WALLA NEWS Wabash Area Lifetime Learning Association, Inc.

Volume 12, Issue 6 November 2011

Board of Directors Tom Schott, President

Russell Clark, Vice President Gail Beck, Treasurer

Barbara Krause, Secretary Randy Nelson, Past President

Virginia Carter Kathleen Connolly

Sallie Cooke Jack Delleur

Marilyn Green Peggy Housley Robert Knill Etta Lazaros Russ Noble

Ann Skadberg Robert Slagel

Patricia Spears Linda Taulman

Charlene Watson Judy Wright

Calendar of Events See stories in this issue about

these events!

Nov 14 Nov 18 Nov 24 Dec 5 Dec 7 Dec 7 Dec 12 Dec 15 Jan 1 Jan 9 Jan 10 Jan 18 Jan 25 Jan 25 Feb 29 May 4

6:45 Film at WLPL 1:30 Curriculum Cmte HAPPY THANKSGIVING 10:30 Boggstown 10:00 Program Cmte 1:30 Board Meeting 6:45 Film at WLPL 1:30 Curriculum Cmte 2012 HAPPY NEW YEAR! 6:45 Film at WLPL 1:30 Spec Events Cmte 1:30 20th Anniv Cmte 10:00 Prog Cmte 1:30 Board Meeting Winter Getaway 20th Birthday Celebra- tion & Annual Mtg

New: You may check calendar updates at wallaonline.org

Winter Getaway Planned

If you have been on one of our Winter Getaways before, you will surely want to be at this one. Never been before? This is a great way to have three days of fun, see several movies, relax, eat well, explore the park, and make many new friends. The Winter Getaway is scheduled for February 29 ("Leap Day" or "Sadie Hawkins Day"), March 1, and 2, 2012, at McCormick's Creek State Park. This year's film series will be based on the movie career of Barbara Stanwyck. Blythe Lee will lead the pre and post discussions about the three films that will be shown. They are: THE LADY EVE (1941) “I need him like the axe needs the turkey.” In Preston Sturges’s masterpiece of screwball comedy, boyish herpetologist/ brewery heir Henry Fonda seems like an easy mark for father/daughter con artists Charles Coburn and Barbara Stanwyck. But Stanwyck isn’t supposed to fall in love with Fonda while fleecing him. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944) Film noir at its best, as jaded insurance man Fred MacMurray and bored housewife Barbara Stanwyck team up to murder her husband and collect on the policy. They fool ace insurance inspector Edward G. Robinson, but getting away with murder turns out to be a full-time job. THE FURIES (1950) Stanwyck plays the fiercely loyal daughter of rich rancher Walter Huston, a cruel egotist. When society dame Judith Anderson horns in on Huston and the two announce their marriage, a father/daughter war ensues. We will be travelling to McCormick’s Creek via a Purdue coach. More information concerning room rates and other related “getaway” information can be found on the enclosed flyer. Do save the dates February 29 - March 2. The Winter Getaway has always been a popular event with WALLA participants, and this trip does tend to sell out rather soon. We hope you will decide to join us this time.

WALLA Welcomes Two New Board Members

Bios for Peggy & Kathleen

WALLA has become important to me in the last three years since I retired from teaching at the St. Elizabeth School of Nursing in May of 2008. Teaching has been my life . . . . Here in the Lafayette area for 18-1/2 years, in Georgia for 4 years, and in Wisconsin for 1-1/2 years. Continuing education is important in the field of nursing, so lifetime learning was a natural for me. I came in as a ready believer! My husband Tom, a recently retired professor from Purdue University’s Agronomy Department, and I have lived in West Lafayette for 33 years. We have raised two young men who married great ladies. We now have nine fantastic grandchildren. All of you grandparents out there know how wonderful they are! There is nothing else that comes close. This fall I got my feet wet in helping to teach part of the First Ladies course. I am already on the Special Events Committee, helping out those who bring you special events such as the pizza party and the summer picnic. I have also volunteered to serve on the Celebration Committee for the WALLA 20th Anniversary. It is all very exciting to me. I am pleased to serve as a board member and look forward to this experience.

Thank you for approaching me to fill Ed's place on the board. I will be happy to do that. I was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Penn State in Microbiology. Later I added another degree in Medical Technology. My career has spanned medical, environmental and industrial microbiology over a twenty year period. I retired from Great Lakes Chemical Corporation in 2002. Ed and I have lived in the Battle Ground area for the last twenty-one years. We raised three sons, Brian, Michael and Sean and have one granddaughter, Callie, age four. I visited fellow cancer survivors for the American Cancer Society's "Reach to Recovery" Program for ten years. My major hobby, how-ever, is sewing; I provide the unembroidered baptismal garments for our church, Blessed Sacrament. I love craft-making of all types and I enjoy traveling. One of our retirement joys was participating in WALLA. I aided and abetted Ed in his passion for the circus and helped as I could with some of the other courses he coordinated. I look forward to working with the other volunteers for WALLA’s Special Events Committee.

The two newest members to join WALLA’s Board of Directors are Peggy Housley and Kathleen Connolly. The Board of Directors, among other things, is responsible for the wonderful opportunities we are able to enjoy, such as our fall and spring series of classes, the educational trips and getaways, the WLPL film series, the picnics, and pizza parties. They also handle the entire business end of WALLA so the rest of us can just enjoy our time together. Thank you for joining this effort, Peggy and Kathleen! Their bios follow:

Holidays Are Coming

January Trip to C-Span Archives

The WALLA Programming Committee has announced a trip on Monday, December 5, to Boggstown, Indiana, for a dinner and cabaret show. The price of $55.00 includes the Purdue coach ride, a lovely dinner, and show. Piano music and comedy will be featured in the cabaret entertainment. Linda Taulman has been in charge of the planning for this event. Thank you, Linda! See the enclosed flyer for more complete details and information about the reservations. Good food and good entertainment—what a duo! It sounds like a wonderful holiday event.

Monday Night at the Movies

Friends of the Library-WALLA Monday night films continue. Films are now scheduled on the SECOND Monday evening of each month at 6:45 upstairs in the Walnut Room. Free popcorn is always available before the beginning of the film. Monday, November 14, will feature Gosford Park (2001). The movie is a mystery/comedy centered around a murder that occurs at the mansion of a wealthy British couple whose guests were invited for a weekend of hunting and relaxation. The guests' and the servants' perspectives are explored while attempting to solve the crime. Monday, December 12, will present Waking Sleeping Beauty. This film deals with the excellence of Walt Disney films in the decade (1984-1994). Despite the success of several hits like The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King, quarrels at the executive level caused disruption and eventual decline in the quality of later Disney films. Using clips from films, behind-the-scenes footage, home movies, and interviews with key figures, the film audience discovers "a fascinating portrait of the rise and fall of an entertainment empire."

A WALLA visit to C-Span Archives in the Purdue Research Park and a cooking demonstration at Kitchen Art "The Store for Cooks" is tentatively being planned. This trip will be limited to the first twenty persons because of limited space at both venues. Since parking is limited, WALLA will make use of a small Purdue coach to move our group to each locale on the tour. Tentatively the group will have lunch at Route 66 diner located in College Park Center at 1550 Win Hentschel Blvd. in West Lafayette, very near to Kitchen Art. As plans develop, details will follow, so be thinking about this trip.

Wabash Area Lifetime Learning

Association, Inc.

Morton Community Center

222 North Chauncey Avenue, Room 209

West Lafayette, Indiana 47906-3006

Phone: 765-746-2006, 765-494-5760

E-mail: walla222@frontier.com

Website: wallaonline.org

Office hours: 10 am– 1 pm weekdays

Newsletter email: marilynsgreen@comcast.net

Affiliated with Purdue University

Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage Paid

West Lafayette, IN

Permit #79

WALLA volunteers wanted and needed Our WALLA organization works best when many participants see needs, make useful suggestions, and especially lend a hand.

The success of our WALLA programs depends on office workers, newsletter writers, course coordinators, preparers of daily beverages, servers for luncheons, audio-visual technicians, and vigilant board members. Consider how you can add to our growing list of able and enthusiastic volunteers. Consider adding your name to our “Help Wanted and Needed” sheet at your earliest opportunity.

For more information you may go to the WALLA office in room 209 of the Morton Center. Also call Tom Schott at 765-538-3484 or email him at opticopt@tctc.com.

Address Service Requested

Changes of Information

By now you are used to this notice, but if you are changing your address, phone, or email, please let the WALLA staff know by sending an email to the WALLA office address: walla222@frontier.com. Please put “address change” in the subject bar and clearly list your new information within the note. This would also be the procedure to use if you want to “unsubscribe.” Thank you very much

WALLA President Tom Schott and Joe Krause are currently working on the WALLA Spring Trip scheduled for June 5-7, 2012, to Louisville, Kentucky. The following sites and activities are currently in the planning stage: The Kentucky Show! (a multi-media introduction to Louisville and Kentucky along the Ohio River, Locust Grove (George Rogers Clark home), Churchill Downs tour, a walking as well as bus tour of Historic Louisville neighborhoods, a visit to the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat Factory, and a boat trip and luncheon on the Spirit of Jefferson. A mini-course in the Spring 2012 semester will elaborate on other aspects of Louisville and the northern Kentucky history and culture. Watch for details in upcoming newsletters and during the Spring 2012 classes and luncheons.

Long Range Planning

How Did the Fall Classes Fare?

We are glad you asked! They fared quite well, thank you! Several people were heard boasting that this was one of the best series of classes ever. We only serve to get better and better!

On Tuesday, October 25, about 80 lucky WALLA members enjoyed Jane's Deli Gourmet box lunches and listened to "Mo" Trout speak about Purdue's Jazz Band program. What a terrific way to start the day! Then on November 2, another large group of WALLA members lunched and listened to Sharon Woods speak about the Area IV Agency on Aging and Community Action Programs.

Co-coordinator Mimi Porile thanked Ralph Webb who was a presenter for the

course "Justice: What is the right thing to do?"

