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News from CALL Mid‑March 2021
Photo by Della Ho, member of the Digital Photography Interest Group
Registration Now Open for a New Interest Group: The Massey Lectures
By Adrienne Kertzer
In 1961 H.G. Walker, the general manager of the English CBC network, announced that each year the CBC would invite a noted scholar to present a series of half-hour radio broadcasts. Entitled “The Massey Lectures,” the series has been presented annually with a few exceptions. Although international in scope, the list of lecturers includes many Canadian authors, scientists, and academics such as John Kenneth Galbraith, Michael Ignatieff, Thomas King, Stephen Lewis, and Margaret Atwood to name but a few. The lectures are available through the CBC website, as well as print and E-book format from both the Calgary Public Library and the Canadian publisher, House of Anansi Press.
Whether you are already a regular listener to the Massey Lectures or want to assess CBC Radio's claim that these lectures feature "some of the greatest minds of our times, exploring the ideas that make us who we are and asking the questions that make us better human beings," you will want to attend the first meeting 10 a.m., March 26th of CALL's interest group The Massey Lectures. For more information and to register, go to The Massey Lectures.
CALL Events in March
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.
March 17, 7:30pm Treks and Travels
Oaxaca Mexico: The Day of the Dead
Presenters: Owen Tobert and Paul Fesko
"To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die." The Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos in Spanish) is celebrated throughout Mexico. It is a multi-day holiday where family remember friends and family members who have died.
For more information and to register go to the Treks and Travels page.
March 20, 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.)
March 20 workshop: Barry Luft: Ukulele Players as Emerging Musicians
This workshop is for song accompanists. It will cover a host of subjects and musical concepts pointing the way for the uke player to develop a high standard of musicianship. What will not be covered are advanced chords, strums, or lead playing.
Pre-requisite: An introductory course and ability to play in the Key of C.
For more information and to register go to the Ukefest 2021 page.
March 22, 1:00 – 3:00pm Not So Common Law
Can the Law Stop Internet Harassment? Canadian law is still grappling with how to deal with Internet harassment and other online-based wrongdoing. Cyber-defamation and cyberharassment can attain widespread scope in a viral instant. Some recent Canadian cases have created new causes of action and new remedies in order to meet this challenge.
Update on the Toronto Van Attack case – following up January’s session: “When should mental disorder, like Autistic Spectrum Disorder, be a defence to criminal acts?”
For more information and to register go to the Not So Common Law page.
Interest Groups to Check Out
New
The Massey Lectures
Geocaching 101
Ongoing
If you are looking for a group to join, check out the Interest Group page and note which groups are accepting new members.
Coming in April
April 6, 7:30 – 9:00pm Science and Environment
Alberta's Energy Transition
Presenter: Dr. Blake Shaffer
In a world increasingly focussed on climate change, where does that leave Alberta’s oil and gas industry? Can we continue the ways of the past, or how will Alberta need to adapt to changing energy demands? What changes can we expect, and what are we seeing already, in Alberta’s electricity system? And how should Alberta best position itself for the future?
These are some of the questions Prof. Blake Shaffer will discuss using the latest international energy modelling and recent policy developments. Come for a lively discussion!
For more information and to register go to the Science and Environment page.
April 16, 1:00 – 3:00pm Let Us Now Praise Ordinary People
Presenter: Doug Coats
Almost everyone in Canada has an immigration story in their family’s past. This is the story of my great-grandparents and grandparents, leaving England to start new lives in Manitoba in the 1880’s and then Alberta before it became a province. Join them for the sea voyage, the railway trip on a colonist car, and the trials and tribulations of homesteading – twice – before settling in Calgary in 1917.
For more information and to register go to Let Us Now Praise Ordinary People.
April 17, 9:30 – 11:00am. Ukefest 2021
Finger picking.
Presenter: Mustafa Kamaliddin
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.
Registration opens March 18. For more information and to register go to the Treks and Travels page.
Learning About Islam
By Edna Einsiedel
Understanding Islam, one of the world’s major religions, is a focus for one of CALL’s popular interest groups which has continued to meet online. There was so much interest in the initial group that the presenter, Dr. Joud Shafiq, agreed to offer a second group, each one comprising 10 sessions offered every two weeks. The groups have been facilitated and hosted by CALL member Brenda Falle.
Topics such as understanding the Islamic world view, the historical development of Islam, the foundations of Islamic belief, and Islamic achievements are addressed and discussed in the group. The discussions have also featured relevant topics such as Intercultural Communication in the context of understanding Islamic cultures.
Linda Flanagan, one of the group participants (and tech support volunteer), had this to say about the discussion group experience:
“For those of us whose background is Christian, it’s been interesting to see the many connections we have with another Abrahamic faith tradition. There is more that unites than divides us.
"Joud is a wonderful teacher. She structures our learning so that each session builds on the previous one, deepening our understanding each time. We have watched short videos, discussed ideas in breakout rooms and had many opportunities to ask questions and interact with the content. Joud addresses our questions with such respect and thoughtful consideration – and she has a great sense of humour which makes our sessions fun!
"If CALL is lucky enough to have Joud repeat this program, I highly recommend that more members take advantage of this amazing opportunity to expand their own worldviews!”
There are currently two discussion groups with a total of 75 members. The first one began Jan. 7 this year and meets the first and third Thursdays each month, ending on May 20th. The second group started Feb. 11 and meets on the second and fourth Thursdays, ending on June 25. The Interest Group began in March 2020 with 32 members meeting in person. It was started by Brenda Falle who already had a keen interest in various religions, having participated in CALL groups on Judaism, Hinduism, Early Christianity and Buddhism. With the CALL Web team and Zoom Help, it has been expanded in 2021 as a Special Event.
Joud Shafiq earned a Master’s degree in the Islamic Studies program at Qatar University. She also has a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Alberta. She was teaching a Continuing Education course on Islam at the University of Calgary when she was recommended by a CALL member and student in the course to Brenda Falle and Dale Rudd who is CALL’s coordinator for History, Religion and Philosophy.
CALL Board Corner
Strategic Planning for CALL
Every two years Board members meet to discuss strategic direction for CALL. This year’s planning session will take place on March 17 – green beer provided by participants sitting at home and meeting over Zoom. Realizing that a five-hour planning session over Zoom is complicated and very different from meeting in person, the organizing group has done a lot of pre-planning by selecting themes, dividing people into groups, requesting some ‘homework’ from the groups and planning the time spent together to be productive.
The themes to be discussed are: Volunteers (are they sufficient and engaged); Resumption of in-person meetings (when & how); Growth (beyond Calgary); Programming (structure, future). Each of these topics of course has been expanded to include relevant questions. Each group submitted discussion guidelines on their topic which will be addressed during the planning session. Organizers will collate the information and update the CALL Strategic Plan.
Do you have ideas and suggestions that you would like included future planning discussions? Your suggestions and ideas are always welcomed. Send questions and suggestions to the Board executive (executive@calgarylifelonglearners.ca).
Board members are elected each year at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). To see the most recent AGM minutes go to Resources.
If you are interested in taking an active part in decisions that affect CALL, the Governance Committee will be looking for volunteers to serve on the Board. Keep your eyes open for notices.
Current Board members are:
President: Lorraine Smith
Vice President: Leslie Dort
Treasurer: Cathy Martin
Secretary: Mary Vernon
Communications: Gail Kingwell
Information and Technology: Linda Flanagan
Governance: Barbara Murray
Membership: Meryl Arnott
Volunteer: Melody Lane
Programs: Barbara Decker-Pierce
Operations: Carrol Jaques
Fund Development: Diana Bloom
Special Programming: Mary Lou Kerr
CALL ZoomHelp Team
By Barbara Decker Pierce, Chair, CALL Program Committee and Carrol Jaques, Chair, CALL Operations Committee
We are pleased that so many of our volunteers have come forward to help maintain CALL programming during the COVID pandemic. While many other lifelong learning groups have suspended operations or seriously reduced their offerings, CALL has been able to keep most of its popular programs functioning (even thriving) despite the challenges. Central to our efforts has been the contribution of the CALL ZoomHelp team. BRAVO! Most team members initially signed up to provide A/V support … to set up computers and pull-down screens … not to navigate the intricacies of online ZOOM meetings and events. We could not have offered the variety of speakers we presented this winter without the team’s assistance and willingness to pitch in. Each speaker event requires careful planning and often lengthy rehearsal time before you experienced the final result. We are truly thankful that CALL has such dedicated volunteers and pleased we have been able to expand our founding group with new volunteers. A sincere thank-you goes out to:
| Founding ZoomHelp Team Richard Farrand Wayne (Rocky) Marshall Wayne Murphy Lilly Wong |
New Volunteers Ruth Sturby Mauel John Mauel Marje Wing Peter Kehler Michael Robert Taylor Bette Eggerston |
‘Fake News’ and the Future of Democracy
A Community Conference via Zoom
Friday evening, May 7; Saturday morning, May 8; Saturday morning, May 15.
Advances in technology have enabled citizens to become better informed than ever before; however, they have also made it increasingly difficult to distinguish fact from fiction: ‘Fake news’ is becoming a growth industry. This conference will explore the ‘fake news’ phenomenon with a view to assessing its possible impacts on democratic institutions, and to providing participants with tools to combat the tsunami of distortions coming our way.
ALL are welcome. Come join the conversation!
Cost: $20
This community conference is open to all, CALL members and non-members. Space is limited so register soon.
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.