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Welcome to Your August 2017 Newsletter!
Eagle Lake Viewed from Cadillac Mountain, Mount Desert Island, Maine - Frederic Edwin Church
Judging by two articles sent into this month's newsletter, Senior College (SC) members are enjoying the Maine summer! USM's Lewiston-Auburn SC is providing some excellent adventures to their membership through their clubs. Meanwhile, the Gold LEAF Institute reports on a rather unusual approach to hiking.
I have the pleasure of meeting some Senior College Board members this month! Early in the month, I am traveling to Ellsworth to visit board members from Downeast SC. On August 14th I will be able to meet some Senior College at Belfast members when I attend the UMaine System's Aging Initiative at the Hutchinson Center.
I have booked a table for the Maine Council on Aging's Wisdom Summit and look forward to seeing some of you at the summit in September. My thanks to the UMaine in Augusta SC members for agreeing to help me man the MSCN table! If your Senior College would like to have any flyers, catalogs or brochures displayed on the table, please let me know!
The Maine Senior College Network has been invited to take part in a WGAN Radio "Maine Points" interview! I will be joined by Fleurette Bannon representing York County SC, Tony Belmont from Midcoast SC, and Janet Stebbins from OLLI at USM. My thanks to all three of you for helping me to spread the word about the Maine's Senior Colleges. At the time of writing, I do not know the date for transmission of the interview. However, you can visit the
Maine Points podcast page for a recording once it has aired.
Program Director
University of Southern Maine
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Ashley Nadeau-Belanger Receives York County Senior College Scholarship
Ashley Nadeau-Belanger is this year's recipient of the York County Senior College scholarship. The scholarship is given annually to a graduate of
Sanford's Adult Education Program. Ashley is a Mental Health and Human Services major at the
University of Maine at Augusta. A resident of Biddeford, Ashley plans to graduate in the spring of 2018.
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Pictured above (left to right) Dan Philbrick, Director of
University College-Saco, Ashley Nadeau-Belanger, and Jane Carlson, Chairperson of York County Senior College.
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Lewiston Auburn Senior College Clubs
Want to go places and see things friends and family aren't interested in but hate to go alone? Form a Senior College Club! LA Senior College clubs keep our members out and about all year exploring what our great state has to offer. Organized a few years ago, each club requires a dedicated leader willing to find new opportunities, make reservations, and organize car pools. Members pay their own way to each event. There are currently four clubs: Theater, Dine Around, Outdoor Adventure and Cross Country Skiing. (Photo above shows the Outdoor Adventure Club's canoe trip on Scarborough Marshes.)
Afternoon At The Theater Club
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| Picture of Theater Club with cast at the Monmouth Playhouse production of Oklahoma. |
Club leader David Marshall not only likes going to the theater, he enjoys acting, too. We are blessed with many active theater groups in this region. In addition to two fine theaters here in Lewiston/Auburn, th
e group has travelled to theaters in Monmouth, Biddeford, Portland, Boothbay, Hallowell and Falmouth. David frequently arranges for a question and answer session with the cast after the performance. A bonus is the fun we have watching him enjoy being an actor. Attending a matinee allows time to discuss the play
at a nearby restaurant. The longest trip was to Boston, dining at Jacob Worth's then going to see Blue Man Group.
The Dine Around Club
Is just what its name implies, searching out interesting restaurants near and far. They have sampled food from restaurants small and large, near and far, both exotic cuisine and down home food. Have they ever met a cuisine they didn't like? Their latest adventure had them sampling Maine's favorite summer food: lobster!
The Outdoor Adventure Club
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Rafting Trip at Northern Outdoors.
LASC members: Pat Vampatella, Adriann Tucker, Sue Tymoczko, Janet Stenberg & Grace Trainor |
Have something you really want to do, but no one you know wants to do it with you? Leaders Pat Vampatella and Cindy Boyd solve that problem with unusual adventures of all kinds. Winter includes a horse drawn sleigh ride through fields and woods. A December highlight is participating in the laying of wreaths at the Togus Veterans Cemetery as part of the wreaths across America program. This summer they took to the water. In June, they went to Northern Waters Raft Adventures for a trip through some white water. July wa
s a trip to Scarborough Marsh, where we rented canoes and enjoyed a guided tour. In August they will join the Augusta Senior College group on a trip to Monhegan Island.
