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News From CALL June 2024
Crowsnest Pass painting by Tony Campos of the Open Studio Interest Group
President’s Message
- Barbara Decker Pierce, CALL President
It’s been just over six months since we shared with you our thoughts about the Road Ahead for CALL. The Board has been busy, and we’ve implemented several of the report’s major recommendations.
- CALL by-laws have been amended to reduce the size of the Board.
- We have approved a new organizational structure.
- CALL Café events now include time for coffee and conversation.
- We just held a very successful Volunteer Appreciation Event.
- We are holding Area Groups meetings with facilitators and are planning an all-facilitator event for the fall.
While the Board’s focus this year has been on implementing the recommendations of the Road Ahead, we’ve also had the opportunity to review and revise CALL’s policy manual. In addition, we’ll soon have an updated set of committee terms of reference and organizational roles. Members rarely see these kinds of documents, but they are the bones of our organization. They help make things run smoothly and are a useful guide when times are challenging. The changes of the past year are investments in CALL’s future and the Board’s contribution to building and maintaining an organization that will last and thrive into the future. We think, and expect you do as well, that CALL deserves a long and happy life!
Governance
-Ron Foyer, Governance Coordinator
Do you want to help CALL prosper? Consider becoming a board member!
Over half the CALL 2023-24 year is over, so it’s time to look toward next year. In October we – all CALL members – will be electing some CALL Board members. Some of the positions are for one year only and others are for two years.
Over the 14 years of CALL’s life it has continued to provide a diverse and increasing range of programs. Many Lifelong Learners organizations didn’t make it through COVID. CALL did. This record was in part due to its committed Boards over that time and its very strong management and administrative policies and procedures.
For the year 2024-25 CALL is looking for candidates for the following positions
- VP (1 year term),
- Secretary (2 year term)
- IT Committee Chair (2 year term)
- Program Committee Chair (2 year term).
For at least one of these positions, the current Board member has indicated they will stand again for their position.
If you want to know more, you can:
-ask any current Board member (look on “About Us” on our home page, and select “Governance” website to see names of board members.)
-attend a Board meeting (held on the morning of the 3rd Thursday of each month)
-contact the CALL Governance Coordinator, Ron Foyer at ron-foyer@shaw.ca
CALL's Land Acknowledgment
-Adrienne Kertzer, Program Committee Chair
CALL has recently revised its Land Acknowledgment. You will find the written version at the bottom of the CALL homepage:
Written Statement
Wherever we or our ancestors came from, we are all Treaty people. In recognition of this truth, CALL acknowledges its programs are delivered on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, Kainai Nation, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation, consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Good Stoney Bands, and the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation. The City of Calgary, called Moh'kins'tsis by the Blackfoot people, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6). As an association of lifelong learners, we welcome the opportunity to learn more about the past and present of Indigenous peoples. We believe that reconciliation and the creation of a better future begin with lifelong learning.
You will find the spoken version with a guide to pronunciation in the Resources section of the website.
Spoken Statement
Wherever we or our ancestors came from, we are all Treaty people. In recognition of this truth, I want to acknowledge that I am speaking on the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika Nation, Piikani Nation, Kainai Nation, the Îethka Stoney Nakoda Nation, consisting of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Good Stoney Bands, and the people of the Tsuut’ina Nation. The City of Calgary, called Moh'kins'tsis by the Blackfoot people, is also home to the Métis Nation of Alberta (Districts 5 and 6). As an association of lifelong learners, we welcome the opportunity to learn more about the past and present of Indigenous peoples. We believe that reconciliation and the creation of a better future begin with lifelong learning.
When Talking about CALL…
-Adrienne Kertzer, Program Committee Chair
Have you experienced theatrical performances where audience members are advised to silence their phones during the performance but as soon as the performance is over, encouraged to use social media to let everyone know what an amazing performance they just watched? Just like organizations that distinguish between when it is appropriate to talk and when it is not, CALL may not tell you to silence your phones, but it too wants you to tell others about what CALL means to you.
But when you talk about CALL, bear in mind that the only authorized individuals who can express publicly the position of CALL on various issues are members designated by the Board, Executive Committee, or the President. Of course CALL members are always free to speak or act publicly as individuals so long as they do not claim to represent CALL's position on an issue.
For more information, check out CALL's policy on Public Statements.
Volunteer Opportunity
-Susan Anderson, Volunteer Committee
Do you enjoy meeting new people and problem-solving? Would you like to offer your skills to an outstanding lifelong learning organization? Consider joining the Volunteer Committee. We are looking for new members.
The CALL Volunteer 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.
CALL Website Tip
-Shauna Romanzin, CALL IT Committee Chair
If you change your CALL password, please wait 10 minutes before signing in to your CALL Account. It seems to take our Wild Apricot system a few minutes to get everything synced up.
June Events
Science & Environment
Urban Wildlife Encounters
Tuesday, June 4, 7:30 pm Online via Zoom
Speaker: Melanie Whalen, Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society
With over 400 species of wild animals living in and around Calgary, encounters with humans and their domestic pets are common. As urban spaces continue to expand into previous wild areas, contact with wildlife populations continues to grow.
The Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (CWRS) provides care for injured wildlife that live in our communities and wild spaces, rehabilitating animals so they are ready to return to the wild, and working with others to release them in ways that help them thrive.
