December, 2017

ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

WE’RE SAVING YOU A SEAT!

Save the Date 2

Thank you, Donors! 2

Holiday Shopping 2 & 6

Prestwick End-of-Term Social 3

Study Group Reviews 5, 7

Storytellers 9

B & N Bookfair 11 & 12

Inside this issue:

Points of Interest

1. Donor Appreciation!

2. Holiday shopping at Barnes & Noble

3. Holiday shopping at The Academy

4. A.L.L. Snow Days

Shout Out!

A.L.L. Pilot Members! Look what you started

25 years ago!

25 Years

A.L.L. Celebrates 25 Years!

Holiday Greetings!

As the holidays near, I want to thank you for your enthusiasm and positive respons-es to A.L.L.’s growth and quality of curric-ulum. Volunteerism, mutual support, and dedication to our mission to learn, grow

and play are strong at the Academy.

We are very fortunate to have the contin-uing sponsorship of the SUNY Empire

State College Foundation as well as the support of Empire State College’s presi-dent, Merodie Hancock, and the many talented members of the college faculty and staff who assist us in administering our educational programs and activities

for our members.

Thank you to our sponsoring partners, especially Prestwick Chase, and to all Academy members for the part each of

you play and the support you offer.

The word is out and membership contin-ues to grow. Here are some things to look forward to in 2018 as we continue to cel-

ebrate the Academy’s 25th anniversary:

Winter Storytellers Series 2018 every Wed, noon to 1pm, Jan 3 through

Feb 21, snow date Feb 28

Feb 10 Home Made Theater play

fundraiser, Inspecting Carol

Feb 28 Dine Out at Cantina fundrais-

er

New and exciting spring curriculum &

Academy Extras, term starts April 9

A.L.L.’s Special Interest Groups

Spring Term Kick-off Luncheon April 4

at the Knights of Columbus

Rai$ing Dough fundraiser at the West

Side Sports Bar & Grill April 17

A.L.L. Volunteer Appreciation Lunch-

eon April 27

In May, look for Balet Flowers day, Barnes & Noble Bookfair, and a spe-cial program with lunch at the Holi-

day Inn on May 18

In June, look for an ice cream social,

Continued on page 2

NOTES FROM THe

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

P A G E 2 A . L . L . T H E N E W S

Upcoming Events Save These Dates!

Dec 1 - Celebrating Sliver Banquet, Gideon Putnam Hotel

12 - 4 PM

Dec 9 - Barnes & Noble Bookfair for A.L.L., Wilton Square,

Route 50, 9 AM - 5 PM (See pages 11 and 12 for vouchers

and flyer)

Dec 12 - Happy Hanukkah!

Dec 21, 25 & 26 A.L.L. Office Closed for the Christmas Holi-

day, Merry Christmas!

Jan 1 - A.L.L. Office Closed for New Year’s Day

Jan 3, Jan 10 - A.L.L. Storytellers, (See page 9)

Jan 15 - A.L.L. Office Closed for Martin Luther King Day

Jan 17, Jan 24, Jan 31 - A.L.L. Storytellers, (See page 9)

EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR NOTES ( C O N T I N U E D )

party at Prestwick and the Academy Annual Meet-

ing June 14,

All this, and much more!

I look forward to seeing many of you at Barnes & Noble for our Academy Book Fair on December 9. (See vouch-ers and flyer on pages 11 and 12.) Be on the lookout for the Spring Term Brochures this month. Registration starts January 22. Vera and I will keep in touch with you

throughout the winter by e-mail and in A.L.L. the News.

On behalf of Officer Manager Vera Kasson and I, best

wishes to you and your family this holiday season!

SCHOOL CLOSING =

Academy closing

When Saratoga Springs public schools are closed or de-

layed due to bad weather this winter, The Academy is, too.

When Saratoga Springs public schools are closed due to

bad weather, Storytellers (see page 9 for flyer) is postponed

for that day. Watch your television or listen for radio an-

nouncements for Saratoga Springs Public school clo-

sures/delays.

THANK YOU,

ACADEMY DONORS!

The Academy executive council voted to change The

Academy tradition of publishing donors’ names to print-

ing only the total number of donors as well as the aggre-

gate amount of donations here in A.L.L. the News.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all who donated

with your registrations, in response to our bi-annual

fund drive letters, and at other times during the year! For

the fiscal year that started July 1, 2016 and concluded

June 30, 2017, 137 individuals donated a total of

$14,325.

Membership dues and class fees cover only a portion of

The Academy’s expenses. Fundraising efforts and dona-

tions close the gap enabling us to pay staff and to con-

tinue to offer study groups, volunteer and social oppor-

tunities, Academy Extras, Storytellers, and all the other

programs you have come to expect.

Submitted by Third Age Press Chair Sue Valaitis

Copies of the June 2017 edition of The Apple Tree can be

found at Northshire Bookstore on Broadway in Saratoga

Springs. They are on the shelf with the other literary jour-

nals, to the right, just inside the door. Cold, inside days are

coming and it’s always nice to have some good reading

material on hand, for yourself or to share with a friend,

perhaps even written by someone you know.

