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News From CALL December 2023
"The foxes, after Franz Marc" by Robert Bragg, member of the Open Studio Interest Group
President’s Message
-Barbara Decker Pierce – CALL President
It’s hard to believe that November is almost over given the beautiful weather we have had this month. Our walking groups have been blessed with ice free sidewalks and pleasant temperatures. Also, we have had several wonderful speakers this Fall. Some have made us think of far-off places, some have challenged us with today’s thorny issues and some have just made us forget our cares and hum along. Next time one of our speaker events piques your interest consider inviting a friend. Word of mouth is the best way to grow our membership and the personal touch is a good way of encouraging others to try us out. While our membership numbers are growing again, we have lots of room for other lifelong learners who wish to join us. Enjoy the cool sunny days of autumn.
November Events
CALL Café
The Calgary Phil Belongs to Everyone
Monday, November 20, 1:00–3:00pm
Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Speaker: Marc Stevens, President and CEO of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
Marc will talk about his personal journey to classical music, orchestras and Calgary. He will give an overview of the Calgary Phil, where it’s at and where it’s going. Come with questions about everything you always wanted to know about orchestras but were afraid to ask!
For more information and to register go to the CALL Café page.
Guests of CALL members are welcome.
Special Event: The GRAND, Then and Now.
Tuesday, November 21, 1:00–3:00pm
The Grand Theatre, 608 1st St SW
Flanagan Theatre (Main Floor)
Presented by The GRAND & The Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners
Don Smith of CALL, with Marcel Hebert of the Southern Alberta Pioneers, will make a special presentation on Tuesday, November 21. This event is part of the CALL study group “Frontier Calgary: 1875-1914.” Session #6 focuses on The Grand Theatre, Calgary’s Centre for the Performing Arts in the 1910s and 1920s.
With historic slides, they will review the city’s early history from the vantage point of its oldest theatre. Even though the interior has greatly changed, the space still has a sense of presence to those who came before, names which include Sarah Bernhardt, Fred and Adele Astaire, Ethel Barrymore, and Jack Benny. The theatre also became home to Calgary's first Symphony.
Attendees will also hear from The GRAND's Executive Director Erynn Lyster and Neil Fleming, Executive Director of our resident company Making Treaty 7, to learn more about how The GRAND serves Calgary today.
Those wishing to attend, please contact Tom Kerwin at tomfkerwin@gmail.com. There is no charge,
Intergenerational Speaker Series
Disconnecting to Connect: Finding Balance in a Digital World
Wednesday, November 22, 11:00am–1:00pm. Lunch included.
Mount Royal University Lincoln Park Room, J301
Speaker: Dr. Malinda Desjarlais, Department of Psychology, MRU
The second event of this year’s series takes place on Wednesday, November 22. Take this opportunity to meet and talk with other older adults and MRU students about Finding Balance in a Digital World. How has connection evolved over time and how have we adapted to it? In what ways do we connect? Have our methods changed over time? How do we feel about these changes?
For more information and to register go to the Intergenerational Speaker Series page.
Treks & Travels
The Magic of the Galapagos Islands
Wednesday, November 22, 7:30–9:00pm
Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Speaker: Judy Hoad
The 19 Galapagos Islands lie across the equator in the Pacific Ocean, 1100 km west of the mother country, Ecuador, and stretch over a 320 km axis from east to west. Originally called the Enchanted Isles, they are home to a number of unique species. Judy will share her photos and stories from two very different trips, the first in 2010 and the second in 2022.
She first visited the islands in 2010 and after her return home felt the desire to return with her sons and share the magic. She literally won the lottery and had the opportunity to share this special place with her family in 2022.
Members of the public are invited to attend for a fee of $5.
Health and Wellness
How to manage your arthritis
Monday, November 27, 1:30–3:00pm
Varsity Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Speaker: Dr Brian Burkart, M.D., B.Sc. (Med), F.R.C.S.C.
Orthopaedic Surgeon, South Health Campus.
Dr Burkart works with adults with arthritis of the hips and knees. He will give a presentation and discussion primarily on Osteoarthritis, but also other forms of arthritis, with diagnosis and treatment options, and when surgery might be needed.
Presentation in person. No registration required.
Members of the public are welcome to attend for a fee of $5
December Events
Science & Environment
Beavers, Biodiversity and Other Riparian Wonders
Tuesday, December 5, 7:30–9:00pm Online via Zoom
Speaker: Dr Glynnis Hood, Ecologist and Professor of Environmental Science at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus in Camrose.
Beavers modify landscapes in unexpected ways. From helping to increase surface and groundwater storage, to creating diverse habitats that support high levels of biodiversity and complex ecological communities, this large rodent has changed the world. Dr. Hood is the author of Semi-aquatic Mammals: Ecology and Biology and The Beaver Manifesto. Her first children's book, A Cabin Christmas, was released in November 2022.
For more information and to register, go to the Science & Environment page.
Interest Group Updates
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra – Open Rehearsals for Seniors
Facilitator Needed
Did you know the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has open rehearsals for seniors for select performances?
This is a great opportunity to see and hear how an orchestra prepares for a performance! Tickets are only $15.00 cash.
CALL needs a facilitator to act as a liaison between this Interest Group and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
If you are interested in helping our members to take advantage of this, you are well qualified if you:
- have a background in music
- play an instrument or sing in a choir
- would like to share your musical interest with other CALL members
One of the facilitator’s tasks is to maintain the mailing list and to send out an email about ten days before a rehearsal asking those who want to attend to reply. And then send that information to the CPO as they need to know how many are attending each rehearsal.
