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Message from the President

Teamwork

Behind the scenes at LLI are the many volunteers who plan and execute all the details that make LLI a special organization. It is a pleasure to watch committee and team meetings where enthusiastic professionals identify problems and work out solutions so that our train can continue to run on time. Like any organization, we are not perfect. Like the best organizations, we learn lessons and apply that knowledge for the benefit of our members. 

First impressions about this semester are trickling in, and the feedback is positive. Evaluations for multipresenter courses are being distributed weekly. The evaluations for our other courses will be sent to members in November. Please take the time to fill out these forms and return them. These evaluations are an important tool that we use to determine the effectiveness of presenters, course material, and more. Presenters and producers are provided summaries of your anonymous evaluations, and the feedback can be useful.

There are a few members who I want to recognize for their extra efforts this semester. Carmela Gersbeck (chair of Program Support) is an important voice and skilled tech on many committees. Her AV team saves many a day. Deborah Lanser (chair, Catalog Team) has expanded her portfolio to include more responsibilities for communications. Mary McClellan (first vice president and interim chair of the Curricular Committee) solves unexpected problems by coordinating resources and making phone calls between class periods, while leaving time for a quick lunch. Speaking of food, Irene Esposito (chair, Hospitality) brought back our coffee and snack service, which is available in room 301. Irene quickly realized the success of her effort and secured a second room (303) to accommodate the large crowd. Finally, a big shout out to D. Michael Simpler (long-term member) for generously allowing us to hold two classes in his studio and to his wife, Babette, who graciously met our members and parked many of their cars.

I hope you enjoy the semester. If you have time, observe a committee or team meeting, without obligation. They all meet via Zoom.

Best,

Robert Beaury

president@lli.bard.edu

The Perks of Bard LLI Membership

by Susan Phillips

The obvious advantages of being a Bard LLI member include participating in, and learning from, a rich variety of courses, plus establishing new friendships. But many members may not be aware of the numerous advantages that are available because Bard LLI is considered part of the Bard College community. Below is an abbreviated list of those perks.

Welcoming New Members

by Deborah Lanser

The September 7th orientation was ostensibly a chance to introduce new members to the ins and outs of Bard LLI, but it was also a chance for them to mingle with returning members during the coffee hour before the program. The new members already had some thoughts about what they appreciate about Bard LLI: the course selection, the social gatherings, and the mentor program. One person said he liked the newsletter, which he called very professional. 

They joined for several reasons: the desire to keep learning, the pleasure of sharing the program with friends who are members, the need to meet new people, and the excellent reputation of Bard LLI. One person said he joined because his wife told him he needed to go back to school. 

Some new members had a few concerns. One was worried about keeping up with the classes she had chosen. Another wasn’t sure how many classes to take. A third person, who couldn’t attend the campus tour, was worried about finding Olin Hall and parking nearby. And several had already learned the hard way about the need to sign up on registration day for the classes they wanted. But all were eager to start their classes.

Two Passions of Tom Walker

by Deborah Lanser

To take a history course with popular LLI presenter Tom Walker is to gain a broad perspective on past and current events across the world. Studying history is important, he believes, because it teaches us that the questions may be more important than the answers. It can challenge us to think outside of the box. It allows us to read the newspapers with insight and gives us the background to be responsible citizens when encountering a new situation. 

Obviously, history is one of Tom’s passions. Fortunately for Bard LLI, another passion is teaching. The breadth of his experience with both history and teaching is extensive.

What is this Pickleball Craze All About?

by L. Walker

You probably have heard of this game with the funny name, but did you know it was named after the inventor's dog, Pickles? It was dreamed up over 50 years ago as a game his whole family could play together while on vacation. Today, pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America. 

Basically, pickleball is a paddle sport that's played on a badminton-sized court with a modified tennis net. It uses a hollow, plastic ball similar to a wiffle ball, and there's a lot less running than in tennis. There are some unique rules to this game, like how to "dink at the kitchen line" and the "double bounce rule," which equalizes players of different abilities. Most people find it a fairly quick game to learn and fun to play, plus it's very social!

LLI now has a special interest group of members who get together to play. Last spring was the inaugural season for the pickleball group, and this fall they’ll be back on Tuesday afternoons! We are lucky to have four dedicated pickleball courts right in our backyard at the Red Hook Rec Park on Linden Avenue. And the library system in the Hudson Valley lends out equipment just like a library book. If you always wanted to try or if you already play, come on down! Players of all abilities are welcome.

