News From CALL October 2021

Sketch by Brenda Pfleger, a member of the Sketch Club Interest Group

Cross-Canada Collaboration – CALL and the McGill Lifelong Learners Community

By Ron Foyer

When tourists come to Southern Alberta, they often head for Banff, Lake Louise, the Columbia Icefields and, maybe, the new Calgary Public Library. But there are hidden gems that we locals know that would delight many tourists.

Vive La Différence-Non!, CALL’s discussion group with the McGill Lifelong Learners Community, took time from discussions of more contentious topics to look for these Hidden Gems that tourists visiting Quebec and Alberta would find worthwhile going to see.

During the summer, some members from the McGill group came on a trip to BC and Alberta, spending some time in the Calgary area. While here, they took time to go to two of the Hidden Gems proposed by CALL members: the Reader Rock Garden, which we so often drive by when we are near the Stampede grounds – suggested by CALL member Diana Bloom, and the Cowboy Trail that goes along Highway 22 from Mayerthorpe to Lundbreck Falls at its intersection with Highway 3. The last part south of Longview is as beautiful a drive as you can find anywhere. This was suggested by CALL member Carolyn Kelly.

They also found out about the vagaries of Alberta summers when the weather made them stay away from a trip over the Highwood Pass.

Angie Macleod – MLCC member	Bruce McLeod – MLLC member “It was really appreciated to have some personal intel from local colleagues to guide us to some beautiful ‘off the beaten trail’ spots”

Donations to CALL

Did you know – CALL is a registered charitable organization incorporated under the Societies Act of the Province of Alberta and donations made to CALL are federal tax deductible. We are grateful for a recent anonymous donation from a CALL member and have also received a donation from the Arnie Charbonneau Foundation.

Coming Events

Check the CALL website for details of the following events. Registration is required for all these events. You must be a member to register. Join or renew your membership now and watch for email announcements for programs and events.

All In Person, Indoor CALL programs suspended until further notice. Most Programs will continue on Zoom.

For Zoom events, please register 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.

September Events

Not So Common Law

Monday, September 27 1:00 – 3:00pm on Zoom

The first session of the popular Interest Group Not So Common Law with Jim Conway will be resuming on Zoom, September 27 from 1:00 – 3:00pm. The topic will be Self Defence. In July 2021 Alberta Justice Minister Kaycee Madu posted an open letter to Federal Justice Minister David Lametti asking that the use of pepper spray for self-defence be legalized. “Albertans need to defend themselves” wrote Minister Madu. What then is the law regarding self-defence in Alberta?

To add your name to the email list to receive the Zoom Link for each session, go to the Not So Common Law page.

Equalization 101: What Do You Know and What Do You Need to Know?

Wednesday September 29, 7:00pm, online via Zoom
Presenter: Professor Trevor Tombe

Equalization and federal transfers are always a hot topic, especially in Alberta. Canadians have debated, sometimes fiercely, the pros and cons of these programs since Confederation. But with Albertans facing a referendum on removing the principle of Equalization from the Constitution this October, the importance of understanding the program has never been higher. Where did it come from? Why is it in the Constitution? How does it work? And is it fair to Albertans? In this talk, Professor Trevor Tombe will shed light on these and other important questions to ensure you're well informed before voting in the municipal election this fall.

Trevor Tombe is a Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary and a Research Fellow at The School of Public Policy. His research, which focuses on economic and fiscal integration, internal trade, and fiscal federalism, has been published in top economics journals, such as the American Economic Review, Journal of Monetary Economics, and the Canadian Journal of Economics. He also serves as Graduate Program Director in the Department of Economics, is on the editorial board of the Canadian Journal of Economics and is Co-Director of Finances of the Nation. In addition to his academic research and professional service, he is deeply committed to promoting the public understanding of economics through policy publications and active media engagement.

Register now for Equalization 101: What Do You Know and What Do You Need to Know?

October Events

CALL Connects/ Reconnects

Open to Members and Guests
October 12, 3:00 – 4:00pm, online via Zoom

Have you missed connecting with your CALL friends? Would you like to meet some new folks?
Are you a new (or old!) member who wants to learn more about the variety of events and programs CALL offers?
Do you want tips on navigating our website or registering for various programs?
Do you have a friend who would like to learn more about our organization?
Are you interested in finding out about how you can become more involved through volunteering?

If so, this event is for you!

For more details and to register, go to the CALL Connects/ Reconnects page. If you are attending as a Board Member presenter please be sure to register.

Science and Environment
Wild Roses Are Worth It

Tuesday, October 5, 7:30pm Online Via Zoom
Speaker: Kevin van Tighem

Alberta has never faced such daunting challenges and unavoidable disruption of our own myths. Author and naturalist Kevin van Tighem explores the possibilities in our moment in history, drawing from the provocative essays and ideas assembled in his newest book, Wild Roses Are Worth It. Kevin reflects on the “Alberta Advantage” and how it is and could be reflected in our treatment of nature.

For more details and to register, go to the Science and Environment page.

$$Money Sense Webinar$$
Starting your investment journey

Wednesday, October 13, 1:00 – 2:30pm Online via Zoom

Investing comes with inherent risks, but don’t let fraud be one of them. Join us as we uncover the prominent forms of investment fraud, how to recognize them and ultimately protect yourself and others.
Registration Opens Sept. 23

Calgary Votes 2021

Wednesday, October 13, 7:00pm Online via Zoom

Register now for Calgary Votes 2021, a panel featuring University of Calgary political scientists Jack Lucas and Melanee Thomas.

Jack Lucas is Director of the Canadian Municipal Barometer, and member of the Canadian Municipal Election Study. His research focuses on Canadian municipal democracy, elections, and representation. In his presentation, he will use data from public opinion surveys of Calgarians in 2017, 2018, and 2021 to provide an overview of the factors that predict Calgarians’ vote choices in mayoral and council elections.

Melanee Thomas is Academic Director, EDI Data Collection and Analysis, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the University of Calgary. Her research on the causes and consequences of gender-based political inequality focuses on political attitudes and behavior. In her presentation, she will outline how equity, diversity, and inclusion present themselves in municipal politics and will address topics such as candidate demographics, policy framing, and anticipated effects of more (less) diversity outcomes on the operation of Calgary City Council.

For more information and to register, go to the Speaker Events page.

Sunday Urban Walks

Sunday, October 17, 1:00 – 3:00pm (please arrive 15 min. prior)

CALL is now offering this monthly walking Interest Group while following COVID-19 relaunch protocols with some additional measures for this activity. Please read the Protocols first.

Using the source book Calgary’s Best Hikes and Walks by Lori Beattie, and the urban knowledge in the group, participants will experience walks of interest and explore the cultural history and geography of the urban areas that we walk in.

A limit of 8 people including the leader will be preregistered for each walk. For more information and to register, go to the Sunday Urban Walks page.

The CALL AGM

Monday, October 18, 10:00am by Zoom.

More information and documents will be available soon.

Treks and Travels
India - Mumbai to Kochi via Karnataka and Kerala States

Wednesday, October 20, 7:30pm Online via Zoom
Presenter: Andrew Hart

Since retiring in 2016, Andrew has made a number of trips to India. This presentation will focus on the Western Ghats, a mountain range, and its foothills, that runs parallel to the west coast of India southwards from around Mumbai.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the eight hot spots of bio diversity in the world. It is predominantly rural and contains a large proportion of the country's flora and fauna, as well as several historically significant sites.

The presentation will include descriptions of several interactions with local people as well as some of the history and natural history highlights including Nagarhole National Park.

For more information and to register, go to the Treks and Travels page.

Interest Group and Study Program Updates

New and ongoing Interest Groups and Study Programs are being updated all the time, so check the Interest Groups and Study Programs listings and follow your passions. Many groups are accepting new members. You must be a CALL member to join a group.

Men's Sheds

Men's Sheds is accepting new members. To register and for more information, go to the Men's Sheds page.

Indigenous Awareness

At its recent meeting the Board discussed the need to develop a Land Acknowledgement Statement which could be used at CALL events. The Board agreed it would be important for CALL to develop and use a land acknowledgement statement specific to our mission and one that has the endorsement of the organization. A subgroup including Leslie Dort (incoming president), Adrienne Kertzer (incoming Special Programming Chair) and Barbara Decker Pierce (Program Chair) will work to develop a statement for Board endorsement. As well, the group will make recommendations as to how best to use the statement once it has been endorsed.

Volunteering for CALL

This is a series of articles in which CALL members respond to questions posed by Maureen Osis about the benefits of volunteering with CALL. Maureen, a member of the CALL Communications group, posts on CALL’s social media accounts:
Facebook
Twitter

Personal Stories from CALL Volunteers

Among the many volunteers who give their time, talents and energy to CALL, two were interviewed to talk about their experiences. Our thanks to Mary Lou Kerr and Adrienne Kertzer for sharing what motivated them to join CALL and how they have benefitted.

Mary Lou Kerr shared what motivated her to volunteer for CALL.

I’ve been a CALL member since its inception. I quickly realized this was a learning organization that I wished to see flourish, grow and ‘be there’ for me as I move through this interesting stage of life. As well, I want CALL to continue to provide a range of learning opportunities for those retired folk coming behind me. That meant I needed to volunteer in ways that added value to CALL and gave additional meaning to my life. Gentle persuasion from CALL volunteer Pat Hogan also influenced my decision. Through volunteering with CALL I’ve:

• extended my friendship base
• enriched my life through meeting interesting people with different backgrounds, work experience, education and life experiences
• been able to continue using the skills I have developed over the decades as well as learning new skills through working collaboratively with others
• kept my brain active through problem solving, actively using my short and long term memory, maintaining my social skills and by stepping outside my comfort level
• engaged in meaningful volunteer work which allows me to focus on others while minimizing thinking about my own aches and pains or worrying about events that may never happen.

