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Course Descriptions - Fall 2012
A Printer Friendly Version of this page is available. Here is the Registration Form. The course descriptions are organized by subjects: Science & Social Sciences, Music & Art, Philosophy & Religion, History, Literature & Writing, Economics, Finance & Global Affairs, Experts & Entertainers, and Skills. WINE & CHEESE OPEN HOUSE This is a don’t-miss event, especially if you are new to the Academy. Get together informally with facilitators and fellow members of the Academy. Renew connections, pick up pre-class handouts if there are any for your course, and find out about any changes in the course schedules. Bring a friend or neighbor to find out what the Academy is all about. But be sure to let them know that many of the courses may already be filled by September 5.
SCIENCE & SOCIAL SCIENCESCU SCIENCE The University of Colorado at Boulder has put together another timely series of science lectures featuring 8 distinguished faculty members. Only one lecturer is scheduled per morning, so there will be plenty of time for questions. You needn’t be a science nerd to take advantage of this rare opportunity to learn about recent scientific discoveries and get acquainted with accomplished researchers at Colorado’s flagship university. No prerequisites, required reading, or quizzes. Each lecture stands alone, so you won’t fall behind if you have to miss a class. Part 1: Wednesday mornings Sept. 12 – Mark Serreze, “The Changing Climate of the Arctic: What Is Happening & Why We Should Care” Sept. 19 – Jonathan Van Blerkom, “Impact of Current Technologies on Human Reproduction Using In Vitro Fertilization” Sept. 26 – No class Oct. 3 – Becky Flowers, “New controversy over the carving of the Grand Canyon: Could it be as old as the dinosaurs?” Oct. 10 – Julie Lundquist, “Harvesting the Wind: Surprising Impacts at Ground Level in Boulder” Part 2: Tuesday mornings Oct. 16 – Jack Burns, “Exploring the Universe from the Moon” Oct. 23 – Mike Klymkowsky, “Why Understanding & Accepting Evolution Is So (*@#!) DIfficult” Oct. 30 – Jason Neff, “Blowin’ in the Wind: Soil Particles in Our Air. Harmful? Can We Do Anything?” Nov. 6 – Darin Toohey, “Short-lived Climate Forcers: How They Get into the Atmosphere, Where They End Up, & What the Government is Doing to Get Rid of Them” DISCOVERING THE WONDERS OF NATURE Learn how to turn the young children in your life into budding scientists by turning them on to natural wonders like spider web and bird nests, rocks and plant galls. Find out more about the science behind these wonders of nature and pocket some engaging strategies for inspiring children to observe, investigate, and document the life around them. We’ll do a lot of hands-on 2 activities that will open your eyes and theirs to the endless scientific mysteries just waiting to be solved on every short walk around the block. Take home a renewed enthusiasm for nature and useful tips for passing it on to the next generation. Recommended reading: Joseph Cornell,Sharing Nature with Young Children (Dawn Publications, 1998), (Buy from Amazon), and Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder (Algonquin Books, 2008), (Buy from Amazon). Facilitator: John Paull is an experienced teacher, principal, science consultant, trainer, and author with more than 45 years of classroom experience from pre-K and elementary through to the post-graduate university level. He is currently a Site Professor in the University’s Teacher Education Program, based in an inner city middle school. LIVING LONGER, HEALTHIER & HAPPIER This course takes a fresh look at the rewards and challenges men and women face as they live longer lives. Through lectures, interactive activities, and group discussions, we’ll explore new research on the aging brain and the benefits of healthy habits, and we’ll discuss evolving perceptions of what it means to grow old. One session will focus on the changes that occur in male and female sexual responses and the dynamics of emotional needs in later life relationships. After reviewing some of the creative ways in which other seniors are aging differently from their parents, we’ll share some of our own experiences. Instructor: Dr. Joyce Lisbin brings a wealth of information from over 35 years in the field of public health and education in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, plus experiences in Kenya, Scandinavia, and China. DOCTORS ON THE EDGE Doctors lie, betray confidences, and break the law. Can this be right? If their decisions are the best of anguishing alternatives, perhaps they are right. But where would you draw the line? To examine these issues, we’ll analyze absorbing, true stories about dilemmas faced by doctors and patients, including euthanasia, assisted suicide, advance directives, abortion, sterilization, marital infidelity, intersexuality, birth defects, AIDs confidentiality, and rape. All participants are expected to read the appropriate chapter of Dr. Abrams’ book Doctors on the Edge in order to offer their opinions each week. You will face the dilemma. You will decide. Registration is required by August 15 so that books may be ordered. This is a repeat of the popular course offered previously. Limited to 24. Required reading: Fred Abrams, Doctors on the Edge: Will Your Doctor Break the Rules for You? (Sentient Publications, 2006), (Buy from Amazon). The book will be distributed on the first