Feb. 11, 1998 Contact John R. Crosiar (541) 346-3135 PORTLAND--South Pole expeditions, creative entrepreneurship, science in everyday life and behind-the-scenes in professional sports will be served up to Portland-area residents at "A Touch of Class" luncheon lectures beginning Feb. 26. The lectures, presented by University of Oregon alumni and faculty members, are sponsored by the UOAlumni Association (UOAA) and its Portland chapter on four Thursdays beginning Feb. 26 and continuing through May 28. Open to the public, all lectures take place from noon-1:15 p.m. at the Multnomah Athletic Club, 1849 S.W. Salmon St., Portland. Free parking is available across Salmon Street. Luncheon lecturers and their topics include: * Feb. 26: Expanding Horizons. Ann Bancroft, a member of the 1992-93 American Women's Expedition to the South Pole, tells how it took her team four years to prepare to ski the 660 miles while pulling 200-pound sleds on this six-month journey. Themes such as vision, teamwork, risk taking and goal setting are woven into the spectacular slide presentation. * March 19: Entrepreneurship: Revealing Passions, Pursuing Creativity and Surviving Vicissitude. Peter Craycroft, president and founder of Mobius, Inc., will describe how his commitment to creativity has helped transform his graphic design and screen printing venture. The firm that began in his basement now is a $20-million company occupying 300,000 square feet of fabrication space in Eugene, with showrooms in New York and San Francisco. * April 23: Everyone's a Scientist--You Just Don't Know It! UO professor Geraldine Richmond will talk about science in our every day lives. Richmond will discuss the importance of science and how learning basic scientific principles helps people in everyday situations. * May 28: Is Capitalism Ruining Professional Sports? Rick Burton, UO Warsaw Sports Marketing Center director, will take the audience behind the scenes of professional sports. Highlights include league marketing, broadcast rights agreements, stadium economics, salary greed and future trends. Lectures, including lunch, are $20 each for the general public; UOAA dues-paying members pay $18. A four-lecture package is available for $75 to the general public and for $65 to UOAA dues-paying members. Advance reservations are required at least four days before each lecture. For reservations or a brochure with more information, call the UO Alumni Association in Eugene, (541) 346-5656. -30- #P-2140/PDX/eb