SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Academy of Lifelong Learning (A.L.L.) is a nonprofit, member-driven organization providing non-credit academic classes. A.L.L. is sponsored by SUNY Empire State College.
A.L.L. was founded in 1992 and will be celebrating their 25 years with a number of events and fundraisers they’re calling “Celebrating Silver.” SUNY Empire State College allows A.L.L. to utilize office and class spaces at no cost; these spaces also include equipment and the A.L.L. website. Memberships are $60 per fiscal year, which runs July through June. Eight week classes are $50 and four week classes are $25.
There are two terms available per year, fall term begins in September and spring term begins in March. “Within the curriculum, we have 34 offerings this fall,” Jeff Shinaman, executive director of A.L.L., said. Shinaman has been the executive director of A.L.L. for the last four years. He has sat in on many of the classes A.L.L. offers, on all ends of the education spectrum. They offer history classes, science, military, religion, politics, economics, writing, language, and a unique antique and collectibles class.
However, they’re most popular one for the fall is looking to be their Tour of Saratoga Museums class. This is a traveling class where the students travel to eight different museums over the course of the term. “A lot of new members are joining because of the museum tour class. It was very popular last spring and we decided to do it again this fall. We can take up to 20 students and we do still have some spots left. For some reason, this class seems to be a great recruiting tool for A.L.L. overall!” Shinaman explained.
The student population consists of mostly 65- to 95-year-old seniors. “Large populations of people are retiring in the Saratoga Springs area. They are still active so they are continuing their education in a non-credit, no homework environment. A.L.L. is a great way for them to stimulate their minds and still be socially and physically active,” Shinaman said.
There are roughly 430 members of A.L.L., 300 of which that are currently enrolled in classes. “What I find really wonderful is that is that these teachers are all volunteers. They put the time and effort into offering the classes for free,” Shinaman said.
Upcoming fundraisers for their Celebrating Silver event are Raising the Dough in Sept. at the Westside Sports Bar and Grill. On Sept. 19 from 5 to 8 p.m., each purchase will give 20 percent to A.L.L. On Sept. 23 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the SUNY Empire State College, they will be hosting an antique appraisal day, $10 per item, $25 for 3 items. Local experts appraise items. All proceeds go toward A.L.L. In Dec. A.L.L. will hold a gala at the Gideon Putnam for their anniversary banquet.
They schedule fundraisers periodically to keep costs down for their members. “We have a group of knitters knitting a hat for cancer patients at Saratoga Hospital. The group is knitting one cap per every member of the Academy, so 430 caps and they’re hoping to get all this done for our Dec. 1 banquet. We’ll be inviting someone from the hospital to come and accept all of the knitted hats for their patients there,” Shinaman said.
“As part of the 25th anniversary Celebrating Silver activities, we will have a brunch which will kick off our fall term Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 10 a.m. This will be a special orientation for the anniversary with raffles and other activities,” he added.
If interested in learning more about The Academy of Lifelong Learning, visit www.esc.edu/all.