day of class to those who order it through the Academy. Instructor: An obstetrician and gynecologist since 1959, Dr. Fred Abrams, MD, has taught biomedical ethics and spearheaded medical ethics programs for health-care professionals, teachers, community leaders, and hospital ethics committees. The Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association has presented him with the Award for Leadership in Medical Ethics and Professionalism. MAKING & SHARING SOUND END-OF-LIFE CHOICES Why do we fear dying? What options do we have as we face the end of life? We’ll look at these and other questions, including how to decide what really matters most, what kind of care to choose, and when and how to define our values in a living will. This is neither a “how-to” workshop nor a substitute for professional medical and legal advice. Rather, you’ll have an opportunity to explore the nuances of the dying process, develop new perspectives, and share insights with others. At the end of the course, you should have a better sense of what may lie ahead, how to prepare for it, and how to let your loved ones know your wishes. This is a repeat of a popular course. Limited to 15. Facilitator: Now partially retired from an active career in teaching and medical practice, Dr. George Ho Jr.’s areas of special expertise focus on arthritis treatment and palliative end-of-life care. OUTFOXING THE PREDATORS Learn how to spot and guard against those who defraud others for financial gain and who target seniors especially because it’s easy, highly profitable, and very low-risk. An elder law attorney and speakers from the Denver district attorney’s Economic Crime Unit will show you how to keep even the slickest con-artists at bay. They’ll outline the most common scams, including identity theft, securities fraud, deceptive trade practices, and, perhaps most disturbing, caregiver exploitation. You’ll find out how to maintain the balance of power in later life and how to use legal documents to enforce your right to self-determination. Recommended reading: Richard Bonnie and Robert Wallace, ed., Elder Mistreatment: Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in an Aging America (National Academies Press, 2003). Instructor: Barbara Martin-Worley is presently the Director of Consumer Fraud Protection in the Denver District Attorney’s office, after 20 year as the Denver Extension Director for Colorado State University. COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO RESOLVE CONFLICT “If I could kick the person in the tail that causes me the most problems, I could not sit down for a week,” Will Rogers said. How often have you wanted to kick yourself because of the way you handled a difficult situation? Or do you avoid discussions of sensitive issues entirely because you’re afraid the roof will blow off? Take this opportunity to learn how to use the same practical strategies professional mediators use to resolve conflicts. Find out how to recognize and practice the conflict-management skills you already possess, and learn how to express your concerns so that others understand them. We’ll do some role playing, meet a panel of expert mediators, and see a mock mediation. Facilitator: Mary Zinn has more than twenty years in the dispute resolution field as a practitioner, trainer and curriculum designer. Her presentations are known to be engaging and enlightening. NEW CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN OVER 60 In this new interactive course, which builds on an earlier course celebrating the emerging new choices for women over 60, we’ll explore more deeply the shared patterns that mark our lengthening “Third Third” of life. We’ll focus on the crises that many of us will experience in the areas of health, wealth, and loss. Understanding the challenges our changed circumstances may bring can help lay the groundwork for seizing new opportunities in work, travel, relationships, and living arrangements, especially those of living alone. Recommended reading: Elinor Miller Greenberg and Fay Whitney, A Time of Our Own: In Celebration of Women Over Sixty (Fulcrum Books, 2008), (Buy from Amazon), and Eric Klinenberg, Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone (The Penguin Press, 2012), (Buy from Amazon). Facilitator: Author, teacher, and educator, Ellie Greenberg is perhaps best known for developing and leading University without Walls in the 1970s, the start of a 40-year career in providing “access to opportunity” for adults. All RISE! HOW OUR COURTS ENSURE EQUAL JUSTICE If what you know about our judicial system depends largely on the media coverage of sensational cases, this course will prove a real eye-opener. Taught by attorneys and judges with first-hand courtroom experience, the course was designed jointly by the Colorado Bar Association and the Colorado Judicial Institute’s Our Courts program to explain how State and Federal courts actually work—and how judicial procedures help keep the law fair and impartial. The Our Courts program recently won a national award from the ABA and has been recognized by Sandra Day O’Connor. Topics include the selection and evaluation of judges, the differences between practices followed in criminal and civil cases, Divorce Courts/Family Law, the basics of bankruptcy, and the ways in which Abraham Lincoln's commitment to equality and liberty transformed the system more than a century ago. This is a repeat of the popular course offered previously.
