March 10 – April 11 Session B
Course Descriptions
Mennonites in the Valley (S8B1)
Day/Time: Mondays, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Dates: March 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7
Location: Park View Mennonite Church, 1600 Park Ave., Harrisonburg
Description: If you are new to the Valley, this class is a must to attend. This will be an up-close and personal look at the history and distinctive practices of various Mennonite communities in the Valley. Several field trips will augment class lectures and discussions. Transportation will be on your own.
Course Leader: LLI member Harvey Yoder grew up in an Amish family and attended Eastern Mennonite University as well as JMU. He has a seminary degree and a Master’s degree in psychology, and is a professional counselor and Mennonite minister.
Preserving Our Stories: Family and Personal Storytelling (limited to 15 participants) (S8B2)
Day/Time: Mondays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dates: March 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7
Location: Gilkerson Activity Center, Westover Park
Description: We all have heard stories about our family. Shucks, you may have starred in one or two! What are the stories you remember the most from your childhood: the time when you hit your first homerun, the time you got lost in the woods, the aunt who always let you play ‘dress-up’ when you visited her house? What stories did your mom or dad tell you about their early lives? These are the stories that make up our history. In this class you will learn how to re-discover stories, some long forgotten, and then how to write them so you can share them with family and friends. Storyteller and author Carmen Deedy says, “those we love are never really gone as long as their stories are told.” This class will help you keep those stories alive!
Course Leader: Susan Clark is a storyteller who specializes in Appalachian folktales, Native American myths and legends and personal stories. She is a retired librarian who has been telling stories for 30 years.
Looking Back Is Easy: Battles of WWII in the Pacific – Part 2 (S8B3)
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Dates: March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8
Location: Gilkerson Activity Center, Westover Park Participants may take either Part 1 or Part 2, or both
Description: In this second half of the course, we will continue to consider the political and economic changes in Japan as the war progresses. We will review America’s first offensive, Guadalcanal and The Slot (1942-1943). Next, we will examine the road back, New Guinea to Bougainville (1942-1944). Then, we will island hop the Central Pacific including Tarawa, Kwajalain, Enewitok, Peleliu, and Saipan, (1942-1944). Next we will study the return to the Philippines, Leyte Gulf and Luzon, (1944-1945). Finally we will consider the last offensive, Okinawa and Iwo Jima (1945). We will continue to incorporate significant personalities from the Japanese and American military as the war continues. Classes will also include brief video clips of battles, and more material from Japanese diaries translated in the 1970’s. We will encourage discussion about the time when the United States rallied in the Pacific, and its historical significance.
Course Leader: LLI member Richard J. Lorette graduated with a B.S. in Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, received an MBA in Engineering Administration from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and a Ph.D. in Business and Government Relations from the Harvard Business School, Harvard University.
Get The Lead Out: Introduction to Creative Stained and Leaded Glass (limited to 10 participants, this will be a lottery class) (S8B4)
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon (note different time)
Dates: March 11, 18, 25 (note different schedule)
Location: Carousel Stained Glass and Gifts, 785 E. Market St., Harrisonburg
Description: Kay and her staff will guide and instruct each class participant to create a personalized stained and leaded glass art piece. Each student will choose one piece from the three types offered and will learn the phases of constructing and completing an individual art piece.
Course Leader: Kay Rodgers is artistic director and owner of Carousel Stained Glass in Harrisonburg. She is an alumna of JMU, has exhibited in Washington DC and Charlottesville, and juried for the Artisan Center of Virginia. She specializes in creative “one of a kind” art pieces and the restoration of fine old leaded and stained glass.
Additional fees: There will be a $30.00 fee for supplies and materials to be collected at the first class and payable to the instructor.
Essential French 1& 2 (limited to 15 participants) (S8B5)
Day/Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon (note different schedule, start date and time)
Dates: March 18, 20, 25, 27, April 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17
Location: Hiner Room, Memorial Hall Price: This double course will cost $70.00
Description: April in Paris? June on the Riviera? September in Dordogne? Prepare well for your next trip to France or simply refresh your rusty language skills by learning the essentials for communicating your needs and wishes in French. This five week double course (20 hours) will emphasize basic oral French, fundamental vocabulary and everyday expressions. The course will also include practical cultural information useful to the traveler. Topics will include greetings and forms of politeness; handling arrival/departure; dealing with money; taking public transportation; asking simple directions; checking in/out at the hotel; ordering meals; expressing likes/dislikes/wishes; sightseeing and shopping; coping with special needs (emergencies, health, police); and other topics of common interest to the group. There will be very minimal grammar and maximal oral practice!
Course Leader: Mary Perramond, a retired French professor from JMU with 30+ years of experience teaching French, has spent many years living in the French culture.
Suggested Reading: Berlitz French Phase Book and CD available at Barnes & Noble for $14.95.
The Shenandoah Valley: From Revolution to Civil War (S8B6)
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dates: March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8
Location: Gilkerson Activity Center, Westover Park
Description: Between 1776 and 1865, Americans moved from acquiring independence and establishing a new nation to being bitterly divided over slavery and regional issues. The course will seek to provide participants with an understanding of the daily lives of Valley citizens during these eventful years. Specific topics to be considered will include political attitudes and organizations, slavery, transportation, dress, commerce, medicine, religion and agriculture.
Course Leader: Charles Blair was department head and professor in the College of Education and Psychology at JMU before retirement. In retirement he has explored his lifelong interest in Valley history and has written a book and several articles about the area. He is active also in local historical societies and is a member of several groups interested in historical preservation.
Golf: Keeping It Simple and Fun with Better Skills (limited to 12, this will be a lottery class) (S8B7)
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (note different time)
Dates: March 11, 18, 25, April 1 (note different schedule)
Location: Mulligan’s Golf Center, 141 Carpenter Ln., Harrisonburg
Description: Learn the basics of the golf swing- proper grip, aim and alignment. The class will also include tips on putting, chipping, pitching, trouble shots and uneven lies. Video analysis will help explain specific problems such as slicing, hooking or topping the golf ball. The course will accommodate players of all skill levels and address each golfer’s needs.
Course Leader: Nancy Brophy is an L.P.G.A. Professional. She played on the L.P.G.A. tour for 11 years. She is a certified class “A” L.P.G.A. Teaching Professional and owner of Mulligan’s Golf Center.
The George Chrisman House c. 1787 – Surrounded by History, One Homeowner’s Story (S8B8)
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Dates: March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9
Location: Gilkerson Activity Center, Westover Park
Description: Caring for an historic home is more than a challenge, it’s a responsibility. This course will examine the personal history of the home’s original builder/owner, George Chrisman; the architectural elements of the Chrisman House, restoration efforts with special focus on materials, lost trades and appearance for period correctness; and life in Rockingham County circa 1787. The course will include two visits to the George Chrisman House in Linville, a Virginia Historic Landmark that is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Course Leader: Dan Pinnell is a retired Police Officer from the Washington, DC suburbs who has completed extensive research and is largely self-taught in the areas of historic architecture and preservation. Dan has attended numerous courses and seminars in historic preservation and the “lost” trades.
Graying Contemporary Writers on the Power of Life Experience (S8B9)
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Dates: March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9
Location: Virginia Mennonite Retirement Center, Detweiler Auditorium
Description: Oscar Wilde stated that “to deny one’s own experiences is to put a lie into the lips of one’s life.” This course will look at a group of short stories, poems, and essays by current writers over age 50, which bring reasoned insights into earlier paths taken and how they serve as preparation for the transformations of our present and future life stages. Class members will be encouraged to share their own personal memories and reflections.
Course Leader: LLI member Robin McNallie is retired from the JMU English Department where he taught a variety of writing and literature courses.
Suggested Reading: The Power of Experience, ed. Jeremy Jones (2007),AARP/Sterling
Intentional Dialogue: A Powerful New Way to Communicate (S8B10)
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (note different time)
Dates: March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9
Location: Gilkerson Activity Center, Westover Park
Description: Talking and communication can be two entirely different experiences. In fact, talking can sometimes make matters worse! Intentional Dialogue is a simple, structured three-step process that can be learned and used for a variety of purposes: to clarify complex ideas, to increase understanding and empathy, to make it safe to bring up possibly touchy subjects, to deeply hear and be heard by others. Its use can improve any relationship situation (parent-child, romantic, work). This course will consist of lecture, discussion of readings and demonstration and practice of skills.
Course Leader: LLI member, Adele Roof, M.A., is a relationship educator and coach, with advanced training and certification in Parent Effectiveness, Imago Relationship Education, PREP, Marriage Builders, etc. She was the creator of a seven-session course for JMU students called Get SMART and she firmly believes that Skills Make Adult Relationships Thrive.
Heroes and Heroines of the Big Screen: Classical Mythology on Film (S8B11)
Day/Time: Wednesdays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dates: March 19, 26, April 2, 9, 16 (Note: starts one week later)
Location: Hiner Room, Memorial Hall
Description: This course will explore modern film directors’ treatment of famous stories from Greek and Roman mythology. Since the 1950’s several films have been made based on the Homeric epics; films have also been made about the story of Jason’s quest for the Golden Fleece, Hercules, Perseus, and Orpheus. Greek dramas have also been filmed. Several directors have made films that clearly have roots in classical mythology. We will view excerpts of films and discuss how the directors have adapted and used the myths. Some of the films we will consider are Helen of Troy (two versions), Troy, Ulysses, The Odyssey, 2001, A Space Odyssey, O Brother, Where Art Thou, Hercules, Black Orpheus, and The Fugitive Kind.
Course Leader: Michael L. Allain, Ph.D. currently teaches General Humanities courses on Ancient Greece and Rome for the Department of History at James Madison University.