Members who have indicated they will attend will receive a confirmation email from you with some information about that particular rehearsal. The email could include: background information about the performer(s) or piece(s) being performed; links to relevant websites; and thoughtful questions about things to look out for in the rehearsal.
If you are interested, please contact Julia Melnyk, Coordinator Cultural Appreciation
In Praise of Women by Readers Theatre
-Sally Shah, Facilitator
'a great way to spend a wintry morning'
If you missed the performance of three entertaining plays on October 27, you still have a chance to see them. Go to the CALL website, login and find Resources. Click on CALL Event Recordings and the drop-down menu will display Readers Theatre Presents. The recording will be available until November 27.
Thank you to all those who made this possible.
Science & Environment – Speaker Slides available
The slides used by Dr. Blake Shaffer to illustrate his November 7th talk, The Future of Alberta’s Electrical System, are now available and have been posted by the webteam at the following link:
https://calgarylifelonglearners.ca/resources/Pictures/Science%20and%20Environment/CDP-SE-2023-11-07-Future%20of%20Alberta%20Electricity.pdf
Winter’s Coming…Curl Up with a Good Book or Share Your Own Story!
Are you looking for an interesting read, new ideas, the comfort of an old friend or unsolved mystery?? Would you like to write about your own life and share with others? There are several Written Word Groups that have a space waiting just for you! Go to the CALL website Interest Groups and Study Programs and see what the groups are reading and writing. Contact the facilitator if interested in learning more—they’d love to have you join the group
CALL Beginnings—A Historical Note
-submitted by Edna Einsiedel, CALL Communications Committee
CALL’s Original Members: Back Row: Carol Gerein, Arlene Stamp, Barbara Grant Front Row: Don Smith, Bob Stamp (Photo: Calgary Herald Neighbours, July 18, 2013) |
As a relative “newbie” to CALL, I thought it would be interesting to learn something about how the organization began. As they say, “history matters”. Here is what I’ve gleaned from chatting with some of our “elders”.
The organization began in 2010 as an “idea” that grew out of experiences from other lifelong (or “third age”) learning organizations, according to Tamara Seiler, CALL’s first president. A group in Santa Cruz, California affiliated with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute as well as the McGill Community for Lifelong Learning (MCLL) in Montreal provided initial models but these groups had university connections which the Calgary group was unable to establish, given its members’ desire for autonomy to develop its program interests.
She points out that this was a blessing in disguise because “This helped us to create a grass-roots organization made up entirely of volunteers attracted to learning for its own sake.” She adds, “It helped us to focus on a democratic style of learning – peer learning – that not only expanded the number and nature of the learning opportunities we could offer, but also contributed to making us ‘nimble’ – able to respond quickly to opportunities as they came along.”
Barbara Grant, one of CALL’s founding members, mentions that “the initial group put in a lot of our own financial resources because we believed in the concept. We were willing to do the heavy lifting – hosting in our homes and volunteering at social events and in small groups. The founding members also each contributed $100 to kickstart the organization and further raised funds through potluck dinners. We were a small village then and I have made lifelong friends from the early group.”
She reminisced about supporting groups that were offered even if she was not necessarily passionate about the topic. “Our original concept was organic and joyful.”
Barbara became more active with other responsibilities when she served as a Hospital Chaplain with the United Church of Canada. She has scaled back her activities but still currently volunteers as co-Facilitator with Melvin Pasternak in the Interest Group The Joy of Poetry.
CALL was incorporated as an official society in February 2011 and at that time, had just over 100 members. One of our founders, Carol Gerein, who remains active with CALL, mentioned that the first AGM was held that Fall. A number of peer learning groups were ready to go then: two film series, an urban walking group, a history group, an art tour group, a political affairs group, a book discussion group, and a current issues lecture series. These lively groups exemplified the enthusiasm for learning and generosity with expertise that have marked CALL’s ongoing success.
It is interesting that these seven group categories – or some related version – are still going strong today. Even more striking is that these seven major umbrella categories now have 53 activity groups. For example, its Creative Arts umbrella includes six activity groups!
Carol Gerein’s historical file includes other early Interest Groups that focused on heritage houses, “Calgary in 1912”, “Genealogy”, “The Silk Road”, and “Canada in World War I”. Carol also mentioned special programs during that early period such as an Oil and Gas Speaker Series held at the Glenbow and Dinner and Bocce at the Italian Club.
Ona Stonkus, one of the initial CALL members that first year who facilitated one of the first current events groups, made this observation:
“I think CALL clearly was filling a vacuum as the initial response was so overwhelming. The original steering committee of 12 was amazingly compatible, full of brain-storming, and building on each other’s ideas, with lots of outreach to other organizations for collaboration and also to individuals who might lead CALL interest groups and/or give talks.”
With its current roster of over 800 members, CALL continues to remain a vibrant and enriching organization, driven by the enthusiasm and participation of its lifelong learners.
Your CALL Newsletter
The CALL Newsletter is our way to communicate what is going on in our community. It's a way to highlight events of interest, ‘peek behind the curtain of CALL’ and to give some general information about CALL groups and members.
You are invited to send your ideas and suggestions for future issues to communications@calgarylifelonglearners.ca. We reserve the right to edit submissions and to determine when submissions will be published.
CALL Newsletter dates for posting
The newsletter group has decided to return to posting once a month. The posting dates for 2023-24 are:
- December 15
- January 19
- February 16
- March 22
- April 19
- May 24
- June 21
- August 23
Meanwhile, be well, stay well in every sense of the word.