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Health & Fitness

This is The Institute Calling - Pick Up & Enjoy Learning Something

            I should warn you that the blog entry you are about to read is a shameless plug.  Even though I hate, hate, hate the idea of using this space to sell anything (other than my own books--yes, I get the hypocrisy).  I have used the space in The Patch to help sell things I believe in a few times before.  I've urged people to support my favorite dog trainer and traveling animal act (Gail Mirabella and The Dynamo Dogs--check her out).  I've written about the best local theatre troupe, the Circle Ensemble Theatre Company, and pointed out to you, the faithful reader of this eclectronic (a word-combo I just invented--the mash-up of eclectic and electronic) “publication” the reasons why you should support a very talented and inventive group of stage professionals by attending a revival of a Steven Sondheim show at an historic local theater.  I've probably shilled for a few other things I support, too.  My brilliant, but opportunistic, publicist has the annoying tendency of inserting capitalism into my opinion pieces.  All of that past behavior accepted, it should come as no surprise that I’m about to, once again, promote a worthy local cause.


FURTHER WARNING--I’m going to capitalize the word FREE every time I use it.  I might capitalize some other words that represent points I want to emphasize.  If you have small children or are allergic to capitalization, please avert your eyes (that capitalization reference would've been an offhand joke in a pre-Twitter age--now, not so much).  I might underline some things or use the time-tested literary trick that is bold lettering to drive some ideas home, as well.  Again, if these things bother you, feel FREE to stop reading and read a Wikipedia profile of the latest boy band.  I’d recommend the “band” One Direction for those music-haters still pining for the good old days of New Kids on the Block. 
 
            The Institute: Learning for All Ages is a brand-new, local, idealistic, completely FREE adult (though, as the name suggests, not limited to one age group or another) education initiative starting right here in Athens, GA.  I know the behind-the-scenes secrets.  The Institute (its unofficial nickname) won’t actually begin holding classes until October, so there aren't any skeletons in The Institute’s metaphorical closet yet…or are there? 
No.  There aren't. 
What does, however, exist is the spirit of something wonderful, the kind of optimistic, open-minded, truly tenacious, overpowering, blinding-you-with-the-light-of-truth-like-when-in-the-movies-some-guy-unrealistically-gets-buried-alive-but-then-emerges-after-digging-himself-out-of-the-ground (like that, except realistic) conviction that education is a lifelong process.  What will soon also exist (as soon as next week to be precise) is a course listing of FREE and varied classes available to anyone who can operate a mouse or, barring that, dial a telephone. 

THE BASIC DRIVING FORCES BEHIND IT--The Georgia Fine Arts Academy, the Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Talmage Terrace Continuing Care Retirement Community are the partners behind The Institute.

THE FIRST CLASS OFFERINGS--Like most worthy attempts at anything, The Institute is starting small.  There are only five classes this fall.  The plan is to expand that number in the winter (and that’s where you come in), but for now there are five classes: a history of the world’s dealings with the idea of witchcraft taught by an experienced educator ("The Terror of History: The Witch Craze"), a class in entrepreneurship taught by an experienced and successful businessman (simply called "Entrepreneurship"), a class about writing and publishing your memoirs taught by two local publishers and writers ("How to Write and Publish Your Memoirs"), a class on the battles of the Civil War taught by a historical reenactor and Civil War buff ("Famous Battles in Georgia of the Civil War"), and a classical philosophy discussion group held at what may be the coolest downtown bar, The Globe, and taught by a UGA philosophy professor ("Philosophy from Classical Athens to Athens, Georgia"). 

            Plans are in the works to expand both the size and scope of the classes, BUT NOT THE PRICE, for the next season’s class offerings.  I don’t want to ruin your surprise, so I won’t hint at any possible class topics other than to say that there will not be a class about underwater basket weaving (it’s more of a summer topic).  Why is underwater basket weaving the most common example of a class not taught?  Surely someone must have actually taught a class in underwater basket weaving or else it wouldn't be the common example that it is.  I wonder if the students were allowed to use scuba gear.  If I have to eat those words and there actually is an Institute class about underwater basket weaving (though I feel pretty secure in saying that there won’t be), one thing is for certain.  IT WILL BE FREE AND OPEN TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES.   

THE MISSION--It’s really hard to find a moral objection to a well-run retirement facility, a successful state arts organization, and a church teaming up to offer FREE classes to anyone.  There is NO AGE LIMIT, neither upper nor lower.  Bringing a newborn to a memoir writing class seems a little weird to me, but it’s within The Institute’s founding Mission to accept that baby and teach that two-week-old to write his or her life story, short though it may be.  Bring your parents or your grandparents to the memoir class.  That makes more sense.  Bring your centenarian pen pal from Laos to entrepreneurship class.  Bring your five-year-old son to the Civil War class.  Boys that age do like stories about violence.  I've been a five-year-old boy.  It’s true. 

THE PEOPLE INVOLVED--The founders of The Institute, other than yours truly, are lifelong educators, at least a third of whom have founded schools before.  I've got to repeat that one.  33.3333% of the people behind The Institute have already had experience in founding at least one school.  How many people can truthfully list that one their resume?  I worked the deep fryer at Burger King.  I lifeguarded at the Rec Center.  I annoyed people during dinner at DialAmerica.  And I founded a school.  One of these kids is doing his own thing.  If you’re old enough to understand the reference in that last sentence, then check out The Institute’s website www.InstitutePartners.org .  If you’re old enough to understand the reference, but don’t like communicating via the internet, call (706) 372-3022.  If you’re too young to get the, admittedly, pretty lame joke, then google the line and then go to the website.  You can sign up for classes online.  There are no hidden fees.  There are no non-hidden fees.  There is almost no personal information collected.  We do ask for a name and some contact information, but you can use an alias if you want.  You can give out a fake gmail address if you feel the need (I don’t see why you’d want to, but The Institute is a place of dedicated serenity, a welcoming place that, unlike 99% of the other institutions on the planet, respects privacy). 


            Jeani Goodwin and William E. Bray, two of The Institute’s founders, are both lifelong educators.  They’re both natural teachers who have taken education as not just a professional calling, but a spiritual one.  If you’ve lived in this town for longer than six months, you probably already know Jeani Goodwin.  If you don’t, this is your chance.  She’s the world’s shortest giant.  She’s the Athenian Chihuahua of adult education.  Her organizational skills, never-ending reserve of energy, and fierce tenacity are the stuff of local legend.  In case you missed the not-so-subtle hints, she’s very short.  But good things often come in small packages.  At least that’s what my parents said when they gave me that world atlas instead of the dirt bike I wanted.  Much like meeting Jeani herself, the atlas proved to be something I will forever be indebted to my parents for (I won’t lie and say that I didn't pout at all that birthday, but you don’t outgrow a map of the world--other than in 1992 when the Soviet Union broke up and all these countries I’d never heard of jumped onto the map).   

            The Holy Cross Lutheran Church’s preacher, Pastor Norbert Hahn, is, as you might guess, another person with a spiritual bent.  I wish that merely saying that a man, or woman, is a preacher, priest, rabbi, imam, swami, or whatever title, made describing that person as full of love, wisdom, and a quest for equality unnecessary.  Sadly, these days, it does not.  But, I've seen this pastor in action.  He’s the real deal.  I knew very little about Lutheranism before meeting Pastor Hahn, but I've heard the man preach and he is a wise, kind, witty, personable man of faith whose oratorical skills would, in a preach-off (on the made-for-TV movie running in my head right now, the one about the rough, but lovable, group of underdog divinity students up against the heavily-favored leading brand of preachers [think of every sports movie ever made—“Rudy,” or “Bring it On”]) put any televangelist to shame, leading him or her inevitably to a curled-up, sobbing fetal position.  Pastor Hahn is one of those all-too-rare, actually-called-by-God, men of the cloth.  He practices what he preaches.  He’s also German, a comforting lineage for a Lutheran.  Think about it.  When you go on a tour of the Australian Outback, wouldn't you feel cheated if your tour guide was from Valdosta?

SIGN UP NOW---Space is not limited.  Since The Institute is willing to hold classes in Sanford Stadium during halftime of a Georgia game (probably not the world’s most entertaining halftime show, but maybe the most informative), there are no size limits yet.  When adhering to fire codes becomes an issue, The Institute will simply move the classes to a place where everyone who’s signed up for these FREE classes can comfortably fit.  That fits with the spirit of The Institute.  It’s not about making money.  It’s not just about giving curious lifelong learners something to do (though that is a part of it).  It's not about limits.  It's about breaking barriers.  It's about education for the sake of education.  It's about all that a college town as unique and beloved as Athens should be about. 
 
Visit www.InstitutePartners.org or call (706)-372-3022 to register for classes. 
Did I mention that the classes are FREE?

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