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 Calendar & Announcements
Upcoming Schedule of Events
Oct 28-Nov 3, 2012
In this issue:
This Week
Next Week
And Beyond

Dear OLLI members,    

Today's newsletter reminds us of the many collaborations that enliven our OLLI community.  This afternoon (Sunday, October 28) at 4 pm, our own Reuter Center Singers will mingle their voices with those of the UNC Asheville University Singers for a performance of eclectic music in Lipinsky Auditorium. The Asheville Living Treasures organization will hold its first recognition ceremony at the Center today from 1:30 to 3:30 pm to honor three Asheville residents who have made a lifetime of contributions to our town. In the upcoming days and weeks our members have the opportunity to attend lectures from Buncombe County's TRIAD program concerned with the safety and well being of older adults or attend readings of original plays put on by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Company (SART) in their annual ScriptFEST. Because we collaborate with the Land of Sky Area Agency on Aging, our members can, right in the Reuter Center, learn more about volunteer opportunities at a session on Tuesday, November 6 or later in the month can get personal help from our Buncombe County Council on Aging to make better decisions about Medicare choices.

 

Right here on the UNC Asehville campus members can attend performances and art openings or vote early. OLLI members are invited to help UNC Asheville students in their community garden or receive training to help with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.

 

The story on UNC Asheville physics professor, College for Seniors instructor, and Renaissance man Michael Ruiz is another reminder of the wealth of our community of talented and passionate teachers and learners. It's not Thanksgiving yet, but it's worth a moment to reflect on the many things that come to us by being part of OLLI, part of UNC Asheville, and part of Western North Carolina.

 

Catherine Frank       

Executive Director  

      

 

Reuter Center Singers Concert 

Choral

WHO:  Reuter Center Singers and University Singers 
       
WHAT:  Fall Concert - FREE

WHERE:  Lipinsky Auditorium

WHEN: Sunday, Oct 28 4pm

PROGRAM: The performance will include music from Godspell, In The Heights, Spamalot, and other selections.

FOLLOW THE DRUMBEAT

  

Congolese Music and Disability Awareness: Staff Benda Bilili  

StaffBendiBilili   

Tuesday, October 30, 2012, 8pm  

Come early and enjoy the sounds of the UNC Asheville African Drum Ensemble: 7-7:45pm at the front entrance of Lipinksy Hall. Rain location: Lipinsky Hall lobby.

 

Meet and Greet

Stick around after the performance to meet the band and enjoy light refreshments. The Meet and Greet is sponsored by the Africana Studies Program.

  

For more information and to buy tickets, click here. 

 

SART Scriptfest

 

ScriptFEST 2012
31st Annual Playwrights' Conference
November 2-4, 2012
- a weekend of new plays -
Evening Performances: 
Nov 2, 3 & 4 at 7:30 pm

Afternoon Performances: 

Nov 3 & 4 at 2:00 pm
UNC Asheville
Reuter Center's Manheimer Room
FREE to the public!

 

Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre (SART) actors, Mars Hill College Theatre Arts students, and members of The Autumn Players from Asheville Community Theatre will read five new full-length plays selected from those submitted by playwrights far and near, with discussions to follow.

ScriptFEST typically receives 150-200 new scripts each year. After volunteers read each script, a committee of theatre professionals reads those recommended for further review. Top choices are selected and the respective playwrights are invited to the Conference to hear their plays read by experienced actors.

After each reading, the playwright joins the director, actors, and audience for a discussion and critique. One script may be considered for inclusion and fully produced in an upcoming summer season at SART.
 
Since its opening season in 1975, SART has produced 59 new plays. Many have been supported by a New Works grant from the North Carolina Arts Council.
 
SART recognizes that developing new scripts is neither an easy nor a short process. The testing and development of new material at the Conference allows the playwrights to refine and build their work toward possible production. SART's commitment to developing and producing new plays has distinguished the company from other regional summer theatres and has earned a Professional Division Award from the North Carolina Theatre Conference (NCTC).

For more information, click here

  

unca

VOLUNTEER TAX HELP NEEDED

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) 

WHO:     OLLI Members  

WHAT:    VITA training

WHERE:  Reuter Center

WHEN: 11:30am-1:30 pm

            Friday, Nov 2, 2012 or

            Thursday,  Nov 8, 2012 or   

            Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 or 

            Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

PROGRAM: To train interested OLLI members to provide basis tax assistance for low-to-moderate tax filers in Buncombe County, NC.   The Internal Revenue Service

[IRS ] gives free training in basic tax preparation to volunteers. VITA is a nationwide program.

