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Elderhostel Notebook January, 1997
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Elderhostel Notebook is the monthly e-mail publication of the
Silver Threads, an informal collection of net seniors. It is the
product of elderhostlers, and is independent of the Elderhostel
organization and not associated with it.
It is published in conjunction with the Silver Threads
Newsletter, but has a separate mailing list. Submissions are
welcome and voluntary as are comments and suggestions.
Editor is Jim Olson sierrajimo@aol.co
There is no charge for either publication. Just contact the
editor to subscribe.
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Contents
From the Editors Notebook
Elderhostel Potpourri
Elderhostel Reviews
Personals
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Editor's Notebook
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The holidays have taken their toll on the volume of elderhostel
reviews for this issue, but now that everyone is rested up and
off elderhosteling or just relaxing with time to tell us about
the elderhostels you have taken, I expect we will have a flood of
correspondence for future issues.
Please send material to me at olsonjam@uwec.edu or
sierrajimo@aol.com . This latter address is the one I use while
on the road with my notebook computer, hooking up to America On
Line in motel rooms, etc. Most elderhostels do not have phone
connections in rooms or if they do, have limited service so I
haven't yet been able to publish an edition from an elderhostel.
This is as close as I have come, getting ready now to leave
Tucson, Arizona for an elderhostel in Apache Lake near Phoenix.
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Potpourri
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Drury Institute Learning
The professor smiled as he asked on a bright sunny September
afternoon, "If I were to invite students on campus to attend a
class today on Plato without any grade credit being given, how
many do you suppose would be interested?" He was asking a room
full of about thirty senior age students in the room, eager for
several weekly sessions on Plato: an Introduction to Greek
Philosophy, taught by a retired professor in the Religion and
Philosophy Department of Drury College. This was one of several
classes which launched the fall sessions for the Drury Institute
of Mature Learning. Others were on Literature:Hamlet Jane
Austen, Survey of Western Architecture, World Religions:Islam,
Supply Side Economics with faculty recruited from several
colleges. Most classes meet once a week for three or four times,
but one class met one afternnon in the computer room to learn
about the internet and another class on Russian musical themes
was scheduled for one afternoon prior to a symphony concert
featuring several Russian composers.
The Institute got off to an enthusiastic start in the spring of
1996 with courses on Mexican Colonial History and the Influence
of Einstein. Affliated with Elderhostel, it is one of a number of
such local programs which go by various names. Here in
Springfield, Missouri, it is operated by volunteers who serve on
curriculum, membership and finance committees in cooperation with
Drury College where classes are held. Officers were elected this
fall and a small fee of $35 is now charged for the year. There is
a newsletter mailed and lots of word of mouth publicity as well.
Some would say that this local community version of Elderhostel
is especially strong on course content. No basket weaving or
bird watching here! Of course, as we know, Elderhostels do offer
a rich variety of experiences both in the U.S. and Canada in
interesting and beautiful sites.
Some social events are planned for our local mature learning
folks such as luncheons and a Christmas party so we can know each
other better. Already plans are in place for the winter quarter
classes: Bismark and German Unification, Science in the Coming
Millenium, the Greek Influence on Christianity, World
Religions:Buddhism Hinduism, Wellness, Ozark Flora, Music and
the Youth Culture.
Here's to life that never stops learning! You know whaqt they
say, "Use it or lose it."
Bill Longman wlongman@mail.orion.org
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A note from Elderhostel Canada
There has been a catalogue change, the catalogue previously
called the "Elderhostel Supplement" has been reformatted and
changed to read the Elderhostel Canada catalogue and refeatures.
This catalogue will give US residents an opportunity to see the
programs that are available in Canada -- in the FRONT of the
book. On first glance, it may appear to be the
Refeature/Supplement catalogue when in fact it features up front
our Canadian Programs.
In addition, ELDERHOSTEL Canada is offering its first Service
Learning Program in Prince Edward Island in September 1997. This
program is published in the Summer 1997 catalogues.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. From all of us at
ELDERHOSTEL Canada here in practically snowless Kingston,
Ontario.
Penny Darling Assistant Director Programs Information Services
ELDERHOSTEL Canada ehcpgmdp@limestone.kosone.com
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We would like to announce our Senior Educational Study Programs.
Please check our Web Site for information:
http://w3.one.net/~campania/
Robert M. Wilhelm
Executive Director
The Campanian Society, Inc.
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jimorgan@mdn.net
You are welcome to use or to link to
http://members.mdn.net/jimorgan/Auberge.htm
for the outcome of "talent" night at a recent Elderhostel.
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Elderhostel Reviews
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Report on one of the last Elderhostels at Rio Salado Phoenix, AZ.