Adrienne Kertzer shared her reasons for joining CALL and her experiences as Coordinator, Current Issues.

I joined CALL in 2019 because I was interested in the Reading Nonfiction group. I have always read a wide range of books, but I thought that being a part of Reading Nonfiction would introduce me to books that I might not have read otherwise. And that has been the case. Reading Nonfiction has led me to read books that I otherwise might not have chosen on my own.

In May 2020, CALL was looking for a volunteer to take on the Coordinator, Current Issues position. For 18 months prior to the COVID lockdown I had been a volunteer at the new Central Library. I volunteered in different areas, but I especially enjoyed my role as a tour guide. As I often told the people who took my tours, leading tours felt like "teaching without any papers to grade." But by May 2020 the library had been shut down for two months and I really missed the intellectual stimulation and social interaction that I derived from giving tours. When CALL said it was looking for a volunteer, I thought what a perfect opportunity. It's often said that CALL's adaptation to providing virtual programs has been an important connection for members who are socially isolated. But I think we may minimize how that pretty well applies to all of us and I'm well aware that my decision to volunteer is inseparable from the conditions of the lockdown.

I enjoy volunteering for many reasons, not just because I enjoy helping others take advantage of what CALL has to offer and expand what it has to offer, but also because meeting other CALL members facilitates my own lifelong learning. I've always been self-motivated but time and again, I recognize how my encounters with others prompt me to learn something new. A CALL member will mention the title of a book and may never know that she's prompted me to read it too.

I'm also someone who is quick to learn something when I absolutely need to learn it. My family regards me as being less than comfortable with technology. Because I took on a volunteer role during COVID, I have found myself giving people advice on the fine points of Zoom. I would never have predicted that my passion for learning would have led me in this direction. But that's one of the surprising benefits of volunteering. It certainly helps to enjoy mastering something new, but it also helps to know how to find people who can answer your questions. And with its close to 1000 members, CALL is a great resource for that. I sense that some people are reluctant to volunteer for CALL because they think of themselves as not being computer-savvy. But I always think, if I could learn Zoom, anyone can.

Why CALL needs you

CALL is an organization that operates entirely through the talents and time of its volunteers. Without volunteers, CALL will not thrive, and in fact, would not survive. Your talents/skills, experience/wisdom and time are the most valuable gift you can offer CALL. A majority of volunteers acknowledge that they do so in order to use their skills and experiences and to engage in meaningful activities.

As people enter into retirement or transition in their lifecycle, many seek new options to engage in their communities and to maintain, grow or develop new skills. Volunteering is increasingly espoused as a retirement planning option, for it provides people with opportunities to stay active, learn, share and leave a legacy for future generations. (Transitions, Milestones, and Legacies. Volunteering and Retirement Planning.)

Why you need CALL

CALL has many types of volunteer activities. What these are likely to have in common is that they offer a great way to pursue life-long learning! Through volunteering for CALL, you may experience many benefits.

Many studies have shown the health benefits of volunteering such as reduced stress-related illnesses, an enhanced sense of self-worth, and the prevention of social isolation. Volunteering can encourage feelings of individual usefulness, self-worth and social inclusion. Some experts have concluded that the health benefits of social relationships may be as important as avoiding health risks such as smoking, physical inactivity and high blood pressure.(Volunteer Canada. Volunteer Connections: New Strategies for Involving Older Adults)

Interested in volunteering for CALL?

If you are wondering how you might volunteer for CALL…

• Contact the Volunteer Committee to explore possibilities: volunteer@calgarylifelonglearners.ca
• Look at the recent volunteer requests on the CALL website
• Contact the Co-ordinators of the Interest Areas to see if there are any possibilities in your area of interest
• Contact a CALL committee if there is an aspect that interests you

Remember to Renew Your CALL Membership

CALL memberships renewed and new memberships are valid until August 31, 2022. Membership is required for participation in all Interest Groups and Study Programs, and for participation in events on Zoom. You can renew online or by mail. You can check your membership status at any time by logging in at the Login Icon and going to View Profile.

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 newsletter@calgarylifelonglearners.ca. We reserve the right to edit submissions and to determine when submissions will be published.

CALL Newsletter dates for posting:

• September 10; 24
• October 15; 29
• November 12; 26
• December 17; 30 (NOTE: Dec 30 is Thursday)

Meanwhile, be well, stay well in every sense of the word.