LEWISTON – The Great Falls Forum kicks off its seventh season Thursday, Sept. 16, when Stefanie Pemper will appear at the Lepage Conference Center at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

Pemper’s topic is “The Educational Impact of Athletics at a Small College in Maine.”

Pemper is the Bowdoin College head women’s basketball coach. She played for Idaho State University for four seasons. Among her honors are NCAA Division III Russell Athletic/WBCA Coach of the Year for 2004; NCAA Division III District I Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004, and NESCAC Coach of the Year in 2002 and 2004. She was inducted into the Idaho State University Hall of Fame in 2003. Pemper led a successful Bowdoin team to the NCAA tournament this past spring.

Among the changes this season are reading lists that will be given to attendee so they may continue reading on speakers’ topics; and a $2 increase to cover rising costs for the lunch, space and entertainment. Those wishing to sign up may not sign up for the next scheduled speaker until the previous talk has taken place.

The forum is sponsored by the Sun Journal, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Lewiston Public Library and Bates College. All talks, except for the Oct. 18 event, take place at the Lepage Conference Center at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

The Great Falls Forum is a monthly public platform encouraging thought-provoking speakers and discussion. Everyone is welcome. There are no dues and no obligations.

Lunch reservations may be made by calling Jeanne Lachance at (207) 689-2843 on or before Tuesday, Sept. 14. Lunch is $7 with preregistration or $10 at the door, if space is still available.

In addition to Pemper, the following speakers are scheduled for this season’s forum:

• Thomas Mann, senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution. He will appear as part of a special forum sponsored by Bates College. This location differs from other talks and is at the Muskie Archives on Monday, Oct. 18.

• Raphael Di Luzio, Nov. 18.

• Naomi Schalit, executive director of Maine Rivers, Jan. 20, 2005.

• Wes McNair, Maine poet, Feb. 17, 2005.

• William Pope.L., artist and lecturer at Bates College, March 17, 2005.

• Abraham Peck, director Academic Council for Post Holocaust Christian, Jewish and Islamic studies, USM, April 21, 2005.

• Mark Bessire, director of the Bates College Museum of Art, May 19, 2005.

Go and do

Who: Stefanie Pemper

What: Great Falls Forum speaker

When: Thursday, Sept. 16, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Lepage Conference Center, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Campus Avenue, Lewiston