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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260108T193000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20251212T171810Z
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UID:37590-1767895200-1767900600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Prospects for Middle East Peace - A Talk by Norman Olsen
DESCRIPTION:The Rockland Public Library will host Norman Olsen on Thursday\, January 8\, 2026 at 6:00 PM\, for a Camden Conference community event. Olsen will discuss from personal experience 34 years of deteriorating prospects for Middle East peace. This event will take place in the Community Room and will be livestreamed via Zoom. For more information or for Zoom links\, please email elewis@rocklandmaine.gov. \nCape Elizabeth native Norm Olsen served for 26 years in the U.S. Foreign Service\, with a total of nine years in Israel and the Gaza Strip. His first tour of duty\, as a Gaza reporting officer and USAID representative\, spanned the First Intifada\, the Madrid talks\, the secret Oslo negotiations\, the establishment of the Palestinian Authority\, and the return of Yasser Arafat to Palestine. His reporting during that time was recognized by his award of a National Human Intelligence Reporting Award from the U.S. intelligence community. His second tour of duty\, as chief of the embassy political section\, spanned the Second Intifada\, the efforts of Quartet negotiator James Wolfensohn\, the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza\, the victory of Hamas in U.S.-demanded Palestinian elections\, the successful Hamas expulsion of U.S.-backed Fatah militants who were terrorizing Gaza\, and the Israel-Lebanon war. He retired as a Senior Foreign Service Officer in 2008 and has remained active in Israeli and Palestinian affairs. He and his wife\, Pat\, live in Cherryfield\, Maine.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/prospects-for-middle-east-peace/
LOCATION:Rockland Public Library\, 80 Union Street\, Rockland\, ME\, 04841\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Norm_Olsen_CE_Palestine_Map-e1765559521840.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T123000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20251124T175618Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251218T151404Z
UID:37577-1768042800-1768048200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Turkey: A View from the Middle
DESCRIPTION:Turkey is a middle power located in the Middle East – indeed\, a land in the middle between Europe and Asia. Turkey has always been a challenging ally of the United States\, but the country played an essential part in the days of the Cold War countering Soviet influence. Now Turkey is invested in and has accepted the role of a key partner in the Gaza peace process. As the United States disassembles the world order which America itself largely created\, the influence of middle powers in the international system will grow in importance. William Hall explores how Turkey will engage with the United States and other nations in this latest attempt to bring peace to the Middle East. We invite you to join us for this compelling event. Registration is required. Please register at https://falmouth.librarycalendar.com/event/Turkey-CC Registrants will receive an email reminder. In the event of inclement weather\, this program will be held on Saturday\, January 24 at 11 AM. \nWilliam “Bill” Hall was an intelligence officer for the US Air Force\, serving on active duty from 1969 until 1999\, much of that time overseas in Asia\, Europe\, and the Middle East. He grew up in Virginia and received a bachelor’s degree in politics from Princeton University and a master’s degree in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. Bill is on the board of the Camden Conference and a past president of the World Affairs Council of Maine. He and his wife\, Nancy\, live on Peaks Island.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/turkey-view-from-the-middle-falmouth/
LOCATION:Falmouth Memorial Library\, 5 Lunt Road\, Falmouth\, ME\, 04105\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bill-Hall_600x600.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260110T150000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20251212T174542Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251212T174542Z
UID:37592-1768050000-1768057200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Middle Eastern Cooking (and lunch!) with author Sandra Garson
DESCRIPTION:Join cookbook author Sandra Garson at Scarborough Public Library for a talk on the food of the Middle East\, followed by a catered lunch. Space is limited; registration is required. \nGarson\, a former caterer and food entrepreneur\, has published numerous articles and two cookbooks. After closing her Maine bakery and catering business\, she helped establish a restaurant in Ulan Bator\, Mongolia; taught cooking in Kathmandu\, Nepal; and lectured at New York’s Rubin Museum. She now teaches Maine seniors how food reveals the secret ingredients of history.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/middle-eastern-cooking/
LOCATION:Scarborough Public Library\, 48 Gorham Road\, Scarborough\, ME\, 04070\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Sandra_Garson_CE_Middle-Easter-Cooking.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260113T163000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260113T173000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20260105T163847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T163847Z
