LifeLong Learning at PebbleCreek

What’s Happening at LLL?

Cathy Lindstrom

Greetings again to our PebbleCreek neighbors, with hopes that you are well and safe.

LifeLong Learning teams have been working over the past months to prepare for our online programs, some of which will occur this summer, with more planned for the fall. Our survey results informed us that PebbleCreek residents are willing to attend virtual programs, so we will be offering a free virtual class on how to use Zoom for online classes and lectures. Zoom enables registrants to watch from the safety of their homes. More information will be coming about that soon.

The IT team has been working diligently to install a new registration system which will make the process easier for you and, hopefully, avoid some of the problems we encountered in the past. The website will have a new look and is the place where you can sign up for classes, lectures, and other events. The LifeLong Learning website, lifelonglearningatpc.org, has been updated to include a host of virtual learning information. Take a look at all the new virtual information we have posted there. You can actually visit museums, tour National Parks, participate in lectures from various universities, and so much more. In addition to PebbleNews, the PebbleCreek Post, and postings on the e-group, the website will be your source for all LLL news.

We had planned to host a TED Extravaganza again this summer in the theater, but the theater is expected to stay closed until further notice. Therefore, we have posted the TED Talks on our website so you can watch at your leisure. There are some great talks included and I hope you’ll take a look, especially when it’s too hot to go outside.

At this time, we are not planning any trips during the fall portion of our regular season due to the pandemic. We are hoping to open our trips up in the winter, depending on how the world looks. You will receive 60 days notice before the date a trip is scheduled to give you time to register and get it on your calendar. At 30 days prior to the scheduled trip, a decision will be made as to its viability. If the trip must be cancelled, your registration fee will be refunded.

As always, feel free to send us comments and questions at [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you in a totally new way!

LLL Contact Information

* LLL Center hours: closed until further notice

* Website: lifelonglearningatpc.org

* LLL Center: 623-535-8875

* Email: [email protected]

Email Cleanup

Ruth Shaffer

Every summer, LifeLong Learning cleans up its email lists, removing people who have moved from PebbleCreek, troubleshooting emails that are bouncing, and removing duplicates.

We hope you will help us with this process. If you are receiving more than one email from us, please unsubscribe from one or let us know, so we can remove the duplicate and use your most current email address. Just send a note to [email protected] and we’ll take care of it.

Many thanks!

Virtual Meetings Arrive in PebbleCreek

Emily Grotta

As it became clear that the pandemic was going to last into the summer and beyond, LifeLong Learning (LLL) invited all PebbleCreek residents to take a survey to help LLL decide how to present its programs in the fall. We learned that close to 80 percent of PebbleCreek residents were already using Zoom or other programs to meet with family, take classes, and do other activities online. And more than 70 percent said they would be comfortable in a virtual/online learning situation.

In light of these findings and the uncertainty as to when the Renaissance Theater would be available for lectures, we decided to offer virtual programs this summer via the Zoom platform. We will start with free classes given by previous instructors and then, as we gain experience in this new medium, we will bring other lecturers to you, with a small fee to cover our expenses.

If all of this makes your head spin and you’re not sure you’re ready to dip your toes into the virtual learning world, we’ve created a guide to Zoom to help you, which you can find in the Virtual Learning Center on the LLL website.

We thank everyone who took the time to complete the survey. You can find the full results online at lifelonglearningatpc.org. Watch the PebbleCreek Post, PebbleNews and the various e-groups for further information about programs and registration.

A Special TED Talk

Bill Nee

While the summer TED Talk Extravaganza has been sidelined by COVID-19, LifeLong Learning is working on ways to bring you some interesting talks, including all previously shown TED Talks, on the LLL website, under the Virtual Lectures heading.

One of the best TED Talks that Shannon Tyree, the former leader of TED Talks, heard is “Try Something New for 30 Days” by Matt Cutts. It is only 3:12 minutes. Shannon’s review follows.

“None of us have to do anything anymore, right? No boss to tell us, no professor or teacher we have to report to, but one thing I know about Creekers is that we’re doers. We chose to be part of an active community and for many, made a choice to be seemingly busier now than in our pre-PebbleCreek lives.

“Why do I think this short talk (only three minutes) is so special? Because we all can do this. We’re at a time in our lives when we can try something new for 30 days. In fact, we can try many things for 30 days. We have the freedom from many of life’s burdens available to us. Plus, you get to decide what it is, how difficult, or how challenging.

“Maybe with the status of the world as it is, we’ve put those new things on the back burner. Not anymore, now is the time! Try something new for 30 days and let that momentum build. Let it fire you up to try new things in your life. I guarantee you won’t regret it.”

You can find this talk at ted.com/talks by searching for Matt Cutts.