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News from CALL Mid‑April 2021
Treks and Travels – Travel Around the World with CALL
By Gail Kingwell
The CALL Treks and Travels Speaker Events have been very popular ‘armchair travel’ opportunities for CALL members, never more so than during this last year when we couldn’t travel much further than the grocery store in our neighbourhoods. Thanks to the CALL Zoom team, the series facilitators and presenters, these events have transitioned beautifully to Zoom presentations.
On March 17th we travelled vicariously to Oaxaca, Mexico for the Day of the Dead celebrations with Paul Fesko and Owen Tobert. Owen and Paul worked together at The City of Calgary for almost three decades. Over this period they realized they had a common interest in photography and they were able to take some trips over the years centred around photography and photography workshops.
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In 2019 Owen had the idea for a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico to experience the Day of the Dead. It was a cultural event in Mexico and there would be many opportunities for taking pictures. Owen found a tour through National Geographic that suited their interests. The tour was very well organized, and it allowed them to get right up front during the three days of the Day of the Dead festival as well as tour the countryside to see some of the historical archaeological sites that are in the area as well as meet with local artisans. They always take their good camera equipment when they go on these photography tours because half of the fun for them is sorting through the pictures, the editing and telling the story of the trip when they return to Calgary. They spent many hours practicing with the Zoom team to perfect their presentation. Their superb photography skills captured the colour and sense of this special celebration which we all were able to enjoy from home.
Next Treks and Travels: Wednesday, April 21 at 7:30pm
Join Jeff Zambory on a 16-day adventure cruise to Svalbard archipelago and the east coast of Greenland, midway between the northern tip of Norway and the North Pole. For details and to register, go to the Treks and Travels page.
Community Conference: ‘Fake News’ and the Future of Democracy
How often are you seeing or hearing disinformation?
This CALL conference will provide participants with tools to combat the tsunami of distortions and disinformation which threaten democratic institutions.
- May 7: 7 – 9pm: Keynote address: Fact or Faux? On the Crisis of News and Democracy in a Tweet-As-You-Go Era by Dr. Maria Bakardjieva, Professor in the Department of Communication, Media and Film, University of Calgary, a specialist in media and democracy
- May 8: 9:30am – 12pm: An expert panel and Q & A
- May 15:9:30am – 12:15pm: Facilitated discussion groups
Open to CALL members and non-members. $20 registration.
For registration and more information go to the ‘Fake News’ and the Future of Democracy page.
CALL Events in April
Check the CALL website for details of the following events. Registration is required for all these online events. You must be a member to register.
Avoid disappointment: the gerbils in the intertubes need a little time to deliver emails. They recommend registering at least a couple of hours before an event to ensure the registration confirmation email with the event link arrives in your inbox in time.
April 17, 9:30 – 11:00am. Ukefest 2021
We are going ONLINE this year! Our Festival Workshops will be once a month from January to June, 2021. (For this event only, membership is not required.)
April 17 workshop: Mustafa Kamaliddin: Finger picking.
The Fingerstyle Workshop will discuss the meaning of Fingerstyle when it comes to multi-voice music, i.e. melody, bass, and accompaniment.
For more information and to register go to the Ukefest 2021 page.
April 21, 7:30pm Treks and Travels
Svalbard
Presenter: Jeff Zambory
Jeff Zambory participated in a 16 day adventure cruise to Svalbard and the east coast of Greenland in 2016. Svalbard is an archipelago midway between the north tip of Norway and the North Pole. It is home to more polar bears than people.
For more information and to register go to the Treks and Travels page.
April 30, 1:00 – 2.00pm Medieval History – Knights and Needlework
Registration now open! Join Dr Alana Gowdy as she guides us through a fascinating historical era. With a light touch, we will study a time of brutal battles captured in the beauty and importance of a unique piece of needlework.
For more information and to register go to the Medieval History – Knights and Needlework page.
Coming in May
May 4, 7:30 – 9:00pm Science and Environment
Climate Change on the Prairies
Presenter: Dr. David Sauchyn, Director of the PARC – Prairie Adaptation Research Collaborative at the University of Regina and Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies.
For more information and to register go to the Science and Environment page.
May 7, 8, 15 ‘Fake News’ and the Future of Democracy
A Community Conference via Zoom
Friday evening, May 7; Saturday morning, May 8; Saturday morning, May 15. This community conference is open to all, CALL members and non-members. Space is limited so register soon.
ALL are welcome. Come join the conversation!
Cost: $20
For more information and to register, go to the ‘Fake News’ and the Future of Democracy page.
May 15, 9:30 – 11:00am. Ukefest 2021
We are going ONLINE this year! Our Festival Workshops will be once a month from January to June, 2021. (For this event only, membership is not required.)
May 15 workshop: Gary Glewinski and Kyle Swenson: Ensemble playing leading to larger group playing.
For more information and to register go to the Ukefest 2021 page.
