BSU Center for Reasearch & Innovation works with the Academy of Lifelong Learning

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for all the people who rekindle the inner spirit.” * is a quote printed on a book mark. For the past few years, the Academy has sent thank you notes to the speakers with the modest gift of a bookmark imprinted with our mission on one side and a quote on the reverse. This happens to be one of my favorite sayings, and since I am the one who sends out the notes, I get to pick which quote is sent so this particular quote is often used. I like it because it speaks to those periods of time in our lives when our inner light goes out only to be rekindled by someone who touches that lingering spark.

When Ernie and I first arrived in Bemidji in November 2000, we saw a notice in the paper of a meeting at the Headwaters School of Music and the Arts of an organization called the Academy of Lifelong Learning. We went to the lecture and have been involved with ALL ever since for that day the inner life of two lonely newcomers was rekindled by a friendly hello, an interesting speaker and the promise of new acquaintances who shared our interest in continuing education. After our first year, we joined the Board and learned that these sessions were underwritten by the Humanities Commission of Minnesota which had set up the Learning in Retirement Network. The numerous groups which belonged to the network all received their funding from the Commission through a grant process with monies received from the state legislature. Each year when we made our grant application, the money we received was less and less until last year when we were informed that there would be no more money for any of the retirement groups.

I have heard the question posed so many times in the past, “why do you need money?” The answer is so obvious to me but perhaps not to someone who is uninvolved in the process of setting up the fall and winter sessions. For the past few years, the Center for Research and Innovation has been working closely with ALL , performing administrative processes such as contacting speakers and fulfilling their media needs, writing, printing, and mailing the biannual newsletters, hosting the sessions, supplying media equipment, making the coffee, buying he cookies, participating in Board meetings and the list goes on and on. The BSU Foundation is  our fiscal agent and it pays our bills for printed materials, refreshments for meetings, stipends to speakers for mileage, housing or honorariums. Employees of BSU are paid to perform all of these functions for our organization. As another example, free will offerings each week do not cover the cost of the refreshments and we dig into our available funds to continue this hospitality which is so much appreciated by speakers and attendees—especially during the colder months!

Now that we are not receiving any funds from the Humanities Commission, your generosity is essential if we are to continue these programs. Please help us to keep the spark lit with your contribution to ALL during the upcoming sessions. Ernie and I are pledging to match the first $250 in contributions to All this fall. Join us in making sure ALL continues in its mission “ which prompts the study of enduring ideas, reflections on experiences , analysis of important issues and contributions to the educational well-being of communities.”

* Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician (1875– 1965)

Article written by: Patt Rall     

On October 16, 2007, the Academy of Lifelong Learning will visit Concordia Language Villages (CLV) to explore and learn about the one of a kind Waldsee Bio-House located in the German Village, The Bio-House aims to teach students of all ages about energy use, natural resources and how we can all live more holistically in a sustainable global community.

It is the first certified “Passivhaus” building in North America; meaning it meets specific criteria that improves quality of life inside the building while using 85% less energy than buildings constructed using traditional U.S. design and methods.

The tour of the Bio-House will be held from 10:00-11:30. Those attending will meet at CLV in the German Village. Following the tour, there is the option for participants to enjoy a traditional German luncheon on site for the price of $15.00.

Those intending on having the lunch, must register using the form below. If there are any questions regarding the tour or the lunch, please contact Patt Rall: 218-755-8972 or prall@charter.net

All meetings, unless otherwise noted, will be held 10:00-11:30 am at BSU Center for Research and Innovation located at 3801 Bemidji Avenue North, Suite 4. For additional information, contact the CRI. Phone (218)755-4900 Email cri@bemidjistate.edu

Tuesday, September 18, “Singapore: Challenging Our Perceptions of Development"
Thomas Beech, Associate Professor Political Science, Bemidji State University
Since its separation from Malaysia in 1965, Singapore has achieved spectacular economic growth, moving from a rough equal to sub-equatorial Africa to wealthier than its erstwhile colonial master. Yet, this economic gain has occurred in the absence of a competitive political system, which is at variance with traditional Western assumptions of development. I will discuss the evolution of this city-state and speculate on the potential relevance for other developing countries.