MUSIC & ARTMUSIC FUNDAMENTALS Do you love music, but wish that program notes and pre-concert lectures weren’t delivered in a foreign language? You’ll listen to music in new ways once you learn the lingo and see how some of the basic elements of music work. So what if you can’t read a score or have never played an instrument? When you learn the basics by means of a keyboard that you can hear and see projected on a large screen, you’ll move quickly from notes and scales to chords and phrases and from there to melody, rhythm, and harmony, as well as musical forms like ballads and symphonies. Your ears already know most of this; it’s high time for your mind to get involved. Recommended reading: Browse: http://library.thinkquest.org/15413/theory/theory.htm?tqskip=1 Instructor: After 15 years as a professional musician in Australia, Lorenz Rychner studied orchestration and conducting in LA and headed the music synthesis program at the Grove School of Music. MUSIC & CULTURE In the 19th and early 20th centuries, American music, art, and literature were reshaped by the forces of romanticism, impressionism, and expressionism. We’ll explore the ways in which major cultural changes during these eras brought about—and were reflected in—important changes in the arts. What did people in polite society talk about? What painters and sculptors did they patronize, and what music were they listening to? What kinds of novels were being written? In seeking answers to such questions, we’ll try to get beyond clichés and delve into the origins and history of these movements, which inform our values and tastes in many ways even now. Instructor: Concert pianist Robin McNeil taught at the University of Illinois and the University of South Dakota, in addition to serving as executive director of the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra. WRITING MUSIC Ever wanted to try your hand at writing music? In this do-it-yourself workshop, we’ll start with the basics—musical notation, genre, form, and composing technique. Then, with coaching from an award-winning composer, you’ll get to create the score for a short chamber work (or works) for performance at our last session by members of the Playground Ensemble, whose members are artists in residence at DU's Lamont School of Music. Don’t have much musical background? Don’t let that stop you. This is a team effort, and we’ll cover everything you need to know to enjoy the thrill of composing music—from writing chords to picking the right instruments for your composition. This is an expansion and repeat of the popular course offered previously. Instructor: Performer, composer, and founding Director of The Playground, Conrad Kehn teaches music theory, composition, and music technology at Lamont, where he directs the composers concert series. The Playground performers are Lamont faculty, alumni, and area professionals. STAGING NEW WORKS IN OPERA & BALLET What happens when Opera Colorado, CU Opera, and Colorado Ballet introduce local audiences to works outside the standard repertoire? Get the inside scoop about the pitfalls and rewards of taking on adventurous new productions. Bring your curiosity to seminars featuring senior producers, a composer and librettist, education directors, and young performers. We will be discussing Opera Colorado’s 2012 production of Florencia en el Amazones, the 2013 world premiere of The Scarlet Letter, plus CU opera’s English version of The Rake’s Progress and American opera Little Women. Colorado Ballet’s Artistic and Education Directors will discuss the similar creative demands faced by the troupe’s dancers in bringing to the stage a new work choreographed especially for them. In addition, Opera Colorado’s Young Artists return with a live touring version of The Barber of Seville. DENVER’S THEATER COMMUNITY Get up close and personal with Denver’s theater community in this series of classes drawing on the facilitator’s backstage connections. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to work in the theater. There’ll be Q&A sessions with actors to learn about what their choice of a profession actually demands and with directors and producers to find out what affects their selection of plays and the issues they face in staging them. Class content is still jelling at press time but may include visits from critics and awards judges, as well as an opportunity to visit one of Denver’s many playhouses for a first-hand look at aspects of stagecraft like lighting, sound, and set design. Instructor: Retired lawyer Ted Borrillo is a published poet who enjoys delving into history and law issues and cases. DENVER’S ELITCH THEATRE The film producer Cecil B. DeMille once said that Denver's Elitch Theatre had a reputation among actors and actresses for being “one of the greatest cradles of drama in American history." Today the name "Elitch" is probably best known in association with the LoDo amusement park, but thousands recognize its deeper roots in Denver's cultural history. The tale begins with the love story that brought John and Mary Elitch to construct a lovely garden complex at Tennyson Street and West 38th Avenue, where they opened a theatre on May 1, 1890. Until its closing in 1987, nearly a hundred years later, the playhouse hosted many of the nation's premier performers and witnessed huge transformations in American life. Join us as we share amusing anecdotes of the actors who walked the boards at Elitch and look back