Advisory Board Minutes - December 2014

The December Advisory Board Meeting was held a week early this month to allow for end of the semester reporting of events before the college closed for the holidays.  There was good attendance at the 10th Anniversary Party and we had good reports that people enjoyed the event. The Spring 2015 catalog will be mailed to ALL members in late December.  Registration for Spring is set for Saturday, January 17th.  Classes will begin on CyFair campus on Tuesday, January 20th. To view the minutes of the meeting, click here.

Rock Art Solar Markers

Gordon Houston, Solar System Ambassador and lifelong observer of the sky, gave us a great talk about Rock Art Solar Markers. His research has primarily been at the Texas site of Paint Rock which is about 30 miles east of San Angelo. Rock Art refers mostly to pictures or symbols left on rock surfaces by members of traditional cultures. Some rock art was created at least 10's of thousands of years ago. To learn more about this subject, check out the following websites.  http://www.arara.org/  or

http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/plateaus/images/he4.html

Wine Basics with HEB - Fairfield

The wine tasting at HEB Fairfield was a great success....and FUN too. David Nicholas, Wine and Beer Manager gave us a lot of information about the different types of wine, the characteristics of each wine, food pairings and other details about the wines. Stop by the store and visit with David and he will help you select a wine for any occasion. To view the presentation - click here.

Lawrence of Arabia and the Modern Middle East

Professor Tom Kelly led us through the amazing life of T. E. Lawrence.  During and after World War I, Lawrence's activities played a pivotal role in breaking up the Ottoman Empire and redefining the Middle East.

To see Prof. Kelly's presentation, click here.

Current CPR Techniques

Are you up-to-date on CPR?  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique useful in many emergencies in which someone's breathing or heartbeat has stopped.  The American Heart Association recommends that everyone - untrained bystanders and medical personnel alike - begin CPR with chest compressions. It's far better to do something than to do nothing when someone's life is at stake. Attached is advise from the American Heart Association - click here.
Risk Factors for Heart Attack & Stroke - click here
Signs of Heart Attack & Stroke - click here

Advisory Board Minutes - November 2014

This semester has been busy. One big event was the celebration for the 10th Anniversary of the ALL program on the CyFair campus. Work continues on preparation of the Spring 2015 catalog. Review the attached minutes from the Advisory Board Meeting on November 19, 2014 to see other items discussed.
November 2014 Minutes - Click Here

Bicycling for Seniors

You are never too old to enjoy biking. Many ALL members love getting out on their bikes for fun and fitness. If the bike you have is "old" maybe it is time to invest in a newer one and get back out there.  Al Pitre led this interesting class and gave some great tips for choosing a bicycle that you will enjoy.
To see his handout - click here.

World War II Military Aircraft

World War II Military Aircraft has been one of Bill Willits' interest for many years.  In his youth his family lived near Willow Run Airport and he used to watch the B-24 bombers fly in.  His interest continued to increase through the years.  Bill is now affiliated with the Houston Wing of Commemorative Air Force. Today he shared his love for this part of our American history with the ALL class. You can learn more by viewing his presentation below.
Handout - click here
Presentation - click here
Movie on manufacturing of bombers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKlt6rNciTo

Advisory Board Minutes - October 2014

The Fall Semester has been running smoothly with good class attendance. Members are looking forward to our 10th Anniversary party scheduled for Friday, November 21st from 2:00-4:00pm. The Spring schedule has been submitted to the system office and they are preparing the combined catalog which will be published and mailed in late December.  To view the Advisory Board Minutes for October - click here.

ALL 10th Anniversary Party

We're having a party to celebrate 10 years of classes and events for ALL Academy for Lifelong Learning on the LSC-CyFair campus. RSVP to reserve your spot - call 281-290-3457 - give your name and head count. Seating is limited.

Got Resilience?

Steve Spidell, a staff chaplain from Houston Methodist St John hospital in the Clear Lake area gave am informative talk about the positive effects that resilience plays in our ability to recover and move on from life’s crises’. See Steve Spidell’s presentation and Resilience Self Assessment tools by clicking below.

Presentation - click here

Assessment 1 - click here

Assessment 2 - click here

Picasa Photo Management

Richard Gillespie travels a lot and thus takes thousand of pictures.  With that many photos to manage, he finds that Picasa available through Google handles this chore easily. With Picasa you can do organize, view, edit and share your digital photos on your computer. Richard held a class to share his knowledge of using Picasa with other photography enthusiasts. To see his presentation - click here

European Convention on Human Rights

The American Bill of Rights has been around for a long time. The European Convention on Human Rights is a newer approach to addressing human rights violations. To make changes to the American Constitution, an amendment must be made. The European Convention functions with the use of Proclamations that spell out accepted human rights.  To learn more, review her Presentation by clicking here.

Salsas and Salads

Chef Louie (Lou Master) presented another tantalizing cooking class for us. This one was about Salads and Salsas. But as Lou said - "All salsas aren’t dances and all salads don’t need lettuce". View his handout with recipes for the following items.....click here.

    Green Salsas

    Pineapple Salsa

    Amazing Tropical Salsa

    Pico de Gallo

    Cucumber, Onion and Tomato Salad

    Jicama and Orange Salad

Home and Personal Protection

Bill Bevers of Bullseye Shooters provided our class with loads of information regarding our choices about personal protection.  We learned about guns, marksmanship, as well as the responsibilites that come along with the rights we enjoy.

You can see Bill's presentation here.

Let's Make-A-Turkey

Class members in the Let's Make-A-Turkey class had lots of FUN custom painting their wooden turkeys. Once again Gene Chism had prepared the wooden pieces. It is amazing how each creation looks different when they started with the same kit. To see the handiwork of class members click here.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea affects many people and causes more health issues than just loss of sleep.  Dr. S.R. Venkatesh discussed the causes of sleep apnea and how it affects your health. Review his presentation by clicking here.  See Dr. Venkatesh's business card for contact info.

Volcanoes - Beautiful Killers

Prof. Nathalie Brandes gave a great presentation on the various types of volcanoes and how science has changed over time to observe and predict eruptions.  We discussed some of the most famous volcanoes and some huge ones way before our time.  Watch out when the sleeping giant awakens!

 

To see Prof. Brandes presentation, click here.

Social Security Today

We really enjoyed the presentation by Andrew Hardwick, Public Affairs Specialist, with the Social Security Administration.  This information packed presentation answered many questions from class members.  He stressed that you can find the answers to most questions by reviewing information available on the website -
www.socialsecurity.gov   ( or www.ssa.gov ) .

Check out the two forms available here.
What You Can Do Online - click here
How To Create An Online Account - click here

Women and Conflict

Emily Sample, from Houston's Holocaust Museum, presented several conflicts, both past and present, where women are not just victims, but in some cases, the perpetrators.  Conflicts discussed included Dharfur, Rwanda, Armenia, Yugoslavia, and WWII. 

Emily's presentation can be viewed by clicking here.  She also shared a trailer for the movie "Sweet Dreams" which shows the recovery of Rwanda, click here.

 



Intro to A.L.L. and CyFair Campus

New members, and some returning, learned about the great things that A.L.L has to offer its members.  Cheryl LeJune, A.L.L. member, also talked about the many opportunities to volunteer and enjoy on the CyFair campus; the library,
the Center for the Arts, the fitness room and the cafeteria.  Student Ambassadors provided campus tours for the class members.  The presentation can be viewed here.

Advisory Board Minutes - Sept 2014

The first Advisory Board Meeting for the Fall Semester was held on Wednesday, September 3, 2014.  Registration is scheduled for Saturday, Sept 13th.  Classes will start on the following Monday, Sept 15th.  The CyFair ALL group will celebrate their 10th anniversary on Friday, November 21st.....plans are underway to plan a great gathering.  Click Here for Minutes of the September meeting.

Monday Movie Madness

What are you doing this summer?   Would you like to go to a free movie?  The LSC-CyFair Library will be having Monday Movie Madness this summer.  These movies will be shown on Mondays as listed below.  No registration required.  Discussion will follow the film.  Showings will be in Library Room 215.  Note the dates, times and ratings.

Monday, June 2, 12:30pm - Since You Went Away - not rated
Monday, June 16, 1:00pm - Saving Mr. Banks - rated PG 13
Monday, June 30, 1:00pm - Moneyball - rated PG 13
Monday, July 14, 1:00pm - The Motorcycle Diaries - rated "R"
Monday, July 28, 1:00pm - The Red Violin - rated "R"
Monday, August 11, 1:00pm - City Lights - not rated
Click Here to see poster.

ALL Advisory Board Minutes - May 2014

The ALL Advisory Board met on Wednesday, May 14th to address several issues related to classes, bus trips, events and Meet You There gatherings.  This meeting was the last meeting for this semester.  Since ALL-CyFair will not have classes during the summer months, it was agreed that the next Advisory Board meeting will be on Wednesday September 3rd prior to our return to campus for the Registration/Open House on Saturday September 13th.  To review minutes of the meeting, click here.

The Birds of LSC-CyFair Campus

What a great morning to have a walk around campus and do a little bird watching.  Jeff Mohamed, LSC-CyFair, first gave us a presentation showing pictures of birds we might see on campus.  Next, we walked around the campus lakes and to the Outdoor Learning Area.  With binoculars and cameras in hand, we identified nineteen different birds.  Look for the Great Egret that hangs out on the river steps in front of the cafeteria.

To see Jeff's presentation, click here.
To keep up with Jeff's birdwatching travels, check out his blog, here.

Bird Watching - Spring Migration at LSC-CyFair

To start the class, Tim Sebesta led us through a basic course in how to identify birds.  Check the shape of the beak, the bird's overall shape and where the bird is located to narrow down the myriad of choices in trying to identify a bird.  We also went through some bird calls to see how many we knew.  As a continuation to this classroom discussion, we will have an outdoor walk Wednesday morning to see some great locations on campus to bird watch.

To see Tim's presentation, click here.

Geocaching - Let's Go On A Treasure Hunt

After learning what Geocaching is, how the satellites work, and how to use our GPSr's, Cheryl LeJune led us on a walk around campus in search of hidden treasures.  Really, we just looked at some cool stuff while we learned how to geocache.  Geocaching is a great way to get outside and go for a walk, with a purpose.

 

To see the presentation, click here.



Cooking for Two - with Chicken

Anne McErlean shared some of her favorite chicken recipes with the ALL group.  The key to making "cooking for two" more enjoyable is to cook a large package of chicken breast (or your preference) so that you can use the chicken in several recipes.  Pull what you need for your first recipe and freeze the rest.  If you have a large block of time you can actually make up several recipes and freeze the completed dishes for future use when you want something good to eat but don't want to spend the time in the kitchen.  Review her recipes and see what you would like to make.
Recipes - Click Here

Indian Cooking

Indian Cooking

Shaheen Ansari wowed us with the sights and smells of Indian Cooking today.  Class began with a step by step demonstration of how to make Chicken Curry.  As I am sure you know, it is the spices that make Indian cooking so flavorful.  When using spices it only takes a small amount to obtain the taste you want.....but it is best to use "fresh" spices rather than bottled shelf spices whenever possible.
Recipes - click here

Safe Exercise

Kinesiology Professor Tim Sebesta presented an informative program on How to Start a Safe Exercise Program for Seniors.  As we age we are not able to physically do the things we did in our younger years......that's just life.  Exercising remains important as we age.  Proper exercise helps us maintain flexibility, balance, stamina, and cognitive abilities.
To review Tim's presentation  - Click Here
Short Version with Campus Maps - Click Here

Advisory Committee Minutes - April 2014

The Advisory Committee met on April 16, 2014. There were primary discussions on the Fall Curriculum and on the Bus Trip Sign Up.  The deadline for submitting Speaker Forms for the Fall 2014 Semester is Friday, April 25th.  Sharon Samson and several Bus Committee members expressed how well the last sign-up went for the April, May and June trips.  The sign-up was held in HSC 105-106 and the lines moved quickly.  The committee plans to hold the next bus trip sign-up on May 8th.  This will be for the trips for July, August and September 2014 and will again be held in HSC 105-106.  Mark your calendar for this event.  To review the minutes from the meeting click here.

Integrating Yoga & Psychotherapy

Dharma Goy with Interface-Samaritan Counseling Centers was with us this afternoon to show us how Yoga can help both your physical body as well as your spiritual and emotional body.  Practicing yoga can help you reverse depression.  Dharma showed us proper breathing techniques and some basic/easy exercises that older adults can do - you don't have to get into awkward poses to reap benefits of yoga.
Review the handout materials - click here
Review Dharma's brochure & card - click here
Video for Senior Yoga Exercises - http://www.kundalini-yoga-info.com/fitness-training-for-elders.html#.U1NDq_ldWCo

Probate 101 in Texas

We all know that our lifetime has limits and most of us want to make arrangements to pass along our estate assets to heirs with as little hassle as possible. Attorney Susan Bulgawicz was with us today talking about the Probate process.  She defined many terms and outlined several scenarios which illustrated the importance of having your estate documents in place. Review Susan's handout by clicking here.  If you are dealing with a current probate issue, or need to plan for your future, you may want to contact the Susan Bulgawicz Law Firm at 713-429-1388.

Bus Trip Survey

The Bus Trip Committee would like for each ALL member to complete a survey to help them decide what membership would like in the way of bus trips.....types of trips, length of trips, special venues, etc.  Please complete ONE survey per person by either going to the following web address and answering the questions or by completing the paper form available in the classroom. Your feedback will help the committee plan better trips.  Complete your survey by May 15th !!

Make A Clock

Students in the Make A Clock class had fun producing a treasure - some for themselves and others for family members.  Three class sessions of sanding, painting, and decorating culminated in beautiful and useful wall clocks.  To see pictures of some of their finished products, click here.

Cypress Top - Railroad Town

Bill Willits with the National Railway Historical Society presented a very interesting program about the development of Texas railroads in the mid-1800's. Many of our ALL members reside in Cypress, TX, home of the area called Cypress Top.  Cypress Top was a noted station as railways expanded to serve the commercial needs from the Gulf Coast area westward toward central Texas.  Review an article by Bill by clicking here. The Houston Railroad Museum has changed their name to the Texas Railroading Heritage Museum and will hopefully soon be relocated to a location in Tomball on the west side of Houston.  Keep up with that move by visiting their website at - http://www.texasrrmuseum.org/

Advisory Committee Minutes - March 2014

We are now half way through the Spring 2014 Semester and things are running smoothly. Sign-Up for the April, May & June Bus Trips will be on April 8th at 10:00 in HSC 105 & 106.  Remember to bring cash or checks to pay for fees listed.  You can read about the upcoming bus trips by clicking the link below.
    Classes are back on track.....check the blog for changes that had to be made due to the bad weather Houston experienced this winter.  We are currently in the process of planning classes for the Fall 2014 Semester that will start mid-September and run through mid-December.  If you would like to give us a class or know of someone else that could present a program, please contact the Curriculum Committee to get involved.....click the link below to get contact info. We need lots of classes.....so please get involved and assist with this process.
Minutes of March Advisory Committee - click here
Bus Trip Info for May, June & July - click here
Curriculum Committee Contacts - click here

Core is Key

Lisa Brashier, Professor of Kinesiology at LSC-CyFair, showed the class the importance of our body's core, especially for balance and flexibility.  After a presentation on the core muscles, how they work and what they do for us, Lisa demonstrated a basic set of exercises we can do to strengthen our core;  crunches, reverse crunches, ball crunches, oblique crossing over crunches, air bicycling, plank, butt lifts, and back extensions with ball.  Click on each exercise to see an instructional video.  You can see Lisa's class notes here.

