If you have a special talent or area of expertise, would you be willing to share it with others? We want to hear from you!
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Gift certificates are available for LIR memberships or individual Professional Development or Personal Enrichment courses. Go ahead, make someone's day!
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Welcome to the February 2015 edition of News You Can Use.
This month brings Valentine's Day, February 14th, which is celebrated in many ways worldwide with people showing appreciation for  those they love or adore.
In some cultures, Valentine's Day refers to "Friend's day," which is more about remembering all friends rather than focusing solely on romance. Happy Valentine's Day! Susan Bass
Check our website to see a complete listing of all Continuing Education courses. |
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EdVantages - Professional Development and Personal Enrichment
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 A Word from Sue...
Love is in the air in February. Why not give your Valentine a gift certificate for a Continuing Education class? It's a great way to spark a deeper "love of learning" in your special someone.
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Striking a Balance
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." *
So the new year is marching right along and you realize that you are starting to become bored with the routine of your work....or perhaps you are becoming 
boring because of your intense dedication to your work. Where's the balance? "We tend to underestimate how much
maintaining balance contributes to living life successfully and productively."
Continuing Education is proud to announce a variety of courses for Spring 2015 that can help you you awaken the the leisure side of your life.
First up, beginning February 10 is African Dance, with instructor Cheryl Powell. If you want to get active,  African Dance will help you work it out to the beautiful rhythms of African music which expresses the most profound experiences of human beings.
Explore your own natural rhythms and feel energized and revitalized as you move arms, shoulders, chest, hips, and feet to the heartbeat of the drums. "Since African music includes several rhythms at the same time, individual dancers will often express more than one beat at the same time." Beginners and all levels of dancers are welcome.
If you are already a constant gardener, you may have experienced some of the positive health effects of
 your endeavors. Gardening has emerged in recent years as a scientifically proven stress reliever and some research suggests that the physical activity associated with gardening can help lower the risk of developing dementia.
On February 24, VSU Horticulturalist and Georgia Certified Landscape Professional, Bobby Flowers, will present a session on Attracting Pollinators to Your Garden. Pollinators are responsible for assisting over 80% of the world's flowering plants. Without them, humans and wildlife wouldn't have much to eat or look at!
Beginning February 26 is Waves of Watercolor with instructor Anna Waddell, a lifelong artist and
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Anna Waddell
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teacher. Anna enjoys motivating and encouraging adult beginners to explore their creativity through art. Over the duration of this course you will learn about supplies and tools and practice a variety of techniques to develop your painting skills. Anna will provide lots of inspiration and feedback as you begin your journey on the exciting path of watercolors.
Check our website for details of all our learning opportunities.
* James Howell's Proverbs in English, Italian, French and Spanish (1659)
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Senior Tech Savvy
"A study, released by the Pew Research Center in Washington, DC, shows that an increasing number of senior citizens in the US are adopting technology like cell phones and the Internet...and once these seniors  adopt the Internet or other related technology, they tend to assimilate it into their daily lives at a rapid pace."
If you are reading this newsletter, you are a fairly advanced technology user!
Most of our Learning in Retirement members have gone beyond the "basics" and are interested in learning more about specific technology applications, like social media, photo editing, YouTube, and PowerPoint.
You may even want to learn how to make better use of that iPad you received as a gift. We have classes in all of these areas, as well as quick "one-shot"
computer classes taught by technology wiz extraordinaire Eric Mathis in cooperation with the South Georgia Regional Library.
If you have a friend or family member who is new to computers, however, they also have a place in LIR! Our "Beginning Computer Basics" class is for the absolute beginner and will get you up and going in 4 one-hour sessions.
And if you would like to learn more about how technology has changed all our lives, check out our presentation January 26th on "Technology Use and Aging." Dr. Charles Talor from the VSU Psychology Department will outline current research having to do with differences in technology use between generations and how it affects us, including cell phone use while driving and walking.
If you require further information, email Suzanne Ewing [email protected] or call 229-245-6484.
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What's New Online?
 Is it time to take on something new?
If you've been doing the "same old" for years, now may be the perfect time to plan for a change. Have you been considering a career change? Have you been thinking of taking courses that could position you for a job promotion or enrich your personal life?
There's nothing like the convenience of learning online and there's no time like the present!
NEW 6-week instructor paced online courses:
Career
Introduction to QuickBooks 2015 ($109) - learn how to quickly and efficiently gain control over the financial aspects of your business using this powerful software program.
Professional Health Care Courses
Allegra Accredited Health Care Certificate Programs
Certificate in Stress Management ($89) - Explore the  physiological, social, and psychological impacts of stress and study modalities to get stress under control.
Certificate in Starting Your Own Business in Health
and Healing ($69)
Certificate in Brain Health ($69) - Gain insights into the amazing brain and learn how to support health and happiness through lifestyle choices that impact this remarkable organ.
Personal Writing
Writing the Fantasy Novel ($109) - Fantasy is an  increasingly popular genre of fiction, and now is a great time to become a fantasy fiction writer! This course is perfect whether you have an idea for a book or even if you don't know where to start
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Registration and orientation for each class should be completed by the start date in order for you to access or to gain access to your class lessons.
Lessons come out on Wednesday and Friday of each week; you may access them at your convenience. You have ten days to complete each lesson after it has been introduced.
We also offer many self-paced certificate and career training courses including these Professional Certification Preparation choices:
Certified Mediator and Arbitrator ($3295) - In this program, you will learn how to effectively help others negotiate and collaborate through difficult disputes.
Certified Protection Officer ($850)
Self-paced courses begin on the date of your choosing and access to your course is available from 3 months to 18 months depending on the individual course. For a full listing of our open entry online career training programs, visit our website.
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We welcome your comments by phone, 229-245-6484 or by email, [email protected].
Sincerely,
Your Continuing Education Staff:
Julie Halter, EdD
Online, Conference, Certificate Programs, Teacher Recertification
Professional Development, Personal Enrichment, Contract Training
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