Members of LLL’s Speaker Series Team met In March to select the best speakers for the upcoming season. Pictured, from left, are: Tim Pisarski, Wendy Frumkin, Maureen McCann, Paul Polk, Jill Burnham (front), Janice Scott (back), Jackie Jenkins (front) Jayne Cromer (back), and Mark Cromer. Not pictured is team member Ruth Shaffer. (Photo by Phil Korzilius)
Volunteers Recognized at Spring Celebration
Tim Pisarski
Nearly 50 LifeLong Learning (LLL) volunteers gathered on April 10 for food, beverages, and conversation to celebrate another successful season and to elect next season’s board of directors. The recaps reported for the recently completed 2023-24 season included:
Classes—The Classes Team presented 27 different classes for 618 attendees, plus two classes added in April and another in May. This team also again presented the Great Decisions program, attracting 50 attendees. In addition, the team managed LLL’s PC Reads program, attracting more than 240 participants.
Speaker Series—The team organized a robust schedule of speakers, resulting in 14 weekday speakers and 2,342 attendees. The team also hosted five evening Premier speakers, including three sell-outs, with an average attendance of 287 per event.
Trips—The Trips Team organized 12 different trips with 548 attendees visiting exciting places, such as Luke AFB, Barleens Playhouse, Rae Dawn Arabian Horse Farm, and a Lake Pleasant dinner cruise.
The volunteers at the spring meeting approved these nominees for next season’s Board of Directors: Marianne Boechler, Jill Burnham, Doug Jameson, Phil Korzilius, Lindsay Laven, Cathy Martell, Pam O’Shea, Tim Pisarski, Paul Polk, Susan Roth, Gene Walther, and Jeff Young. Soon LLL will confirm and announce responsibilities for each of next season’s directors.
Susan Roth, LLL’s Trips director, is looking forward to working with her team to plan the next LLL season. (Photo by Phil Korzilius)
Trips Director Reviews, Plans Ahead
Susan Roth
I love talking about LifeLong Learning’s very successful Trips seasons! This 2023-24 season had wonderful experiences, fun times, and opportunities to meet many first-time travelers and renew acquaintances with previous travel companions. In spite of several venues limiting capacity or not accommodating our request, we ran 12 trips and had 548 attendees.
We started our season on Oct. 25 with a trip to the SIKH Temple and the Jewish Historical Society. We finished the season March 19 with a trip to ASU to view its Moon and Mars exhibits.
For the upcoming 2024-25 season, we are bringing back some trips—which participants requested for repeat, had waiting lists and/or great reviews—while also adding a couple new opportunities.
Two trips already confirmed for October are:
* Maricopa County Citizenship Academy, maricopacountyattorney.org/232/Citizens-Academy
* Another private-charter Lake Pleasant cruise, this time during the day with a catered lunch.
Watch for more trip postings in the fall.
Every trip includes lunch, admission fees, all gratuities, and two knowledgeable, fun LifeLong Learning (LLL) escorts, as well as a comfortable ride on a climate-controlled motor coach.
For more detailed information about each trip offered, check lifelonglearningatpc.org and watch for LLL brochures. We will continue offering consistent communication throughout the season via LLL’s website, the PebbleCreek Post, Constant Contact, and email.
LLL Trips seasons could not happen without the hard work of an amazing Trips Team. I would like to recognize these volunteers, who give of their time to research, vet, plan, organize and escort the trips. Team members are: Sheryl Archer, Roger Crystal, Bev Drury, Bill Fenster, Cindy Hix, Nan Lind, Kathy Nemeth, CJ Newman, Billie Plasker, and Barbara Younker.
This upcoming season is going to be one of our best! We look forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new participants. See you on the bus!
Mississippi River Expert to Speak
Pat Ingalls
On Tuesday, June 25, at 1 p.m., Thomas Struve, a retired tugboat captain, will give a brisk overview of how the Mississippi River serves as the nautical spine of the U.S., providing a very critical transportation artery that connects over 12,500 river miles and hundreds of middle American river ports to the world via the Port of South Louisiana at the Gulf of Mexico.
Attendees will enjoy learning about the primary tributaries to the Mississippi, cargo carried, geography, and regional highlights. Struve also will speak from experience about towboats, barges, ships, and marine facilities along the river, which he and others call the remarkable “Father of Waters.”
Struve grew up along the Mississippi, where he dreamed of piloting the towboats that worked the river. He made that dream come true at age 21, when he became the youngest towboat captain to be licensed to work on the Mississippi. He has written two books about his experiences, bringing to life his stories of the times and characters that contributed to his colorful career on America’s largest river.
Tickets go on sale at noon, on the date of the presentation, in the lobby of the Renaissance Theater and are $5 at the door. The lecture begins at 1 p.m. No registration is required. For full details, go to lifelonglearningatpc.org.