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Welcome to Your October 2017 Newsletter!
Greetings from the Antipodes! (New Zealand to be precise.) Hopefully, this email newsletter makes its way around the world and into your email box!
A big thank you to Penobscot Valley Senior College for inviting me to your Annual Meeting and Luncheon on September 13th. This was a wonderful opportunity for me to meet many PVSC board members. Thank you all for your warm welcome to Bangor!
Please see the Read in this Issue section below for this month's newsletter items.
Now, I am off to watch the water drain away in the opposite direction before I go outside and look for hobbits.
Program Director
University of Southern Maine
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Read in this Issue!
News Items for October, 2017
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Maine Council on Aging - Wisdom Summit
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| (Photo) MSCN's very own pin-up lady Lynne Gammon posing beside one of our banners at the Wisdom Summit. Lynne and her husband Rick (OLLI members) ran the "Creating & Connecting Through Music" workshop. The aim of their popular workshop was to prove that anyone can learn to play the ukelele! |
Thank you to Jess Maurer and the Maine Council on Aging for organizing the excellent and informative Wisdom Summit that took place at the Augusta Civic Center on Wednesday, September 20th.
The Wisdom Summit focused on reframing the conversation about Maine's aging demographic. We are on the cutting edge of "reframing aging," and the summit looked at how older Mainers are cultivating the opportunities that come with longer life. Julie Sweetland of the FrameWorks Institute was a keynote speaker. She reported on a multi-year Frameworks project researching into how we view aging and our country's changing demographic. Julie explained we can create a new narrative on aging that will help shift communication and advocacy on aging issues.
Please visit the
Frameworks Institute website to learn more about their work to change the conversation on a range of social issues.
You can visit their Reframing
Aging web page
which has links to the project's research and communication toolkit.
Thank you!
I want to take the opportunity to thank the following Senior College Board members who sat on the MSCN panel at the Maine Council on Aging's Wisdom Summit. Much appreciation goes to Chuck Acker (Founder) UMA Senior College, Janet Stebbins (Board Chair) OLLI, USM Portland campus. Irene Kutcha (Board Chair) Western Mountains Senior College, Fleurette Bannon (Former Co-Board Chair) York County Senior College. Additional thanks go to Pat Vampatella USM, Lewiston-Auburn campus and Bev Ludden UMA Senior College wonder woman who assisted with the workshop and the MSCN exhibitors table.
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"Concerts at Jewett"
Novel Jazz Performs at UMA Jewett Auditorium.
Sunday, October 29, 2017, 2PM
The "Concerts at Jewett" Series sponsored by University of Maine at Augusta College of Arts and Sciences and UMA Senior College will feature Novel Jazz in "Duke & Swee'Pea - Love You Madly" on Sunday, October 29, 2017, 2PM at UMA Jewett Hall Auditorium.
In addition to researching and arranging pieces, Barney Balch plays tenor, alto and soprano trombone. He has performed in many bands from Maine, Massachusetts, New York, California and Florida. Mike Mitchell plays trumpet, cornet and flugelhorn. Mike studied in UMA's jazz program, and has been playing jazz trumpet in Maine for nearly 30 years. The drummer and percussionist, Bill Manning, has his own private teaching studio in Portland, and has a wide variety of musical experiences and genres. Herb Maine, on the bass, began playing professionally at age 15, and plays regularly around the state.
David Clarke, guitarist, was performing gigs by age 13 and travelled extensively with the Air Force Band in rock and jazz ensembles. He has performed with many Maine bands. Mickey Felder, the pianist, performed at age 15 in a professional group playing jazz standards. He later played folk and bluegrass and then returned to jazz. The saxophonist, Sean Potter, has taught privately and in schools for over 25 years. Sean currently plays with the Portland Jazz Orchestra and the Seacoast Big Band.
Tickets are $10, students $5, 12 & under free. Tickets are available at Pat's Pizza in Augusta, Dave's Appliance in Winthrop and at the door. Call 621-3551, or email
[email protected]
for more information or for mail order tickets.
Website: www.concertsatjewett.com
The next concert is Sunday, November 19, 2017, 2PM - Paul Sullivan, Pianist and Composer
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Photo Portrait:
Sunrise Senior College Sculpture Workshop Instructor John McMurray
Portrait of Sculpture instructor John McMurray
by Marci Gaglione
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
" The Bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma, City"
Speaker: Fred Jordan, Chief Medical Examiner, State of Oklahoma
October 13, 2017
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Room 170 at
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| Photograph by FEMA News Photo taken on 04-26-1995 in Oklahoma |
When Doctor Fred Jordan became Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Oklahoma, tornados were the primary concern when it came to disasters affecting the state. Then came April 19th 1995 when terrorists Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols parked a bomb laden vehicle next to the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building and detonated it.
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| Oklahoma bombing memorial |
On October 13th, Doctor Jordan will speak at the Lewiston Auburn Senior College Food for Thought luncheon about his experiences during that dreadful time. He states: "The terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building took away the innocence of a large prairie city in our heartland. It also brought people together as never before." The lessons learned then were important for effective response to later tragedies including 9/11.
efore becoming Chief Medical Examiner for Oklahoma, Dr. Jordan was Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the state of Maine. After graduating from Bowdoin College, he earned his MD from Tufts University. Following an internship at Maine Medical Center then a residency at Central Maine General Hospital, he completed fellowship studies in forensic pathology and legal medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College. Now living in Poland, Dr. Jordan is officially retired. However, in 2015, he completed the program at the Chaplaincy Institute and was ordained. He is now Hospice Chaplain for the Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ denominations.
