Albany Country Club, Albany. 10/15, 12-5 PM: Symposium of Excellence with featured keynote speaker Rhonda Childs, Director of Development & Public Affairs at Northeast Parent & Child Society. Workshops follow lecture. 453-5238.

Albany Law School, 80 New Scotland Ave., Albany. 10/15, 1-5 PM: The annual Albany Law Review Symposium analyzes the subject of torture in the context of the law and human rights. 392-4949.

Bard College, Bertelsmann Campus Center, Annandale-on-Hudson. (845) 758-7279. 10/9, 6 PM: “Russia and the Future of American Foreign Policy.” 10/10, 7 PM: Outside Agitators and Hometown Bigots Nassau Free Library, Nassau. 766-2715.

Clark Art Institute, 225 South St., Williamstown, Mass. 10/9, 12:30 PM: Keelin Loftin will speak about drawings from the Alice Steiner Collection. Free with Gallery admission. (413) 458-2303.

College of Saint Rose, Auditorium, St. Joseph Hall, 985 Madison Ave., Albany. 10/13, 7 PM: “Cultivating a Culture of Peace,” an address by Dr. Robert Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches in Christ in the USA. 454-5105.

College of Saint Rose, Thelma P. Lally School of Education, 1009 Washington Ave., Albany. 10/9, 7:30 PM: Susan Gubar will lecture and read from her newest work, A Feminism of One’s Own. 454-2050.

Delaware Branch Library, 485 Delaware Ave., Albany. 10/13, 6:30 PM: Workshop on “Mind, Heart, and Meditation” Free. 463-7521.

First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, 405 Washington Ave., Albany. 10/11, 9:30 AM-12 PM: Rev. Dr. David Bumbaugh will present a free lecture on the need for a language of reverence that takes into account the new creation story revealed by science. 463-7135.

Hudson Valley Community College, Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium, 80 Vandenburgh Ave., Troy. 10/14, 10 AM: Dr. Steven A. Leibo will present a historical perspective of the factors influencing the United States’ involvement. Admission is free. 629-4827.

Marriot Hotel, 189 Wolf Road Albany, Motivational speaker Jackie Waldman will speak to people with multiple sclerosis. (800) 522-5185

Sage Colleges, Albany Campus, Campus Center Room 224, 140 New Scotland Ave, Albany. 10/12, call for times: Dr. Anthony DeBlasi will be speaking on “Historical Patterns in Chinese Religion.” 292-8649.

Schenectady Museum and Planetarium, Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady. 10/14, 12:30 PM: “Tracking the Underground Railroad” Local author and historian Tom Calarco discusses his book, The Underground Railroad in the Adirondack Region. Free with admission to museum. 382-7890.

Shenendehowa Public Library, 47 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park. 10/14, 7 PM: “How to Pay for College Without Going Broke.” Techniques will include: how to develop a financial plan for college, how to increase tax deductions and maximize eligibility and college awards. Registration is required. 371-8622.

Skidmore College, Gannett Auditorium, Saratoga Springs. 10/9, 5:30 PM: Adrian Rudolph will discuss “Renaissance Genderscapes.” 10/13, 5:30 PM: Earl Babbie, professor of sociology at Chapman University, will discuss “Organized Society: Friend or Foe?” 10/15, 8 PM: Major Robert Resnick, Class of ’88, Chief of Military Justice, will discuss “A Soldier’s Perspective: On the Front Line in the Iraq War.” 580-5597.

Steventown Town Hall, Grange Hall Road Stephentown. “Anti-Semitism: Everything Old is New Again,” presented by Dr. Harvey Strum. 733-5750.

SUNY Albany, Standish Room of Science Library. 10/9, 2-4 PM: Science Colloquium—Thomas Levenson to discuss “Einstein in Berlin.” 442-4048.

Troy Waterfront Farmer’s Market, River St. Troy 10/11, 10:30-12:30 PM: Chef Jacquiline Baldwin of RPI debunks methods of college eating with a demonstration at 11. 475-2909.

Troy Public Library, 100 Second St., Troy. 10/14, 6:15 PM: Capturing Family Stories: Learn the art of telling your family history through the use of personal stories and family records and documents. Prior registration is required but program is free. 274-7071.

University at Albany, 1400 Washington Ave. Albany. 10/10, 8-5 PM: “HIV/AIDS Challenges in Africa” 442-4248.

Events/Workshops

Adirondack Lakes Center for the Arts, Blue Mountain Lake. 10/11, 10-3 PM: This workshop will focus on carving faces and how to create different expressions for your St. Nicholas. 352-7715.

Albany Public Library, Main Branch, 161 Washington Ave., Albany. 10/9, 7-9:30 PM: Introduction to Word: Learn the basics of word processing. 10/15, 1-2:30 PM: Intermediate Word: Learn some of the additional features of Microsoft Word 2000, including how to cut and paste. 427-4303.

Albany Public Library, Schuyler & Broad Streets, Albany. 10/15, 10:30 AM: Introduction to the Internet. 427-9485.

College of Saint Rose, 432 Western Ave., Albany. 10/13, 12:30 PM: “Cultivating a Culture of Peace” A series of workshops focusing on different topics related to the cultivation of peace. Call for more information. 783-7769.

Danielle’s Yoga Studio, Glens Falls 10/12, 10-5 PM: All-Day Vibrational Healing Workshop. Dress comfortably and come perfume-free. $85/$75. Includes lunch. 256-2710

Hancock Shaker Village, Routes 20 and 41, Pittsfield, Mass. 10/11-10/12, call for times: Basic Shaker Oval Box Construction. Instructor: Steve Grasselli. 10/11-10/12, call for times: Basic Blacksmithing II. Instructor Bill Senseney. Call Brian Emery at (413) 354-9656 to register. (413) 684-3223 or (413) 684-3612.

The Hyde Collection Art Museum, 161 Warren St., Glens Falls. 10/9, 5-6 PM: “The Hyde Collection—Interpretation for Docents” A 15 session course for docents and open to all others interested in the new interpretive plans for Hyde House. Scheduled for the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Free admission. 792-1761 ext. 27. 10/11, 10:30 AM- 12PM: Fallmobile: See the art sculptor George Rickey and create a moving sculpture of your own. Free for Hyde members. $2/non-members.

Inkberry, 63 Main St., North Adams, Mass. 10/15, 7-8:30 PM: “My Words, My Selves” Tuition is $120 ($108 members) (413)664-0775. www.inkberry.org.

Sage Colleges, Albany Campus, Campus Center Room 224, 140 New Scotland Ave, Albany. 10/15, 6:30 PM: Graphic Artist Guild of Albany hosts “Mac OS X for Graphic Artists—Tips, Tricks and Troubleshooting”. Cost is $10/Guildmembers, $35/non-members.

Saratoga Springs Public Library, 49 Henry St., Saratoga Springs 10/12, 3-5 PM: Readings and workshop with Meg Kearney and Laureanne Bosselaar. Free and open to public. 584-7521.

Troy Public Library, 100 Second St., Troy. 10/9, 6 PM: Workshop on “Meditation in Daily Life” Free, but please register. 274-7071.