Notes from the Director

Jeff Says . . .

November 2015

ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

WE’RE SAVING YOU A SEAT!

We hope you have enjoyed your fall se-mester and are looking forward to the holidays. We wish you the happiest and

healthiest Thanksgiving!

Although we’ll miss seeing our snowbirds over the late fall and winter, know we’ll be working hard during that time preparing for study groups starting next spring! In

the mean time, expect to hear from us as events are brought to our attention in which we believe you may be interested (what would a week - or a day - be with-out an e-mail from Vera?)! Of course we hope to see you at the holiday luncheon in December, and Storytellers starting in January. At a minimum, watch for A.L.L. the News the first of every month! We’ll

be in touch there with, well, all the news!

Please remember our Barnes & Noble Bookfare Sat., Dec 12 for all your holiday shopping. It is an important annual fund-raiser for the Academy at which our Mem-

bership Committee works long hours.

Please keep and safely store your A.L.L. name tag for use at future events. We would like you to have it to wear to: the

holiday luncheon, Storytellers, classes next

semester, and any other A.L.L. function. This will save our membership committee hours of work collecting and reorganizing the tags only to have them returned to

you next spring!

Road Scholar’s inaugural Lifelong Learn-ing Day—Oct 15—was celebrated around the globe including right here at your

own Academy. We were honored to wel-come the Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen with a proclamation to recognize the event. Here’s what she said, “ Where-as an old saying expresses that we learn something new every day, at the Acade-my for Lifelong Learning at Saratoga Springs, people work every day to make that saying reality; and whereas, for the past 23 years, the Academy and SUNY Empire State College have promoted adult

learning as a benefit to both mind and body, emphasizing that continued learn-ing through all stages of life makes people healthier and happier. Now therefore I, Joanne D. Yepsen, Mayor of the City of Saratoga Springs, am pleased to proclaim October 15, 2015 as Lifelong Learning Day.” (continued on page 7)

Save the Date 2

Executive Council 2

A.L.L. Sponsors 3

Study Group Reviews 5

Volunteer Opportunities 6

Holiday Luncheon 8

Dr. Landry Lunch & Learn 4,10

Inside this issue:

Points of Interest

Academy Sponsors

Third Age Press

Code Blue

Dr. Landry

Finance Committee

Shout Out!

To hard-working turkeys

everywhere.

Ponder Thanksgiving as a verb, not a noun

UPCOMING COMMITTEE MEETINGS (Date, time & Location subject to change. If you are thinking of becoming a member of a committee or

would like to attend, please call the office to confirm.)

Curriculum November 10, 11 AM, 111 West Ave., rm 175

Membership November 13, 10 AM, 111 West Ave., rm. 191A

Third Age Press November 13, Noon - 3 PM, 111 West rm. 175

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

Upcoming

Events Save These Dates!

Nov 6 - Edventures Travel Presentation - 10 -

11 AM, 113 West, rm 145 (see page 6)

Nov 8 - Chronicle Book Fair, Queensbury

Hotel (Details to be announced)

Nov 10 - Code Blue Collection Day - 111

West Ave, rm 104, 10AM - 3 PM (details at

left and on pages 4 & 6)

Nov 10 - Academy Readings, Prestwick

Chase, 2 - 3 PM (see below left)

Nov 11 - A.L.L. Closed - Veterans Day

Nov 17 - Dr. Landry Lunch & Learn (Details

on pages 4 and 9)

Nov 25, 26 - A.L.L. Closed - Thanksgiving

Dec 4 - Holiday Luncheon, Longfellows Res-

taurant (Reservation Form on page 8)

Dec 12 - Barnes & Noble Book Fair - 9 AM -

6 PM (Details to be announced)

Pat Hart

Executive

Council

Chair As the fall semester is drawing to a close, our thoughts will be filled with preparations for the upcoming holidays, creating new memories with family and friends and thanks-

giving. How fortunate we are to be able to plan festive social events in warm, cozy homes with the fire-place all aglow and maybe a few flakes of snow on the lawn. It has been a wonderful semester at the Academy with enlightening study groups, the camaraderie of an awe-some group of lifelong learners and we all should be proud of our Acad-emy and all that it has to offer.

Without the membership, there would be no Academy for Lifelong Learning, so one and all take a bow and from me to you a hearty "THANK YOU" FOR YOUR CONTIN-

UED SUPPORT.

On November 10 from 9 AM - 3 PM, we will be collecting items for the

Code Blue program in Saratoga Springs. We are so fortunate and blessed, I am asking for your sup-port in this endeavor as a way of giving back and to support this wor-thy program. Please help to keep our fellow citizens as warm and comfortable as possible over the upcoming winter. Please see page

9 for a list of needed items.

YOUR

EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL AT

WORK

THIRD AGE

PRESS December 1

st will be here before we

know it. It’s the deadline for submitting your prose, poetry, art and photog-raphy to the Third Age Press for possi-ble inclusion in a future edition of The

Apple Tree.

How can I submit my work? Guidelines for submission are available from Vera at the A.L.L. office. You may submit work in more than one category, but

only a total of three altogether each

year.

Where can I get a copy of The Apple Tree? Copies of The Apple Tree may be purchased at the A.L.L. office and are

also available at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs. They will be availa-ble at the upcoming Holiday Luncheon

too, some at bargain prices.

The most recent edition of The Apple

Tree features several pieces by mem-bers of The Academy who had never submitted anything before. Will your name be on our Contributor’s List in 2016? You’ll never know, unless you

try.

A.L .L .

READING

Third Age Press announces a Reading of

original works of prose and poetry pub-

lished in The Academy’s literary journal,

The Apple Tree Tues, Nov. 10 from 2 - 3

PM in Congress Hall at Prestwick Chase,

100 Saratoga Blvd, Saratoga Springs.

This free event is open to the public;

light refreshments follow the program.

Sr. Center

News The Adult and Senior Center of Sarato-

ga celebrates its 60th Diamond Anni-

versary with a Gala featuring Honorary

Chair Stone Phillips at which local

“sensational seniors” will be honored

Nov 12 at 7 PM at the Canfield Casino.

For tickets call (518) 584-1621 or visit

www.saratogaseniorcenter.org.

A.L.L.’s Executive Council met Fri,

Oct 30. The following business was

transacted and actions taken: 1.

Minutes from the September 25

meeting were amended and ap-

proved 2. Anita Kopff, Financial

Officer, reported our finances on

target and in order 3. Vice-Chair,

Louise Young, reported the Final

Draft of the Strategic Plan will be

submitted to Exec Council at their

next meeting. Handbook revisions

to follow 4. Executive Director re-

ported 339 total members for Fall

2015. 294 taking classes. As of

10/19 contributions are $4373

General Fund; $550 Endowment

Fund; Many ALL Events scheduled

through Dec 12 with Winter Story-

teller programs coming on Wednes-

days Jan 6-March 2, 2016. 5. Com-

mittees reported as follows: Curricu-

lum is putting the finishing touches

on our Spring 2016 Program. Event

Planning is working on the Decem-

ber 4 Holiday Party at Longfellows;

West Point trip cancelled; Spring

2016 Kick-Off Event in April will be

held at the Knights’ of Columbus

on Route 29. Membership reported

Outreach:Oct. 3 Boomer Event; Oct

16 Wellness Expo at Halfmoon/

Clifton Park Library; Nov 8, Chron-

Continued on pg. 9

P A G E 3 P O N D E R T H A N K S G I V I N G A S A V E R B , N O T A N O U N

Lori Langdon, DVM

Please consider contacting

these fine Academy sponsors

if/when you are in need of

their services, and don’t forget

to mention you saw them in

A.L.L. the News!

