Thursdays, 9:30-11:30
10 weeks, Jan. 26–Mar. 30
$45 plus museum admission
Video lectures, discussion, museum visit
Plunge into the tumultuous world of the Italian Renaissance by getting to know the great artists who set a new standard for beauty that still dominates Western art. We begin part one of our two-term visual journey at the dawn of the Renaissance in Tuscany, where the revival of interest in classical Greek and Roman art helped spark a creative revolution. Among the masters whose work we’ll explore in depth are Masaccio, often hailed as the greatest painter of the Early Renaissance; Piero della Francesca, whose paintings have been called “mesmerizing and otherworldly”; and Botticelli, whose lyrical style in such works as The Birth of Venus marks him as one of the most original painters of his time.
Recommended reading: Margaret Aston, ed., The Panorama of the Renaissance (Abrams, 1996).
Other good books: Ross King, Brunelleschi’s Dome (Penguin, 2000); any Taschen book on individual artists (go to Taschen.com for information); any book in the Scala/Riverside Library of Great Masters, esp. Botticelli by Bruno Santi.
Moderators: Long-time Italian Renaissance enthusiast Laura Pardee teams up with Sunny Wold, Denver Art Museum volunteer docent and research assistant, to add a personal dimension to your virtual tour with art historian William Kloss.
Thursdays, 1—3
10 weeks, Jan 26—Mar. 30
$40
Video lectures, discussion
Whether you’ve always wished you had more time to indulge your appetite for art and literature or you’ve been looking for a chance to renew old friendships with the great artists and writers of the Western world, you’re bound to enjoy this course. Each meeting brings together half-hour video segments devoted to great visual artists with video lectures that spotlight literary giants like Petrarch, Cervantes, Goethe, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Joyce, Faulkner, Camus, and Beckett. The mix-and-match format is sure to inspire fresh insights into the “great ideas” of Western culture.
No required reading. You’ll want to draw up your own list.
Moderator: Lead-learner Keith Meagher has always been an avid observer of the arts and believes our learning experiences are enriched and deepened when shared with others.
Wednesdays, 1–3 pm
8 weeks, Jan. 25 to Mar. 15
$35
Tours, gallery chats
Find out why Jane Austen’s witty novels inspired Mark Twain’s “visceral repugnance” and led Emerson to second the motion. And why her flinty, ironic depictions of love and marriage are still relevant today. We’ll seek the answers to these and other questions in a close reading of two of Austen’s most popular comedies of manners: Pride and Prejudice (1813) and Emma (1816). Excerpts from recent films based on her elegant masterpieces offer a chance for further comparisons and discussion.
Required reading: Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (Norton Critical Edition, 2001); and Jane Austen, Emma (Norton Critical Edition, 2000). Critical and biographical essays included in both books will be discussed.
Instructor: After thirty years of teaching everything from Homer to Hemingway at the University of Denver, Douglas Wilson still relishes talking with others about his favorite books.
Wednesdays, 9:30—11:30
5 weeks, Jan. 25—Feb. 22
$25
Writing workshop limited to 10
Hone your powers of observation and your writing skills by practicing the art of haiku, the seventeen-syllable lyric verse form developed four centuries ago in Japan. We’ll read and study great examples from the masters, past and present, develop techniques for noticing the expressive details around us, and find out how to convey our insights with clarity and economy and without sentimentality or mere cleverness.
Required reading: William J. Higginson and Penny Harter, The Haiku Handbook (Kodansha International, 1992).
Also recommended: Robert Hass, ed., The Essential Haiku (Ecco Press, 1994).
Coach: After a career spent putting other people’s stories on paper, poet and award-winning freelance copywriter Ginny Hoyle is relishing the chance to focus on reading, writing, and teaching poetry. She sees haiku as a practice, rather than a form, with the power to open the eyes and the heart.
Wednesdays, 9:30—11:30
5 weeks, Mar. 1—29
$25
Brief lectures, discussion, recorded readings
Class size limited to 16
Are poems really made by fools, as Joyce Kilmer famously claimed in “Trees”? This class will focus on the craft of writing and reading poetry. Whether you’re already a lover of good poems or you just want to learn to be a better reader of poetry, you’ll have a chance to think about what makes poetry so memorable and gives it such expressive power—and why poetry is a great vehicle for exploring life’s everyday mysteries.