 

TO REGISTER:  Monique Taylor, Internal Auditor, UNC Asheville Finance, [email protected]

8 28-350-4599

irs logo  

 

The Student Environmental Center is holding a huge garden workday on November 3, 2012, 1-6 pm at the Rhoades Garden. Work will be done to prepare the garden for winter weather and to finish construction of the greenhouse.  

 

There will also be food and hot beverages served around 4:30 pm for those working in the garden.  

OLLI members are most especially invited to participate!

 

Contact Blake Everhart [email protected] 

ROOTS Community Outreach Coordinator for directions to the garden or more information.
It will make you smile, laugh, chuckle,...


stand up comedy  OLLI's College for Seniors
Performing Stand-Up Comedy "Graduation" Performance 
Saturday, Nov. 3, 7:30 pm
at The Grotto in the Highsmith Union on campus 
Doors open at 7 pm; 
showtime is 7:30 pm  

Join instructor Randy Robins and the troupe of comics as they make what for most is their stand-up debut. Admission is free, parking is ample, and your presence can only enhance what promises to be a fun time for all.  Be advised that adult language and  content might be experienced. 
Last term's performances were SRO, so come early.   

 

 

Bread & Roses Strike Charlie King and Karen Brandow will present extraordinary songs of ordinary people, and a second-set performance marking the 100th anniversary of the history-making Bread and Roses textile strike, on 

November  7th

 7:30 pm at UNC Asheville's Highsmith Student Union.  Tickets are $10. Co-sponsored by the UNC Asheville Foreign Languages and Political Science departments and HOLA. Contact: [email protected] - 314-374-7446.

 

It's Annual Member Survey time!  


Survey guy Here at OLLI we're committed to providing the best experience possible by addressing your lifelong learning needs; you can help us do that via your responses to our annual member survey.

 

Click here for a link to the survey.

 

Remember, your opinions count and will play a role in our planning as we move forward!

Medicare Annual Election Period

 

Free  Counseling Sessions

November 12, 13, 14, 2012 

Medicare

 

The Council on Aging and the  

Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) will offer   free individual counseling to OLLI members and UNC Asheville staff during the Medicare Annual Election period.  Counseling appointments may be scheduled on Nov. 12, 13, 14, 2012 between the hours of 11:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Reuter Center.    

 

During the annual Medicare election period (that runs from October 15 through December 1), Medicare beneficiaries may make changes to their prescription drug plan or change their enrollment in a Medicare Advantage plan. This service is for people who are already enrolled in Medicare. 

 

Don't miss this special opportunity to meet with a trained counselor at the Reuter Center to review your options and ask questions regarding the coverage.  

 

Call The Council on Aging at 277-8288 to schedule an appointment. Tell the receptionist that you want to be scheduled for the Reuter Center.

T O D A Y
  The Asheville Living Treasures
2012 Fall Recognition Ceremony 

 

Sunday, October 28 

1:30 - 3:30 pm

Reuter Center's Manheimer Room

 

The ceremony celebrates the lives of the Treasures and recognizes their commitment to service. The individuals receiving awards are:  

 

John A. Bridges 

Joe Eblen 

Mitzi Tessier  

 

Former recipients of the Asheville's Living Treasure (ALT) award, community leaders, family, friends and the general public join the ALT committee to honor these remarkable individuals with awards, testimonies, and a light refreshment reception.  

 

For more information, contact ALT Chair Marnie Walsh at 828-298-2231, or Carmen Ramos- Kennedy at 828-423-647, or [email protected].

 

This Week   

Oct 28-Nov 3, 2012     

Monday, Oct. 29, 2:30pm, TRIAD Series~Personal Safety 
Wednesday, Oct. 31, 7pm,  Blue Ridge Orchestra Open Rehearsal
Friday, Nov. 2, 11:30 am, Fab Friday ~ David Mouw, MD, "Healthy Diet, Healthy Life Style" a part of the Health Education Series
Friday - Sunday, Nov. 2-4, SART ScriptFest conference 
Click here to see the OLLI calendar and then click on each event to discover times, event specifics and more.   

Next Week

Nov 4-10, 2012 

Friday-Sunday, Nov. 2-4, SART ScriptFest conference 
Monday, Nov. 5, 11:30 am, TRIAD Series ~ Life Event Issues--"Are You Prepared?" 
Tuesday, Nov. 6, 11:30 am, RSVP Info Session 
Friday, Nov. 9, 11:30 am, Fab Friday ~ Dan Rattigan "Chocolate!" 
 
