Following is a short summary of all the workshops held at the New England Regional Conference in October, 2004. This will prove useful to future conference planners.

Planning Day Trips and Events
Learn the fine art of trip and event planning and walk away with checklists and great tips from experienced planners Arline Lee and Ann Dulye from the Berkshire Institute for Lifelong Learning, MA

Developing New Delivery Methods
Discover new ways to increase your LLI membership and programming through technology and the Internet, by building partnerships with facilities and developing a dispersed campus. Session leaders are Jim Clunan and Jan Varnum from Acadia Senior College, ME; Sandy Kerr from Ryerson LIFE Institute, Ontario; and Grace Baron and Barbara Cushman from Norton Institute for Lifelong Learning, MA

Recruiting, Training and Retaining Volunteers
This lively interactive session is for those who want to exchange information with other LLIs on working with volunteers. This discussion facilitator is Mary Collins from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

Managing Domestic and International Travel Programs
Hear expert advice on how to plan and manage a travel program from Nancy Hauswald from the Senior College at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center; and Maeve Hartney and Chris Heppner from Elderhostel Program Services, MA

Developing New Program Directions
Expand your LLI’s horizons with innovative programming including Life Options Centers, Service Learning or Intergenerational Programming. Session leaders are Judy Goggin from Civic Ventures, CA; Kali Lightfoot from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, ME; and Carolyn Raffman and Nancy Grayson from McGill LIR, Montreal, Quebec.

Curriculum Development
Bring your best curriculum ideas and questions including assessing what members want, developing balanced offerings, curriculum policies and course evaluations to exchange with other LLIs. Discussion leader is Charles Acker from the University of Maine Augusta Senior College.

Recruiting and Selecting Exceptional Faculty
Learn what makes a good teacher/facilitator and explore new ways to recruit, select and reward faculty from Rose Arthur of Rivier Institute for Senior Education, NH; Mike Brady from Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, ME; and David Bisno, ILEAD Dartmouth College, NH.

The GREATS Session
Nationally available courses can enhance your core curriculum. Find out how to integrate Great Books, Great Courses, Great Decisions, Point of View and Cyber Seniors into your LLI offerings with presenters Nancy Masterton, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, ME; Elizabeth Isele from Cyber Seniors, ME; Eliza Licht from Point of View, Amneridoc, NY and Paul Colburn from York Country Senior college, ME.

Extracurricular Activities and Special Interest Groups
Network with other LLI leaders to get new ideas to organize LLI activities and social groups – from outings, lectures and book groups to sports, musical groups and brown bag lunches. Discussion facilitator is Barbara Frederick of Coastal Senior College, ME.

Retaining LLI Members: What the Research Shows
In early 2004 the University of Southern Maine’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) conducted two studies to explore issues of retention and attrition in LLIs. In the first study, focus groups involving 45 long-term members of OLLI explored reasons why learners remain committed to an LLI. This was followed by telephone research involving six LLIs in Maine that investigated reasons why some people choose not to renew their program membership. Review and discuss the results of these studies with Rick Lamb and Mike Brady from OLLI’s research collaborative.

Organizing Peer Learning Groups
Many LLIs organize their curriculum into peer learning or study groups, while others employ study groups to enhance their teacher-led curriculum. Benefit from the 25 years of experience at Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, MA. Join curriculum chair Joyce Tyler, and vice chair of the teaching and learning committee, Patricia Moore, to learn how they recruit and train faculty leaders/facilitators and manage the format and content of study groups.

LLI Courses that Work
Bring your best course ideas to this roundtable to exchange successful course topics, formats, and logistics in a lively session led by Becky Quinlan from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, ME.

Public Relations, Member Recruitment and Relations
Learn “how to” create a public relations program on a shoestring budget. Generate awareness about your LLI for membership recruitment and map out a strategy for member relations, cultivation and retention with Anne Marie Brown from the Cumberland County YMCA, ME and Mary Frenning from the Senior College at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center.

Host Relations: From Governance to Giving
Zero in on the options and issues around maintaining win/win relationships with your host institution including: agreements, support, shared governance, staff/volunteer roles, classroom and office space and fund/friendraising. Led by Sharon Sokoloff from Brandeis Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, MA.

Organizing for the Future: Transforming and Sustaining the Volunteer Structure of LLIs
As volunteer organizations, LLIs must carefully plan for the future through strategic planning, leadership development and developing a strong overall committee structure and governance. A thoughtful discussion on the future of LLIs with Leonie Gordon, Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, MA; Nancy Merz Nordstrom, Elderhostel Institute Network, MA; and Don Tritschler, Explorers Lifelong Learning Institute of Salem State College, MA.