DR. LANDRY

LUNCH &

LEARN

Dr. Roger Landry is returning to Sarato-

ga in November with two new presen-

tations and plenty of interesting in-

sights on Successful Aging Tuesday,

Nov. 17, 11 am – 2 pm, at the Holiday

Inn, Saratoga Springs.

11AM presentation: Never Act Your Age

Noon: Full seated lunch

1PM presentation: Change: What’s the Big Deal?

2 PM: Dr. Landry book signing

Presented by the Academy for Lifelong

Learning, this event is open to the pub-

lic and sponsored by Prestwick Chase

at Saratoga.

If you attended last year’s event, you

already know how informative and

entertaining this will be. If you missed

it, you won’t want to miss this one.

To learn more about Dr. Landry, go to

www.drroger.org.

Look for more details and the registra-

tion form on the back page

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

DISCOuNT

CARDS

A.L.L. members received with their

membership packets a DBA Dis-

count card (little purple card) and

list of DBA merchants (Downtown

Business Association) offering dis-

counts. Smart shopper and Acade-

my member Nancy Burkly was at

The Savory Pantry recently, noticed

they’re DBA members and asked

why the store wasn’t on her list.

Perhaps they were just waiting to

be asked, because store owner Kee-

ley DeSalvo quickly e-mailed they’ll

be glad to honor the 10% DBA dis-

count for A.L.L. members! The store

is at 486 Broadway in downtown

Saratoga Springs and offers special-

ty foods and gift baskets with ex-

traordinary foods from around the

world, but also delectable treats

from regional and local small farm-

ers, beekeepers, butchers and bak-

ers (including Sundaes Best Hot

Fudge Sauce)! DBA discount cards

are good through May of 2016.

In that same membership packet

members also received discount

cards for Saratoga Springs restau-

rants: The Olde Bryan Inn at 123

Maple Ave. (yellow card) and Long-

fellows Inn & Restaurant at 500 Un-

ion Ave (green card). These cards

are good through the end of De-

cember 2015.

Please read the fine print on all the

cards and the DBA Discount list to

be sure of the discounts; there are

some exceptions.

MEMBER

NEWS Margaret French, A.L.L. Master

Leader and storyteller extraordi-

naire tells us that although A.L.L.

Storytelling begins in January,

those who can’t wait and want to

get started early can do so at the

following events:

Betty Cassidy, one of our January tellers, is the featured teller at the storytelling open mic at Caffè Le-na in Saratoga Springs 7 PM,

Wed, Nov 11. Admission is $3.

Plan to join several Saratoga tell-ers at Tellabration, a big storytell-ing festival in Schenectady at Proctors Theater Nov 15 at 2 PM.

Admission is $12, but groups of 8 or more can save $2 per ticket. $2 of every ticket goes to charity. For more information, go to: http://www.storycircleatproctors.org/20

15-Tell-flyer-ONE.pdf

LOST &

FOUND No, that’s not Vera (below) in her

Halloween costume, she’s wearing

the lost & found! In keeping with

our end of the semester fall tradi-

tion, she got into that getup with

the hope that you’ll spot your mis-

p l a c e d

s we a te r ,

scarf, um-

brella or

gloves. If

you see

an item

t h a t ’ s

yours, it’s

h a n g i n g

on the

coat rack

in the

lobby of

113 West. The ear

rings and zip drive

pictured at right are

with the receptionist

in 113 West.

P A G E 5 P O N D E R T H A N K S G I V I N G A S A V E R B , N O T A N O U N

Submitted by Linda McKenney

We are more alike than we are differ-ent. A note I wrote to myself as I sat in Tom Davis’s study group – Song of God. If nothing else, this study group increased my realization that we are united by a desire to believe in some-thing greater than ourselves. To expe-rience a bit of mystery that we cannot

explain with science.

I signed up for this group because I wanted to expand my knowledge of other religions. The first day, we all introduced ourselves, and I found my-self surrounded by self-pronounced,

Tom Davis groupies. That gave me

pause and certainly raised my curiosi-ty. What is so great about Tom Davis?

