| Meeting Date | Subject and Speaker |
|---|---|
| Oct. 1, 2003 | Women's Basketball at the University of Arizona; Coach Joan Bonvicini |
| Nov. 5, 2003 | The USAF 46TH Test Group; Col. Joseph Zeis |
| Dec. 3, 2003 | Reflections on Iraq Reconstruction; Ambassador David Dunford |
| Jan. 7, 2004 | Recollections of a Pioneer; Mr. Sergei I. Sikorsky |
| Feb. 4, 2004 | Neurologic Disorders and Aging; Dr. Valerie Cwik |
| Feb. 21, 2004 | Second Annual Top Cat Day -- Bus Trip for U of A Women's Basketball |
| Mar. 3, 2004 | The Natural History of East Africa; Dr. Yar Petryszyn |
| Apr. 7, 2004 | Mission of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Ms. Cynthia Hernandez |
| May 5, 2004 | Images of America -- Green Valley, Arizona; Mr. Phil Goorian |
Coach Bonvicini, the winningest coach in Arizona's Basketball history and one of the top women's coaches in the United States has agreed to return to discuss her team's 2002-2003 season and trip to the NCAA Tournament. She will also talk about her expectations for the upcoming season. Coach Bonvicini has again invited the 260 Club members and spouses to a game and reception afterward at the McKale Center. Details will be discussed at this meeting.
Col. Zeis, Commander of the 46th Test Group at Holloman AFB, New Mexico will describe how his Group performs a unique test and evaluation mission, using state-of-the-art measurement capabilities. The Group's primary test specialities include Guidance/Navigation Test and Evaluation, High Speed Sled Track Testing, Radar Cross Section Measurement, and Flight Testing. Recently, his Group's rocket sled propelled a 192-lb. payload to Mach 8.41, setting a world's land speed record.
Ambassador Dunford retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 1995 after completing his assignment as Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman. Previously he was Deputy Ambassador in Saudi Arabia, including 15 months as acting Ambassador. He is currently an Adjunct Instructor in the U of A's Department of Political Science where he teaches a course on the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Because of his extensive knowledge and experience in the Middle East, this past spring Ambassador Dunford was recalled to Baghdad by Secretary of State Colin Powell to assist in getting the Iragi Foreign Ministry up and running. He recently returned from this assignment and will talk about his experiences in Iraq.
Mr. Sikorsky retired from Sikorsky Aircraft in 1992 as Vice President-Special Projects, but remains active as a consultant on aviation matters for several companies. He grew up in Connecticut watching his father, aviation pioneer Igor Sikorsky, design and build the famous Sikorsky flying boats or "Clippers" for Pan American Airways and many other airlines around the world. He is the recipient of a number of aviation-related honors and awards. He speaks French, German, Italian, and Russian as well as English. Mr. Sikorsky will trace the development of aviation from the legends of prehistoric mankind to the present day. It is also the story of one of the great aviation pioneers of Europe and America -- his father Igor Sikorsky.
Dr. Cwik is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona with a sub-specialization in diseases of nerve and muscle. Her particular focus is on ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and muscular dystrophies. At this meeting, Dr. Cwik will talk about disorders of the nervous system (peripheral neuropathies) that affect sensory and motor functions particulary of the arms, legs, feet, and face -- problems that become more common as we age.
For pictures of Top Cat Day, click here.
Dr. Yar Petryszyn, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona and one of our favorite speakers, has agreed to return to talk about his adventures in East Africa. In his previous visits to the 260 Club, Dr. Petryszyn has talked about weather phenomena and a trip to the North Pole on a Russian nuclear icebreaker. Today, he will discuss the natural history of several parks and reserves in Kenya and Tanzania. The program will open with an overview of Africa in general (topography, rainfall patterns, grasslands and savanas), then visit some areas and explore the unique plants and animals that are found there.
Ms. Hernandez, of the Department of Transportation Security Administration, is currently Assistant Federal Security Director at the Tucson International Airport. During her visit to the 260 Club, Ms. Hernandez will discuss the goals, objectives, organization, and vision of the Transportation Security Administration. While the TSA is a federal organization, Ms. Hernandez will focus her talk on the TSA presence in Tucson.
Mr. Goorian, a retired economist and resident of Green Valley, will discuss his recent book "Images of America -- Green Valley, Arizona." This book is a photographic essay of our middle Santa Cruz River Valley beginning long before the present retirement community was founded. The photos and line sketches in this fascinating work commence in 1863 when a traveler passed through this area and wrote a book on "Adventures in the Apache Country" and end in 1985.