Required reading: Garrison Keillor, ed., Good Poems (Penguin, 2003).
Also recommended: Laurence Perrine, Sound and Sense (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1987); Edward Hirsch, How to Read a Poem (Harcourt, 1999).
Moderator: Lifelong learner and teacher Darwin Rolens (M.A.) is a Renaissance man with a background in humanities, theology, and classical languages and a résumé that includes graduate studies in creative writing.
Thursdays, 1-3
8 weeks, Feb. 2—Mar. 23
$40
Discussion, multimedia lectures, and round-robin presentations
Class size limited to 21
The Faustian theme is still alive and well in all the arts. From ancient folklore through the twentieth century, we’ll see how the idea of selling one’s soul to the devil has played out in literature, drama, art, and music and still reverberates through our everyday lives. Among the artists whose work offers a good jumping-off place for meaty discussion are Marlowe, Goethe, Balzac, Benet, Wilde, Mann, Gounod, and Berlioz. Belief in the devil is not a prerequisite.
No required reading—but some expected.
Moderator: Lifelong learner Jane Yoder looks for mental challenges in all her activities. She won’t say, though, whether she has ever been tempted to make a Faustian bargain for knowledge.
Tuesdays, 9:30–11:30 am
8 weeks, Jan. 24 to Mar. 14
$40
Workshop
You needn’t have grown up in Lake Woebegone to have interesting stories to tell—and eager listeners. Learn how to stir up your memories and capture them for the entertainment of friends and family or simply for the pure pleasure of bringing the past back to life. There is no better way to start writing than by recalling the people and events that have made a difference in your life and no better time to begin than now.
Recommended reading: Participants will receive an annotated list of helpful books available in local libraries.
Facilitator: Life-stories guru
Kathy Boyer has taught countless beginning storytellers how to value and record their personal experiences in workshops that offer encouragement, exercises, and enjoyment.
Tuesdays, 1–3 pm
8 weeks, Jan. 24–Mar. 14
$50* ($15 is tax-deductible as a donation to the opera companies)
Lectures, video
You’ll enjoy attending an opera more if you study the music ahead of time and let it seep into your soul. You’ll be well prepared for the curtain to rise on both the Opera Colorado and Central City Opera seasons after this course. Katherine Myers will present The Abduction from the Seraglio and Norma, and Deborah Morrow will introduce The Coronation of Poppea and Don Giovanni. You’ll have a chance to preview the four operas in their entirety in video productions and to follow along with the libretti. Note: A limited number of group tickets for Opera Colorado performances are listed under Divertimenti. These were set aside for us prior to the individual seat sales.
Presenters: Katherine Myers, director of education and outreach for Opera Colorado, has not only appeared onstage but has directed and stage-managed productions as well. Singer and former public school music educator Deborah Morrow brings her passion for opera to her current position as director of education and community programs for Central City Opera.
Moderator: After a career in financial management, Jim Kneser has turned his attention to teaching adults about the workings of complex economic principles in the real world. His Academy classes in economics and finance are wildly popular. Hardly a Johnny one-note, Jim indulges his lifelong love of music by occasionally offering classes about his favorite composers.
Tuesdays, 9:30–11:30 am
10 weeks, Jan. 24—Mar. 28
$45
Lectures and musical interludes
Explore the lives and music of eminent composers in the company of an acclaimed local performing artist and musicologist. Starting with twenty-first century masters such as John Cage, Samuel Barber, Igor Stravinsky, and Serge Prokofieff, and traveling back to the baroque, this musical journey offers a rare opportunity to strike up an acquaintance with lesser-known greats who sometimes get overlooked in the crowd. Among those you’ll get to know better are Witold Lutoslawski, Krystoff Penderecki, and Théodore Gouvy.
No required reading.
Presenter: Best-known as a concert pianist and music critic, Robin McNeil is also a poet who counts sports car racing and piloting vintage WWII aircraft among his enthusiasms. He brings an insider’s insights to this musical adventure.
Tuesdays, 1-3
8 weeks, Jan. 24—Mar. 14
$45
Discussion, video
Class size limited to 16
Here’s your chance to come to grips with six towering abstract ideas that have inspired and permeated Western thought throughout history. Though we bandy the words about daily, most of us have a hard time pinning down the meaning of truth, goodness, and beauty (ideas we judge by) and liberty, equality, and justice (ideas we act on). We’ll discuss how influential thinkers have defined and redefined these ideas before setting off on our own adventure of analysis and discovery.
Required reading: Mortimer J. Adler, Six Great Ideas (Touchstone, 1997).
Also recommended: Mortimer J. Adler, How to Think about the Great Ideas: From the Great Books of Western Civilization, ed. Max Weisman (Open Court, 2000).
Moderator: After a thirty-five-year career as an administrator with the Colorado Historical Society, Jim Hartmann looks forward to having more time to devote to exploring great ideas in the company of others.
Wednesdays, 1-3
5 sessions, Jan. 25, Feb. 8, 22, Mar. 8, 22
$25
Discussion
Whether you’re a longtime closet philosopher or simply want to learn to be a better participant in a meaningful discussion, you’re ready for the Socrates Café. After reviewing the history of Chris Phillips’s Socrates Café and tips for effective participation, we’ll jump right in. Using the format followed by the Denver Socrates Café Meetup group (www.socratescafe.meetup.com), at each meeting we’ll select an intriguing topic for discussion from among those suggested by members of the group. After a few sessions, you’ll be itching to start your own Socrates Café with friends and neighbors. A visit to the Friday night Socrates Café is optional.
Recommended reading: Chris Phillips, Socrates Café (W.W. Norton, 2001).
Moderator: Lifelong learner John Wren helped start the first Socrates Café in Denver on the Friday after 9/11 and now leads a monthly Meetup.com Socrates Café.
Tuesdays, 1-3
10 weeks, Jan. 24 to Mar. 28
$40
Lecture, discussion
Our neglect of the history of Russia and Eastern Europe makes it difficult to understand and negotiate with these nations today. Discover how and why the tradition of governance in Russia differs so radically from that in the West. We’ll take a look at the formative role played by geography, climate, property relations, social classes, and other nations in the development of the pre-revolutionary Russian state and see how centuries-old attitudes toward land and people persist in the political life of Russia today.
Required reading: Richard Pipes, Russia under the Old Regime, 2d ed. (Penguin, 1997).
Moderator: John Rupainis’s lifelong interest in history and philosophy keeps him coming back to lead classes in these subjects. “There is,” he explains, “always something new to learn by talking about them with others.”
Thursdays, 9:30—11:30
8 weeks, Jan. 26 to Mar.16
$35
Mini-lectures and discussion
How many times have we convinced ourselves that “this could never happen again” only to be blindsided by another terrible genocide? By examining the psychology of hatred that led to various modern genocides, we’ll explore the eternal puzzle of this least understandable of human behaviors. We’ll look at these examples through a framework that takes into account ethnic, religious, and political belief systems and try to figure out why genocide keeps happening in a “civilized” world.
Required reading: Samantha Power, A Problem from Hell: America and the Age of Genocide (Perennial, 2002).
Also suggested: Jerrold Post, Leaders and Their Followers in a Dangerous World (Cornell Univ. Press, 2004); and Terry McDermott, Perfect Soldiers (Harper Collins, 2005).
Instructor: Despite many years as a clinical psychologist in both private practice and the criminal justice system, Sheila Porter still finds much to ponder in human behavior.
Tuesdays, 9:30—11:30
8 weeks, Jan. 31 to Mar. 21
$45
Discussion, guest speaker
To what extent is the United Nations still able to achieve the lofty goals of its charter? Can we expect it to fulfill its promise to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war . . . to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small”? We’ll take a hard look at the UN’s efficacy in the past and its potential for the future. Here’s your chance to participate in what are sure to be spirited discussions about the UN and the US’s role within the aging organization. Guest lecturer Ved Nanda draws on experience inside the UN to bring first-hand insights to the issue.