Suggested Reading: Any edition of Classical Mythology, Mark P. O. Morford and Robert J. Lenardon
Democracy and Its Discontents (S8B12)
Day/Time: Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Dates: March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10
Location: Gilkerson Activity Center, Westover Park
Description: This course will examine the work of major thinkers who were critical of democracy, beginning with Plato and ending with Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. We will, however, focus most of our attention on Alexis de Tocqueville’s classic work, Democracy in America.
Course Leader: Lee Congdon taught history at JMU for 33 years. During that time he taught an honors course on critics of democracy. He recently completed a book on George F. Kennan, who was highly critical of democracy.
Suggested Reading: any edition of Tocqueville’s Democracy in America
Forgotten Knowledge Rediscovered (S8B13)
Day/Time: Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dates: March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10
Location: Hiner Room, Memorial Hall
Description: This class is the follow-up to the LLI class The Da Vinci Code. We’ll be examining in great detail topics such as secret societies that have influenced our world, the legend of Atlantis, Gnosticism, the Kabbalah, more on sacred geometry, surprising archaeological revelations of ancient America, ancient artifacts that demonstrate advanced civilizations, further interpretations of symbols, and even some new theories on what the ancients knew that we’re just now learning. As always, bring an open mind and a sense of humor. We’ll uncover facts and theories that will challenge much of what we thought we knew.
Course Leader: LLI member Greg Coffman has spent the last twenty years studying sacred geometry, religious theories, and medieval history behind the premises used in the Da Vinci Code. He is a graduate of Bridgewater College.
Zenda and the African American Experience in the Shenandoah Valley (S8B14)
Day/Time: Thursdays, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dates: March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 10
Location: Sunnyside Room, Sunnyside Retirement Community
Description: These knowledgeable and talented course leaders will guide us through the African American Experience in the Valley. We will cover slavery, emancipation, reconstruction, and "the separate but equal" and "Jim Crow" policies. The influence of the Anabaptist movement and its impact, equal rights, education and black identity from the pre-Civil War era to the present time will be discussed. A field trip to existing local sites is planned. The last class will be a question and answer session with a surprise guest speaker. Tea, coffee and cake will be served.
Course Leader: The following class lecturers' accomplishments are too numerous to fully disclose here. All class participants will be given a biography of each leader. Rosemarie Palmer, Dale McAllister, Ruth M. Toliver, Nancy B. Jones, Alfred Jenkins,Jr., Brenda Black, and Zenaida Hall are all local historians and or authors on this subject. Sandra Conrad is a past LLI class facilitator and member of the Curriculum Committee.
Suggested Reading: Zenda 1869-1930: An African American Community of Hope, Nancy B. Jones. History of Kelly St. United Brethren in Christ Church, by George A. Newman, edited and published by Ruth M. Toliver.
More Quaint Offerings and Small Museums in the Shenandoah Valley (S8B15)
Day/Time: Fridays, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (note different time)
Dates: March 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11
Location: Sunnyside Room, Sunnyside Retirement Center
Description: Session One: One hour orientation with MapQuest maps provided. Session Two: Port Republic - Historian guided museum tour with guest lectures by Tom Leach on the 1862 Valley Campaign and Carole Nash, local archeologist. Session Three: New Market - Battlefield State Historical Park – film and guided tour. Also, a private guided tour of New Market town hosted by Betty Karol Wilson of the Apple Blossom Inn. Session Four: Waynesboro - Private tour of the P. Buckley Moss Museum and Art Galley. Tour the Wildlife Center of Virginia accompanied by a film and lecture conducted by a wildlife specialist. Session Five: Shenandoah National Park – Two views of the history and development of the park with a viewing of the PBS film “The Iris Still Blooms”, then a private ranger guided tour of the exceptional park museum at the Byrd Center, Skyline Drive with films and displays.
Course Leader: LLI member Sandra Conrad is a retired Interior Designer and history buff. She has facilitated five previous classes and two brown bag lunches for LLI. She has served on past and current Curriculum Committees.
Additional Fees: There will be an additional $12.00 needed for the New Market tours.
Living Taoism: Ancient Chinese Instructions for Being Healthy and At Ease (S8B16)
Day/Time: Fridays 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Dates: March 14, 21, 28, April 4, 11
Location: Gilkerson Activity Center, Westover Park
Description: Taoism is a holistic view of the world and human beings. It contains “cosmology”: understanding how the world exists and through what process; a “human ecology”: how we might respond to being in this world in the best possible sense; a “psychology”: how we might best respond to our own being and our being here; a “sociology”: how we might best participate with other beings; a “theology”: how our being here is grounded through all that is grounded in it; and a “medical science”: how to promote a positive, long, healthy, and energized life with integration of mind, emotion, and body.
Course Leader: Ge Baas is a native of the Netherlands. He is an adjunct professor of philosophy, religion and art at JMU. Ge has a B.A. in Philosophy and Aesthetics, M.A. in Religion, and an A.B.D. in Religion. Ge is also a nationally certified massage therapist and holistic practitioner, trained in Chinese Medicine.
Suggested Reading: Tao Te Ching translated by Mitchell, and I Ching, translated by Cleary.
