Dear NCCCR members,  

The Center was active this week with the first week of Spring 2012 classes. Thanks to staff and our amazing front desk volunteers and those who manned the information desk, this first week felt energetic and welcoming.

Looking ahead, we encourage you to read the Center's Strategic Initiatives for 2012-17 by clicking here and our Statement of Core Values by clicking here. Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.  I encourage you to attend the Town Hall Meeting on April 10 at 4:30 pm in the Manheimer Room to hear further discussion of the Strategic Plan and other issues, including a review of the Center's accomplishments this year and plans moving forward.

Sometimes as staff at the Center we spend our days handling details, looking back at what we've done and looking forward to what we have yet to do. This Friday, I took the time to slow down and savor this week's Fab Friday presentation and enjoyed a wonderful treat.  Milt Crotts, conductor for the Blue Ridge Orchestra, the UNC Asheville Symphony and Pep Band, brought talented musicians for what he called "an informance as much as a performance."  In addition to the works the Blue Ridge Orchestra will perform today in a concert at the Diana Wortham Theater at 4 pm, we were graced with a performance on the piano by Jacqueline Schwab, who records the piano soundtrack for many of Ken Burns's documentaries, including The Civil War. Jacqueline was in town to perform a benefit for the Blue Ridge Orchestras, which holds open rehearsals at the Reuter Center on Wednesday evenings and thus is our "resident orchestra." 

The music and insights offered on Friday are representative of the educational and inspirational offerings available every day here at the Center. Even the intelligent questions from the audience underscored what a fertile learning environment we foster here at the Center. I think what I will remember most about this event,  however, was Milt's reminder of the meaning of the word "amateur," which comes from the Latin "lover." Milt reminded us that amateur musicians perform for the love of it. He reminded me that we sometimes undervalue "amateurs" and assume that "professionals" will be more accomplished.  At least three of the musicians were retired from another career, and the whole event was for me a reminder that creative retirement brings the opportunity to do things every day "for the love of it." We have instructors, SIG coordinators, and volunteer leaders who have been professionals at the tops of their fields who now have the time and opportunity to be "amateurs," to share with all of us their passion and to remind us that brings a freedom that professionals seldom enjoy. That's a treat we all benefit from every day.

With gratitude for the many ways you model the benefits of a creative retirement,

Catherine Frank       

 Executive Director