Greetings –
NEW EIN WEB POSTINGS FOR OCTOBER
Under MANAGING YOUR LLI
Brown Bag Lunch Series – Wheelock
LLI, MA
Group Size Matters – MILR,
Montreal
QUEST Summer Programs - NYC
Brown Bag Lunch Series – LLI,
VA
Senior College Media Research
– Senior College, ME
Hospice Service Learning – OLLI,
ME
Sports in Our Lives – OLLI, MA
Under LLI NEWS
LLI News for October
Under LLI CONGRATULATIONS
LLI Congratulations for October
POSTIVE AGING CONFERENCE
Planners for the December 6-8, 2007 Positive Aging Conference at Eckerd
College in Florida now have a full schedule of workshops on line. Be
sure to check them out along with the pre-conference happenings at http://www.eckerd.edu/positiveaging/Preconference/Lifelong
Learning.php
IRP MENTORING PROGRAM IN FULL GEAR
Being new is less of a problem at the New School Institute for Retired
Professionals in Greenwich Village, New York then it has been in the
past. The IRP Mentoring program has been revised and the mentors now
act as a catalyst in the process of the new member feeling welcome and
becoming actively integrated into the IRP, as seen in their coordinating
a study-group, joining a committee, or volunteer activity such as First
Desk or Café/Lounge. Mentors start with the traditional tasks
of making the new member feel welcome, answering questions they might
have about the IRP, and clarifying the add/drop process regarding their
courses. Mentors will meet with the new member several times during
the first term to achieve these goals. The next phase is to start engaging
the new member in a conversation about how they might get more actively
involved in the IRP. As each new member's readiness for this conversation
will vary they look for mentors willing to stay engaged in this process
after the first year if that is what is needed. As the outcome of this
process is very dependent on subtle aspects of the "chemistry"
between the mentor and the new member, the possibility exists of making
switches early on. Mentors meet as a group early in the first term to
discuss the mentoring process, how the new members are doing and whether
there is a need for any switching and to discuss general issues and
questions raised by new students.
KNOW YOUR MEMBERS
Here’s another example of why it’s important to know a bit
about the background of your members. The ILR at Old Dominion University
in Virginia is offering a course entitled Have You Lived Abroad?
This course is designed so that members who have lived in other countries
can enlighten their fellow participants about what it was like to call
another country home, if even for a short time.
The Learning in Retirement program at Iona College (LIRIC) in New York
dedicates one page in their course catalog to learning about their members.
It’s a short questionnaire that solicits the following information:
1. My pre-retirement work was in the field of:: Law/Government –
Business – Education – Health Care – Science/Technology
– Other
2. My primary area of interest at LIRIC is in: Literature – Current
Events – Music – Computers – Art – Other –
Science – Math – History
3. I would like to participate in a small study group (8-10 people)
where the people in the group would be responsible for planning the
sessions: Yes – No
4. I would be willing to: Give a single talk on…….Teach
a course (4 session minimum) on……..
5. I would be happy to help plan theater trips: Yes – No
6. I would be willing to serve on the following committee: Curriculum
(4 sub-committees develop and implement our courses; choose on or more):
Humanities – Art – Social Sciences – Science &
Technology – Membership – Hospitality – Communications
– Newsletter – Mailing
7. I’m not sure how I can help, but I’m willing. Call me.
8. I’m only interested in taking courses at this time.
INDUSTRY IN YOUR COMMUNITY
This past summer, the Learning Club at Winona State University in Minnesota
gave its members a chance to learn more about the Fresh Water Pearl
Industry. Participants carpooled to the Mississippi River Pearl Company
in a nearby town, where they were given a tour by the company owners.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
According to the Sioux City Journal’s September 4th issue, Fiona
Valentine, coordinator of public relations and the Institute for Lifelong
Learning at Western Iowa Tech Community College, gave two presentations
at the Regional Lifelong Learning Conference at the Albert A. Robin
campus of Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, Ill., Aug. 19-21. Her first
presentation, ''How Curriculum Drives Membership: The View from Western
Iowa Tech.,'' focused on the growth of WITCC's Institute for Lifelong
Learning program from 176 members in 1997 to 680 this year. Her second
presentation, ''A Perfect Day,'' was part of a panel session on planning
and implementing field trips. Fiona’s participation in the conference
was made possible by a grant from The Kind World Foundation.
ART GALLERY
The Academy for Lifelong Learning on Cape Cod in Massachusetts says
that their new Art Gallery has been a visual and financial success this
past year. The beautiful paintings created by their members have brightened
up the area and made the space even more pleasant. A new exhibition
will be mounted this fall. Thirty percent of the proceeds of any sale
go to the A.L.L. program.
OLLI HOSTS WORLD EXPERT
Members of the OLLI program at the University of Alabama, Huntsville
got to spend a morning last August with Ralph Peters, writer, strategist,
commentator and historically informed observer of the world’s
cultures and current events. He is the author of 21 books and several
hundred columns, articles and essays. He is currently a journalist residing
in Washington DC. One of his more recent books is New Glory, Expanding
America’s Global Supremacy, which takes a long look at America’s
strategic position and where we should be going. His topic for the OLLI
program was The Future of America in Today’s World.
ART SHOW
Congratulations to all the artists who participated in the Spring Art
Show at the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Old Dominion University
in Virginia. Many favorable comments were received and visitors from
the main campus also came to the show’s opening.
