Tuesdays, April 29 & May 6
5–7 p.m.
SBLHC Education Center
Madison/Jefferson Rooms

It is not too late for you to engage in meditation to lead a calmer, richer, and quite possibly a more meaningful life. Meditation techniques are non-denominational and can be tailored to any participant, regardless of belief system or religious background.

Studies indicate that meditation is efficacious for stress relief, depression, anxiety, resentments, cravings, and addictions. Many studies suggest that meditation has a positive general impact on life. Join us with teacher Jay Shinde, a highly regarded instructor of meditation.  If you are able to join us for the second and third session, please come and you can register on-site. 

Academy member: $30
Non-member: $60

We are happy to introduce our April Member of the Month, Deanna Smith!

Deanna has been a member of the Academy for 2+ years. She enjoys learning because it is enriching and useful. Her favorite subject to learn about is history. Learning just feels right to Deanna since she has been doing it her whole life! Her hobbies include reading. One of her favorite books is No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Book club is her favorite Academy event because she enjoys reading and discussing a good book! Deanna also enjoys the Lunch & Learns to discover more about traveling.

Thursday, April 24
1–3:30 p.m.
4-H Center
Coles County Fairgrounds

University of Illinois Extension Educators Dave Shiley and Cheri Burcham will teach participants the connection between gardening and physical/mental well-being while helping them create a take-home garden. Planting seeds, transplanting plants, and developing vegetable/flower containers will be covered, as well as safety and adaptive gardening methods. Foods that build brain power and brain fitness techniques will also be discussed while participants learn how to continue gardening into their golden years.

Academy member: $18
Non-member: $36

The Academy of Lifelong Learning presents an award each year to an individual who has promoted and helped to further the mission of the Academy. This year's selection is: Jana Johnson.

Jana is a bundle of positive energy and has worked her magic in connecting the Academy with several new resources! The most notable are the partnership with WEIU-TV and the very popular Heartland Highways program, and the new organizational Facebook page.  Jana says "From the moment that I learned of EIU’s Academy of Lifelong Learning I was hooked.  They are on a mission to make sure that there is always an opportunity to educate no matter how young or old. I love it!"  Additionally, Jana serves on the Academy Advisory Council and attends events as her busy schedule permits.

We truly appreciate Jana's commitment.

Thursday, May 1
Noon-1:30 p.m.
EIU Tarble Arts Center
eGallery

Guy and Irene Buzzard, Eastern's third presidential family, shared a passion for handicraft and textile arts. The objects they collected and produced reflect many of the great changes of the twentieth century. This exhibition explores how they crafted their lives together for more than fifty years. The exhibition draws from the Buzzard textiles collection within the Tarble Arts Center's Folk arts collection, and from the EIU Archives in Booth Library. EIU Historical Administration graduate students will talk about the exhibition, created for the Tarble through the 2014 Historical Administration program.

This event is free and open to the public.

Festival Dates:
April 25-27

Celebration, a festival of the arts, is held annually on campus. This year's event will feature a fine arts fair on Saturday and Sunday with more than 40 artisans on hand, selling their hand-crafted works of art ranging from jewelry and stoneware to paintings and sculptures.

Celebration also features outdoor and indoor performances, a children's art area, demonstrations, an International Fair, a delicious lineup of food vendors, and a few other surprises!

The School of Continuing Education will have a booth at the event and will have fun giveaways for all ages. Stop by and learn about our programs.  Admission and parking are free, and grounds are handicapped-accessible.

For more information and for a schedule of events, visit http://www.eiu.edu/~festival/index.php.

Explore Your Future is a four-session workshop that gives people who are near retirement or recently retired a unique opportunity to look at "what's next" in their lives. The workshop is about life planning and focuses on the social and emotional elements of retirement that also require thoughtful and intentional planning to prevent conflict and frustration. 

Participants will have the opportunity to evaluate what has influenced their decisions to retire as well as who they are and what roles are important to their identities. They will work with facilitators to create goals and objectives that will facilitate positive and successful aging.

If you think you may be interested, read more about the workshop at: http://comingofage.org/

Members and non-members: $20

Register online at http://www.eiu.edu/humanres/training/comingofage.php.

*Dates planned for June with location pending.