NCCCR eNautilus newsletter

CENTER HOSTS LIFELONG LEARNING CONFERENCE

Twenty-seven workshops, featuring 12 local and 36 national leaders in adult education, will stimulate representatives from Lifelong Learning Institutes at the MidAtlantic Regional Conference in Reuter Center Sept. 11-13.

As of Sept. 1, 163 have registered from 26 states, from the Carolinas to California, as well as from Montreal to St. Petersburg, Fla. The cutoff mark is 175, which may be reached this week.

Also, 61 have signed up for a Sept. 10 pre-conference, which features three nationally known experts in the LLI movement: Harry R. Moody, director of academic affairs at AARP in Washington, D.C.; Jan Hively, former deputy mayor of St. Paul and initiator of the Minnesota Vital Aging Network; and David Brown, former UNCA chancellor who set the wheels in motion to establish NCCCR in 1987.

In addition to the appeal of a trip to Asheville, delegates will see the accomplishment of the Reuter Center structure, which opened in 2003. Though the conference is open only to delegates, it will show off the participation and the contributions of more than 1,500 members of the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement, which is hosting the conference.

Planning for the conference, managed by NCCCR coordinator Lisa Gatewood-McMillan, has required dozens of meetings and development of a Web site. Also, the planning has involved cooperation with the Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN) — a consortium of more than 350 Lifelong Learning Institutes associated with colleges and universities in the United States and supported in part by the Elderhostel organization, which is cosponsoring the conference.

Led by cochairs Jacque Morgan and Dave Stewart, 15 NCCCR members have worked with four staff members — Gatewood-McMillan, executive director Ron Manheimer, assistant director Denise Snodgrass and College for Seniors director Ann Bass — to plan the three-day workshop for leaders of lifelong learning programs.

NEW COMMITTEES EVOLVE FOR PROGRAMS

Program responsibilities have expanded so rapidly that the Programs Committee itself is metamorphosing into three committees: Life Transitions, Community Education and Health and Wellness.

The Center Steering Council, which is responsible for approving proposed changes to the Center's organizational structure, formed an ad hoc group to recommend changes. At its Sept. 6 meeting, the Council voted to give final approval of the change.

According to the proposal, the three committees will assume the following supervisory duties:
Health and Wellness Committee: NCCCR health and wellness programs and cooperation with the university in planning for the senior wellness institute.

Community Education Committee: Leadership Training for Older Persons, Leadership Asheville Seniors, the new Blue Ridge Naturalist program and related programs that prepare students for participation in the civic life of the community.

Transitions Committee: Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend, Paths to a Creative Retirement in Uncertain Times workshops, the Transitions program currently under development and related programs to help participants prepare for fulfillment during retirement.

“We hope these changes, in addition to being more manageable for our volunteer committees to administer, will make it much clearer to all Center members which committee is responsible for what activities,” CSC chair Larry Haas said.

In addition, other responsibilities of the Programs Committee will be reassigned.

SYMPHONY HOSTS CONDUCTOR TALKS

Throughout the Asheville Symphony season, Reuter Center will host the pre-performance educational programs on the Friday preceding each Masterworks Concert as new conductor Daniel Meyer shares his insights about the upcoming program.

The Center for Creative Retirement, which is co-sponsoring the events, makes it possible for the audience to enjoy better sound quality, ample space and easier parking at Reuter Center, especially compared to the previous Pack Library venue.

The conductor’s first appearance occurs Sept. 16 at 3 p.m. Additional talks, all of which are open to the public, will happen at 3 p.m. on Oct. 21, Nov. 18, Feb. 10, Mar. 17 and April 21.

“Each event features a discussion about the music that will be performed the following Saturday. But it is also a discussion about the times and the lives of the composers,” said Stephen Hageman, executive director of the Asheville Symphony. “When available, we will have our guest soloists there.”

MEETING ORIENTS NEW MEMBERS

By attending the orientation at the Reuter Center Chestnut Ridge Room Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon, new members of North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement can begin their participation well equipped to benefit from the organization’s multiple programs.

During the two-hour program, coordinated by the College for Seniors Committee, new members will discover the benefits of NCCCR membership. They will learn more about the following: CFS policies, Wellness Series, TGIF Friday programs, Special Interest Groups, Reuter Center Singers and Lunch-Arounds at area restaurants.

During the final segment of the program, everyone will participate in small group discussions with experienced members as facilitators. In addition, there will be refreshments served and Asheville-oriented materials available.

In addition, attendees will be able to pick up their nametags and membership handbooks. Individuals unable to attend may pick them up at the reception desk.

NEW FOOD SERVICE OPENS AT CENTER

Chartwells, the new food service at the university, introduces its food choices at Reuter Center café on Sept. 15. The café will serve food Mondays through Fridays from 10:30 a.m. till 1:30 p.m.

