1. education
2. graduate school
3. college

Non-Profit
Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Reading, Pa.
Permit #311
Alvernia Seniors College
Seniors College Administration
Daria Tecco LaTorre, J.D., Dean
Sally Reading, Director
Membership is open to individuals age 55 and over with an interest in
learning. Seniors College is a cooperative where members have an
opportunity to support its objectives through participation on planning
committees or by serving as course instructors. Members are also
invited to attend Seniors College social events and activities.
Call 610-796-8357 for information on membership or activities.
Daytime Classes
& Activities
Mid-Year Session 2015
January 20 - February 27
400 Saint Bernardine St.
Reading, PA 19607
610-796-8357
Alvernia Seniors College members may take classes at any location.
We reserve the right to cancel classes due to insufficient enrollment.
Classes may also be cancelled due to inclement weather. Every attempt
will be made to schedule a make-up class.
Active membership extends one year from the time of payment. To assist
individuals in keeping their membership current, mailing labels contain
membership expiration dates located above addressees’ names. Dates
do not appear above the name of inactive members. Annual membership
categories are:
Basic Membership • $50 annually
Basic Membership PLUS • $100 annually
Friends • $150 annually
Benefactor • $1,500 (lifetime)
Lunch Bunch Discussion Club
Every Monday – 11:15 AM (lunch) and 12:30 (program)
Alvernia University, Student Center Dining Hall/Seminar Rooms
January 20 - Sneak Preview of Upcoming Classes from 12:30–2:00 PM
Classes Begin This Week
January 26 - “Comedy of Caregiving and the Most Important Legal Tips You
Need to Know after 55” – Cathleen S. Sikorski, Esquire
February 2 - “Climate Change: What Can We Do?” – Dr. Spencer Stober,
Professor of Biology. We are the first generation to realize that humans are
impacting the global biosphere, and it is entirely possible that we are the
last generation with an opportunity to do something about it. Dr. Stober will
offer practical steps that each of us can take to reduce climate change.
February 9 - “Water Fowl Pennsylvania” [Middle Creek Wildlife] - Bert
Myers, Environmental Education Specialist. Learn about the water fowl of
Pennsylvania, including the famous Snow Geese of Middle Creek.
iPad Club
Third Wednesday of every month – (January 21 through June 17)
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM Upland Center, Community Room 103 Call Ernie Kasprowicz - 610-678-4056
This is a time for iPad users to share iPad knowledge. Meetings will
discuss iPad user problems, frustrations, and fun.
Alvernia Seniors Card Club
Each Monday – (January 26 through May 11)
8:30 – 9:00 AM (Bridge Lessons) 9:00 – 11:30 AM (Bridge)
AU Student Center, Crusader Café
Call Pam Harter - 610-777-6833
Bridge lessons will be offered by Janet Stevens.
The New Horizons Band at Alvernia University
Each Wednesday – (January 28 through May 13)
10:00 – 11:30 AM
Room 104, Francis Hall
Call Jim Seidel, Director – 484-332-7005
Alvernia Seniors Womens Chorus
Each Tuesday – (January 13 through May 12)
1:00 – 2:00 PM
The Yocum Institute, 1100 Belmont Ave., Wyomissing, PA
Call Deanna Reuben, Director – 610-207-7261
February 16 - No Lunch Bunch
February 23 - “What is Palliative Care?”- Dr. Vinti Shah, Reading Health
System. What hope and care comes from palliative medicine?
Book Review Club
First Wednesday of every month – (begins January 8) 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Alvernia University, Student Center, Private Dining Room
Call Dianne Walker, 610-413-0790
January 8 - “Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz
February 4 - “Boys in the Boat” by Daniel Brown
March 4 - “The Invention of Wings” by Sue Monk Kidd
Or visit us on the website:
www.alvernia.edu/academics/seniorscollege
Explore your world. Expand your horizons.
SEN IORS COLLEG E CLU BS
M ON D AY
Nature is Essential to Our Quality of Life - 3 Weeks
Dr. Alicia Sprow; Charles Randazzo
According to the Berks Conservancy, nature is essential to our quality
of life. What is the Berks Conservancy? What do they do? How do they
help the quality of life and environment in our county? What are they
doing to educate our citizenry? Join us to learn about Berks County’s own
conservation organization and the wonderful things they are involved in,
including the partnership with Alvernia University and the City of Reading
at Angelica Park. [There will be a Field Trip to the Angelica Park Lab in the
Spring.]
Dates: 1/26; 2/2, 9 Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Place: Student Center, Private Dining Room Cost: $35.00
Third Monday bi-monthly – (begins January 19) 7:00 – 8:00 PM
Phoebe Berks Village, 1 Reading Drive, Wernersville
∆ A convenient shuttle is available from the Alvernia University
Upland Center to the courses on the main campus.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot
∆ A convenient shuttle is available from the Alvernia University
Upland Center to the courses on the main campus.
Please make check payable to Alvernia University and mail to:
Alvernia Seniors College • 400 Saint Bernardine Street • Reading, PA 19607
$ _____________________
Total
___________________________________________________________________________________
Total Course Fees
$ _____________________
I understand that Alvernia University has no legal responsibility for my physical welfare while I
attend Seniors College classes or events.
$ _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Benefactor $1,500
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Friend $150
Basic PLUS $100
Basic $50
___________________________________________________________________________
Membership Fee
Cost
Time
Day
Course
Zip: _____________________
State: __________
City:______________________________________________________________
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Cell Phone __________________________________ Email Address ______________________________________________________
Name (Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms.): ___________________________________________ Home Phone __________________________________
Mid-Year Session 2015
Application & Registration
Please make check payable to Alvernia University and mail to:
Alvernia Seniors College • 400 Saint Bernardine Street • Reading, PA 19607
$ _____________________
Total
___________________________________________________________________________________
Total Course Fees
$ _____________________
I understand that Alvernia University has no legal responsibility for my physical welfare while I
attend Seniors College classes or events.
$ _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Benefactor $1,500
___________________________________________________________________________
Friend $150
Basic PLUS $100
Basic $50
Membership Fee
Cost
Time
Day
Zip: _____________________
State: __________
___________________________________________________________________________
∆ A convenient shuttle is available from the Alvernia University
Upland Center to the courses on the main campus.
___________________________________________________________________________
Legacy – Life Story Writing - 5 Weeks
Sister Christen Shukwit, OSF
Each person has experienced a life that has been filled with joy, sadness,
questions, discoveries, and surprises. This class is open to all who
would enjoy writing about their thoughts and experiences. Each class will
include (1) a 5-minute writing prompt, (2) in-class opportunities to
write, and (3) a suggestion for writing during the week. Class participants
will be invited to share their work and receive supportive feedback. Leave
a legacy about your life to your family!!!
Dates: 1/29; 2/5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Place: Upland Center, Community Room 103
Cost: $45.00
Course
What Makes Beethoven’s Music Great?
Dr. Beth Aracena, Dean, Arts & Sciences
This course explores Beethoven as “heroic revolutionary” to understand
how his compositions challenged musical conventions of the time to forge
new standards. We start with Beethoven’s “Heroic” Symphony No. 3 and
briefly survey novel elements in his nine symphonies. In the second class,
we review Beethoven’s epic failures, including his only opera Fidelio, and
then consider his most treasured chamber works as triumphant
masterpieces.
Dates: 2/4,11
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Place: The Highlands of Wyomissing, 2000 Cambridge Ave., Wyomissing
Cost: $25.00
City:______________________________________________________________
The Ideology and Motives of ISIS - 5 Weeks
El Haj Sayed Elmarzouky; Jamal Abadalo
Recent violence in the Middle East has led to changes in policy and
strategy as the United States has worked to defeat ISIS. What is ISIS? What
is the motivation behind the terrorism that ISIS generates? What is the
international community doing to end the threat of ISIS?
Dates: 1/29; 2/5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Place: Upland Center, Board Room 227
Cost: $45.00
AAA Driver Education Safety Program - 2 Sessions (class will be 4 hours)
Edith Bleichart
The AAA Driver Improvement Program (DIP) presents the techniques,
skills and information necessary to navigate in today’s traffic environment.
