SSI SPRING TERM CLASS DESCRIPTIONS 2024
SSI 2024 Spring Class Schedule – see last page for Zoom information
NOTES:
● Weekly in-person locations:
o PCC CLIMB Center (CLIMB): 1626 SE Water Ave., Portland; pay for parking.
o Neighborhood House (NHH): 7688 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland; free parking but limited.
● For classes noted as “in-person & by Zoom,” the Zoom access information, as well as any unforeseen
changes, will be announced in the weekly email newsletter prior to the class.
● Please wear your name tag to all in-person classes; fill out the medical info on the reverse side.
● Wearing a mask is optional at any of the locations.
______________________________________________________________
APRIL CLASSES
Week of April 1
Monday April 1 — 10 am - Noon
Title: Poetry Reading Fun!
Presenter: Trina Gaynon, SSI member
Location: Zoom only
Class description: Know a lot about poetry? Know nothing about poetry? Somewhere in-between? There’s a
place for you in this very popular class led by Trina Gaynon. We read from a variety of published works. Really
FUN!
______________________________________________________________
Tuesday April 2 — 1 - 3 pm
Title: Our Justice System and Democracy in Peril
Presenter: Thomas Coffin, JD (via Zoom)
Location: CLIMB in person & by Zoom
Class description: A critical foundation to our democracy is an independent justice system which impartially
dispenses justice to and for the people. Serving in the justice system for 51 years as a prosecutor and judge, he
views the entire justice system as under siege and in peril from a concerted movement by powerful interests to
topple and control it to serve their own purpose regardless of fairness, equities or truth. Join us for an inside
perspective of this issue facing our nation and the need for people to vote for democracy in the November 2024
presidential election. The following links will be published in the newsletter a week prior to a collection of his
essays to review before class.
https://sites.google.com/view/blackberry-pie-society/thomas-coffin-essays/the-tragic-journey-of-maria
https://sites.google.com/view/blackberry-pie-society/thomas-coffin-essays/part-one-vote-today-as-a-free-person
https://sites.google.com/view/blackberry-pie-society/thomas-coffin-essays/our-justice-system-and-democracy-
in-peril
Bio: Thomas Coffin is a retired magistrate judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and a
former professor at the University of Oregon Law School. He tried hundreds of cases to juries involving the
most serious felonies, and as a judge presided over some historical lawsuits. He retired after 30 years on the
bench, prior to which he had a career as a federal prosecutor spanning 21 yrs.
______________________________________________________________
Wednesday April 3 — 10 am - Noon
Title: A Child of the Holocaust
Presenter: Ruth Bolliger
Location: NHH only
Class description: Holocaust survivor Ruth Bolliger will share her story of her family’s escape from
Czechoslovakia after Germany seized it in 1938, shortly after Ruth was born, and the impact her childhood has
had on her life as an adult. She will describe how she created a successful and fulfilling life in this country even
as she remains indelibly affected by her long-ago trauma.
Bio: Ruth was born in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia in 1938 and emigrated with her family to the United States in
1941. She originally lived in New York and ultimately in Oregon, where she raised a family and had careers as
a mental health therapist and a home hospice nurse. She is a member of the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center
for Holocaust Education’s Speakers’ Bureau.
______________________________________________________________
Thursday April 4 — 10 am - Noon
Title: Welcome to Hanford: Oregon's Nuclear Neighbor
Presenter: Jeff Wyatt
Location: Zoom only
Class description: This fast moving, graphic, and intensive online lecture will include time for questions and
discussion. We will cover the history of Hanford from the Manhattan Project through the Cold War and the past
35 years of decommissioning and cleanup.
Bio: The instructor Jeff Wyatt is currently Chair of the Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board appointed by the
governor of Oregon and a member of the Federal Hanford Advisory Board.
______________________________________________________________
Week of April 8
Monday April 8 — 10 am - Noon
Title: New Members Friendship Circle
Presenter: Helen Elder, SSI member
Location: Zoom only
Class description: Are you new to SSI? Want to find out all about this learning community? Opportunities?
Connections? Take a short survey to discover interests. We invite all members to come help us organize this
startup to reap the benefits of SSI.
Title: Writing Salon (2nd & 4th Mondays of each month)
Presenter: Trina Gaynon, SSI member
Location: Zoom only
Class description: At each salon a poem and a visual prompt will be provided. After reading the poem, talking
about the image, and answering any questions, participants will write for approximately half an hour. Work can
be in the form of a journal entry, news article, memoir, short story, poem, or drawing. Each writer will be given
the opportunity to share their work in progress or to talk about what worked or didn’t work for them. Any
sharing is completely voluntary. Listeners will be given a chance to provide positive responses.
Bio: Trina has yet to retire from her commitment to poetry. She has published in over two hundred journals and
anthologies, both in print and online. Some days she believes that every poem she writes is in defiance of the
silences that Tillie Olsen explored. Some days she is filled with the ego Richard Hugo described as the next
thing you put down belongs not for reasons of logic, good sense, or narrative development, but because you put
it there.
______________________________________________________________
Tuesday April 9 — 1 - 3 pm.
Title: Johnny Mercer and Capitol Records
Presenter: Gordon Neal Herman (via Zoom)
Location: CLIMB; in person & by Zoom
Class description: Johnny Mercer was a lyricist, a songwriter and a recording artist. He worked with such
greats as Hoagy Carmichael, Bing Crosby and Paul Whiteman as songwriter and performer. He had hits on
Broadway and Hollywood, winning Oscars for his songs. At the height of his career, he founded Capitol
Records which would become one of the major labels that shaped American popular music. This presentation
will explore his life, career, and impact upon American music.
Bio: Gordon has taught music history since 1981 and composes and records in a variety of styles. He was a
visiting lecturer in American Music History at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and has taught at the
University of Idaho, Portland State University, Linfield College, and Marylhurst University.
______________________________________________________________
Wednesday April 10 — 10 am - Noon
Title: “Across Seward Park”
Presenter: Gail Lehrman
Location: NHH in person only
Class description: Author Gail Lehrman will do a reading and presentation of her novel that deals with life in
the crowded tenements and teeming streets of New York's Lower East Side, Across Seward Park follows one
family's journey through the roiling events of the 20th Century.
Bios: Gail holds a B.A. and M.A in English Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia
University.
______________________________________________________________
Thursday April 11 — 10 am - Noon
Title: A Peek at Panama
Presenter: Betty Woods, SSI Member
Location: Zoom only
Class description: Join me on my journey through beautiful Panama and crossing the Panama Canal on a 40 ft.
catamaran sailboat. Trek with me in exploring and discovering the lush beauty of Anton Valley in central
Panama as well as experiencing the incredible butterfly garden. It's all captured in pictures.
______________________________________________________________
Week of April 15
Monday April 15 — 10 am - Noon
Title: Poetry Reading Fun!
Presenter: Trina Gaynon, SSI member
Location: Zoom only
Class description: Know a lot about poetry? Know nothing about poetry? Somewhere in-between? There’s a
place for you in this very popular class led by Trina Gaynon. We read from a variety of published works. Really
FUN!
______________________________________________________________
Tuesday April 16 — 1 - 3 pm
Title: Fungi
Presenter: Aaron Campbell (in person)
Location: CLIMB; in person & by Zoom
Class description: Why was the mushroom invited to the party? Because he was such a Fungi! The organism
that connects us. Learn how fungi have created the planet we know and love today and how it connects all other
living life around us. We’ll also talk about how fungi will become one of our most useful resources in the
future.
Bio: Aaron is a nature educator for the city of Hillsboro at Jackson Bottom Wetlands. He has worked there for
8 years and feels privileged to share his knowledge and experiences with the community in hopes that he can
inspire change and possibly the next future scientist.
