When the fans think of the economics of sports, they see big business generating billions of dollars for rich owners and overpaid athletes. In this talk, I will explore a few of the many economic issues that explain the revenue generated by sports and how those revenues are distributed. We will start by describing the “peculiar” organization of sports and how it shapes the product on the field (or arena). Next, I will highlight some labor issues, focusing on discrimination in sports. I will conclude with a brief discussion of how the use of statistics and sports analytics have changed the game on the field (arena) and the business of sports. Although it is impossible to touch on all of the topics I covered in my course on sports economics, I will provide some sense of how an economist thinks about the business of sports. I use baseball for the discussion because most of the early literature and my research on sports focused on baseball. There will be plenty of time for the audience to ask questions about any topic or sport, including amateur sports.

Presenter: Jim Meehan

London is one of the world’s great cities and rare in that it is relatively safe, and people are routinely polite.  It is a city of villages that are now distinct neighborhoods, and it is Europe’s greenest capital.  Over 20 million tourists visit London each year.  What do they come to see?  Let’s find out in this PowerPoint lecture.

Presenter: Elizabeth Reinsborough

Elizabeth Reinsborough was born in Northern Ireland. She was educated at Queens University, Belfast and University College, London. She has worked in a plant breeding program in Tanzania and taught biology in Maine for 20 years. Elizabeth has traveled extensively both in this country and abroad. She enjoys hiking and for 20 years was a maintainer on the Appalachian Trail in the 100 mile wilderness.

A presentation by award-winning author, Laureen LaBar, Chief Curator of History and Decorative Arts at the Maine State Museum.

For over 200 years, Maine women kept farms, businesses, and families together when men were at sea, at war, or in the woods. The beautiful quilts they made can reveal information about how these women lived, the social networks that supported them, and the ways Maine changed through the years.  Most Maine quilters were middle-class women, who are usually absent from historical records. The information we can glean from their quilts enriches the story of Maine’s past.

Presenter: Laureen LaBar

Laurie LaBar is the Chief Curator of History and Decorative Arts at Maine’s largest history museum, the Maine State Museum. Curators tell stories in three dimensions, in this case stories about Maine’s people and the way they lived in the past. Maine Quilts: 250 Years of Comfort and Community is Laurie’s third book.  An exhibit of the same name will open when the Maine State Museum reopens, as it is currently closed for renovations. During the closure, Laurie and her colleagues are planning updates to existing exhibits, as well as designing new ones.

Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus plexippus) are the most recognized butterfly that grace our landscapes during summer months. The annual journey of generations north from Mexico each spring to the southern migration in late summer continue to fascinate people of all ages.

This presentation by Cyrene Slegona, Maine Master Naturalist and avid Monarch student will address the life cycle of the Monarch, current research findings and conservation. She will also discuss native milkweed varieties, propagation and plants that invite butterfly and other pollinators to our gardens.

This lecture is a precursor to a course offered July through October which will include lectures, citizen science field work, journaling, etc.

Presenter: Cyrene Slegona

Cyrene Slegona has been engaged with Monarchs since she was a young girl in Lincolnville. As a classroom teacher she integrated work with them in grades 1 through 7. Since retirement she continues to work with citizen science projects as a Maine Master Naturalist and Penobscot Bay Steward as well as rearing, tagging and releasing Monarchs each summer. She gives presentations and workshops concerning Monarchs as an indicator species for the environment and the significance of milkweed as an essential plant for many pollinators and insects. She is a graduate of the University of Maine with a Master’s degree in Education.

When researching his family background, Mike Bell was astounded to find that a distant cousin was a founding father of Winthrop, Maine.  How did a young man from Wrentham, Massachusetts end up as a civic leader so far from home?  It’s a tale of grit and patriotism that is a hallmark of the American story.

Presenter: Mike Bell

Mike Bell loves American history! With a master’s degree in both history and teaching and an undergrad degree in political science, he has enjoyed a varied career in teaching and historical interpretation. Mike appeared on a History Channel special about PT 109, and for over 20 years portrayed many historical figures, including Butch Cassidy and Sam Houston.

This program will focus on a contemporary history of Cuban photography with a special emphasis on some photographers working in the 1990’s.  Participants will also learn about the historical context of several photographers who are featured in the exhibit “An Act of Sight” currently on view at the Colby College Museum of Art.

Presenter: Alexandra Méndez

Alexandra Méndez has an M.A. in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin. Her research focuses on contemporary Latin American Art with a focus on Puerto Rico and Cuba. She got her B.A. from Williams College in 2017 and after graduating got a Fulbright grant to teach in Spain. She is currently Coordinator of Academic Access at the Colby College Museum of Art and originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico.