2013 UMA Senior College Brown Bag Schedule (Noon - 1:30 pm, Klahr Rotunda)
January 8 Dean Bennett - The History and Music of the Four-string Jazz Banjo
January 15 Tom Feagin - Shay's Rebellion
January 22 Jen Coane - Memory and Healthy Aging
January 29 Chuck Acker - Organic Plot to Table Top: Sheepscot General Store
January 31 John Burgess - Super Bowl Brown Bag Tailgate
February 5 Chuck Acker - Challenges to Food and Farming: Pesticides and GMO's
February 12 Robert Bernheim - Up, Up, and Oy Vey! Jews, Nazis, and Comic Book Super Heroes
February 19 Donald Hoxie - Who's Watching Your Investments?
February 26 Elizabeth Reinsborough - Travels in South Africa
March 5 Art Ray - Two Maine Calamities: Maine Afire 1947, and 1936 Flood
Snow Dates: January 24 and February 28 (in case a lecture is canceled due to inclement weather)
SPRING 2013 COURSES:
Registration for Spring courses begins on FEBRUARY 18th.
Download the UMASC registation form »
Download all of the course information in a word document »
| Course |
Weeks |
Dates |
Day |
Time |
Capacity |
| Beginning Spanish 1.0 |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
10:45 AM - 12:45 |
5-12 students |
| Classic Films for Senior College |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
8:30 AM - 12:30 |
8-35 students |
| Evolution of Cooperation |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
3:15 – 5:15 PM |
7-15 students |
| Genealogy: Beginning |
7 |
4/12 – 5/24 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
3-10 students |
| Hands-on Beginning Art |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
10:45 AM - 12:45 |
8-16 students |
| Hard Core Zen |
7 |
3/15 – 4/26 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
5-20 students |
| Joy of Poetry |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
10:45 AM - 12:45 |
12-25 students |
| Laughter, Meaning and Community |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
6-12 students |
| National Parks of the Western U.S. |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
8-20 students |
| Nutrition for Today |
8 |
3/21 – 5/9 |
Thur |
10:00 AM - 12:00 |
12-24 students |
| Oral History Theatre: Part Two |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
3:15 - 5:15 PM |
6-15 students |
| Nazi Germany: A Brief History |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
8:30 - 10:30 AM |
8-25 students |
| The Arch Artificer: James Joyce |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
10:45 AM - 12:45 |
8-15 students |
| The Rise and Fall of American Musical |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
10:45 AM - 12:45 |
10-25 students |
| When Cultures Collide: Plains Indian War |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
10-25 students |
| Wildflower Wednesdays |
6 |
See Description |
Wed |
1:00 - 3:00 PM |
6-12 students |
| Wood Carving: Beginning and Continuing |
8 |
3/15 – 5/3 |
Fri |
8:30 - 10:30 AM |
6-12 students |
| Lecture Series Held at Granite Hill Estates |
8 |
3/19 – 5/7 |
Tues |
10:30 AM - Noon |
15-50 students |
REGISTRATION FOR SPRING COURSES BEGINS ON FEBRUARY 18.
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 the Alumni Center (where Women, Work and Community used to be located at 16 Farmhouse Drive). Or by Mail: UMASC, 46 University Drive, Augusta, ME 04330. For further information please call 621-3551.
NOTE: If for any reason you are unable to attend the course/s for which you have registered, please contact the Senior College office at 621-3551 ASAP. We have waiting lists for filled courses.
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.
BEGINNING SPANISH 1.0 - Instructor: Charles Acker
Fridays, 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
This course will not assume any prior knowledge of Spanish. However, if you have had a high school or college course in Spanish but have forgotten what you learned, you are welcome. We will begin with basic pronunciation and vocabulary, verbs in the present tense, and simple phrases. Hopefully, by the end of the semester you will know how to make a simple request in Spanish and, better, to comprehend the answer. Textbook is provided. NOTE: It is recommended that you provide your own English-Spanish dictionary and a small verb conjugation book (suggestions will be made in class).
CLASSIC FILMS FOR SENIOR COLLEGE - Instructors: Chet Day/Peter Ezzy/Art Ray
Fridays, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
This course consists of a fun discussion group exploring the relative merits of representative top-rated Classic Films as determined by the American Film Industry. Films will be critiqued to determine: themes, core content, values, era, technical merit, unique production qualities, and fun. Class members actively participate and may take turns leading the discussion. The potential films are: Citizen Kane ’41; All About Eve ’50; Oklahoma ’55; Russians are Coming ’66; Blazing Saddles ’74; Deer Hunter ’78; Raging Bull ’80; and As Good As It Gets ’97. Meetings will take place Friday mornings at 8:30 AM and end by 12:30 PM. An informal breakfast will take place before the start and during the films (Pot Luck). Limited enrollment, with study materials provided.
