Maine’s population is slowly growing in the 21st century at a rate of about two-tenths of one percent each year. This rate places Maine 42nd out of 50 states in its rate of population growth however, beneath what appears to be a sluggish growth rate, Maine is experiencing significant gross in-migration and gross out-migration. As much as ten percent of the population turns over every decade. Why is this happening?

Without net positive in-migration, Maine would be losing population every year because our deaths in Maine exceed our births. Maine experiences a ten percent population turnover per decade which is a significant number of people.  For one thing, it means that there are a lot of people “from away” (PFA’s) who are new Mainers however, the rate of turnover in the 21st century is less than half of what was experienced in 19th century Maine. In that century, large numbers of Maine-born young people left the state, some, especially men, for opportunities in agriculture and logging in rural America while others, especially women, left for the jobs in urban, industrializing America. During the same 19th century and into the early 20th century, large numbers of foreign-born migrants came to Maine, especially from the British Isles, northern Europe and Canada. 

In this series we will first examine the people who left Maine, when and why did they go, and then, we will look at the people who moved to Maine - again when did they do this and why. Using the records from Ancestry.com, the decennial US census, the publications of the Office of the Maine State Economist, and the Maine Historical Society along with records of the Maine State Archives, Jim will present us with a picture of life in Maine and why people lived here. In this four-session presentation we will also examine some of the letters, diaries, newspapers stories, and even some blog posts of Mainers past and present who have left the state, or alternately, have moved to the state.

Instructor: Jim Oberly has taught history courses for Sunrise Senior College, Midcoast Senior College, OLLI-Minnesota and for OLLI Manhattan Marymount. Jim holds an undergraduate degree from Columbia University and a doctorate in history from the University of Rochester and was on the faculty of the Department of History at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for 36 years. His interest in human migration history stems from past visiting appointments at the University of Michigan’s Inter-University for Political and Social Research, and at the Minnesota Population Center, based at the University of Minnesota. He combines teaching for Sunrise Senior College with continued scholarly work.

Class Information: This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom with the instructor on Zoom from his home in St. Paul, Minnesota. Classes are scheduled for Tuesdays, November 18th,  December 2nd, 9th and 16th from 10:00 to 11:00 AM (no class November 25th).

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                  IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee.

Important: If at this time you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning to join as a member today, make sure you answer that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so that we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may incur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

                                                                   IMPORTANT  

When you are checking out, please make sure that you select the option “My SSC Membership is Current” when answering the question about your membership status - otherwise you will be overcharged for this.

                                                           MEMBERSHIP POLICY

This membership covers June 1st, 2025, to May 31st, 2026. SSC Members must have a valid membership entry on your file to enjoy the full benefits of our Summer-Fall 2025 and Winter-Spring 2026 programs that take place during this period. You should select your 2025- 2026 membership one time as part of registering for your first class in this new year. If you need to apply for a scholarship to cover your membership fees, this is done using a separate application which is located on the SSC website. Your request must be reviewed and processed by the Scholarship Committee before registering for any classes.

If you are not sure what your current membership status is, before registering for this please contact SSC at sunriseseniorcollege@maine.edu or call 207-255-1384 and leave a message – we will get back to you.

Sunrise Senior College is pleased to welcome back Catherine Hunter as she takes on a fascinating Ocean Quest.

Seventy percent of the Earth's surface is ocean. This planet could be re-named "Ocean"; we are citizens of an ocean planet with islands the size of continents. The ocean is the most important resource on Earth because it controls weather, provides food, and creates 50% of the world's oxygen. 

Awesome life forms are constantly being discovered at all depths of the ocean. Remarkable life forms inhabit the deepest ocean where there is no light!  As scientists pursue all types of marine research, they consistently advocate for caution because exploration and exploitation of the ocean's resources have a history of positive and negative consequences. One might say that the romantic ship-narrative has sailed, replaced with a heightened appreciation for the human impact on marine health and the human pressure on beings who live in or depend on the sea.