UID:37626-1768321800-1768325400@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:"How Populism Works in Erdogan's Turkey" with Dr. Senem Aslan
DESCRIPTION:This talk explores how Erdoğan’s increasing reliance on populist discourse and style throughout his tenure contributed to the rise of an authoritarian regime sustained by popular support. It highlights how the performative and emotional dimensions of these strategies can help autocratic leaders garner support and reinforce their perceived authenticity\, particularly when their legitimacy is under threat. \nSenem Aslan is professor of Politics at Bates College. She is the author of Nation-Building in Turkey and Morocco: Governing Kurdish and Berber Dissent published by Cambridge University Press in 2015. She recently completed a book manuscript on populism and the politics of emotions in Turkey.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/how-populism-works-in-erdogans-turkey-with-dr-senem-aslan/
LOCATION:Auburn Public Library\, 49 Spring Street\, Auburn\, ME\, 04210\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Senem_Aslan_How_Populism_Works_CE.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260117T130000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20251126T182210Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251222T201810Z
UID:37581-1768651200-1768654800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Rivers of the Middle East
DESCRIPTION:The Middle East is a generally arid region with few rivers. But as a result\, the rivers that do flow there have an outsized importance\, both physically and historically. In fact\, some of these resources are listed among the great rivers of the world. This talk will focus on a few of these rivers and emphasize their geographical\, historical\, and current importance\, including the struggle for water rights today. \nPresenter Mark Van Baalen is trained as a geologist but also has a deep interest in history. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard and is currently an Associate in Earth & Planetary Sciences at that university. Together with his wife\, Louisa\, he has traveled widely and led excursions to all continents of the Earth\, lecturing on the natural and human history of remote regions. \nRockport Public Library [1 Limerock Street Rockport\, ME 04856-0008]
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/rivers-of-the-middle-east/
LOCATION:Rockport Public Library\, 1 Limerock St.\, Rockport\, 04856
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Mark-Van-Baalen_Rivers.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260118T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260118T163000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20251218T150734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251218T150734Z
UID:37607-1768744800-1768753800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Film Screening: Coexistence\, My Ass!
DESCRIPTION:Coexistence\, My Ass!\, an award-winning documentary film based on the provocative one-woman show of Israeli peace activist and comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi\, will be screened at the Strand Theatre in Rockland on Sunday\, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. \nThe film\, co-presented by Points North and the Camden Conference\, follows Shuster Eliassi as she challenges audiences with uncomfortable truths about coexistence\, occupation\, and the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Shot between 2019 and 2024\, the documentary weaves together footage from Shuster Eliassi’s stand-up performances\, personal video diaries\, and news clips\, capturing her evolution from UN diplomat to comedian and her shifting perspective as regional violence escalated. The film’s director\, Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker Amber Fares\, will join for a post-screening discussion and Shuster Eliassi will participate via Zoom. \nCoexistence\, My Ass! premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival\, where it won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression. The film has since earned numerous accolades including the Human Rights in Motion Award from the Council of Europe and the Golden Alexander Award for Best Documentary at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The film opened at New York’s IFC Center in October 2025 and has been featured at prestigious festivals including Full Frame and DOC NYC. For more about the film visit https://www.coexistencemyass.com/ \nThis special presentation of Coexistence\, My Ass! connects to the upcoming 39th Annual Camden Conference\, Today’s Middle East: Power\, Politics & Players\, to be held February 20-22\, 2026. The Camden Conference will be live in Camden\, Maine\, with satellite venues in Rockland and Falmouth\, and available to livestream worldwide. The Camden Conference is Maine’s premier foreign affairs conference\, providing a non-partisan community forum fostering in-depth discussion of world issues through year-round events\, student education programs\, and its annual February conference. \nCo-sponsor Points North is the launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers. Points North programs include the annual Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) and Points North Forum\, as well as a growing suite of artist development initiatives: retreats\, residencies\, workshops and fellowships that nurture the careers of diverse nonfiction storytellers and help them develop a stronger artistic voice. CIFF’s 22nd edition takes place September 17-20\, 2026 at venues throughout Camden\, Rockport\, and Rockland\, Maine. \n● Tickets: $8 general admission/ $7 Strand Members – https://www.rocklandstrand.com/event/coexistence-my-ass/
