|
|
News From CALL December 2024
Photo of a Boat in Ladysmith Harbour, Vancouver Island, by Dwight Adams from the CALL Digital Photography Group
President’s Message
- Adrienne Kertzer
Key to CALL’s programming is a statement in our Mandate, Mission, Vision, Values and Membership: “CALL is run by members for members. Everyone is a volunteer.”
CALL has five programming models. Interest groups that meet regularly and study programs that are limited to a fixed number of sessions and may or may not be repeated are open to CALL members only. Speaker series, individual speaker events and special programs may be open to the public either for free or by paying a small fee at the door.
Our ability to run these programs is totally dependent on volunteers, not just those who coordinate, facilitate, and administer them but also those who contribute to this programming in other ways: for example, those who book venue space, set up Zoom meetings, handle our audiovisual requests, create the web pages, newsletters, and blogs that advertise our programming, answer our questions about membership and greet us with coffee at the CALL Café.
This week, as I viewed a YouTube video on Artificial Intelligence in preparation for an interest group I belong to, watched a film related to a study program I attend, checked the long-range forecast for my CALL walk, and looked forward to the CPO rehearsal, I thought about what wonderful learning opportunities CALL enables and how each of them could not exist without volunteers.
On December 16, the CALL Café will host a seasonal celebration featuring some of our programming. Following the performances, there will be a reception where members of the Program Committee and Board will be happy to meet you and answer any questions you have about CALL programming. In the meantime, you can always reach me at president@calgarylifelonglearners.ca.
November Events
Health and Wellness Speaker Events
Navigating Change in our Lives
Monday, November 25, 1:30–3:00pm
Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
Speakers: Corinne Wilkinson and Trish Parder
We all have had major changes in our lives and with these changes may come self-doubt, lack of confidence, concern about what others will think and a list of should-haves. Corinne and Trish have written a book called It’s Just a Hiccup which deals with some of the ways to navigate these changes.
No registration required. The public may attend for a $5 fee at the door.
December Events
Science and Environment Speaker Events
Water Security In Alberta
Tuesday, December 3, 7:30–9:00pm via Zoom
Speaker: Dr. Tricia Stadnyk
Canada is a water-rich country relative to many parts of the world, but we are undergoing some of the most rapid changes in climate and water availability globally. We live within the Palliser Triangle, one of the driest regions of Canada. We have been experiencing increasing drought frequency and duration, exacerbated by exponential growth in water demand.
Ensuring adequate water security for future generations requires a complex interplay between understanding environmental change, economic growth projections, water law and policy, and social determinants of human behaviour (i.e., consumption).
In this presentation, Dr. Tricia Stadnyk will discuss these issues, our changing Alberta water supply, and the considerations needed for a water secure future in the context of the most recent drought and water supply catastrophes.
Dr. Tricia Stadnyk is a Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Calgary, jointly appointed between Schulich School of Engineering (Civil Engineering) and the Faculty of Arts (Geography). She leads a dedicated team of hydrologists, engineers, policy specialists, and artists who study the impacts of climate change on water supply and security. As the Director of Science4Action for the newly formed University of Calgary United Nations University Hub, her mission is to advance public engagement, education, and knowledge translation around our world’s most complex water challenges. Her work has contributed to Canadian and international policy through design standards, guidelines, and climate change impact assessments for government and industry. She is a Professional Engineer and also the President and CEO of HydroS Engineering Ltd., a consultancy providing practical solutions for water resources design under changing climates.
You must be a CALL member to register.
CALL Holiday Café
Music, Spoken Word, Visual Arts!
Monday, December 16, 1:00pm–3:00pm
Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, 4612 Varsity Drive NW
CALL invites you to enjoy performances and presentations by some of our many talented members at our HOLIDAY CAFÉ on Monday December 16, 2024.
The performances will be from 1:00 pm until approximately 2:00 pm with time to mix, mingle and enjoy refreshments afterward.
Public may attend at no charge.
If you are a member, please register for this event, but when you do, you can add 1 to 4 guests to your registration.
Interest Groups and Study Programs:
Written Word
Our Lives Our Stories 3
Second and fourth Mondays beginning Jan 13, 1:00–3:00pm
Calgary Guide Centre, 2188 Brownsea Drive NW, or via Zoom if weather dictates
Whether you are a seasoned storyteller or a novice writer, we welcome you to join us with your creative ideas and stories yet to be written. Once a narrative begins to germinate, it must be told, regardless of the genre. A memoir, autobiography, travelogue, short story, a play, novella, A.I. story or a yarn you heard from your Grandpa or Grandma years ago, all are promising starters. Our small group setting will offer confidentiality, encouragement and constructive feedback.
For more information and to register, go to the Our Lives Our Stories 3 page.
Read it Again
Mondays: Jan 13, 20; Feb 3, 10, 24; Mar 3, 10:00am–12:00pm
Marda Loop Community Centre, 3130 – 16 St SW
Anna Karenina
Most of us study the classics when we're students and don't revisit them. Join us for an opportunity to re-read one of those books and to discuss it from a different or even – dare we say? – more mature perspective.
