|
Welcome to Your September Newsletter!
I am definitely unwilling to let August go, with the hope of just one more summer kayaking adventure, pleeeez, but here we are in September already. And in truth it is my favorite month, full of color and new possibilities. We have been enjoying the fall Senior College catalogs and course descriptions arriving in our office; there will be many great educational experiences in the state of Maine this month and right on into the start of holiday season. Happy autumn everyone!
Sincerely,
Kali Lightfoot
Executive Director
Maine Senior College Network
|
2014 Poet Laureate Contest
Who Will Be MSCN's Next
Poet Laureate?
Do you write poetry or would you like to give it a try? Are you a member of a Maine Senior College? If so, you could become the next MSCN Poet Laureate! It's easy to enter -- simply email a poem you have written to Fran Myers at the MSCN office. Or mail a printout of your poem to: Fran Myers Maine Senior College Network University of Southern Maine P.O. Box 9300 Portland, ME 04104 Be sure to include: 1. Your name 2. Address 3. Telephone number 4. Email address 5 Name of you senior college
Each Maine Senior College member may enter one poem. The poem must be previously unpublished with the exception of having been published in the MSCN e-newsletter. The deadline for submissions is December 31, 2013. The winning poem will be published in the MSCN e-newsletter, and the new MSCN Poet Laureate will receive an Amazon Kindle e-book reader. We're looking forward to reading poetry from members across the state!
|
Sunrise Invites You to a Trip to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos
This year Sunrise is getting together a small (maximum 16) group to go to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos from January 15-30. You can fly from anywhere and still join our trip. However, space is limited. Sunrise is using Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) for the trip. They have used this company for travel in the past with great success. They address the needs of adults "of a certain age". They are very careful and helpful--and reasonable! If anyone is interested in this wonderful adventure, they should call OAT at either 1-800-221-2610 or 1-800-321-2385. Press option #1 or #2. They will need the following information: Group Name: Sunrise Senior College Group Contact/Leader: Etta Abrahams Group Number: 25332 Service Code: G4-25332
-submitted by Etta Abrahams for Sunrise
|
Trip Planned to See West Side Story
 | Rachel Morin, Chair, with assistants Gene and Lydia Gilbert have arranged a requested return trip to the Ogunquit Playhouse to see West Side Story on September 11th. The group will have lunch at Mike's Clam Shack before the matinee.
|
-submitted by Rachel Morin for Lewiston-Auburn
|
Sunrise Gets Creative at Their Annual Picnic
Sunrise Senior College held its annual picnic on August 3rd at Roque Bluffs State Park. It was a little chilly so Park Range Rich Donaher was kind enough to put up the sides of the tent. The food as usual was outstanding. We have some great cooks as members of SSC. Next year we must remember to bring our recipes.
As part of the afternoon we were told about the upcoming fall semester classes. Anne Baker is the new chair for the Curriculum Committee. Thanks also went to Nancy Skala for a masterful job on the fall semester brochure. The brochures were given to those in attendance. Additional brochures were given to various folks from different towns to post in the libraries, post offices and other locales. Everyone was encouraged to look for those brochures in the mail or out and about in town and register early to be sure to have a spot.
Jackie Lowe the new chair of our Public Relations Committee challenged us with a fun party game.
