WC-ALL

WC-ALL Hosts Dr George Spilich at January Learn at Lunch

January 14, 2020 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

George Spilich

Recently-retired psychology professor George Spilich is the speaker at Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning’s first “Learn at Lunch” presentation for 2020. This will take place on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, and the intriguing title of his talk is “Beauty, Lies and Prejudice: Living in a Space Age World with a Stone Age Brain.”

Dr. Spilich is a cognitive neuroscientist who spent 38 years on the faculty of Washington College as the first John Toll Professor. His research has focused on neurological disorders such as concussion and Alzheimer’s disease and has been cited in scientific and medical literature over 2,500 times. In 1988-89 he was the successor to two-time Nobel Prize winner Linus Pauling at the University of Zagreb Hospital’s neurological and nuclear medicine departments. He confesses, however, that meeting the talented students at Washington College was the highlight of his career.

In his presentation, Dr. Spilich will address how neuroscience attempts to explain much of how our brains work, while the new discipline of social neuroscience asks how our brains manage social interactions. How do we decide who is attractive and who is not? Do we know when we are being lied to? Can we accurately interpret the facial expressions of people from other cultures? Join us on January 22^ndto find out more about this fascinating research on the human brain.

The buffet lunch will begin at noon in Hynson Lounge, located in Hodson Hall on the campus of Washington College. For event parking, a shuttle service will run from the north student parking lot, which can be accessed from Rte 291 (Speer Road). The last shuttle leaves the lot at 11:55 am.

To attend Dr. Spilich’s talk, reservations and payment are required by Thursday, January 16^th. There will be no refunds after this date. The cost is $20 for WC-ALL members and $25 for others. Make checks payable to WC-ALL, 300 Washington Ave, Chestertown, MD 21620, with name, phone # and email address for those attending. No phone or electronic reservations can be accepted.

For more information, contact the WC-ALL office at 410-778-7221.

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WC-ALL Announces Spring Schedule of Courses

December 18, 2019 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

Forget about winter blues and sign up for a course with The Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning! The continuing education program for adult learners has announced its schedule of courses for the spring semester: two six-week sessions which run from January 26^th to April 25^th2020, with an exciting array of topics, old and new. You can register for as many classes as you wish, for one inclusive membership fee. Courses are taught by community members with interesting life experiences and expertise in a wide variety of fields. There are no educational requirements for membership and no papers or exams. Why not join us?

With a few exceptions, noted below, classes begin at 4:15pm and are held on the Washington College campus. Several new classes are available in both sessions. Highlights in Session One, beginning on January 26^th, include perennial favorites like Sunday at the Movies, with Nancy Hartman. Check out her new topic for the Spring! Maria Wood is back with more about Hamilton – and the music lovers amongst us can also choose New Orleans Jazz, taught by newcomer (and jazz musician) Dave Robinson. Come and learn more about Alice Munro from Jean Austin, about Buddhism (taught by Jeff Coomer), Chestertown History (from Bayly Janson-LaPalme), and photography (from Stephen Walker and Maire McArdle). Politics are well represented, with a 2-part course on the constitutional amendments (taught by Conway Gregory) as well as another look at Great Decisions (with Mark Kamon). And for those ready to be challenged, Dick Lance is revisiting The Joy of X, while Doc Smith offers new ways to think about our money!

Highlights in Session Two, beginning March 15^th, also include old and new, and experiments with alternative venues (a class in Rock Hall) and times (A Saturday class). Music and entertainment are well represented. Sunday at the Movies continues, and Hamilton lovers can keep unpacking that tremendous musical. Opera aficionados can learn about Tosca with Hanson Robbins and Sandy Durfee, through lecture and streaming, while more popular music lovers are invited down to the Mainstay in Rock Hall to hear about the Home of Musical Magic (team taught, with Sue Kenyon).Equally intriguing, the two Johns (Ames and Christie) invite you to join them as they look at Big News from the Early Days of Television. Beverly Hall Smith returns with another favorite, Artists of the 19^th Century, and Bob Miller offers a more advanced class on Digital SLR Photos. Politics are far from neglected, with a continuation of Conway Gregory’s class on the US Amendments, as well as The Many Faces of Fascism (with Raymond Vergne). For those of us looking for something different, how about exploring The Golden Age of Ocean Liners (with Jack Shaum), Your Brain (with psychology professor George Spilich) or Dangerous Infections (with Wendy Cronin)?Finally worth emphasizing is Jim Astrachan’s course Gun Control & the Second Amendment, offered on SATURDAYS.

In addition to sponsoring fall and spring classes, WC-ALL hosts a series of Learn at Lunch lectures, open to the community, as well as special event trips. Details of these will be released in the New Year.

To learn more about all these activities, plan on attending Fall Showcase. This will be held on Tuesday, January 7^th 2020 at 3:00pm in Hynson Lounge on the Washington College Campus (and please note the new time and place). Come and learn about all the courses for the Fall and meet the instructors. Registration may also be done then.

The full course catalog and registration information are available at www.washcoll.edu/offices/wc-all/what-were-studying.php/ or call 410.778.7221.

Registration for both spring sessions, by web or mail-in, runs from December 16th to January 14^th. Please note that classes are filled as reservations are received.

WC-ALL is always seeking community members who have a special interest to share and would like to explore teaching a class in future sessions.Please contact us at the above addresses if you would like to know more.

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WC-ALL to Host Washington College CES’s Kate Livie at October Learn at Lunch

October 3, 2019 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

Kate Livie

On Wednesday, October 23, 2019, Washington College Academy of Lifelong learning hosts Professor Kate Livie, for a Learn at Lunch presentation entitled: “Growing Up Chesapeake: a Native Eastern Shore Writer Reflects on the Bay’s Seasonal History, Culture, and Traditions.”

Kate Livie is a professional Chesapeake educator, writer, and historian. She has written extensively about regional travel, history, and foodways for publications from Wooden Boat to Baltimore Magazine to Edible Delmarva. Her 2015 book, Chesapeake Oysters: The Bay’s Foundation and Future, won the Maryland Historical Society’s Marion Brewington prize for Maritime History.

Kate is the former director of education and associate curator at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. She lives in her hometown of Chestertown with her husband and counts herself lucky to live, work and play in the most wonderful place in the world—the Chesapeake Bay.

Kate Livie currently serves as adjunct faculty at Washington College, where she teaches courses about the Bay’s environment, economy, and culture for the Center for Environment and Society. An Eastern Shore native, Livie is passionate about the Chesapeake Bay’s people and places. Her informative presentation will use her experiences and images from growing up on the Eastern Shore, close to the environment, as a way of exploring the history surrounding the region’s rich seasonal traditions and culture.

To attend Ms. Livie’s Oct. 23^rd talk, reservations and payment are required by Thursday, October 17; there will be no refunds after this date. The cost is $20 for WC-ALL members and $25 for others. Make checks payable to WC-ALL, 300 Washington Ave, Chestertown, MD 21620, with name, phone number, and email for those attending. No phone or electronic reservations can be accepted.

For more information, contact the WC-ALL office at 410-778-7221.

Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning to Hold Open House Thursday, August 15

August 14, 2019 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

Come learn about the courses being offered during the fall semester at Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning (WC-ALL) at the Showcase on Thursday, August 15 at 4 p.m. in Hotchkiss Recital Hall on the second floor of the Gibson Center for the Arts on the college campus. You’ll also hear about the upcoming Learn at Lunch lectures and other special events. Enjoy refreshments while meeting instructors and talking with fellow learners. Free and open to the public. No RSVP required.

The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Washington College is designed for those who believe learning is wonderful at any age! WC-ALL is a peer-led, self-supported autonomous department of the College that was created for adults who seek intellectual stimulation without the requirements for academic credit – learning for the joy of learning.

Each College semester the Academy offers two six-week sessions with 12-15 courses each session. Approximately 400 Eastern Shore residents become members and register for as many courses as they wish, for one all-inclusive membership fee. For an individual for one semester, as many courses as wanted, the current fee is $95. For a couple, the semester fee is $135. There is a discount for both individuals and couples who take an annual membership covering both semesters. See complete fee structure here on the WC-ALL website

WC-ALL FALL SHOWCASE of COURSES

Thursday, August 15^th, 2019. 4 pm

Location: Hotchkiss Recital Hall in Gibson Center for the Arts, Washington College.

Contact: Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning.

Phone: 410-778-7221 Email: wc_all@washcoll.edu WC-ALL website

WC-ALL Announces Fall Semester Courses

July 31, 2019 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

The Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning, a continuing education program for adult learners, has announced its schedule of courses for the fall semester, which runs from September 3^rd to December 6^th, 2019.

Each semester, approximately 400 people join WC-ALL and register for as many classes as they wish for one inclusive membership fee. Courses are taught by community members with interesting life experiences and expertise in a wide variety of fields. There are no educational requirements for membership and no papers or exams.

Ed Minch, WC-ALL’s curriculum chairperson, has put together a team of new and returning instructors and stimulating topics for both six-week sessions. With a few exceptions, classes begin at 4:15 pm and are held on the Washington College campus.