In the back of the bookstore, you will find boxes of note-

cards designed by some of our ALL members. (For your

convenience, designs of all cards included in each box

now appear on the back of the box.) Notecards and cop-

ies of The Apple Tree will be available for purchase at the

Celebrating Silver Gala at the Gideon Putnam on Decem-

ber 1st, but if you cannot attend, you can always find

them at Northshire.

A.L .L . MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE AT

NORTHSHIRE BOOKSTORE

P A G E 3

Prestwick Chase End-of-Semester Social!

Thanks to John Rowe, Kellie Postlethwaite, and Fred

McNeary at Prestwick Chase, more than 80 A.L.L. mem-

bers and their guests enjoyed live music, cocktails, hors

d’oeuvers and socializing in Prestwick’s cozy High Rock

Bar and Lounge Thursday evening, November 9! It was

the perfect event to conclude a successful fall semester!

Thank you, Prestwick Chase, for all you do for The Acade-

my! Your friendship and support is greatly appreciated!

Prestwick’s culinary team knocked it out of the park, evi-

dent by these photos taken at the social that tell the story

best!

P A G E 4 A . L . L . T H E N E W S

ACADEMY FOR

LIFELONG LEARNING

CELEBRATING SILVER!

Celebrate with Empire State College our 25 years of collaborative efforts to create an outstandingly successful lifelong learning center in Saratoga Springs!

We welcome your input and ideas for the 25th Anniversary. Send your ideas or com-ments to me at scheryl@roadrunner.com. I invite you to join the Celebrating Silver Com-mittee and work with a wonderful team!

Memories . . . Tales to Share . . . Unforgettable Moments!

(submitted by Pat Rohstedt)

Join us in celebrating 25 years of A.L.L. by sharing your memories of past study groups, special events or, even committees. Got a memory in mind to share? Thought of an anecdote from a special class? Remember what happened when…? With all these memories, we could fill a book! For now, we’ll sprinkle them throughout the 25th year like silver stars. Send your anecdote to prohstedt@aol.com, or leave it at the ALL office addressed to me, Pat Rohstedt, with Vera.

25 YEARS OF MEMORIES

Submitted by Pat Rohstedt

This memory from an anonymous A.L.L. mem-ber helps celebrate the Academy's 25th year. If you have a memory that makes you smile, please see above for how to submit it for publi-cation.

Great literature Discussions

With the announcement of each A.L.L.

session, I find myself searching first for

study group leaders Levith and Whee-

lock. Are they doing another session?

What will be their lit choices? Shake-

speare (lot’s of that!), Wharton, Parker,

Fitzgerald, Malamud, Crane, Poe, Par-

ker, or …..? Fearless leaders, Levith and

Wheelock, have boldly challenged us to

read and reflect. And to talk! Oh, what

great discussions we have had! Never to

be forgotten!

~ Anonymous

ENJOYING POETRY: READING AND WRITING

STUDY GROUP REVIEW

“This course is open to members interested in writing origi-

nal poetry. We read poetry of all kinds, from Shakespeare to

contemporary poets, focusing on different poetic forms and

experimenting with writing. We use these poems as spring-

boards for writing poetry. The course is primarily a writing

class. Participants are encouraged to write and share their

work. All levels of experience and interest welcome.” Study

group Leader Janice Cutbush

“This was my first class with the Academy, and I loved it!

Will definitely participate again next fall along with another

class. These lifelong learning opportunities are wonderful! .

. . My promised piece for A.L.L. the News about our Enjoy-

ing Poetry: Writing and Reading class is below. I started

writing a regular article but then decided—Hey, this was a

poetry class. I’ll write a poem about it! Different.” A.L.L.

Member Kathleen Rehl

Transitioning into retirement and rather new to Saratoga Springs Wanting to connect with a unique community This poetry class description caught my fancy Would be intriguing to write in a fresh genre. Already published a book—64,000 copies in circulation Also write for journals and popular blogs But never tried penning poetry before Wanted to evoke distinctive feelings. We 15 participants shared our poems weekly and listened to others Some were newbies like me, others repeats of almost a decade With Janice’s skillful guidance we created poetry Autobiographical, narrative, ballad, character, archaic word, specific meter, hidden meaning, rhyming, advice poems and more. Enjoyed writing “Widowhood,” “204 Plus One,” “Promise Me, Please,” “October 7,” “Wrong Reasons,” and “Advice to Myself ” Encouraged to try new poetry forms Wrote a love poem with constraint of 13 words “Late husband said don’t remain alone. Met widower online. Seven joyful years together.” Insightful work this poetry writing is Learned much about its style and myself Thank you, Janice, and our friendly poets I’ll continue creating poetry alone for now See you next fall!

Photos from “Coffee House cele-bration of poetry” a class event, sent by Janice Cutbush

111 West Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-6069 Phone : 518-587-2100, x 2415 E-mail: vera.kasson@esc.edu Academy.Lifelonglearning@esc.edu www.esc.edu/ALL

A.L.L.

We’re

Saving

You a

Seat!