Rio Salado has course listing in winter (Jan-Mar) catalog but
none in the spring catalog.
I attended Dec 8-13, course held at Day's Inn 7th ave and hiway
17 in Phoenix. Tai Chi Chi with excellent instructor. Wisdom of
Hebrew numbers with outstanding instructor and Reality? with an
interesting person but no contact with course title. Food was
adequate and housing was good.
Chuck aka PYTOR@aol.com
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Royal National Theatre
I did this program two years ago. I loved it. We stayed in a grand old
Edwardian Hotel on Tottenham Court road. Within walking distance of the
British Museum. Of course the fire alarms went off at 2 a.m. and we all had
to assemble in the hotel lobby in our bathrobes, and I understand that is a
regular occurance. We had marvelous coordinator, Roger and at the theatre
Nick Hooten. Don't know what plays are there right now, but they do the a
marvelous job.
MacRuth989@aol.com
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To My Fellow Travelers in Elderhostel,
My critique of the Watercolor Workshop held at Sedona Arizona
(North Arizona University), December 1-6, is filled with a high
regard for the planning, staffing and location sites. From the
first packet sent by NAU, they provided the recommendations to
assist with making travel arrangements and connections.
Our housing was at the Kings Ransome (Quality Inn)-and classes
held at the Comfort Inn next door (Same owner). A university bus
was available for our 'location' painting sites. The Sculpture
class was held in conjunction with the Watercolor class- and the
bus was available to them for the foundry and gallery visits. We
had orientation together- and shared tables in the dining room-
getting acquainted, and sharing our daily experiences.
My class provided me the opportunity to ease into Watercolor (my
first) and progress, while others, some with professionally
artistic credentials, were creating paintings that I felt,
captured the essence of the beautiful Sedona, Arizona area.
We, Sculpture and Watercolor classes, held our 'Graduation'
together, with our paintings being shown on the front board, as
the individual, apparently professionally completed, sculpture
projects were displayed. After our individual comments about our
artistic endeavors, I learned there were 'first time' sculptors
in that class!
I have many fond memories of this experience, primarily due to
the fine programming and excellent instructors that were selected
for the classes. This INCLUDES an interest I gained in the art of
sculpture. I may be looking toward a similar workshop in the near
future, except to reverse my selection and experience one week of
Sculpture, followed by a week of Watercolor. Thanks, for this
opportunity to 'share' S.B.
(docedo@gte.net)
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Personals
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From: Rout@aol.com
Getting into Computers
I am 71 years old and have been retired for quite a long time. My
wife and I love to go to all kinds of craft and merchandise
shows to try for freebees. We sign up for everything that is
available at the show. At one of the trade shows we filled out a
coupon for a local college that was offering an eight week course
of your choice,. My name was picked and was I suprised, first
time ever. The school called and asked me what I would be
interested in and I told him I would like to try a computer
course.
I have a part time job working for a fellow that runs the golf
tournaments for the professional golfers in the state of New
Hampshire. We have been working together for about eight years
and it's a very enjoyable job. They pay me for doing it but I
would do it for free because I enjoy the work. We run the
tournaments with a computer and even though I was able to run
them I really didn't know much about computers. The program was
set up specially for these types of tournaments so all I had to
do was turn it on and follow directions, a trained chimp could do
the same thing.
A friend of mine thats in the business set me up with an old
computer that he had and I started college. The course was free
and because of my age they even threw in the books.
After a couple weeks the computer proved to be to slow as I found
myself playing on it four or five hours a day and always running
out of memory. Well you know what happened next. My free course
ended up costing me a bundle to get set up for what I wanted to
do. Well after two years I've upgraded gone on the Internet and
find myself spending more hours that I care to say "Playing" on
the computer.
I hope to be able to get into chatting with the group from around
the world but I'm a little shy on starting out. If anyone
reading this is hesitant about getting into computers, don't be.
It's one of the most fascinating things that a person can get
into, and at my age it even beats sex. My wife says that's really
something for me to say.
We have only been on one EH trip. We went to Ocean Park, Old
Orchard Beach , Maine, which we really enjoyed. One of the
courses was on Covered Bridges, of which there are many in this
neck of the woods, and that is one of the other hobbies that we
have. The other was bell ringing. It didn't sound like anything
I would enjoy but it proved to be great. The third course was on
relaxing, I missed most of that course as I went to the local
golf course and relaxed. We had planed to take more trips and
will now
We had planed to take more trips and will now especially after
reading about all the beautiful places that others have been to.
I want to thank the group for all the enjoyment they have given
me read about the EH trips, and all of the other very fascinating
articles that are written.
Roland Routhier