FALL 2021 Course Book Program of Virtual and In-Person Classes* *Subject to current CDC and PA State Dept. of Health guidelines In-person classes meet indoors at TOALC unless otherwise indicated. Monday Sept 13 – Friday Nov 19, 2021 Kickoff Meeting Sunday Sept 12 2 – 4 pm at TOALC Exercise your mind with life-enriching experiences TOALC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit The mission of TOALC is to provide a broad variety of educational opportunities for older adult enrollees to explore ideas, expand knowledge, participate in intellectual discussion, enjoy social interaction and attend cultural events. (TOALC Bylaws, Article II) TOALC Fall 2021 Location and hours * The TOALC office and classrooms are at 55 Smith St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301. * The office is open from 9:30 – 11:30 weekdays. Our phone is 570-422-7810. Email: info@theoalc.org. * Classes listed as “in person” are held indoors at TOALC unless otherwise indicated. Registration * You’ll find the registration form on page 11. Mail it in to our address on the form OR * Register online at our website Courses page at https://www.theoalc.org/catalog. * Please list the courses you want using the two-letter code that precedes the course title. * Register by September 8 so we can add you to class rosters and get you any needed class information. Membership * We’re back to $45.00 for unlimited fall classes. See “Why Is Our Membership Fee Increasing?”, p. 10. * Mail payment with the registration form OR pay online at our website Membership page at https://www.theoalc.org/membership . The page accepts credit cards or a promise to mail in a check. * Those who led a class or did volunteer work for TOALC this summer get a free membership. Health and Safety – See also the section entitled “Covid-19 And The Fall Semester” on page 10. * TOALC will follow CDC and PA State Dept. of Health guidelines. They may change during the fall semester. As of this writing, those not fully vaccinated should wear masks. But everyone might consider wearing masks if they find themselves in close quarters for an extended period. We will not ask for proof of vaccination. * Kindly park in the lower lot when at the church. Then members with mobility challenges can park on the upper driveway and avoid the stairs. * No parking in/near the circle in front of the church. You may block a driver’s view of other drivers. * Let us know if another member is injured, ill, etc. so we can reach out to members and their families. Class Delivery Options * Classes are held in person (both indoor and outdoor), remotely on Zoom, and by email. If you cannot attend an in-person class, access to the class via Zoom may be possible. Inquire at TOALC office. * Zoom meeting invitations will be emailed two weeks ahead. Do not post or share the links with anyone. * See Video Conferencing FAQ Sheet on the TOALC website at https://www.theoalc.org/catalog . Class Attendance * TOALC will hold classes on Columbus Day (Oct. 11) and Veterans Day (Nov. 11). * If dropping a class, tell the class leader or the TOALC office. Someone may be waiting for an open seat. * The class leader will notify you directly if a class is cancelled. * Please arrive at class on time. Sign into Zoom meetings 10 minutes early to handle any technical snags. * Do not record Zoom meetings. We will not record any Zoom meeting without prior notice. * Books and any other required materials are not available from TOALC unless indicated in course listing. Please consider making a donation. TOALC is a 501(c)(3) and all contributions are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged. Make donations by mail (see our address above) or at https://www.theoalc.org/donate . Computer loans and registration scholarships are available. Contact TOALC for details. The Registration Form is on page 11. CLASSES PRIMARILY BY EMAIL IP. Inaugural Poets of the United States of America Sept 13 to Oct 18 (6 weekly emails with 30 to 60 minute ZOOM discussion sessions as needed). Examine poetry recited at US Presidential Inauguration Day Ceremonies. Take a look at the creative personalities of poets Robert Frost, Maya Angelou, Miller Williams, Elizabeth Alexander, Richard Blanco and Amanda Gorman. Read articles, listen to performances, and watch documentaries. Additional works of these poets to the arts will be offered and critiqued. Registrations not accepted after start of the class. Computer required for emails, films, and possible Zoom sessions. Leader: Rosalyn Blue Sky Henley NV. Nature Videos Oct 4 – 18 (3 weekly emails). With cold weather on the way you can still take a nature break without leaving home! Research has shown that even just viewing scenes of nature provides health benefits. Relax and enjoy the scenery as daily videos take you to the seven continents and beyond. Leader: Melodie Schwarz-Higgins WS. Women's Suffrage in America; A Transformative Experience Sept 13 – Nov 1 (8 weekly emails). The film series by email will tell the dramatic story of the hard-fought American campaign for women’s right to vote. It was the largest expansion of voting rights in US history. An interactive program begins the journey, offering an experience to explore the final decade (1910-1920) of the movement through powerful images brought to life. We will examine the contributions of Black Suffragists, such as iconic leaders Ida B. Wells, Dorothy Height, and Fannie Lou Hammer. The work of Native American women activists, including Zitkala-Sa, will be discussed. Scholars Brenda J. Child, Cathleen D. Cahill and Sally Roesch Wagner share their research and viewpoints. Discover Asian, Pacific Islander, and Latin community influences as well. Registrations not accepted after start of the class. Computer required for emails and films. Leader: Rosalyn Blue Sky Henley CLASSES MEETING IN PERSON OR BY ZOOM VIDEO CONFERENCE MONDAY BT. Beginning Tai Chi Chaun Mon. 9:00 to 10:30 – Sept 27 to Nov 1 in person. Class meets at Bryant Park, 717 Bryant St., Stroudsburg. Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese exercise that promotes calmness of mind, physical grace, and overall good health. Described as meditation in motion, Tai Chi movements are gentle. Continued practice develops strength, balance, and promises an alert but peaceful mind. Newcomers welcome. Leader: Jim Vagliardo Max: 20 MB. Musical Biographies Film Series Mon. 9:30 to 12:00 – Sept 13 to Nov 15 in person. To celebrate belatedly the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote, the Film Appreciation class is presenting a film series of famous female singers, whose songs and music have entertained us over the decades. Relive the lives of some of these great songstresses. A review of their lives will be presented. Leader: Bob Brunet Max: 30 VA. Verdi and the Resorgimento Mon. 9:30 to 11:30 – Oct 11 to Nov 1 in person. A look at a handful of early Verdi operas and their connection to Italy's struggle for reunification. Leader: Suzanne Pyrch Max: 15 TC. The Craft of Voice in Fiction and Memoir Mon. 10:00 to 12:00 – Sept 13 to Oct 4 on Zoom. This class is a further discussion of craft. Focusing now in Voice, as it applies to the narrator and the telling of the story. In-class exercises as well as homework assignments will help to "practice" this key craft element. Leader: Deborah Emin Max: 8 TA. The Art of Aging. What the Poets Have to Say Mon. 10:00 to 12:00 – Sept 13 to Oct 4 in person at ESP Church. In pavilion, weather permitting. Diverse points of view through poetry and song. Discussion. Packets provided. Leader: Kathy Grimaldi FF. Flannery for the Common Person Mon. 10:00 to 12:00 – Nov 8 to 15 in person. An exploration of the oeuvre of the Southern woman Gothic writer Flannery O’Connor. Leader: Mike Wetmore SD. Scagliola Demo with Jim Gloria Mon. 10:30 to 12:30 – Oct 18 on Zoom. Jim was the subject of a wonderful virtual studio visit last May. He returns to show us how he makes scagliola from start to finish. Scagliola is imitation marble or other stone, made of plaster mixed with glue and dyes which is then painted or polished. Facilitator: Greg Nulle CM. Chair Movement Mon. 12:00 to 1:00 – Sept 13 to Nov 15 on Zoom. No class Oct 11 or Nov 8. An interval class that will include a warm up, cardiovascular exercise, strength training (light weights, bands, and body weight), stretching, yoga, and meditation all done in a chair. Leader: Hope Fisher RT. Reviving the Promise of America Mon. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 13 to Nov 15 in person. This session we will read and discuss George Packer's new book, Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal, which was reviewed in the NYT Book Review of June 20th. Packer, a traditional liberal, writes regularly for The Atlantic. His book deals with the ideological fissures in America, which he divides into: Free America, Real America, Smart America, and Just America. He examines how each, in their own way, have deviated from the traditions of the Enlightenment, and failed to solve the most urgent, ongoing, and debilitating failure in America: the problem of inequality. Packer’s book available for purchase at ~ $17 the first day of class. Leader: Merlyn Clarke PA. Pastels and Watercolors Mon. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 20, Oct 4 to Nov 8 in person. An introduction to pastels and watercolors. Some materials provided. Leader: Pat Wayne Max: 10 BL. Beginning-Level Quilting - Crest Mon. 2:00 to 4:00 – Sept 13 to Nov 15 in person. Must have a sewing machine and some prior sewing experience. Crest is a modern pattern that makes 2 different blocks, using 4 fabrics in 2 color families. There are no curves or triangles in this pattern. Instructor will contact all who register before classes begin. Participants will purchase own supplies. Fully vaccinated or mask required. Leader: Susan Houcek Max: 8 GY. Gentle Yoga Mon. 2:45 to 3:45 – Sept 13 to Nov 15 on Zoom. No class Oct 11 or Nov 8. Gentle Yoga is a class structured around rejuvenating and creating fluid movement. A class at a slower pace, focused on stretching and strengthening all areas of the body, while releasing stress and tension in joints and muscles, balancing flexibility and mobility and bringing stillness to our minds. Leader: Hope Fisher TUESDAY PC. Photography Club Tues. 9:00 to 11:00 – Sept 14 to Nov 16 in person. Provides a group-led opportunity for individuals to improve photography skills and artistry. Members should understand concepts of composition, shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Or, take TOALC class "IT. Intro to Digital Photography" prior to, or when joining this club. Note: The group will meet for photography outings. Leader: Dave Trainer CW. Creative Writing to Publish Tues. 9:30 to 11:30 – Sept 14 to Nov 16 in person. We’ll have 10 minutes of writing in response to the class leader’s prompt, then a lesson open to discussion. After that, each participant will read their response to the homework prompt. Leader: Harold Pascal Max: 16 LT. Letters to Homefront Magazine Tues. 9:30 to 11:30 – Oct 19 in person. Marc Blau, author of Letters to Homefront Magazine, speaks on the 4,000-plus letters that soldiers sent to “Homefront Magazine” and that he has excerpted in his book. The letters show all sides of World War II from the training camps to the battlefields. The talk will also serve as an introduction to the Slate Belt Heritage Center we’ll be visiting Oct 8. Leader: Marc Blau