Spring 2013 Seminars

1.)  MAKING MANDALAS AND KALEIDESCOPIC DESIGNS — George Medalinskas and Ben Coughlin

We will draw and color our own mandalas (circular geometric designs) based on geometric symmetry.  A simple and easy-to-learn computer program will be used to help us with design work.  In addition, we will use colored pencils, rulers, protractors and a compass to make our own designs.  Let your inner artist out!

2.)  SIX MORE COUNTRIES IN SIX WEEKS — Nancy Clark

This seminar will continue our world travel to different countries.  Along with an audio-visiual presentation, participants will research and discuss the culture and brief history and interesting places within the country being visited.  Some of the new countries will include Australia, Israel and Egypt.

3.)  GARDENING WITH PERENNIALS — Ruth Young

This seminar will cover growing conditions and how to determine them, sun and shade perennials, where to buy perennials, care of perennials, and which perennials require almost no care.  We may even swap perennials if weather conditions are suitable!  Participants will be expected to do some research and reading outside of class.

4.)  EXPLORING POETIC FORM — Carolyn Rabson

Learn the vocabulary of traditional poetic forms, rhythms, and rhyme-schemes.  Revisit well-known poems, meet some new ones, and maybe write some of your own!  Participants are asked to bring one example of a published poem which illustrates the structural features specified for each meeting.  (First meeting: Sonnets, Limericks.)

5.)  THE LIVES OF THE IMPRESSIONISTS — Ginette Lemay

Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir and more.  Who were these men?  Often ignored by their contemporaries, today their paintings are familiar and worth astonishing sums, but how well do we know the impressionists as people?  Although not required reading, this class will be based on the book by Sue Roe “The Private Lives of the Impressionists“

6.) INTRODUCTION TO MINDFULNESS MEDITATION — Ralph Galen

Mindfulness meditation is a way to wholeheartedly accept oneself and increase our potential for psychological and spiritual health.  We live so much on auto-pilot.  Here’s a pathway to living fully, consciously and joyously.  This course is both experiential and a chance to examine the scientific research in medicine and society.

7.)  FROM THE SMALL SCREEN TO THE SILVER SCREEN — Leonard Douglas

Fun films.  Forget the bad: enjoy the good.  Please join our delightful group of film devotees for the viewing of six fun films featuring former stars of TV sitcoms who have graduated to feature films.  No texts or materials are required.  Participants are encouraged to suggest entertaining. humorous, or relaxing films for future viewing.

8.) AGING AS A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY – George Medalinskas

Aging can be looked at as a Spiritual Journey.  There are stages of aging that are favorable to us and other stages that are distasteful.  How can we embrace this aging process from a spiritual and healthy perspective and deal with the 5 basic fears of aging?  You should have the book “Aging as a Spiritual Practice” by Richmond.

9.) WHAT’S MINE IS MINE OR YOU EARNED IT; YOU KEEP IT – John Mack

This seminar will explore methods and means available to preserve wealth for those that are retired or planning retirement.  Topics will center on such areas as: What do I have?  Where does it go?  How do I create an estate?  What health care options are available?  How do I have fun after all of this?  with other related topics.  Seminar members will explore and share individual strategies related to the acquisition and preservation of wealth.

10.) JOURNAL WRITING FOR BEGINNERS – Margaret Leavitt

I have kept journals for over 20 years.  There are so many benefits from jotting our thoughts down every day.  This does not take creative writing ability.  I will provide very basic journals to start us off and basic topics we can share until we get our feet wet.  It is a great way to relax and develop self awareness.

11.) WHY IS THE SKY BLUE? – Peter Jepson

We live in a world with so many marvels, both natural and technological, that we accept most of them without understanding them.  If you are naturally curious and have some questions beginning with ‘Why…?’, which related to the physical sciences, join this seminar and figure out the answers, learning the science behind them as you go.  Each participant is asked to propose questions.  Questions will be chosen and assigned to the individuals or small groups.  Presentations explaining and answering the questions will be made by the participants in the final classes.

12.) EXOTIC DESTINATIONS – Greta Barresi

Travel in slide presentations to Antarctica, China, Machu Picchu, and the Galapagos Islands.  Read about these destinations, including Scott’s failed expedition to Antarctica, early New World societies, and the tortoises of the Galapagos Islands.  Participants will be asked to research topics related to the destination prior to each session

Fall Seminars 21012 (previously held)

1.)   REVISITING THE 60′s – Valerie Spicer

Refresh your memories of the 60′s with the use of your favorite history books, internet search, video programs, etc.  Seminar topics will include civil rights, JFK and LBJ presidencies, Vietnam War, counter culture, equal rights, social activism, sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

2.)  THE POWER OF ART (Caravaggio, Bernini, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and more) – Jeanne Fonda

Caravaggio, Bernini, Rembrandt, Van Gogh and more.  Who were these men?  Using Simon Schama’s dramatic portrayal of them, the seminar will address their art and lives.  Participants are encouraged to share their understanding of the artists and their work by doing some research on their own.

3.)  EFFECTIVE RETIRING — George Medelinskas

Retiring changes our lives.  It is a new beginning.  Stephen Covey offers advice for being more effective in his classic book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”.  In this seminar, we will explore these habits through the lens of how we can each have a more effective retirement.

4.)  RELATIVITY AND COMMON SENSE – Gus Rabson

Science is supposed to be based on common sense.  Yet, the popular accounts of relativity theory emphasize the bizarre nature of some of the concepts of relativity.  In these discussisons we will attempt to see how relativity is based on common sense.

5.)  EDIBLE WILD MUSHROOMS – Liz Anderson

Learning how to safely and confidently gather, cook and eat wild mushrooms takes years of learning.  This group will help you begin the journey to mastery.  We will cover books and equipment needed, how to accurately identify fungi, and guidelines for new mycophagists.  In-depth study of common local friends:  Hen of the Woods, Sulphur, Shelf, and Puffball.

6.)  FUN FILMS ‘Tis The Season (The Political Season) – Leonard Douglas

Don’t think that politics can be fun?  Just join our fun group for six fun films with a political theme.  We don’t care which party you favor, we just want you to party with us for some laughs and good cheer.

7.)  SIX COUNTRIES – SIX WEEKS — Nancy Clark

This class will visit one country per week.  Along with an audio-visual presentation, participants will research and report on geography, brief history and the culture of the country being “visited”.  This will provide a good opportunity to discuss travel ideas.

8.)  MEMOIR WRITING – Priscilla Dullea

So much changes with each generation.  Along with giving you the opportunity to review your life, memoir writing records the now before it disappears.  The memoirs will be appreciated by children and grandchildren, as well as generations yet unborn, who will read them to learn about their heritage.

9.)  GEOGRAPHY AND GEOLOGY OF THE LOWER MERRIMACK VALLEY — Peter Spellman and Joe  McManus

We will examine the natural forces that formed the Merrimack River along with the hydrodynamics still influencing today’s lower river valley.  You will learn to identify key reference points, contribute to discussions of plate tectonics, ice age cycles, and glacial signatures, and discover research on the Merrimack Embaymemt and the now submerged Merrimack River Delta.