Food choices will include Outtakes Grab and Go, Au Bon Pain gourmet soups, pastries, juices and other bottled beverages.

“Our menu will appeal to the customer base with a good variety of fresh baked goods, fresh produce and small portions — plus friendly atmosphere,” said Danny Dawkins, senior director of Chartwells dining services.

At the university cafeteria, members may enjoy Chartwells’ meals, which feature dining that includes everything from healthful cuisine options to exhibition cooking and special options such as vegan, vegetarian and organic.

FRIDAY PROGRAMS FEATURE LOCAL EXPERTS

Six opportunities to interact with naturalists and with community/cultural leaders — that is what awaits members who take advantage of the traditional TGIF sessions on Fridays from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Individuals may bring brown bag lunches or purchase food at Reuter Café. Highlighting migrations of the spirit and of leaders, programs feature the following opportunities:

*Sept. 23 — Introduction to Bluegrass
Southern Appalachian music as presented by musician Jann Nance, a College for Seniors instructor who will be accompanied by Bobby Anderson and his band.

*Sept. 30 — Monarch Butterfly Migration
Details and photographs as introduced by naturalist Ina Warren; plus an Oct. 1 opportunity to tag monarchs with her on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

*Oct. 7 — Floods of 2004 Revisited: What We’ve Learned
Long-term effects and implications of the September 2004 floods as explored by a panel of experts, led by RiverLink executive director Karen Cragnolin.

*Oct. 14 — Mayor’s Perspective — A Conversation
The “joys and jolts” of civic improvement as seen by Asheville mayor Charles Worley during the last 50 years.

*Oct. 21 — Our New Conductor — A Conversation
From background to expectations of the orchestra as envisioned by Daniel Meyer, the new Asheville Symphony Orchestra conductor and music director.

*Oct. 28 — Citizen-Soldier Support Program
An initiative to support National Guard and Reserve soldiers and their families who are challenged by demands and risks of extended deployment as explained by coordinator Michael Worsham and community liaison Deborah Reed, who represent the Faith Community Team.

CARETAKERS AID REUTER CENTER

Members who sign up as volunteer receptionists at Reuter Center will enjoy assisting visitors and providing information about Center programs and activities as well as helping staff with office chores.

Volunteer receptionists usually work one morning, 9 a.m. to noon, or one afternoon, noon to 3 p.m. per week. Schedules are flexible, and substitutes are also needed.

Another need is a watering service, performed by someone who gives loving care to the plants in Reuter Center. The flexible schedule requires about 45 minutes to one hour per week.

Individuals who are interested should call Tina Schwartz at 250-3871 or e-mail her at cschwartz@unca.edu.

COMPUTER CLASSES SEEK VOLUNTEERS

For the fifth consecutive year, the Center will offer free Intergenerational Computer Mentoring for low-income and minority adults who need to learn basic computer skills.

The program, funded by a grant from Smith Barney/Citigroup Foundation, employs university undergraduates as instructors and involves CCR members as assistants to teach basic computer skills to the older learners.

Classes, which begin Oct. 10, meet once a week with four time selections: Mondays and Thursdays 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Member assistants ensure that computer students receive individual attention. As volunteers, assistants need to be familiar with Microsoft Word. They also need to know how to access the Internet and how to send e-mails.

For more information, individuals should contact program coordinator Jeanie Martin at 251-6198 or at jmartin@unca.edu.

COMMITTEE SURVEYS COMMUNICATION

Individuals on the eNAUTILUS e-mail mailing list will soon receive an eNAUTILUS Flash requesting participation in a readership survey, which is being conducted by the Marketing, Communication and Public Relations Committee.

Both members and friends of the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement will have the opportunity to evaluate communication, especially the electronic newsletter.

They should expect to receive the survey, via e-mail, in early September.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SEPTEMBER
8     CFS Fall Faculty Orientation
10-13 Elderhostel Institute Network Mid-Atlantic Conference
15   Deadline: CFS course proposals for Spring ‘06
16   New Member Orientation
       Symphony Talk with Daniel Meyer
19   CFS: Fall classes begin
20   Leadership Asheville Seniors begins
23   TGIF — First Class Bluegrass
30   TGIF — Monarch Butterfly Migration

OCTOBER
4    No CFS classes
6    Transitions Open House and Orientation
7    TGIF — Floods of 2004 Revisited
10   Smith Barney classes begin
11   HES — Alternative Medicine
13   No CFS classes
14   TGIF — Mayor’s Perspective
17   CFS Fall second 4-week classes begin
18   HES — Medical Ethics
       Transitions Opening Session
21   TGIF — New Conductor’s Perspective
25   HES — Pain Management
28   TGIF — Citizen-Soldier Support Program