Education is the key to understanding the ocean of the past, present, and future. The ocean is a complex and ambitious topic of study; however, a short course is a place to start. This quest to learn more will highlight the following:

1. Maps: What You See and What You Don't See

2. Marine Specimens

3. Ocean Voyagers: Seafarers and Refugees

4. Innovative Marine Museums

5. Stories Told by Artists and Scientists

Why not join Catherine on this five-week journey exploring our fascinating oceans.

Instructor: Catherine Hunter was museum curator, educator, and consultant for over twenty years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History of Art from Cornell University and began her career as a curator in the Department of Textiles at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Hunter has been developing and teaching zoom courses for adult learners since 2019. Her courses reflect a lifelong interest in the intersection of art, art history, science, and culture. Hunter is a sailor with a broad interest in all things nautical. She is a member of the New Bedford Whaling Museum and the International Congress of Maritime Museum (ICMM).

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom.   The instructor will teach this remotely and the class will not be recorded.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                   IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee.

Important: If at this time you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning to join as a member today, make sure you answer that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so that we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may incur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

Were you aware that in the 1960s and 1970s the United States was involved in a ferocious war in Vietnam which also impacted Laos, a country we were not at war with, and that 20,000 people have been killed by bombs in Laos over the 50 years since the war ended? Sunrise Senior College is pleased to bring you this spirited discussion and presentation by Restoration Laos founder Michael Ambler.

During this presentation you will learn how the neutral nation of Laos, which just happened to border Vietnam, and Lao territory was used by the enemy North Vietnam to move troops and supplies. In response, the U.S. secretly bombed Laos for a decade. This “secret war” left behind more than 80 million live cluster bombs, as well as larger bombs, littering the country from years of U.S. bombing during the Vietnam War. 

Michael will tell us the story of how he and his wife Darreby discovered just how serious this issue was, and how they decided to found Restoration Laos to help speed the pace of bomb clearance.  Restoration Laos’ Mine Action Team 53, equipped and managed by its expert operating partners at Mines Advisory Group, is currently clearing bombs from four villages in Khammouane Province, one of the poorest areas in Laos.

We will learn about the successes of MAT 53, and how these 9 highly skilled young women worked to clear 125 acres of land of Vietnam War era bombs, restoring safety, dignity and prosperity to villagers and subsistence farmers in remote rural Laos.  We will also learn how in 2025, MAT 53 will have a new sponsor allowing Restoration Laos to take on an exciting new project: a rapid response team which will immediately address emergencies when Lao people find bombs in their houses, schools and villages. Michael is traveling to Laos this February, where he will meet and work with this new team so as to be able to bring back stories of the difficulties they are facing in one of the most contaminated, hardest-to-reach parts of Laos. Working again with Mines Advisory Group, Restoration Laos will ensure that this team is able to scramble when the phone rings. Whether it’s a village chief, or a farmer, or a rural school principal, this team will be ready to turn on the flashing lights and say, “don’t worry—we’re on our way.”

Presenter:  Michael Ambler is the president of Restoration Laos. Michael is a former lawyer, a priest of the Episcopal Church, and the head of Restoration Laos.  On multiple visits, Michael and Darreby learned about the challenges the country faces: Laos is a “least developed nation” in U.N. terms, and is both land-locked and surrounded by more-powerful neighbors. The U.S. and other governments fund explosive clearance teams, but at current rates, some people and villages still have decades to wait until a team reaches them and makes their land safe. Mr. Ambler founded Restoration Laos to support at least one clearance team dedicated to these remote areas that otherwise wouldn’t be able to exist. 

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom.        

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                  IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is being offered Free and Open to the public and we encourage everyone with any interest in the material being presented to attend. 

Curious about all the talk surrounding AI (Artificial Intelligence)? Why not join Sunrise Senior College as we engage in this 1.5-hour virtual (Zoom only) course as your easy-to-understand guide to the world of AI.  Our presenter Fran Bradley is an expert in AI and he will demystify this powerful technology, exploring what AI really is, how it works in simple terms, and where you encounter it every day—from voice assistants (like Siri and Alexa) to personalized suggestions on Netflix and Google Maps.

You'll gain a foundational understanding of:

• What AI is (and isn't): Separating the reality from the science fiction.

• Common AI Tools: Learning about popular applications like ChatGPT and image generators, and how to use them safely.

• The Impact on Your Life: Discussing the practical benefits of AI for everything from health and security to staying connected with family.

• Safety and Ethics: Brief tips on using AI tools responsibly and recognizing potential risks.

By the end of this session, you'll feel more confident discussing AI, understanding the news, and leveraging these tools to make your life easier and be more informed. Join us to explore this exciting and increasingly vital technology! Fran has “A Passion for Demystifying AI: My goal is to use this experience to break down complex topics, making AI accessible and practical for everyday use—no technical jargon necessary!”

Instructor: Fran Bradley has spent 32 Years in Software Leadership and Development. He spent over three decades at Lockheed Martin Space as a Software Architect, where he recently focused on leading Artificial Intelligence initiatives and building real-world software solutions:

 • Academic Excellence: Hold two Master's degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (Computer Science and Networking), providing a deep theoretical foundation in the technology we'll be discussing.

Class Information:  This is a Zoom only evening class and our instructor will be presenting this class from Pennsylvania.  The session will be recorded.    

                                                    IMPORTANT:  See Below

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $15.00 fee.

Important:  If you are not currently a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning on joining SSC as a member today.  Make sure you answer that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so the we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may occur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

We have been driving safely for years. Many older adults value the independence of driving however, changes that happen with age may alter a person’s ability to drive safely. You may notice driving is becoming more difficult over time for yourself or for your loved ones you ride with. Changes in health, including medical conditions, medicines or injuries, also may impact a person’s driving skills. It is good to learn more about the different factors that can affect driving as you age and even the signs of when it may be time to stop driving so that you can plan in advance for your needs when that time comes.

In this presentation, Dr. Meuser will present some useful information that will allow us as seniors to better understand, by informing and empowering us, how aging-related changes in health and function may impact our driving safety. He will provide information on how the Maine BMV addresses medical-fitness-to-drive concerns, and how older drivers may self-regulate to remain safely behind the wheel or make a smooth transition into driving retirement.

Instructor:  Dr. Tom Meuser is a clinical psychologist, applied gerontologist, and social scientist based in Portland, Maine. He moved here in 2018 from Missouri to serve as the Founding Director for the University of New England Center for Excellence in Aging & Health. He retired from this role in 2024 and is now self-employed as a geriatric neuropsychologist (https://geropsychmaine.com/) and a researcher-educator for both the Maine Bureaus of Motor Vehicles and Highway Safety.

Tom led the team which developed Missouri’s approach to the medical evaluation of at-risk drivers in 2009. He was also the program evaluator for the AMA’s Older Drivers Project (which continues now through AGS). His 2025-2026 speaking tour in Maine focuses on informing and empowering older adults, as well as the clinical providers who serve them, to make reasoned decisions on driving mobility. Maine’s regulations are an important focus too. He can be reached at tom.meuser@maine.gov.

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom. The instructor will teach this remotely on Zoom.  

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                   IMPORTANT:  See Below

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $15.00 fee.

Important:  If you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning on joining SSC as a member today, make sure you answer that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so the we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may incur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

Sunrise Senior College is pleased to present – Ms. Jacinta Mbithe Kinyunzu, who’s course, “Climate Change through Generational Eyes,” will explore how climate change impacts the health and wellbeing of different generations. Jacinta is an expert in environmental chemistry and whose academic and professional journey is driven by a deep passion for the environment and a commitment to addressing the critical issues posed by climate change. She will be speaking to us from Africa where she is on the faculty of Science at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. She will explore how climate change impacts the health and wellbeing of different generations with a focus on the experiences, challenges and strengths of older adults in coastal communities like ours.

The class will examine how rising seas, changing weather patterns and shifting ecosystems affect physical health, mental and emotional wellbeing and community life. She will use global case studies and local perspectives, participants will share stories, compare experiences across ages and discuss strategies for resilience. Together, we will celebrate the wisdom, adaptability and leadership that older generations bring to safeguarding community wellbeing in a changing climate.