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| Outdoor Adventure. Camping food - delicious after a day of adventures! |
The Cross Country Skiing Club
Lost Valley Ski Area in Auburn has helped many learn to enjoy one of Maine's most famous sports. With cross country trails, too, it provides a convenient place for members to learn a new skill and experienced skiers to keep limber. Visiting the many fine places for cross country skiing here in Central Maine keeps club members on the go. Come the first skiable snow, they will be on the trails once again!
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Summer in Maine calls for hiking boots, bug spray, and a hearty breakfast. In a cleverly entitled series, Gold LEAF members are joining "presenter" Ray Stillman for hikes up area hills and mountains that begin with the letter B (or which can be mispronounced, such as Botato Hill, actually known as Potato Hill in Temple, Maine). The latter concept came up when the group was listing future hikes and ran out of "B" names.
With no mispronunciation, Bannock Mountain was tackled as the first of such hikes, and the weather cooperated beautifully. A group of about 16 tromped uphill to enjoy the scenic vista of Clearwater Pond in
Industry and a calm view of the hills to the northeast and northwest.
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| The view from Bannock Mountain |
On an absolutely clear day, one can spot Katahdin in the distance. According to a weathered sign at the top, Bannock takes its name from an early exploratory excursion during which the troop baked a "bannock" which is a type of flat bread there at the summit.
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| The intrepid hikers of the Gold LEAF Institute |
There were etchings in the rocks to investigate, and, as a surprise, the Gold LEAF Curriculum chair and her husband arrived via a circuitous route with cookies and cold drinks. They own the start of a building at the top, and hikers were able to stand atop the foundation/first floor level to take in an enhanced view. After a rest and time for socializing, the group safely descended back down to Route 43 and the town of Industry.
The next hike in the series will be up one of the gazillion Bald Mountains, no telling which one!
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Maine Game Warden Featured at YCSC Annual Meeting, Jane Carlson Named Again to Head College Council
The Marriott banquet hall was filled June 7 to celebrate the close of the 2016-17 college year, to select officers and council representatives for the coming year-and to hear a fascinating talk by an engaging retired public servant. Roger Guay, former Maine game warden turned author, regaled the audience of 119 YCSC members with stories romantic and routine of the great Maine woods. His duties involved searches for missing persons, homicide investigations, recovery of cadavers-and catching poachers. In each of these assignments Ranger Roger was accompanied by a faithful canine companion. Their exploits have been chronicled in the recently published book,
A Good Man with a Dog, co-authored by Kate Clark Flora.
Officers Re-Elected
While Roger and his dogs captivated the rapt audience, the meeting also served as an "inauguration" of YCSC's leadership for 2017-18. Jane Carlson will enjoy another term at the helm; Mary Blood will continue as treasurer and Gloria Day, secretary. Newly chosen for service on the Council: Bob Dunn and Pat Scammon. Gloria (Day, that is) has said she'll take on the chairmanship of the 2018 meeting.
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University of Maine System
The Third Annual University of Maine Aging Initiative Summer Workshop
August 14, 2017 -
10:00 am to 3:30 pm
UMaine Hutchinson Center, Belfast
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Birdseye View of Belfast, Maine
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Why should you attend?
- You will network with fellow faculty, researchers and students from all seven UMS campuses who are already a part of or want to join the exciting aging focused R&D underway across the state.
- You will hear from a wide range of statewide community stakeholders who, like you, want to advance research that will make lives better for aging citizens and their families in the oldest state in the nation.
- You will learn what the most significant aging-related challenges and opportunities are across Maine in both our cities and rural communities that could benefit from aging-focused R&D.
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SAVE THE DATE!
