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OFFICIAL HOMEPAGE OF AUTHOR
R.C. Durkee
EVENTS
For speaking engagements, presentations, and signings, e-mail me at authorrcdurkee@gmail.com or use the contact page.
My program, which can include a PowerPoint presentation or talk can be tailored to audience type and time restrictions. Topics are my historical novel RUM RUN, Lake Erie Prohibition history, rum running or writing experience. It is geared for adults and young adults.
Fees may be applicable according to program type & travel distance.
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Upcoming Programs & Events
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In 2025, I will be instructing classes for
B-W U's ILR courses again. They will be repeat courses: Northeast Ohio in the Civil War in Spring Quarter and Lake Erie Rum Running in Fall Quarter.
Check back for times and locations
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I will repeat my Lake Erie Prohibition & Rum Runners course for Baldwin-Wallace's Institute for Learning in Retirement for Winter 2024.
Course description will be posted at ilrbw.org on November 20, 2023 with class registration beginning December 3, 2024.
Classes will be Tuesdays, January 9-30, 2024 at 10:15 a.m.
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For Spring Quarter 2024, I will be instructing a course on "Northeast Ohio in the Civil War" for B-W's ILR. Classes are April 3-May 1, 2024
Classes at Mahler Museum
118 East Bridge St., Berea
12:45 pm- 2:05 pm
NOTE- Instructor name should be R.C. DURKEE
Go to
ilrbw.org
for registration and further information
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2023
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January 11-February 1
Baldwin Wallace University ILR 4 Week Course
I will again be instructing a four week class on Lake Erie's Prohibition and rum running history. The course will be held once a week on Wednesday from 12:45 p.m. to 2:05 p.m. at Middleburgh Heights Community Church, 7165 Big Creek Parkway, Cleveland 44130 . Learning In Retirement courses are open to public 50 years of age and older.
For registration and information visit https://www.ilrbw.org/
For my course description visit
https://www.ilrbw.org/website/publish/courses/courseDetail.php?Lake-Erie-Rum-Runners-REPEAT-W23-25-Middleburg-Heights-Community-Church-225
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2022
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January 12-February 2
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Baldwin Wallace University ILR 4 Week Course
A four week course held once a week on Wednesdays from 12:45 p.m. to 2:05 p.m. at Christ United Church, 23114 West Street, Olmsted Falls. This course is part of the University's Learning In Retirement winter curriculum.
It is open to the public 50 years of age and older.
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See the Course Description at this link:
https://www.ilrbw.org/website/publish/courses/courseList.php?2
or
go to Baldwin Wallace University's Learning In Retirement current class offerings
This is an in-person course but in the event of a rise in the Covid virus, it may be switched to a Zoom course.
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November
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Bay Area Divers Shipwreck & Scuba Conference
Program speaker
Conference at Sawmill Creek Resort, Huron, Ohio
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2021
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July 23- Shipwreck Camp
Leonard Gelfand STEM Center, Case Western Reserve University
Program Speaker
Program: Inspiration behind Rum Run and Writing Historical Fiction
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November 14- Erie County Historical Society
Program: "Good Guys or Bad Guys- the Rum Runners of Lake Erie"
at Sandusky Yacht Club, 529 E. Water Street, Sandusky
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November 20- Maritime Museum of Sandusky
Program: "Rum Runners of Lake Erie" 1:00 p.m.
125 Meigs Street, Sandusky 419-624-0274
See April 11, 2020 for program description
Check out the museum's new exhibit on Lake Erie's Prohibition history and rum running !
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*Be sure to check back for information on classes I will be instructing for Baldwin Wallace University's
Institute for Learning in Retirement
in the winter quarter of 2022.
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2020
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January 18- Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Emma A. Chester Chapter
guest speaker
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March 4- Brownhelm Historical Association
Monthly Meeting at Old Brownhelm Schoolhouse
1150 North Ridge Road, Vermilion
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My Program is Good Guys or Bad Guys- The Rum Runners of Lake Erie
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April 11- Maritime Museum of Sandusky
PROGRAM IS CANCELED DUE TO CLOSURE OF MUSEUM BECAUSE OF CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC
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Program rescheduled for NOVEMBER 21, 2020 at 1 p.m
125 Meigs St., Sandusky
My program is, Lake Erie Rum Runners: The Colorful Characters who ran Contraband Alcohol During Prohibition
Public welcome
Program approximately 40 minutes long with slide presentation, and a question/answer session following. A book signing, for Rum Run also follows.
There is an admission fee for the museum of $7.00 adult ($6.00 senior). Before or after the program, enjoy exploring the museum and gift shop.
For more information, contact the museum at 419-624-0274 or sanduskymaritime@gmail.com
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July 23- Vermilion's Ritter Public Library
5680 Liberty Avenue, Vermilion 44089
440-967-5482
Open to public
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Program: Good Guys or Bad Guys: the Rum Runners of Lake Erie
7 p.m.
a book signing follows
PROGRAM CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19.
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November 21 - Maritime Museum of Sandusky
Program and book signing has been canceled for Saturday at
1 p.m
due to Covid -19 increase
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Signed copies of my book, Rum Run are available for sale at the museum's gift shop. They can ship the book to you, too. Call museum at 419-624-0274.