Required reading: James S. Sutterlin, The United Nations and the Maintenance of International Security: A Challenge To Be Met, 2d ed. (Praeger, 2003).
Also recommended: Thomas G. Weiss, David P. Forsythe, and Roger A. Coate, The United Nations and Changing World Politics, 4th ed. (Westview Press, 2004); High Level Panel’s Report at www.un.org/secureworld; and Millennium Summit Report at www.un.org/millennium/sg/report.
Moderator: As a self-described “learning junkie,” Sherma Erholm loves stepping outside her fields of expertise in music and communication theory to lead lively discussions on controversial topics.
Guest speaker: Popular DU professor Ved Nanda’s achievements include serving as President of the World Jurist Association, as Vice President of the American Society of International Law, and as the United States Delegate to the World Federation of the United Nations Associations in Geneva. He was the 1997 recipient of the United Nations Association Human Rights Award.
Wednesdays, 9:30–11:30 am
8 weeks, Jan. 25 to Mar. 15
$50, includes cost of a mound of photocopies, no book required
Dialogue
What can we expect our world to look like in fifty years? Will we see a “clash of civilizations,” a “world on fire,” and an “end of history”? Or can we look forward to “universal democracy”? Over the last dozen years, in such journals as Foreign Affairs, Policy Review, and Foreign Policy, thinkers floated these and other prophetic visions in articles that eventually led to full-length books. Each week we’ll examine and discuss one or more of these seminal essays. Authors include Francis Fukuyama, Samuel Huntington, Amy Chua, Robert Kagan, Robert Kaplan, Benjamin Barber, and Larry Diamond.
Required reading: voluminous photocopied handouts
Moderator: Former lawyer and history buff Charles Hall says this foray into the future is sure to shed light on the way you think about the decisions our leaders face today.
Wednesdays, 9:30—11:30
10 weeks, Jan. 25 to Mar. 29
$45
Lecture, discussion
You can help design this free-form course as we go along. Stopping to detour down whatever by-paths catch our interest, we’ll trace the story of science from the dawn of human history to the present day. We’ll focus on the ideas behind each new scientific advance and see how mathematics plays a leading role in this drama.
Required reading: Bryan Bunch and Alexander Hellemans, eds., The History of Science and Technology (Houghton Mifflin, 2004).
Also recommended: John Gribben, The Scientists (Random House, 2004); and James McClellan and Harold Dorn, Science and Technology in World History (Johns Hopkins Press, 1998).
Instructor: Armed with a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and astronautical sciences, David Hector spent thirteen years teaching at the college level before launching out into industry and finally retiring last year as head of an engineering design and analysis firm. He has always been fascinated by the story of how humankind continually invents new tools to enhance its survival and quality of life.
Wednesdays, 1-3
10 weeks, Jan. 25 to Mar. 29
$55, includes cost of stacks of photocopies
Lecture, discussion
You can’t read the paper or watch the news without hearing about economic indicators and their implications. We are bombarded with references to fiscal, monetary, and trade policies. Join us to find out what it all really means. This term we begin by looking at macroeconomics, the study of economic behavior at the national and global level, with a focus on how experts define and measure the four overall goals of macroeconomic policy (economic growth, stable prices, high employment, and sustainable trade balances). We’ll end with a closer look at the tools of macroeconomics—fiscal and monetary policies.
Required reading: photocopy handouts
Instructor: Retired, but enthusiastic, economist Jim Kneser promises a lively class, intellectually stimulating yet accessible to all—with a minimum of graphs and charts and a maximum of examples from current headlines.
Thursdays, 1—3
5 weeks, Mar. 2 to 30
$35
Lecture, discussion
Prerequisite: The Rational Investor I or equivalent
Once grounded in the fundamentals of asset allocation, we’ll explore current theories of investment strategy and learn why the “tried and true” always beats the “bold and new.” We’ll delve into the ins and outs of buying overseas stocks and study the principles driving a new emphasis on "return-enhancing strategies." Learn what you need to know to make choices that are likely to deliver the best results for the least risk.
