Greetings –
NEW EIN WEB POSTINGS FOR MARCH
Under MANAGING YOUR LLI
What Science Has Learned About
the Human
Condition– OLLI, Ann Arbor, MI
British U3As
Two Stimulating Courses – IRP,
New York City
Not Just Oil – LLI, Edison College,
Punta Gorda, FL
Golden Eagles Fitness Program –
CLR, Rock Valley, IL
Variety Within a Topic – LIR, Oshkosh,
WI
A New IAUTA Web Site
Under LLI NEWS
LLI News for March
Under LLI CONGRATULATIONS
LLI Congratulations for March
NEW AFFILIATE
Welcome to the Shoreline Institute of Lifelong Learning in Guilford,
CT. This is a new program stemming from the joint collaboration of the
Guilford Parks, Recreation & Seniors Services and the Madison Senior
Services. We welcome them to the Elderhostel Institute Network. See
their contact information under Connecticut on the EIN web site.
LLI CELEBRATIONS
Be sure to check out the LLI Congratulations/Celebrations Column that
is posted each month. It contains celebratory news and special events
from programs all across the Network.
EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT
Members of the Institute for Continuing Learning at Young Harris College
in Georgia were wondering how they could express their appreciation
for all the support given them by the college. Among the suggestions
were the following: Members can support the IDEAS (Intellectual, Development
and Enrichment through the Arts and Sciences) programs; attend the intercollegiate
athletic events; enjoy the College’s instrumental band programs,
spread the “good word” about YHC to friends and relatives;
and support the College through financial gifts. If your program is
looking for ideas, think about ones similar to those above.
DEVELOPING NEW PARTNERS
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College,
formerly BILL, is developing new educational partners. They are in discussions
with Bennington College and Southern Vermont University as well as one
college in New York State. They have also met with the Provost of Bard
College at Simon’s Rock. This is all part of their new outreach
effort to increase their course offerings by 20% . Along with new partners,
OLLI also expects to have five courses videotaped and one video lecture
taped from their Distinguished Speaker Series by this fall, as they
endeavor to reach people who cannot attend classes. They are also acquiring
new cultural partners and agreements have been reached with 19 cultural
organizations so far. The results have yielded additional courses for
OLLI. In addition there will be free advertisements in movie theaters,
more venues for their activities, discounts for various cultural activities
and other benefits.
A LOVE OF LANGUAGES
Members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of
Georgia, Huntsville are indulging in their love of other languages with
the following courses: Intermediate/Advanced French – Beginner/Intermediate
Russian – Beginning German - Intermediate/Advanced German –
Beginning Spanish – French 1 – Elementary Spanish –
Conversational Spanish – Intermediate Spanish
FUND RAISING IDEA
The Adult Learning Institute at Columbia-Greene Community College in
Hudson, New York has come up with a unique way to raise money for their
program this month. Their project is entitled “Hidden Treasure:
Have Your Antiques and Collectibles Appraised.” They will utilize
the services of three outstanding experts in the field who will give
the appraisals. There is a charge of $5.00 for one item, $8.00 for two
items and $10.00 for three items. Members are encouraged to publicize
the event as the public is invited to bring along their treasures as
well. As part of the event, they will raffle three prizes donated by
ALI members, one of which is worth $545. Members will each be receiving
two chance books to sell and the drawing will take place during the
event.
JANUARY INTERSESSIONS
Lifelong Learning at Regis College in Massachusetts offered members
varied January Intersessions. Among them was: A Beginners Guide to Digital
Photography – Using Free and Easy Digital Imaging Software –
From the Grape to the Table – Table Wines by Taste – Soft
Pastel and The Ultimate Theatrical Experience.
A SHARED LEARNING PROJECT
U3A’s in the United Kingdom have a program called Shared Learning
Projects where members from U3As all over the country come together
to learn together, usually in conjunction with a particular museum or
other public institution. Early last year they began a shared project
at the Foundling Museum on the grounds of the original Foundling Hospital.
The hospital, for abandoned children, was established in 1739. After
an orientation, the large group broke into pairs and began attempting
to trace 208 children. They met quarterly to report their progress,
which was slow given the handwritten nature of the records and all the
interesting side items they discovered. In June they presented their
findings to the Museum and the results of that work are now included
in an illustrated publication at the Museum.
