Newspaper Articles
PUBLISHED: Chelsea Standard August 5, 2011.
Adult Learners Institute to kick off fall semester at Silver Maples
By Sheila Pursglove, Special Writer
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Adult Learners Institute instructor Tom Hodgson leads a class on a nature walk. |
The Adult Learners Institute will hold a kick off for the fall semester 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 18 at Silver Maples of Chelsea. ALI teachers will speak about their classes, volunteers will answer questions and help fill out forms and refreshments will be served.
"ALI is a great partner and great resource for the area," said Shawn Personke, activities director at Silver Maples. "I'm always amazed at the breadth and depth of the classes they offer, as well as the enthusiasm of the ALI board members and instructors."
ALI, a Lifelong Learning Institute affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network, provides community-based learning experiences in western Washtenaw County. Programs, conducted in cooperation with Washtenaw Community College are held in Chelsea and Dexter.
Mary Ann and Jack Merkel have been involved since its launch in 2004, as students and board members. "I've seen ALI grow in enrollment and the number and variety of courses," Mary Ann Merkel said. "I've also observed how much joy it has provided for so many people from all around the area. The program is geared for retired people with a variety of interests. It brings longtime residents and newcomers together in a way that forms new friendships and interests plus community involvement."
Chelsea resident and retired naturalist Tom Hodgson will teach "Herons, Eagles and Alligators, Oh My!" and show images and share stories of birds, mammals and reptiles he has encountered while paddling Florida's rivers, lakes and estuaries with camera in hand. Hodgson is involved with several nonprofits, including The Jackson Audubon Society, Haehnle Audubon Sanctuary and Waterloo Natural History Association. "I've done several classes for ALI including one about Sandhill Cranes, a wildflower walk through the Nan Weston Preserve and a program entitled Exploring the Florida Peninsula," he said.
If music is your thing, ALI will also offer Ken Kozora's "Appreciating Music (Even the Weird Kind!)" where he will demonstrate the d'jembe, dumbek, frame drum, dung, bamboo flutes, singing bowls, and the synthesizer, electronic percussion, wind synthesizer and sequencer.
If pipe organs are a fascination, then join Kyle Webber, director of music ministries at First United Methodist Church in Chelsea, for "What do you know about pipes?" and experience the different pipes of the organ and hear the instrument played on the two manual Zimmer organs at the church.
If musical theater is a passion, explore this with the presentation of four films: "Gypsy," "Yeoman of the Guard," "Aida" and "Company" along with a discussion with Angelo Angelocci of the Dexter Community Players; Bob Southgate who presents musical programs for Elderwise in Ann Arbor, and Chelsea resident Chris Lenehan who sings, plays the cello, and serves on the Board of the Chelsea Chamber Players.
ALI will also offer Susan Nenadic's class, "Shakespeare Authorship Controversy: Have We Been Played?" The class will explore Shakespeare's work and discuss the ongoing debate of whether he wrote it. Nenadic, who taught for 27 years at Saline High School, is on the Board of the Washtenaw County Historical Society and is chair of exhibitions at the Museum on Main Street.
Those who enjoy visual arts can sign up for art historian Nancy Nilsson's "Journeys Through Western Civilization: More High Renaissance Art and a Taste of Mannerist Art." Nilsson, who has been teaching arts and humanities for nearly 40 years, is a guest lecturer for the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Rick and Deb Zuccarini, who have created, repaired and taught art for more than 30 years, will teach "WPA Art: Defining America," about the Works Progress Administration and arts the government sponsored during the Great Depression.
For the home tinkerer and money-wise, Mike Kizer's "Basic Home Repairs and Maintenanc" will be available through ALI.
Kizer will discuss basic plumbing, electrical panels, cleaning dryer vents, changing a furnace filter, checking a humidifier/dehumidifier, basic household tools and more.
Speaking of money, history buff Bill Allen, will teach "Coins and Paper Money," and bring along a rare $1 gold coin, $35 "Continental" note issued during the Revolutionary War, Wildcat bank notes, Civil War "greenbacks," Confederate currency, and 19th century "blanket" notes.
Also on a Civil War theme, Tom Collier will teach "Destruction and Reconstruction: 1865-1877," and discuss Federal and local efforts through the disputed presidential election of 1876 and the "Corrupt Bargain" of 1877.
