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PHOTOS BY ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER

in
the

Time To

WSU’s program offers active learning,
social relationships to older adults.

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

ABOVE: Photography instructor
Arnold “Arnie” Collens shows SOAR
students how a camera works.

Karen McDevitt teaches “Movies and Media in the Digital Era.”

SOAR

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in Farmington Hills, with larger classes held at
ociety of Active Retirees (SOAR), a lifelong
Birmingham Temple in Farmington Hills and occa-
learning initiative for adults affiliated with
sionally at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
Wayne State University and Road Scholar
Winter term is popular with SOAR’s non-
Institute ( formerly Elderhostel), attracts
snowbirds. Different themes, such as World
many Jewish members year after year
War II, are chosen for February and March,
— as many as “one-third of our stu-
with aspects of each topic explored over
dents, although we don’t ask for that
four successive Wednesdays.
information,” said retired attorney Susan
Additional SOAR benefits include its two
Greenfield of the SOAR board.
film clubs, book club, field trips and special
Jews are also well-represented among
events. Many students look forward to WSU
the program’s instructors and leaders,
Professor Jack Lessenberry’s twice-yearly
including SOAR Executive Director Ralph
Stromberg. He and two assistants are the Susan Greenfield free lectures on Michigan history, politics or
current affairs.
only paid staff.
“SOAR attracts people who want to think
“SOAR’s mission is to provide a quality
deeply about issues in society, get information and
experience of active learning and social relation-
learn things that have happened in the past,” said
ships,” Stromberg said.
Lessenberry, a member of Temple Emanu-El in
The way SOAR works is that during fall term
Oak Park and a WUOM-FM radio host.
(October and November) and spring term (April
“These are people who read books and think
and May), participants register for eight of SOAR’s
about important stuff,” he said. “They keep me on
approximately 75 non-credit classes in many topic
my toes and ask good questions.”
categories. Classes have included Jewish literature
Barbara Spreitzer-Berent, who works closely
and history.
with Judy Orbach, the program’s curriculum chair,
Two-hour sessions are scheduled in the morn-
said, “SOAR is one of the area’s best-kept secrets.
ing and afternoon, and they meet once or multiple
It is a constructive way to spend my time, use my
times. The cost is $80. After the early registration
brain and have fun.”
deadline, students may register for more classes at
The founders had all those things in mind when
no additional charge if seats remain.
they organized SOAR 14 years ago.
Most sessions meet in the WSU-Oakland Center

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August 24 • 2017

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