______________________________________________________________
Wednesday April 17 — 10 am - Noon
Title: Creative Thinking
Presenter: Susan Schenk, SSI Member
Location: NHH only
Class description: Sharpen your pencils and your wits and be led through a series of exercises to flex your
creative thinking muscles. Creative thinking is a learned skill. Working in small groups or by yourself, you will
test your current ability to think creatively and to discover areas in your life where you could use some more
creative approaches. The workshop is distilled from a non-credit class.
Bio: Susan Schenk taught at Mt. Hood Community College and at various seminars around the state while working for a trade association.
______________________________________________________________
Thursday April 18 — 10 am - Noon
Title: Portland Transition Plans for New Form of Government and Voting
Presenter: Bill Kinsey and June Reyes
Location: Zoom only
Class description: Portland is undergoing significant changes following the landmark charter amendments
passed in November 2022. Hear an update on how those changes are being put into place including the creation
of four geographic districts, ranked-choice voting, and the transition to the Mayor-Council form of government.
Learn how the new structure can be more responsive to local needs, enhances representation in City Hall, and
how you can stay updated and involved in this historic transition.
Bio: Bill Kinsey is a native Portlander with commitment to the City and the Pacific Northwest. He completed a
legal career as an environmental attorney with the Bonneville Power Administration. He is a past member of
Portland City Club Committees and past chair of the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee for the Portland
Police Bureau.
______________________________________________________________
Week of April 22
Monday April 22 — 10 am - Noon
Title: Curiosity Cafe: Nutrition Bites: Tips for Healthy Aging
Presenter: Bre Syron, RDN, LD
Location: Zoom only
Class description: Navigating the question, “what is healthy eating”, can feel overwhelming and daunting. Bre
will highlight some of the important criteria to focus on as you age, share easy to prepare recipes, simple ways
to move your body as you age, as well as some information on food safety and sanitation. As a culinary school
graduate, Bre enjoys sharing information on food and cooking and hopes to inspire you through this
presentation to create something new in your kitchen!
Bio: Bre Syron is a registered dietitian working in a private practice, Bloom Health & Wellness Promotion. She
earned her degree at Oregon State University. Previously she attended Lane Community College and earned a
degree in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management. Bre has experience working with Seniors as a former
Health Promotion Coordinator at the Corvallis Senior Center.
Title: Writing Salon (2nd & 4th Mondays of each month)
Presenter: Trina Gaynon, SSI member
Location: Zoom only
Class description: At each salon a poem and a visual prompt will be provided. After reading the poem, talking
about the image, and answering any questions, participants will write for approximately half an hour. Work can
be in the form of a journal entry, news article, memoir, short story, poem, or drawing. Each writer will be given
the opportunity to share their work in progress or to talk about what worked or didn’t work for them. Any
sharing is completely voluntary. Listeners will be given a chance to provide positive responses.
______________________________________________________________
Tuesday April 23 — 1 - 3 pm
Title: Cryptocurrency - An Introduction
Presenter: Anthony Matteo (in person)
Location: PCC CLIMB and by Zoom
Class description: This will be a primer on cryptocurrencies. The term is used to refer to coins that fulfill
characteristics of standard paper-based money. The characteristics are its function as a store of value, unit of
account, and fungibility (or the ability to be used regardless of its history of transactions). Have you ever
wondered what all the buzz is about? Here is your introduction to facts about this new world.
______________________________________________________________
Wednesday April 24 — 10 am - Noon
Title: Berthe Morisot: Inventing Impressionism
Presenter: Alice Cotton, SSI Member
Location: Zoom only
Class description: Though she paints things like trees, girls, boats, and water, we will draw and color what we
see in ways like her style using broad strokes, and an interesting combination of colors. I will show you
examples of her style; you then pick what interests you and create a fine piece of art. Bring pencil/eraser,
scissors, colors of any type. Join us!