May 27, 7:00 – 9:00pm. Climate Change and the 2021 Calgary Election
Panel discussion on the City of Calgary’s role in addressing climate change in light of the coming election, organized by the Eco-Elders node of the Calgary Climate Hub and CALL.
For more information and to register go to the Climate Change and the 2021 Calgary Election page.
Three CALL Interest Groups Focus on Buddhism and Meditation
An increasing interest in “Eastern” methods to balance one’s mental happiness and wellbeing focuses on various forms of meditation whereby the practice of meditation and mindfulness gained particular attention outside its religious origin and context. Two of the following CALL Interest Groups deal with the more practical and non-religious aspect of meditation and mindfulness while the third interest group provides the historic and philosophical background of Buddhism.
Buddha, Brain and Body
Facilitator: Ann Shaw
This interest group is a meditation group using meditation of the breath and single point concentration meditation to enhance Samatha, a Buddhist term meaning tranquility of the mind. The course also employs a number of other forms of meditation such as the body scan from mindfulness meditation, walking meditation, sound meditation, eating meditation, mindfulness of emotions, mindfulness of thought, as well as compassion and loving kindness meditations. The purpose of all these meditations is to enhance awareness of both the body and the mind, in the hope of contributing to health and well‑being.
A group format is used so as to draw on the present moment experience, and the life experiences of participants. Sharing of the present moment experiences serves as a learning opportunity and support for all participants.
The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism are used as a reference point in the acknowledgment of suffering, and towards the cessation of suffering. Qualities of mind such as curiosity, non-judgement, acceptance, and equanimity, are employed to deal with the many challenges that our emotions, thoughts and bodily sensations present. Awareness of the impermanence of experience is a key concept of all these meditative processes.
Understanding of the fight and flight, mammalian, and achievement systems of the brain are used as motivational aides to support meditative efforts.
The group is user-friendly with many repeat attendees as well as new members joining each eight- or ten‑week session.
Buddhism Foundational Texts
Facilitator: Eva Neumaier
Buddhism is based on the teachings of Buddha Gautama who lived in Northern India more than two thousand years ago. By the end of the first millennium the teaching, now a richly developed religion, had spread across all Asian civilizations. In each country it absorbed cultural and social features that account for a wide variety of rituals, practices and teachings. This Fall we will study two books: the Heart of the Buddha's teaching and Call me by My True Names both by Thich Nhat Hanh, an outstanding modern Vietnamese Zen master who argued for bringing Buddha's teaching into the modern world without compromising its essential teachings.
Finding Peace and Joy Within
Facilitator: Barry Ronellenfitch
Many ancient traditions teach there is a source of peace, joy and wisdom within, that is independent of circumstances (e.g., COVID‑19 pandemic). The easiest way to connect to this inner source is through meditation and its sister practice, mindfulness. Over 50 years of scientific research have clearly demonstrated there are significant social and health benefits to these practices.
Through eight weekly sessions, we explore the ideas behind these ancient practices, the modern understandings about how they impact our body and nervous system, and why they work on both our inner and outer world. Simple meditation techniques are provided although participants are welcome to use practices they are familiar with.
Each session includes three periods of meditation of varying lengths, sitting comfortably in chairs, to allow participants the opportunity to experience the benefits for themselves. Each session also includes opportunities to ask questions and to share.
The objective of this program is not understanding or belief, but rather direct experience. Can you recall the laughter of a baby? That is the joy we all once felt, which comes from that inner source. So the experience will be a familiar one and a rediscovery of what you did not know you had lost. The benefits are especially applicable in these times of COVID‑19.
A new online session of Finding Peace and Joy Within is starting May 6. All are welcome.
From Reluctant Membership to Enthusiastic Volunteer
By Maureen Osis
Joining CALL
A few years ago, a friend invited me to join CALL. I declined. I was busy with volunteer commitments. I also misunderstood what CALL had to offer. Fast forward and I get encouragement from another friend to attend a CALL Cafe event. As I met those who were offering various interest groups, I was impressed by their enthusiasm and by the diversity of topics/activities. I joined.
Subsequently, I attended several excellent presentations, learned a lot about meditation, and thoroughly enjoyed the iPhone photography class. CALL membership offers great value for the annual fee.
Becoming a Volunteer
It is obvious that CALL exists for its members and through its members. I thought about volunteering but was still busy with Calgary Reads, and also a Director on the Board of a local charity. I did not want to take on something that I could not do or might not enjoy doing.
Recently I was asked if I would help CALL with social media. This actually put a smile on my face because up to two years ago, I thought that social media was a total waste of time and shunned any interest. Then two things happened. My Board really needed help to increase presence on social media as it is a very effective and affordable way to develop a community of support. Then my grand-daughter challenged me to "learn something new Grandma" and she offered to teach me. We joked that I could become an "Insta‑Gram."
