Santa Monica, a Lifelong Learning Community
Lifelong Learning Community News - JANUARY 2009...
I greet the New Year with some ambivalence. I have really enjoyed spending the holidays with my family, and I’m sorry to have to get back to work. On the other hand, there is a tremendous amount of work to be done and a new President-elect to lead the way.
Here in Santa Monica, Ken Genser is the new Mayor with Pam O’Connor serving as Mayor Pro Tempore. Ralph Mechur is the new President of the School Board with Barry Snell as Vice President. I will serve as Chair for the Santa Monica College Board of Trustees this year with David Finkel as Vice-chair. Congratulations to all of us!
While it is a great honor to be elected as this year’s Chair, President, or Mayor, it comes at a very difficult time in our State. California’s financial situation and the ability of our State government to function are in disarray. As the national and state economies struggle to find secure footing, our governor and legislature have been unable to agree on terms to confront reality. We are witnesses, victims, and architects of a perfect storm, created by many factors -- the 2/3rd requirement for passing a budget and for raising taxes, the volatility of California’s tax base which is heavily reliant on unreliable revenue sources, the increased expenditure of general fund revenues on initiative-passed projects with no new funding streams, the uncompromising idealogy of Republican legislators from “safe” districts, the disincentive for politicians with short terms to take a “long view”, and the current economic downturn and all the factors that have contributed to it. What a mess! I expect 2009 to be a very challenging year for California. Stay tuned.... but meanwhile....
Tote-a-lly Awesome requests you text or go online...
Santa Monica High School SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship) team needs your help. The students have created Tote-a-lly Awesome, a social
venture which gives profits to Heal the Bay, the Red Cross and works on environmental education. They have written a $10,000 grant through Best Buy for expansion. However, to actually get the money, they must now win a popular vote and be in the top 15 teams out of 30 nationwide by January 9th. You can help. It’s easy. Here’s how:
Vote everyday until January 9th. Text to 32075 with message BBYV27.
Vote online everyday at www.genv.net/bestbuy for Tote-a-lly Awesome.
Volunteers Needed for 2009 Homeless Count
The Santa Monica Human Services Department is seeking volunteers to assist in the 2009 biennial census of homeless people in Santa Monica. The census will occur on Tuesday, January 27 from 8pm – 2am but volunteers are encouraged to first attend a training. Trainings are scheduled for January 15 and January 24 (see below in calendar listings.) Please be part of the solution and get involved. For more information and to rsvp, please contact Dina Aubrey with the
City of Santa Monica, Human Services Division at dina.aubrey@smgov.net or (310) 458-8701.
Green Living Workshop Series
Santa Monica Public Library is offering another series of Green Living Workshops on Wednesdays, January 14 through February 18, 7:00 – 8:30pm. The six-week Green Living Workshops are presented by Sustainable Works; the workshops provide the latest ‘eco-info,’ and offer advice on saving up to $200 a year on utility costs and cutting your landfill waste by up to 50%. Each of the six sessions focuses on a different topic: water, energy, waste, chemicals, transportation and travel, and shopping and food. Participants receive free resource saving tools such as water saving shower heads, energy saving light bulbs, and reusable shopping bags. These programs are free and open to the public. Sign-up now; class space is limited. To register, visit www.sustainableworks.eventbrite.com. For more information, contact the Santa Monica Public Library at (310) 458-8600; or visit the Library’s web site at www.smpl.org
In other news:
Samohi Marching Band Plays in New Year’s Day Parade in London
The Santa Monica High School Marching Band marched in London as part of their New Year’s Day Parade. If you weren’t able to make the trip, you can watch from the warmth of your computer screen. The Samohi Band comes in at 4 minutes 4 seconds into the video of the parade posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ck-NbYbKJI
Samohi Grad Awarded Marshall Scholarship
Santa Monica High School graduate (Class of ’05) Max Kleiman-Weiner, currently at Stanford, has been awarded a Marshall Scholarship and will study neuroscience in England at Oxford University. Congratulations Max!