TB. The Blaus and the Holocaust Tues. 9:30 to 11:30 – Nov 9 in person. Marc Blau presents the story of how his parents Walter and Gertrude Blau escaped the Holocaust, traveled to America, and built a new life in Bangor. He also describes the life of the Jewish community of 40 families, who, along with immigrants from all over Europe, were drawn to the Slate Belt. Leader: Marc Blau CS. Choral Singing Tues. 1:00 to 2:30 – Sept 14 to Nov 16 in person. Find your best singing voice and apply it to blend and use teamwork to create a chorus. Learn how breathing, posture, and concentration all work together to create beautiful sounds. Leaders: E. Rosenthal & D Learn Min: 15 IB. Intermediate Bridge Tues. Sept 14 to Oct 19 – 1:00 to 2:30 on Zoom. Continuing class for those who have completed the Beginner Bridge class or with permission of the instructor. Students should be familiar with the basics of bridge as outlined in Audrey Grant’s Bridge Basics pts 1 & 2. We’ll spend the first half hour discussing topics from the books (thru pt. 3), then play on BBO (Bridge Base Online) with a follow-up recap of hands by the instructor, also followed by research (by students) of issues that may arise in an unplanned scenario. Instructor: Leslie Sloan Min: 6 AR. Afterlife, Reincarnation, Rest with God, Nothingness? Tues. 1:30 to 2:30 – Sept 14 to Nov 16 in person. As seniors we are all getting closer to that “great mystery” … ignore it or prepare for it? During the weeks that follow we will explore the possibilities of what’s coming, weigh the compelling circumstantial evidence for these possibilities, look into some of the ancient wisdom of traditions that survived the challenges of time, and decide for ourselves, individually, which path(s) we feel comfortable following and what preparations, if any, we need to pursue. This will be a safe environment for discussion and the sharing of beliefs where everyone’s opinions will be respected. We will be here to share and learn from each other. It is my hope that we will all leave this class with some clarity about where we are going “next.” Leader: Mel Rosenthal IL. Italian Language Tues. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 21 to Nov 2 in person. Learn to speak Italian. Text: Italian in 10 Minutes a Day by Kristine Kershl, $24.51 on Amazon. Leader: T. Schembari Max: 10 YF. Yoga for Seniors Tues. 2:30 to 3:30 – Sept 14 to Nov 16 in person. Befriend your body. Traditional yoga postures and breathwork suitable for active seniors. Must be able to get up from and down to the floor without assistance. Flexibility, health improvement, and stress reduction. BYO yoga mat ($5-15). One-time $5 charge/student to cover the required teacher’s insurance. Pay cash or check directly to Leader: M. Rosenthal Max: 16 WE. What Every Senior Needs to Know Tues. 2:40 to 3:30 – Sept 14 to Nov 16 in person. Estate Planning and Elder Care go hand-in-hand. Both preserve and protect your assets and income. Both are proactive tasks requiring planning what happens to a client’s property during life and after death. Estate planning preserves assets for loved ones, friends, charitable institutions, etc. Each class is a 50 minute class with 10 minutes extra "stay around" discussion time. Recommended books available on Amazon: 1. Estate Planning Basics - 10th Edition: What you need to know about wills, trusts & avoiding probate by Denis Clifford from Nolo.com, 2020. (About $15, 230 pages.) 2. Estate Planning for Dummies: Create a will that puts your estate in order by N. Brian Caverly, Esq. and Jordan Simon, 2003. (About $20, 350 Pages). Best choice? Get both. Leader: Richard Weintraub RA. Recreational Archery Tues. 3:30 to 4:30 – Aug 31, Sept 7, 14, 21 in person at Creekview Park. Because the class starts before the TOALC semester, please register directly with SROSRC, 15 Day St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301, 570-426-1512. Archery is a precise and strengthening skill! At Creekview Park, we will offer four sessions to learn and practice target archery. Bows and arrows will be supplied; personal equipment not permitted for safety. At $5 per class (special TOALC pricing), all 4 sessions would be $20 per person. As it was last year, if a session is rained out we tack on another Tuesday to the end. Leader: Trudyann Buckley, SROSRC Max: 12 WEDNESDAY FR. From Rocks to Rockets; Pivotal Moments in Science Wed. 9:00 to 10:00 – Sept 15 to Nov 17 on Zoom. Join a guided discussion of how surprising inventions and discoveries since prehistoric times have forever changed human life and the planet. Leader: Ken LeSure Max: 16 CT. Continuing Tai Chi Chaun Wed. 9:00 to 10:30 – Sept 22 – Oct 27 in person at Bryant Park, 717 Bryant St., Stroudsburg, PA. This course is RESERVED for those students who have successfully completed three previous TOALC Tai Chi courses: Fall ’20, Winter ’21 and Summer ’21. Students will continue to learn the nearly 50 movements of Tai Chi Part 2. Leader: Jim Vagliardo Max: 20 MM. Magic Moments Wed. 10:00 to 12:00 – Sept 15 to Nov 17 in person at Loder Center. Create a program of skits, songs and jokes; then perform at local senior residences and care centers. Leaders: A. Hoffman, E. Sadler Max: 10 IT. Intro to Digital Photography Wed. 11:00 to 1:00 – Sept 15 to Nov 17 in person. Intro to digital camera features, composition methods, and basic computer editing techniques. Leader: Eric Goins Max: 12 JT. Jim Thorpe Tour by Trolley Wed. 12:00 to 6:00 – Oct 20 in person at Penn’s Peak. Rain Date: Oct 21. Join us for optional lunch at noon. Board the trolley at 1 pm. Visit the Old Jail. View the marvelous Tiffany stained glass windows of the St. Mark’s / St. John’s Episcopal Church or wander the town. See birds of prey at the Carbon County Environmental Education Center. Stop at Mauch Chunk Lake and walk on the rail trail at Lehigh Gorge State Park. The trolley returns to Penn’s Peak by 6 pm. Trolley: $35 members, $45 guests. Plus lunch, $6-11 for Jail and Lake. Pay with mail-in registration or send check to TOALC office. No refunds after 9/20. Facilitator: G. Nulle Max: 30 MO. Music of the Romantic Period Wed. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 15 to Nov 17 in person. This course will highlight some of the most famous musicians of the Romantic period. Instrumental, piano, and operatic music will be covered. Composers will include Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Verdi, Wagner, Robert and Clara Schumann, Brahms and many more. Leader: Betsy Buzzelli-Clarke WI. World Issues (“Great Decisions”) Wed. 1:30 to 3:00 – Sept 15 to Oct 13 in person. A group discussion based on the remaining three chapters of Great Decisions 2021. The first & last sessions will be a review of major current global events. Leader: Leslie Berger CE. Current Events Wed. 1:30 to 3:00 – Oct 27 to Nov 17 in person. Group discussion on global, national, state, & local news during the past week. This round table discussion is an exercise in civil discourse...CIVILITY IS KEY!! Leader: Leslie Berger Max:15 FA. Famous Authors Film Series Wed. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 15 to Oct 6 in person. Films with insight into the lives of authors J.M. Barrie, T.S. Eliot, Thomas Wolfe, and Pat Conroy, followed by brief discussion. Leader: Valerie Martin Max: 20 THURSDAY TP. The Psyche and the Cosmos Thurs. 9:00 to 10:00 – Sept 16 to Nov 18 in person and on Zoom. Join a Socratic dialog on human nature and its place in the universe as we know it. Topics include perception, consciousness, artificial intelligence, observation, measurement, quantum mechanics... Leader: Ken LeSure Max: 16 BC. Book Club Thurs. 10:00 to 12:00 – Sept 16 to Oct 14 on Zoom. Discuss Etna - A Murder Out of Time by M. Mancuso and E. Kerchner, available on Amazon. Author Josh Swiller joins the last class to discuss his dark but funny thriller Bright Shining World. Buy it on the author's web site. Leader: K. Cleveland SE. Seven Essential Elements for Creating a Good Painting Thurs. 10:00 to 12:00 – Oct 14 to Nov 18 in person. Explore light, color, value, composition, drawing, imagination, and storytelling in painting; in a class for people with some experience. Practice value sketching and thumbnails for composition using your photographs. Use the seven essentials to decide what you want to say. Then we'll set up compositions on canvas and begin painting, with help and samples provided by the instructor. There is more than one way to begin a painting. The instructor paints in oil, gouache, and some pastel. A list of supplies she uses will be provided. She will work with those choosing other media. Instruction offered in person indoors (with some outdoor plein air painting) and by email. Critique provided on request. Leader: Tricia Lowery Lippert Min: 10 RC. Recycled Christmas Ornaments Thurs. 11:30 to 12:30 – Nov 4 to Nov 18 in person. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We’ll be creating homemade ornaments for your Christmas tree out of the cardboard tubes found inside rolls of paper towels and toilet paper. PLEASE START SAVING UP YOUR EMPTY ROLLS AND BRING A PILE OF THEM TO THE FIRST CLASS. We will make either “poinsettias” or “snowflakes” depending on each student’s preferences, or both! Supplies will be provided, but if you wish, you may bring your own paint (red or white), glitter (also red or white), ribbons for tying the ornaments (any color), and glue, or glue gun, if you have one. Dress in comfortable work clothes, put on your jolliest elf hat, and let’s head to the North Pole. Leader: Robin Friedman Max: 10 EW. Easy Walks Thurs. 1:00 to 3:00 – Sept 16 to Nov 18 in person in parking lot at TOALC. A WALKING class, not hiking, not bird watching, just walking on an easy flat surface. An opportunity to get some fresh air and socialize as we take a nice easy walk to enjoy each other's company and talk our heads off about whatever is on our minds. Patrick will choose the locations, all easy walks. Meet at lower church parking lot to get acquainted. Bring comfortable shoes or sneakers, bottle of water, bug spray, wide brim hat, sunglasses and fall clothing. Binoculars, too, to watch for birds if so inclined. Leader: Patrick Shevlin BF. Ballet for Seniors Thurs. 1:30 to 2:30 – Sept 16 to Nov 18 in person at School of Visual & Performing Arts, 554 Main St., Stroudsburg. A low-impact class for men & women who love to dance. Stretching, mild cardio, excellent for posture. Wear leotards or leggings, loose top, ballet slippers or socks. Leader: Diane Verdi NY. New York Times Science Discussion Group Thurs. 1:30 to 3:00 – Sept 16 to Nov 18 on Zoom. Keep up with the latest scientific breakthroughs as reported in the Tuesday Science Section of the Times. Leader: Greg Nulle MJ. Mah Jongg Thurs. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 16 to Oct 28 in person. A game of skill, strategy, and luck similar to Rummikub, played with a set of 144 tiles based on Chinese characters and symbols. Requires skills in tactics, observation, memory, and adaptive strategies. Mah Jongg serves as a way to socialize and has been found to be a viable treatment option for dementia. Leaders: S. McGauchie, T. Schembari Max: 8 AO. The Art of Storytelling Thurs. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 16 to Oct 7 in person. Each session, Pat, a professional storyteller, will tell a story. Participants will discuss the story and may learn a story to tell. Hints on learning stories and critique provided if desired. Leader: Pat Wayne Max: 10 CP. Christian Popular and Gospel Music Thurs. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 30 to Oct 7 in person. Music and discussion of songs of the spirit from the '50s up to the early 2000s. No collection plate will be passed before thee! Leader: Tom Moore FT. Fifties Teen Musical Songs and Culture Thurs. 1:30 to 3:30 – Oct 14 in person. Teen Songs & Culture of the 50s: Pegged pants, Elvis, Doo-Wop, Chuck Berry, Howdy Doody, Mayberry, and the girls in soup-can curlers... when simplicity prevailed for us teens. Let's review those days and (Long & Lonely) nights. Leader: Tom Moore WA. Women and the Blues Thurs. 1:30 to 3:30 – Oct 21 to Oct 28 in person. Cover 85 years of American Blues – Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith through Billie Holiday, Etta James, Bonnie Raitt, Aretha and Janis Joplin. We'll vote whether or not the song “Wild Women Don't Get the Blues” is true or not. Leader: Tom Moore SC. Scrabble Thurs. 1:30 to 3:30 – Sept 16 to Nov 18 in person. Let’s play SCRABBLE! Leader: Mike Wetmore CB. Cranberry Bog Walk Thurs. 2:00 to 4:00 – Sept 23 in person at the bog, Cherry Lane, Tannersville. An opportunity to walk through the Tannersville Cranberry Bog with a Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center staff member. ”The BOG” is an exceptional natural area in the heart of Monroe County and a one-of-a-kind experience! Participants will be walking on dirt trails and a wooden boardwalk, therefore should wear comfortable walking/hiking footwear with tread. Directions and current Nature Conservancy Covid-19 requirements to be provided. Cost: $5/person due at event. Facilitator: Leslie Berger Max: 25 FRIDAY SS. Senator Scavello Breakfast Meeting Fri. 9:00 to 11:00 – Sept 17 in person at the Senator’s office. Sen. Scavello has invited TOALC members to a breakfast meeting at his office at 2398 PA-611 Suite 201, Scotrun, PA 18355. Facilitator: Greg Nulle Max: 25 IM. Instrumental Music Fri. 10:00 to 12:00 – Sept 17 to Nov 19 in person. This class will be an instrumental music ensemble made up of performers of string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. We will meet outside in the church pavilion on nice days, otherwise in the church library. Our goal will be to perform concerts for TOALC and the community in the future! Leader: Don Bell Max: 20 DM. Dutot Museum Tour Fri. 10:00 to 12:00 – Oct 1 in person, at 24 Main Street (Rte. 611) Delaware Water Gap. The Dutot Museum & Gallery is housed in a charming brick schoolhouse (circa 1850). Curator Martin Wilson will guide us through the art gallery that displays a rotating collection of some of the best art of the region as well as the second-floor museum which displays and interprets artifacts pertaining to the history of the town. A $2 donation requested. Facilitator: Greg Nulle OO. Be My Eyes [“See” why the code is OO?] Fri. 10:0 to 12:00 – Oct 8 in person. May re-offer via Zoom at the same time on another date. Be My Eyes is an app that assists visually impaired individuals to live more independent lives. Not only visually impaired people can benefit from this app, but also volunteers who can contribute a relatively short time to answer a quick phone call which significantly impacts others’ lives. People who have family and friends who are visually impaired might be interested in learning to use this app so they can teach others to use it, too. Be My Eyes is an international organization with over 4 million volunteers worldwide. This dynamic organization utilizes monthly Zoom calls to identify specifics needs of the visually impaired population. One of the newest areas of growth is specialized help from Microsoft. All that is needed to use this app is a smart phone with a camera. As a visually challenged individual, I have benefited greatly from this app myself and would highly recommend this exciting experience. Leader: Pam Wyckoff MC. Mazezilla Corn Maze and Pumpkin Carving Fri. 10:00 to 12:00 – Oct 29 in person. Meet at Klingel’s Farm and Produce Stand, 415 State Route 115, Saylorsburg, PA. Give your puzzle-solving skills a workout. Pick and carve a pumpkin. Est. $12 for maze. May be costs for other chosen activities. Pay your own way. Facilitator: Greg Nulle HM. Henry Mercer Museum Virtual Tour Fri. 9:00 to 10:00 – Nov 19 on Zoom. Expand on the overview of the Mercer Museum we enjoyed last summer with a new half-hour virtual tour followed by a half-hour of Q&A. The museum holds one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of pre-industrial American material culture from sixty different crafts and trades. Facilitator: Greg Nulle TL. TOALC Luncheons Fri. 12:30 to 2:00 – Sept 24, Oct 29, Nov 12 in person at selected venue. Great food and conversation with friends at restaurants you suggest. Facilitator: Kathy Cleveland BA. Bowling and Pizza Fri. 1:00 to 3:00 – Sept 17 to Nov 19 in person at Eagle Valley Lanes. No competition, just fun and exercise. Approx. $7 for two games, opportunity to win a free game. Optional lunch at pizza restaurant costs extra. Leader: Al Hoffman SL. Son Lewis Blues Concert Fri. 2:00 to 3:30 – Oct 1 at the church pavilion. Bring chairs and blankets. In Fellowship Hall if bad weather. No intermission. Ask anyone who attended Son Lewis’s concert in July how good it was! He has been an active figure on the Blues music scene for some time. His work as a modern-day exponent of the Blues and R&B has led him to recognition as a performer and recording artist. Son began playing Blues guitar in the 1960’s, influenced greatly by artists as diverse as Robert Johnson, Otis Rush, and Elmore James. His own guitar style developed under the guidance of Blues guitarist Danny Kalb. Lewis' reputation has