The Public is invited to join the members of Senior College for his presentation at the Lewiston Campus, University of Southern Maine, 50 Westminster Street, Lewiston, Room 170. If you wish to have lunch, it is $8 by reservation only. Call 207-753-6510 before noon on Wednesday, October 11. Doors open at 11:30 Friday October 13, Dr. Jordan's presentation begins at 12:00.
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August Outdoor Adventure Club Report
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| The USM Lewiston-Auburn Outdoor Adventure Club board "Balmy Days" for a tour around Monhegan Island. |
11 members of the LAC Senior College Outdoor Adventure Club got together with Duane Prugh's UMA Senior College members (approximately 25) for an outstanding day on Monhegan Island. The weather was perfect, the scenery spectacular, the opportunity to meet up with our Augusta colleagues very much appreciated, and all in all a marvelous way to end summer.
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| LASC members Afriann and Sue with Ernie the Monhegan Lighthouse keeper |
After a lovely boat ride to the Island, the first stop was a hike to the Lighthouse. We were fortunate that Duane's friend Ernie DeRaps was able to join us. Ernie is a retired Us Coast Guard veteran who actually spent two years with his family on duty as the Monhegan Lighthouse Keeper. His stories about "living on the Island" was enthralled all of us.
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| View from Monhegan Lighthouse |
After a picnic lunch at the Lighthouse, some members took in the view from the top of the lighthouse, while others hiked, shopped, took the additional boat trip around the Island, or just spent the afternoon down by the dock chatting with friends and watching the comings & goings of boats in the harbor, islanders going about their daily routine, and absorbing the incredible scenery. Needless to say, we are already thinking about Island adventures for next summer.
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Western Mountains Senior College
Elder Abuse Is a Bigger Problem Than You May Think
Did you know that one in nine Mainers over the age of 60 experiences some form of neglect or abuse? And that in the majority of cases the perpetrator is a family member or spouse?
Betty Balderson (Elder Abuse Prevention Advocate at Legal Services for the Elderly) spoke to a small but appreciative group at a recent presentation on elder abuse sponsored by To Your Health of Western Mountains Senior College. She said that abuse can be physical, sexual, or psychological, and may involve neglect and abandonment, but by far the most common type of abuse is financial exploitation.
What's financial exploitation? Perhaps a grandmother gives her credit card to her grandson to pick up a prescription, but the grandson also uses that card to pay his bills. Or a daughter convinces her mother to withdraw money from the bank and "give" it to her.
Why do family members do this? Some may rationalize that they're going to get the money anyway, why not take it now when they need it. Why does the senior not report it? They may feel they are dependent on the family for care, they may be in denial, or think that it is just a "family problem."
Friends and neighbors can learn to recognize the red flags of elder abuse:
- Changes in appearance and personality
- Change in routine -- no longer participating in events enjoyed in the past
- Social isolation or family not allowing visitors
- Sudden loss of ability to meet financial obligations
- Senior states or implies problems/conflicts with caregiver
Watch, Listen, Do Something!
- If worried about immediate danger, call 911. If danger is not immediate, try talking with the senior about your concerns.
- Report your concerns to Adult Protective Services -- it's confidential. 800-624-8404
- Help the senior call Legal Services for the Elderly (free to everyone over 60). 800-750-5353
- Contact Maine Association of Area Agencies on Aging 877-353-3771
Betty Balderson says there is no wrong choice in who to contact -- all of these agencies know about the others and will help you find the right person to talk to. If you do something, you're doing the right thing!
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The People Plus Senior Health Expo
9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at the Cook's Corner Mall.
Maine has the highest percentage of older adults in the country; and the Mid Coast is where this population is growing the fastest. The People Plus Senior Health Expo brings together a variety of resources for this increasingly important segment of our community.
The Expo provides an excellent opportunity to showcase products and services in the following categories:
- Medical Services
- Fitness and Health
- Technology
- Legal
- Community Services
- Housing/Respite Care
- Financial/Banking
Last year the People Plus Senior Health Expo had well over 700 participants with many receiving free flu shots, free massages, and many other free services!
Midcoast Senior College will be representing the Maine Senior College Network at the Expo. If you are going to the event stop by their table and say hello!
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YCCC South Coast Senior College Members Receive a Discount on Select Continuing Education Classes!
South Coast Senior College members are invited to register for select continuing education classes at a reduced class fee of $25. To qualify for this discount, senior college membership must be current. Course descriptions can be found on our website at yccc.edu. The following Fall 2017 classes are available at a discount:
Word I
Course
#:
CIS 909 01 NC
Fri - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - 10/20/2017
Instructor: Denise Young.
Word II
Course
#: CIS 910 01 NC
Fri - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM - 11/03/2017
Instructor: Denise Young.
Powerpoint
Fri - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM 11/17/2017
Instructor: Staff
To register for any of these classes at the special senior college rate, please contact Sophaktra Heng, Administrative Specialist at 207-216-4492.
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Interesting reads:
Meet Next Avenue's Top 50 Influencers in Aging for 2017. These 50 advocates, researchers, thought leaders, innovators, writers, and experts continue to push beyond traditional boundaries and change our understanding of what it means to grow older.
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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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Images Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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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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