Clark County Press, Neillsville, Clark Co., WI

May 11, 2011, Page 2

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Senior Learners visit Neillsville

Senior citizens who are Learning Is For Ever (LIFE) members view a Highground presentation led by Highground Volunteer General Manager Kirk Rodman (right) Thursday April 28.  The class toured Neillsville’s Clark County Crawlers later that day.  Neillsville resident and LIFE member, M. E. Sjolin, helped organize the visit to Neillsville. (Photo by – Peter Spicer/Clark County Press) By Peter Spicer 

Senior citizens who are Learning Is For Ever (LIFE) members – a UW-Stevens Point Continuing Education class offering for senior citizens – recently visited Neillsville to learn about The Highground and Clark County Crawlers.

“LIFE is a membership-based association of senior adult learners providing an opportunity to share learning experiences and discover new joys in your life,” explained LIFE member and Neillsville resident M. E. Sjolin, who co-hosted and organized the visit with Stevens Point resident Marty Kelnhofer.

LIFE, which is specifically for senior citizens, is one of many classes offered through UW-Stevens Point Continuing Education, said Sjolin, who added LIFE is affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network. 

The LIFE members visited The Highground Thursday, April 28, and listened to a presentation from Highground Volunteer General Manager Kirk Rodman at the Learning Center.  The group then visited Clark Count Crawlers in the afternoon and learned about the business from owner Luedtke.

“We had 17 [LIFE class] members who attended The Highground tour in the morning, and in the afternoon we toured Clark County Crawlers with Ken Luedtke, who explained the life cycle of the African worm and [the] importance of castings to your shrubs and garden,” explained Sjolin.

Of the 17 LIFE members who visited Neillsville, two or three were military veterans, said Sjolin, who explained The Highground visit was meaningful to them.  On woman in the class had previously placed a Legacy Stone at The Highground, said Sjolin.

“Kirk Rodman did such a great job with the presentation,” said Sjolin.  “[Class members] were really impressed.”

Many of those in the class had always wanted to stop at The Highground but hadn’t had the chance to, said Sjolin. 

Due to the morning and afternoon visits, the class had a chance to eat lunch together, which built camaraderie, said Sjolin, who explained many activities are only a couple of hours, which doesn’t give the group a chance to visit with each other.

The class had gardeners, so they were “just thrilled” with the visit to Clark County Crawlers, stated Sjolin.

Everyone visiting received a one-pound bag of worm castings, said Sjolin, who added, “[Everyone was] just thrilled” to receive those,

Those visiting Neillsville look forward to returning to the county, said Sjolin, who explained one class member took time to investigate her ancestry and visited a Chili cemetery. 

The 17 class members who made the trip to Clark County reside throughout the areas of Wausau, Mosinee, Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids, said Sjolin, who added UW-Stevens Point is located in Portage County.

Sjolin, who resides further from Stevens Point than most other LIFE members, may organize LIFE trips to Tufts’ Mansion, Reed School, the Clark County Jail Museum and other area locations.

Sjolin, who has lived in Neillsville with her husband, Jim, since the 1970s, co-hosted the visit with Kelnhofer, whom she met on a cranberry tour and developed a friendship.

Although just 17 class members made the trip to Clark County, the LIFE group has approximately 100 members, explained Sjolin, who added the class participates in one or two activities per week.

Sjolin, who is a retired Clark County Family Living agent, has been a LIFE member for three years; each member pays $60 per year. She’s enjoyed many diverse class visits, including viewing the Musical “Wicked”, and learning about ice-cutting in Junction City, woodworking, art, snowshoeing and wolves.

Sjolin has also taken continuing “Education classes through UW-Stevens Point, which are open to those of all ages; she took classes about soups and salads and seafood preparation. 

Despite all the unique learning opportunities as a LIFE class member, Sjolin – who earned her bachelor’s degree from UW-Stevens Point – enjoys renewing old friendships with former UW-Stevens Point classmates through the LIFE class and is enjoying developing new friendships.

The LIFE class helped Sjolin reconnect with a former sorority sister she went to UW-Stevens Point with in the early 1970s.

“[Building friendships] is the fun part,” concluded Sjolin.