W hat on earth is BULLI? That question has been asked by multiple people over the years — both in regard to

the program and the name. The new question is: Who are we and where do we go from here?

The wise members of the ad-hoc committee that formed BULLI wanted to avoid the words “senior” and “retirement.” They wanted this lifelong learning program to be open to anyone who was interested in academically oriented continuing education. In 1994, the idea of a lifelong learning program in our community was a new and exciting one. Change, however, is inevitably on the horizon.

The members knew that they wanted to include the name of our sponsoring institution, Brenau University. They also wanted to reflect the nature of the organization. The intent was to have not only academically oriented classes but leisure activities as well. Hence the name Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute was born. The acronym, BULLI, was intentional, in that the members wanted a name that could be seen as an acronym

and they felt that BULLI was reflective of Theodore Roosevelt’s use of the word “bully,” as in, “Bully for you.” The term “bully pulpit” is described as a place from which one has the opportunity to share one’s views. And isn’t that what we do at BULLI? We share ideas, wisdom, knowledge and our passion for learning.

For 25 years, the BULLI program has successfully offered lifelong learning

opportunities to adults, mostly to retired members of the Northeast Georgia community. The organization has grown faster and better than any of the founding members or Brenau University expected. We have established ourselves as a leading program in the area. We are not what we used to be in 1994. We have grown, and we have aged.

SPRING 2019

Newsletter of the Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute

-TINTHE

• Welcome 3• Things You Should Know 4• Gainesville Classes 5-7

Chip Dale of Braselton Brewing Company teaches BULLI members all about brewing beer.

What’s up with BULLI?

Continued on page 8

• Gainesville Short Courses 8

• Braselton Classes 9

• Braselton Short Courses 10

• Academic Schedule 11

SPRING REGISTRATION Braselton — Feb. 19 Gainesville — Feb. 21

A proud sponsor of the Center for Lifetime Study and BULLI

Senior Financial Planning, LLC

TIMOTHY P. GELINAS, CAS®, CSA • 2551 ROSWELL RD. NW, SUITE 209 • MARIETTA, GA 30062

STAFF CONTACTS

KATHY AMOSExecutive Directorkamos@brenau.edu

770.538.4705

HEATHER BRANDOffice Manager

hbrand@brenau.edu 770.531.3175

Over 20 years ago, a group of Hall County residents gathered in the Wilson Room of the John W. Jacobs Building to talk about the idea of a lifelong learning program at Brenau. The group included local visionaries and business

leaders, lifelong Gainesville residents and individuals who were new to the area.

Some of the attendees had visited lifelong learning programs in other places. Others had attended Elderhostel programs throughout the country and had experienced firsthand the benefits of lifelong learning. All of them, however, were dedicated to the idea of creating a unique opportunity for learning on the Brenau University campus.

From their dedication, BULLI was born.

we invite you to become a part of the bulli family.

Welcome to BULLI

Knowledge and Education

Fun and Excitement

Companionship and Sense of Belonging

Friendship

Travel Opportunities

Health Benefits

BULLI Hiking ClubMembers hike throughout Northeast Georgia. Each hike is graded for its difficulty and most outings end up with the hikers enjoying lunch together. To join the group, call Polly Elliott at 770.867.5997.

BULLI BardsThe Bards is a poetry group that meets regularly to read poetry submitted by group members and to hone their poetry skills. If you are interested, call Bill Early at 678.450.2867.

Dinner TogetherWould you like to enjoy dinner, Dutch treat, in the company of other members? This dining-out group meets on the third Thursday of each month at various restaurants in the area. Members sign up to serve as host/hostess for the month of their choice.

BULLI ReadsOur book club members gather to discuss favorite fiction and nonfiction books on the second Tuesday of every month, except December and July. BULLI Reads meets in the Brenau Trustee Library, room 115 at 4:30 p.m. Our members volunteer to be discussion group leaders. BULLI members are invited to share in the conversations about books and to enjoy the fellowship of other reading enthusiasts. For details, please contact Virginia Hale at halev@earthlink.net.