Courses in Session One, which begins on September 3rd, range from the “History of the Digital Computer” (taught by Chris Gordon) to “Dragonflies of the Delmarva Peninsula” (taught by John Gillespie) to popular short-story writer, “Alice Munro” (taught by Jean Austen). Movie buffs will be happy to know that, in both session, “Sunday at the Movies” continues with Nancy Hartman, Maria Wood returns with more insight into “Hamilton,” and Raymond Vergne presents “Don Quijote de La Mancha.”

Highlights in Session two also include the perennial favorite, “Supreme Court,” in which John Christies leads the discussion of several key cases heard during the 2018 term; Lucia Rather looks at “Political Cartoons;” and Beverley Hall Smith discusses “Art NOW”. There is also “Observations on the Vietnam War” (taught by Bill Valentino), “Digital SLR Basics” (with Bob Miller), and an introduction to “Smartphone Photography” (with Dick Lance).

In addition to sponsoring fall and spring classes, WC-ALL hosts a series of Learn at Lunch lectures, open to the community, as well as special event trips.

To learn more about all these activities, visit WC-ALL’s table at the Chestertown Farmers’ Market on August 3^rd and 10th, or at Legacy Day on August 17th. Also, look out for us at First Friday on August 2nd, and plan on attending Fall Showcase. This will be held on Thursday, August 15 at 4:00 pm at the Hotchkiss Recital Hall on the Washington College Campus. Come and learn about all the courses for the Fall and meet the instructors. Registration may also be done then.

The full course catalog and registration information are available at www.washcoll.edu/offices/wc-all/what-were-studying.php/ or call 410.778.7221.

Registration for both fall sessions, by web or mail-in, runs from July 30 to August 20. Please note that classes are filled as reservations are received.

WC-ALL is always seeking community members who have a special interest to share and would like to explore teaching a class in future sessions. Proposals for Spring 2020 can be submitted between September 1^st and October 15.

WC-ALL Announces Fall Semester Courses

July 31, 2019 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

Courses in Session One, which begins on September 3^rd, range from the “History of the Digital Computer” (taught by Chris Gordon) to “Dragonflies of the Delmarva Peninsula” (taught by John Gillespie) to popular short-story writer, “Alice Munro” (taught by Jean Austen). Movie buffs will be happy to know that, in both sessions, “Sunday at the Movies” continues with Nancy Hartman, Maria Wood returns with more insight into “Hamilton,” and Raymond Vergne presents “Don Quijote de La Mancha.”

Highlights in Session two also include the perennial favorite, “Supreme Court,” in which John Christie leads discussion of several key cases heard during the 2018 term; Lucia Rather looks at “Political Cartoons;” and Beverley Hall Smith discusses “Art NOW”. There is also “Observations on the Vietnam War” (taught by Bill Valentino), “Digital SLR Basics” (with Bob Miller) and an introduction to “Smartphone Photography” (with Dick Lance).

In addition to sponsoring fall and spring classes, WC-ALL hosts a series of Learn at Lunch lectures, open to the community, as well as special event trips.

To learn more about all these activities, visit WC-ALL’s table at the Chestertown Farmers’ Market on August 3^rd and 10^th, or at Legacy Day on August 17^th. Also look out for us at First Friday on August 2^nd, and plan on attending Fall Showcase. This will be held on Thursday, August 15^th at 4:00pm at the Hotchkiss Recital Hall on the Washington College Campus. Come and learn about all the courses for the Fall and meet the instructors. Registration may also be done then.

The full course catalog and registration information are available at www.washcoll.edu/offices/wc-all/what-were-studying.php/ or call 410.778.7221.

Registration for both fall sessions, by web or mail-in, runs from July 30^th to August 20^th. Please note that classes are filled as reservations are received.

WC-ALL Call for Fall Semester Course Proposals

May 1, 2019 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

Spring is here in all its glory, but Washington College Academy of Lifelong Learning is already planning the fall 2019 semester. The curriculum committee, headed by Ed Minch, is currently seeking course proposals from members of the community as well as WC-ALL members. The fall semester will have 2 sessions, from Tuesday, September 3-Friday, October 11, and Sunday, October 20-Friday, December 6. There are no classes during fall break from October 13-18 or during the week of Thanksgiving, November 24-29. Classes generally meet once a week on campus in the late afternoon for 60-75 minutes for 4-6 times during a session. Larger classes sometimes meet at off-campus sites, and all locations are handicapped accessible.