Ed Riske, who was photo editor for his college newspaper and yearbook, will share his passion in "Introduction to Digital Photography."
For sports buffs, there will be a class called "History of Sports through Artifacts," with Erik Pederson, who will focus on baseball, basketball, football, racquet ball, golf and more.
Chef Craig Common, owner of the Common Grill, invites attendees to a "Wine and Appetizer Tasting" where he will talk about how he began his landmark restaurant, and about writing his cookbooks.
For a completely different take on food, catch "The Bible as a Food Guide," where Yael Dolev, who has more than 25 years of experience in agriculture and conservation as a researcher, professional food industry magazine editor and farmer, will explore biblical foods and rules of cooking.
Other classes include: "Introduction to Physics," with Charlie Taylor, formerly a research scientist with Parke-Davis/Pfizer in Ann Arbor; "One Potato, Two Potatoes, Three Potatoes, Four," a fun-filled, hands-on session about the history, geography, and social influence of this popular crop led by David Mastie; and "Search for Causes of Birth Defects," with Jim Schardein, who had one of the first laboratories for testing newly discovered drugs for birth defects.
"Having planned industry events for many years, I appreciate the dedication, time commitment and organizational skills required to offer about 20 quality courses each semester," ALI participant Susan Cross said. "ALI, run exclusively by volunteers, does an outstanding job of providing an enjoyable learning experience to senior students in Chelsea and the surrounding communities.
"The art and art history classes I've taken are on par with those I experienced as an undergrad - with no exams!"
For more information, visit www.adultlearnersinstitute.org, call 433-1000, ext. 7358 or e-mail info@adultlearnersinstitute.org.
Catalogs are available at the Chelsea Senior Center, the front desk at the Chelsea Retirement Community and Silver Maples, Chelsea District Library and the Triplett Building at the CRC.
A scholarship program is available; call 475-2739 or email info@AdultLearnersInstitute.org.
Sheila Pursglove is a freelance writer. She can be reached at bingley51@yahoo.com.
Adult Learners celebrates third year
PUBLISHED: December 18, 2008
The Chelsea Standard
Adult Learners goes independent
PUBLISHED: November 1, 2007
The Chelsea Standard
CareerFocus
Washtenaw Community College
Winter 2007 - Vol. 8, Issue 3
"Discover College Over 50"
ALI kicks off fall line-up
By Jennifer McArdle, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: July 13, 2006
The Chelsea Standard
Class helps spark memories for seniors
Adult Learners Institute brings course to CRC's Towsley Village
By Jennifer McArdle, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 25, 2006
The Chelsea Standard
A look back at women's clothing from the early 20th century brought smiles to the faces of residents at Chelsea Retirement Community's Towsley Village, along with memories of what the residents used to wear back in the day.
Those memories are precious to the Alzheimer's patients who live at Towsley Village and recently saw a presentation by instructor Helen Wellford on "The History of Women's Dress." Wellford offered the course last week through the Adult Learners Institute in Chelsea.
"Alzheimer's residents live in the present moment, for the most part. This course provides the opportunity to stimulate memories of the past through observing the beautiful gowns, feeling the materials, wearing the fur stoles," said Maggie Roberts, public relations coordinator at the institute.
"Helen Wolford, the instructor, gives a delightful commentary on the historical events that correspond to each era of clothing," Roberts said.
Wellford, who has been collecting vintage and antique dresses for the past 15 years, made several visits to Towsley Village to teach residents about the history of women's dresses. The May 15 presentation started with dresses from the 1920s and went through the World War II era. Wellford showed original dresses from the 20th century and some reproductions that she made.
"I got into this stuff because of vintage dance," Wellford said. "People keep giving me stuff and I end up collecting stuff whether I want to or not."
In the past 15 years, it has grown to quite a collection, including one item that was on display last week, a wedding dress circa the early 1940s that was given to Wellford by a friend. The dress has a matching velvet and satin coat with a fur collar that awed some of the residents at Towsley Village.
Residents also were given the opportunity to try on some of the more interesting pieces, including a fur coat and wrap.
Based in Chelsea, the Adult Learners Institute provides community-based learning experiences for adults in western Washtenaw County.
"The Adult Learners Institute is dedicated to lifelong learning for all members of our society. When the Towsley center contacted us about a special presentation of this four-part course for their residents, it made perfect sense," Roberts said. "ALI is proud to offer this course as a service to the community."