on the role the theater itself played in shaping the city's cultural landscape. Instructor: Retired lawyer Ted Borrillo is a published poet who enjoys delving into history and law issues and cases. ART SAMPLER AT THE DENVER ART MUSEUM This course is an “art tasting” in which museum staff members and top docents whet your appetite for the DAM menu by focusing each week on a few key objects and exhibits. Heather Nielsen, for instance, master teacher, will guide your visit through a special exhibition of work by Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, who gained international fame with stunning metallic tapestries of liquor bottle caps. And Angelica Daneo, associate curator of painting and sculpture, will share her fascination with favorites in the European galleries. You’ll also sample works in the modern, contemporary, and western American collections, as well as getting a taste of Oceanic and textile art. The series kicks off with a visit to Now Boarding, an international touring exhibition featuring Denver architect Curtis Fentress and the architecture of flight. Note: participants must be DAM members. Art Lover Extraordinaire: After a career in computer programming and consulting, Carri Currier has focused on painting and participates in a Santa Fe Art District gallery since her retirement. Joan Bub, a retired radiologist, recently completed the docent program at the DAM. WATERCOLOR Watercolor is a beguiling and exciting medium with a character all its own. Even if you’ve never handled a brush before, you’ll enjoy exploring watercolor’s idiosyncrasies while learning how to deal confidently with washes, glazes, and color mixing. Discover your hidden potential as you unleash the power of this unpredictable but rewarding medium. Beginners will explore specific exercises creating a variety of results and develop personal paintings. Experienced artists may work on individual projects with mentoring in addition to exploring one or two new ways to work with watercolor. After you’ve registered, we’ll send a list of materials you’ll need. Limited to 20. Note the early start time. Instructor: Sharon Rouse’s skills as an experienced teacher of adult classes and workshops in a museum setting serve her well as a supervisor for student-teachers of art at Metro. Her work appears in various group shows and private collections.
PHILOSOPHY & RELIGIONATHEISM What is atheism? How does an atheist make a case for this way of looking at life? Does atheism imply that anything goes? And how do atheists find purpose and meaning in life? Has atheism always been around, or is it a recent development? Can atheism and religion coexist? This course offers no conclusive answers to any of these questions, but we’ll hear from guest speakers, discuss philosopher Julian Baggini’s myth-dispelling book, and get input from each other in an attempt to shed light on the topic through facts, reflections, and opinions. Come join in the research as we discuss this response to one of life’s central concerns. Required reading: Julian Baggini, Atheism, a Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2003), (Buy from Amazon). Facilitator: A former teacher, Glenn Bruckhart’s passions turned from mountain climbing to biking and from Math to philosophy, religion and their intersections. He now chairs the Academy’s Religion and Philosophy subcommittee. BIBLICAL STORYTELLING Think you know the Old Testament Bible stories backwards and forwards? Then you’ll be surprised by how much more engaging and significant they can seem when you learn how Hebrew Bible storytelling differs from today’s literature in both content (what it says) and form (how it says it). We’ll compare various translations that have appeared over the centuries and see why scholars still struggle to make sense of these ancient texts. We’ll focus particularly on narratives featuring the patriarch Abraham and King David before turning to the books of Psalms and the prophet Isaiah, whose poetic language continues to offer special problems to interpreters. Recommended reading: Robert Alter, The Art of Biblical Narrative (Basic Books, 1981), (Buy from Amazon), and D.M. Gunn & D.N. Fewell, Narrative in the Hebrew Bible (Oxford, 1993), (Buy from Amazon). Instructor: Peter Miscall taught for 24 years at St. Thomas Seminary and the Iliff School of Theology. He has published 5 books and many articles on biblical narrative and poetry. THE EVOLUTION OF GOD How, why, and when did the various concepts of a God or gods enter human consciousness? In this course, we’ll be looking at alternative scenarios that sometimes fly in the face of many of the biblical accounts we all know. Basing our discussions on the writings of Pulitzer Prize finalist Robert Wright, an avowed atheist whose version of the story of how God grew up is shaped by recent archeological finds in the Middle East, we’ll study the evolution of religion since the time of the hunter-gatherers and delve into subjects like Shamanism; the Polynesian concept of tapu or taboo; polytheism in Mesopotamia; Yahweh, the warrior god of Judah; Aristotle’s prime mover; the historic Jesus; and Islam. Recommended reading: Robert Wright, The Evolution of God (Bay Back Books, 2010), (Buy from Amazon). Facilitator: Ralph Stern has spent the past 40 years reading about theology, theodicy and comparative religion. In 1986 he entered the Jewish Theological Seminary and received a Masters in Jewish Philosophy.
HISTORYLATE IMPERIAL RUSSIA & RUSSIANS TODAY After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the New York Times proclaimed that Russia had never known democracy in its 1,000-year history. But election documents from newly accessible provincial archives prove otherwise. The story of the emergence of a democratic system in late Imperial Russia as early as the parliamentary elections of 1906 and 1907 is one that post-Soviet Russians are keen to uncover in their search for a “useable past” to guide their transition out of a one-party political system and a centrally controlled planned economy. Correct your misconceptions about Russia’s past and present in this review of the history of the embryonic democracy that preceded the 1917 Bolshevik revolution. Required reading: Rolf Torstendahl, et al., The Birth of Democratic Culture in Late Imperial Russia: Reforms and Elections to the First Two National Legislatures, 1905-1907 (Altus History, 2012), (Buy from Amazon). Instructor: World expert on late imperial Russia, Dr. Mary Conroy has given numerous lectures in the USSR. She has published several books and is an emeritus Professor at the University of Colorado, Denver. US PRESIDENTS THROUGH THE LENS OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE Nothing in our political system is more generally misunderstood or under fire than the way we elect our presidents. In this course we’ll look at the history of the United States through the lens of the Electoral College and examine the way our political parties came into being and have evolved. We’ll see what part our founding fathers’ opinions of political parties played in the creation of the Electoral College, how the college was first used, and how it was affected by the passage of the Twelfth Amendment. We’ll take a close look at several notable elections, including the disputed 2000 election, and see what roles the Electoral College, political parties, and the popular vote play in determining the President of the United States. You’ll have a chance to ponder the “what ifs” of American political history and might perhaps end by agreeing with Thomas Jefferson, who said, “If I must go to heaven with a political party, I would prefer not to go.” This is a repeat of the popular course offered previously. Required reading: James F. Simon, What Kind of Nation (Simon & Shuster, 2002), (Buy from Amazon). Facilitator: Dick Young, a political activist and history buff, has taught courses on Pearl Harbor, the Pacific War, and American History at various Elderhostels and the continuing education programs of several universities. LEGENDS & ICONS Did you know that Walt Disney himself provided the voice for the original Mickey Mouse cartoon? Or that broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow’s given name was Egbert? Or that the composer Richard Rodgers won a Pulitzer Prize, as well as the top four show-biz awards—the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, now known collectively as EGOT? We’ll examine the lives of these three icons of 20th century culture, plus those of three others: the famous Saturday Evening Post cover artist Norman Rockwell, the velvet-voiced baritone Nat King Cole, and the Irish-American Frank McCourt, author of the prize-winning memoir Angela’s Ashes. Instructor: Now retired from a career in advertising and marketing, Len Marino has been in love with the movies since he was five. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY & THE CONSTITUTION There is much debate in this country about what role, if any, religion should play in public life. But to insist on the mere “separation of church and state” may not be the best way to safeguard our freedom to believe as we choose. Join us as we examine the notion that, under the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment, the federal and state governments must be not just tolerant of all faiths, but must exercise utterly no power in regard to them. We’ll link this historical perspective to contemporary society by analyzing relevant Supreme Court cases and current issues in the media. This is a repeat of the popular Fall 2009 course. Required reading: Daniel Lynch, Our Fading Religious Liberties: How Government Uses Religion (Studio 1712, 2008). The book will be distributed on the first day of class. Instructor: Lawyer Dan Lynch has handled a number of civil rights and religion/state cases, prompting his concern with “the increasingly dangerous alliance between government and religion.” He chaired the Colorado Democratic Party and founded the predecessor to the Denver Business Journal.
LITERATURE & WRITINGCONTEMPORARY AMERICAN SHORT STORIES This popular course will explore all new stories with the same participation-friendly discussions. If you love great literature, you will appreciate the artistry that goes into the creation of the short prose found in Best American Short Stories, 2010, edited by Richard Russo. Each week the class examines one or two memorable stories, teasing out the meanings of each story and building a greater understanding of the short story as an art form. Because the short stories are written by contemporary authors, their subject matter and dilemmas cannot fail to stir great questions and evoke new insights about the world in which we live. Required reading: Richard Russo, ed., The Best American Short Stories 2010 (Mariner Books, 2010), (Buy from Amazon). Discussion Leader: Dr. Paulette Wasserstein, career teacher of English and education consultant, loves the exchange of ideas and sharing “a good read.” FREEING YOUR WRITER’S VOICE All of us have had at least one experience of telling a story that captured our audience. Our sense of pace, rhythm, the words we chose—Our Voice—all worked to make the story come alive. You needn’t lose these vital elements of storytelling when you put pen to paper. Learn, through dynamic writing exercises more about your natural voice, learn to create characters that come alive, learn the craft of plotting, but most of all the power of your voice. Let the I can’t become I can. Bring to the first class a notebook and your all-time favorite piece of literature, giving some thought as to why this particular piece of work is so special to you. This is a repeat of a popular course offered previously. Recommended reading: Brenda Ueland, If You Want to Write (BNPublishing, 2010), (Buy from Amazon). Instructor: A well-published writer of young adult and children’s literature, Jan Marino also has years of experience teaching and leading workshops in creative writing. She aspires to “let writers’ imaginations soar without parameters, without criticism”…which has led repeatedly to writers “finding a character with a story, waiting to be discovered.” ONCE UPON A TIME This workshop will surprise and delight those who think they have no family history worth sharing and cheer on those who have already begun to explore their personal heritage. Learn how to uncover family lore through photo albums, journals, diaries, and brainstorming interviews, and find out how to craft rambling reminiscences into tight-knit stories with attention-grabbing beginnings, action-filled middles, and satisfying resolutions. You’ll hear a few polished tales as models and get to tell some of your own. If you’re at an age when you’re reflecting on the meaning of your life and thinking about what you want to leave behind, this class offers an opportunity to find out how satisfying it can be to record stories rooted in personal and family memory as a gift to future generations. This is a repeat of the popular course offered previously. Facilitator: Kathleen Visovatti discovered storytelling 25 years into an award-winning teaching career. As cofounder of the North Shore Storytelling Guild and the Wild Onion Storytelling Festival, she helped revive the art throughout the Chicago area. THE PLAY’S THE THING Reading a good play aloud can be a sheer joy. As you become engrossed in the work, all your worries disappear. Arthur Miller, Harold Pinter, Lillian Hellman, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Eugene O’Neill are some of the authors we’ll read this term. Each week a different text will be distributed, parts assigned, and, while still seated, readers can get into character or play it straight. No acting ability necessary. The pleasure of the experience comes from the playwright’s skill and the fact that all have copies they can read—so hearing problems are no problem. On September 19 the group is invited to a get-acquainted party with appetizers and desserts at the facilitator’s home. Limited to 12. Leader: Laura Rubin is a retired public school speech therapist, who has facilitated play reading groups for seven years in Jacksonville, Florida and Denver. WRITING YOUR LIFE STORIES Whether you’re nineteen or ninety, you have stories to tell and wisdom to share. Learn how to begin compiling a collection of your life experiences to share with friends and family—or simply to read later at leisure. Spark your memory with innovative and engaging activities designed to bring to mind long-forgotten scenes from your past and to help you start getting them down on paper. Pick up your pen and open a new chapter on your life in the supportive atmosphere of this popular class. Limited to 13 participants. This is a repeat of a Fall 2010 workshop (subtitled Getting Started) and earlier courses. Facilitator: Kathy Boyer, a retired teacher, has conducted Life Stories workshops for libraries, summer camps, churches, community centers, and the Academy. She also works one-on-one to help people record their memories electronically. WRITE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE “Anyone who physically and emotionally outlasts childhood has something to write about forever,” offers author Lou Willett Stanek. You’ll agree once you discover the rich vein of topics in your past and experience the joy of preserving these treasured tales. We’ll share and encourage each other in class and tackle some writing at home. Reading your stories aloud will prove a powerful affirmation, and listening to others as they share theirs is an effective way to improve your own writing. Join this group, capped at 12, to learn how to transform your cherished memories into your memoirs. This is a repeat of the popular course offered previously. Facilitator: Patricia Cox has published two memoirs, We Keep Our Potato Chips in the Refrigerator and My’s Happy and will share her experience on self publishing. WRITING YOUR LIFE STORIES If you’ve completed any memoir-writing class and are serious about continuing your project, this is the class for you. Participants will be expected to write at least one new piece each week to read to the class for possible feedback and encouragement. At the end of the five sessions, members will be ready to form an independent, ongoing writing group. This is a repeat of a workshop taught in Fall 2010 and earlier. Limited to 12 participants. Facilitator: Kathy Boyer has conducted memoir-writing workshops for libraries, summer camps, churches, community centers, and the Academy.
ECONOMICS, FINANCE & GLOBAL AFFAIRSFINANCIAL LITERACY Financial literary is a 21st century survival skill. Global and personal economic storms are hard to avoid but you can improve your chances of survival. You’ll learn you’re not alone in trying to understand today’s financial system and wanting to take control of your finances. To break the cycle of confusion and procrastination, you'll privately audit your financial situation and perform exercises to help you determine your goals. Then you’ll develop an action plan to achieve them because, as Will Rogers once said, "Even though you’re on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." You'll learn about today’s basic and advanced money management techniques and gain new insights about topics like the psychology of money, cash flow, inflation, investing and withdrawal rates, insurance, medical directives, getting help you can trust, and communicating your end-of-life plans. This is a repeat of the highly popular course offered previously. Instructor: Eileen Sharkey’s practical and global view of finance and easy-to-understand approach to the changing principles of money management makes her in demand as a financial educator. In 2010 Wealth Manager honored her as one of the nation’s 50 most influential women in finance. GREAT DECISIONS IN AMERICA’S CURRENT FOREIGN POLICY The Great Decisions Discussion Groups are part of a nation-wide program developed by the Foreign Policy Association. Each year thousands of Americans discuss and formulate their opinions on eight vital foreign policy issues. This year’s topics include: Middle East Realignment, Promoting Democracy, Mexico, Cybersecurity, Exit From Afghanistan & Iraq, State of the Oceans, Indonesia, and Energy Geopolitics. Each 15-page chapter in the Great Decisions Briefing Book places the issues in historical context and provides background, current policies, and alternative options. Discussion questions, annotated reading suggestions, and additional resources, including websites, are provided. Videos featuring renowned experts in the field provide additional food for thought. Registration is required by August 26 so that books may be ordered. Required reading: Great Decisions Briefing Book, which will be mailed in advance. Facilitator: Vee Sabel is a confirmed foreign policy junkie and world traveler. She is a skilled facilitator who loves to hear the opinions of others and gain new perspective on issues. “IT’S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!” Economic issues always play an important role in the outcome of presidential elections. Yet, too often the fundamental economic principles underpinning these issues are not clearly understood by the electorate. And too often heated election rhetoric obscures economic reality. Get past the smoke and mirrors with economist Jim Kneser, who will attempt to explain the issues from an economist’s point of view. We’ll concentrate on three to six economic issues selected by the facilitator just before the course begins. At this writing, wealth inequality, Federal spending, Federal deficits, tax policy, healthcare, immigration, education, and trade issues are all possibilities. Required reading: Handouts of the economic pronouncements from the candidate’s websites plus articles from the popular and economic media will support discussion in the class. Instructor: After a career in financial management, Jim Kneser has turned his attention to educating adults about the workings of complicated economic principles in the real world. In the past few years he’s taught classes in microeconomics, macroeconomics, globalization, and public policy.
EXPERTS & ENTERTAINERSEXPERTS & ENTERTAINERS Choose one, some or all of these fascinating lunchtime presentations A) Sept. 12: “Korea, the Forgotten War” National lecturer Tom Keller will be discussing the military action that began Sunday, June 25, 1950, the events leading up to the conflict and the impact on our country today. B) Sept. 19: “Stop Mumbling” Is it them or you? Linda Van Dyke, audiologist, will simulate different degrees of hearing loss, clearly demonstrating how debilitating this common handicap is. New technology is on the horizon for helping this annoying problem in a loud world. Sept. 26: No lecture C) Oct. 3: “Around the World in 80 Days” Heather Land and Marjorie Seawell report on the wonders of our world as they took classes with the Semester at Sea for Long Time Learners and then did on site exploring of the areas they had studied. D) Oct. 10: “The Heart and Soul of Ritual: Connection” The purpose of ritual is timeless: integration of the mind, body, and spirit during times that defy explication. Jane W. Barton, MTS, MASM, discusses the changing nature of ritual in the 21st century, particularly at the end of life. E) Oct. 17: “Age-ing, Sage-ing, Re-engaging!” Ilene Kasper, re-wired educator, will facilitate a discussion on the opportunities of elderhood, discussing the tasks of our later years that can bring more adventure, mystery and meaning into life as we age. F) Oct. 24: “What would the Founding Fathers think of us today?” Using his book The Founding Fathers Farewell Tour of the U. S. of A, James Syring will offer his opinion of what Jefferson and Franklin might think went wrong—and right with their visions for America. G) Oct. 31: “The Beat and the Brain” Ed Schrieber, world citizen, musician and computer engineer, will use physics and mathematics to show and tell why music feels good. There will be audience participation. Nov. 7: No lecture. End-of-term concert by the Writing Music class. H) Nov. 14 “Preserving History Digitally” Daniel Weinshenker, national genealogist, will give a sample workshop, presenting some of the homemade media movies of the wild lives of our ancestors.
SKILLSTECH TIPS A) Sept. 11: Basic Terms & Concepts You’re Too Embarrassed to Ask About, Scott Instructors: Scott Henke, owner of Onsite Consulting, has been helping over 4300 familites and businesses in Denver for 30 years. He makes the complicated and frustrating world of computers easy and fun again. With 30-plus years experience as a psychologist, trainer of adults, speaker, and author, Maria Arapakis has presented thousands of programs around the world on leadership development, life balance, and conflict resolution. Maria bought her first Mac 27 years ago and thoroughly enjoys helping others master their Macs, iPads, and iPhones. BACKSTAGE PASS AT MICROCENTER Learn how to shop for a new computer with just the instructor. No salesmen, no pressure. Must RSVP directly to Scott Henke, scott@henke.com, 720-482-8383. CHATTING IN ESPAÑOL Tailored to fit those who want to improve basic Spanish skills, these classes will build on previous semesters and focus on increasing vocabulary, verb conjugation, and phrases essential for travel and casual conversation. You'll learn what to say in common situations—“My luggage seems to have taken a different flight,” or “Is that really what I ordered?” and gain greater confidence in this musical and increasingly important language. Those with “un poquito de” previous Spanish language experience will feel comfortably challenged in Intermediate 1 with a focus on conversations using present tense regular and irregular verbs and reviewing both past tenses. Limited to 22 participants. Is this class a fit? Llámame at 303-794-9635. ¡Felicidades! Ya estás listo para hablar con más confianza, conversando del pasado, (practicando situaciones hipoteticas) y haciendo planes futuros. With the past tenses needing just a quick review, the Intermediate 2 group will tackle the future and conditional tenses. We will build vocabulary through conversations about a variety of subjects. This class is for those who are not yet able to sustain complete conversations. Limited to 14 participants. Is this class a fit? Llámame at 303- 708-9716. Continuamos la conversación! The Advanced Conversation class will be conducted primarily in Spanish—starting with a review of the basics, and then engaging in themed conversations to build vocabulary and the confidence to speak in complete sentences in real-life situations. Si tú puedes pedir una margarita, describir las cosas que más te gustan, y preguntar como llegar al museo and want to dust it off and trot it out—and have a lot of fun doing it—esta es la clase para ti. Limited to 12 participants. Is this class a fit? Llámame at 303-399-8241. Instructors: Susan Blake-Smith grew up in Mexico City and enjoys sharing her love of the Mexican language, history, and culture. She spent her career in the travel industry and has logged many hours as a community volunteer. Sandy Stolar taught Spanish for 25 years in middle school, high school and community college. She has traveled extensively in Mexico, Spain and South America. An educator for 35 years, Dr. Linda Gordon just retired as a school principal. As the former director of an English as a second language school in Mexico City for 10 years, she’s excited about working with adults who want to learn BRIDGE Those who have mastered their basic bridge bidding will enjoy learning the more advanced standard conventions known across the nation. Participants should already know Stayman, Jacoby transfers, weak- and strong-two bids, take-out doubles, Blackwood and Gerber. This class will introduce negative doubles, Cappelletti, reverses, and Roman Key Card. There will be assigned reading, explanations, Q&A, bidding practice, and playing pre-set hands. Uncertain about your ability level? Kerry O’Gorman, 303-771-0811. Required reading: Seagram, Barbara, 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know (Master Point Press (1999), (Buy from Amazon). Instructors: Sally Kneser is a Life Master in bridge and enjoys explaining the basics of the game. Kerry O’Gorman began playing bridge at age 10 and after 40 years in secondary school teaching and corporate training, he can now focus on bridge. BRIDGE PRACTICE This fun and relaxing class will provide practice in both bidding and playing at the advanced-intermediate level. There will be no formal lectures, but many exercises and challenges. Participants should already know all the conventions listed in the Thursday course description plus Michaels, Unusual notrump, Help Suit Game Try, and Ogust. The first hour includes bidding quizzes and drilling, followed by an hour playing pre-set hands. Uncertain about your ability level? Sally Kneser, 303-770-0788. Required to have already read, or have equivalent knowledge: Audrey Grant, Bidding in the 21st Century (Baron Barclay Bridge, 2008), Audrey Grant, Play of the Hand in the 21st Century (Baron Barclay Bridge, 2008), (Buy from Amazon), Barbara Seagram, Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand (Master Point Pr, 2009), (Buy from Amazon), Barbara Seagram, 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know (Master Point Pr, 1999), (Buy from Amazon). Instructor: Bridge nut and art groupie Sally Kneser is also the Academy's Director. Sally is a Life Master in bridge and enjoys explaining the basics of the game.
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