Course Descriptions | Lecture Series | Concert Series
SPRING 2012 COURSES:
|
Course |
Weeks |
Dates |
Day |
Time |
Capacity |
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
3:15 - 5:15 PM |
5-17 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
10:45 - 12:45 |
5-12 students |
|
|
10 |
3/7 - 5/2 |
Wed |
All day fieldtrips |
10-40 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 5/4 |
Fri |
10:45 - 12:45 |
5-30 students |
|
|
5 |
See Description |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
5-15 students |
|
|
8 |
3/15 - 5/3 |
Thurs |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
4-10 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
4-10 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
10:45 - 12:45 |
8-16 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 5/11 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
6-12 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
6-12 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
10:45 - 12:45 |
12-30 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
3:15 - 5:15 PM |
8-20 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
3:30 - 5:30 PM |
6-14 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
8:30 - 10:30 AM |
6-12 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 5/11 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
6-12 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
8:30 - 10:30 AM |
10-20 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
10:45 - 12:45 |
5-15 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
10:45 - 12:45 |
10-25 students |
|
|
8 |
3/10 - 4/28 |
Sat |
8:30 - Noon |
6-16 students |
|
|
8 |
3/15 - 5/3 |
Thurs |
10:00 - Noon |
5-20 students |
|
|
6 |
3/14 - 4/18 |
Wed |
10:00 - Noon |
6-12 students |
|
|
6 |
See Description |
Wed |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
6-12 students |
|
|
8 |
3/9 - 4/27 |
Fri |
8:30 - 10:30 AM |
5-10 students |
|
|
8 |
3/13 - 5/1 |
Tues |
10:30 - Noon |
15-40 students |
Instructors' Who's Who: go to our website: www.uma.edu/umascinstructors.html
Registration for Spring courses begins on FEBRUARY 6th.
All course requests received on or before the first day of registration will be treated the same. In the unusual event of excess registrations being received for any class on that first day, admission will be determined by a random drawing. You may register in person at the University of Maine at Augusta Senior College office in Stoddard House or by mail to 46 University Drive, Augusta, ME 04330. For further information please call 621-3551
The University of Maine at Augusta Senior College complies with all laws which define the rights of individuals with disabilities and makes reasonable efforts to accommodate specific needs related to Senior College programs. If you have specific disability needs, please let the Senior College office know about them in a timely fashion, for lead time is required to determine possible accommodations.
CONSCIOUSNESS, EMERGENCE AND INFORMATION
Instructor: Charles Acker
THEORIES: AN ALTERNATIVE REALITY
Fridays, 3:15 - 5:15 PM
Though immediate to the experience of all of us, consciousness remains as the most baffling of problems faced by philosophy or science. The course will deal with the correlations between
brain activity and experience, such as self-awareness, free-will, empathy and creativity. We will go well beyond the question as to how this 3-pound gelatinous mass can give rise to sensations, perceptions, dreams and emotions. Drawing on wide-ranging topics from quantum physics to theology, setting aside common sense and conventional thinking, and making use of information and emergence theories, we will try to develop the different mind-set about reality necessary to gain a new comprehension of consciousness. Reading and class participation are expected.
Text and materials provided.
CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH 1.9: READ AND TALK
Instructor: Charles Acker
Fridays, 10:45 - 12:45
In this course we will read and discuss chapters from a novel or short stories in Spanish. The vocabulary will be at about the junior high level with the emphasis on conversing in Spanish.
If the reading leads to talking about other matters of interest to the class, all the better. An elementary Spanish vocabulary and general knowledge of verb conjugations is required. We will work on improving pronunciation. If you have taken a recent UMASC course in this series, had a year of Spanish in high school or college or have taken a few weeks of Spanish language school abroad, you will be able to handle the course. Other readings may be brought in as it benefits the class. The text, La Cassa en Mango Street (Spanish and English translations) will be provided. NOTE: You should have your own Spanish-English dictionary and verb book. !Vamos a leer y discutir!
Instructor: Duane Prugh
Wednesdays, All Day Field Trips
Come and join the Augusta Senior College folks in an adventurous course. Some of Maine's prettiest scenery is in its forests (nature's beauty). The best time to see Maine's waterfalls is in
the spring of the year when the winter snow runoff is in full force and with no leaves on the trees to obstruct the views. The course will consist of a lecture on the technical aspects of waterfalls, followed by 10 all-day field trips to several of Maine's exciting scenic views. Hiking will be involved to get to some of the sites while others can be viewed from the roadside or bridges. Attendance at all field trips or sites is NOT mandatory. We will utilize car-pooling, and extra expenses will be incurred for drivers' gas, food, etc. If the snow is not too deep we expect to visit and explore at least 50 waterfalls - some well known, some unfamiliar. All classes will be on Wednesday, with Thursday as an alternate. Textbook provided.
