Carroll psychology club to host fundraising dance

The Carroll College Psychology Club is holding a dance Saturday, Nov. 7, from 8 p.m. to midnight in the Carroll Campus Center's lower level.

The public is invited to the dance, and The Marathon Dance Band will provide music. Admission is $3.

Proceeds from the dance will help Carroll psychology students with travel costs to attend the April 2010 Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Conference in Colorado.

Nationally known diabetes lecturer to speak at St. Pete's

St. Peter's annual free Diabetes Dialogue event is Tuesday, Nov. 10, 5:30 p.m., at the hospital's education center. "Diabetes Dialogue: An A1c Champion Shares His Diabetes Experience," features nationally known speaker Gary Montuori.

Montuori, a retired Marine and a community college instructor, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the late 1990s.

Montuori shares his experience of the emotional challenges of dealing with diabetes as well as the physical ailments. He will include ways for those with diabetes to enjoy holiday food, and how to keep favorite specialty foods in your diet. Montuori is a speaker who travels the country, helping others take control of their diabetes.

For more information, visit www.stpetes.org or call 444-2116.

Kiwanis program to feature film on Tibet

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m., the Kiwanis Clubs of Helena will present the film "Tibet: A Light in the Darkness" at the Helena Middle School Auditorium.

Travel by Landcruiser and horse cart to "the top of the world," where singing and laughter ring through the mountains and valleys of Tibet. Explore mysterious Buddhist monasteries, join thousands of pilgrims on a holy Kora, camp beside a sacred lake, and sing with blind children. Learn about the history, traditions, and cultures that have placed the Tibetan people and their country in the world spotlight.

With its poetic visual style, "Tibet: A Light in the Darkness" lets the viewer witness events rarely seen by tourists. Join the filmmakers on their very personal journey of discovery.

For over 30 years, the Kiwanis Clubs of Helena have been presenting Travelogues to raise money for youth activities around the Helena area. There are five programs left in this year's series including programs on the Tuscany region of Italy, Hawaii, Central America and the British Isles. These programs are narrated in person by the film producers who are available to discuss their show with individuals who have more questions.

Tickets are $6 per person at the door. Discounted season tickets are available at all Valley Bank locations or at the event. Special discounts are available for seniors and for families. For more information, call Tom Rolfe at 442-1930.

Meloy to speak at Literary Festival

On Nov. 12 through Nov. 13, the seventh annual Carroll Literary Festival will feature keynote author Maile Meloy, award-winning author of two novels and two short-story collections.

Meloy will read from her latest work and talk about the craft of writing on Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the lower level of the Campus Center. There is no charge for her presentation, and the public is welcome.

On Nov. 13, associate professor of English Loren Graham, an award-winning poet, will read from his forthcoming book, "Mirrow," at noon in Trinity Hall lounge.

The festival continues after Graham's reading on Friday and includes the presentation of poetry, prose and critical papers by students from Carroll and other Montana colleges.

Papers presented will include a lively session on the popular vampire fiction genre, including the "Twilight" series, and will feature commentary by a panel of Carroll seniors and local high school students. Presentation sessions will be scheduled throughout Friday afternoon in the Campus Center's lower level. All readings are free and open to the public.

For more information, call 447-5415.

Senior organization announces fall bazaar

The Senior Advisory Council's Fall Bazaar will be held Nov. 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Neighborhood Center, located at 200 S. Cruse Ave.

From Nov. 9 to Nov. 12, organizers will be accepting donations of crafts, baked goods and resaleable white-elephant items.

Organizers request that clothes not be donated.

Donated items can be dropped off at the Neighborhood Center.

For more information, call 457-7354.

Web conference for Montana family caregivers Nov. 19

Home Instead Senior Care offices serving Montana have scheduled a free Web conference for family caregivers Nov. 19, at 5 p.m., as part of National Family Caregivers Month.

The Web conference, "The Best Care for Your Parents: Senior Care Solutions and Potential Pitfalls," will be co-hosted by Suzanne Mintz, president and CEO of the nonprofit National Family Caregivers Association, and Home Instead Senior Care co-founder and CEO Paul Hogan. This educational session is designed to help family caregivers plan for their loved ones' care.

According to Home Instead Senior Care research, planning for care is out of sight and out of mind for half of seniors ages 65 to 75 who have not thought about their own future needs. What's more, nearly three-fourths of adult children, when unaided in the survey, could name no more than two of eight options available to seniors who can no longer live independently.

Hogan, who co-authored with his wife, Lori, the new book "Stages of Senior Care: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Best Decisions" and Mintz will offer participants solutions and resources. To register for the Web conference go to www.caregiverstress.com.

College trustees elect chairman, new members

At its annual fall meeting the Carroll College board of trustees elected three new members and a new chairman.

The new chairman of the board is Ray Messer of Bellaire, Texas, the president and board chair of Walter P. Moore and Associates, a Houston-based engineering firm.

He has served as a member of Carroll's board of trustees since 2003. Since 1996, he has served as a charter member of the Carroll College Engineering Advisory Board. In addition to providing generous support for Carroll student scholarships in engineering, Messer has been a leader in providing expertise leading to the college's civil engineering program earning full accreditation and a national award.

As a student in Carroll's 3-2 engineering program, Messer received his bachelor's in engineering from Columbia University in 1970 while also receiving a bachelor's in mathematics from Carroll. He went on to earn a master's in engineering mechanics from Columbia University.

Messer replaces Helena attorney Jerry Loendorf of Helena, who stepped down at the end of his term.

The college's three new board members are Dick Anderson, president of Dick Anderson Construction, Inc., in Helena; Dannette Sullivan, the western regional director of the higher education nonprofit National Student Clearinghouse in Herndon, Va.; and Dr. Thomas Flynn, the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Philosophy at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.

They replace outgoing board members Monsignor Kevin O'Neill, who graduaed from Carroll in 1973, and Pat McCutcheon, who graduated from Carroll in 1972. Both are from Helena.

Carroll announces tenureships, promotions

Carroll College recently granted tenure and promotions to six of the college's faculty members.

Granted tenure were Kelly Cline, associate professor of mathematics and astronomy; Bradley Elison, associate professor of psychology and chairman of the psychology department; and Jennifer Geiger, associate professor of biology. All three have taught at Carroll since 2003.

The board promoted Terry Mullen to the rank of full professor of mathematics, engineering and physics and Brent Northup to the rank of full professor of communication studies.

Northup joined the Carroll faculty in 1989 and serves as the chair of the communication studies department and as the coach and director of the Carroll Talking Saints forensics team.

Mullen is a professional engineer who has taught at Carroll since 1983.

The board promoted David Marshall, who has taught at the college since 2005, to the rank of associate professor of computer science.

Wish lists wanted for IR's Empty Stockings feature

The IR's annual Empty Stockings feature will be printed in the IR on Sunday, Nov. 29.

Through Empty Stockings, local nonprofit organizations and agencies can present their holiday Wish List to the community. These wish lists are for donations of items such as food, dishes, furniture, clothes, school supplies, toys and other necessities and indulgences.

The Helena area's overwhelming response to these requests and to Toys for Tots makes the holiday season brighter for many individuals and families in the Helena area who need a helping hand.

If your organization or agency has not yet been contacted but would like to be included, e-mail Leah Gilman at leah.gilman@lee.net by Nov. 20.