BULLI Art GroupFor those of you into creating art, or those of you who would like to hone your skills, the art group meets on the first Friday of the month at the BULLI House. For more information, call Kathy Amos at the BULLI House at 770.538.4705.

So what are you waiting for? Join BULLI Today!

BULLI – Where Intellectual Curiosity

Meets Friendship and Fun!

Wha

t is

BU

LL

I?

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Special Interest GroupsBULLI also has special interest groups that make the lifelong learning experience richer. BULLI members can choose from:

things you should knowhow do i register for classes?

You may register in person at the BULLI House and Braselton Town Hall or by mail or fax. Our fax number is 770.531.2054.

gainesville | thursday, feb. 21Simmons Visual Arts Center, 200 Boulevard

3:30 p.m. – social gathering 4 p.m. – registrationYou may register at the BULLI House at 406 Academy St. between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. through Wednesday, Feb 27. You may also fax your registration forms to 770.531.2054. Call the BULLI Office at 770.538.4705 or drop by today!

braselton | tuesday, feb. 19Braselton Brewing Company 9859 Davis St.

4-5 p.m. – social gathering 5 p.m. – registrationIf you are unable to attend the Braselton registration meeting, you may drop by the Braselton Town Hall through Wednesday, Feb. 27, or contact Braselton Town Manager Jennifer Scott at 706.654.5720.

Registration on a space-available basis will be accepted after the official registration dates, but those registering after will not receive priority consideration in assigning classes. Registrants who do not get in a desired course will receive a refund in the form of a voucher that can be used another term of the school year or for any class in the current term that is not already filled.

For more information, call 770.538.4705 or visit www.brenau.edu/lifetimestudy

how do i become a member?

BULLI is open to anyone who is interested in becoming a BULLI member. Members become part of a vibrant learning community. BULLI is supported through its membership fees. The membership fee for the remaining two quarters of the academic year is $95. Your membership gets you exclusive access to BULLI courses and

includes the following benefits:

• Curriculum catalog each term

• Opportunity to enroll in classes

• EBits email newsletter

• Discounted membership at the Brenau

Fitness Center

• Library privileges (including computer use)

at the Brenau Trustee Library

• Social events at minimum or no cost

• Field trips, including international trips

bulli courses | spring term march 25 – may 3, 2019BULLI courses are noncredit and have no exams or prerequisites. You may take as many courses as you wish for $40 per course. Short course fees are based on course length. Instructors are a mixture of university professors, community experts and qualified BULLI members who enjoy sharing their knowledge and skills with others. Courses are held at various locations on the Brenau campus and

Braselton town facilities.

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BULLI membership is required for all course registration.

spring break and weather closings: Brenau will be closed Feb. 28-March 1 for spring break. In the event of inclement weather, you will need to watch the news or listen to the radio for school closings. BULLI does not follow Brenau closings. Since we have students coming from a number of outlying areas, BULLI classes are canceled when Hall County Schools are closed. Closings can also be checked by calling the BULLI Office at 770.538.4705.

MONDAY

Our Universe: A Journey into Mystery

1 – 2:30 p.m.

Can the universe teach us her lessons?

Learn how the stars, galaxies and

wonders surrounding us have deep

meaning in how we live meaningful,

purposeful lives right here in

Gainesville, Georgia. We will use the

book Our Universe – A Journey Into

Mystery, written by the instructor, to

look at themes within the universe

and our place in it. Come and prepare

to be amazed.

Jeff Jones is a retired physician who

has looked on the universe as the

original “natural philosophers” did.

He followed this story of meaning in

the universe from a young age until

now. He has taught several classes for

BULLI.

TUESDAYBasic Botany and Plant Evolution

9 – 10:30 a.m.

Plants, plants, plants! What do you

know about them and why do they

matter? Let’s explore more deeply into

the world of plants and discuss such

topics as:

• Plant anatomy and physiology, including cellular biology, tissues, vegetative organs and reproductive structures.

• Photosynthesis (including major variations on the main type of photosynthesis), flowering plant reproduction, secondary metabolism (and the production of chemicals important to human medicine).