EXPANSION CAMPAIGN SUPPORTED
Senior College at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center has announced
a goal of 100% participation, or $280,000, in the Hutchinson Center
Expansion Campaign. Last September the Board of Trustees of the Senior
College presented a $20,000 check to the Expansion Campaign. To date
$37,000 of the $280,000 have been raised
OLLI RECIPROCITY
Members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of
Alabama Huntsville invited members of the OLLI program at Auburn University
to join them in a program about Ralph Peters, a well known novelist
and essayist. In return the OLLI Auburn program invited the OLLI UAH
program to come over for a lecture by Thomas Friedman, the author of
The World is Flat. Even though the trip necessitated an overnight,
it was enjoyed by one and all.
SWAN SONGS
Members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke University
in North Carolina took an interesting course recently entitled “SwanSongs:
Last Works of Baroque, Classical and Romantic Composers.” They
studied the music and mythology of the last days of famous composers
from the 17th to the 19th centuries. Pieces to be studied included Bach’s
The Art of Fugue, Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s
Seasons, Beethoven’s late string quartets, Schubert’s
Schwanengesang, and Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony,
among others.
INTERGENERATIONAL DISCUSSIONS
Members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Yavapai College
in Arizona have taken part in Intergenerational Discussions with students
from the Advanced Placement classes at Prescott High School. They covered
foreign and domestic policy issues chosen by the students. This program
is a repeat of an earlier one that was highly successful.
CULTURAL EVENTS
The Cultural Events Committee at the Institute for Retirees in Pursuit
of Educations (IRPE) at Brooklyn College in New York has been very busy.
Last semester they offered reduced prices or free tickets to such venues
as the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, Broadway and
Off-Broadway plays, chamber music concerts, free movies, performances
at Juilliard, and various college plays.
PERSPECTIVES ON THE NORTH
Members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of
Alaska in Fairbanks recently explored some of the historic and current
salient topics in the North. They discussed a different topic each of
the four weeks. These included perceptions of the North, Alaska Native
Land Claims, and native cultures and social pathologies, especially
alcohol abuse and addiction in the North.
BRING A FRIEND
The Encore Center for Lifelong Enrichment at North Carolina State University
in Raleigh allows members to bring a friend, free of charge, to a colloquium
or one session of a six-week class in order for them to experience first-hand,
the stimulating atmosphere of Encore. Of course this often leads to
new members, which is the goal of the program.
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Members of Learning in Retirement, Inc. Athens, Georgia have a chance
to join the Athens Senior Leadership Academy (SLA) for a special price.
The SLA opens doors to all facets of community life. It enables participants
to know Athens and give back to the community where they see a need
and where they want to help. The SLA steering committee annually creates
programs that take participants to various locations to get an inside
look at community government, business, education, health services,
human services, arts, humanities, and the University of Georgia. The
program meets for eight consecutive weeks from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and
the special fee of $75 covers morning coffee, supplies, catered lunches
and some transportation. The SLA program is sponsored by the Retired
and Senior Volunteer Program of the Athens Community Council of Aging.
21st CENTURY LOBBYING
Lobbying the 21st Century is the title of a course being given
during the spring semester at the Frances Pew Hayes Center for
Lifelong Learning at Hodges University, Naples, FL. Participants
will explore the current status of lobbying (and lobbyists) in 2008.
Among the topics to be reviewed are, How do you become a lobbyist? What
is the role of a lobbyist? How can a person influence legislators and
legislation? What is the status of political fundraising and lobbying?
What about the recent scandals involving lobbyists? Is lobbying really
necessary? Should lobbying be banned? They will also learn about the
history of lobbying and how the system currently works.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY AND MEMOIR
MSU for Seniors at Minnesota State University in Mankato offered members
a chance to learn more about writing their autobiographies and memoirs.
Each participant had several opportunities to bring drafts of writing
to class for workshop sessions. They evaluated how strategies of composition
can enhance forms of autobiographical writing. They also looked not
only at how a text works but also at what it might mean to different
readers. The workshops were designed to draw participants from a variety
of backgrounds and academic fields; each participant had a chance not
only to contribute writing to the workshop sessions, but to join in
reading and critiquing other participants’ writing, and complete
a portfolio of polished autobiography and memoir. The last class gave
members to a chance to share their finished stories with each other.
