Your donations add up – and they don’t cost you a dime
You’re probably wondering if the folks at LifeLong Learning are dreaming, but this isn’t fake news.
Since LifeLong Learning began participating in the Fry’s Food Stores Community Rewards Program, 84 PebbleCreek households have designated LifeLong Learning as the non-profit that benefits from their purchases.
Because of that, and by doing nothing except shopping for groceries or gasoline as they normally would, Fry’s has donated more than $700 to LifeLong Learning on behalf of those 84 households. It’s a simple and painless way for you to help keep LLL costs under control. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if even half of the residents who attend LLL classes, trips and lectures participated?
In a similar way, Amazon also gives back to community organizations through its AmazonSmile program, which donates 0.5 percent of the purchase price of most items to charities. Once again, there is no cost to the charity or to the customer. We have no way of checking into the number of participants, but we do know that it’s working. So far, almost $100 has been raised since LLL became part of the program two years ago.
How can you sign up and support LLL? It’s simple to do. Visit the LLL website at www.lifelonglearningatpc.org and click on the “Donate” menu item. On the dropdown menu you will find easy instructions for Fry’s and for Amazon’s Smile programs. On the same dropdown menu, you will find an online donation form if you prefer to make an outright donation. We like those, too.
Maybe these methods don’t suit you and you’d prefer to do something different? Talk to us and we’ll try to find a way for you to have the impact you are seeking. Perhaps you’d like to donate to bring more prominent (i.e., expensive!) lecturers or underwrite the costs of a specific program? We can do that, too! You let us know how you’d like to donate and we’ll find a way to make it happen.
These dollars add up! Fry’s is going to donate money to some organization, and it might as well be LLL! Same with Amazon. So, keep shopping. Your food, gas and packages from Amazon can impact LLL. It can all benefit your favorite continuing education program: LifeLong Learning at PebbleCreek.
LifeLong Learning names new team leaders
One of LifeLong Learning’s oldest programs and one of its newest will have new leaders in the coming season.
Mary Gangl has been in charge of classes almost from the beginning since LifeLong Learning first offered them more than a decade ago, finding good teachers to present interesting classes on a wide variety of topics. Her creativity and her attention to detail make classes popular and successful, with offerings ranging from baking Artisan Bread and Arizona History to Vegetarian Diets, Drones, Arizona Birds and Wildlife Photography. Now Mary is ready for a new LLL challenge and will be responsible for planning the successful Sunday Series.
Leslie Miller, a teacher, administrator and principal with the School District of Philadelphia for 34 years, has agreed to be the new team leader, working with Mary this coming season to learn the ropes. A new LifeLong Learning volunteer, Leslie has been a resident of PebbleCreek for 13 years, served as a commissioner on the Goodyear Planning and Zoning Commission for more than eight years and served three years on the board of the Southwest Valley Lending Closet.
“I am honored to be a part of such a successful organization like LifeLong Learning,” Miller said. “Promoting learning is very important.”
Shannon Tyree, the organizer and energy behind TED Talks since its inception, is stepping down as team leader, although she will continue to host the Thursday afternoon sessions. “It’s been a fantastic three seasons, and I’m so proud of the sessions we’ve hosted. Now it’s time for new leadership to manage all that needs to happen behind the scenes.”
Flora Conley, Ph.D., has agreed to be the team leader and is already working with volunteers to watch and report on potential TED Talks during the summer to select the talks to be shown next season. “It’s exciting to be the leader of this popular program,” Conley, also a new volunteer, said.
Lifelong Learning shows TED Talks previously shown at TED conferences and TEDx events, then discusses the talks in small groups. Check out previously shown TED Talks by going to the TED Talk webpage, under Special Events on the lifelearningatpc.org website.
Thank you to Flora and to Leslie for your leadership!
Monday Morning lectures – let’s recap
Shannon Tyree
Sometimes the word lecture may connote something equivalent to boring, or dull. Well, let me tell you, Monday Morning Lectures delivered by LLL are anything but boring! And, according to the feedback forms you handed in, you agree. This past season LLL programmed 16 outstanding lectures which proved to, for the most part, exceed the expectations of audience participants.
A little bit about the feedback forms, but first, a statement of appreciation. Thank you for taking the extra moment or two to provide thoughtful feedback about what you experienced, positively and negatively. We can only improve by considering and acting upon these comments. Your voice is heard and we appreciate you. These forms were developed and refined by a group of volunteers interested in ensuring LLL’s commitment to excellence. Every feedback form is reviewed, comments are notated and all are then aggregated to provide statistics. Data from the forms are then provided regularly to the Team Leaders for review and assessment.
What does this mean for you? Well, the information tells us your preferences on the types of lectures presented. You’ve told us what you enjoyed most, how you enjoyed it and why. Same for what you didn’t care for.
We asked and you answered. A while back we asked the community at large for ideas for potential speakers and you responded. Lorna Bray, Director of Lectures, said, “Considering the list of potential speakers we are working with, the community can look forward to another interesting season due, in part, to the many wonderful recommendations that we received. Those of us involved in the lecture series truly appreciate your help.”
What does all this mean for next season? Lorna explained that while for most, the season has ended, the vetting committee is already working on assessing the potential speakers for the 2018-2019 season. The process involves researching the subject matter and expertise of potential speakers. Once everyone on the list has been researched, the speakers are voted on by the committee and ranked. The process is quite involved. The top vote getters are contacted and speakers are confirmed according to their interest and availability. “Our goal is to consistently provide high-caliber speakers on a wide range of interesting topics to our community,” Bray said.
Now, when you see the word lecture you will know that at least on Monday Mornings in PebbleCreek, dull and/or boring is not an option. We’ll continue to do our part by providing the best, most current and interesting topics, and we’ll rely on you for completing those feedback forms.
LifeLong Learning is always available – virtually!
Shannon Tyre
During the season, the LLL Center has regular office hours so we can help residents register for classes and trips, pay for and pick up tickets for lectures or just get their questions answered about anything else that comes up.
Now that the season is over, the LLL Center office hours are suspended, but LLL will continue to help you. How? Contact us by email at [email protected], or leave a voice message on our phone, 623-535-8875 and we’ll be happy to assist you.
And even though the Center office hours are suspended, many of the 100 volunteers are busy meeting in small focused teams to research and plan the wonderful Monday morning and premier lectures, trips, classes, TED Talks, PCReads and Sunday Series programs. We’re also beginning the update of the website to include background information about all these programs and writing the schedule, Premier lecture booklet and Monday Morning lecture handouts.
Maybe you’re new to PebbleCreek? While our physical office may be closed, we invite you to snoop around on our website: www.lifelonglearningatpc.org. Get to know us, by perusing the “About Us” tab on the menu. There you’ll learn about our history, our board of directors and the dedicated volunteers who make LLL the success it is. Check out the many classes, trips, lectures and special programs that were offered this past season and prepare to register for next season by creating a log-in and password. And be sure to sign up for the LLL e-newsletter by clicking the “Join Our Email List” on the home page.
We look forward to seeing you in person again this fall at the LLL Center. Regular office hours will resume in September. Look for the new 2018-2019 schedule at either clubhouse in late September and put a note in your calendar that registration opens at 8:00 a.m. Arizona Time on Monday, October 1.
See you in person next fall; we’re here for you virtually all year long!