• Major trends in plant evolution, including a more detailed treatment of flowering plants.

If time and interest permit, we may cover selected topics in ethnobotany, light and temperature relations, plant nutrition, hormonal control or several other topics. We will also take a casual field trip, weather permitting.

Tom Diggs holds a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is an assistant professor of biology at the University of North Georgia and an instructor of native plant studies at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

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TIME MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

9 – 10:30 a.m.Basic Botany and Plant Evolution

Tom Diggs

Beyond The Abyss: A Study of the Book

of Ecclesiastes Bruce Morgan

BULLI Bards & Art Club1st Fridays

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

The Appalachian TrailPete Bauk

(April 1, 8, 15, 22)

The Origins of Rock ’n’ Roll Part 2

Tom Dell

How to Diversify Your InvestmentsTim Gelinas

Early 20th-Century Black-and-White

Film PhotographersAngela Medley

Hiking2nd &

4th Fridays

1 – 2:30 p.m.Our Universe:

A Journey into MysteryJeff Jones

Gentle/Restorative Yoga

Emilie Cook

Great Decisions 2019Robin Terrell

Write Your Memoirs: A Practical Approach

Fran Stewart

Committee Meetings

3rd Fridays

2:45 – 4:15 p.m.

Introduction to Ceramics

Dr. Huy Chu

Hiking2nd & 4th Fridays

6 – 7:30 p.m.

Intro. to Brewing, Beer Appreciation and

World Beer StylesRick Foote

The Origins of Rock ’n’ Roll, Part Two

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

If you think Part One was fun, just wait until we cover Part Two! Join us as we take a look at the music scene from 1959-1963. The course covers folk music, folk rock, Motown, the girl groups, rhythm and blues, soul music and funk. As if that were not enough, we will also look at the record labels behind the explosion of music in the early ’60s and some of the people who drove the expansion. You’ll also learn a bit about the studio musicians who played the songs that made the name artists famous. Video clips are used to highlight the music of the artists and bands under discussion.

Tom Dell has performed rock ’n’ roll, rhythm and blues, and some country since 1957. He played in dives and clubs on the East Coast and many venues in Atlanta. He served in the Marines and graduated from Georgia State University. He teaches at OLLI at Emory and at the Central DeKalb Senior Center. He owned a stereo store in the 1970s and spent 30 years in the telecommunications industry.

Gentle/Restorative Yoga

1 – 2:30 p.m.

This yoga course is designed for all ages, body types and activity levels. It’s time to do your body a favor and

explore the healing power of restorative yoga. Restorative poses bring awareness to deep breathing, relaxation and stress release, with an emphasis on holding poses for a longer time in a supported way so as to increase a deep release in the muscles. You will need to bring a yoga mat, yoga blocks and a blanket. Relax and renew!

Emilie Cook is a certified hatha yoga instructor with special training in restorative yoga. She has taught a number of courses for BULLI and owns Find Your Center Yoga Studio on Thompson Bridge Road.

Introduction to Brewing, Beer Appreciation and World Beer Styles

6 – 7:30 p.m.

This course will cover beer history, home brewing, beer tasting/judging techniques, choosing proper glass styles for various beers, review of beer styles of the world including how they developed in specific areas and why. Participants will participate in a brewing session and be able to sample that beer at the conclusion of the course. There will also be beers provided for tasting and evaluation as we learn about beer styles of the world.

Supply fee of $30 payable at first class.

Rick Foote earned a B.A. in biology from Edinboro State University in 1982 and has been home brewing ever since. He was a BJCP National Beer Judge in 2001 and is the director of research and development at Left Nut Brewing.

WEDNESDAY

How to Diversify Your Investments ... Correctly!

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Do you know if your investments are diversified correctly? Do all your investments move in the same direction? Are you over diversified? Why does it even matter? As you know, the market

is full of ups and downs. Learn how to take advantage of these market swings without living in constant stress. Come join this informative and interactive discussion.