It didn’t take me long to figure it out.

First of all you can tell that he enjoys teaching. He laces his content with stories and laughter. He’s an expert but doesn’t make you feel less than because you are not. He encourages his students to think and express their thoughts. He makes it safe to do that.

If you asked me to quantify the benefit of this study group, I will respond with a Zen Koan, which is a paradoxical anecdote or riddle, used in Zen Bud-dhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and to provoke

enlightenment. I think Tom would

appreciate this.

The Most Valuable Thing in the World

Sozan, a Chinese Zen master, was

asked by a student: "What is the most

valuable thing in the world?"

The master replied: "The head of a

dead cat."

"Why is the head of a dead cat the most valuable thing in the world?"

inquired the student.

Sozan replied: "Because no one can

name its price."

Photo above by Linda Davis

Song of God- Study group Review

Submitted by Linda McKenney:

Imagine that life is a game show. You are facing and need to choose be-tween doors numbered one, two or three. Behind number one is the past, where you’ll remain rooted, sure of yourself (because you know you’ve learned everything you need to know) and dormant. Behind number two is the present, where you’ll remain

mired in the comfort and security of your self-created box. And behind number three is the future, where you’ll remain curious, adventurous

and a life-long learner.

The beauty of this game show, as op-posed to one you may watch on tele-vision, is that you always get the

chance to change up your choice. When we moved back to New York, for a while I was living comfortably behind door number two. One day I slammed it shut and chose door num-

ber three. I will be forever grateful that the door led me down the path

to A.L.L and to meeting Pat Nugent.

I signed up for a study group about learning to write creative non-fiction.

Pat Nugent was the facilitator. And in that short span of a few weeks I grew immensely in mind, spirit and friend-ship. I felt braver and more comforta-ble writing about very personal sub-jects. Pat and the other women in our group were supportive, constructive and kind. We laughed and learned

our way to a critique writing group

that meets once per month.

Another opportunity for personal growth occurred when Pat invited me to develop and perform in a one-woman lecture as Susan B. Anthony. She saw something in me that I didn’t recognize. One of Pat’s strengths is the ability to hone in on just what you are good at. That’s the talent of a true

teacher and mentor. She helps you expand your horizons, so you grow a

little braver.

Sometimes the gifts we receive are unexpected and not tangible in na-

ture. Pat has given me the gift of writ-ing and friendship. For that I am for-

ever grateful.

WRITING CREATIVE NONFICTION

FALL 2014 STUDY GROUP REVIEW

P A G E 6 P O N D E R T H A N K S G I V I N G A S A V E R B , N O T A N O U N

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Each month we will highlight Academy volunteer opportunities in A.L.L. the News. Please consider joining a commit-

tee, helping out at an event, assisting in the office or serving as an officer on the Executive Council.

Council & Committee Structure

The Academy is governed by the elected Executive Council which coordinates the work of the five standing commit-tees (finance, curriculum, membership, resource development, and event planning) and determines A.L.L. policies. Executive Council officers—chair, vice chair, secretary and financial officer—typically serve two-year terms. Committee

chairs also serve on the executive council along with a representative from Third Age Press (the Academy’s publishing arm) and an Empire State College liaison appointed by the college. The Academy’s executive director, employed by the Executive Council, is responsible for carrying out the council’s policy decisions, managing the office, and conducting the day to day business of the Academy. This month, we are featuring (at left below) the Finance Committee. In photo at left by Bernie Fabry: Financial Officer & Finance Co Chair Anita Kopff and Co Chair Pat Peterson.

CODE BLUE

The Saratoga Springs Code Blue shelter resumes operations this month

providing shelter and food for the homeless when expected overnight tem-

peratures fall below 20 degrees and/or the snow fall exceeds 12”. The Acade-

my is requesting and will be collecting donations Tues., Nov. 10 in room 104

at 111 West Ave from 10 AM to 3 PM. Let’s help Code Blue open their doors

with fully stocked shelves.