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Check out the museum's new exhibit on Prohibition and rum running on Lake Erie
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2019
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January 26 - Sandusky Maritime Museum
125 Meigs St., Sandusky, OH
Guest speaker about Lake Erie Rum Running during Prohibition
open to public
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March 9- Sons of the American Revolution
Vermilion
guest speaker
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April 8- Heritage Avon Lake
Avon Lake Public Library, 32679 Electric Blvd.
guest speaker on local Prohibition & Rum Running History for HAL History Series
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July 19- Shipwreck Camp
Leonard Gelfand Stem Center,
Case Western Reserve University
guest speaker
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October- Catawba Island Book Club
Catawba Point Association's Bookworms
guest speaker for club's read of Rum Run
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2018
JANUARY 13- Sandusky Harbor Bay Yacht Club
Guest speaker, Sawmill Creek in Huron
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MARCH 15- Knights of Columbus
Guest speaker, Avon K of C Hall
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MAY 6- Daughters of the American Revolution,
Firelands Chapter
Guestspeaker, Vermilion Valley Vineyard
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July 20- Shipwreck Camp 2018
Leonard Gelfand Stem Center, Case Western Reserve University
guest speaker
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2017
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APRIL- Read & Feed Book Club
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MAY-Columbia Station Historical Society
Program Speaker
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JUNE-Daughters of the American Revolution Sally de Forest Chapter, Norwalk
Program Speaker
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JULY- Heritage Trail Program at GMPLibrary
Program Speaker, Topic- "Grafton Mayhem"
Main Street, Grafton
open to public
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Shipwreck Camp At Case Western Reserve University
Program Speaker
registered participants only
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AUGUST-ALL CLASSICS BOAT & CAR SHOW
Huron Boat Basin
book signing
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SEPTEMBER- AVON LAKE KIWANIS
Guest Speaker
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NOVEMBER- Firelands Historical Society
Guest Speaker
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2016
July 22- Shipwreck Camp -Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland. Program.
registered participants only
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July 23-Ohio Readers & Writers Expo,
Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Holiday Inn Akron West, 4073 Medina Road,
Akron, Ohio
Book fair with author signings, panel discussions & workshops
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open to public
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August 9- Book Club Talk at Castillo Mexicano
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Restaurant aka Castle at the Lake, Lorain
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private
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August 27- Toledo Antique and Classic Boat Show
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Promenade Park Docks, Downtown Toledo
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Book Booth
open to public
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November 18th- Lakeland's Womens' Club
Deluca's in Lorain. Program.
private
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Past Events
May 16th- American Association of University
Women, Elyria Branch. Program
April 16th- Books & Brunch, Keystone-Lagrange Public Library, Lagrange, OH
Bookfair & signing 9 am- noon
open to public
March 29th- Elder College, BGSU Firelands Campus
Huron, OH 1-3 p.m. program registration required
February 22nd -Bay Village Book Club Talk
February 21st- Amherst Public Library 2 p.m.
Spring Street, Amherst, OH
Program & signing open to public
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Rum Run selected for the 2015 Ohioana Book Festival
2015
November 4th- Brownhelm Historical Association
Mill Hollow Reservation, Lorain Couny Metro Parks, OH at
the Carriage Barn
November 7th- 5th Annual CASCADE OF AUTHORS
Elyria Public Library's West River Branch
Author interviews, book sales & signings 1-3 p.m.
Showcasing 8 Northeast Ohio Authors - OPEN TO PUBLIC
November 8th- Cleveland Amateur Boat Building Society
at Berea Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library
Members only
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OCTOBER 2015
12th-Ritter Public Library, Vermilion, OH, 7 p.m.
Program & signing
7th- Rocky River Coterie Club
1st- 1910 Book Club, Elyria
SEPTEMBER 2015
22nd- Elyria Book Club
15th- Westlake Porter Library, OH, 7p.m.
Program & signing OPEN TO PUBLIC
pre-registration recommended at 440-871-2600 (library)
AUGUST 2015
6th- Huron Public Library, 6:30p.m.
Author Program followed by book signing
15th- All Classics Festival in Huron,OH
Antique & Classic Boats & Automobiles show at Huron Municipal Marina.
Author will have booth selling & signing novel, Rum Run
June & July 2015
No bookings scheduled as I am doing research for the next book. If you would like to book a program, signing or talk, contact me and I will work it in.
May 2015 events
2- Book Signing at Lee's Landing, Vermilion, O (during the Chocolate & Wine Walk) 1-3:30 p.m.
9-Westlake Book Club Talk
private event
24- Guest speaker for Memeorial Day Service
Butternut Ridge Cemetery, Lorain County
April 2015 events
The 2015 Ohioana Book Festival in Columbus, Ohio
10 am-4:30 pm 25th, Saturday
Gathering of 100 authors representing the state of Ohio held at the Sheraton in downtown Columbus. Browse hundreds of fiction, non-fiction, young adult, children and poetry titles, meet your favorite authors, have your books signed and attend interesting panel discussions. Many events throughout the day.
March 2015 events:
12th- Author Chat at GMPL Adult Social Hour
22nd- Grafton-Midview Public Library
Presentation & Signing 2 p.m.
February 2015 events:
Westlake Book Club Talk
January 2015 events:
18th-Author Fireside Chat and book signing at Avon Lake Public Library.
20th- Normandy Senior Living Book Club talk
A book launch reception to officially kick-off the book was held at German's Villa located in Vermilion- one of many settings in the book.
Courtesy of Brices Mice @ YouTube.com
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