Instructor: Julie Barter
Fridays, 10:45 - 12:45
This financial workshop will include: taking "stock" in the market, tax-free investing, preparing an estate plan (with an attorney present), charitable gifting (process and limits), smart choices in retirement for stable and steady retirement income, outlook and opportunities in the market, annuities and life insurance, and long term care. Materials provided. NOTE: No class on March 16.
FROM "DUMB TO WISE" IN FIVE EASY PIECES
Instructor: Jim Lindsley
Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
In this 5-session course we shall first consider the common forms of thinking errors that can lead us to be "dumb," then move on and consider the ways of thinking that enable us to be "wise." First we shall discuss the role of emotions in our thinking, common false beliefs, and typical errors in thinking all leading to "dumb." Then we shall discuss the ways of "wise" judgment which involve seeing matters on a continuum; identifying the multiplicity of factors in situations affecting self, others, society, in both the short- and long-terms; appreciating the presence of the unidentified, the unknown, and the unknowable; and seeking creative solutions that provide the most good with the least harm. Textbook provided. NOTE: Class Dates are: March 9,
March 16, March 30, April 13, and April 27.
Instructor: Bob Pelletier
Thursdays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
This class is designed for the person interested in genealogy and without a knowledge of how to begin. In getting started, forms and record keeping will all be discussed. In addition, a visit to the Maine State Library will provide information about available resources at this site. Textbook provided.
Instructor: Bob Pelletier
Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
This course is specifically designed for persons with a basic knowledge of genealogy, with a good start on their family tree. We will explore further sources close to home. Only the first class will be held at UMA, all others to be field trips to Maine State Library, Maine Archives, Kennebec Historical Society, etc. Textbook provided. NOTE: The classes may be longer than 2 hours.
Instructor: Ruth Bookey
Fridays, 10:45 - 12:45
The class will be introduced to various mediums of art; acrylics, watercolor, pencil, charcoal, pastel, oil pastel, and watercolor pencils. This course is primarily for beginners, but works well for people with experience to freshen up their skills. Some supplies will be borrowed from the instructor, and other materials are provided.
Instructor: Maryanne Ward
Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
The Odyssey is the tale of a hero's voyage home from the Trojan War full of monsters, magic, sex and violence, but Homer did not preserve the ancient story for its entertainment value alone. Adapting the legends surrounding Odysseus, he shows the effects of a long war on a human being and what the hero must learn in order to regain his place in society. Paired with Odysseus is his wife Penelope, one of the great heroes of antiquity. She holds their kingdom until he can return; theirs is one of the great marriages in literature. Homer does the impossible: sex, violence and family values in one great narrative. Textbook provided. NOTE: No class on March 23 and March 30.
INTRODUCTION TO CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH:
Instructor: Eugene Roger Halleé
FOR BEGINNERS
Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Topics include introducing each other, learning the alphabet, memorizing to the best of our ability counting numbers, days of the weeks, months of the year, seasons, colors, and vocabulary starting with cognate words. We will learn basic verbs and simple tenses. Tapes, CD's, flash cards, also boardwork will attempt to reinforce what is being learned. We will sing French songs, and stress comparative pronunciation (Parisian vs Québecois). Materials provided.
Instructor: Ted Bookey
Fridays, 10:45 - 12:45
The goal of this course is to put students in touch with the joy of poetry as a rich and profound art form. Poetry has been called the map of the soul. This class is designed for those who wish to explore that map, and for those who already enjoy poetry and would like to enhance their appreciation and pleasure. It is also for those who find contemporary poetry difficult and wish to understand and enjoy it more, and for those who already write poetry or for those who might like to begin. The instructor will provide some enjoyable poetry-starting exercises. In addition, we will read and discuss a variety of poems to explore how a poem works and why it has the power to move the reader. Textbook and materials provided.
NATIONAL PARKS OF THE EASTERN U.S.
Instructor: Elizabeth Reinsborough
Fridays, 3:15 - 5:15 PM
Our National Parks are often called America's "Crown Jewels." They protect the best of our nation's scenic, scientific and historic heritage. Battlefields and barrier islands; forts and fossils; geysers and glaciers; monuments and mansions and the list goes on! From Yellowstone to the Everglades, Acadia to Big Bend, and many parks in between, we will explore what is unique about various parks from the Rockies to the Atlantic. Half of each class will be a visual presentation by the instructor. Students will be encouraged to share some of their own insights, and participate in brief presentations. Textbook provided.