MOVEABLE FEAST
Last month, the Moveable Feast literary luncheon at Lifelong Learning
at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina presented author Bob
Deans discussing his book The River Where America Began: A Journey
on the James. Fox correspondent Deans took readers on a journey
along the James River from the earliest days of civilization nearly
15,000 years ago through the troubled English settlement at Jamestown
and finished with Lincoln's tour of the defeated capital of Richmond
in 1865
VISITING WRITER
The Center for Learning in Retirement at Rock Valley College in Illinois
recently hosted the award-winning author Barton Sutter. His fiction,
non-fiction and poetry make him the only author in Minnesota to win
the Minnesota Book Award in all three categories. A Reading and Book
Signing, as well as a workshop were offered during his visit.
SENIOR ISSUES
A recent Lunch and Learn program at the Adult Learning Institute at
Columbia Greene Community in Hudson, New York recently dealt with Senior
Issues. Their guest speaker was a Columbia County District
Attorney who discussed issues that may involve seniors with the court
system, including scams perpetrated on older people.
SPANISH COURSES
As noted in several course catalogs, there are LLIs now offering Spanish
courses to their members. Some of them include the Lifelong Learning
Institute at James Madison University in Virginia,
COLLAGE FOR MEN ONLY
Now that they are not defined by their careers, some of the men at the
OLLI program at Yavapai College in Arizona had a chance this past summer
to discover new directions in their lives through the use of Collage.
They spent an afternoon considering what makes life interesting now
and going forward by constructing collages using old magazines, glue,
scissors and poster board.
ABOUT ILEAD
Over this last year the ILEAD program at Dartmouth College in Hanover,
New Hampshire conducted a member survey, the results of which were printed
in their Winter/Spring 2007 newsletter. Here is the third section (the
last section will appear in later newsletters) of the survey results
– Where We Should Go From Here
Regarding possible solutions to limited facilities, the top two suggestions
were to move classes out of Hanover for the short term and to create
a larger ILEAD facility in the long-term. Members are more willing to
support an increase in membership fees than increases in individual
course fees. Fifty percent said they would be willing to make a monetary
contribution to a long-term capital fund raising campaign.
WINDFARMS SPARK LIVELY DEBATE
Eleven U3As from across Scotland recently came together for a day of
events, and one of the topics under discussion was renewable energy.
Given the local government’s mandate to dramatically increase
energy supply from wind power, the topic was most timely. Guest speakers
closely involved in developing and managing the local wind farm discussed
the issues and a lively debate ensued as not everyone viewed this source
of renewable energy in a positive light.
OLLI HEARS HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL
Nearly 100 members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University
of S. Maine in Portland were among the more than 500 persons on hand
to hear Mary Robinson, former High Commissioner for Human Rights for
the United Nations, give the 2007 Douglas M. Schair Memorial Lecture
on Genocide. OLLI co-sponsored the program, and members took full advantage.
In her talk, Ms. Robinson, former president of Ireland, emphasized her
new role as head of the Ethical Globalization Initiative in speaking
out for the rights of those who lack the economic means in a world where
the division between the rich and the poor is growing.
NEW BOOKS FOR LLI COURSES
Thanks to the OMNILORE program at California State University Dominquez
Hills for these fiction suggestions that would make great reading for
a LLI book club.
The Prodigal Spy, by Joseph Kanon. Nine year old Nick Kotlar’s
life is turned upside down when his father is accused of being a communist
spy during the McCarthy hearings.
Travels in the Scriptorium, by Paul Auster is an offbeat fabulist
story of a man who wakes up in a room with no memory of who he is or
how he got there.
Last Days of Summer, by Steve Kluger, is a baseball story
that begins in 1936 and tells the story of the correspondence between
a 12 year-old boy and his baseball hero.
NEW WEB SITES FOR LLI COURSES
ASTRONOMY - http://www.heavens-above.com/
This site aims to provide you with all the information you need to observe
satellites such as the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle,
spectacular events and other spaceflight and astronomical information.
ART AND ART HISTORY - http://www.artdaily.com
An excellent resource, fully indexed. The first Art newspaper on the
Internet. One interesting area is "Art In Motion", where 22
buildings, statues, or famous places are described, with a 3-D
animated view of each section. Or check out "This Day in History."
EDUCATION INDEX - http://www.educationindex.com/education_resources.html
This site seems to have everything for any subject.
Thanks to Signposts, the U3A newsletter for the above sites.
BRITISH LIBRARY: HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN –
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/andersen/homepage.html
This companion to an exhibit on the underlying themes in the life of
fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen uses clues provided by some
of his best-known characters ... [to explore] the dark side of his life,
as well as the innocence of his vision. Features a timeline, short essays
about his life, images from the exhibition, and an essay by Andersen's
biographer (Jackie Wullschlager). Also includes related links. From
the British Library.
CAPTIVE PASSAGE: THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND THE MAKING
OF THE AMERICAS - http://www.mariner.org/captivepassage/
The transatlantic slave trade was the second leg of a triangular economic
route between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. This online exhibit
examines this slave trade and seeks to increase understanding of this
maritime epic and its legacies in the modern world. Topics addressed
include departure, middle passage, arrival, abolition, and legacy (such
as food, education, religion, and music). Also includes images, a quiz,
and a bibliography. From
The Mariners' Museum, Newport News, Virginia.
PHYSICS.ORG - http://www.physics.org
Information for children and adults about physics. The site features
a database of refereed physics websites that are searchable by natural
language query software (EasyAsk) and that
are ranked by age and level of physics knowledge. The site also provides
interactive features about the history of physics and physicists and
about physics in everyday life. From the Institute of Physics, an international
professional body and learned society.
WOMEN & THE SEA - http://www.mariner.org/women/
This site traces the relationship of females to the sea, from female
figureheads on ships and mermaids to women in the military, in yachting
and racing, and as ship captains. Includes a timeline (1493-1995), images,
bibliography, and links to related sites. From the Mariners' Museum,
Newport News, Virginia.
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
“What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy
challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity.
In the end there are no certain answers.”
…Martina Horner
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