I’ve never met a member of SOAR who did not agree that this group is a terrific bargain. For a very nominal fee, we benefit from stimulating classes and access to SUNY Potsdam facilities while also making new friends and enjoying the camaraderie of our classmates.

How does SOAR stay so affordable in today’s economy? We thrive on volun-teerism within a highly collaborative

community. We do benefit from the extraordinary efforts of some very dedicated individuals, but we could not accomplish all that we do without a cooperative, team-oriented approach at every level. Many people share our workload.

Think about it. During this semester and the next, more than 100 different instructors will offer something like 130 courses. To make this happen, we must juggle and intricately mesh schedules of teachers and classrooms. We must produce numerous mail-ings and perpetually update a raft of databases. We must regis-ter members (more than 350), create personal schedules, course registration lists and waitlists, and make sure everyone receives accurate information. We must update volunteer lists and orga-nize and deploy class ambassadors. We must track and manage finances, plan and schedule future courses, and produce our print and web publications. And we must do everything in a timely fashion!

SOAR manages to accomplish all of this with volunteers and just one part-time, administrative assistant, Pat Harrington, a former member of our board and a longtime SOAR member, who re-ceives only a nominal salary, and who, to be candid, also con-tinues to contribute a hefty amount of voluntary labor in many critical functions.

No doubt we are somewhat uniquely situated and benefit from our location in a regional community with four colleges. But it’s not the presence of so many generous professional educators and the shared campus resources of SUNY Potsdam that keeps our costs so low and our programs so varied and enjoyable. The biggest key to our success is the extensive cooperation of members who, in so many different ways, help SOAR deliver its complex schedule of courses.

SOARING!the Newsletter of

SOAR Fall lifelong learning in the North Country 2012

A Note from the Chair

Let’s Not Forget: SOAR is a Team Game

Since SOAR was begun 12 years ago, our membership and offerings have grown steadily -- and so have our organizational needs. We strive to keep things running smoothly. But given the complexity of our tasks and the number of people involved, it is inevitable that some glitches or growing pains occur.

In this issue you will learn more about what our vol-unteer committees are doing to maintain our programs and accessibility – and how you may be able to assist in a specific area. In any case, please be aware that all of us share one especially important job: making sure we bring a cheerful spirit and patience, along with our curiosity, to SOAR classrooms. We are all members of the same team.

2012 Leon LeBeau SOARing Educator Award goes to...

The SOAR Board of Directors happily invites all SOAR members and friends to attend the fall luncheon to join us in honoring Terry Niles, as the recipient of the Leon LeBeau SOARing Educator Award. Beginning in 2006, and continuing every SOAR academic year since, Terry has educated and delighted SOAR

members by immersing us in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.

This award is presented each fall to a teacher who has made exceptional and long-lasting contributions to the education, experience, and well-being of SOAR members.

Steve Hopkins, Chair, Board of Directors

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A peek at the working list of Spring 2013 coursesSpring semester runs from March 11 - May 22, 2013

When all the courses are confirmed, the “preliminary list of courses” will be posted on the SOAR web site: www.soarnorthcountry.org NOTE: Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of proposed class sessions

DO YOU KNOW?the fall 2012 stats are...

343 SOAR members (total) 37 new members 58 course offerings 29 course locations 69 presenters/coordinators/ (+ SLU student presenters) 58 ambassadors 248 sessions & 3 field trips

you should...- cancel your registration if you can’t attend a particular course- attend classes regularly - wear your name tag- display your parking pass- use the SOAR web site- volunteer

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GOT AN IDEA?The Curriculum Committee is busy finalizing the spring 2013 SOAR courses AND already working on the fall 2013 curriculum. If you want to volunteer to teach a course, or have course suggestions, call Jim Barry at 386-4732 or e-mail him: jimbarry@twcny.rr.com

