Speaker's Bureau 2025 Lineup!!

This presentation by Arizona Historical Society's Jim Turner describes some of our history's notables and notorious characters from common folk to public heroes.  Find out more about the everyday people like you and me that helped settle our pioneer state long before indoor plumbing, electricity and of course, air conditioning!

Jim Turner has worked with more than 70 local museums and authored numerous books about our region and state.  He has been teaching Arizona history for 47 years.

Please see the flyer for more details.  As always, the program is free and open to the public but does require pre-registration through the Community Center.

Arizona residents as well as tourists share interest in the intrigue and colored history of the mining town located on the steep sides of Cleopatra Hill.  On April 16 you will have the opportunity to join historian Jay Mark and his presentation of "Jerome:  Too Stubborn To Die".  His diverse background, knowledge and experience contribute to his lively and engaging presentation that includes many seldom seen images as he recounts the numerous disasters, tragedies, setbacks and ultimate successes of the city that was once the fourth largest in Arizona.

Sign up now to insure a spot for what is sure to be yet another entertaining program brought to you by Encore's Speaker Bureau.  Please see the flyer for more details.  As always, the program is free and open to the public but does require pre-registration through the Community Center.

Imagine yourself planning your dream vacation abroad, anticipating all the exciting and memorable sights you'll soon be experiencing for yourself.  Now imagine yourself arriving at the first destination on your itinerary, navigating through the airport and proceeding beyond to embark on your carefully planned to do and see list only to find that somewhere along the way, two-legged predators had relieved you of your essential travel items.....money, credit cards and more.  What would you do?

This very scenario is the topic of October 9th's program "Travel Safety - Conquering the Hidden Predators Lurking Within the Travel  Wilderness".

Join presenter Carleen Watts to learn how to heighten your awareness to this threat and learn some basic but routinely ignored travel tips for safeguarding your most important personal items.  And if the worst case scenario still occurs, she'll share the steps to take to make the remainder of the trip less stressful and hopefully salvage some of the anticipated enjoyment.

As a former US Special Agent (Criminal Investigator) for over 32 years, Carleen's unique career path has prepared her to speak on this topic in depth.  Please refer to the flyer for additional details on her impressive credentials and experience.

Be sure to pre-register with the Community Center prior to October 9th for this interesting program that starts promptly at 1:00 pm.

Arizona is rich with tales of the old west from cowboys, law men, and pioneer women to cattle rustlers, bank robbers and   painted ladies but no other 1800's moniker creates a mind picture better than the infamous snake oil salesman.

Wednesday, April 10th's Speaker's Bureau featured presentation "Arizona Snake Oil Salesmen, Scams, and Hoaxes" should provide yet another interesting, amusing and even surprising look at the enduring profession of scoundrels taking advantage of unsuspecting and vulnerable "marks".

Presenter Christine Reid uses newspaper articles, quotes, photographs and all sorts of collectible memorabilia to share some of the most famous as well as the lesser known scams and hoaxes that have been perpetrated on early, gullible Arizonans.

Ms. Reid's interest in Arizona's diverse and rich western heritage developed and grew as a writer and researcher with the Pinal County Historical Museum and later as Community Scholar for the Anthem at Merrill Ranch continuing education program.  She is committed to sharing the sometimes hidden or forgotten aspects of Arizona's characters and history and shares our state's history in a reliable and engaging manner.  Mark your calendars for Wednesday, April 10th at 1:00 pm. 

 Laura Tohe, PhD and daughter of a Navajo Code Talker, shared insights into the contributions made by this unique and integral group of servicemen.  Not only did they develop a secret code that was used to help defeat the Japanese military, saving many American lives, they returned home and overcame obstacles that helped change the Navajo Nation and their communities.

An accomplished author, Dr Tohe has written an oral history book on the Navajo Code Talkers and is Professor Emerita with Distinction from Arizona State University and the current Navajo Nation Poet Laureate.