Southeast Asia, where he earned a Bronze Star.  Following his military service, he joined the US Secret Service.


    Lew will talk about serving under Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton, about his days on the elite Counter Assault Team, and on the Presidential Protective Detail.


    He then became Director of the Secret Service, and will share anecdotes on being responsible for the lives of important people.


    Finally, Lew will tell us how he ended up becoming the Interim coach of the Cleveland Browns.

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  • Israel Between Wars - Steve Schreier

    • January 24, 2024
    • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Nina Iser Center - Schiff Hall or on Zoom
    • 331
    Register

    Israel Between Wars (Annual Update)

    MCA Member Steve Schreier

    Every year Steve makes several predictions regarding the political and economic condition in Israel, and in the Middle East in general. He looks back at events over the last year with an eye toward understanding their implications, and projecting forward. How did those predictions turn out and what will the next year look like?

    Presenter:  Steve Schreier, a resident of Massachusetts since 2008 and now Southwest Florida, and the president of the Schreier Group, which provides consulting to non-profit organizations and philanthropic foundations. Prior to that, Steve served as consultant and Senior Vice President of the American Technion Society from 1986-2007, during which he was responsible for the conceptualization, creation and implementation of a comprehensive development structure and program throughout the United States. He has also served in executive positions in Jewish Federations and as a community and campaign consultant for the Council of Jewish Federations.

    Steve's personal ties to Israel are deep-rooted. He lived on a kibbutz for a year of work-study in 1962, and moved to Israel in 1970 to conduct research on his doctorate.

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  • MCA Speaker Series - A Political Scientists Looks at the 2024 Election

    • January 25, 2024
    • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Iser Jewish Cultural Center or on Zoom
    • 188
    Register


    A Political Scientist Looks at the 2024 Election

    Presenter: MCA Member Terry Weiner


    With a Presidential election coming up in November 2024, there are many  concerns/challenges. Amongst them: legal challenges, age, security, fraud, popular vote, democracy, role of the VP.

    Terry will examine these issues and discuss their impact on the election.

    Bio

    Terry Weiner is the Chauncy H. Winters Professor of Comparative Social Analysis in the Political Science Department at Union College in NY, and has presented several times over past seasons. 

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  • MCA Speaker Series - The Chicago 8 Trial

    • February 29, 2024
    • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Iser Jewish Cultural Center or on Zoom
    • 189
    Register


    The Chicago 8 Trial


    Presenter: MCA Member Neil Adelman



    The Chicago 8 Trial was one of the most unusual courtroom spectacles in American history.  This was the 1969-70 trial of eight radicals accused of conspiring to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.  


    There is no question that a riot occurred on the streets of Chicago.  But whether it was a riot by anti-Viet Nam war protestors, or a riot by the Chicago police, remains an open question.  The events of the convention turmoil and trial mayhem made Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and Judge Julius Hoffman national figures - for a short period of time.


    Neil will discuss the trial and what significance it may still have today.


    Bio

    Neil Adelman is a retired attorney from Chicago.  He has spoken on Jewish musical subjects at synagogues and men's clubs in the Chicago area and in Naples at Beth Tikvah Congregation.  He has spoken at MCA events about the history of Katikvah, and after being a community lecturer at Lyric Opera of Chicago for 11 years, he has continued to speak about opera at the Renaissance Academy in Naples and in the Chicago area.

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  • MCA Speaker Series - America's Iconic Amusement Parks

    • March 28, 2024
    • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Iser Jewish Cultural Center or on Zoom
    • 193
    Register


    America’s Iconic Amusement Parks

    Presenter: MCA Member Jeff Margolis



    In 1846, the first amusement park in the United States, Lake Compounce Water Park, opened in Bristol, Connecticut. Since that time, children (and adults too) have had a love affair with breathtaking rides, death defying attractions and entertainment, and of course, the snacks that evoke memories of simpler times.


    Jeff will take us through an exploration of local amusement and destination theme parks in the United States and how they have woven their way into American culture.  Perhaps you'll see nostalgic photos of your favorite parks.


    Bio


    Jeff Margolis is an educator, author and lecturer who lives in Naples. Prior to retiring, Jeff was an academic advisor and professor at Rowan University College of Education in New Jersey. He serves on the board of the Press Club of Southwest Florida.  He recently became a member of the International Society of Olympic Historians, and is one of the founding members of MCA.

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  • MCA Speaker Series - What's New in the News?

    • April 25, 2024
    • 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Iser Jewish Cultural Center or on Zoom
    • 195
    Register



    What's New in the News?


    From broadcast and social media to streaming and artificial intelligence


    Presenter:  MCA Member Marc Rosenweig





    How is today's media industry dealing with our current challenges, from broadcast and social media, to streaming and AI.

    Marc will lead us through Alternative Facts, Artificial Intelligence, Fake Video, to what's happening with Twitter/X, Facebook and TikTok, and the challenges we face identifying what sources we trust and what "news" we can we believe.

    Bio

    Marc Rosenweig is Associate Professor of Television and Digital Media at Montclair State University. He spent more than three decades as a television reporter, producer, and program executive.  He was one of the founders of CNBC and the YES Network for the NY Yankees.  Marc managed news and sports programming and was part of teams that received the DuPont Columbia and George Polk Awards for investigative reporting.  He was also honored with six New York Emmy Awards for his work as a Senior Vice President of Programming at YES.  

    Marc received the L.J. Hortin Distinguished Alumnus Award from Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. He also has a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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