been built upon solid live solo performances and with his own Son Lewis Blues Band. SB. Slate Belt Heritage Center Fri. 2:00 to 3:30 – Oct 8 in person at the Heritage Center, 30 N. 1st St., Bangor, PA. The Slate Belt Heritage Center originally served as the town hall, council chambers, borough offices, and fire department for the town of Bangor, PA. Fire equipment is still on view on the bottom floor. View the collection of Homefront Magazine described in Marc Blau’s presentation (see class “LT. Letters…”). Learn about the people and their Welsh heritage as well as the unique foods and the industries of the Slate Belt region from slating to textiles. Facilitator: G. Nulle WM. Women’s Music Sock Hop Fri. 3:30 to 6:00 – Oct 22 in person at the Loder Senior Center, 62 Analomink St., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301. Sock Hop on Women's Music in the 50s and 60s: A Friday afternoon “gettin' it on” at Loder! Songs recorded by the ladies, written by the ladies, or written with a lady in mind. Loder’s “all must wear masks” policy may still apply. Host: Tom Moore Friday Afternoon TOALC Author Talks AT. Author Talks (Photos in online coursebook) Fri. 1:00 to 3:00 – Sept 17, Oct 15, and Nov 19 all on Zoom. A set of three latest installments in our popular series of authors talking about their books and the craft of writing. Series curated by Deborah Emin Sept 17: Stacy Parker Le Melle, on Zoom. Stacy is the author of Government Girl: Young and Female in the White House (HarperCollins/Ecco), was the lead contributor to Voices from the Storm: The People of New Orleans on Hurricane Katrina and Its Aftermath (McSweeney’s), and chronicles stories for The Katrina Experience: An Oral History Project. She is a 2020 NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellow for Nonfiction Literature. Her recent narrative nonfiction has been published in Callaloo, Apogee Journal, The Atlas Review, Cura, Kweli Journal, Nat. Brut, The Nervous Breakdown, The Offing, Phoebe, Silk Road and The Florida Review where her essay was a finalist for the 2014 Editors’ Prize for Nonfiction. Originally from Detroit, Le Melle lives in Harlem where she curates the First Person Plural Reading Series. Follow her on Twitter at @stacylemelle. Oct 15: Sahar Abdulaziz, on Zoom. TOALC is delighted to welcome back award-winning suspense writer Sahar Abdulaziz. She spoke at TOALC several times in 2019 both as a writer and as a commentator on a national scene still consumed with bigotry. She is the author of eleven books––including The Broken Half, Tight Rope, The Gatekeeper’s Notebook, Unlikely Friends, Devoted Friends, and her latest release, Unexpected Friends. Most of her work is in realistic fiction: psychological thrillers, suspense, and satire. She writes about characters facing complicated life challenges. And no matter which life-trajectory her idiosyncratic book friends face, Sahar is determined to tell their stories––eager to put pen to paper to share their compelling accounts, no matter how hilarious or convoluted their adventures become. Honors include Women Under Scrutiny Anthology, The Daybreak Press Award, Fofky’s Book Club Reader Choice Award, and the Monroe County Community Media Expression Award. Contact TOALC for an annotated bibliography of Sahar’s works. Nov 19: Janisse Ray, on Zoom. Janisse Ray is a writer whose subject is often nature. Her first book, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, was a New York Times Notable Book and the Book All Georgians Should Read. She has since published seven other books. Her collection of essays, Wild Spectacle, is forthcoming from Trinity University Press in October 2021. Ray has won a Pushcart Prize, an American Book Award, and a Southern Environmental Law Center Writing Award, among others. She lives on an organic farm inland from Savannah, Georgia. SATURDAY BG. Boris Godunov Met Opera HD Live Sat. 12:55 to 3:10 – Oct 9 in person at Cinemark, Stroud Mall. Join fellow TOALC opera buffs in the lobby at 12:30. Mussorgsky’s masterpiece and only completed opera is the story of the Russian ruler Boris Godunov, who reigned as Tsar (1598 to 1605) and his nemesis the False Dmitri (reigned 1605 to 1606). The opera is presented in its original 1869 version and runs two-and-a-quarter hours with no intermission. Tickets for the 2021–22 Live in HD season will go on sale to the general public on September 8. Purchase tickets online or at Cinemark. Call 1-800-CINEMARK (1-800-246-3627) for assistance locating the show’s ticketing website. Tickets are refundable if cancelled before showtime. Tickets in past years cost $23. Facilitator: Greg Nulle CH. Christkindlmarkt Sat. Time TBD – Dec 4 in person at 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Carpool to Christkindlmarkt, an open-air German-style holiday market. Christkindlmarkt features more than 100 artisans and everything from pottery to holiday crafts and more. Lunch at a nearby restaurant to follow. Entry fee TBA. Facilitator: Greg Nulle In-person classes meet indoors at TOALC unless otherwise indicated. LEADERS & PRESENTERS Donald W. Bell is a retired music teacher who performed with Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Fabian, The Duprees, The Four Tops, Anthony St. James Orchestra, and Carnival Cruise Lines bands. Currently a church musician and RSVP volunteer. Leslie Berger is an enthusiastic “newsophile”, formerly Loder Senior Center Manager, Activities Director @ Pocono Lutheran Village Assisted Living, and Program Director for the Monroe County Recreation & Parks Commission. Marc Blau is a retired teacher of 33 years, author, and VP of the Slate Belt Heritage Center. Bob Brunet is a student of film and has conducted film classes at TOALC for 15 