Bio: Alice was a practicing musician and house artist all over Portland and Oregon for many years. Now she
teaches art for us and loves to have fun with her students. Come join her classes.
______________________________________________________________
Thursday April 25 — 10 am - Noon
Title: A Close Look at Lady Macbeth
Presenter: Charlie Holmes, SSI Member
Location: Zoom only
Class description: The Shakespeare Festival in Ashland will be mounting three Shakespeare plays this summer:
Coriolanus, Much Ado About Nothing, and Macbeth. Let's look closely at the role of Lady Macbeth and several
ways of tackling the role.
—————————————————————————————————--
Week of April 29
Monday April 29 — 10 am – Noon
Title: Curiosity Cafe: 911 - Portland Street Response - Success or No
Presenter: Caroline Pope, Community Engagement Director for Portland Street Response (PSR)
Location: Zoom only
Class description: What happens when you call 911? Caroline will be speaking about this relatively new
initiative. Rather than relying solely on police or other emergency responders, the program offers an unarmed
response specifically tailored to non-life-threatening situations. Learn why it started taking calls on Feb 16,
2021, and how it has fared in assisting people experiencing mental health and behavioral health crises in
Portland since it started.
Bio: Caroline Pope has 15 years of experience working in various social service agencies across Portland. This
has equipped her with valuable insights and expertise to help the PSR program provide an alternative to
traditional emergency services for individuals experiencing mental and behavioral health challenges.
______________________________________________________________
Tuesday April 30 — 1 - 3 pm
Title: Faith on the Borderlands: How Religious Diversity Created Eastern European Identity
Presenter: Jacob Milankowski, PhD (in person)
Location: PCC CLIMB and by Zoom
Class description: Before World War II, Eastern Europe was one of the most ethnically and linguistically
diverse places in the world. Explore the origins of that diversity in the confluence of religion, language and
class, beginning with the arrival of the three major monotheistic faiths (Christianity, Judaism and Islam) in a
territory that was largely pagan - and in places, had remained so for hundreds of years.
Bio: Jacob is a historian, freelance journalist and critic. He holds a PhD from the University of California,
Berkeley. His work has appeared in numerous publications including the Atlantic, Harper's Monthly, The Guardian,
the New York Times and many others. He lives in Portland OR.
_____________________________________________________________________
To attend one of SSI’s online ZOOM classes - - -
Step 1: Take a look at the Class Descriptions posted on the SSI website https://www.ssipdx.org/class-
schedule.html to preview what classes are being offered - Mark your calendar for the ones you want to
participate in.
Step 2: Check the weekly Newsletter for the link to the class you want to participate in and click on it.
If the link to a Zoom event doesn't take you to the class you want (This is a Zoom issue, not the Newsletter's),
USE THE CLASS ID AND PASSCODE INSTEAD.
● Log in to your free Zoom app (https://zoom.us/)
● Click on “Join Meeting”
● Use the Class ID and Passcode from the Zoom invitation in the Newsletter to join the class meeting.
Step 3: In the 15 minutes before the class is scheduled to start, click on the link to the class that you found in
the Newsletter.
Step 4: If you already have the Zoom application (app) installed, you will go directly to the Zoom Waiting
Room and wait to be admitted to the class. (Be sure your app is the latest version of Zoom.)
Notes:
● If you do NOT have the Zoom application (app) already installed you will be asked to download the FREE
Zoom app before joining the class. (It is not necessary to have the Zoom app to participate in an SSI class -
however, you will have better tools to make the most of your class experience if you have the Zoom app.)
● Zoom customers are now required to keep their Zoom software no more than three months behind the
current version. If you are running an older version of Zoom, you will be prompted to perform an update.
This takes a little time--so if you suspect that your Zoom software is out of date, you may wish to log into
an SSI activity a few minutes early to ensure that you are admitted on time.