Our Ruth Milgram speaker for this year is Olivia Gentile whose recent book “Life List” is a wonderfully nuanced portrait of the great Phoebe Snetsinger, the first person in the world to see 8,000 birds. Phoebe was certainly single-minded in her avian quest, but only someone with incredible mental strength could have accomplished what she did. Olivia had access to Phoebe’s personal papers and interviewed scores of people in writing this highly acclaimed book about an extraordinary person, whom many of us in this region had the privilege of knowing. There will be copies of “Life List” for sale which Olivia will be happy to sign.