Tim Gelinas is known to BULLI members as an instructor on finance and investment, who has taught a number of times for BULLI. He is the president of Senior Financial Planning LLC. He has also received the 2008, 2009 and 2011 Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction Award for Wealth Managers, as well as the 2012-2018 Five Star Wealth Manager Awards, as seen in “Atlanta Magazine.”

Great Decisions 2019

1 – 2:30 p.m.

Since 1954, the Great Decisions program has been used to encourage discussion and debate of the important global challenges of our time. We’ll use video and written materials provided by the Foreign Policy Association to discuss and reach informed opinions about this year’s topics:

• Refugees and Global Migration

• The Middle East: Regional Disorder

• The Rise of Populism in Europe

• Decoding U.S.-China Trade

• Cyber Conflicts and Geopolitics

• The United States and Mexico: Partnership Tested

• State of the State Department and Diplomacy

• Nuclear Negotiations: Back to the Future

Supply Fee: $30. Students will be responsible for supply fee unless they notify the BULLI office that they will purchase their own book. For those who purchase their own book, a $5 supply fee will be charged for supplemental materials.

Robin Terrell will serve as facilitator for this class. He holds an M.A. and B.S. (chemistry) from Oxford University,

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U.K., and an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France. He has lived and worked in the U.K., France, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, Japan and the United States. He has facilitated Great Decisions classes in previous years.

THURSDAYBeyond the Abyss: A Study of the Book of Ecclesiastes

9 – 10:30 a.m.

How often have you heard, “Eat, drink and be merry,”“nothing new under the sun,” or “to everything there is a season”? All of these phrases and more are a part of the Wisdom Book Ecclesiastes. Join us as we explore the nature of Biblical wisdom as expressed in specific texts of Ecclesiastes and the genesis of wisdom which evoked those texts. A theological interpretation from the perspective of the life and work of Christ will accompany each session based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:42.

Bruce Morgan is a veteran pastor who served the First Baptist Church of Griffin, Georgia, for 33 years. He has taught several courses for BULLI over the years.

Early 20th Century Black-and-White Film Photographers

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Black-and-white film photography of the 19th and 20th centuries influenced visual and media arts throughout this period and beyond. This class will develop your understanding of how photography began as a science and became a fine art.

Photographers such as Henry Fox Talbot, Alfred Steiglitz, Edward Steichen, Ansel Adams, Margaret Bourke-White, Dorothea Lange and Man Ray will be introduced.

Photography’s transition from imitating

painting to becoming a medium with its own set of standards and criteria will be explored. The interdependency of knowing the science related to the process to create the desired outcomes will be discussed.

Angela Medley has a B.S. in art education, an M.S. in elementary education and a sixth-year post-graduate degree in school administration from Southern Connecticut State University. She is a retired grades K-12 visual arts coordinator who taught middle and high school students for 40 years. Medley’s own artistic passion is printmaking, and her work has been displayed in numerous shows and galleries.

Write Your Memoirs: A Practical Approach

1 – 2:30 p.m.

Is a memoir class for you? Have you always wanted to write the stories of your life but never had any idea how to get started? Have you started writing these stories but don’t know how to organize them? Are your children/grandchildren begging you to write your stories? Do you feel nobody cares about your stories? No matter where you fit, you get practical hands-on experience in this six-week class led by award-winning author Fran Stewart.

Fran Stewart has published 18 books, including 12 mystery series (one published by a regional independent publisher and the other by Berkley Press, a division of Random House/Penguin). She is also the author of a nonfiction book “From the Tip of My Pen: A Workbook for Writers.” Stewart has taught a number of memoir classes through Gwinnett County Libraries and Auburn, Georgia, public libraries.

Introduction to Ceramics

2:45 – 4:15 p.m.

This hands-on beginner’s class is the perfect introduction to working with clay. Learn the properties of clay and how to prepare it for working, how to join pieces together and how to dry your pieces so that they won’t crack. You’ll also learn glazing techniques to finish your masterpiece. The course is designed to introduce students to hand-building and wheel-throwing techniques, glazing and firing, as well as how to integrate concepts and ideas into personal artwork.

Huy Chu holds a BFA from San Jose State University and an MFA from the University of South Carolina. He has taught three years of hand-building courses and seven years of wheel-throwing instruction. He is currently an assistant professor of art at Brenau.

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Susan Lahey’s class dallied with Dali and got creative.

GAINESVILLE SHORT COURSESListed by starting dates. Prices based on the length of the course. Courses with three or fewer meeting dates are $30.

Courses with four or more meeting dates are $40.

The Appalachian TrailFour Sessions; $40

April 1, 8, 15 & 22

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

The Appalachian Trail is a foot path connecting Springer Mountain in Georgia with Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park in Maine. The AT is not the oldest long trail in the U.S. but is the most well-known. Each year, millions of people visit some part of the trail and around 4,000 individuals attempt to hike the entire 2,190 mile foot path in a single 12-month period.

We will delve into the history of the Appalachian Trail and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. We will discuss the history of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club and its responsibilities to the trail. What roles do the USDA Forest Service, the U.S. National Park Service

and the maintaining clubs play in the management of the AT?

We will review the planning that goes into a day hike, an overnight hike, a section hike and a thru hike and the resources available to the hiker. Some answers bound to be of interest are: What food is appropriate to carry on the trail? How often do you shower? Where can you camp? And what equipment is carried by the hikers?

We will discuss the details of Leave No Trace (LNT) ethics, which aid in the preservation of the trail for future generations.

Pete Bauk is a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club. He is a thru hiker, trail maintainer, Trail Ambassador and trip leader, and he serves on the Outreach, Activities, Information and Education, and Trail Information committees of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club.

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The current membership of BULLI is aging, with a majority of the membership having been BULLI members for more than 10 years. New members in the under-60 age range comprise approximately 5 percent of the current BULLI population. In order to attract new and younger members and sustain the program, BULLI must understand the needs of the coming Boomer generation and find ways to increase its appeal to this 40- to 60-year-old market.

The impact of the Boomer generation promises to make a huge impact on the future of lifelong learning programs. Given the active lifestyle of the Boomer generation, it is interesting to note that the answers to the question of what they would like to do to make their later years interesting, meaningful and fun were

wide-ranging and enlightening. Boomers appear to be determined to make their later years active ones, filled with many activities and within a community of learners. Recent studies show that for Boomers, learning opportunities ranked high as intended pursuits. The form, however, may be a bit different from what BULLI currently offers. In a survey of Boomers’ views on lifelong learning, some of their requests were:

• Activities that encourage — or better yet require — research and pursuit of knowledge: Do not teach at me, but rather facilitate my learning.

• Group participatory, un-classroom environments.

• Hands-on programs that encourage participation at whatever level is possible.

• Interaction with younger adults to share knowledge collected over lifetimes.

Boomer-aged learners appear to be looking for free choice learning in

which they control what, when and with whom they learn. They express a desire for formal lifelong learning opportunities but want a less structured, more open and more hands-on format. Boomers are very aware of their views for their later years and wish to find meaning in their plans for the future. They are open to new ideas and concepts and are seeking to find ways to apply them to their lives.

So the question is, “What does BULLI want and where does it want to go in the next 25 years?”

By listening to members, being aware of the differences in the coming generation and employing clear and defined change initiatives, BULLI can move with the Boomers into this new perception of lifelong learning. They can take the proper steps to ensure viability for the organization. The future of lifelong learning is booming, and BULLI expects to boom right along with it!

WHAT’S UP, from page 1

THURSDAYMixing It Up with Mixed Media

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

If you are like many who have tried numerous art techniques, you have lots of supplies. Bring what you have. Bring your acrylic paints, watercolors, colored pencils, pastels, markers — whatever you have — and learn how to get the most out of them together. Instructor Jill Haack will bring her supplies also, so that everyone can

experiment. This class is all about

breaking the rules and using bits and

pieces of all the different media you like

to create art with. This class will cover

all the basics and experiment with

layering your media. You’ll learn how

they interact with each other.

Jill Haack holds a B.A. in graphic

design from Eastern Illinois University

and an M.S. in graphic arts. She

teaches classes at the Atlanta Botanical

Gardens, Gainesville and to private

students, young and old. She has taught

several classes for BULLI.