Santa Monica College is number 1 again in transfers to UC & UC-CSU combined.
For the 18th consecutive year, Santa Monica College is the No. 1 transfer institution of students to the University of California system in 2007-08. It is also the leader in transfers to the UC-California State University systems combined, as well as the No. 1 transfer school for Latinos and African Americans to the UC system. And it is the leading transfer college to the University of Southern California, sending a record number of students to the highly regarded private university.
SMC has a new partnersip with Mount St. Mary’s College which will provide guaranteed admissions to SMC transfer students who meet certain requirements. The arrangement includes a general transfer agreement for all students and a specific one for Mount St. Mary’s Associate Degree in Nursing-to-Master’s Degree in Nursing (ADN-MSN) program. The latter is a 3.5-year-track in which students spend two years at Santa Monica College and finish the remainder of their time at Mount St. Mary’s, receiving their associates, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing in less than four years.
SMC students accepted under the general transfer agreement will also receive a $13,000 scholarship to the school and will continue to receive aid as long as they maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
SMC Small Business Center Wins Three Top Awards
Congratulations to the Santa Monica College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) which won three of five awards for 2008, including the highest honor given to such centers in the Los Angeles Regional SBDC network.
The 2008 Best Overall Center Performance Award was given to the SMC SBDC because it counseled 751 distinct clients in the areas of business start-up requirements, business strategic planning, marketing and sales, financing assistance, web designing, legal assistance, international trade and import/export, business accounting, financial management, and customer and employee relations.
The 2008 Highest Capital Infusion Award was given because, as of Nov. 30, 2008, the SMC center had assisted local businesses with obtaining more than $3.1 million in capital. The capital infusions include loans from the Small Business Administration, non-SBA loans and equity investment.
The 2008 Highest Number of Long-Term (Extended) Clients Award was based on counseling hours - in this case, SMC's center provided five or more counseling hours over multiple years to 176 clients.
The SMC SBDC, located at Santa Monica Airport, provides free, one-on-one, confidential business counseling services to people who have a business idea and to entrepreneurs who want to grow their business or make them more environmentally friendly. It also offers low-cost basic business and legal workshops. For more information, please call (310) 434-3566 or go to www.smc.edu/sbdc.
And now for some special January Lifelong Learning events.....
Monday, January 5
SMMUSD classes resume
Monday, January 5
SMC and Emeritus College Winter Session begins
For more information and to register for classes, please go to www.smc.edu
Registration is also open for the Spring Session, February 17, 2009- June 16, 2009
Friday, January 9, 6-9pm
Artists Reception: SMC Four-Person Faculty Exhibit
Pete and Susan Barrett Art Gallery
SMC Performing Arts Center
1310 11th Street, NW corner of 11th & Santa Monica Boulevard
Free
Four SMC Faculty members are being shown in this new exhibition: Jenny Hager, Tom Lundquist, CJ Mammarella, and John Zarcone. Open from January 12 to February 5, Monday –Thursdays, noon-5pm. Closed January 19.
Friday, January 9
Last day to vote by text and online for Samohi’s Tote-a-lly Awesome!
Send text message to 32075 with message BBYV27 and/or vote online everyday at www.genv.net/bestbuy for Tote-a-lly Awesome.
Saturday, January 10, 9:00am – 3:00pm
YMCA Annual Open House
Santa Monica Family YMCA
1332 6th Street
Free
The Y will be giving two weeks guest pass card for those who wish to try the facility programs. Picture ID is required. Free underground parking is available. For more information, please call the Y at (310) 393-2721.
Thursday, January 15, 7:30 – 9am
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast
Calvary Baptist Church
1502 20th Street
Suggested donation is $25 per person or $200 for a table of 10.
Free parking across the street at St. Anne's
This year’s Interfaith Prayer Breakfast in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will feature speaker Stephen Rohde, a constitutional lawyer, lecturer, writer and political activist. This is the first of three events to celebrate the birthday of the slain civil rights leader. The celebrations are presented in cooperation with the Westside Interfaith Coalition and the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra.
Thursday, January 15, 7:00pm
Prevent & Control Diabetes and Heart Disease
Santa Monica Main Public Library, Multipurpose Room
601 Santa Monica Boulevard
Free
Dr. Ben Weitz, a local sports chiropractor and nutrition specialist, presents this interactive discussion on the effects a healthy diet and lifestyle changes can have on the risk and control of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Thursday, January 15, 7- 8:30 p.m.
Training for Census of Homeless People in Santa Monica
Virginia Avenue Park, Thelma Terry Center
2200 Virginia Ave.
Free
For more information and to rsvp, please contact Dina Aubrey with the
City of Santa Monica, Human Services Division at dina.aubrey@smgov.net or (310) 458-8701.
Sunday, January 18, 3:30 p.m.
3rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Concert
SGI-USA Auditorium
525 Wilshire Boulevard
Free
The 3rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Concert features the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Allen Robert Gross with pianist Jovanni De Pedro, performing Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2 and Hailstork's Symphony No. 1. This is the second of three events to celebrate the birthday of the slain civil rights leader. The celebrations are presented in cooperation with the Westside Interfaith Coalition and the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra.
Monday, January 19, 9am
24th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration
Keynote Speaker: Dolores Huerta
SGI-USA Auditorium
525 Wilshire Boulevard
Free
This multiethnic interfaith program includes inspirational readings, music, a performance by Angel City Chorale, and presentations of scholarships, along with a keynote address by Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez and a distinguished human rights champion. The celebration is followed by a Community Involvement Fair, from 11 a.m. to noon at 606 Wilshire Blvd. Free parking is available on 7th Street, behind the 7-11 store on Wilshire Boulevard.
This annual celebration on the official King holiday has become one of the largest and most diverse celebrations of its kind in Southern California. The theme is "Be the Change You Want to See in the World." It is co-sponsored by Santa Monica College, Santa Monica College Associates, the City of Santa Monica, City TV-Santa Monica, RAND Corp., and SGI-USA.
For more information, please call (310) 434-4303 or (310) 453-5511.
Monday, January 19, 10am – 10pm
last day of ICE
Arizona Avenue & Fifth Street
$10 admission includes skates
Last day this season to enjoy ice-skating in Santa Monica!
Tuesday, January 20th
INAUGURATION DAY!!
This marks the real beginning of the new year!
Tuesday, January 20, 7pm
Movie: AUTISM: THE MUSICAL - Documentary Film Series
Fairview Branch Library
2101 Ocean Park Boulevard
Free
This heartwarming documentary chronicles the transformation of five autistic children as they develop and rehearse an original musical about autism.
Thursday, January 22, 12:00 – 1:30pm
Dementia Update
Speaker: UCLA neurologist, Verna Porter, MD
Santa Monica Family YMCA
1332 6th Street
Free, Picture ID required
Free underground parking is available. Picture ID is required.
UCLA neurologist, Verna Porter, MD, will give an over view of dementia, including common methods of diagnosis, treatments, and care. Basic concepts of dementia care will be discussed for the patient and resources for their families. This presentation is one of the Santa Monica Family YMCA’s 2009 Educational Seminars. Free and open to the public. Picture ID required. For more information please contact Lidia Magarian, Senior Physical Director at the YMCA (310) 393-2721 ext. 129 or email lidiam@ymcasm.org.
Saturday, January 24, 10 – 11:30 a.m.
Training for Census of Homeless People in Santa Monica
Santa Monica Main Library, Martin Luther King, Jr. Auditorium
601 Santa Monica Blvd.
Free
For more information and to rsvp, please contact Dina Aubrey with the
City of Santa Monica, Human Services Division at dina.aubrey@smgov.net or (310) 458-8701.
