R.C. Durkee

 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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* * *

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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

*

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

 

*

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

 

******

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.