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Bearing fruit:
Lifelong Learning Institute celebrates fifth anniversary

Three years ago, a group of senior baby boomers took part in a writing seminar offered at Chemeketa Community College’s Lifelong Learning Institute. At its conclusion, the group was so energized by its experience that they formed their own writing group.

That group is still meeting and carrying on the lessons learned.

Success like that is intensely gratifying for Alan Koch, institute coordinator, especially as the five-year anniversary of the Lifelong Learning Institute approaches this fall. The Lifelong Learning Institute offers day-long seminars – primarily taught by visiting scholars - at Chemeketa’s Viticulture Center. Topics explored include everything from care-giving to faith to writing.

The workshops often focus on the intersections of varied life pursuits.

Kathy Eustrom attended a workshop titled “Women of Spirit at Mid-Life and Beyond,” which she described as a “remarkably intimate environment” for writing about and sharing personal experiences. Eustrom was fortunate to make a deeply personal connection with the guest speaker, Marilyn Sewell, and the whole experience left her transformed.

“I was moved to follow her advice,” Eustrom said. “Over the past year, as offshoots from her initial encouragement, I have taken on a series of lifestyle changes and challenges that are now part of my everyday life. I have disciplined myself to modify my work schedule and lifestyle to incorporate running, piano lessons, a meditation practice, and writing. And each of these things, in turn, has led to huge differences in how I perceive myself, engage life, and give back to others.”

Five years ago, Koch and others at Chemeketa set out to look at the way other colleges served the boomer generation and the type of experience that would be most conducive to personal growth. The colleges Koch looked to as guides often required a commitment of several weeks, but Koch felt another approach might be more successful.

 “Baby boomers are doing a lot of things all the time, so we decided to offer day-long, intensive seminars rather than classes taken over an extended period of time,” said Koch. “It leaves them time to do all the other things they’re got on their lists.”

Deciding to host the classes at the breathtakingly beautiful viticulture center, in West Salem, was an easy choice.

“We wanted to create opportunities to explore topics in a more reflective way, away from their everyday lives and without the usual distractions,” said Koch.

In addition, to spending time with experts, students of the institute enjoy catered meals and wine provided by the viticulture center.

Topics for the fall term include: “Capturing Your Personal Stories,” a how-to guide to writing about personal experiences (Oct. 31); and “Finding Your Family Tree,” which provides a jump-start to tracing genealogy (Nov. 7).

Each workshop offers valuable lessons and insight on its topic, but it’s the connections students develop among themselves, like the writers’ group, that are the enduring legacy of the Lifelong Learning Institute.

“Watching students get to know each other and develop relationships to support each other after the seminar ends is the real magic,” he said.

To find out more about an upcoming seminar or to register for one, call Koch at 503.399.2520. For more information about the Lifelong Learning Institute, click here.

By Eric A. Howald. Have a great Chemeketa story? Send us an e-mail.

Updated September 18, 2008 by Marketing and Student Recruitment.