If you or someone you know has an area of expertise, an interesting or unusual career or life experience, or a lifelong hobby or avocation, it could be the seed for developing a WC-ALL course. Instructors may also choose to plan a series of classes which bring in experts to speak about different aspects of a common topic. Excursions are possible as well as the potential to meet at times other than the usual weekday afternoon slot. The curriculum committee is always ready to consider new ideas from the community and looks forward to welcoming instructors who want to share in the exciting venture of lifelong learning for the joy of it.

Course proposals are due by Wednesday, May 15, and may be submitted in various ways. For on-line submissions, go to http://www.washcoll.edu/propose-a-course.php. To email a proposal, go to wc_all@washcoll.edu, and for regular mail, send submissions to WC-ALL, 300 Washington Ave., Chestertown, MD 21620. Ed Minch can be reached at edminch3@gmail.com or 410-778-0990 with questions or ideas. More information is also available by calling the WC-ALL office at 410-778-7221.

WC-ALL April Learn at Lunch with Dr. Bill Schindler

March 29, 2019 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

Washington College Professor Bill Schindler will present WC-ALL’s final spring term Learn at Lunch on Thursday, April 18. The catered buffet luncheon begins at 12 noon in Hynson Lounge of Hodson Hall on the Washington College campus. Following lunch, Dr. Schindler will present “Food Evolution Revolution: The Cutting Edge Fusion of Archaeology, Anthropology, and the Modern Kitchen.”

According to Schindler, understanding the role that technology played in our 3.4 million-year-old dietary past is essential in learning to rethink food and diet. Biologically speaking, humans and human nutritional needs remain relatively unchanged over the centuries; yet our cultural needs have seismically shifted and our expectations of taste, smell, texture, and presentation have significantly changed the way we think about food. By fusing lessons from our dietary past with modern culinary techniques, Schindler believes we can create a food system that is meaningful, accessible, relevant, and delectable.

Schindler is not a traditional anthropologist. Specializing in primitive technology and experimental archaeology at Washington College, he uses a teaching approach that he calls “soul authorship” to immerse students in experiences that teach them first-hand about primitive technologies and ways of life practiced by our prehistoric ancestors. Today he applies prehistoric-focused approaches in experimental archaeology to address a major issue facing humans right now: diet. By reconnecting with the food of our ancient ancestors,Schindler believes that we can find solutions to building a more sustainable, healthful food system. In this quest, Schindler, who holds a Ph.D. from Temple University, completed a year-long research endeavor called the Food Evolutions Project. He traveled the world working with indigenous groups, traditional societies, and Michelin star chefs. Most recently he launched the Eastern Shore Food Lab at Washington College, a center dedicated to empowering the public to reconnect with their food, take control of what they eat, and learn to eat like humans again!

Reservations for April’s Learn at Lunch are due by Friday, April 12. The cost is $20 for WC-ALL members and $25 for others. Please send a check to WC-ALL at 300 Washington Ave., Chestertown, MD 21620 with name, phone, and email for those attending. Payment must accompany the reservation and no phone or email reservations are accepted. For more information, call 410-778-7221.

WC-ALL Spring Trip to the Philadelphia Museum of Art

March 12, 2019 by WC-ALL Leave a Comment

WC-ALL has planned an exciting spring trip to the world-class Philadelphia Museum of Art on Tuesday, April 9. Founded during the nation’s first centennial in 1876 as a museum of decorative arts, the PMA’s current building, in the form of three linked Greek temples, opened in 1928. It is well known for its impressive holdings in Renaissance, American, Impressionist, and Modern art.

Participants on the trip will have an hour-long guided introductory Highlights Tour of the Museum and will also have access to the nearby Rodin Museum, the Perelman Building, and the Sculpture Garden. The Rodin Museum houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Rodin’s work outside of Paris, and the Perelman Building features galleries dedicated to modern and contemporary design, prints, drawings, photographs, costumes, and textiles. Lunch is on your own to allow participants maximum flexibility in determining how they wish to spend time after the guided tour. Food is available in the Museum’s cafeteria, its restaurant, Stir, or at one of the eateries located along nearby Fairmount Avenue.

The trip is open to WC-ALL members as well as non-members for $70, which includes bus transportation, driver tip, admission cost for the guided tour and access to the Rodin Museum and Perelman Building. A restroom-equipped bus will depart from Redner’s parking lot at 8:00 a.m. (7:45 boarding), and depart from Philadelphia at 3:00 p.m. The bus, museum, garden, and annexes are all ADA-compliant and wheelchair accessible.

To reserve a place on the trip, please send a check to WC-ALL at 300 Washington Ave., Chestertown, MD. 21620 by Tuesday, March 26. Include name, phone, and email for those planning to attend. Please contact WC-ALL at 410-778-7221 with any questions.

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