Middle East expert Samih Baalbaki will be the featured speaker for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute's (OLLI) fundraising dinner on Friday, Nov. 6, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Coastal Carolina University's HTC Center, Room 207. Baalbaki will share his thoughts on "Why Netanyahu (and Samih) calls the Iran Deal a mistake of historic proportions."

This fundraising dinner, the first of a planned annual event, will help provide operational funds for the OLLI program. Housed in the Office of Executive Development and Continuing Education at Coastal Carolina University, the OLLI program offers a wide range of opportunities for older adults and noncredit students to achieve intellectual, cultural and social growth. The schedule includes dozens of classes on numerous topics, held at four locations in Horry and Georgetown counties, as well as travel excursions.

Baalbaki, an instructor for OLLI, is a renowned speaker on the Middle East. He was born and raised in Lebanon and spent the last 17 years of his career as a legal consultant in the Middle East before retiring in the U.S. in early 2012. His work took him to more than 20 countries in the Middle East, where he gained a deep personal insight into the dynamics of the region through his observations of the business, social and religious aspects of day-to-day life.

Room 207 is located upstairs in the HTC Center at CCU at 104 Founders Drive on the Conway campus. Advance tickets are $55 per person and include a Mediterranean-style dinner and live music entertainment. To reserve a ticket or volunteer, call 843-349-2025, 843-349-6584 or 843-349-5002 or email olli@coastal.edu.