CEC begins year with reception on Tuesday

From artwork to music, archeology to history, there will be a wide variety of educational classes offered this fall to area adults interested in expanding their knowledge without doing homework.

The Continuing Education Center of Rancho Bernardo will be unveiling its fall offerings during a free champagne reception from 10:45 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Aug. 21 in Seacrest Village at Rancho Bernardo, located at 12730 Monte Vista Road in Poway. Anyone interested in joining CEC or attending some of its lectures as a non-member is welcome. RSVP at 858-487-0464. Members will be gathering earlier — at 10 a.m. — for their annual meeting.

CEC offers classes three times a week from September to May (no classes in December). They are 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. For a schedule and details, go to cecrb.com.

The nonprofit organization offers university-level, non-credit, homework-free classes taught by local college professors and other experts in their fields. While attendees are typically retirees, anyone is welcome to attend. Classes are $5 for members and $7 for non-members. Annual memberships are $30 per person or $50 for two members of the same household. A sustaining membership is $250 and those at that level do not pay the per class fee, said CEC President Arthur Pearl.

He said the organization has more than 100 members and last year’s move to Seacrest Village has worked out well. “It’s a great venue and they have been so accommodating,” Pearl said.

As for the upcoming class offerings, Pearl said there is a wide variety. Those offered in September will include a two-part series on archeology and the Bible, classes on George Washington, the music of Sir Arthur Sullivan, mysteries of the ancient world, climbing to the top of the world and government regulations. The 1975 film “Love and Death” will be shown, followed by a discussion and a film critic sharing some of the film’s backstory on how it was made.

Popular lecturer and art expert Charlotte Gragg will return this year, he said. She will conclude her series of last year on the Impressionists by talking about what makes a painting valuable.

Pearl said attendance at each class varies, but some of the more popular are when Gragg talks about art, Vincent Young discusses music and, depending on the topic, retired Boise State University adjunct professor Blaine Davies talks about history. “He gave a terrific (lecture) last year on (Alexander) Hamilton,” Pearl said.

As for his preferences, Pearl said he enjoys many of the talks — and the refreshments served — but his favorites have been on the origins of man, anthropology and archeology presented by Dr. Henry George. “He did a series on the genetics of mankind ... through history,” Pearl said.

CEC began as an affiliate of the San Diego State University Extended Studies Department. After 25 years it reformed in May 2004 as a private, nonprofit corporation. It is volunteer-run, with “a modest honorarium” offered to the speakers. Around 80 to 90 lectures are offered each academic year.

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