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/film-screening-coexistence-my-ass/
LOCATION:Strand Theatre\, 345 Main St. \, Rockland\, ME\, 04841\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/coexistence-my-ass.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260122T200000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20260107T223401Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T000845Z
UID:37633-1769104800-1769112000@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Perspectives on the Land: Jewish\, Christian\, and Muslim Understandings [ZOOM ONLY]
DESCRIPTION:For Jews\, it’s the Promised Land of Zion. For Christians\, it’s the Holy Land of Jesus. For Muslims\, it’s the land of the prophets preceding Muhammad and the home of Al-Aqsa Mosque. In this talk\, Dr. Derek A. Michaud (University of Maine) will guide us through the rich history\, ideology\, and theology that fuel these sometimes competing interpretations of the same land. By drawing on historical evidence\, as well as story and myth\, we will contextualize the rhetoric of each community to understand how these perspectives developed and continue to inform contemporary identity. In the process\, we will see how one land at the crossroads of three continents came to have (at least) three different stories and interpretations. \nDr. Derek Michaud is Senior Lecturer and Chair of Philosophy\, Religious\, and Judaic Studies at the University of Maine. He specializes in the philosophy of religion\, the history of philosophy\, and philosophical theology\, and returned to join the faculty at his alma mater (’99) in 2015 after teaching at Middlesex Community College and the University of Southern Maine. At UMaine\, he teaches courses in ethics\, religious studies\, critical thinking\, and the history of philosophy. His first book\, Reason Turned into Sense: John Smith on Spiritual Sensation\, was published by Peeters in 2017. \nPlease Note: This is a ZOOM only event.  \nRegistration is required: Register Today \nIndividuals who register will receive an email on the morning of the presentation with the Zoom link that enables you to join the presentation. \nQuestions for the presenter? Please email ajohnson@yorkpubliclibrary.org with questions for Professor Michaud by January 20th at 12:00p. \nContact: Amanda Johnson\, York Public Library\, ajohnson@yorkpubliclibrary.org\, 207-363-2818
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/perspectives-on-the-land/
LOCATION:Zoom
ORGANIZER;CN="York Public Library":MAILTO:info@yorkpubliclibrary.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260127T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260127T173000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20260105T163005Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T163100Z
UID:37624-1769529600-1769535000@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Film Screening & Discussion: "Erdogan: The Making of a Sultan"
DESCRIPTION:Auburn Public Library invites you to a film screening and discussion of Erdogan: The Making of a Sultan. “In this acclaimed new documentary\, Emmy and BAFTA award-winning director\, Gilles Cayatte\, and expert on Turkish affairs Guillaume Perrier\, profile President Erdogan. He rose to power as the anti-corruption candidate\, challenging the old order and advocating closer ties with the EU. But now\, Recep Tayyip Erdoğa seems to epitomise the concept of Turkish Authoritarianism. The attempted coup d’état of July 2016 has enabled him to consolidate his power and silence all opposition.” (from Kanopy.com)
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/screening-erdogan-the-making-of-a-sultan/
LOCATION:Auburn Public Library\, 49 Spring Street\, Auburn\, ME\, 04210\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Erdogan-The-Making-of-a-Sultan.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260128T173000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20260107T225958Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260116T001430Z
UID:37637-1769616000-1769621400@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Inside the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Reflections from a US Foreign Service Officer
DESCRIPTION:Retired US Senior Foreign Service Officer Norm Olsen will speak about his personal experiences in his 34-year service in the Middle East. \nCape Elizabeth native Norm Olsen served 26 years in the U.S. Foreign Service\, including nine years in Israel and the Gaza Strip. He reported from Gaza during the First and Second Intifadas and major milestones such as the Oslo process\, the establishment of the Palestinian Authority\, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza\, and regional conflicts. His work earned a National Human Intelligence Reporting Award\, and he retired as a Senior Foreign Service Officer in 2008. \n\nRegistration is required: Register Today  \nContact: Amanda Johnson\, York Public Library\, ajohnson@yorkpubliclibrary.org\, 207-363-2818
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/reflections-from-a-us-foreign-service-officer/
LOCATION:York Public Library\, 15 Long Sands Rd\,\, York\, ME\, 03909\, United States