Submitted by Curriculum Chair Pat Friesen I met a woman....a lovely woman with a beautiful smile, so warm and gracious. My little rescue

dog, Bella, and I were out walk-ing and across the street from my apartment building is the Salva-tion Army building. Many of those who have now become my friends, find a place to sit outside the building near the dumpster, under a little tree and socialize among themselves. The woman I met briefly and will never forget was Nancy. The only reason I

know her name is that she ended up in the news as a "victim" of homelessness and severe cold weather. She died on the steps of the senior center because she could not get warm! This tragedy was a call to action and our now Mayor Yepsen (had been elected but not inaugurated) made it one of her priorities to establish a

shelter for our homeless neigh-bors to come in from the cold, have a hot meal and a warm place to rest their heads. This shelter is known as Code Blue and lucky for me is right across the street in the Salvation Army

building. This will be Code Blue’s third season and my second to volunteer. I don't think I have ev-er had a volunteer opportunity and experience that is more re-

warding. I have gotten to know their names, their faces and their stories. They are people like you and me but due to very unfortu-nate circumstances, addiction and/or mental health issues, etc have found themselves on the streets. They are survivors and they really do not ask much. Many of them have become my friends and I am greeted warmly

when I see them on the streets or in the shelter. I do whatever is needed when there including greeting our guests, serving meals, helping them find needed clothes and toiletries from donat-ed items, etc. I enjoy it all. Code Blue is a shelter from the cold and there to ensure the safety of the guests. I am so personally

grateful that it was established and that I have had the oppor-tunity to get to know new friends and able to be a small part in making their lives a little more tolerable. (continued on pg 9)

FINANCE

COMMITTEE Are you comfortable working with numbers? Can you find your way around a budget (income and ex-penses)? If so, we need you. A.L.L.’s Finance Committee is looking for

several new committee members.

Working with the executive director and with input from committee chairs, the Finance Committee pre-pares and monitors the annual

budget and long term financial plans for Executive Council approv-al. If necessary, they also consider and recommend additional class rental locations and possible ex-penses. The chairperson serves as the financial officer on the council. The group meets monthly in the spring and fall while Academy clas-ses are in session to review the sta-tus of our financial health. The chair

reports the committee’s work to the

Executive Council.

Co-Chairs Anita Kopff and Pat Peter-son, along with members Avril Bev-eridge, Corrie Bishop, and Susan

Coveney, need your help. They all are experienced and very willing to train newcomers. The responsibility of overseeing the Academy’s financ-es is a crucial job and requires mem-ber participation to fulfill our mis-

sion.

If this important job appeals to you, please email akopff@frontiernet.net. Anita will answer your questions or,

better yet, welcome you onboard!

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

ACADEMY FOR LIFELONG LEARNING

We’re

Saving

You a

Seat!

Special Interest Groups (SIGs), created by the A.L.L. Membership Commit-

tee, offer opportunities to pursue common interests in an informal setting.

SIGs enable members to gather for interests that may not fall under the

label of “academic.” All Academy members are eligible to join SIGs or help

create new ones! 2015 SIGs, their coordinators and contact information

are:

Golf - Avril Beveridge - 518-899-9432 (accepting members now for sumer)

Book Club - Gloria Marceau - 518-584-1288 (meets 10 AM the 3rd Friday of

every month at the Saratoga Springs Library)

Theater - Barbara McGrath - 885-4607

Bridge II - Scheryl Lomonico - 518-306-4125

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

A.L .L . ’s

Future &

Your

Legacy The Academy’s future depends on financial sustainability. Please con-sider making a difference that will serve others through your legacy by making a bequest to the Acade-

my for Lifelong Learning at Sarato-ga Springs in your will. This is a meaningful way to support the life-changing work at the Academy. Please also consider suggesting to those wishing to offer remem-brances to direct them to the

Academy.