SPOTLIGHT MINUTE
The Lifetime Learning Institute at Northern Virginia Community College
in Annandale has come up with a novel way to honor volunteers and other
hard-working members. Spotlight Minute will be a new feature at their
monthly Forum lectures/meetings. Each month several volunteers will
be singled out for their contribution to LLI during the meeting following
the break in the Forum.
THE REBIRTH OF AMERICAN CONSERVATISM
Members of the IRP in New York City recently looked at “Conservatism
in America.” Barry Goldwater's 1964 defeat was viewed as confirmation
of the end of American conservatism. Ronald Reagan's 1980 election ushered
in a new era of conservative political dominance. This course focused
on the 1963 1980 period and examined the factors that produced this
result. The approach was topical rather than chronological, assessing
the extent to which the conservative ascendancy resulted from the limitations
of liberalism as well as the triumphs of conservatism. Among other topics,
they examined the effects of the civil rights and black power movements,
the Vietnam War, the economic malaise of the 1970s, the rise of the
religious right, and the rebirth of a conservative intellectual movement.
Readings averaged 35 pages per week.
NEW
BOOKS FOR LLI COURSES
Thanks to the OMNILORE program at California State University in Dominquez
Hills for the following suggestions.
Grayson, by Lynne Cox is a true-life account of an extraordinary
ocean adventure. When the author was 17, she trained for marathon swimming
off the coast of Seal Beach. A lost baby whale (she named him Grayson)
became her underwater companion. This is the story of her determination
to reunite the baby with his mother.
Gertrude Bell: Queen of the Desert, Shaper of Nations, by
Georgina Howell, makes use of letters, diaries and Bell’s publications
to tell the story of one of Britain’s most famous travelers. Bell’s
life covered 1868-1926, and in that life she was known as an explorer,
travel writer, translator of Sufi verse, scholar and spy.
Mother Tongue, by Bill Bryson, provides insight into both British
and American English, showing how the language evolved with uncertain
grammar, spelling, and pronunciation.
NEW WEB SITES FOR LLI COURSES
ADOLPH SAX
Biographical material about Adolph Sax, the Belgian-born inventor of
the saxophone. Describes his "agitated childhood" (which included
many serious accidents), how his father manufactured musical instruments,
his move to Paris, his invention of the saxophone, and the importance
of the saxophone to jazz music. From the city of Dinant, Belgium, birthplace
of Sax.
AFRICANS
IN AMERICA: PEOPLE & EVENTS: BENJAMIN BANNEKER, 1731-1806
Biographical essay about Benjamin Banneker, author, scientist, mathematician,
farmer, astronomer, publisher and urban planner [who] was descended
from enslaved Africans, an indentured English servant, and free men
and women of color. Discusses accomplishments and key events in his
life, and includes a related essay on Banneker's "Almanac,"
and letters to and from Banneker and Thomas Jefferson. Part of the Public
Broadcasting Service (PBS) "Africans in America" website and
TV series.
THE
CONQUEST OF MEXICO
This presentation, originally created by a history professor for an
entry-level university course, has the goal of providing a "learning
environment for students to learn historical thinking skills while studying
one of the most important events in world history, the conquest of Mexico"
by the Spaniards. It includes material for teachers and students, maps,
primary sources documents, and a brief timeline (1492-1521). Part of
the American Historical Association's teaching and learning materials
collection.
OXFORD
SCIENCE WALK
This walk takes you to some of the most important and interesting scientific
sites in Oxford [England], from the time of the founding of the University
in the 13th century ... to advancements in modern science such as the
development of penicillin. Click on the map to learn about the work
of such people as Edmond Halley (of Halley's comet) and Stephen Hawking.
From the Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford.
That’s all for this month.
Nancy Merz Nordstrom, M.Ed.
Elderhostel Institute Network
Nancy.merz-nordstrom@elderhostel.org
www.elderhostel.org/ein/intro.asp
617-457-5564
“One's first step in wisdom is to question everything –
and one's last is to come to terms with everything.”
…Georg Christoph Lichtenberg
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