The first week of the season features an eclectic mix of nature, politics and public policy, and issues around aging. The Thursday, June 15 evening’s feature lecture by Tara Armistead, “Centennial Park: a Nashville Treasure,” will explore the ecological and cultural history that inspired Nashville’s master plan and how it shaped the city. Much like the centennial exposition of 1897, this design embodies celebration, innovation, diversity and classicism. Armistead has 30 years of experience managing a small and intensive landscape architecture practice in Nashville. Her lecture will begin at 8:15 p.m.

Also on the theme of our relationship with nature, Larry Smith brings expertise on beekeeping to the Assembly in a 10:45 a.m. lecture Tuesday, June 13, “The Fascinating World of Honey Bees and Beekeeping.” His lecture will cover the life cycle of bees; what is actually happening in a hive; what beekeeping entails and how to get started; the possible causes of the decline of bee colonies; and the joys of beekeeping as a hobby.

Two morning lectures focus on issues related to aging. Monday, June 12 morning’s lecture by Julia Logan-Mayes, “Hospice Up Close and Personal,” will share her experiences working with those who are terminally ill. Logan-Mayes was inspired to do this difficult work after her husband, Stephen, was diagnosed with brain cancer. Within a year of his diagnosis, Stephen died of a glioblastoma brain tumor. She now works as volunteer coordinator at Compassus Hospice & Palliative Care and serves on the board of Hospice of the Highland Rim Foundation. She is also working to bring a Gilda’s Club, an organization that supports those with a cancer diagnosis in Southern Middle Tennessee.

At 10:45 a.m., Thursday, June 15, Margaret Smith will bring knowledge of Medicare to the Assembly. In her lecture, “Medicare 101,” she will explain the four parts of Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicare drug plans, enrollment periods, how to avoid costly mistakes that will result in permeant penalties, and the difference between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans. Smith owns Medical Accounts Management, a company in Nashville that assists employers in managing healthcare benefits. As a health insurance advocate for more than 5,000 employees, she assists individual and family clients in obtaining health insurance on and off the healthcare marketplace and Medicare.

The final two morning lectures this week touch on issues of great concern to those interested in politics and the state of public policy in the United States today. Al Bardi, an associate professor of psychology at the University of the South, will share his thoughts on “Political Correctness: Inclusive Language or the Politics of Offense?” on Wednesday, June 14. Bardi is fascinated by meaning and culture, and his research focuses on constructing personality and other tests that are culturally relevant. Then on Friday, June 16, Katharine K. Wilkinson lectures at the Assembly on her work in the area of climate change. A strategist, writer, and speaker, Wilkinson works to explore, amplify, and invigorate action to address climate change. Currently senior writer at Project Drawdown, Katharine has collaborated with thought leader Paul Hawken and a global team of researchers to produce “Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming,” which is a book, digital platform, and call to action for humanity. She was a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, undertaking doctoral research that led to her first book, “Between God & Green,” published in 2012.

Additional free events the first week of the Monteagle Assembly’s 2017 season include the following:

Tuesday, June 13, 8:15 p.m., Pulliam Center—Documentary movie screening, “More than Honey,” a 2012 film about the disappearance of honeybee populations worldwide. Cutting-edge filmmaking illustrates the causes and consequences of this alarming phenomenon. Runtime: 1 hour 35 minutes.