June’s speaker, Melanie Whalen, is the Director of Wildlife Care & Services at CWRS. Melanie has had a diverse career spanning over 25 years including wildlife disease research, nest ecology, and large ungulate and carnivore studies. She is a strong advocate for wildlife conservation and mitigating human and wildlife conflicts.
Registration required. For more information and to register, go to the Science & Environment page.
CALL Café
Scams, Hacks and Fraud
Monday, June 17, 1:00–3:00 pm Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church, Scott Hall
Speakers: Constables Jansen and McCarthy from the CPS
Scams are everywhere and new ones are showing up regularly. Many specifically target older adults. The following occurred this past week alone.
- Email messages: “Don’t open messages from hiking group member X. Her email has been hacked.”
- “CALL member Y wants to share photos.”
- Phone calls seeming to be from “CRA” and “VISA”
- Text messages saying “Parcel delivery information needs update.”
- London Drugs closes due to a cyber-attack.
An extremely security conscious and tech savvy friend experienced identity theft and subsequently spent many hours closing bank and credit card accounts, talking to Equifax, Transunion, police, the city and so on.
None of us are totally protected from scams, hacks and frauds– no matter how careful we are. The only defense is to be aware and take precautions to minimize the damage.
This CALL Café will address some of these issues. Constables Jansen and McCarthy from the CPS will discuss current scams, particularly those targeting seniors and how to avoid them.
Members are asked to register and may bring up to 4 guests. Please indicate how many you will bring when registering.
This event is free and open to the public as part of Age-Friendly Calgary’s Seniors programming.
Treks & Travels
Along the Silk Road Part 2
Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 7:30 pm Varsity Acres Presbyterian Church
Speaker: Gerry Burger-Martindale
Kashgar Gate photo by Gerry Burger-Martindale
In March 2024, we met Gerry and heard about her adventures in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. This month Gerry will share Part 2 of her surprising adventures on her solo trip with a driver and guide as she explored the Silk Road. Her pictures and stories will take us through Kyrgyzstan to Bishkek and Western China, and to sites such as Kashgar, Tupan and Dunhuan.
This will also be a unique opportunity to learn about the Uighur culture and how they are treated by the Han Chinese.
Please join us for our last event before the summer. No registration required. Members of the public are welcome to attend at a cost of $5, payable at the door.
Activities
Lawn Bowling
It’s never too late to enjoy bowling!
First event May 29, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Wednesdays 10:00 am - 12:00 pm up to September 25, 2024
Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club, 350 42 Ave SW, Calgary, AB
We are starting our new season May 29th at the Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club. Anyone is welcome to come and play, no experience necessary. It’s a fun outdoor summer activity. Our CALL Group meets on Wednesdays @10.00 on a drop-in basis so no regular commitment is necessary. Come out and make new friends and get some exercise in lovely Stanley Park. We’d love to see you there! Check out the Lawn Bowling link.
CALL Summer Programs 2024
Just in case you are planning your summer activities already, it’s a good idea to look over the programs that continue over this summer. Here is a list for you to pick and choose from. Enjoy!
Bridge
Bridge Intermediate Online and in-person cSPACE Marda Loop
Wednesday Morning Bridge Online
Wordfreaks
Tuesday Walks in the City of Calgary
World Events Discussion Group 1
Save the Dates!
Science and Environment Speaker Events
Here is a brief rundown of what to expect in the next few months. Detailed descriptions will be included in these newsletters closer to each event. But for now, save the dates.
- June 4 - Urban Wildlife, presented by Melanie Whelan of the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Society, as described earlier in this newsletter.
- July - No event.
- August - No event.
- September - No event.
- October 1 - Remote sensing of Maya ruins, presented by Dr. Kathryn Reese-Taylor.
- November 5 - Electric Vehicles, presented by Russell Edworthy.
- December 3 - Water Issues in Alberta, speaker to be announced.
- 2025 January 7 - Squirrels in Alberta, presented by Dr. Jessica Haines.
The Spring of 2025 will also have speaker events to be announced.
Invite a Friend to join CALL!
-Sally Shah, Communications Team
How did you hear about CALL? If you’re like most of us, you heard about it from a friend. Why do you continue to be a member? Because you want to be exposed to new ideas, socialize with new people who share your interests, or learn a new skill.
Now CALL has more than 50 programs on offer, plus several Speaker series. There is literally something for everyone. If you have a new idea, you can set up your own Group.
And the best part? CALL’s membership fee is $50, just as it has been since its inception in 2011. CALL wants to continue to offer stimulating programs for this great fee. To do that, we’re asking you to invite a friend or two to join us. New members can join today and their membership will be extended until August 31, 2025.
Invite a friend to join us as a guest for no charge at a CALL Café or to attend a Treks and Travels, or Health and Wellness talk for $5. And remind them that exercise, mental stimulation and socializing all contribute to healthy aging!
May Blog Post
Seven Reasons to Join a Book Club
- Maureen Osis, CALL Communications Team
I asked the question “If reading is a solitary activity, why are book clubs so popular?”
I sought the answer from members of CALL’s Book Club Interest Groups. Some shared their experiences, including the benefits they have enjoyed and why their group is successful.
If you are looking for recommendations for personal summer reading, or for your book club, you will find some helpful links in the Resources, at the end of the Blog Post.
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-Reasons-to-Join-Book-Club) and paste into an email or text message.Any questions or feedback, please contact me: blog@calgarylifelonglearners.ca
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 2024 are:
- June 21
- August 23
Meanwhile, be well, stay well in every sense of the word.