From left: Joe Lacaeyse, Carole and Phil Korzilius, Doug Jameson, Dave Nebergall, and Jill Burnham
Lectures Are a Team Effort that Continues All Year Long
Lorna Bray
The LifeLong Learning (LLL) lecture season has come to an end and planning for next season has already begun, making it an appropriate time to extend my appreciation to the lecture team and to the PC community for supporting these programs with your attendance and your speaker suggestions.
The lecture team is comprised of a group of LLL volunteers who are active in front of and behind the scenes. The process to bring a speaker to you is involved and ongoing throughout the year and would not be possible without the dedication of this group of volunteers. The Lecture Vetting Committee of approximately 20 volunteers is in the final stages of vetting potential speakers to bring quality lectures to PebbleCreek next season.
Sincere appreciation also goes to those who work selling tickets under the direction of Joe Lacaeyse for Monday morning lectures; Kayrene Braden, leader for premier lecture ticket sales; the lobby team and Jeff Young, leader; the A/V booth volunteers, Dave Nebergall and Doug and Marge Jameson; the introducers and Carole Korzilius, leader; Esther Schatz, who is responsible for the purchase of the raffle prizes; Carol Mungus, who sends thank you notes to each of our speakers following their presentations; Ted Ingalls, who summarizes the evaluation cards after each lecture; Sue Smith and Myla Houle, who input all of the evaluation data for use in preparing future lectures; and to Jill Burnham, who has recently joined the lecture team as the Monday morning lecture coordinator. We also thank the marketing team for all of the writing, editing, and advertising they do throughout the year to keep you informed of upcoming lectures.
Notes from the President
Cathy Lindstrom
Hello, friends and neighbors! LifeLong Learning classes, lectures, and trips have concluded for the 2019-2020 season and we have begun the planning for next season which begins in October 2020.
So, here is what is happening over the next few months. The lecture vetting team is meeting three times to discuss and finalize the speakers for our Monday Morning and Premier Lectures. The class team is busy identifying topics of interest and some of these may be ones you suggested. The trip team is looking at the successes of this past season and identifying new opportunities to give you a wonderful learning experience.
On a personal note, I took the trip to ASU School of Earth and Space Exploration and thought it was one of the best trips I have done. ASU is a very big player with NASA, with over 22 projects currently in operation or in final planning, to the moon, Mars, and asteroids, such as Bennu.
We don’t forget our summer audiences and are planning another TED adventure for those of you who are eager to learn (and anxious to get out of the afternoon heat). PC Reads, a drop-in book discussion group, will continue to offer monthly meetings throughout the summer. Keep an eye out for more summer programs!
With all this work, we need volunteers with some specific experience to help us. New openings include those with experience in web design, graphic design, Joomla platforms, and writing to help create our marketing materials over the summer. Much of the work can be done from the comfort of your home, so if you are interested, please call Robbie Fox, director of volunteers at 650-291-0169 or Cathy Lindstrom at 602-309-0403 to explore the possibilities.
April Events
Events with an asterisk are free but require registration, which opens 30 days prior to the event. Please check the LLL website, www.lifelonglearningatpc.org, for details about all events as to registration and time.
Special Programs
*April 1: LLL Guitar Group – Songs of the Decades
*April 2: PC Reads – This Tender Land by William Kent Kruger
April 8 and 22: Guitar Group drop-in meetings
Contact Information
* LLL Center hours: Closed until September
* Website: www.lifelonglearningatpc.org
* LLL Center: 623-535-8875
* Email: [email protected]
Sharing Your Knowledge in LLL Programs
Carole Korzilius
PebbleCreek has a multitude of talented residents, many of whom enhanced our 2019-2020 season with their expertise.
LifeLong Learning thanks Linda Bolon for our opening Monday morning lecture on coyotes; Gene Fioretti, who once again taught us to make artisan bread, baguettes, and pasta from scratch; Connie Hatfield, who taught about the vegan lifestyle and prepared some special recipes; Dave Hungerford who lectured on North Korea’s nuclear program; Linda Kesselman, who shared her expertise in the intriguing world of gemstones class; Cathy Lindstrom, who helped us understand the important of talking with your family about the end of life; Dwight Moore, who spoke on why people harass; John Moore, who taught how to research and write about your family tree; Gail Shank, who demonstrated how to use an Instant Pot; and Mary Thomas who shared her knowledge of the great Black migration.
If you or someone you know would be interested in sharing knowledge with the PebbleCreek community, please send an email to [email protected] or leave a message on the LLL Center phone, 623-535-8875.
Learning Continues on Trips
Kathy Nemeth and Roger Crystal
Did you know that the REI Distribution Center is one of the most sustainable buildings in the world?
On Jan. 21, LifeLong Learning toured both the REI center and the Goodyear Police Department. The warehouse has a Platinum certification, the highest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. It produces all of its own energy with 280,000 sq. ft. of rooftop solar and takes an innovative approach to water conservation. It has a non-evaporative cooling system that saves millions of gallons of water annually. Also, the advanced technology that was developed for REI allows one employee to process items eight times faster than the typical distribution center and six employees handle the volume that normally requires 40 to 50 employees.
The REI tour was followed by a visit to the Goodyear Police Department and the 911 Telecommunication Center. The 10,000 square-foot 911 Center is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology. The dispatch room, where all the 911 calls are received, has soundproofing technology in the flooring and ceiling. Tour participants also viewed the room and technology where staff would communicate with virtually every state and federal agency that would participate in a large-scale regional event, such as the Super Bowl, Final Four, Pro Bowl, and natural and man-made disasters. The Police Department tour included the Citizens’ Academy, patrol cars, gym, canine kennels, and body cameras.
There are two LLL volunteer escorts on every trip and they are prepared for the day. They have visited the venues ahead of time and know how to make your trip educational, fun, relaxing, and safe. The trip team is hard at work now preparing for the 2020-2021 season. Look for a sneak peak of what is on the schedule in a future PC Post.