years. Trudyann Buckley is Recreation Manager at Stroud Region Open Space and Recreation Commission. Level 1 certified archery instructor. Also loves the outdoors, wildlife watching, and hiking. Betsy Clarke is a retired faculty member from ESU’s music department. She is the founder and director of the Pocono Community Orchestra and a member of the trio Trillogy. Merlyn J. Clarke is Professor Emeritus of Political Science, ESU. Kathy Cleveland was a development engineer and computer application instructor for many years. Deborah Emin is the author of the Scags Series. All her work can be found on her website: DeborahEminBooks.com Hope Fisher, owner of Hope Yoga in Central New Jersey, loves to teach yoga to individuals of all ages, body types, and physical abilities to help feel them better in their bodies while helping to bring some stillness to their minds. Robin Friedman worked in advertising, journalism, and publishing. She loves US history, road trips, cats, and chocolate. Eric Goins has a passion for digital photography and loves to share it with others. Kathy Grimaldi is a retired educator from Long Island and has loved poetry for as long as she can remember. Rosalyn Blue Sky Henley, Clinical Psychiatric Pharmacist, R.Ph. - registered in NY State; Cultural Heritage Researcher specializing in Indigenous and American African cultures, and craft poetry. Al Hoffman loves bowling and wants to keep on bowling. He’s been in bowling leagues for years. Susan Houcek has been creating all kinds of things from fabric and thread since childhood. Ken LeSure, Ph.D. is a retired psychology professor. For Tricia Lowery Lippert, art is a love affair with nature. She studied oil painting and art history at Marlboro College, VT. A background in impressionism, folk art, and children’s book illustration is evident in her award-winning work. Valerie Martin has led a variety of successful classes since 2014. Tom Moore went from dancing on TV to playing drums in a rock’n’roll band to the straight world of business and is now full circle, in recalling his youth and trying hard not to exaggerate. Greg Nulle is a former librarian and computer programmer. He is TOALC vice president. Harold Pascal is an M.D./ Ph.D. and current TOALC president. Suzanne Pyrch was a music teacher for over 50 years and is a lifelong opera enthusiast. Chorus leaders Emily Rosenthal sang soprano in chamber choirs for many years and is music therapist; David Learn has a Master of Education in trumpet performance and has sung in several choirs. Mel Rosenthal is a retired chiropractor, yoga instructor, Radical Forgiveness coach, volunteer with dog rescue, and PA Prison Society; is on his second half of life spiritual path. Eunice Sadler is a retired preschool teacher with a love of music and theater. Teresa Schembari, our Italian instructor, was born in Italy. She and Mah Jongg co-leader Sophia McGauchie return to TOALC to share their love of the game. Melodie Schwarz-Higgins has a BA in art and enjoys drawing/painting and many types of crafts. Patrick Shevlin is a life-long environmentalist and conservationist of natural places to explore and enjoy with like-minded folks. He seeks to discuss, study, and understand virtually all aspects of life. Leslie Sloan is a Life Master bridge player, has an ACBL teaching certificate, and has been playing for many years. David Trainer is a retired biologist and long-time photography enthusiast. Dr. James J. Vagliardo is a professor of Math and Computer Science; an educational consultant, writer, and researcher; an international traveler and lecturer; a soccer coach, avid hiker, and Tai Chi teacher who loves abstract art and jazz. Diane Verdi is a professional dancer and a teacher for all ages. Pat Wayne has led our drawing and painting classes for many years. She is also is a professional storyteller who has been a member of Story Weavers in Denville for many years. She has performed at many historic sites, libraries, schools, and before private parties and professional groups throughout the region. Richard M. Weintraub, Esquire is an attorney with over 20 +years of experience in estate planning, as well as drafting wills and trust agreements. He understands the need of understanding eldercare as a "Baby Boomer"! Mike Wetmore continues to explore writers of all kinds. Pamela Wyckoff is a visually impaired Occupational Therapist who is passionate about teaching individuals adaptations to encourage independence in daily living. Notice of Non-Discrimination The Older Adult Learning Community (TOALC) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), national origin, military status, gender, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or age in its programs and activities. For assistance or special accommodations, please call 570-422-7810. Contact us if you wish to form a Talking Circle to develop proposals to the Board on TOALC issues or opportunities. President: Hal Pascal, VP: Greg Nulle, Secretary: Carol Akam, Treasurer: Connie Hogan WHY IS OUR MEMBERSHIP FEE INCREASING? For many years, TOALC members have gladly paid $45 per semester, then registered for as many courses as they wished to take. They realized that TOALC offered significant value and they also wanted to support TOALC as an organization. In summer 2020, we dropped the membership charge to zero. Many doubted that TOALC could deliver the semester via Zoom. They had security concerns about Zoom, too. We hoped waiving the fee would inspire members to take a chance on us. Our host, the East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church, also reduced our rent significantly, charging only for the TOALC office space. The summer program was very successful. We charged a reduced membership fee during the Fall 2020, Winter 2021, and Spring 2021 terms and managed to cover costs. Now that we are returning to the church classrooms, our rent has increased to pre-pandemic levels and our member fee needs to return to $45 in order to make ends meet. We hope you'll continue to appreciate and support TOALC as you have in the past and participate in this full and varied progam. COVID-19 AND THE FALL SEMESTER Currently, we are assuming that TOALC classrooms can be filled to 100% of their official capacity. But the COVID-19 situation may evolve through the course of the fall.  