Edventures offers educational travel experiences in partnership with oth-er organizations, like A.L.L.! Look for information on upcoming trips in our publications and plan to attend a

seminar Nov 6 at 10AM, 113 West in room 145. For every A.L.L. member who signs up for an Edventures trip, we receive a $100 donation. A Trip planned for next spring is to Ireland for seascapes, art, music, & cuisine, May 31-June 8. Also, two 2016 fall trips are planned, one to the Lake Country of Italy, including the Riviera of Italy (or the Cinque Terra area) and Peru visiting the Incas and Ma-

chu Picchu. More to come!

eDVENTURES

TRAVEL

(continued from front page) SUNY Empire State College President, Merodie Hancock reminded us that, “Today and every day is lifelong learn-

ing day.”

In photo above from left: Ted Alder-

son, John Roche, Angela Nash, Kathy Crumb, Sue Valaitis, Louise Young, Sheryl Egger, Academy for Lifelong Learning Executive Director Jeff Shinaman, Marsha Fagan, Saratoga Springs Mayor Joanne Yepsen, SUNY Empire State College President Mero-die Hancock, Barbara Youker, Eric D’Angelo

Lifelong

Learning

Day October

P A G E 8 P O N D E R T H A N K S G I V I N G A S A V E R B , N O T A N O U N

CODE BLUE

donations Clothing (all adult) for Guests:

NEW Men's & Women’s Underwear, Thermal Underwear and Winter Socks; Winter Coats, Gloves (large), Hats & Snow Boots; Men’s & Women’s gently used or new Jeans & T-Shirts; NEW

Men's White Undershirts; NEW Women's Sports Bras; Scarfs; Hoodie & Regular

Sweatshirts;

Misc.:

Backpacks; Duffle Bags; Sleeping Bags; Tarps/Ground Cloths; Pillow Covers

(Allergy & Bed Bug Protection)

Food Items:

Indiv. Wrapped Snacks; Granola Bars; Boost, Resourse, Ensure; Coffee Creamer; Oatmeal Packets; Canned Pasta; Soups; Slim Jims; Water; Juice (Indiv. containers); Gator Aide; Pasta Sauce; Dinty Moore Beef Stew; Canned Chili; Snack Packs of Crackers (peanut butter & Cheese); Cere-

al; Sweetner & Sugar Packets

STUDY GROUP PHOTO Fun

To say this year’s fall,

semester was educa-

tional, lively and fun

might be an under-

statement! Can you

guess in which study

groups A.L.L. pho-

tographer Bernie

Fabry shot these

gems? Unless you

were there, we’re

guessing you can’t!

P A G E 9

cle Book Fair at the Queensbury

Hotel; Barnes & Noble Book Fair

December 12; Resource Develop-

ment has sent out Donation letters

to all members.Third Age Press is

reviewing submissions for the Ap-

ple Tree, and they will present a

program of readings Nov 10 at

Prestwick Chase. They will work at

the Chronicle Book Fair Nov 8.

6. In conjunction with the College

we will be setting up cloud based

Quick Books to manage our ac-

counting. 7. Work is planned dur-

ing the winter to create a written

document clarifying the responsi-

bilities and relationships among

Empire State College, the SUNY

Foundation, the Academy for Life-

long Learning, the Executive Coun-

cil and the Executive Director

EXECUTIVE

COUNCIL Continued from pg. 2

CHRONICLE

BOOK FARE Please, plan to join A.L.L. mem-

bers and friends at the 20th an-

nual Chronicle Book Fair Sun.,

Nov. 8 from 11 AM to 3 PM at

the Queensbury Hotel. Books of

all types from authors and pub-

lishers from our region and be-

yond will be available for pur-

chase that day. Events running

all day include: author talks,

book sales & signings, children’s

activities, panel discussions, read-

ings, book-related community

group displays and much more.

Look for you’re A.L.L. Member-

ship Committee; they’ll be there

“manning” a table!

This event is free and open to

the public; for more info, call

792-1126.