Included in the class are: Communicating, Seeing, Adjusting Speed,
Margin of Safety, and Driving Emergencies. Newcomers to the AAA
program will take the 8-hour course. You must bring a Drivers’ license and
a AAA membership card.
[A minimum of eight participants will be required.]
Date:
Thursday, February 26 and Friday, February 27
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Place: Alvernia University, Upland Center, Room 154
Cost: $15.00 – one AAA member -- $25.00 Husband & Wife AAA
members. $25.00 Non-member (paid in cash during the 1st session.)
Address: ___________________________________________________________________
Police Use of Force: A Necessary Tool But a Source of Controversy –
3 Weeks
Professor Barry Harvey; Police Chiefs Christopher Neidert and William Heim
The broad authority of law enforcement to act, including the use of force, is
necessary in a society where people are not always law-abiding or civil. This
course will examine what the “legal use of force” means and why it is often
misunderstood and sometimes misused.
Dates: 2/4,11,18
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Place: Upland Center, Board Room 227 Cost: $35.00
M IN I – C O U R S E
Cell Phone __________________________________ Email Address ______________________________________________________
W E D N E S D AY
Poets of World War I - 3 Weeks
Professor Marybeth DeMeo
The poets—primarily British—who participated in what came to be called
the “Great War” may have volunteered with idealistic motives but soon
found themselves in a living hell. They responded by writing a new kind
of poetry, more modern, and more expressive of what they experienced
on the front. We will read poets such as Rupert Brooke, Wilfred Owen,
Isaac Rosenberg, Siegfried Sassoon, Edward Thomas and several others.
[Accompanying this class will be the Dover Thrift Edition of World War
One British Poets – which will be available at the Alvernia Bookstore at a
very modest cost.]
Dates: 1/29; 2/5, 12
Time: 10:00 – 11:30
AM
Place: Upland Center, Board Room 227 Cost: $35.00
Living the Gospel of Jesus - 3 Weeks
Sister Jean Jacobchik, OSF
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a living message that the Christian tradition
values as the Word of God. To read the Gospel, to know the Gospel,
and to live the Gospel are action commitments that lead to divine
transformation and eternal life. What are the challenges of reading,
knowing and living the Word of God?
Dates:2/3,10,17
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Place: Upland Center, Community Room 103
Cost: $35.00
Sleep Well, Wake Refreshed and Stay Relaxed All Day - 2 Weeks
Ashley Welikonich, CPT, DHom – Mind-Body Specialist
Learn simple techniques to stay relaxed around the clock, beginning
with natural options for entering sleep in a calm, peaceful state. We
will look at a variety of techniques to maintain this relaxed state
throughout the day, including the latest science on how simple meditation
balances and energizes the brain. All solutions covered will be easy to
implement and accessible during all of life’s stresses.
Dates: 1/30; 2/6
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Place: Upland Center, Community Room 103 Cost: $25.00
Name (Dr./Mr./Mrs./Ms.): ___________________________________________ Home Phone __________________________________
THUR SDA Y
F R ID A Y
Mid-Year Session 2015
The Pope’s Visit and The World Meeting of The Family - 1 Session
Dr. Corey Harris, Theologian
The visit of Pope Francis I to the United States in September for the World
Meeting of the Family will bring phenomenal blessings. This course sets the
stage for enlightened reflection on the theological and spiritual significance
of the family in the modern world. What are the important issues? Why is
Roman Catholic focus on the family so significant? What impact might papal
leadership generate for the global family?
Dates: 2/10
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Place: Upland Center, Community Room 103
Cost: $20.00
From Shadows into the Light: The Artistry and Artistic Legacy of Women –
3 Weeks
Carol Hession; Cynthia Davenport
As is so often the case, great women and the great things they do have
been easily neglected throughout history. No more! This course celebrates
the creative artistry and artistic legacy of great women.
Dates: 2/4,11,18
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 PM
Place: Upland Center, Community Room 103
Cost: $35.00
Application & Registration
T U E S D AY