Vegetarian Cooking on a Shoestring Budget (3) – Juanita BabcockSecond Life: Using Avatars in a Virtual World (1) – Dana Barry North Country Authors V (4) – Jim Barry, Coordinator: Caron Collins, Tom French, Jon Kopp, Mike Seymour Geneaology (1) – Jennifer Bixby Social Networks, Disease Outbreaks (?) – Erik Bollt Women’s Place (2) – Ina Brockriede Advanced Contract Bridge (6) – Don Burlingame Current Events (10) – John Casserly Vietnam War Experiences (4) – Tom and Nellie Coakley Shakespeare Play on Film (5) – Mark Coleman Media (1) – John Collins Vitamins and Supplements (1) – Rainbow CrabtreeStudies in the Sonnet (4) – Bob DeGraaff Conflict Resolution II (4) – Diana Dufresne From Farm to Taste (1) – Katie Fowler Mah Jongg (4) – Brenda Francey and Kay Russell Spanish Language Review (4) – Rita Goldberg Nutrition as We Age (1-3) – Karin Heckman Seeing Atoms (1) – Maria Hepel Invasive Species (2) – Paul Hetzler The eBook: How to Get One Published (2) – Maggie Hocket Silk Painting (3) – Mary Holland Medical Ethics (4) – Dave Hornung Wheat Belly (2) – Kathy Howitt Beginning Ballroom Dancing (6) – Van Hoyt Creative English Grammar II (4) – John Jaunzems Canada 1867-2000 (4) – Art Johnson Old Order Amish (2) – Karen Johnson-Weiner Implantable Bioelectronics (1) – Evgeny Katz Geology of NY State: Part 3 (6) – Bill Kirchgasser Grieving Property Assessments in NYS (1) – Bruce Konkoski Vicarious Voyagers XII – South of the Border (4) Ruth Kreuzer, Coordinator: Juanita Babcock (Peru); Lynn and Nils Ekfelt (Amazon River); Steven White and Esthela Calderón (Nicaragua); (and one more TBA)

Art Workshop B (8) – Leon LeBeau Memoir Writing (6) – Viki Levitt Stitch and Glue Boat Making (1) – Pat Luppens Beginning Tai-Chi (11) – Pam MarchContinuing Tai-Chi (21) – Pam March Tunisian Stitch Afghans (6) – Sue Ellen Mayville Spring Constellations (2) – Bruce McClure The Origins of Opera (3) – Malcom McCormick Hero’s Journey Through the Movies (3-4) – Peggy Mooers Fitness for Seniors (4) – Jim Murray Railroads of Northern New York (1) – Russell Nelson Walt Whitman and Abe Lincoln (2) – Terry Niles Israeli-Palestinian Conflicts (1-4) – Ronnie Olesker Bayside Cemetery: History and Landscape (1) – Susan Omohundro (offered twice)Quilt Making (3) – Chloe Ann O’Neil Science Fiction (3-4) – Frank Palumbo Zumba Gold (4) – June Peoples Climate Change (4-5) - Susan Powers, Coordinator: Suresh Dhaniyala, Stephen Bird, Jon Rosales, and Phil Hopke Paranormal Activities (3) – Lana Putnam Alexander Technique for Tension Reduction: Workshop (1) – Beth Robinson Movement and Flocking Research (1) – Bill Romey Blacksmithing (1) – Marty Snye Evolution (4) – Mike Temkin Remington and the General (1) – Trent Trulock Potsdam History (?) – Mimi Van Deusen Queen Victoria and Her Descendants (4) – Fran Van Horne Music Socialization (5) – Tracy Wanamaker Bald Eagle and the Peregrine Falcon (1) – MaryBeth Warburton Indoor Rock Climbing (1) – Adam Wheeler Recycling Book Covers (1) – Lisa Wiggins Japanese Language (2) – Kyoko Yapa Building Better Bones: Levels 1 and 2 (6) – Stacey Zeigler

New Format of the Registration LetterWe’ve made the registration process faster and easier. The registration team no longer has to make hand-written notes for every person added to a wait list. Please read your registration letter carefully and note the black boxes above the course number and name. Inside the box it states “Registered” if you are confirmed for the class or if you have been put on the “Waiting List.” People are added to a wait list in the order of their registration date. If an opening becomes available, we will call the first person on the wait list. Please attend only those classes for which you are confirmed. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

COMMITTEE NEWSAMBASSADORS COMMITTEE

Thanks very much to everyone who volunteered to be an ambassador for the fall semester. Your help was appreciated by the presenters and SOAR members. Looking ahead to next semester, please circle one or more of your check marks on your spring registration form to show where you would be willing to serve as an ambassador; we will assign you to one of your choices, as needed. As soon as the registration forms are returned to the SOAR office, we begin calling and asking for your help; we start with the courses that happen during the first few weeks. (Volunteers are especially needed for “Beginning Tai-Chi.”)What are the duties of the ambassadors?The duties are varied, depending on the course, but some examples include: calling the presenter a week ahead of the class to see if everything is in order, making sure the classroom is set up appropriately, taking attendance, introducing the presenter to the class, and writing a brief summary of how things went, including student comments, and returning the summary to the SOAR office. Remember that SOAR is a volunteer organization. Being an ambassador is one way YOU can volunteer! Sharon Regan and Elsie Dominy, Co-Chairs,

