By Kenneth S. Allen
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

The tongue-in-cheek mission of the Senior Scholars of Charlotte is “to stimulate the gray matter in our gray heads.” The actual mission is a combination of fellowship and education.

Every Tuesday morning, more than 100 people stream into Shalom Hall at Myers Park Baptist Church to hear an expert discuss an important issue. It has been this way for 35 years, ever since Senior Scholars of Charlotte was formed in 1973.

“Basically, our aim is to present a lecture series to our members,” says Bob Rothkopf, program chairman and incoming president for 2009. “We have some pretty high-powered lecturers. We tap the universities and other parts of the community for our speakers.”

A wide range of topics
Recent lecturers have included Charles Reed, Ph.D., professor of history at Queens University in Charlotte, who spoke on the humorous side of the Greek philosopher, Aristotle; and Eddy Souffrant, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at UNC Charlotte, who spoke on human rights in the age of terrorism.

“Every once in a while, one of our own people will speak, maybe someone who has an interesting hobby,” Rothkopf says. “But we try to keep it on an elevated plane. We specifically do not get into politics. Nor do we allow people [to speak] who have something to sell.”

Rothkopf says the success of any week’s program depends on two things: the speaker and the subject. “Some speakers have been very dynamic. Other people may not be as dynamic, but the subject matter is interesting,” he says.

Fellowship and enlightenment
In addition to attending weekly lectures, the group  occasionally takes field trips. And Senior  Scholars also participates in the Great Decisions program, in which global issues are debated.

There are no age limits, although the group’s name is descriptive of its makeup. “Our community is usually retired people,” Rothkopf says. “They want something to do, so they attend. But at the same time, if it is not mind-expanding, that won’t do in the long run.”