ORGANIZER;CN="York Public Library":MAILTO:info@yorkpubliclibrary.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T173000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T190000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20260105T161118Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260128T142322Z
UID:37620-1769707800-1769713200@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Silenced Whispers with Afarin Bellisario [POSTPONED]
DESCRIPTION:PLEASE NOTE – THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. A NEW DATE WILL BE POSTED WHEN AVAILABLE.  \nPortland Public Library is proud to host Afarin Bellisario for an author talk wherein she will be discussing her debut novel\, Silenced Whispers. Silenced Whispers is a historical fiction that highlights the internal and external pressures on young woman in Iran in the face of patriarchy and colonialism at the turn of the 20th century. In addition to discussing her book\, Afarin will also be exploring the historical backdrop of her novel — providing insight into the Russo-British imperialism whose legacies still impact today’s Iran. \nAfarin Bellisario is a global leader in the world of tech and innovation\, holding both a Doctorate in Engineering and a Master’s in Business from MIT where she continues to serve as a mentor. Her experience on the cutting edge of technology and its intersection with the world of business has provided her with a unique perspective on the impact of emerging tech on society. It is this fascination\, in addition to a long-nurtured love of writing\, which drove her to explore this give and take through a historical lens in Silenced Whispers\, focusing on the city of her youth\, Tehran.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/silenced-whispers-with-afarin-bellisario/
LOCATION:Portland Public Library\, 5 Monument Square\, Portland\, ME\, 04101\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Afrain_Bellisario_2026_CE.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T200000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20260107T224841Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T224841Z
UID:37634-1769713200-1769716800@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:The Land of Israel: Jewish\, Christian\, & Muslim Perspectives with Derek Michaud
DESCRIPTION:As part of the Camden Conference Series of Community Events\, the Blue Hill Library is sponsoring a talk with University of Maine Senior Lecturer Derek Michaud on Thursday\, January 29 at 7PM in the Howard Room for his talk ‘Perspectives on the Land: Jewish\, Christian\, and Muslim Understandings’. \nDerek Michaud is Senior Lecturer and Chair of Philosophy\, Religious\, and Judaic Studies at the University of Maine. He specializes in the philosophy of religion\, the history of philosophy\, and philosophical theology.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/the-land-of-israel-jewish-christian-muslim-perspectives/
LOCATION:Blue Hill Public Library\,  5 Parker Point Road\, Blue Hill\, ME\, 04614\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Michaud_LandOfIsrael_CC26_CE.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260129T203000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20251113T211826Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T181044Z
UID:37449-1769713200-1769718600@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Readers’ Circle: A Group Discussion of 'Enter Ghost' by Isabella Hammad
DESCRIPTION:For January Readers’ Circle will discuss the book Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad. The book follows Sonia Nasir\, a British-Palestinian actress who returns to Palestine after a personal crisis in London. Reconnecting with her roots and her estranged sister in Haifa\, Sonia becomes involved in a politically charged Arabic-language production of Hamlet in the West Bank. As rehearsals unfold under occupation\, the play becomes a powerful metaphor for resistance\, identity\, and displacement. Through her role as Gertrude\, Sonia confronts her past\, navigates the complexities of Palestinian life under Israeli control\, and rediscovers a sense of purpose and belonging. The novel blends art and politics\, exploring how storytelling can challenge power and preserve cultural memory.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/readers-circle-enter-ghost/
LOCATION:Merrill Memorial Library\, 215 Main Street\, Yarmouth\, ME\, 04096\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Readers-Circle-Enter-Ghost-graphic.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260131T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260131T153000
DTSTAMP:20260406T045609
CREATED:20251215T201214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251215T201214Z
UID:37594-1769868000-1769873400@www.camdenconference.org
SUMMARY:Reading the Camden Conference: Notes on a Foreign Country
DESCRIPTION:Join Aurora Cobb\, of the Patten Free Library in Bath\, for a discussion of journalist Suzy Hansen’s Notes on a Foreign Country: An American Abroad in a Post-American World\, a selection from the 2026 Camden Conference reading list.
URL:https://www.camdenconference.org/event/notes-on-a-foreign-country/
LOCATION:Patten Free Library\, 33 Summer St\, Bath\, ME\, 04530\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.camdenconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CC26_CE_Patten-Free-Library_NotesOnAForeignCountry.jpg
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