Chautauqua definition:
any of various traveling shows and local assemblies that flourished
in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, that provided
popular education combined with entertainment in the form of lectures,
concerts, and plays, and that were modeled after activities at the Chautauqua Institution
of western New York [Merriam-Webster.com]
It was my idea to have talks
on Friday. Ruth Donhowe, Ted
Anderson, Tony Garmers and I decided that the DAC – Danish American Center
would be a good place. We would
stay there the whole time—eat, sleep and smooze. But what were we going to do all day on Friday before the
band played? I wondered about having some stimulating
activities, kind of like the T.E.D. talks on television. So I asked a recreation director for
seniors for suggestions. I asked
her who she knew that had been popular with her elderly population. She suggested an author, something
about the election, a fitness person and a technology person. And that is pretty much what we did
except we stayed away from politics!
Glen Olsen (U High 1958) started us off at 9:30 telling about the
all-volunteer Danish American Cultural Organization and the Danebo center. I wish I had heard more of his talk,
but I do remember him saying that they were able to buy the land from the city
of Minneapolis because they raised enough funds to buy it outright without any
mortgage. (It was no longer profitable to run Danebo as a nursing home with so
many regulations.) Both Ted and Ruth joined the organization thinking we might
get a break on the charges, but it did not work out that way.
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| Glen Olsen telling about the origin and maintenance of the DAC - by TA |
Next up at 11:00 was Barry Prichard (U High 1949). He told about his grandfather, Michael
Dowling. He showed slides from his
book called WE BLAZED THE TRAIL that traces his grandfather’s pioneering trek
from Minneapolis to Yellowstone.
In 1880, at the age of 14, Michael Dowling lost both legs, one hand and
all fingers in the other hand in a blizzard. His disability did not keep him from becoming a successful teacher,
editor, banker, politician and more.
The principal of Michael Dowling
School in Minneapolis attended Barry’s
presentation. You can see the
same short You Tube movie about him that we saw. It’s called “Michael J. Dowling Silent Film.” It was made to motivate solders that
had been severely wounded in World War I.
 |
| Barry Prichard - by DT |
After lunch was Fitness Time with senior fitness coach, Kari
Wahlstrom. She had everyone begin
by sitting in a chair. She talked through a two-page handout titled, “Seniors
and Fitness.” I have extras that I
will send to anyone who wants a copy.
Then she led us through some exercises holding on to a chair. If anyone has a picture of this, please send it to me. Two quotes from her handout: “The
key to exercise among seniors is consistency, not intensity. . . .It’s never
too late to begin an exercise program.”
Technology time started at 3:00. Beth Ison (visiting from West Virginia) showed us how to store and share our family photos
in the cloud. She learned how to
do this the hard way – by reading and trial and error – and she encouraged us
to do the same. Her handout cautioned us to be careful when using other people's pictures AND to not put anything on the web that we don't want others to see. You can Beth's results at: swedishamericanphotos.blogspot.com
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| Ted Anderson, Beth Ison and her local cousin, Gretchen Olson - by DT |
Beth could have used our technology expert, Scott Baerman who
answered questions from reunioners.
Frustration among us was obvious.
As a group, this bunch was not as internet savvy as Beth and Scott. I know that Mary Kienitz (and maybe Ruthanne Twohig) had a couple
of questions answered by Scott. He
left me plenty of business cards and I will probably be calling him at
651-528-6647.
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| Ruthanne Twohig & Mary Kienitz - by DT |
