Adult Enrichment Series
Life Long Learning is a non-profit organization established in 1993 to offer community members an opportunity to hear and participate in discussions on contemporary topics such as history, the arts, health, travel, gardening, culture, cooking, literature, finance and more. A four-week educational series is offered twice each year in April and October. Everyone is welcome!
Who We Are
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.
Leadership
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
Get Involved
If you are interested in being a speaker for one of our upcoming events, please contact Carol Elias at clelias@comcast.net
Classes
Fall 2023 Course Listing
SESSION 1 - 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. | ||
A. UPSD Highlights |
B. Local History |
C. Art History Classes conducted by Jean Thobaben |
Oct. 3 - Marlborough & Hereford Oct. 10 - 4th & 5th Gr. Highlights and Oct. 17 - UPMS Highlights (6-8) & K-12 Oct. 24 - UPHS Highlights (9-12) including College and Career Readiness & K-12 Facilities |
Oct. 3 - The History and Lore of Mountain Mary
|
Oct. 3 - Icons and Manuscripts
|
SESSION 2 - 11:00 am to Noon | ||
D. History and Heroes | E. You Do What? Unusual Professions / Hobbies |
F. Separation of Church and State |
Oct. 3 - The Great Wagon Road – Indian Trail to the Highway of The New Republic Ed Johnson |
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? |
Class Instructors
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
Register to Attend
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.