Above, Larry and Lola Huggins, presenters in the "Sailing" course posed with

coordinator Jack Delleur. Coordinator Jim Moore welcomed Gary Steinhardt, coordinator and presenter of the course “Rivers of Eden.”

Gordon Mork was another knowledgeable presenter in the "Sailing" course.

Let’s hear some statistics: Can you believe that there were 228 persons who registered for WALLA classes this fall? Among those, 39 were new participants. We are happy to welcome these new participants to WALLA. Also an amazing 25 courses were offered; of those 13 were mini-courses. We would be hard pressed to point out one or two as the best. All were exceptional! Please give us your feedback by returning the evaluation forms to the WALLA Office. This will help as we plan new programs for you.

WALLA WINTER GETAWAY AND FILM FESTIVAL 2012

McCORMICK’S CREEK STATE PARK

AND THE CANYON INN WELCOME US BACK ON LEAP DAY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 29 THRU THURSDAY, MARCH 2

Two nights lodging, bus, and films are included.

Please remember: Meals at the Inn are self-pay.

BLYTHE LEE PRESENTS!

BARBARA STANWYCK FILMS The Lady Eve - 1941

Double Indemnity - 1944 The Furies - 1950

Room rates:

Private room – 1 Queen bed $116 each Double room - couple - 2 Queen beds $176 couple Double room - shared - 2 Queen beds $88 each

Send reservations to Gail Beck,1010 N Grant, WL, 47906 by Feb. 18. No refunds after Feb. 22.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name(s): _______________________________________

Address: ________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________

X _____at $116 private room = $______enclosed

X _____at $176 couple = $______enclosed

X _____at $88 share double room = $_____enclosed

Sharing room with _________________________

For the past 6 years Joe Krause has represented WALLA at meetings planning "The One Great Read" in cooperation with area libraries and other institutions. Many WALLA participants may recall attending "One Great Read" events associated with books like The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, Flags of Our Fathers (about the historic flag-raising at Iwo Jima in World War II), the Short Stories of Mark Twain, and Nickel and Dimed: On Not Making it in America by Barbara Ehrenreich. WALLA jointly sponsored at least one event for each book. These included: a panel discussion with Nick Schenkel (WL Public Library) about graphic novels (Persepolis), a debate between Joe Krause and George Horwich on Nickel and Dimed, a film showings of two different versions of The Time Machine followed by a critique led by Bob Bloom, film critic of the Journal and Courier. In the Fall 2010 a four session mini-course on the Short Stories of Mark Twain was held. In addition, WALLA publicized other One Great Read events which attracted numerous WALLA participants. These were largely successful! The 2011 choice of One Great Read was Feed by M.T. Anderson. The book seemed to have appealed to a considerably younger audience; WALLA did not actively sponsor any event either singly or jointly with the West Lafayette Public Library. After several years of representing WALLA on the One Great Read Committee, Joe Krause announced he is no longer willing to do this. If there is any WALLA participant who wishes to step forward to represent WALLA at the planning meetings, he/she should contact Joe Krause or any member of the WALLA Board of Directors. Call Joe at 743-8853 or email to JKr5182853@aol.com. We give a big thanks to Joe who has been so faithful in following the One Great Read and organizing events to correlate with the OGR books.

OGR Needs a New Representative

Curriculum Committee Reports

The Curriculum Committee organized a box lunch on November 3 to give the participants an additional opportunity to make suggestions for courses, presenters, and coordinators for the spring and fall 2012 sessions. The Curriculum Committee will meet on Friday, November 18, to begin working on the spring 2012 program. (They hardly have time to catch their breath!) The program will be finalized on Thursday, December 15. Both meetings will be at 1:30 in the WALLA Office. All WALLA participants are invited to attend and make course suggestions. Please join us. The deadline for submitting course outlines to Mary Gardner is Friday, January 6, 2012. This is a strict deadline because Mary will be traveling abroad and will have a very limited time to assemble the course brochure. Thanks to all who help with the class formation! Everything has been just great!

Walking can add minutes to your life. This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional five months in a nursing home at $7000 per month. My grandpa started walking five miles a day when he was 6o. Now he is 97 years old and we don’t know where he is. I have to walk early in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing. If you take up cross country walking, start with a small country. We walk as much as we can, but some of us get heavier as we get older. That’s because there’s a lot more information in our heads. WALLA may do that to you. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

The Importance of Walking

Cost per person: $55. Includes Purdue bus transportation, show,

dinner, and gratuity. Entrée: Beef pot roast w/potatoes and

vegetables, slaw, fried biscuits w/apple butter, dessert, and your

choice of iced tea or coffee.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Day Trip December 5

Depart Morton at 9 AM, Return 4 PM

Boggstown Cabaret Supper

Organization

Reservation Form

Name(s)____________________________________________________ Phone _________________________

__________ X $ 55 = $ _________

Mail form and check payable to WALLA to Gail Beck at 1010 North Grant Street, West Lafayette, IN 47906

Driving time: 1 1/2 to 2 hours

Arrival time: 11 AM

Meal time: 11:30 AM

Show time is Noon.

Reservation Deadline:

November 18