September 20, 2017
Augusta Civic Center: Main Auditorium 9:00am-3:30pm (registration 8:00-9:00am)
Information from the Maine Council on Aging (MCOA) and the 2017 Maine Summit on Aging
Join hundreds of community, organizational, business, health, research and policy leaders at the 4th annual Maine Summit on Aging. The Wisdom Summit will focus on reframing the conversation about our aging demographic and older Mainers. It will challenge our ageist assumptions and help us understand how cultivating the intelligence, ingenuity and resiliency of older Mainers is moving us toward innovation, interconnectivity and economic prosperity. For the next two decades, older Mainers will be the thought leaders, workers, new small business owners, mentors and community development trailblazers that keep our economy working and our communities thriving. This Summit will help participants learn how to effectively change the conversation about aging in Maine and advance policies at every level to inspire a new vision of aging.
Our Keynote presentation will be by
Frameworks Institute. FrameWorks is an essential resource on framing social issues to promote effective policy change. FrameWorks has completed a multi-year project researching how we view aging and our changing demographic. They've released three reports that are helping to shift public communication and advocacy on these issues. At the Summit, participants will learn the most effective ways to talk about the opportunities and challenges of aging and our changing demographic, be inspired by organizations, initiatives and people who are putting these concepts into practice, and gain access to tools they can utilize to effect change in their lives, organizations and communities and on state and federal policy.
FrameWorks will be hosting hands-on training sessions throughout the day that will help folks understand how to use the tools they've created and released this winter. Other work sessions will help us all understand the tremendous opportunities that come with our aging demographic.
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Discrediting Alzheimer's Myths And Common Misunderstandings
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Adam Lacher, Director of Advocacy for the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter
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Myths and public misperceptions about dementia perpetuate stigma and fear. The Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter offers "Act on Alzheimer's", an educational talk designed to help folks take an active role in the fight to end Alzheimer's. This talk is suitable for families and individuals facing Alzheimer's, as well as community members and healthcare professionals across the state to discredit these myths and common misunderstandings and increase understanding of the disease and compassion for those impacted by it. The Chapter hopes that participant's walk away knowing the most fundamental information regarding dementia:
- Dementia is a disease and not a normal process of aging.
- Knowing signs and symptoms of dementias and risk factors can lead to early detection.
- Early detection of cognitive decline and early intervention and planning helps individuals, families and caregivers significantly.
"This disease is complex and emotional," said Adam Lacher, Director of Advocacy for the Alzheimer's Association, Maine Chapter. "Personally, I love to see those 'Ah ha' moments when an attendee gets a new idea or strategy to try to help their loved one living with the disease." To learn more about Alzheimer's disease and other related forms of dementia, please call our 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900 or visit us our
website.
Talk Summary:
"Act on Alzheimer's": Participants learn to dispel misinformation and overcome the stigma associated with Alzheimer's disease and related forms of dementia. Furthermore, participants will be introduced to the early warning signs, as well as ways to help reduce one's risk of developing the disease. This talk is designed to help folks take an active role in the fight to end Alzheimer's.
Adam is available to talk to your Senior College
Contact Adam by calling 207.772.0115 ext: 26 or send him an
email.
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2017 Maine Woodcarver's Association's 31st Annual Show and Competition
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Senior College Fall Programs
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The MSCN newsletter is sent to each Senior College board. The boards then forward the newsletter to their membership. However, if you are not a member of a Senior College or perhaps you are, and you simply want the news "hot off the press"
subscribe here!
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Newsletter Submissions Deadline Date:
The 20th of each month!
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Like MSCN on Facebook
 Now you can "like" Maine Senior College Network on
Facebook. We've created an MSCN page on Facebook, so please visit it to share experiences, ideas, photos, and information about upcoming Maine Senior College happenings. We'll also post links to articles about lifelong learning and other topics relevant to senior college members.
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The Maine Senior College Network is a program of the
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Maine Senior Guide is a comprehensive web resource about all things senior that provides "one stop shopping" for Maine's seniors at the link below:
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Contact Information
Maine Senior College Network
P.O. Box 9300
Portland, Maine 04104-9300
(207) 228-4128
Email:
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