Ambassadors Committee

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NOMINATING AND AWARDS COMMITTEEThe Nominating and Awards Committee encourages SOAR members to submit written nominations for the Super SOARer Award that is presented each year at the spring membership luncheon. In your nomination please include how this SOAR member has contributed to SOAR in any of the following ways: teaching, governance, administration, public relations, material assistance, or other special contributions. Your nominations may be e-mailed to the SOAR office: soar@potsdam.edu or they may be mailed to: SOAR, 389 Van Housen Ext., SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave., Potsdam, NY 13676.

Betty Graham, Chair, Nominating and Awards Committee

REGISTRATION COMMITTEE Having a short period between the time the book-lets were mailed and the start of the first classes meant the registration team was very busy processing your course requests this fall. There were some changes to our data base this year which streamlined things for us, but one change brought some unforeseen confu-sion for you folks. In the future, please carefully read your confirmation forms to make sure you are actually registered for the classes you requested and not wait listed for one or more of them. The black registration status notification boxes both look alike at first glance. Many thanks to Jean Theobald, Dorothy Mien, Mary Norcerino, Byron Whitney, Catherine Dalton, Jackie Cutler, Carol McRobbie, Mindi Loucks and Rita Man-ning. They did a wonderful job registering people. Registration would not have happened without them. Special thanks go to Pat Harrington, who, in addi-tion to keeping us all organized and trouble shooting our problems, took over the task of registering walk-ins as well as tended to registration when registration teams were not available. She also monitored wait lists and notified you folks if there were openings in closed courses. She dealt with many more details too numer-ous to mention. We are always in need of registration volunteers. If you have computer skills and would be interested, we would be delighted to have you. Even if you do not have computer knowledge, we need helpers to do the finishing touches and get things ready for mailing, so please consider volunteering if you would like to be part of the registration process. Pat Dishaw, Chair, Registration Committee

TRIPS AND PERFORMANCES COMMITTEE It’s not too late to sign up for the fall “Meet the Chef” luncheon at Violi’s in Massena. The registra-tion deadline is October 29. The registration form is found on the insert to this newsletter; you can also download and print out the flyer (which includes the registration form) from the event notice link on the home page of the soar web site. Ideas Wanted! Do you have an idea for a trip or event? If so, send it to: Otis Van Horne: vanhorne2@verizon.net or to the SOAR office: soar@potsdam.edu

Otis Van Horne, Chair, Trips & Performances Committee

OUTREACH & PUBLICITY COMMITTEE

What can you find on our SOAR web site?www.soarnorthcountry.org

- Updates of printed curriculum documents: course booklet, course booklet inserts, registration form, and calendar (with notes and class start dates in red - very user friendly). - All of the above (except for the registration form) are posted the day created, NOT the day mailed (except the registration form is posted AFTER the mailing goes out) - Online calendar, courses, presenters, events are cross linked for easy navigation.- A page listing all the courses (and showing which ones are closed) and a page listing all the presenters; the course titles and presenter names each link to its own individual page- Additional information from the presenters (syllabi, links, field trip maps, notes, supply lists, etc.) on their course pages- Lots and lots of photos - Course updates (and other updates) posted on the main page and on the course pages- Individual location pages, each with a list of all courses at that location, a map, photos, links to the location’s web site, contact info, descriptions and directions, notes on parking, accessibility, furnishings, room capacity, and available tech and other equipment NOTE: If you see a photo you want for your photo album, just right click on it (for a MAC: hold down ctrl and click on photo), choose “save as” and put it in a folder where you can find it again!

Ruth Kreuzer, Chair, Outreach & Publicity

CURRICULUM COMMITTEE“Where do all those SOAR courses come from?”

The courses for each semester are the work of the nine-member Curriculum Committee (CC), co-chaired by Jim Barry and Ed Russell. The members of the CC develop course ideas (and in many cases teach courses themselves). As a SOAR enrollee you are an unofficial member of the CC. That is, you can suggest a course you would like to have offered. It helps if you also have a potential instructor in mind. This information can be sent to Jim Barry, by email: jimbarry@twcny.rr.com or by phone: 386-4732. The goal of the CC is to present 65-70 courses per semester for approval to the SOAR Board of Directors (BOD). However, over time, about 10-12 courses are canceled for a variety of reasons. By the time the SOAR booklet goes to the print shop there are about 55 courses being readied for the classroom. Even as the Fall 2012 semester winds down, the Spring 2013 semester has already been finalized. And the CC has by now accumulated a long list of poten-tial Fall 2013 courses. In January, Jim will contact instructors from this “soft” list of 100 possible courses to see if they are interested in teaching. If so, he will obtain course subjects/titles, number of sessions, and contact info. Jim makes sure there is a representative mix of academic areas, physical activities, art and crafts, and games. Each semester over 60% of the courses are new ones being offered for the first time; the rest are popular repeats. Meanwhile, Pat Harrington has been work-ing behind the scenes to gather information on room availability at SUNY Potsdam. In February, the SOAR BOD makes the final course decisions. Then in March, Ed Russell contacts the instructors via email or let-ter to obtain additional instructor and course info. He also asks about the AV equipment and classroom requirements of each instructor. Ruth Kreuzer then sends all the course scheduling, classroom and tech needs information to the schedulers so they can begin their work. Ruth continues refining the accumulated information for the for the registra-tion tearm and for the SOAR course booklet and inserts. By June the Scheduling Committee, chaired by Donna Web-ster, begins working with her crew to perform the magic of placing instructors in the 25 or so locations that SOAR uses. By July, the Trips and Performances Committee, chaired by Otis Van Horne, are getting their events and special opportunities lined up. In late July, Ruth squeezes all the courses into the course booklet and it is sent to the print shop for production; a couple of weeks later the SOAR booklet inserts, calendar, registration form and t rip/event flyers get sent to the print shop for copying. In August the Registrar, Pat Dishaw, and her team begin entering the course info into a data base (ACCESS). Meanwhile, Ruth is busy loading all the accumulated info onto the web site. And after registration commences, the Ambassador Committee is busy lining up course ambassadors. Hundreds of hours of group effort are put into an envelope and mailed to you in August. And in August, too, the CC will have already received SOAR BOD approval of the Spring 2014 curriculum. And the process then starts all over again.

Jim Barry and Ed Russell,Co-Chairs of the Curriculum Committee

Your SOAR Board of Directors at Work

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MEET THE CHEF - Violi’s (serving at 1:00) - $25 209 Center St., Massena

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012

Please sign me/us up for Meet the Chef: Violi’s (Price: $25 per member or guest)ENCLOSED is my check for TOTAL: $ __________ for # members ____ and # guests: ____ (check is due by October 29)

Entrée Choice(s) (note how many of each): a) artisan green salad _____ or b) onion soup _____1) chicken parmesan: ____, 2) fish: ____, 3) steak sandwich: ____, 4) Angolotti (pasta w/spinach & ricotta in tomato sauce): ____

MEMBER/GUEST NAME(S): _______________________________________________________

ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________________

PHONE: _____________________________ E-MAIL: ________________________________Make the check payable to “PACES 235” and note on the check: Meet the Chef: Violi’s

NOTE: Checks are not cashed until just before the event; write a separate check for each event/trip. Mail your check to:SOAR, 389 Van Housen Ext., SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave., Potsdam, NY 13676

Every semester SOAR receives generous benefits from SUNY Potsdam that translate to a considerable reduction in costs for our members. These include: free use of several classrooms and electronic equipment for teaching, our own permanent office, and members’ use of the campus library, athletic facilities and parking permits. We enjoy reduced rates for our luncheons. In addition, SOAR also benefits from the invaluable assistance of our designated College liaison, Nancy Hess, and from the flexibility and welcoming attitude of many other SUNY administrators and faculty members.

To express our appreciation for this tremendous ongoing institutional support, in July the SOAR Board of Directors voted to assist the College by providing financial awards of $1,000 for the fall 2012 semester to three returning undergraduates with: financial need, a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and family residence in St. Lawrence or Franklin County.

Selected by the College’s Office of Financial Aid, the following students have received these awards: Ashley Alguire, Gouverneur, a junior majoring in Childhood/Early Childhood Education; Gregory Fiacco, Massena, a sophomore majoring in Biochemistry; and Amy Hart, Malone, a junior majoring in Biology.

In a letter of gratitude, President John F. Schwaller observed that making these awards to returning students is of particular significance. “Increasing our retention rate at the College has always been a major goal,” he wrote, “and could be even more important now that retention rates may be used as criteria for additional funds to our operating budget from SUNY.” As well, he noted, “The effect that SOAR has had on our community is quite impressive and clearly indicates the need for programs of this type in the region.”