Recommended reading: Jeremy J. Siegel, The Future for Investors: Why the Tried and the True Triumph Over the Bold and the New (Crown Business, 2005).
Instructor: With an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, economist Jim Kneser retired from a career devoted to mergers and acquisitions, speculative markets, and other lighthearted enterprises. His special interest lies in the way economic principles influence decision making in both personal life and public policy.
The Divertimenti are divided into the following categories:
Featured Lecture, Short Takes, and Skills & Frills
Thursday, Mar. 2; 11:30—12:45
,$10 includes lunch (nonmembers $20)
Lecturer: Professor Joseph Szyliowicz
The possible admission of Turkey to the European Union represents the greatest challenge faced by the EU in over 30 years of admitting new members. In 1999, the EU declared Turkey a candidate for membership—12 years after Turkey formally applied. Europeans cite Turkey's political system and bad record on human rights as concerns. Turks are more likely to cite religious, cultural, and immigration concerns as the reasons for EU reluctance.
With over 70.0 million people who tend to be far younger than Europeans, Turkey could represent the salvation to Europe's dangerously aging population and the attendant social program financial strain. With its access to the petroleum-rich southern Caucasus, Turkey could provide relief for Europe from reliance on Russia for future energy sources. Despite these advantages, EU opinion seems to be strongly opposed to membership. The murder of Theo Van Gogh by a Muslim activist in the Netherlands one year ago and the recent Muslim rioting in France have served to further strain popular opinion regarding membership.
Where will all this lead? Popular DU Professor Joseph Szyliowicz will provide his insights. He has served as a consultant and reviewer to many governmental agencies and presented papers at numerous national and international transportation meetings. Lunch will include both a ½ sandwich from Panera’s and a salad.
Wednesday, Jan 18, 4:30—6:30 pm
$5
The Academy’s Back-to-School Open House is going up-town this term. Your evening will be enhanced by a string quartet from the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra performing Boccherini, Schubert, Handel and Mozart. Sip a favored beverage, nibble on hors d’oeuvres, scope out our class headquarters, get to know facilitators and fellow Academics, and pick up any hand-outs you’ll need before your first class sessions. (Can’t make it? We’ll mail anything you miss.) Bring your friends and neighbors to join in the fun and find out what the Academy is all about. They may locate a great offering that has not yet filled.
Dates: Tue, Jan 24 or Wed, Jan 25 or Thu, Jan 26
Time: 11:30-12:45
FREE! Lunch included (sandwiches, not quiche)
Discussion leaders: Don Theobald and Larry Rozmiarek
What do you want to learn about? Do you know of someone you would like to hear speak? Help us design some courses for the fall 2006 term. A course can be only 2 sessions long (for the restless who fear lasting commitments) or up to the full ten sessions (for the bold). Bring your ideas. We’ll discuss topics, flesh them out, and suggest books, DVD’s, or speakers. Come on, you can do this! Just a planning session and it’s on to greener fields.
2 Thursdays, Feb. 2—9; 1—3
Time: 11:45-12:45
$10 (nonmembers $20)
Discussion leaders: Logical Left Brained Dick Hansen and Right Brained Free Spirit Diane Carrick
Class size limited to 20
Are there books that have spoken to you in just the right way at just the right time? Bring one (or more) and tell the group why it is one of your all-time favorite books. Sad, funny, spiritual, whimsical, fact, fiction—you decide what is your favorite book and why. Searching for a good book? Come and listen to what others have to say. Dick and Diane are looking forward to hearing what you want to share.
2 Thursdays, Mar. 23-30; 9:30—11:30
Time: 11:45-12:45
$10 (nonmembers $20)
Discussion leader: Avid reader Iris Fontera
Class size limited to 20
The movie Crash is a compelling urban thriller that tracks the volatile intersection of a multiethnic cast of characters struggling to overcome their fears as they careen in and out of one another’s lives. With in-your-face racism and stereotypes, there is much to ponder and much to discuss. After watching the DVD in the first class, participants will meet a week later to share their perceptions and conclusions about the move. This class meets during the final two-weeks of the term. Participants in the Genocide and Psychology of Hatred course will definitely want to sign up and share their insights.
