Two Extraordinary Women
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Spring 2007 Profile: Two Extraordinary Women Art Rosen few years ago I commented to Bill Sullivan, while he was any Adventures in Learning Aexercising at Hogan, that I was very interested in the Middle East, Mstudy leaders draw on their especially now that our country was so embroiled in Iraq, and that careers or life experiences for I had done some reading about it. Really, he said, and what was my course subject matter. Art Rosen, opinion of Gertrude Bell? Well, it was a “gotcha” moment because I who has led seven Adventures in didn’t have a clue who Gertrude Bell was, and hence couldn’t have an Learning classes, is inspired by his opinion of her. Clearly I had a lot to learn about the Middle East and faith and his love of history. His specifically Iraq. Since then I have readDesert Queen and have learned most recent course on the Dead about the huge role Gertrude Bell played in forming the country of Sea Scrolls and apocalypticism Iraq. But now I am eager to learn about Freya Stark, a woman I am led was offered during the fall to believe played an equally important role in Middle East politics. semester and was, according Stark is another fascinating Englishwoman who defied all to one participant, “absolutely traditional concepts we hold of women of the early to mid-20th fascinating.” Art is a remarkable century. Like Bell, she immersed herself in the exotic world of the teacher with a real gift for bringing Middle East, consorted with Arabian sheiks and kings and important history to life. Most of his classes heads of state and ultimately had a great influence on the politics have also been given at ILEAD of the region. Stark wrote 30 travel books about her Middle Eastern (Institute for Lifelong Education adventures and, during World War II, helped create an extensive at Dartmouth). propaganda network designed to keep the Arabs friendly to the Art actually allies. Accustomed as we are to pictures of modern Muslim women spent his whole covered in burkhas and veils, it comes as a shock to learn that these working life in two uncommonly adventurous women, both speaking fluent Arabic, advertising and entered into a world of men and were accepted on their own terms. looks on his Bell lived from 1868 until 1926, and her great influence was prior to Adventures in and during World War I. Stark’s dates are 1893 to 1993. Her influence Learning and extended from 1927 into more modern times. ILEAD experiences as a second The lives of Gertrude Bell and Freya Stark will be explored in career—“the one I never had.” A an eight-week course led by Gail Sanderson, who holds degrees from graduate of Brooklyn College with Mount Holyoke College and Vermont Law School. Her activities a graduate degree from Yale, Art stretch from practicing law in the Upper Valley to running a bed-and- started in psychology and then breakfast in Wilder, Vermont. She has developed an international switched to sociology. He worked study program and created programs for gifted and talented students in for a while with the sociologist the arts. An active member of ILEAD (Institute for Lifelong Learning August Hollingshead doing social at Dartmouth), she has also served on numerous Upper Valley boards. research. That led to marketing Most significantly, traveling the world and discovering other cultures research which, in turn, led to has sparked her interest in leading several courses on women travel advertising. writers and chairing the ILEAD Study-Travel Committee. See Profile, Pg. 2 See Two Extraordinary Women, Pg. 2 Profile, from Pg. 1 Art’s wife Maureen is an Art has been a great boon to enormous help to him in the Adventures in Learning, both as a Art does see a link between preparation process. She and study leader and as a board member. advertising and teaching. Art really operate as a team. But he says that he has benefited Preparation is the key. “Whether Art prepares the lectures, and from Adventures in Learning, too. you are teaching a class or making Maureen provides the visuals—the He not only has given courses but an advertising presentation, you illustrations, graphs, and maps has taken many and has had the have to be ready,” he says. “When that flesh out and illuminate the opportunity to learn from others. you are standing before 30 people subject. “Maureen is a wizard There is a social benefit too, he who are looking to you for with PowerPoint,” he says “and says. Relationships develop with something meaningful, it helps to we always have a video.” Their people with shared interests, and know your subject matter.” collaboration actually produces a he can trace friendships back to his book complete with illustrations and Maureen’s involvement with which class participants use Adventures in