ORAL HISTORY THEATRE: "A MOMENT IN TIME"
Instructor: Barbara Helen Baker
Fridays, 3:30 - 5:30 PM
This oral history theatre course will culminate in a theatrical presentation. The class will consist of acting exercises, voice and movement work, and accessing memories through a non-traditional method. At the end, the oral histories will be put into a dramatic form by the instructor and presented to an audience.
Instructor: Tom Feagin
Fridays, 8:30 - 10:30 AM
Socrates suggested that the unexamined life is not worth living. Aristotle said that we could evaluate whether a life had been good only at its end. Therefore, the end of one's life is a time for examination and evaluation. Health care in the late stages of lives is expensive. Death can be difficult for both individuals and their families, although good hospice care can ease the burden. No one contemplates death happily, yet such contemplation may ease the last days, help family manage the process, and leave a lesser burden of grief. This course is designed to help participants look at the inevitability of life's end with peace and provide them tools to manage the end of life with dignity. HUMOR WILL DEFINITELY BE INVOLVED. Materials provided.
ROBERT FROST AND SEAMUS HEANEY
Instructor: John Ward
Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Accessible, not obscure; formally neat, not messy; popular, not pandering - Frost and Heaney are always worth reading. Read together, the qualities of one illuminate the qualities of the other. Read aloud, their poems make sense to the ear. Studied on the page, their poems display the poet's craft admirably. We will read from Heaney's Opened Ground and choose selections of Frost's work from internet sources. Textbook provided. NOTE: No class on March 23 and March 30.
SENSE OF PLACE: HOME, NEIGHBORHOOD, MAINE
Instructor: Tim Nason
Fridays, 8:30 - 10:30 AM
"Sense of Place" refers to a person's emotional response to place. The course will introduce the concept of a "sense of place" as it applies to where we live (home, neighborhood, Maine) with ample time allowed for students to talk about their own experiences of these places. Reading material from a variety of sources will be provided.
Instructor: Jonathan Lepoff
Fridays, 10:45 - 12:45
The course will have two modules: Module 1 will consist of Tai Chi and other strengthening and balancing exercises, Module 2 will consist of problem solving and other exercises to promote mental fitness and memory. Students will be required to do problem solving exercises at home during the week using the book Train Your Brain: 60 Days to a Better Brain provided.
Instructor: Peter Rosenberg
Fridays, 10:45 - 12:45
The first half of each class will be devoted to various aspects of opera including history, composers, definitions, etc. The second half will present an opera picked from "Washington National Opera Commentaries on CD" hosted by Saul Lilienstein. The goal is to learn to enjoy and appreciate opera. Textbook provided.
Instructors: Chet Day/Peter Ezzy/Art Ray
Saturdays, 8:30 - Noon
This course consists of an intense and lively discussion group exploring the relative merits of representative top-rated Action Flicks as determined by the American Film Industry. Films are critiqued and ranked in order of preference by class participants. The film candidates are: Scarface, Dr. No, The Big Lebowski, On the Waterfront, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Animal House, 2001 Space Odyssey, and The French Connection. There will be an organizational meeting in a UMA classroom at 4:00 p.m. on the Thursday before the first class. Carpools will originate from the lower Augusta Civic Center parking lot Saturday mornings at 7:45 a.m. and return by 12:30. Breakfast will be provided. Limited enrollment, with study materials provided.
USING PHOTOSHOP ELEMENTS: ADVANCED GROUP
Instructor: Edna Smith
Thursdays, 10:00 - Noon
This is an opportunity for those who have taken previous courses or who already use Photoshop Elements (any version) to gather together, learn from each other, and work on their own interests with assistance from the instructor. NOTE: This course is NOT for beginners.
Instructor: Barbara Mayer
Wednesdays, 10:00 - Noon
This class will be about the advance usage of the Internet. Focus will be on exploring the many features of web browsers and search engines (such as Google). Activities will include finding sites of special interest, such as medical resources, and downloading free and low cost programs. If time permits, some of Google's other programs; such as calendar and documents will be introduced. Materials provided. NOTE: This course is NOT for beginners.
Instructor: Ellen Blanchard
Wednesdays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
There are thousands of varieties of wildflowers, weeds, shrubs, and trees. Do you know their names? Have you ever wondered what was growing around your house? This class will teach you how to recognize and identify these plants easily. Come explore the wonder of the world beneath your feet. Learn how easy it is to identify the beautiful and sometimes rare wildflowers along the paths around central Maine. Come walk "slooowly" with us and learn to see and enjoy nature's amazing variety. Our first class will be held in a classroom. All other classes will be outdoor walks. Textbook and materials provided. NOTE: Class dates will depend on how early spring begins and when the wildflowers bloom.
WOOD CARVING: BEGINNING AND CONTINUING
Instructor: Loyd Clark
Fridays, 8:30 - 10:30 AM
Students will be instructed in basic carving cuts and methods, practicing on simple projects. The instructor will assist students with their projects, and demonstrate the easiest and safest way to carve the design. Class members will be shown the proper sharpening of tools, safety procedures, other carving tools and their use. Carvings may be finished as time permits. Beginners will start with simple projects, while continuing students will advance to more challenging projects. Materials and instructions provided.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and in pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veterans status in employment, education, and all other areas of the University System. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
Questions and complaints about discrimination in any area of the University should be directed to Sheri R. Stevens, Equal Opportunity Director, UMA Farmhouse, 207-621-3110 (TDD-207-621-3107).
YVONNE FARNSWORTH LECTURE SERIES HELD AT GRANITE HILL ESTATES
Tuesdays, 10:30 - Noon
This eight-week course, held at Granite Hill Estates, is a potpourri of topics offered by eight different faculty members of Senior College at the University of Maine at Augusta. This course is open to Granite Hill residents who pay membership and course tuition. It is also open to all UMASC members with preference given to Granite Hill residents. The lecture series will offer a different subject each week and will be held in the Media Room. Each class will be on Tuesday from 10:30 AM to 12 Noon, beginning March 13th.
The following is a list of lectures for the Spring semester:
|
DATE: |
INSTRUCTOR: |
TOPIC: |
|
March 13 |
Jonathan Lepoff |
Meditation: It's Not What You Think |
|
March 20 |
Art Ray |
Art/Illustrations of Norman Rockwell |
|
March 27 |
Keith Leavitt |
Ron Cross: Artist Extraordinaire |
|
April 3 |
Elizabeth Reinsborough |
The Trans Canada Highway: Canada's Main Street |
|
April 10 |
Tom Feagin |
Shay's Rebellion |
|
April 17 |
Robert Pelletier |
Genealogy - A Family History - Important for Me? |
|
April 24 |
Edna Smith |
Celtic Art |
|
May 1 |
Lincoln Ladd |
In Defense of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park |
We dedicate our Granite Hill lecture series to Yvonne Farnsworth who passed away November 24, 2010. Yvonne was the originator of this lecture series and a big supporter of UMA Senior College.
2012 Concert Schedule
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2 pm/1 pm pre-concert talk (Snow date: Feb. 26). George Lopez, classical pianist. “Artist in Residence” at Bowdoin College. One of the best chamber musicians of his generation..
Sunday, Mar. 11, 2 pm (Snow date: Apr. 1st ). Boogie 2 Shooz. Patti-Jean Cousens and Pamela Jenkins bring you torch ballads, the blues, funk-flavored R&B, lush jazz, and spirited Latin, combining traditional instruments (saxophone, flute, percussion and keyboards) with music technology. "A high-energy jazz duo that can rock the house or sweep you away with a sweet love ballad” - Newsweekly.
Sunday, Apr. 29, 2 pm/1 pm pre-concert talk. Island Chamber Players. A piano/viola duet, a viola/violin duet, and a piano quartet - featuring Bates College violist Robert Dan and local favorite, pianist Chiharu Naruse.
Sunday, May 20, 2 pm. Casco Bay Tummlers Klezmer Band - A History of Jewish Music. A concert with commentary. Traditional music, dances, & Yiddish Theater music. Three CDs.
Sunday, Jun. 24, 2 pm/1 pm pre-concert talk. PORTopera’s Young Artists. (They will confirm in Aug.) Back for the 9th time! PORTopera’s auditioned voices. Opera TBA.
- Proceeds to a trust fund for future lecture/concert series to benefit our community.
- Danforth Art Gallery open to concertgoers an hour before and after most concerts.
- Tickets are available at Pat's Pizza of Augusta, Apple Valley Books in Winthrop, Mike Davis Entertainment in Waterville, and at the door.
- Tickets: $10, $5 for students, 12 and under free.
- Subscribe to 7 or more concerts (by mail only): $8, $4 for students.
Order Tickets by Mail AFTER July 1: 1) Fill in the order form below, 2) attach a check or money order made out to "UMASC" and a stamped self-addressed envelope for us to mail you tickets, and 3) send it to: UMA Senior College, 46 University Dr., Augusta, ME 04330. Information: 621-3551, umasc@maine.edu, or www.concertsatjewett.com.