HEARING LOSS: FIXES, CURES, & MIRACLES
Wed. Feb. 8, 9:30-10:30
$5 (nonmembers $15)
Lecturer: Audiologist Linda Van Dyke
Science and technology are moving so fast that it is hard to keep up. This trend is happening throughout our daily lives and especially in the complex area of hearing loss. In just an hour, come learn about all the new technologies currently available for treating hearing problems including cochlear implants, implantable hearing aids, and digital hearing aid technology. Does all this technology really help? Can I hear again like a teenager? Would it help my spouse?
6 Mondays, Jan. 23 to Mar. 6, skip Feb. 20; 11:00—12:15
$40 (nonmembers $50) for each session
Instructor: Registered Yoga Teacher Rose Kauffman
Strictly limited to 16 participants
Increase your activity level….boost your energy….tone your muscles….exercise with purpose…become more flexible by stretching and have fun in the process. Yoga can help you learn how to take time to nurture yourself by tuning in to your body and your heart. It promotes strength and balance. These sessions will teach yoga postures for the beginner or intermediate practitioner. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows easy movement. No perfumes or scented lotions. Please refrain from eating 2 hours before class. Bring a yoga sticky mat and foam or wooden block if you have them.
4 Tuesdays, every other week, Jan. 31, Feb. 14, 28, Mar. 14, 9:30—11:30
$15 (nonmembers $25)
Lead knitters: Donna Belber, Jeanenne Stepelton
The knitters had so much fun that they’re coming back for more. This companionable group welcomes newcomers at all skill levels. The first session will meet at a knit shop (directions will be sent to participants) for inspiration, pointers on the latest trends and yarns, and help in selecting a new project if needed. Other sessions meet at the church, where you’ll get plenty of encouragement and advice when you get stuck. Work on a new tank top for summer, or make a felted purse, baby blanket, or fluffy scarf.
10 Thursdays, Jan. 26—Mar. 30; 9:30—11:30
$50 (nonmembers $60) includes some art supplies
Instructors: Retired Art Teacher Diane Carrick and Art Lover Priscilla Dunbar
Class size limited to 14
Picture yourself approaching a plentiful and varied art buffet where you can select from watercolors, acrylics, pencil, markers, oil pastels plus other tidbits then sit down to create art just for fun. Follow the given recipe or whip up something with your personal touch. The menu will be spiced with a variety of subjects such as landscapes, shapes, portraits, shading or whatever pleases your palette. Enjoy the experience of creating something unique each week. Bon Appetite! BYO 8.5 x 11 or larger sketchbook, pencil, and kneaded eraser.
6 Tuesdays, Jan. 31, Feb. 14, 28, Mar. 14, 21, 28; 1-3
$45 (nonmembers $55)
Instructor: Bridge enthusiast Sally Kneser
Do you get nervous when you play bridge? Do your friends yawn or begin chatting while you stop to think? This series of classes will focus on the “automatic” actions. Each lesson will begin with a 10 to 15 minute lesson followed by 45 minutes of practice. After a short break a second lesson will be followed by another 45 minutes of practice. By then you should be able to bid or play those sequences in your sleep! If you have a regular partner or bridge group, it helps if you can attend together, but it is always fun to meet new friends at the bridge table and singles are very welcome.
Thursday, Jan. 26; 1-3
$5 (nonmembers $15)
Instructor: Computer Jockey Sally Kneser
ABC’s: Would you like to spend 1/3 less time at your computer? There are some simple tricks that are worth taking the time to learn. Right-click, the Ctrl key, and single letters of the alphabet will be your new best friends. It will feel great to walk away from the computer after creating a better looking project in a shorter amount of time. BYO laptop if you have one or keyboard.
3 Thursdays, Feb. 16-Mar. 2; 1-3
$15 (nonmembers $25)
Leader: Skilled Radio Player Sally Kneser
Each year the Denver Lyric Opera Guild holds a vocal competition. How do the judges decide which singers are the best? Can you hear what they hear? Would you like to hear more? Sally Kneser has researched the criteria that judges around the world use: timbre, pitch accuracy, diction, phrasing, musicality, character development, stage deportment, and not least, the beauty of the voice. The class will listen to many examples in order to define the terms. For the second week, each participant will bring 2 or more versions of the same vocal number for the class to judge. You will definitely hear more after this class. Most importantly, you will appreciate more of what you hear.
2 evenings with Opera Colorado at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Wednesday, Feb. 22, 7:30, Norma, $65 (nonmembers $75), must order by Jan. 8
Tuesday, May 2, 7:30 The Abduction from the Seraglio, $65 (nonmembers $75), must order by March 20
Seats are limited. Academy members receive preference.
We had these blocks of tickets set aside at a group discount before individual seat sales began. These are great seats, located on the sides of the First Balcony. If you don’t have a season ticket, this is the perfect opportunity to follow up the Opera course at bargain prices. Tickets will go fast, so register promptly. Have you seen the magnificent Dale Chihuly chandelier? Treat yourself to a grand evening.
provide the perfect welcoming atmosphere that guarantees fun for everyone.
Donna Belber (Knit Wits) is a retired middle school teacher and financial assistant. She loves having more time for her friends and dog, golfing, supporting the Dumb Friends League, and enjoying classes with the Academy. She loves to travel, especially to Italy, but never during ski season.
Diane Carrick (Pleasing Your Palette: Art for Fun) taught junior high school art classes for eight years in Ohio. She has published poetry in Windows to the Soul, and her art work and articles about art have appeared in 5280 and elsewhere. She enjoys taking Academy classes and teaches art to small groups in her home. She’s currently in the process of writing her life story as she charges on to another adventure.
During the last four years, Priscilla Dunbar (Pleasing Your Palette: Art for Fun) has been learning the joy of art in the studio of Diane Carrick. She began with watercolor, moved to pastels, and is now branching out to oil. During her free time, Priscilla enjoys Tai Chi, needlework, meditation, and taking Academy classes.
Iris Fontera (Crash: The Movie) has always been interested in different cultures and how they interact. Growing up in New York, living in France, England and India, as well as middle America and the West encouraged this interest. Although her degree was in Political Science and History, her life has taken her in many different directions. She started one of the first Victim Assistant programs in the U.S. and later created her own event and conference planning business in Colorado. With a thirst for learning and an interest in hearing other perspectives, she is pleased that “Now retired, I have the time to learn more about our world.”
After attending the University of Illinois, serving in the U.S. Army, a 35 year career with GE, and earning an MBA at CU, Dick Hanson (Sharing Your Literary Treasures) taught Management 101 at Metro State. He is now completely retired and, according to Dick, spends a good deal of his time at the golf course either playing or walking his Golden Retriever. There is, however, more to his life than “fun and games”: classes at Viva and The Academy and reading the Wall Street Journal at Einstein’s most mornings. Economics and politics take up some spare time.
Rose Kauffman (Getting Healthy with Yoga) has been a yoga practitioner for more than ten years. She is a registered yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance and has been teaching for three years in various nonprofit organizations in Denver. She teaches beginning and intermediate students and works with specific therapeutic applications of yoga. She has studied and practiced various styles of yoga including Iyengar, Anusara, and Kripalu.
Bridge nut and art groupie Sally Kneser (Training the Ear) (Bridge in Your Sleep) (Computer Magic) is always ready to learn something new and help teach others. “I love to learn, and it’s so much more fun with friends around.” Sally is particularly proficient on the computer and in the last two years has learned how to create and maintain a website and use a complex database system. For years she has kept the files for various charitable organizations. Now she maintains the Academy’s database of 1,300 names.
After receiving his B.A. at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Larry Rozmiarek (For Men Only: Join the Design Team) worked with the Gates Rubber Co. as Accounting Manager. Now retired, he enjoys golf, skiing and spending time with his grandchildren and wife, Wilma.
Jeanenne Stepelton (Knit Wits) is a retired elementary teacher who is really enjoying retirement. Knitting is a relatively new endeavor, but she's attacking it with gusto. In addition to the Academy's knitting group, Jeanenne has been taking classes on knitting sweaters and ponchos.
Joseph Szyliowicz (Grilling an Expert for Lunch: Talking Turkey & the E.U.) is a Professor at the Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver and Founder of its Intermodal Transportation Institute which he directed for ten years. His research has ranged from an analysis of the sustainability of Turkey’s surface transportation policy to the planning and implementation of Denver International Airport to the development of new paradigms for transportation policy. His ongoing research deals with the development of sustainable transportation systems and transportation security. He has served as a consultant and reviewer to many governmental agencies and has presented papers at numerous national and international transportation meetings.
After a career in systems design and computer programming, Don Theobald (For Men Only: Join the Design Team) now relishes the time retirement provides to read the daily paper almost completely. He has eagerly embraced many of the Academy’s offerings including economics, history, comparative religions, and personal computer software. To stretch his legs, he takes Pilates, plays tennis, and referees soccer games. Traveling to the far corners of the world is nice, too!
Linda Van Dyke (Hearing Loss: Fixes, Cures, & Miracles) is a nationally certified audiologist with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech and Hearing from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. Her Master of Arts Degree in Audiology was earned at the University of Northern Colorado in 1977. Linda has over twenty years of experience in educational, medical, and private practice settings. Arapahoe Hearing Associates, her private practice, focuses on the needs of hearing impaired adults and children. Linda’s newsletter, Hear Ye, Hear Ye, is available at no charge upon request.
| Course | Day | Time | |
| Lives of the Great Composers | T | 9:30 | Robin McNeil |
| The U.N.—Love it or Leave it? | T | 9:30 | Sherma Erholm |
| Writing your Life Stories | T | 9:30 | Kathy Boyer |
| Adventures with Great Ideas | T | 1-3 | Jim Hartmann |
| Russia under the Tsars | T | 1-3 | John Rupainis |
| Tuning up for the Opera Season | T | 1-3 | Jim Kneser |
| Haiku Workshop | W | 9:30 | Ginny Hoyle |
| History of Science | W | 9:30 | Dave Hector |
| Poetry in the Age of Prose | W | 9:30 | Darwin Rolens |
| The World Ahead | W | 9:30 | Charles Hall |
| Econ 201-202: Macroeconomics Made Easy | W | 1-3 | Jim Kneser |
| Jane Austen: Two Novels | W | 1-3 | Douglas Wilson |
| Socrates Café | W | 1-3 | John Wren |
| Genocide & the Psychology of Hatred | Th | 9:30 | Sheila Porter |
| Italian Renaissance Art I | Th | 9:30 | Pardee / Wold |
| Making a Pact with the Devil | Th | 1-3 | Jane Yoder |
| Rational Investor II | Th | 1-3 | Jim Kneser |
| Western Civilization | Th | 1-3 | Keith Meagher |
| Divertimenti | |||
| 'Grill an Expert for Lunch: Talking Turkey & the E.U | Th | 11:30 | Joseph Szyliowicz |
| Wine & Cheese Open House | W | 4:30 | |
| For Men Only: Help Create Courses-- Tuesday | T | 11:30 | Theobald / Rozmiarek |
| For Men Only: Help Create Courses--Wednesday | W | 11:30 | Theobald / Rozmiarek |
| For Men Only: Help Create Courses--Thursday | Th | 11:30 | Theobald / Rozmiarek |
| Crash: The Movie | Th | 9:30 | Iris Fontera |
| Share your Literary Treasures | Th | 1-3 | Hanson / Carrick |
| Hearing Loss: Fixes, Cures, & Miracles | W | 9:30 | Linda Van Dyke |
| Opera: Norma | W | 7:30 | |
| Opera: The Abduction from the Seraglio | T | 7:30 | |
| Pleasing Your Palette: Art for Fun | Th | 9:30 | Carrick / Dunbar |
| Get Healthy with Yoga | Mon | 11:00 | Rose Kauffman |
| Knit Wits | T | 9:30 | Belber / Stepleton |
| Training the Ear | Th | 1-3 | Sally Kneser |
| Computer ABC’s | Th | 1-3 | Sally Kneser |
| Intermediate Bridge in your Sleep | T | 1-3 | Sally Kneser |