Click here to see the OLLI calendar and then click on each event to discover times, event specifics and more.  

And Beyond

Sunday, Nov 11, 2:30, Autumn Players  Readers Theatre "Uncle Vanya"
Monday, Nov 12, 8am-1pm, Medicare Selection Counseling (Registration required)
Monday, Nov 12, 11:30am, VITA Volunteer training (Registration required)
Monday, Nov 12, 4:30pm, STEM Lecture, Dr. Sam Kaplan
Monday, Nov 12, 4:30pm, Volunteer to Teach: Course and Teaching Idea Exchange 

 Click here to visit the OLLI calendar where you will find details on the above listed events and more.

VOTE EARLY HERE AT UNC Asheville,

UNC Asheville Early Voting Hours 

 

or click on the link below to find other Buncombe County Early Voting Sites and hours

Early voting in the county continues until 

November 3, 2012 

 Buncombe County Early Voting Sites and Information 

 

MORE INFO AT  BUNCOMBECOUNTY.ORG/ELECTION 

Triad 
TRIAD Series of Buncombe County
Next Lecture
Monday, October 29
2:30-3:30 pm
Reuter Center
Room 102B

TRIAD denotes a three-way commitment among the chief of police, sheriff, and older or retired leaders in a city, county or town. They agree to work together to reduce the criminal victimization of the elderly and enhance the delivery of law enforcement services to older persons.

TRIAD of Buncombe County is offering an educational outreach series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNC Asheville.    This series is scheduled in the Reuter Center, Room 102B, on Monday afternoons, October 1 through November 12, 2:30-3:30 pm each Monday, and is free and open to the public.  Here are the remaining dates and topics in the series:
  • October 29 - Personal Safety - "Your Safety at Home and Out 'n' About" with speakers Deputy Robyn Michalove and Lt. Helen Hall with the Buncombe County Sherriff's Office.
  • November 5 - Life Event Issues - "Are You Prepared?" with speaker Katie McElroy, HomeInstead, Community Service Representative.  
  • November  12 - Safer Driving - "No Crash - Tips for Safer Driving" with speaker Gene Williamson, State Trooper, NC Highway Patrol.

unca


Campus Events Highlights 
Week of 10/28/12

 

Thru 11/27 Art Exhibit: "Faces of Afghanistan," drawings by Skip Rohde, who recently returned from Afghanistan and created portraits of people he met in Kandahar Province while serving for the U. S. State Department. Rohde received a BFA degree in painting from UNC Asheville in 2003.  The exhibit is in the S. Tucker Cooke Gallery in Owen Hall. Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm.

                                          

11/01   Science Lecture: "Citizen Science Information Session on Cyclone Research," conducted by Chris  Hennon, UNC Asheville associate professor of  atmospheric science.  Hennon provides background and leads discussion on how the public can help assist scientists  to understand trends in cyclone activity. 4-5 pm in Karpen  Hall, Room 038. Park in Lot 12 with sticker.

               

11/01     Special Lecture "Ghost Ships of the Klondike  Gold Rush," Robyn Woodward is professor of archaeology at Simon Fraser University and follows a team of under-    water archaeologists studying shipwrecks. Co-sponsored by UNC Asheville Department of Art and WNC chapter of the Archaeological Institute. Ramsey Library, Whitman Room 7:30-8:30 pm

 

11/02     Humanities Lecture: "Fin de Siecle to  Modernism," Peter Caulfield, UNC Asheville professor of literature and Melodie Galloway, UNC Asheville assistant professor of music. 11:25 am in Lipinsky Auditorium. Free and open to the public.

 

Click here to view the UNC Asheville Events calendar          

Professor Ruiz hits the high notes: in piano, physics and technology

By Judy LaM�e


RuizMichael Teaching a College for Seniors (CFS) course called "Piano Lecture Recitals," Professor Michael Ruiz balances deftly atop a metaphorical three-legged stool. The UNC Asheville Physics professor also wears hats as an accomplished pianist/composer and as a Web technologies expert. In the CFS course, Ruiz traces connections from the early composers Bach and Mozart to contemporary jazz to popular artists including the Beatles. Classes are punctuated with enthusiastic applause after Ruiz regales students with his original arrangement of the Beatles' "Yesterday" in the Baroque style, or riffs a romantic style accompaniment to a child's ditty just hummed aloud to him by a class participant.