Tuesday, January 27, 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Community Connections for Older Adults
Speaker: Ishara Bailis, LCSW,
Santa Monica Family YMCA
1332 6th Street
Free, Picture ID required
Free underground parking is available. Picture ID is required.
Ishara Bailis, LCSW, Facilitator for the Lifelong Learning Community Older Adult Task Force consortium, Program Manager, UCLA Healthcare 50 Plus will make this presentation introducing the Senior Resource Directory and new Quick Reference Guide for older adults and their families. Learn about the many resources and experts available to assist older adults in making the most of their golden years.
This presentation is one of the Santa Monica Family YMCA’s 2009 Educational Seminars. Free and open to the public. Picture ID required. For more information please contact Lidia Magarian, Senior Physical Director at the YMCA (310) 393-2721 ext. 129 or email lidiam@ymcasm.org.
Tuesday, January 27
City Council Meeting: Budget Priorities
This meeting may be especially important for providing public input to the City Council re budget priorities for next year. Given the state of the economy and the state of the state there will be less money available than in a “normal” year and more need. Please make sure to let Councilmembers know your spending priorities.
Tuesday, January 27, 8pm – 2am
Biennial Census of Homeless People in Santa Monica
Volunteers needed. Please contact Dina Aubrey at dina.aubrey@smgov.net or call (310) 458-8701 for more information.
Thursday, January 29, 7pm
LA Opera Series – Multimedia Presentations: The Magic Flute
Santa Monica Main Public Library, 2nd Floor Multipurpose Room
601 Santa Monica Boulevard
Free
Saturday, January 31, 7:30pm
Lee Ritenour and Dave Grusin
The Broad Stage
SMC Performing Arts Center
NE Corner of Santa Monica Boulevard & 11th Street
Tickets range: $45-$125
Two of America's jazz icons will present a classical/jazz crossover concert. Ever the innovators, they will perform the music of iconic classical composers such as Maurice Ravel, George Frideric Handel, Thomas Albinoni, and Gabriel Faure with their own unique approach. For tickets please call (818)461-9244, or visit www.TheBroadStage.com/tickets.
There are so many remarkable events happening in Santa Monica each month that I cannot possibly include (or keep up with) them all. So....
Please bookmark and regularly visit these websites!
If you are interested in the arts and cultural events, please be sure to subscribe to the Santa Monica Arts Palette at http://www.patronmail.com/pmailweb/PatronSetup?oid=902
Santa Monica College offers the community performances, lectures, exhibitions, Friday night planetarium shows..... you can find out what’s happening each month by going to http://www.smc.edu/apps/agenda.asp?Q=0&C=agenda
The Broad Stage maintains a separate website at www.thebroadstage.com
Check out the ’09 offerings at this spectacular new facility.
The Santa Monica Public Library also offers a great deal of interesting and varied programming for the public including films. Their events calendar is posted at http://www.smpl.org/libraryevents.htm
The School District website now has a useful color-coded calendar that includes special school events as well as Board meetings. Please check it out at http://www.smmusd.org/calendar/index.html
Lifelong Learning Community Links lists these and many other useful websites including local theatrical companies – listed under “Local Museums and Special Venues.” Please use these links to stay abreast of these wonderful local organizations. Links can be found at http://smllc.org/links.html
And please visit the Lifelong Learning Community Calendar at http://smllc.org/calendar.html for a more complete (but still incomplete) listing of January events and calendars.
.................
I close this issue of the Lifelong Learning Community News remembering Joanne Leavitt’s husband Michael Leavitt who passed away in December. If you would like to honor Michael’s memory with a contribution, friends suggest an organization serving veterans such as:
New Directions
Veterans Affairs Bldg 116
11303 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Wishing you a Happy and Healthy New Year,
Louise Jaffe
Thank you for forwarding this email to others who may be interested.
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For more information about the Lifelong Learning Community, contact
Louise Jaffe
lcjaffe@aol.com
310-450-2487
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