We reserve the right to cancel classes and events or reduce class sizes if prudence and health agency guidelines or other conditions dictate. If we have to cut back on the number of students per class, we will do our best to serve TOALC members on a first-come/first-served basis, using mail-in registration postmarks or online registration submission timestamps as our guide. If we must stop meeting in person, it may be possible to convert some but not all in-person classes to delivery on Zoom. We’ll do that as quickly as possible. If you want to join in-person classes but do not feel comfortable participating in person, please contact TOALC to explore the possibility of “attending” remotely by Zoom or telephone. Class leaders: Please be conscientious in keeping accurate attendance records. Students: Please be sure to sign in to class and let TOALC know if you signed up for a class but are not on the roster. In-person classes meet indoors at TOALC unless otherwise indicated. Mail-In Registration Form - Fall 2021 – See also Survey on Back of Page Or register online at our website Courses page at https://www.theoalc.org/catalog using class codes in the box below. Registration Deadline Wednesday, Sept 8th. Register Early – Get the Classes You Want No confirmations mailed. You’re in class unless called. (After 9/8, register at TOALC office.) Zoom meeting invitations will be emailed two weeks before class. NAME_______________________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS___________________________________________________________ CITY__________________________________________ STATE________ ZIP___________ PHONE_____________________________ EMAIL_____________________________ EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME_____________________________ PHONE_____________________________ Class Registration - Add an X next to the classes you want to take. Deadline Sept 8. Code/Description _____ AO Art of Storytelling _____ AR Afterlife, Reincarnation …. _____ AT Author Talks _____ BA Bowling and Pizza _____ BC Book Club _____ BF Ballet for Seniors Diane Verdi _____ BG Boris Godunov Met Opera HD Live at Cinemark _____ BL Beginner Level Quilting - Crest _____ BT Beginning Tai Chi _____ CB Cranberry Bog Walk _____ CE Current Events _____ CH Christkindlmarkt _____ CM Chair Movement _____ CP Christian Popular and Gospel Music _____ CS Choral Singing _____ CT Continuing Tai Chi _____ CW Creative Writing Pascal _____ DM Dutot Museum Tour _____ EW Easy Walks _____ FA Famous Authors Film Class _____ FF Flannery for the Common Person _____ FR From Rocks to Rockets _____ FT 50s Teen Musical Songs & Culture _____ GY Gentle Yoga _____ HM Henry Mercer Museum Tour _____ IB Intermediate Bridge _____ IL Italian Language _____ IM Instrumental Music _____ IP Inaugural Poets _____ IT Intro to Digital Photography _____ JT Jim Thorpe _____ LT Letters to the Homefront Magazine _____ MB Musical Biographies - Film Appreciation _____ MC Mazezilla Corn Maze at Klingels Farm _____ MJ Mah-jong _____ MM Magic Moments Eunice Sadler _____ MO Music of the Romantic Period _____ NV Nature Videos _____ NY New York ScienceTimes Discussion Group _____ OO Be My Eyes _____ PA Pastels and Watercolors-An Intro _____ PC Photography Club _____ RA Recreational Archery Trudyann Buckley _____ RC Recycled Christmas Ornaments _____ RT Reviving the Promise _____ SB Slate Belt Heritage Center _____ SC Scrabble _____ SD Scagliola Demonstration _____ SE Seven Essential Elements _____ SL Son Lewis Fall Performance _____ SS Senator Scavello Breakfast Meeting _____ TA The Art of Aging _____ TB The Blaus and the Holocaust _____ TC TC The Craft of Voice in Fiction and Memoir _____ TL TOALC Luncheons _____ TP The Psyche and the Cosmos _____ VA Verdi and the Resorgimento _____ WA Women & the Blues _____ WE What Every Senior Needs to Know – Estate Planning and Elder Law _____ WI World Issues _____ WM Women's Music Sock Hop _____ WS Women's Suffrage in America, A Transformative Experience _____ YF Yoga for Seniors JT. Jim Thorpe Tour by Trolley trip fee _____$35.00 (Members) _____$45.00 (Guests) x _____ (# of Guests) Make separate trip check. We’ll return it if trip cancelled or you cancel before September 20, 2021. SESSION REGISTRATION FEE _____$45.00 Make checks payable to TOALC. Mail to TOALC, 55 Smith St., E. Stroudsburg, PA 18301 OR drop your Registration Form off at the TOALC office 9:30 to 11:30, Mon - Fri. Don’t forget to check the survey questions on back. For office use only: Postmark or Dropoff Date: ____________ Check: Date: __________ #: __________Amount: $___________ Processed by: _________ B__________ MC_________ C___________ NEW MEMBER_________ REGISTRATION SURVEY: WE NEED YOUR TIME AND TALENTS! TOALC has numerous opportunities for members to become involved in our organization. Please consider giving us some of your time and talents. Name (If this page has no mailing label) _____________________________________ ____ Yes, I'd like to help out at TOALC. Call me to discuss volunteer opportunities. I'd like to lead a class or event in I'd like to see a class offered in: Suggestions for Topics or Themes for the Friday Lecture Series: