Back to School
Quest for Knowledge is Ageless
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Photo by Michelle Ashworth
Shirley Bloodworth, director of PrimeTime, and Jan Zak, program director of 2-1-1, prepare for PrimeTime‚ class on July 23. Zak spoke to an audience of about 20, giving advice on what to do and who to call when life‚ problems become too hard to handle.
It is hard to believe August has already arrived, which means it is time to pull out the ole' thinking caps and head back to school. Although "back to school" used to be a term associated with the younger crowd, there are many opportunities in the area for Seniors to become educated as well.
The Senior Institute
The Senior Institute, a program that is part of Pathways at Central Florida Community College in Ocala, offers many different courses for Seniors who are 50 or older. Membership costs $100 for a calendar year, plus $5 per course. Some courses might also have additional costs for materials.Founded in 1991, this program's classes cover topics of all sorts -- Spanish, gardening and herbs, yoga, computer skills, spirituality.
In order to accommodate Seniors, all courses take place during the week. Classes will never be at night or on weekends.
Most classes are held at CFCC in the Ewers Century Center. Art classes, however, take place at Red Swan, an art supply store in Ocala.
Some Seniors take seven to 10 classes at a time, Betty Green said in a recent phone interview. Coordinator for the Senior Institute and Life Services at CFCC, Green said sometimes there are too many courses for Seniors to choose from.
"They want to take them all, and they can't," she said.
Green said the students control a lot of what goes on in the classes themselves, as discussion groups are held to determine topics and speakers.
The Senior Institute will hold an open house on Oct. 2 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Appleton Museum of Art. There will be a short overview of courses being offered, refreshments will be served and interested Seniors can register at that time.
For more information, please contact Green at 352-291-4444 or greenb@cf.edu.
The Institute for Learning in Retirement
Gainesville also has opportunities for Seniors to gain vital knowledge. The Institute for Learning in Retirement, at Oak Hammock at the University of Florida, is another path Seniors can take. Although intended for those who are 55 or older, Sara Lynn McCrea, dean of residents at Oak Hammock, said that number is flexible.
Members are charged annual dues of $25. In addition, classes cost $20 each, $30 for two and $40 for three or more.
Sara Lynn McCrea, dean of residents at Oak Hammock, described the members of ILR as a "vibrant group that likes to continue learning."
"It's rewarding to see," she said in a recent phone interview.
In order to accommodate the interests of everyone, classes at ILR offer a wide variety of topics. Courses range in focus from jazz to global warming to mathematics. Opera was one of the first classes offered seven years ago when the program got started, and it is still going strong. Other classes give students knowledge about creative writing, cultural geography and the history of witchcraft.
Classes begin the week of Oct. 5. For more information, please contact McCrea by phone at 352-548-1009 or by e-mail at smccrea@oakhammock.org.
The PrimeTime Institute of Greater Gainesville, Inc.
Seniors can find another educational opportunity within the PrimeTime Institute of Greater Gainesville, Inc.
Although membership usually runs June to June, this year's membership will run September to June. The cost of membership will be $60, which will include any class Seniors wish to take and any activity in which they want to participate. Non-members can enroll for $5 per class. Donations are always welcome.
Classes will give students knowledge in many different areas. PrimeTime plans to offer courses on Florida bugs, local politics, existential thinking, social security, health, conservation, computers and more. Members will also be taking a tour of the new Cancer Center at North Florida Regional Medical Center in the near future.
This program started three years ago as part of Santa Fe (Community) College. However, with recent budget cuts, funding for the program no longer exists.
Although troubled by financial hardships, members refuse to let anything limit their learning. Thanks to the efforts of Primetime developer and director Shirley Bloodworth, along with many other dedicated members, the program is now a corporation.
"This is a group of very serious Seniors," Bloodworth said in a recent interview at the Matheson Museum in Gainesville. "We are not going anywhere."
With the help of the community, PrimeTime will stand alone and continue to educate Seniors through membership fees and generous donations. Bloodworth and others are currently working hard to make the corporation a non-profit organization.
Although hoping to have a more permanent location in the future, for now members will rely on the generosity of the community for places to gather.
Bloodworth said many places in the area have already offered to let PrimeTime hold meetings and classes at their facilities, including the Matheson Museum.
"The community has been wonderful," she said.
Membership is growing. The program had 157 members for the 2008-2009 year, up from 134 the year before. They hope to have 200 members this upcoming year.
"We are Seniors, hear us roar," Bloodworth said.
Sharon Faris, an active member of the leadership council, also described last year's Historic Halloween Haunt, in which PrimeTime members dressed up like local historic figures. They plan to continue the haunt this Halloween.
"We want to do it forever if we can," Faris said.
Although PrimeTime is intended for those who are 50 or older, that number is not set in stone. All parties interested in donating or attending classes should contact Bloodworth at 352-222-2978 or sgblood@bellsouth.net for more information.
It is never too late to learn new things and this is a good time to take advantage of the classes these programs offer. §
Michelle Ashworth is a student in UF's College of Journalism. She may be contacted through the editor: editor@towerpublications.com.
