The Interactive Seminars

The Life of the Mind Consortium began a series of interactive seminars in the fall of 2007. These were a short series of working sessions (ordinarily 3-5) organized by a Willow Valley resident with specific expertise who led a limited number of others in an in-depth exploration of a specific topic. Keep in mind that residents who enroll in these seminars should commit to attend all sessions in the seminar as full and thoughtful participants.

We began this series with two topics that all of us inevitably face – Death and Taxes. As in life, we dealt with taxes before we faced questions of mortality.

Moving into the Spring 2008, our new group of seminars is as follows:

This seminar invites readers and writers (in any genre, at any stage of development) to learn more about modern poetry in an informal, friendly setting. At each session, we will study a few 20th Century poems for enjoyment and understanding. Brief lectures and discussions will occur as needed. Particular attention will be paid to images, symbols and archetypes and how they work to produce meanings important in the search for intellectual and spiritual integrity. Among the poets likely to be featured are Robert Frost, Mary Oliver, Galway Kinnell, Gerald Stern, Donald Justice, Nancy Willard, Maya Angelou, A.R. Ammons, Linda Pastan, Rita Dove, Charles Simic (the new Poet Laureate), and a few lesser known, but worthy of attention. As the class goes on, students will collect their own anthologies of the works used.

SEMINAR LEADER: Mary Jean Irion

Four sessions: Thursdays--February 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th in the Cultural Center, Conference Room 10:00 – 11:30 AM

Limited to 15 participants and Phone Registration is required 464-6438

Lakes resident Mary Jean Irion is the Founder and First Director of The Writers’ Center at Chautauqua, New York, 1988-1997, where she taught poetry in the all-summer program. Her poetry has been published in prestigious poetry and literary magazines, and she has read her work at poetry festivals, in schools and colleges, also here at Willow Valley. Among her published books are Holding On(Poetry), From the Ashes of Christianity (Nonfiction), and Yes, World (Essays). Her latest work is an African journal, She-Fire: A Safari into the Religious Animal, unpublished and stored in the archives with her other papers at Lancaster Theological Seminary. A collection of poems is in progress.

Come to this series on the Middle East to discuss:

The origins of the conflict - from Biblical time to the 20 th century

The role of religion, nationalism, culture

Truth is in the eyes of the beholder - the reality of events

      Is there hope for peace?

SEMINAR LEADER: Alan Manheim

Three sessions: Wednesdays--April 2nd, 9th, and 16th in the Cultural Center, Conference Room 10:00 – 11:30 AM

Limited to 15 participants and Phone Registration is required 464-6438

Spring Run resident Alan Manheim, an educator and a psychologist, has lived and worked in Israel for over 25 years developing and providing services for people with mental retardation and developmental disabilities in both the Jewish and Arab sectors. He held several senior-level positions in government and not for profit organizations. Alan currently visits Israel several times a year to consult and oversee programs.

Health care costs are too high.

Some personal lifestyle decisions can significantly increase an individual's need for health care services.

For example:

• Smoking causes cancer, emphysema, etc
• Excess weight damages bones and joints, etc.
• Lack of exercise reduces one's stamina and ability to recover from illness and surgery.

Should individuals be charged more/less for their health care insurance based upon their lifestyle choices?

SEMINAR LEADER: Stu Wesbury

One session: Wednesday--March 26, 2008 in the Cultural Center, Conference Room 10:00 – 11:30 AM

Limited to 15 participants and Phone Registration is required 464-6438

Spring Run resident Stu Wesbury spent more than 50 years employed in health care including serving as a pharmacist, hospital administrator and university professor among other roles.