Open play for people of all levels will be at the Red Hook courts—just show up!

Tuesdays from 1 pm to 3 pm, on October 3, 10, 17, and 24.

For more information, contact L. Walker at lwalker@lli.bard.edu

LLI Supports BHSEC Students' Summer Work

by Cathy Reinis

Each year, LLI provides grants to students at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan. The money provides support that allows students to volunteer and to learn in the summer between their junior and senior years. 

This year, three students each received $625.00 to support their projects. Here are the students.

Arjun Prasse

Laura-Albane Peyronnet

Laura-Albane Peyronnet worked as a volunteer at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge in Long Island for four weeks, alongside interns and staff on the nature preserve. Laura’s duties were to care for and provide lesson plans, activities, hike routes, and materials to children (ages 4 to 6) enrolled in the Refuge’s Little Naturalists summer program to teach them about sustainable practices, respect for wildlife, and native animals, plant life, and ecosystems. The activities, lesson planning, and teaching times at the Quogue Wildlife Refuge contributed to Laura’s passion for ecology and education, and her drive to pursue studies in sustainability.

Tazeem Mahashin

Tazeem Mahashin produced test preparation materials for a group of approximately 60 grade-school aged SAT students.  His work was designed to improve college access by giving students early exposure to test-taking techniques and SAT content free of cost.  

Thank You Letters

Click here to read the thank you letters from the three students and to hear all about their experiences - they are amazing!

Bard High School Early College

LLI originally linked with BHSEC because our beloved faculty liaison, the late Dean Stuart Stritzler-Levine, was Dean of Studies at BHSEC between 2003 and 2009, and he treasured the school. Go to Our School – BEC Manhattan to learn about the school today.

To learn about the network of Bard Early Colleges, go to Bard Early College.

Historic Trees at Blithewood

Fall on Bard’s expansive campus is a season of pivotal change for plants. Their metabolisms slow down as they prepare for winter when days are shorter and colder. Since Bard’s arboretum is diverse and spread out, expect to investigate it in bits and pieces. One might start with a walk around Blithewood to enjoy the beauty and sensory bounty of autumn. Meander down the footpaths from the center of campus or drive to the parking lot at the northeast corner of Blithewood Mansion, home of the Levy Institute. On your way, note the stately white pine allée, lining the Blithewood Avenue approach. Some of the venerable pines planted at the turn of the nineteenth century are still in place, and some younger ones have joined the ranks along the allée. The road forks to the parking area from where you can circle the mansion on foot, stopping along the way to enjoy the sights and scents of fall.

The Abundance of the Montgomery Place Orchards Wayside Stand

Council Notes for September

by Susan Simon

At the meeting on September 18, the following items were discussed:

• The first week of classes went well.

• A Bard College Family and Alumnae Event starts at 4:00 pm on Friday, October 27, which could make LLI class parking more difficult in the late afternoon on that day.

Highlights of the Bard Calendar

by Felice Gelman

Bard is back in session and there are a number of free campus events open to the Bard community, including LLI members.

Wednesday, October 11, at noon, the Open Society University Network Economic Democracy Initiative presents its fall keynote address, Mark Paul’s “Freedom Is Not Enough—The Case for Economic Rights in the US.” Dr. Paul is an assistant professor of planning and public policy at Rutgers University. This virtual event will be livestreamed, the link is provided here.

Thursday, October 12, at 1:00 pm through Saturday, October 14 at 7:00 pm at the Reem-Kayden Science Center, Bard will host the second annual conference of Rethinking Place: Bard-on-Mahicantuck. The conference, “Indigenous Research Methods and Practice in the Liberal Arts,” explores the topic of “research” within the humanities. Lectures, conversations, performances, and workshops aim to unpack the historic and contemporary legacy of harm that social science research perpetuates on Indigenous communities. You can find a link to register and a full description of the conference here.

Sunday, October 15, from 7:00–9:00 pm the Bard Bitó Conservatory presents a faculty recital in the conservatory performance space with Luosha Fang, violist. and Shannon Lee, violinist, performing works by Martinū, Prokofiev, Saariaho, and Takemitsu. 

Monday, October 16, from 5:00–7:00 pm, in Olin 102, Bard Center for Civic Engagement will host award-winning Australian indigenous artist collective proppaNOW as part of their ongoing speaker series.