Instructor: Jacinta Mbithe Kinyunzu is an environmental chemist and higher education professional with a Masters in Environmental Chemistry and over eight years of teaching experience at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa. She is as well affiliated to Minorities in Shark Sciences (MISS) as part of the second cohort of Diversifying Ocean Science (DOS) 2024 with an emphasis on aquarium science working on “Isotope Analysis Variation in Jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium” and in the ICONIC Oceans Diet Working Group, applying stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen from shark teeth at the Stable Isotope Ecosystem Lab, UC Merced, to understand historical and present-day ocean ecosystem changes. A program designed to help participants enhance their ocean science skills, broaden their professional networks and gain meaningful mentorship. A Mawazo Institute peer mentor to both undergraduate and postgraduate students in African universities; the GLOW Movement team member addressing climate change and health in coastal Kenya and the IOC Ocean Academy, studying climate impacts on marine biodiversity and coastal communities. Her work blends scientific analysis with global case studies to examine the socio-economic, ecological and cultural dimensions of climate change impacts on coastal communities.

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom.   The instructor will teach this remotely on Zoom.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                   IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee.

Important: If at this time you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning to join as a member today, make sure you answer that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so that we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may incur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.

Here is your opportunity to learn about one of nature’s most misunderstood insects - the Wasp.

Did you know that they are vital to the world’s eco systems, serving as pollinators and pest controllers? There are over 100,000 species of wasp in the world and only one or two of these creatures have resulted in us having a negative view of wasps and their role in our eco system.

Why not join Linda Goodwin as she reviews the evolution, science, engineering marvels, extraordinary variety and the cultural significance of these marvelous insects. The class will span six sessions over 4 weeks where she will cover different topics such as the classification and evolution of Hymenoptera, a large order of insects that includes ants, bees, and Wasps; the diversity of wasps where we look at the wide variety of social and solitary wasps; the role of wasps in ecology and agriculture, as pollinators and pest control; the unique engineering of wasps by examining paper wasps, mud daubers, Potters wasps, and others; the chemistry and medical applications of wasp venom, saliva and other products; and wasps in popular culture throughout history in literature, music, fashion, movies, etc..

Instructor: Linda Goodwin is a retired MD and now a full-time artist with a lifelong curiosity and love of insects. She taught this same course during the summer session of OLLI, at UNC-Asheville, in western NC. Entomology was her favorite course in college. She incorporates paper wasp nests into her artwork.

Class Information:  This is a hybrid class - held in-person in UM@M’s room SCI 102 and via Zoom.   The instructor will teach this remotely on Zoom. The classes will be on Tuesdays & Thursdays on the following dates – February 26th (Thurs.), March 3rd (Tues.), 5th (Thurs.), 10th (Tues.) 12th (Thurs.) & 19th (Thurs.).  The first 5 classes will be held in Science 102 & on Zoom, the final class will be on Zoom only.

All facilities at the University of Maine at Machias (UM@M) are fully handicap compliant.  The facilities used by Sunrise Senior College (SSC) at the college have ramps, elevators and handicap accessible bathrooms.  Our offsite functions and activities have various limitations and restrictions and may not be fully handicap accessible.  SSC will endeavor to identify limitations at these to you in advance.

                                                    IMPORTANT:  See Below

“Sunrise Senior College does not endorse any appeal or representation made by a presenter, non-profit organization or business during an SSC presentation.  SSC members attending the presentations may wish to pursue additional involvement with the organization or presenter based on the material that was presented and in doing so, they are acting on their own and not as part of SSC.”

This class is available to all current Maine Senior College (MSCN) Members. The general public not wishing to join Sunrise Senior College at this time may attend this class for a $20.00 fee.

Important: If at this time you are not a current member of Sunrise Senior College (SSC) but are planning to join as a member today, make sure you answer that “Your SSC membership is current” when checking out so that we can properly bill you for this class.

Sunrise Senior College (SSC) is a membership-based organization. Our SSC members receive special benefits as current members when they register for this course. Any member of another MSCN college is also able to enjoy this course, but may incur some additional charges. If you are a member of the general public, you can take this course but will have to pay additional fees associated with being a non-member. For any attendee that is not a current member of Sunrise Senior College, any materials required for the course are your responsibility. When checking out, please carefully read and answer the questions asked associated with this specific course so that you are charged appropriately for this class. Failure to do this may result in your being cancelled from the course. We hope you enjoy this offering.