 

For two hours at a clip, Ruiz transitions flawlessly from performing classical strains of the masters to a jazz piece he improvises on the spot. Early in the course, Ruiz advises his students, "You can't play everything. Choose what suits your temperament." But Ruiz seems to contradict his own best advice; his repertoire is vast, ranging from Bach and the Baroque to Dave Brubeck and the Beatles, with countless detours along the way.

 

At an early career decision point, Michael Ruiz wavered between studying advanced physics or medicine and becoming a classical pianist. As he awaited his acceptance letter to the University of Maryland's graduate sciences program, he knew how much he loved piano and was learning he was a gifted performer, picking up lounge piano gigs in local clubs. He was also keenly aware that his early piano training had been unorthodox, starting around age 12 as the "student" of a pal of his, only a year older. Ruiz quickly outpaced the pal. Over the next nine years, he studied for only short stints with conventional teachers, due to differing circumstances. Still, his passion never flagged, and he began teaching himself piano concertos, although he acknowledges his self-taught results led him to struggle with inefficient practice techniques. Nonetheless, he had the discipline and the stamina to practice five hours a day during his summer vacations - with impressive results.

 

Once Michael's acceptance letter from the University of Maryland graduate school arrived, his career course was set; he would study theoretical physics. As he progressed through his physics curriculum, he also studied classical piano with Maryland's head of piano studies. He would learn that his connection to jazz and the classics was unique; not many musicians bridge that divide effectively.

 

Michael Ruiz's first job after completing his doctorate in 1978 was at UNC Asheville, where he became physics department chair in only two years, a post he held for 20 years. Here he was the first faculty member to earn all three of the school's major teaching awards. He later received the 1999 Outstanding Society of Physics Chapter Advisor Award and the 2004 UNC Asheville Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2010 this popular and well-respected teacher received the prestigious UNC Asheville Ruth and Leon Feldman Award for Outstanding Scholarship and Service.

 

Parallel to his career advancement in physics, Michael became engaged in teaching classes for Elderhostel (now known as Road Scholar) programs, where his popular piano approach quickly replaced a class he had started in astronomy. Students who snoozed, he says, through astronomy, perked right up once he sat down at the keyboard. And no wonder. At the piano, Michael's entire being comes alive: he rarely sits still for long. His face is elastic: his head bobs the beat; his lips are in constant motion as he mouths words or phrases, expressing his delight in the sounds and rhythms, his fingers flying across the keyboard.  

 

His Elderhostel assignment morphed into a team teaching venture in UNC Asheville's Humanities department, where he drew parallels between the scientific revolution, with its elegant laws, and the composers Mozart and Haydn, whose music reflects simplicity, order, and balance. He gave piano lecture recitals in classicism, romanticism and modernism. He also contributed in the area of 20th century physics, another scientific revolution. From there, the path to the College for Seniors was an easy step.

 

Meanwhile, an early fascination with computers led Michael to apply for and receive a National Science Foundation grant that thrust UNC Asheville into the forefront of technology in teaching. Two more grants followed, from the General Administration of the University of North Carolina and the Cisco Learning Institute. Then CNN came calling: in 2002 Michael landed an in-depth interview with the cable news network, during which he took a CNN producer and crew with him to his home. There the two of them created a video that Michael sent via the Internet to the UNC Asheville web server to play for students in his class the next day. This innovative use of educational multimedia materials delivered over the Internet became a top story on CNN, receiving international recognition. He is quick to share credit with his computer-savvy son, who was his co-developer in this project.

 

As his own children began to take a serious interest in their music studies, Michael realized he missed the joy he got from composing. So, despite no formal training in musical composition, he started writing piano concertos for his offspring to perform in competition. As the Ruiz children triumphed in their competitions, they were invited as featured performers with the Winston-Salem Symphony, debuting their dad's compositions with the orchestra. One such program featured composers Franz Schubert and Gustav Mahler, along with a much newer name in composition: Michael Ruiz. Click here to see a video clip

 

What this gifted physicist/composer/pianist/computer technologist brings to his classes is a unique gift: the scientist's probing analytical mind and approach, the classical and jazz pianist's technical mastery, his own personal passion, energy, and enthusiasm melded with a teacher's generosity and patience. What this imparts to his students is enormous respect for the man and his craft and a love for his subject matter. He received, he says, the supreme compliment when a teaching colleague who sat in his humanities class commented, "I can't tell what your field is." Michael Ruiz's expertise across disciplines is that broad and that impressive. To that, his students would agree - with enthusiastic applause!

        

Contact Information

 [email protected]   828.251.6140