Tuesday, October 17, from 6:00–8:00 in the Weis Cinema, Bard Center for Human Rights and the Arts presents “New Red Order: How to Commit Crimes Against Reality.”  Artists Jackson Polys, Zack Khalil, and Adam Khalil ask, “Do you want to realize your fullest potential? Be your truest self? Act with confidence? Attract abundance? Alleviate anxiety? Experience clarity? Know your purpose? Be the change you want to see? Be truly present? Experience real freedom? Change the world? Be a part of the solution?  On some level, we all want to feel this way, but sometimes in our globalized, capitalist, settler-colonial society it feels impossible. Which is why the New Red Order is developing a dynamic system to help our accomplices achieve all of this and more. This sneak peek of our free introductory video, Never Settle, will tell you what you need to know to take control of your life today!” Further information can be found here.

Monday, October 23, from noon–1:30 pm at the Hannah Arendt Center, 1448 Annandale Rd., presents Jonathan Graubart, a political science professor at San Diego State University, discussing “Reflections from the Outstanding Jewish Pariah: Hannah Arendt on What Went Wrong with the Zionist Project.” Further information can be found here.

Saturday, October 28, at 7:00 pm and Sunday, October 29 at 2:00 pm at the Fisher Center Sosnoff Theater, the program “Uncommon Connections” will celebrate Bard faculty members Joan Tower and Marcus Roberts. The Bard Conservatory Orchestra will perform works by Joan Tower, Aaron Copland, Béla Bartók, and Duke Ellington. Click here to reserve tickets.

Monday, October 30, from 6:00–8:00 pm, at the Resnick Studio in Fisher Center, performance artist Brian Lobel speaks on “Sex, Cancer, and Other Things My Mother Wishes I Never Had.”  This talk, performance, analysis, and meditation reflects on 20+ years living in a body that had cancer, healed from cancer, remained scarred from cancer, kept being questioned about cancer, worked with cancer, and lost colleagues to cancer, a body that made cancer friends, lost cancer friends, taught on cancer, and ran away from teaching, living, and breathing cancer. Further information can be found here.

Upcoming Meetings and Important Dates
for Members

by Carmela Gersbeck

Monday, October 9: Indigenous Peoples’ Day luncheon will be held in the Multipurpose Room of Bertelsmann Campus Center starting at noon.

Tuesday, October 10: Curriculum Committee meeting at 10:00 am on Zoom. Anyone interested in joining a meeting should email Anne Brueckner at abrueckner@lli.bard.edu.

Wednesday, October 11: Membership Development Committee meeting at 9:00 am on Zoom. Any member interested in observing a Membership Development meeting should email Robert Inglish at ringlish@lli.bard.edu.

Thursday, October 12, and Friday, October 13: No classes will be held.

Monday, October 16: Council meeting at 9:30 am on Zoom. Any member interested in observing a Council meeting should email Mary McClellan at mmcclellan@lli.bard.edu.

Monday, October 30: The Communications team meets at 9:30 am on Zoom. Any member interested in observing a Communications meeting should email Deborah Lanser at dlanser@lli.bard.edu.

Thursday, November 2, and Friday, November 3: No classes will be held.

Thursday, November 2: The DEI/Social Justice team meets at 4:00 pm on Zoom. Any member interested in joining a meeting should email Laura Brown at lbrown@lli.bard.edu.

Wednesday, November 8: Membership Development Committee meeting at 9:00 am on Zoom. Any member interested in observing a Membership Development meeting should email Robert Inglish at ringlish@lli.bard.edu.

Thursday, November 9: Webinar co-sponsored by Bard College, Bard LLI, Starr Library, and Oblong Books with Dr. Blackhawk of Yale University, who has just published a seminal book reanalyzing Native American history. Details to follow via email.

Tuesday, November 14: Curriculum Committee meeting at 10:00 am on Zoom. Anyone interested in joining a meeting should email Anne Brueckner at abrueckner@lli.bard.edu.

Monday, November 20: Council meeting at 9:30 am on Zoom. Any member interested in observing a Council meeting should email Mary McClellan at mmcclellan@lli.bard.edu.

Monday, November 27: The Communications team meets at 9:30 am on Zoom. Any member interested in observing a Communications meeting should email Deborah Lanser at dlanser@lli.bard.edu.

The opinions and views expressed in the LLI Newsletter are those of the author(s). They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of LLI or its members. In addition, any link to a website or content belonging to or originating from third parties are not investigated, monitored or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability or completeness by LLI, nor does LLI accept any responsibility for such content.