From my career, first as a gerontological nurse and then a Family Therapist working with mid-life and older adults, I knew that many factors influenced healthy aging. Paramount to good cognitive health is learning something new. I promised myself that when I retired, I would take on a new challenge. So, I decided to take my own advice.
Although I am still learning by trial-and-error, I am offering my time and limited talents to CALL. I hope to use social media to help CALL to increase membership and to promote the many activities and special events.
Do you know that you can help CALL with just a few minutes of your time?
If you are on Facebook, you can:
- visit
CALL Facebook on a regular basis - engage with the posts that mention special events: when you like or comment, you are helping that post reach a bigger audience.
- share a post and encourage your friends to join CALL or attend a special event
It took two friends' encouragement for me to join. I am glad that they did.
Maureen has recently joined the CALL Communication Committee to be the Social Media ‘queen’. She has already been very active promoting CALL events, particularly ones like the ‘Fake News’ conference in May which are open to non-members or prospective not-yet-members. And note that on many of the website pages for events, you can click on the Facebook and Instagram icons and share these directly to your accounts. This way we can all help to promote CALL.
The Cauldrons
By Susan Cameron, a member of Our Lives Our Stories Interest Group
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Gloom everywhere And all the while No Savior in sight And all the while How deeply we doubt And all the while |
Have faith, claim the wise men And all the while Keep steadfast, they call out |
Interest Groups to Check Out
New
The Massey Lectures
Finding Peace and Joy Within New session starts May 6.
Ongoing
If you are looking for a group to join, check out the Interest Group page and note which groups are accepting new members.
In the last newsletter, we asked for stories of your Zoom experiences. This is the first.
Zooming Through the Pandemic
By Marje Wing
I remember a series of emails arriving in March 2020 informing me that my planned activities would either be cancelled or postponed indefinitely. My heart sank as my calendar quickly emptied until it was completely blank. I was shaken to realize how much of my social life centred around attending talks and other presentations. As well as CALL interest groups and speaker series, I regularly attended Nature Calgary talks, library programs, Wordfest author readings, University of Calgary speakers, art gallery tours and artist talks, and of course, live theatre and dance performances. I was interested in these presentations, of course, but I was also motivated to attend by the opportunity to socialize. I often joined a friend for dinner before we attended the planned event. At CALL events there was always time to socialize and get to know people before and afterwards.
I had never heard of Zoom until I got wind of this incredible platform through CALL. I attended a Zoom training offered by CALL on March 25. It is truly stunning to think that two weeks after the WHO declared a worldwide pandemic, CALL was training it members in how to use Zoom.
I became an instant afficionado and within a week was arranging Zoom teas with friends across the city and across the country. In the fall, I started Zooming with cousins in three continents which has been one of the highlights of the past year. We celebrated my niece’s birthday in January with a murder mystery party over Zoom with ten participants in six different households and across two provinces. I recently had a reunion over Zoom with colleagues who I worked with in the mid-1970s in Newfoundland.
While both of the groups which I had helped facilitate for CALL had to close down, we got The Walrus interest group meeting on Zoom in April and have met monthly since then. In the summer I thoroughly enjoyed discussions of National Theatre Live performances which were organized by Zina and Brenda for CALL to the Theatre. I was delighted to be able to rejoin the Pasternak’s CALL to the Cinema in September and have enjoyed the discussions hugely.
When an email from one of my favourite organizations, Shakespeare in the Park, arrived telling me that their summer performance would be offered on Zoom, my heart plummeted. “No way am I going to watch my beloved SITP on a computer!” But, I did, and I loved it. Romeo and Juliet was creative, witty, charming, delightful.
Nature Calgary, Calgary Public Library, Nickle Galleries, Chinook Country Historical Association, and most particularly, Wordfest have all risen to the challenge and offered their presentations on Zoom. I am intensely grateful for every session which I have attended over the past year. I miss the face-to-face contact and I crave the restaurant dinners that used to accompany my attendance at many events. However, I have to admit that it is appealing to sit in the comfort of my own living room, enjoying a cup of tea just the way I like it while listening to an author or watching a slide show.
Recently, I have become a Zoom host for CALL and I am excited about the prospect of volunteering for CALL in a different way. CALL is an amazing organization which has risen to the incredible challenges presented by the pandemic. It is truly a group of “lifelong learners” who are eager to be on the leading edge of change.
Your CALL Newsletter
The CALL Newsletter is our way to communicate what is going on in our community. Usually we communicate to members about upcoming events, however, since all CALL gatherings are postponed for an undetermined period of time, we decided to use the newsletters as a way to ‘peek behind the curtain of CALL’, to give some general information about CALL groups and members.
You are invited to send your ideas and suggestions for future issues to newsletter@calgarylifelonglearners.ca. Let us know what your Interest Groups are doing and your strategies for coping with this situation in which the whole world finds itself. We reserve the right to edit for length and clarity; not every submission will necessarily be published.
Meanwhile, be well, stay well in every sense of the word.