Ten Things to Do Before Classes Start at Lifelong Learning

It’s that time of year! Lifelong Learning classes will begin October 9 and I have compiled a list of things that you should do, or prepare for, before classes begin. 

1. Did you get your tickets in the mail? Check the date and time! We would not want you to make the trip out to Lifelong Learning, though we love see your smiling faces, if there is no class during a particular week.
2. Put your parking decal in your car. If you forget your decal, or it is not visible, you could get a parking ticket. If you do forget your decal you will have to park at a metered spot in visitor parking. Lifelong Learning does not have the authority to cancel the ticket and you will have to pay the fine.   
3.  Register online. Unfortunately, we cannot take registrations over the phone. We do not want you to miss out on your favorite classes so visit our website www.llsjupiter.com and register today! 
4. Buy your one-day lecture tickets in advance. If you purchase your ticket on the day of the event there will be an additional $5 charge.
5. Pay for classes with a credit card or cash. There is a new university policy that if your registration was paid for by check your Social Security number must be included in addition to your direct deposit information if you request a refund before classes start. FAU NO LONGER ISSUES PAPER CHECKS.  
6.  Join our Facebook page! You cannot hide from social media…it is everywhere. We update our page periodically with contests and information. It is a great tool for you to share your Lifelong Learning experience and connect with your friends and family! 
7. Bring a jacket or sweater with you to class. The auditorium and classrooms can be very cool sometimes and we want you to enjoy your class. 
8.  Invite your friends! For only $10, anyone can attend a single class session of a course without taking the entire course. Explorer Tickets are purchased in the auditorium on the day of the class. You can purchase one for a four week course and up to two per student for each 6- or 8-week course. There is a $10 credit if you sign up for the entire course the same day. This excludes one-time lectures or events. 
9. Plan to arrive early for sold out classes. Lifelong Learning has plenty of parking, but we encourage you to arrive a little early to get your seats. We do not allow seat saving.
10.  Finally…cancel your golf games this winter if you play on Tuesdays. Dr. Morton will be teaching on Tuesdays during the 2013 winter semester!

We are looking forward to seeing all of you this fall! It’s going to be a great year!

It's Time to Vote!

This is not a post about politics or political parties. This post is focused on an interesting article that I came across in US News Weekly titled, “Why Older Citizens are More Likely to Vote.”

I did not find the title of the article surprising. I know that the majority of voters tend to be older citizens, but what I did find interesting were the statistics on voters’ ages. According to the article, “some 61 percent of citizens age 65 and older voted in the November 2010 election, the best turnout of any age group. More than half (54 percent) of those ages 55 to 64 also cast a ballot. In comparison to the youngest demographic that is allowed to vote. “Not even a quarter (21 percent) of the youngest citizens—ages 18 to 24—entered a voting booth in 2010.”

The main reason for this voter turnout may be that it was not a presidential election year, but the  article suggested several other reasons. First, older voters want to protect government benefits such as Social Security and Medicare. Second, they are less mobile and are usually situated in one place and registered to vote. Third, they have the time to go out and vote. Finally, it is more of a social norm for older individuals to vote. They think of themselves as voters and are proud to participate in elections.

After reading this article, a thought came to me. Each generation of voters can learn from each other. I am always looking for a bridge between two generations! 

• Every vote counts. Encouraging younger populations to get out and vote is important. Just as I stated above, older voters care about voting and hold a sense of pride because they are voters. This needs to be instilled in today’s young voters.

• Technology plays a significant role in politics. When mobilizing individuals to go out and vote technology is a major driving force, especially through social networking. Older voters can definitely learn from younger voters when it comes to utilizing technology during election time.

• Younger voters need to connect early on with politics. Building a relationship with the political process early on is essential to making it a lifelong habit that older voters have acquired. If you’ve always voted in elections, you’ll be much less likely to pass over a vote in the future.

Regardless of political affiliation, participation is important so that voters elect leaders who represent the needs of both young and old alike in our country. So I encourage Lifelong Learners to get on Facebook to encourage your children and grandchildren to get out and vote. If you do not have a Facebook account, ask them to help you create one!

Source:

Brandon, E. (2012). Why Older Citizens are More Likely to Vote. US Weekly News. Retrieved from http://money.usnews.com/money/retirement/articles/2012/03/19/why-older-citizens-are-more-likely-to-vote

 

Would You Like Some Wine with Your Wisdom?

A wise man once said, “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” Who was it? Benjamin Franklin. What great advice he bestowed upon us from the 1700s!

At the Lifelong Learning Society we are providing an educational setting where there is no stress because there is no homework or tests!  Lifelong Learning focuses on enriching mind, so why not assist that process with the help of a little bit of wine? 

Two years ago, we began a program called Wine & Wisdom. It was created to allow more one-on-one interaction with the Lifelong Learning faculty. Some classes have over 500 people, which does not allow for a great deal of interaction with the professor. So, an idea came about to create a more intimate setting with students and faculty. 

Each semester, Lifelong Learning holds Wine & Wisdom programs. In addition, there is the Snacks & Facts and Books & Bagels series too. These special one-time lectures are limited to 40 students to focus more on conversation, discussion and interaction.

What can a student expect from these programs?

·        Access to the instructor to ask questions, discuss the topic of the lecture and have more one-on-one interaction.

·        An opportunity to meet and socialize with other lifelong learning students.

·        And…wine and cheese...or light snacks…or bagels!

This upcoming fall semester Dr. Taylor Hagood will present the first Snacks and Facts lecture on October 29 at 12:15 p.m. His topic is the The Fat South: The Culture and Politics of Obesity.

There will also be two Wine & Wisdom lectures presented by Dr. Burt Atkins on December 4 and December 11 at 4 p.m. The topic of these two lectures is The Second Amendment and Gun Rights.