Upper Perkiomen School District

Life Long Learning, a non-profit corporation, was organized on March 11, 1993. Its purpose is to offer individuals residing in or near the Upper Perkiomen Valley opportunities to learn through hearing talks and participating in discussions on many topics including history, the arts, health, religion, travel, gardening, cultural diversity, cooking, literature, finance, and much more.

Life Long Learning fulfills its purpose by offering a series of seminars in the spring and fall each year. Three concurrent one-hour seminars are held before a thirty minute coffee break and three concurrent seminars are held after. Participants may choose two seminars – one from each time frame. Field trips may be planned to enhance the classroom experience. It is our hope that there will be something to interest everyone with each spring and fall session.

Life Long Learning is intended primarily for senior citizens in the Upper Perkiomen Valley and surrounding areas, but people of all ages are welcome to participate. There is a modest charge for the educational series to cover refreshments, facility costs, insurance, postage and equipment. The New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ graciously provides rooms and the necessary clerical and custodial services. The Upper Perkiomen School District generously assists with technology needs and printing requirements.

Life Long Learning has no paid staff. Its board of directors and all of its faculty members are volunteers, freely contributing their time, talents, and energy to what has become an important and popular part of the Upper Perkiomen Valley’s cultural life.

Board of Directors
Carol Elias, President
Annette Thompson, Treasurer
Priscilla Kistler, Recording Secretary
Sharon Muntz, Recording Secretary
Maribeth Reigner, Communications Secretary
                       
James Coffey          Susan Royer   
Kathy Doyle            Charles Shagg    
Gail Gerhard           Jean Thobaben  
Glenn Gilbert          Kathie Utz          
Thomas Henry        Luanne Stauffer   
             
Mr. James Roth, Audio-Visual Coordinator                          
Dr. Allyn J. Roche, Upper Perkiomen School District Liaison 

If you are interested in being a speaker for one of our upcoming events, please contact Carol Elias at clelias@comcast.net

Fall 2023 Course Listing

SESSION 1 - 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
A. UPSD Highlights Session Introductions - Dr. Allyn Roche	B. Local History Classes conducted by Bob Wood	C. Art History Classes conducted by Jean Thobaben
Oct. 3 - Marlborough & Hereford Highlights (K-3) & (K-12) Technology Allison Stephens, Jeff Fries & Jim Roth  Oct. 10 - 4th & 5th Gr. Highlights and K-12 Curriculum Offerings Art Vigilante & Kimberly Bast Oct. 17 - UPMS Highlights (6-8) & K-12 Pupil Services & Mental Health Supports Christine Siegfried & Dr. Andrea Farina Oct. 24 - UPHS Highlights (9-12) including College and Career Readiness & K-12 Facilities Dr. Robert Carpenter & Craig Howard	Oct. 3 - The History and Lore of Mountain Mary Oct. 10 - Local Native Americans: Ten Thousand Years on One Site Oct. 17 - Oil Mills Oct. 24 - Furnace and Forge	Oct. 3 - Icons and Manuscripts Oct. 10 - Romanesque Oct. 17 - Gothic Oct. 24 – Late Gothic

 

SESSION 2 - 11:00 am to Noon
D. History and Heroes	E. You Do What? Unusual Professions / Hobbies	F. Separation of Church and State  Conducted by Larry Cohen
Oct. 3 - The Great Wagon Road – Indian Trail to the Highway of The New Republic Ed Johnson Oct. 10 - The Fries Rebellion - Insurrection or Civil Disobedience? Ed Johnson Oct. 17 - Dr. Frank E. Boston (1889-1950) African American WWI Veteran, Doctor, Surgeon, Hospital & Ambulance Service Founder and First Responder George Whitehair Oct. 24 - General Carl Spaatz (1891-1974) The General Carl Spaatz National Museum: Translating Vision to Results Keith A. Siewell	Oct. 3 - Historical & Contemporary Iconography using Egg Tempura Sharon Shaw Oct. 10 - A Bit about Bitcoin Libby Felton Oct. 17 - Which Came First? Leon Moyer Oct. 24 - 50 Years of Digital Music Aram Basmadjian	Oct. 3 - Education and Religion Oct. 10 - Politics and Religion Oct. 17 - The Supreme Court Oct. 24 - What’s Ahead?

 

Each instructor contributes their time to the Life Long Learning program.
We express our deep gratitude for their kind assistance.

Fall 2023 Class Instructors

Aram Basmadjian - Exec. VP of Allen Organ Company, Concert Organist

Kimberly Bast - Director of Curriculum & Instruction UPSD

Dr. Robert Carpenter - UPHS principal, UPSD

Larry Cohen - Retired Foreign Service Officer U. S. Department of State

Dr. Andrea Farina - Assistant Superintendent, UPSD

Libby Felton - Professor, DeSales University, Finance Department

Jeff Fries - Hereford Elem. Principal, UPSD

Craig Howard - Director of Facilities and Operations, UPSD

Ed Johnson - Retired History Teacher, Past Pres. Goshenhoppen Historical Society - 20 Years

Leon Moyer - Former Co-Owner of Moyer’s Hatchery

Dr. Allyn Roche - Superintendent of Schools Upper Perkiomen School District & LLL Liaison

Jim Roth - UPSD Director of Technology

Sharon Shaw - Professional Iconographer and Fine Artist

Christine Siegfried - UPMS Principal, UPSD

Keith Siewell - Col. USMC (Ret.) Founder & CEO of General Spaatz National USAAF Museum

Allison Stephens - Marlborough Elem. Principal, UPSD

Jean Thobaben - Retired Art Teacher, Perkiomen School, Adjunct Instructor at MCCC

Art Vigilante - 4th & 5th Grade Center Principal, UPSD

George Whitehair - Degrees from Temple and Rutgers Universities, Author, Lead Historian and Researcher on the legacy of Dr. Frank E. Boston

Robert Wood - Historian, Educator, Writer

All registration is by mail. Complete the registration form and mail with $20.00 non-refundable fee to:

Life Long Learning, New Goshenhoppen U.C.C.
1070 Church Rd
East Greenville, PA 18041

Enrollment is limited. Prompt registration will ensure your place in the classes of your choice. Please indicate your first, second and third choice for each hour.

Classes will be held on the following four Tuesdays: October 3,10,17,24. One session of three concurrent classes will be held from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Following a half-hour coffee break, a second session of three concurrent classes will
be held from 11:00 a.m. until noon.

All sessions will be held at New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ, East Greenville. Parking and elevator access are available in the lower parking lot next to the main church building.

On Tuesday, October 3rd, the opening day, an orientation session will be held at 9:00 a.m. Please make every effort to attend.

Participants can register for one course at 9:30 for all four weeks and one course at 11:00 for all four weeks and attend the courses for which they are registered.

For further information, call Gail Gerhard at 215-679-6523

*Mask requirements will follow all Covid guidelines for New Goshenhoppen UCC.

All sessions are held in the Educational Wing of the New Goshenhoppen United Church of Christ in East Greenville. Parking and elevator access are available next to the main church building.