Reminder! sign up by October 29 for ------->More info (including the flyer with the sign-up form) may be found on the home page of the SOAR web site under “Events / Trips” www.soarnorthcountry.org

SOAR Financial Awards Assist SUNY Potsdam Students

“...I was given a SOAR award at SUNY Pots-dam. I would like to thank SOAR North Country for this award. It is very greatly appre-ciated and will definitely help towards school. Sincerely, Ashley Alguire”

“... I am very grateful to SOAR for noticing me and giving me this award. You could only imagine my surprise when I received the e-mail (this is the first time I have ever been given such an award)... I am very grateful and would like to know if there is anything I can do to repay his/her/their generosity. With much appreciation, Greg Fiacco”

Ashley Alguire

Gregory Fiacco

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Name(s):___________________________________

# attending: _____ ($15 each) Enclosed: $ ______

Address: ___________________________________

___________________________________________

Phone: _______________

E-Mail: ____________________________________Reservations due by Nov. 12. Phone 315-267-2690 or better yet:mail this form, with your check made payable to: PACES 235, to:

SOAR, 389 Van Housen Ext., SUNY Potsdam, 44 Pierrepont Ave., Potsdam, NY 13676

SOAR FALL 2012 LUNCHEON FORM

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MENUAT THE TABLE

assorted rolls (w/butter)mixed greens salad (w/choice of dressing)

ON THE BUFFET Chicken Marsala

Chef’s Choice of VegetablesRoasted New Potatoes (with fresh herbs)Vegan Entree (available upon request -

call the SOAR office: 267-2690)

DESSERTSstrawberry cream cake

chocolate tiger cake

Coffee or

Tea

THANK YOU, George Arnold and PACES Dining Services, for again helping to keep the SOAR luncheon price at a very affordable $15

Save time at the door - pay when you reserve! Please phone the SOAR office (267-2690) or fill out and return the reservation form below on or before Monday, November 12

Form and location info is also available on the SOAR web sitewww.soarnorthcountry.org

SOAR FALL LUNCHEONBarrington Student Union

Multi-Purpose Room (second floor) TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012

11:30 (enjoy the band and displays)buffet table opens at noon

ELEVATOR, STAIRS, RESTROOMSFrom the front entrance to Barrington Student Union, go to the second floor by taking the staircase (stay right), or the elevator (around the corner on the right, in the alcove near the door to the men’s room). Restrooms are near the elevator downstairs as well as upstairs.

HAVE TO CANCEL? NOTIFY SOAR! If you sign up for the luncheon and later find you are unable to attend, please notify the SOAR office (315-267-2690) at least one week prior to the luncheon. Otherwise, SOAR will be charged for the reservation.

SHUTTLE PARKING PROVIDED 11:00-2:30 to / from lot 31

DISPLAY YOUR PARKING PASS!

Park in lot 20 (if you want to walk and can find a place) or lot 31 (if you want to take the shuttle or can’t find a parking spot in lot 20) both lots are near Van Housen Extension (the building where the SOAR office is located). From Pierrepont Avenue, turn into campus on Gouverneur Drive, turn right onto Watertown Drive - the first enterance to lot 20 is imme-diately on the right, there is another farther down, and lot 31 is straight ahead after on Wathertown Dr. Take the van shuttle or walk back up Watertown Drive past Van Housen Ext. and Van Housen Hall. Turn right on the walkway that leads to the side door of Barrington Student Union. Once inside, take the stairs (or nearby elevator just past the “Men’s” room on the left) to the second floor, then follow the main corridor to the other side of the building to the Multi-Purpose Room (its windows face out from the back of the building).

LUNCHEON NOTES

MUSIC before the start of the luncheon will be provided once again by the “New Horizons Band of Northern New York.” This group includes many fellow SOAR members, including band director, Ron Berry. You are invited to pick up an instrument (even if you don’t play it yet) and join them. For more info: contact Ron Berry: 315-265-2883 or email: NewHorizonsNNY@gmail.com.

NEARBY CONSTRUCTION: There is construction going on all over campus. Watch out for trucks! Allow extra time to get to our new luncheon venue!

PARK AND WALK from any lot that allows visitor parking, including the specific lots named below. Don’t forget to DIS-PLAY YOUR PARKING PASS! NOTE: classes are still in session, so your favorite lot may be full. Plan ahead!

LINK to BUILDINGS and PARKING MAPS www2.potsdam.edu/campusmap/

NOTE

THE

LOCATION