Each table was to think of a creative way to advertise SSC. We were given 15 minutes to craft our advertising. Read details on the group skits. You will not be disappointed!! -submitted by Gail Peters for Sunrise
|
Food for Thought Lunch features Maine Senior College Network Executive Director Kali Lightfoot, Executive Director of the Maine Senior College Network and the National Resource Center for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes will be the presenter at the USM Lewiston-Auburn Senior College "Food for Thought" 11:30 luncheon on Friday, September 13. Her topic is "50 Years and Counting: A National Perspective on the Past, Present, and Future of Lifelong Learning Institutes." Senior Colleges in Maine are part of a national movement of lifelong learning institutes that have contributed to a sea of change in the way our society views the learning capacity of people over age 50. Did you know Maine is the only state with an established network of lifelong learning institutes ( The Maine Senior College Network), and Maine also hosts the National Resource Center for 117 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes at universities in all 50 states? The University of Southern Maine is proud to have been the home of the first Senior College, and the first Osher Institute. Come learn how and why this form of adult learning started, and what the future of Senior College might look like in Maine and in America as a whole. Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks! The "Food For Thought" will be held in Function Room 170 at USM LAC. The cost, which includes lunch, is $7 with advance reservation or $8 at the door. Reservations must be made by noon on September 12 by calling 753-6510. Any late callers will be considered "at the door." -submitted by Rachel Morin for Lewiston-Auburn
|
The Poet's Corner
Obscured Beauty
Making a quick trip to the newspaper tube, not long after sunrise, the stillness was disturbed by loud manic crows
staking claim to recent roadkill: each moving closer and closer to their good fortune with guarded caution.
As I headed back to the house, the cawing stopped abruptly; another larger, hideous bird had landed at the scene - a turkey vulture.
The crows scattered, the turkey vulture flew low flaunting a large piece of carrion. I couldn't bear to observe more.
Safely back in the house, I dawdled over the morning paper. Hoping the roadkill incident was over, I mustered the courage to check.
Crows, roadkill gone.
Then I spotted the vulture - its countenance no longer visible. Instead, a magnificent creature soaring in spiraling circles riding thermals its wings forming a shallow V.
It dipped one wing - a final sweeping statement - and flew away.
by Joan W. Nicholson, Augusta |
Maine Seniors Day Signed into Law
Annual September Event will Raise Awareness and Celebrate Older Residents
Maine Seniors Magazine, AARP Maine and many other organizations throughout the state are announcing today the first annual Maine Seniors Day. The Act to Establish Maine Seniors Day was sponsored by Representative Richard Campbell (R-Orrington) and signed into law by Governor Paul LePage on May 24th. The Act designates the second Saturday of every September a special day inviting Maine people, businesses and organizations to show their appreciation for Maine's seniors. The first annual Maine Seniors Day will take place this year on Saturday, September 14, 2013.
|
|
Notes From Here and There . . .
Are you looking to make a difference in senior's lives? Comfort Keepers is expanding their services and is in need of top quality caregivers to help improve the lives of seniors. They are an in-home non-medical service provider in York and Cumberland Counties that is focus on keeping seniors safe and in their homes for as long as they see fit. They offer flexible hours, ongoing training and support, competitive wages and earned benefits. If this seems like something you would be interested in and you would like to receive more information. Please call: 207 885-9600 or send an email to: deniseharrington@comfortkeepers.com
|
Like MSCN on Facebook
 Now you can "like" Maine Senior College Network on Facebook. We've created an MSCN page on Facebook, so please visit it to share experiences, ideas, photos, and information about upcoming Maine Senior College happenings. We'll also post links to articles about lifelong learning and other topics relevant to senior college members. |
Photo of School Days: By Ardfern (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
Photo of Galapagos: By Xxchangwoo0120xx (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
|
|
|
|
|
|
Don't forget to go to the Maine Senior College Network website to find out what is happening around the state!
Maine Senior College Network |
|
|
|
The Maine Senior College Network Display Boards are available to any senior college that would like to borrow them. For more information, check out the link below.
|
Maine Senior Guide is a comprehensive web resource about all things senior that provides "one stop shopping" for Maine's seniors at the link below:
|
About Us
Maine Senior College Network
P.O. Box 9300
Portland, Maine 04104-9300
(207)228-8256
(207)780-4317 (fax)
Kali Lightfoot
Executive Director
Anne Cardale
Director of Communication
Director of Conferences
fmyers@usm.maine.edu
|
Trouble opening our pdfs?

Download Adobe Reader by clicking the button above. |
|
|