GORDON THOMAS WARD
author, presenter, educator
P.O. Box 226, Pottersville, NJ 07979
908-295-2391

Home ] Life on the Shoulder ] A Bit of Earth ] Ghosts of Central Jersey ] Windows ] [ Presentations ] Presentation Endorsements ] In the News ] Biographical Information ] Contact GTW ] Links ]

 

Six Engaging, Entertaining, and Inspirational Presentations for a Variety of Groups

 

Bookings are currently being accepted for any of
the presentations and/or the workshop.
Please check the Events Bulleting Board on the Home Page
for dates that have already been set.

If you would like to book a presentation/workshop or submit feedback
about a presentation, you are invited to call 908-295-2391 or use the
E-mail form on the "Contact GTW" page of this website.

 

 

Presentation #1

NEW!
Gateways to History
Suitable for Museums, Universities, Historical Societies, Libraries,
High Schools, Adult Schools, Clubs, and Community Groups

        Authors Dr. Jude M. Pfister and Gordon Thomas Ward are planning joint speaking engagements throughout the spring, summer, and fall of 2011.  These two authors and presenters will be providing a glimpse into their writing by uniting on a common theme revolving around the American Revolution.  Schedule these two, unique, and celebrated historians, storytellers, and authors for a very special, combined presentation!

        Dr. Jude M. Pfister, author of The Jacob Ford Jr. Mansion and The Fords of New Jersey.  Dr. Pfister will discuss the Ford family of Morris County, New Jersey, along with their mansion in Morristown.  Both the Ford Family and their home participated in and witnessed some of the most trying times of the first century of the American pageant.  The multi-layered family history is tangibly represented in the multi-floored and memory-laden mansion, which stands to this day as a testament to the passage of time and the enduring power of place.

        Gordon Thomas Ward, author of A Bit of Earth and Ghosts of Central Jersey.  For Mr. Ward, the landscapes around us can be truly magical places where he considers the past to be very much alive and entwined with the present.  In keeping with this program's Revolutionary theme, Mr. Ward will discuss the 1779-1780 encampment of the New Jersey Brigade and entertain you with several ghost stories that have their roots in that same time period and its historic sites in central New Jersey.

 

Presentation #2

Rediscovery and Inspiration along
the Lewis and Clark Trail

Suitable for Museums, Universities, Historical Societies, Libraries,
High Schools, Adult Schools, Clubs, and Community Groups

        This engaging lecture draws from the author's book Life on the Shoulder and details his entire 1,800 mile journey by canoe and bicycle along the Missouri, Clearwater, Snake, and Columbia Rivers and by foot over the Bitterroot Mountains.  Described as "like hitting the trail with Lewis and Clark" by the Mystic Seaport Museum, this presentation includes stunning, projected photographs and Gordon Ward’s personal anecdotes, which allow attendees to travel back through time, revisiting the places explored by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and recorded in their journals and the pages of history as they searched for the Northwest Passage.  One also embarks on a journey through the diverse environments of the current American West.  Aside from the historical aspects of the topic, the presentation compares and contrasts the differences between a modern retracing and the original expedition two hundred years ago.  In addition, audience members will also hear how the original journey was also very much a story about the strength and guidance of women and investigate the two journeys from psychological and philosophical perspectives.

 

Presentation #3

God and Angels
on the Lewis and Clark Trail

Suitable for Houses of Worship - Adult and Youth Fellowship Groups

         Adults and youth will find meaning in this inspirational presentation by the author of Life on the Shoulder discussing how his travels along the Lewis and Clark Trail altered his life and made his faith a permanent reality to him.  Come and hear how awareness can be one of our most precious gifts.  Augmented by illustrative PowerPoint photographs and numerous, remarkable stories, the presentation will detail how Gordon’s 1,800 mile journey by bicycle, foot, and canoe and the original expedition are also stories about being in the presence of God, angels, and their ever-present, protective and guiding force.  Gordon’s expedition ultimately proved to be a discovery of self and a connection with everything outside of his being and demonstrated how narrow our scope of life can be, how much energy is wasted on worry, and how, at the moment when we feel we are most alone, we are truly in the company of our most trusted and dependable guides.

 

Presentation #4

A Bit of Earth:
Preserving Childhood, History, and a sense of place

Suitable for Historical Societies, Libraries, Adult Schools,
Community Groups, Clubs, Parties, and Private Gatherings

        Audiences will adore this timeless meditation on the rich human and natural history of a particular place over time and the secreted stories that lie just beneath the surface in the places we call home.  Presented in brilliant detail, author Gordon Ward uses enchanting anecdotes of youth, nostalgic tales, and original songs with guitar accompaniment to inspire anyone to feel a greater bond to the land, reconnect with their childhood, and understand his or her voyage of discovery.  Supported by PowerPoint photographs, this stimulating presentation illustrates the impact we have on history, reveals the signatures we leave behind us, and celebrates the geographies of our lives.  

 

Presentation #5

Ghosts: What They Are and How to Investigate Them

Suitable for Historical Societies, Libraries, Adult Schools,
Community Groups, Clubs, Parties, and Private Gatherings

       Did you ever wonder what the real scoop is on ghosts?  The answer is not found in gothic novels or Hollywood. The descriptions of what ghosts are and what they are not has come a long way.  The word “ghost” is really an umbrella term that defines many types of paranormal phenomena.  Survival of the human personality has become a popular topic and one that has mounting evidence to support its claims.  Combining many years of involvement in the level-headed investigation of haunted locations with a unique, spiritual perspective on the topic, Gordon Ward will share his experiences and evidence, explain his views on ghosts, and teach attendees how to conduct their own, sound investigations without costly equipment.

 

Presentation #6

Historic haunts of Central Jersey
(based upon the author's book)

Suitable for Historical Societies, Libraries, Adult Schools,
Community Groups, Clubs, Parties, and Private Gatherings

        What ghosts roam within the historic sites and buildings of central New Jersey?  How accurate are the traditional stories?  From the shadowed woods of the Somerset Hills to the dappled banks of the Delaware River, Historic Haunts delivers a rich mix of factual history and the sound investigation of ghostly phenomena. This presentation also mixes in numerous PowerPoint Photos of investigation sites and audio clips of unexplained voices.  The combination of an open-minded enthusiasm and a level-headed approach underscores this collection of reports that will inform, entertain and lead audience members to places where the past is considered to be very much alive and entwined with the present.

 

 

All rights reserved.