BEE BLOESER – AUTHOR, SPEAKER, STORYTELLER
Stories of tragedy—like people in the vise of a despot.
Stories of intrigue—like the Cold War in post-colonial Africa.
Stories of hope—like oppressed women and girls fighting, winning.
Stories of triumph—like victory over a virus. The eradication of smallpox!
Book this popular speaker and feel immersed in a world few have experienced . . .
Click Here to Contact Bee!
REVIEWS
Everyone was in rapt attention….I would recommend this presentation with absolute enthusiasm! It was wonderful!.” Marybeth Carty, President, Carpinteria Woman’s Club
“Bee will engage and move you deeply. . . .personal journey in Africa during the eradication of smallpox. With a backdrop of corruption, genocide, and oppression of women, she still provides an insightful tapestry of victories won and hope for the future. I highly recommend her to your group.” — Linda Herzog, J.D., Tucson
“Incredibly beautiful, evocative, powerful–with such relevant perspective for what’s being iterated in our midst today and showing us what it’s truly about.” — Sally, Santa Barbara
“Our members found Bee’s program so engaging they have requested additional presentations from her. What made her talk exceptional was not only the fascinating nature of her subject, but also her evident skill as a public speaker. Thoroughly enjoyable.” — Jill Breedon, Curriculum Committee Chair, Vistas Lifelong Learning Inc., Santa Barbara
“A riveting account. . . .makes the facts come alive—the devastation of the disease as well as post-colonial realities. . . A ‘must-hear’ for all.” — Kay M., Tucson
“You put us right in the middle of those walls! I could smell it!” — Larry Q., Santa Barbara
Book Clubs
“My Ladies of Literature book club loved Bee’s memoir–gripping story, fact checking, descriptive writing. These are readers who have been tough critics of acclaimed books, let alone new releases! Shares an important world health disease eradication effort and relates it to our recent pandemic issues!” — Sally Lanyon
“Bee did a Meet-the-Author event with our Westmont College faculty/ faculty wives book club. The person we fell in love with while reading about her many adventures in Africa was even more endearing in person. I’m so impressed with her perseverance, commitment to supporting her husband in eradicating smallpox under crazy conditions, and writing it all in a captivating book. One amazing woman!” — Bridget Jensen
Book Club Discussion Guide available on request
Universities
“The students were mesmerized and inspired by her zoomed presentation. Many contacted me afterwards to express their appreciation, particularly for her advice to them, which remains so relevant in their young careers. This was a field practicum class of advanced and graduate students from several disciplines, including public health, pre-med, nursing, global studies and social services.
“I will definitely have Ms. Bloeser speak in the future and am listing VACCINES & BAYONETS as an optional reading assignment for some of my classes. I heartily recommend her and her book.” — Michele Devlin, DrPH, RN, EMT, Professor of Global Public Health University of Northern Iowa, Adjunct Research Professor, U.S. Army War College
“When Bee shared her story with my Infectious Disease class, I was reminded there is simply no substitute for learning from those with first-hand experience. Not only was Bee’s presentation on the eradication of smallpox informative and compelling, but it was also a gracious invitation for students to engage directly with her. I highly recommend Bee as a speaker as well as her book Vaccines and Bayonets, which will captivate any reader interested in being inspired by one of humankind’s greatest success stories.” — Steve Julio, Ph.D., Professor of Biology, Westmont College
“This is an important book, both a personal historical memoir and a recounting of the successful mission to eradicate smallpox in the late 1960s and 1970s in the face of civil unrest, violence, and xenophobia. The politicization of this vaccine campaign should, in the day and age of Covid 19, resonate with some of the challenges our world continues to face. Vaccines and Bayonets: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War will be of interest to scholars and practitioners examining the intersections of epidemiology with human behaviour, the social determinants of health, and medical anthropology, among others. Written in easily accessible language, it will also appeal to general readers. In examining events from some 50 years in the past, Bloeser has ironically captured a sense of the types of challenges the world faces in today’s era of climate change, including the rising spread of infectious diseases worldwide and how we are to deal with them.
A guest presentation by this author would be valuable to students in a variety of disciplines, including health related fields, medical anthropology, international studies and political science.”—Blanca Schorcht, Ph.D., Professor Emerita, former Dean, Arts, Social and Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia
WATCH & LISTEN:
Todd Ortloff Show on KONP 1450 AM – February 8, 2022.
Politics & Life Sciences (PLS) with Dean L. Fanelli, Ph.D.
Correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with Santa Barbara, California based author Bee Bloeser
Elizabeth Stewart’s Arts Radio Shows
Bee has spoken to the Westmont College Faculty Forum, Pepperdine University Harbor Lectures, Vistas Lifelong Learning, and many other organizations and university classes. She presents several different talks related to her first-person history:
VACCINES & BAYONETS: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War, Bee Bloeser’s historical memoir.
SIGNATURE TALK
- Sending Smallpox into History: Behind the Scenes with One Public Health Family— Highs and lows behind the scenes of the most astounding campaign in public health history—eradicating a dreaded disease. For the first, and so far the only, time in history. What does it mean for us?
Join me to Nigeria, toddler and preschooler in tow. Thrill to being a part of public health history and drink in the sights and sounds of Africa. Come then to Equatorial Guinea as it suffers in the vise of a murderous dictator. My husband is on the front lines of human vs. microbe. One of only two American women in the country, I’m isolated in an isolated country, a frontline of a different sort.
(This talk is available as a 25-40 minute overview or as an in-depth program or lecture series customized for your particular group.)
SPECIAL-INTEREST TALKS
- Women Hidden behind Walls—Join me as we visit women denied even a primary education—women isolated by literal walls or the “wall” imposed by the many hours spent walking to collect water. Then we’ll glimpse hope for the future in girls who’ve escaped their walls and experienced victories.
- From Ramses V to the final case—The disease through the ages and the eradication campaign in depth.
Bee presents to organizations and high school through university level classes. She does Meet-the-Author events for book clubs. She offers single talks (30-60 minutes), a series of talks, or a half-day program. ZOOM bookings accepted
To Email her: beebloeser1@gmail.com
WHAT’S HER STORY?
The author and two young children followed her smallpox-fighter husband to West Africa–first to a country that was always in the news and then in one that should have been. The first, Nigeria. The heartbreaking images of starving Biafran babies were seen around the globe. The second, Equatorial Guinea. In the vise of a bloodthirsty dictator. The world didn’t even know the place existed. Bee kept cryptic notes and hid them in the sock drawer. She now reveals a story which previously reached the outside world only by diplomatic pouch.
Bee Bloeser has lived in Africa, the Middle East and Native American nations and supported her late husband’s public health work on five continents. Her historical memoir, Vaccines & Bayonets: Fighting Smallpox in Africa amid Tribalism, Terror and the Cold War, has been praised by Foreign Policy magazine’s deputy editor and by The Economist’s former bureau chief Johannesburg and Delhi. Bee uses her book and her speaking engagements to support water wells for Africa.
A retired speech-language pathologist, Bee has spoken to the Westmont College Faculty Forum, Pepperdine University Harbor Lectures, Vistas Lifelong Learning, and many other organizations and university classes. Bee is a member of Toastmasters International, Storytelling Association of California, PEO, and the Assn for Women in Communications-Santa Barbara. She loves spending time with her family, church family and friends, and you might find her travelling, singing or sitting with pets.
CONTACT BEE FOR BOOKING DETAILS
E-mail: bee@beebloeser.com Cell phone: 520-631-0762
Bee is based in the Santa Barbara, California, area.
ZOOM bookings welcome.
WHAT ELSE DO PEOPLE SAY?
“I so much appreciated your presentation of African women. . . .not easy to take it in when women here are fighting for things the African women can hardly imagine. Your presentation opened eyes. Thank you so very much.” — Judith Muller, Organizer, Santa Barbara Yacht Club Monday Forum
“On behalf of Delta Kappa Gamma I would like to thank you for your presentation. . . .interesting and inspiring. . . .significant impact in the lives you touched. The members and guests truly enjoyed your presentation and learned a great deal. Thank you.” — Renate Krompasky
“What struck me the most was your passion.” — Laura M.
“Your presentation was so fascinating our members are still talking about it six months later!” — Kathryn L., Delta Kappa Gamma, Tucson
“It was such a good talk you gave our chapter. Everyone really enjoyed the photos and [hearing about] the marvelous work you did with W.H.O.” — Linda McMillin
“Thank you for your wonderful story at the Festival of Books. I loved your interaction with the audience….” — Gloria M., Tellers of Tales organizer
“I was flooded with memories of Africa–flashes of feelings, smells, visions. We were so energized, and I was struck by your sincerity. You are an inspiration. Thank you.” — Joan Milner
“Your topic has been among the few to draw an audience from other walks of life. Thank you so very much….” — Pamela A., Sisters in Crime
“Bee is an engaging knowledgeable speaker who supplements her presentations with photographs and personal experiences that will move you deeply while educating you about the incredible journey that led to the eradication of Small pox. I highly recommend her to your group.” — Linda Herzog, J.D.
“Thank you!! It was a wonderful program. We all want to hear more. We hope you’ll do another program next year.” — Nancy B.