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TIME TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Mixing It Up with Mixed MediaJill Haack

1 – 2:30 p.m.A Fresh Look at Photography

Sarina Roth(March 26, April 2, 9)

2:45 – 4:15 p.m.

Not Everyone Dies:An Introduction to Opera

Isaia Feken(March 27, April 3, 10)

6 – 7:30 p.m.Victorian Ladies in Literature

Sloane Meyer(March 26, April 2, 9, 16)

Carter Wood gave each of his students in the Great War — A 100th Anniversary Retrospective class their official “discharge” papers after completing the course.

BRASELTON SHORT COURSESListed by starting dates. Prices based on the length of the course. Courses with three or fewer meeting dates are $30. Courses with four or more meeting dates are $40.

TUESDAYA Fresh Look at PhotographyThree sessions; $30

Tuesdays, March 26, April 2 & 9

1 – 2:30 p.m.

This course includes lessons to improve your photography through a better understanding of terminology, practical photography tips, development of creativity and addressing technical issues. Students will learn basics about camera features, how to work with software, and some important things to know about printing. No special equipment is required and cameras are not needed for this class.

Sarina Roth started her professional photography business in 2005. Her work has been published in magazines, websites, publication features and covers. Roth’s previous experience includes instruction in photography for civic groups, organizations, businesses

and students. Her work can be seen at nevertherock.com

TUESDAYSVictorian Ladies in LiteratureFour sessions; $40

Tuesdays, March 26, April 2, 9 &16

6 – 7:30 p.m.

This four-week course will cover aspects of Victorian era literature as it specifically pertains to the ladies. Week one: an overview of Victorian era literature. Week two: female writers. Week three: female readers. Week four: female characters. Instructor Sloane Meyer will be in full costume, as always.

Sloane Meyer is an educator, historian and spirited lecturer. She dresses in historic costume according to the settings of novels and uses the term “academic performer” to describe her teaching style.

WEDNESDAYNot Everyone Dies: An Introduction to OperaThree sessions; $30

Wednesdays, March 27, April 3, 10

2:45 – 4:15 p.m.

This course will look at the development

of opera as a genre through the

context of the music, the singers

and the drama. By the end of the

course, participants will develop new

confidence in approaching opera by

learning about the different types of

music and voices that make up the

genre, and they will learn about how

and why opera has changed over the

centuries. Participants will be able to

hear and understand opera better, and

enjoy it more thoroughly. The course

will include lots of audio and video

examples and include a Q&A at the

end of every session.

Isaiah Feken is currently in the final

year of pursuing his Doctorate of

Musical Arts in vocal performance

at the University of Georgia, where

he received his Master of Music in

vocal performance in 2016. He has

served as the organizer/head lecturer

for the UGA Osher Life Long

Learning Institute Opera Interest

group luncheon series since 2014. He

also currently serves as a graduate

assistant for the UGA Opera Theatre

Department and has been in many

UGA opera productions, including

“Le nozze di Figaro,” “Don Giovanni,”

“Gianni Schicchi,” and others.

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s c h e d u l eBULLI members expanded their knowledge about the Kurds with Khalid Ibrahim.

Proud Sponsors of Braselton BULLI

PROUD SPONSORS OF BULLI

Dr. Tom RossiDr. Jody Whisenant

Optometrists

1276 Jesse Jewell Parkway SEGainesville, GA 30501

770.532.7246www.eyecarega.com

2019 BULLI ACADEMIC SCHEDULESPRINGBraselton registration* .....................Feb. 19-27Gainesville registration* Feb. 21-27Term begins ............................................... March 25Term ends ........................................................... May 3

SUMMERTerm begins ..................................................... June 3Term ends ......................................................... July 12

*See page 4 for details

Learning and Leisure Institute A Division of the Brenau University Center for Lifetime Study

BULLI

500 Washington Street, Box 115 Gainesville, Georgia 30501

spring registrationBraselton — Feb. 19 Gainesville — Feb. 21