Tuesday, September 25, “Views From a Camel”
Ernie and Patt Rall and Betty Hanson, Academy of Lifelong Learning Board Members and world travelers
This session will be a travelogue from a trip to Egypt and Jordan in March 2007 with many pictures, anecdotes and personal observations.  As part of a group of travelers from Bemidji, our presenters promise to entertain and educate on ancient civilizations and today's life in these two countries.

Tuesday, October 2, “Learning through ethnic literacy”
Virgil Benoit, Associate Professor French, University of North Dakota in Grand Forks
Ethnic literacy will be illustrated by a creative story from the life of Antoine Gingras, ND’s most successful early entrepreneur and ox cart freighter.  The second part of the talk will be a reflexion on the role that ethnic based learning can have on civil development as drawn from over 25 years of research and field work in MN and ND.

Tuesday, October 9  “Generation What's Next”
Dr. Jon Quistgaard, President, Bemidji State University
The responsibility of the University is to continuously anticipate change and shape the future of the nation's next greatest generation.  Who is generation next? Are they really all that different? What do they expect?  What must we provide?

Tuesday, October 16 Das BioHaus at Waldsee – Saving 85% on energy bills in Northern Minnesota
Warren Schulze, J.D., Assistant. Director of Facilities, Concordia Language Villages
The BioHaus was built to demonstrate cutting edge technologies that address rising energy costs and operating with minimal impact on the environment.  The Concordia Language Villages uses the BioHaus for teaching youth about environmental issues and immersion in the German language.   It is the only building of its kind in North America to be officially certified by the German Passive Haus Institute. 

Tuesday, October 23 Bus Trip, Plains Indian Museum
The Plains Art Museum (www.plainsart.org ) features national and regional contemporary art, traditional American Indian art, and traditional folk art.  Special exhibits include photographs of Wayne Gudmundson and a showcase of student interactive artwork.  The cost of this event is $35.00, which covers transportation, lunch, and the tour.  Contact Sharon Fruetel at sfruetel@paulbunyan.net or 218 751 3146 for more information and to register.

Tuesday, October 30 “Lessons from Hardin's 'Tragedy of the Commons' in a local context: Beltrami County lakes and rivers”
Dann Siems, Aquatic Biologist, Beltrami Soil and Water Conservation District; Adjunct Professor of Integrative Studies at Bemidji State University

In the nearly four decades that have passed since Garrett Hardin published his landmark essay, earth's human population has swelled from 3.5 to 6.6 billion.  On a more local scale, MN’s population increased from 3.5 million to 5.3 million; Beltrami County grew from 26,000 to 45,000 and is projected to reach 60,000 within 30 years. Our ever expanding population dramatically increases developmental pressures on our local lakes and streams.  We will explore the choices we face in coming years and the consequences of our collective decisions.

Tuesday, November 6 Answering the Call for Help in Times of Disaster
Cynthia D. Schulze, M.S.
Cynthia has served as a Mental Health team volunteer for the American Red Cross in several individual, area and national disaster operations.  She will explain how disaster assistance is quickly mobilized and coordinated by an ever changing army of volunteers across the country, within the Red Cross, and between various agencies.  Cynthia will give us a peek behind the scenes to put a face on those who serve and those who are served.

The Plains Art Museum in Fargo is the destination of ALL’s first field trip program to be held on Tuesday October 23rd, 2007. The Plains Art Museum (www.plainsart.org) features national and regional contemporary art, traditional American Indian art, and traditional folk art. Special exhibits include photographs of Wayne Gudmundson and a showcase of    student interactive artwork.

Participants will depart from Bemidji in a motor coach at 9 am and return by 6 pm.  The bus will be leaving from Cenex Convenience store on Highway 71 south of Bemidji. Lunch will be served at the museum upon arrival, followed by a docent-led tour of exhibits and free time to browse in the galleries and the museum store.

The cost of this event is $35, which covers transportation, lunch and the tour. Contact Sharon Fruetel at 751 3146 or email sfruetel@paulbunyan.net for more information and to register.

The Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) is a member of the Minnesota Humanities Commission's Learning in Retirement Network (LIRN), which promotes older adult humanities education. The Academy's humanities-based programs are made possible in part with funding from the Minnesota Humanities Commission in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Additional support comes from Bemidji State University, Bemidji State University Foundation, local sponsors, and the generous gifts of our patrons.

Click Here to open a form to mail with your check to the Academy of Lifelong Learning.

Thank you!