The Center for Lifelong Learning is an outreach program of the University of South Carolina. It is designed to offer mature adults living in the CSRA the opportunity to continue to learn throughout their lives. USC Aiken hosts the classes, and provides the necessary oversight and administrative support that the program requires as part of the university. However, to keep the program more relevant to the age group, a board of volunteers is tasked with the all-important job of deciding what classes to offer; and with finding instructors who are experts in the class subject matter to teach the classes. The board also works with USCA on many other aspects of the program, requiring a lot of volunteers to keep the program healthy and interesting to the students who attend the classes. As a result, the center is always on the lookout for student volunteers to help with the program.
Some of the areas where volunteer help is needed are: a liaison who brings in classes; a liaison who sets up the classroom and introduces the instructor; a coach who helps technical class students keep up with the class agenda; taking photos for advertising; writing for advertising; back-up help with the webpage to give the webmaster a break; helping out at the open house, the holiday drop-in or the Kauffman luncheon; and several other areas. For more information about volunteering, email the volunteer chair at vol@aikenlearning.org.
One of my favorite observations about volunteering is by Audrey Hepburn: “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands — one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.” This aptly describes all our volunteers, but I’ll let you see for yourself how dedicated they are in the following messages I have received from a few of them:
Debbi Brooks saw an opportunity to improve a situation:
“My first open house that I attended did not go smoothly and as I watched, my mind was thinking 'How could this be better?' That was the start of my volunteering for CLL. I now organize the open house each session and serve in the board as secretary. I thoroughly enjoy the folks I volunteer with.”
Nancy Hughes saw a need she could fill:
“When I moved to Aiken I was struck by how many events and services Aiken offers to the community for free or very low cost, such as CLL; Hopelands Gardens/Rye Patch (especially in December); historical museum; the Center for African American History, Art and Culture; Senior Life Services; and First Tee, just to name a few. All of these organizations exist and thrive because of the many volunteers who support them. I was so impressed that I knew I needed to become one of those many volunteers who help Aiken continue to be a great place to live.”
Jim Brown jumped into the volunteer pool with both feet.
“I retired in May 2007. In early 2008, I saw an ad for SeniorNet in the Aiken Standard. That seemed like a good place to see if I could use my computer knowledge, developed over 30 years of using computers at home and work, to benefit those just starting out with a computer. I called the number in the ad and asked about volunteering to instruct. Laura Anderson put me in touch with Jim Jordy. I found it a joy to share my knowledge and 'see the light come on' for students looking to improve their computer skills. That got me started. By 2009, Jim Jordy had talked me into taking over the coordinator's job at SeniorNet. I served at that job until 2011 and continued to teach, write manuals and administer the website through the transition to McGrath in 2015. I moved away from Aiken in 2020, but wanted to keep contributing to the new Center for Lifelong Learning formed in 2021. So today, I administer the center's website and serve on the board. Volunteering is still a satisfying way to share my knowledge.”
Steve Gordy has served in several leadership positions on the board.
“I got into volunteering back in the 1970s when I served as a local officer in a professional association. Since then, I've served in a variety of leadership positions in local churches, in an international prison ministry association and in the South Carolina Writers Association. I enjoy meeting and working with other volunteers. Since I spent most of my professional career as an educator (in business and academia), that's where my interests lead me. I find that volunteering gives me a more fulfilling life.”
These are just smattering of observations from various volunteers. I will continue to share in upcoming articles the thoughts of some of our volunteers on how and why volunteering is so important. Hopefully their wisdom and advice will encourage you to find a place where you can make a difference. And of course, we hope the center will be one of your choices.
There are still a number of CLL classes that have not yet started. A list of classes is available online at aikenlearning.org. You can register for a class anytime during the semester, up to a few days before the particular class begins. For questions about class availability, call 803-641-3741. To register, visit aikenlearning.org, call 803-641-3741 or stop by room 126 of the Business and Education Building on the campus of USC Aiken and register in person.