Learning. So the as a text. benefit works both ways. Adventures in Learning at Colby-Sawyer College His courses are, for the most ~ Heidi Beckwith part, based on religious history, but BOARD OF DIRECTORS he also looks for subject material President that is topical. Art is a member Richard Cogswell Vice President of the New Hampshire Jewish- Two Extraordinary Women, Betsy Boege Christian Interfaith Partnership. from Pg. 1 Secretary He is also the Lynch Scholar at Jeanine Berger Temple Emanuel in Andover, Participants will be required to Treasurer Massachusetts, and as such is read two biographies: Desert Queen Richard Pearson invited to give talks or lecture by Janet Wallach and Passionate DIRECTORS-AT-LARGE series. In addition, he has spoken Nomad by Jane Fletcher Geniesse. Ben Acard at churches locally. Last Palm Guest speakers will include author Judy Bohn Sunday he led a service at the Janet Wallach and Richard Nolte, James Bowditch Wilmot Congregational Church, former ambassador to Egypt. John Callahan and recently during Advent he ~ Sally Southard Dusty Logan gave a program on Hanukkah at Julie Machen Les Norman Saint Andrews Church in New Tony Parra London. “One invitation often Arthur Rosen leads to another,” he says, “and one Charlotte Spencer course, whether with ILEAD or SAVE THE DATE Adventures in Learning, frequently George Tracy for EX-OFFICIO provides inspiration for another.” Sharon Ames Art, consequently, is a busy man. Adventures in Learning’s 8th Annual Meeting Julie Boardman The Rosens moved to this area from Saddle River, New Jersey, Colby-Sawyer College Thursday, May 17, 2007 in 1995. They were looking for a 541 Main Street from 4 to 6 p.m. place in a college town near good New London, NH 03257 Wheeler Hall in the skiing that would be a magnet for (603)526-3720 Ware Campus Center at Fax: (603) 526-3780 visiting children and grandchildren. Colby-Sawyer College [email protected] Their daughter was the one who 2 •www.colby-sawyer.edu/adventures Fall 2004 suggested the Kearsarge-Sunapee Business meeting held Adventures in Learning Update, published three region as a likely location, and from 4 to 5 p.m., times annually, highlights the courses and Followed by hors d’oeuvres and happenings of the Adventures in Learning they have been here happily ever program at Colby-Sawyer College. since—retired transplants like so wine from 5 to 6 p.m. many of us. 2 • Spring 2007 Calendar of Upcoming Events A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Maureen Rosen Colby-Sawyer College Spring Theater Production March 29-31 from 8 to 11 p.m. Sawyer Fine Arts Center Adventures in Learning is featured October 24, 2006, on WNTK’s “Twin State Journal.” ART EXHIBITIONS From left: Charlotte Spencer, Betsy Boege, host Janine Weins and Art Rosen Juried Student discuss the variety of courses offered for winter 2007. Closing Reception NEXT APPEARANCE: Thursday, February 1, 2007, from 6-7 p.m. on WNTK at 99.7 FM Thursday, April 5, 2007, from 7 to 9 p.m. Senior Opening Reception Thursday, April 26, 2007, Boston Trip: from 7 to 9 p.m. Marian Graves Mugar Weaving a Presidential Tapestry Art Gallery n 1961, John F. Kennedy observed of Adamses lived in this gracious Sawyer Fine Arts Center Ithat the “vitality” and “devotion colonial farmhouse from 1788 to to public interest” of the John 1927, including two presidents YOM HA SHOAH Adams family “runs like a scarlet of the United States—John DAY OF HOLOCAUST thread throughout the entire Adams and his son John Quincy REMEMBERANCE tapestry” of American history. Last Adams—as well as the latter’s son, Sunday, April 15, 2007, fall, 42 Adventures in Learning Abraham Lincoln’s Minister to from 6 to 8 p.m. members had the opportunity to England Charles Francis and his Alumni Lounge, explore this rich legacy, not only of six children, one of whom, Henry, Ware Campus Center the Adams family, but of Kennedy’s authored three classics of American presidency as well. Traveling by literature. SCHOLARS SYMPOSIUM bus to Boston on October 26, the The site of the JFK Museum, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, group spent the morning at the a contemporary triangular building from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Adams National Historical Park in designed in the late 1970s by Various locations at Quincy, followed by lunch at Siros architect I.M. Pei on waterfront Colby-Sawyer College on the boardwalk of Marina Bay, property with a panoramic view and an afternoon visit to the John of South Boston, provided a sharp COLBY-SAWYER F. Kennedy Presidential Library and contrast to the rural setting of Museum in Boston. COLLEGE SINGERS the Adams home. Yet a wealth of Spring Concert Original family antiques, historic preservation abounds in Thursday, May 3, 2007, portraits, china, framed documents each.