Knots, Bends & Hitches

Knots, Bends & Hitches - what's the difference?  Alex Barocio told us the answer to what makes a knot different from a bend and a hitch. A knot is when using one piece of rope.  A bend is when you join two pieces of rope.  And a hitch is when you tie a rope to an object such as a post or ring.  Alex did a "hands on" class and showed participants how to tie over a dozen different common knots that are useful around houses, boats, farms, or elsewhere.  To learn more review his presentation.
Knots Presentation - Click Here

T-Tapp Exercise

Kirsten Tucker was with us this morning to demonstrate a new type of exercise called T-Tapp.  T-Tapp has been reviewed by many and is said to be the most efficient and effective workout.  It is not tap dancing nor is there any jumping or stress to the joints. This workout is meant to rev up your metabolism.  It is not necessarily for weight loss, but does strengthen muscles layer by layer. It improves posture, lowers high blood pressure, stimulates the lymphatic system and increases cognitive processing. Review the attached handout for more details.  Also you can view a short video on you-tube.
Handout - Click Here - Shows Kirsten's contact info
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jK7hs7Dvmzo

Senior Living Options

As we age one of the most important questions is "where will we live once we find that we need help with everyday activities"?  Sue Davis was with us on March 25th to discuss this very issue. She is a Geriatric Care Manager and a Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator.  Sue presented options to consider and addressed questions from class members.  Review her presentation and check out the suggested websites to learn more.
Presentation - Click Here

Tour of Texas State Parks

We took a tour of Texas State Parks with Cheryl LeJune, ALL and TPWD volunteer.  Cheryl shared the history of how the park system started to what is available today for visitors to the parks. We learned of the many programs offered by TPWD which can interest anyone in the family.  We also got a glimpse of the diverse landscape, flora and fauna to be seen in Texas.  Life is Better OutsideⓇ

To view the presentation, click here. 

Music in the Arts - Interconnections

We had a small turn out for the Music in the Arts class due to a sudden rain storm.  If you didn't attend you really missed a treat!!  Adam Clay with Houston New Arts Movement shared his dedication to incorporating music and arts into everyday life.  As younger generations come of age, they have not had the exposure to the music that we have had. Adam's hope is to reintroduce great music into society in a way that they can relate to it and participate in it.  He has formed a group of artists and musicians that shares his vision and created the Houston New Arts Movement.  He performed several piano pieces and also showed us how music relates to the visual arts (he also brought in several paintings as illustration).  Check out his website below to learn more and view his PowerPoint presentation giving more details about his group.
Website - http://www.artsmove.net/enter/

Presentation - Click Here

Katy Prairie Conservancy

Jamie Gonzalez presented a wonderful program on the Katy Prairie Conservancy.  The KPC was established in 1992 to conserve part of the Katy Prairie which is located just west of Houston, TX.  It is important to protect a sustainable portion of the Katy Prairie for the benefit of wildlife, Texans and the world.  Prairie lands are quickly being overtaken by cities.  But Jamie showed us how important the prairie lands are to our local ecology and to world ecology. To learn more about KPC, visit the following websites. 1-  http://www.katyprairie.org/preserves.html
2-  http://www.restorationsystems.com/projects/katy-prairie-mitigation-bank-stream-wetland-credits-houston-texas/  
3-  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katy_Prairie_Conservancy

Advisory Board Minutes - February 2014

The Advisory Board met on February 19th.  Topics of discussion included the Volunteer Light Luncheon to be held in our classroom on Wednesday, Feb 26th at 11:15.  Everyone that enjoys the ALL program is encouraged to "give back" to the program by volunteering for a committee.  Come to the meeting to learn how you can help.  Bus Trip info was announced and is listed in the minutes.  We are now planning classes for the Fall Semester think about what topics you are interested in and who we might have present a class.  Get more involved with the ALL program.
February 2014 Minutes - Click Here

So You Want to Buy an RV

Have you been thinking about hitting the road in a recreational vehicle?  What kind to get; 5th wheel, Class A, bumper pull?  How will I use it; weekends only or that 6 week trip up to Alaska?  David Sparks shared with us how he answered these questions and more when it comes to deciding what kind of RV you may want to buy. 

Please click here to see David's presentation.

Islam and Democracy

Political Science Professor Sophia Mrouri led the discussion on the question of "is Islam compatible with the principles of Democracy"  She first outlined the tenets of Islam.  Like other religions, it becomes a review of texts that has been translated over centuries.  Understanding Islam is a struggle for many Americans.  Professor Mrouri suggested that we read the book titled Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam before our next class session on April 1st at 1:30.  Several copies of the book is available through the Harris County Library System....or you can order it from Amazon or other book stores.