If you've read Anna Karenina before and would like to read it again, please join us. Even if you haven’t, you are still welcome. Join us for a short and in-depth discussion of a good book. “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." So opens Anna Karenina, Tolstoy's novel written in 1878. Anna's infidelity sharply contrasts with the marriages of her brother and her young friend, Kitty. The marriages are presented against a backdrop of Russia undergoing great social change.
Join us to discuss the changes taking place in 19th century Russia, to explore the contrasts between urban and country life, and to appreciate the complexity of Anna's character.
For more information and to register, go to the Read it Again page.
Announcements
Volunteer Requests
Membership Committee
Do you like attending CALL events and meeting new people? Do you like to learn new computer skills? The CALL Membership team is looking for a Membership Committee Lead to join the team. Duties of the team include:
- Attendance at CALL Cafés and Speaker Series events to collect visitor payment and provide membership opportunities for prospective members
- Updates to our CALL Wild Apricot Membership database & monthly reporting
- Answering Membership questions
- Depositing proceeds from our in-person events
- The Membership Committee Lead also attends the monthly Board meeting and liaises with other CALL teams on membership processes.
The monthly time commitment is light and varies depending on how many events are attended. There is normally one evening talk a month; the rest are in the early afternoons. Membership database updates are busiest at renewal time in late summer.
Training will be provided. We are a small committee of three to four volunteers with lots of backup.
Please contact the Volunteer Committee volunteer@calgarylifelonglearners.ca for more information.
Volunteer Committee
Would you like to offer your skills to an outstanding lifelong learning organization? Do you enjoy meeting new people and problem-solving? Consider joining the CALL Volunteer Committee.
Our committee recruits volunteers, collaborates with Area Coordinators to place personnel as needed and maintains lists and specifics for volunteer opportunities. We work with the Board of Directors to formally acknowledge volunteers on an annual basis, while encouraging an ongoing culture of respect and appreciation for all volunteer contributions. The commitment will be 4-6 hours per month. The Committee communicates and collaborates via phone, email, and occasional in-person meetings.
Please contact the Volunteer Committee volunteer@calgarylifelonglearners.ca for more information.
Brain Games and Activities Coordinator
The Program Committee is seeking a Brain Games and Activities Coordinator to support facilitators in the development and administration of its programs. Your role involves mentoring, problem-solving, and helping others turn their good ideas for new programs into a reality. You will work with the Web Team and Communications team to promote interest groups. You will work with the Operations Committee to secure venues and booking times. As a Coordinator, you will maintain communication with the Facilitators regarding Board policies and procedures.
Supporting the (currently 12) Interest Groups involves approximately 8-10 hours per month. Much of the venue-booking and scheduling occurs in the Spring. Attendance and representation at the monthly Program Committee meeting involves 2 hours per month. This meeting affords you the opportunity to learn and exchange ideas with all Coordinators.
Zoom experience using the CALL license is necessary in order to book times for those programs using Zoom. Assistance with this as well as advising on the role will be provided. As well, there will be opportunities to meet with the current Coordinator to learn about the position.
Our current Coordinator has these words to say about the position: "This is a very rewarding position because as a Coordinator, you get to interact with wonderfully reliable and dedicated people: Facilitators, Coordinators, Web Team and all the other volunteers that make CALL such a successful organization”.
For more information, please contact the Volunteer Committee volunteer@calgarylifelonglearners.ca
The Founding of CALL
Earlier this fall a lively discussion took place among some of the earliest members of CALL. They came together to share memories of how the organization was founded and what it was like to be part of the excitement. Barbara Decker Pierce attended the meeting and with the assistance of Carol Gerein (a founding member), recorded these memories so they could be included in the History of CALL Project headed by Don Smith.
Take this opportunity to read all about the early years. Learn how the vision of lifelong learning, shared among a few, sparked the creation of the CALL we know today. It is inspiring.
To read this report,
| log into the CALL website with your email and password; | Then click on Member Only Resources | and find The Founding Years under Learn More. |
 |
 |
 |
November Blog Post
Play and Playfulness
- Maureen Osis, CALL Communications Team
I read an interesting article about the many health benefits of play and playfulness for seniors. This led to some reflection about pursuing play in my life – and the joy of knowing some playful adults. But also times when being playful provoked negative reactions in others who saw it as wasting time or lacking responsibility.
For this blog post, I contacted two members of Acting Our Age, a Calgary senior drama group who performed for CALL in May, 2024. I enjoyed learning how their group started and the benefits for the performers and audiences – that laughter is the best medicine.
CALL programs offer many opportunities to laugh – to play – to enjoy the company of others. The CALL Blog is public so please share with your family and friends. It is easy to do. Just copy the URL https://calgarylifelonglearners.ca/Blog-Play-and-Playfulness and paste into an email or text message.
If you are on Facebook you can share the Blog directly to your page.
Any questions or feedback, please contact me: blog@calgarylifelonglearners.ca
The CALL Newsletter
- Newsletter Team
Did you know that we appreciate receiving articles from our members? We are happy to publish articles that celebrate CALL. Your personal experience about how you have benefited would be a valuable contribution to this newsletter. Please 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 postings 2024-25
- December 20
- January 24
- February 28
- March 28
- April 25
- May 23
- June 27
- August 22
Meanwhile, be well, stay well in every sense of the word.