EVOLUTION OF COOPERATION - Instructor: Charles Acker
Fridays, 3:15 - 5:15 PM
Recognizing that human survival depends on social groups, Charles Darwin struggled with the problem of how the disposition to care and help others could have evolved, since the theory of natural selection is based on the fitness of the individual to compete and survive. Whether or not evolution can take place at the group level has been a long-standing controversy among theorists. In this course we will explore how humans came to be super cooperators (as well as combatants) and find out what light game theory and mathematical analysis can throw on this issue. We will find out how, and under what conditions, the struggle for individual survival can contribute to a hard-wired predisposition to cooperate, not only among Homo sapiens but among organisms down to the one-celled level. Math skills are not required, but a willingness to grapple with some theoretical intricacies is necessary. Seminar style class setting. Textbook provided.
GENEALOGY: BEGINNING - Instructor: Robert Pelletier
Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM BEGINNING APRIL 12
This course is for the person interested in starting work in Genealogy but without the knowledge of basic concepts. To be discussed: How to Get Started, Forms, Record Keeping, Sources of Information, etc. One session at the Maine State Library will provide information available at this valuable site. Materials provided. NOTE: Class begins on April 12.
HANDS-ON BEGINNING ART - Instructor: Ruth Bookey
Fridays, 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
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.
HARD CORE ZEN - Instructor: Jonathan Lepoff
Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
We will read and discuss the book Hard Core Zen by Brad Warner. Mr. Warner was born in Ohio where he played bass in the hard core punk band Zero Defex. Later he moved to Japan where he was involved in the production of low budget monster movies and Ultraman television programs. It was during his time in Japan that he studied with Zen master Gudo Wafu Nishijima and became a priest. We will also watch films with Buddhist themes. The instructor’s purpose in teaching this course is to try to reduce suffering. Textbook provided.
JOY OF POETRY - Instructor: Ted Bookey
Fridays, 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
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.
LAUGHTER, MEANING & COMMUNITY: MINDFULLY SHARING OUR STORIES - Instructor: Akiba Mermey
Fridays, 1:00 – 3:00 PM
We will help each other to listen deeply, while sharing and feeling some of the rhythms, rhymes, and meanings that have powerfully touched and moved us. Cultivating and practicing mindfulness and expanding our play range will be important parts of our sharing circle.
NATIONAL PARKS OF WESTERN U.S. - Instructor: Elizabeth Reinsborough
Fridays, 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Our National Parks are the envy of the world. They protect not just spectacular scenery but also the best of our scientific and historic heritage. They preserve ecosystems and some are World Heritage Sites. From the Gates of the Arctic to Carlsbad Caverns, Yosemite to Glacier and many parks in between, we will explore what is unique about various parks from Hawaii to the Rockies. Half of each class will be a visual presentation by the instructor. Students will be encouraged to share experiences and participate in short presentations. Textbook provided.
NUTRITION FOR TODAY - Instructor: Suzanne Bazinet
Thursdays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
This eight-week nutrition course updates the nutrition information from earlier Senior College nutrition courses. We will address the needs of seniors living independently in the United States. Students will see how nutrition can affect wellness. We will look at what we have learned from NASA’s Space Program and the Human Genome Project. Is age reversal possible? The answers are as varied as the individuals in the class. Come explore what is right for you. Materials provided. NOTE: Basic Computer Skills Required. Class Begins on Thursday, March 21.
ORAL HISTORY THEATRE: PART TWO - Instructor: Barbara Helen Baker
Fridays, 3:15 - 5:15 PM
This is the continuation of a class begun in the Fall in which writing pieces were completed. This semester we will be rehearsing and performing some of those pieces. New members are welcome.
NAZI GERMANY: A BRIEF HISTORY - Instructor: Robert Bernheim
Fridays, 8:30 - 10:30 AM
Nazi Germany is one of the most intensely scrutinized subjects in modern European History. During this eight-week survey course, we will devote further attention to this important subject. Students will examine the scope and depth of the rise of the Nazis to power during the Weimar Republic. We will study the Nazi efforts at consolidation, preparations for and the execution of a war of annihilation throughout Europe, as well as the development and implementation of the so-called ‘Final Solution to the Jewish Question.’ With the help of primary source documents, eyewitness testimonies, and memoirs, we will seek a better understanding of how “ordinary Germans” embraced Hitler and the Nazi cause, what was done to resist Hitler and the Nazi Holocaust, as well as what the legacy of Nazi Germany is in the world today.
THE ARCH ARTIFICER: JAMES JOYCE - Instructor: Bryant Hoffman
Fridays, 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
James Joyce probably holds the “honor” of being both the clearest yet most complex writer ever to delight and/or puzzle those who “know” his work. Please join us for a journey through a few of the stories in Dubliners [1914] and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man [1916] to help build a foundation for such later works as Exiles [1918], Ulysses [1922] and Finnegans Wake [1939]. In reading, reviewing, and discussing Dubliners and Portrait, we will use film and internet resources. Since Dublin its dear self is at Joyce’s heart, we will “travel” there as best we can. Textbooks provided.
THE RISE AND FALL OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL - Instructor: Peter Rosenberg
Fridays, 10:45 AM - 12:45 PM
The American Musical has evolved from many sources including Shakespeare, Gilbert and Sullivan, The Minstrel Show, Vaudeville, Tin Pan Alley, the melting pot, the phonograph and the radio. The development of the American Musical through the 20th Century will be the emphasis of this course. Student participation is encouraged. Textbook provided.
WHEN CULTURES COLLIDE: THE PLAINS INDIAN WARS - Instructor: Mike Bell
Fridays, 1:00 - 3:00 PM
The armed struggle for control of the western and southwestern parts of the United States, between the United States government and native peoples, during the later part of the 19th century, was the final act of Manifest Destiny. The arrival of Europeans had led to misunderstandings and violence that quickly spun out of control. This expansion of the United States to the west resulted in the displacement of millions of people and left countless dead and suffering in its wake. This course will focus on the nearly forty year struggle between the US government and the peoples of the native nations. We will examine the roots of this conflict, how each party carried out war upon the other, and will explore the lingering effects that are with us still today. At the conclusion of the class, students will have a comprehensive understanding of the issues, personalities, and events that shaped this period in history. Textbook provided.
WILDFLOWER WEDNESDAYS - 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 easily recognize and identify these plants. Come explore the wonder of the world beneath your feet. Learn how 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.
WOODCARVING: BEGINNING AND CONTINUING - Instructor: Loyd Clark
Fridays, 8:30 - 10:30 AM
Learn and practice basic safety and carving cuts to produce several projects and/or to continue learning with slightly more complex projects. Individual assistance is given as much as possible. We will try to make the learning fun…it’s only wood…and no such thing as “mistakes”, just design changes. Materials and instructions provided.
NOTE: If for any reason you are unable to attend the course/s for which you have registered, please contact the Senior College office at 621-3551 ASAP. We have waiting lists for filled courses.
YVONNE FARNSWORTH LECTURE SERIES HELD AT GRANITE HILL ESTATES
Tuesdays, 10:30 AM - Noon
This eight-week course, held at Granite Hill Estates, is a potpourri of topics offered by faculty members of Senior College at the University of Maine at Augusta. This lecture series will be held in the Media Room. Preference will be given the first three weeks to Granite Hill residents who pay membership and course tuition. Registration begins on February 18th. Any UMASC member who wishes to take this class should register at the usual time and will be accepted on a first come basis to fill the class. Each class will be on Tuesday from 10:30 AM to 12:00 Noon, beginning March 19th. The following is a list of lectures for the Spring semester:
| DATE: |
INSTRUCTOR: |
TOPIC: |
| March 19 | Peter Rosenberg | History of the American Musical Sing-Along |
| March 26 | Margy Burns Knight | Who’s That Lady? |
| April 2 | Art Ray | Maine Art and Artists who Painted in Maine, Part 2 |
| April 9 | Jym St. Pierre | America’s Next Great National Park |
| April 16 | Elizabeth Reinsborough | A Journey Around Ireland |
| April 23 | Ruth and Ted Bookey | Poetry About Family |
| April 30 | Dean Bennett | Nature and Renewal: The Message from Wild River Valley |
| May 7 | Tom Feagin | Scalawags and Klansmen: After the War |
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 an enthusiastic supporter of UMA Senior College.
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).