The Adult Learners Institute, which is affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network, has just marked its first year in Chelsea. Approximately 270 students were enrolled in 24 different courses in the past year.
"This response from our community has been gratifying," Roberts said.
The institute is planning its fall line-up, which will be unveiled at its Aug. 15 open house at the Chelsea Senior Center.
The Adult Learners Institute is a collaborative project hosted by the Chelsea Senior Center and sponsored by Washtenaw Community College and Siena Heights University.
Lifelong learning program to begin
CCA, donors fund educational program for seniors
By Steve Ricci, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: July 14, 2005
The Chelsea Standard
The Chelsea Senior Center will start the Adult Learners Institute, a lifelong learning program
for people 60 and older, this fall. Pictured are members of the Adult Learners Institute Board of Directors. In the back row are Jack Merkel (left), Barb Alseth, Dottie Staffeld, Malinda McCain, Jeff Rohrer and Susan Pettis; center, Joann Grosh (left), Sharlene Eisenbeiser, Kay Heller and Ruth Corwin; front, Nancy Schumann (left), Janice Webster, Maurine Nelson and Mary Schroer. Board members Jim Utsler, Ann Feeney, Mearl Bradley and Betty Groves are not pictured.
Photo courtesy of Kay Heller
Funded by a $2,000 grant from the Chelsea Community Foundation, as well as contributions from individual donors, the Chelsea Senior Center will launch a lifelong learning program for people age 60 and older, called the Adult Learners Institute, this fall.
The program is a joint effort between the senior center, the Chelsea School District's Community Education Program, Washtenaw Community College and Siena Heights University.
Courses, which will be offered to everyone, including those living outside of the Chelsea area, will feature topics such as Washtenaw County history and instruction about writing personal biographies.
All courses will be held in Chelsea between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., with the majority at the Chelsea Senior Center, which is located in the Washington Street Education Center at 500 Washington St.
Most courses will meet four to six times.
Unlike other educational programs in Chelsea, the Adult Learners Institute will offer college-quality courses without college credits, exams and grades.
Certificates will be offered upon completion of the courses.
The Adult Learners Institute will be among 330 similar programs in the United States affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network, which has more than 100,000 participants nationally.
Kay Heller, interim director of the Chelsea Senior Center, said participants from all educational backgrounds would be welcome.
"You don't need a bachelor's degree, a master's degree or a high school diploma," she said.
"Continuing education is not a degree program. It's also a social thing. It allows people to get together and learn while socializing."
Heller added that some courses might be held at local retirement communities or the Chelsea Center for the Arts.
Participants may pay an annual membership fee and take classes at reduced prices, said Sharleen Eisenbeiser, a member of the Adult Learners Institute Advisory Board.
Those who do not pay membership fees can still take the classes for a slightly higher fee.
Maureen Nelson, chairwoman of the advisory board, said membership fees would be $25 annually. Members will pay $5 per course and non-members will pay $20 per course, she said.
"Compared to otherElderhostel programs, this is inexpensive," she said.
Nelson said members of the organization would be empowered with determining course content.
"We'll have administrators who are also learning and teaching classes," Nelson said.
Instructors will draw from a broad range of people, she said, including college instructors or members of the Chelsea community at large.
"Instructors need expertise and a willingness to share," Nelson said. "This classroom is meant to have a lot of interaction. It's very participatory, and everyone gets to participate in whatever they choose."
All instructors will offer their time pro bono.
Nelson said while similar educational programs are offered at institutions such as the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University, the Chelsea program grew from the idea that classes could be held off campus.
Nelson, a former director of continuing education at Frederick Community College in Frederick, Md., said the new program is important in Chelsea.
"There is quite a population that wants to continue learning," she said. "If you don't use it, you lose it."
An open house for the program will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon Aug. 16 at the Chelsea Senior Center.
A course brochure for fall offerings will be available by Aug. 1. Fall courses will start in September and end in November. Courses for the winter semester will begin in January.
Those interested in the program may get more information by visiting the program's Web site at www.adultlearnersinstitute.org or by calling the senior center at 475-9242.
Who We Are
Based in Chelsea, Michigan, the Adult Learners Institute (ALI) provides a diverse selection of quality community-based learning experiences and camaraderie for adults in western Washtenaw County. ALI is a Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN), a group of 320 similar organizations. We conduct our programs in cooperation with Washtenaw Community College.