E-News September 2019

Click here for more information or to register for classes on the Senior College website

Additional class

The Curriculum Committee regrets that Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Wills, Trusts, and Probate was submitted too late to make the fall 2019 postcard sent to all members. Randy Mailloux, long time Waldo County lawyer, will be leading this eminently practical course that has been most favorably received in past sessions. For complete class description or to register please see information on the Senior College website.

Click here for Annual Meeting materials

Back to School

Welcome to the fall session of Senior College at Belfast’s nineteenth year. You will find the same wide variety of interesting courses you have come to expect. Or, if you are new, that you have heard about — art, literature, politics, religion, history, gardening, and more. Classes are taught by enthusiastic volunteers who have professional or academic experience in that field or who have developed an expertise as hobbyists. We have been richly blest by the abundance of talent residing in Midcoast Maine! Likewise, we are blest by an abundance of local seniors who love Senior College and work behind the scenes to make it all happen.

Besides taking classes and making new friends, there is a wealth of opportunities to get involved. You will learn a lot just by talking to fellow students during the morning or afternoon coffee breaks. Come on by the office and let us know what you would like to do or to find out what is needed. Another good way to learn is to attend the Annual Meeting, which will be held between sessions on Thursday, Sept. 26. Or just explore our website www.belfastseniorcollege.org.

Looking forward, this year promises to be extra special with history courses in the offing celebrating the 200th anniversary of Maine statehood and a statewide conference for all Maine senior colleges to be hosted by us and the University of Maine. Stay tuned!

See you soon,

October 3rd, 11:45 a.m.
Preparing for terminal illness or trauma
The Palliative Players

Have you thought how to prepare for a terminal illness or trauma? Do you know how your loved ones want to be treated. Do they know what you want? Join the Palliative Players at their performance of End Stage. Through improvised, unscripted role playing, they act out possible end of life scenarios and conversations. They explore decisions and wishes that might arise in a health crisis at the end of life, and offer suggestions for talking with loved ones.

October 10th, 11:45 a.m.
Nick Patides
A Family for ME

Nick Patides of A Family for ME will discuss Maine’s foster care system. There are over 2,100 children in our state’s foster care system, the highest it has ever been. Alarmingly, that number is steadily rising. These children all need guidance and companionship.

If you’re interested in helping, A Family for ME walks with you through the journey. Helping can be as simple as volunteering at events or occasionally watching children on weekends, and helping can be as committed as full time fostering or even adopting. That’s your choice. Here’s the most important thing: you can be the life changing hero in a child’s story.

Special Events Committee

If you have a knack of dreaming up interesting trips or experiences for the education and enjoyment of Senior College members, the Special Events Committee invites you to join the committee. We have two vacant seats to fill before we can begin to plan for the coming season of events.

Please contact Martha Laitin to let her know of your interest. Email her at: marthalaitin@yahoo.com or call her cell at 207-323-2368.

Save the date

The Special Event Committee looks forward to greeting members of Senior College on October 16th. We especially urge new members to attend and enjoy camaraderie and conversation with long time members. If you don’t feel like making dessert come anyway for there will be plenty for all. Just let us know if you plan on attending!

Behind the scenes in Belfast

Senior College Special Event Committee is presenting a new series of tours dubbed “Behind the Scenes in Belfast” designed to explore the unique institutions and interesting sites that make our town of Belfast a star!

The Series kicks off on October 22​ ​at 10 a.m. with Law and Order: Belfast a tour of both the new Courthouse and Belfast Town Hall. The morning begins at the Waldo County Courthouse, located at Church, Market, and Anderson Streets, which opened in March of this year. Following a tour of this impressive building the tour will continue across the street at Belfast Town Hall where participants will see beyond the front desk of the town offices into the workings of local government. Following the tour there will be a discussion with a representative of Restorative Justice on the topic of their Court Diversion Program.

Additional tours throughout the year may include An Inside Look at Historic Houses of Worship, Upstairs/Downtown featuring unique second story businesses in downtown Belfast, and other topics dealing with Belfast institutions, history, and activities.

For more information on the upcoming tour contact: Karen Gleeson karenglee@earthlink.net. This tour is limited to 20 individuals.

Festival of Art Committee seeks new members and chair

The Festival of Art Committee is probably the most satisfying, appreciated, exciting and fun committee of Senior College. The festival has been in existence for 17 years, growing from a small number of artist entries to a maximum of 170. The committee is supported by Senior College, financially and organizationally. Each committee member has responsibility for some part of the planning, organization, and facilitation. Although this is a once-a-year event, the work begins months before with invitations to artists, promotion, and planning. Members must have some computer capability.

At this time, the committee needs a new chair and at least three new members to secure the continuation of this event. If you have an interest in learning more about the committee and/or the event, please contact Cathy Bradbury at: catherine.bradbury@maine.edu