A.L .L . ’s Future

& Your

Legacy The Academy’s future depends on fi-nancial sustainability. Please consider making a difference that will serve oth-ers through your legacy by making a bequest to the Academy for Lifelong

Learning at Saratoga Springs in your will. This is a meaningful way to sup-port the life-changing work at the Academy. Please also consider sug-gesting to those wishing to offer re-membrances to direct them to the

Academy.

Holiday shopping

AT THE ACADEMY!

Not sure what to get for that special someone or casual friend? Consider

Academy merchandise! Inventory is being kept off site during

our anticipated move to 113 West, but don’t let that stop you

from purchasing all your Academy favorites! Please contact:

Alice Martin at rmartin@nycap.rr.com for tote bags. Note

cards? A box of 10 all-occasion A.L.L. cards and envelopes is

the perfect paper on which to write all your hand-written

notes and holiday greetings! Contact Judy Tirelli at ltirell1@nycap.rr.com

for cards. And, don’t forget Apple Trees, the A.L.L. Journal is just $7! Con-

tact Sue Valaitis at vavisme@hotmail.com for current and past issues. Con-

tact Vera at the A.L.L. office for gift certificates. The Academy Office can

accept checks or cash (exact change is appreciated).

Theater Games—Study Group Review

Submitted by Nancy Weber

This fall I was one of 15 ALL students who had the good

fortune to enroll in Linda McKenney’s experiential theater

class. Linda has a rich and varied history of theatrical experi-

ence and is passionate about the dramatic arts. The first day

she acknowledged that while she has taught many similar

classes with young children, this was her first experience

teaching adults, and she asked for our patience as she

learned to adapt activities. Any doubts about her ability to

make the transition to teaching Lifelong Learners was im-

mediately dispelled-- there was consensus that Linda de-

serves an A+ for her efforts! We all looked forward to each

session and sorely missed our Columbus Day class. Even on

the day of the Las Vegas terrorist attack, when each of us

arrived in despair, Linda skillfully facilitated a healing exer-

cise that resulted in a collective energetic shift. Once we

had voiced our sorrows, were reminded we were not alone

and experienced the physical release of our pain, we were

able to access our playfulness. This is but one example of

what a classmate, describes as Linda’s “superb leadership.”

Linda invited us to suspend any self- doubts or judgements

and gave us permission and encouragement to be ridicu-

lously silly. During our first session, when several of us ad-

mitted that our enthusiasm and curiosity was combined

with an equal or even greater amount of nervous appre-

hension, Linda put us all at ease. She immediately wove a

web of trust and support and then, as two classmates note:

“Linda took us on a magic carpet ride…in which our inner

genies could come out and play”.

And play we did! Each week Linda introduced new exercis-

es requiring increasing trust and complexity. These activities

include Zip, Zap, Zoop, Pass the monkey (a class favorite)

Three questions, Return Counter, Gibberish, What Are You

Doing and Act Out Headlines. Through these activities we

quickly learned that improv involves more than spontaneity

and careful attunement to/reliance upon the human and

non-human elements of the environment. Above all, it re-

quires trusting that there are no wrong responses, willing-

ness to listen to your gut and taking a leap of faith to invite

your inner 8 year old to come out to play.

Each delightful week offered the opportunity for zany col-

laboration resulting in two hours of virtually non- stop

laughter. I could continue to gush about Linda, this class

and my amazingly talented and gutsy partners in play. In-

stead I’ll end with some comments shared by appreciative

classmates. One new friend said: “Linda’s ability and pas-

sion helped me to reach a level of self-awareness and con-

nectivity to our group that I had not thought possible”. An-

other commented that “Linda joined together a group of

fun loving want-a-bees and made them cast members and

buddies”. And last, but not least, one classmate offered

what I believe is the best thing one could say about any

ALL experience: “…this class allowed me to become more of

myself.”

If this class is offered again, I urge you to consider enrolling-

- you’ll be in for a treat! On behalf of our class, thank you

Linda, for this infectiously wacky and transformative jour-

ney.

Join a Committee The Academy is governed by the Executive Council with 5 committees and Third Age Press. Chairs and co-chairs of each of the committees serve as members of the Exec-utive Council along with the Chair, Vice Chair, Financial Officer, Secretary and 2 Mem-bers-at-Large.

Curriculum Committee

Develops curriculum for fall & spring terms, recruits study group leaders & speakers

Event Planning Committee

Plans Academy events and activities, provides hospitality

Finance Committee

Reviews the annual budget, assists in long-term financial planning

Membership Committee

Promotes membership, informs members and the community of activities, and coordi-

nates Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Resource Development Committee

Sources potential sponsors, fundraising activities, conducts the fund drive each spring

and fall

More Opportunities to Volunteer

Study Group Leaders and Speakers The Curriculum Committee is looking for study group leaders to offer 4- to 8-week

study groups and one-time speakers

Office Volunteers Assist office manager and executive director with office activities

Special Event Volunteers

Assist committees during special events and fundraisers, usually a one-time or short-term activity

For more information or to volunteer, contact the Academy Office!

(518) 587-2100 x2415 or email verakasson@esc.edu Stop by between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Mon – Thurs.

SUNY Empire State College 111 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs