www.MasterthePossibilities.com September-December, 2014 From the desk of Ken Colen, President On Top of the World Communities We are used to the couplet “thank you” followed by “you’re welcome”. When it comes to the Master the Possibilities’ experience, the sequence is reversed. We are completing our ninth year of operation and from the start we were open to the public. You are always WELCOME at this center for lifelong learning. Over the years our number of faculty grew. Our offerings now typically top 1200 annually. Enrollments over the past few years average over 25,000 yearly. Most importantly, we have grown a student body of over 5,000 who share with you their curiosity and love of learning. Indeed, you are the most important part of this enterprise. For this we say “Thank you”. We finish our ninth year with this, our 33rd edition of the catalog. We have always tried to combine popular “encore programs” with brand new offerings. Half of this catalog is new to our curriculum. There are academic and general interest classes, film series, health and wellness, hands on art and computer training. We try to insure that everyone can find something of interest with interesting people. The League of Women Voters continues its’ series of candidates forums. We want to offer opportunities for you to engage with what’s happening in Central Florida. Field trips to local businesses...presentations on what’s happening in Marion County...all of these combine to integrate our learning community into the greater community. Be part of it....master all the possibilities. Learn and enjoy as we prepare for out tenth year of this lifelong learning enterprise and experiment! Let’s all KEEP LEARNING and we will all CARRY ON! TEN THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW TO HELP KEEP MTP GROWING: When Master the Possibilites began in 2006, our first year’s enrollment was a very respectable 3,000. Now it is not uncommon to have 3,000 enrollments in a month and annual numbers exceeding 25,000. Within this growth context we continue to put the first emphasis on quality and variety. You expect it and we demand it. With success there also come some changes and modifications in policies and procedures in how we do business. Here’s a “top ten list” of things we want you to know in order to make the administration of this program mutually beneficial. 1. REFUND POLICY. Since we began over eight years ago, the encouraged for all classes. (You can always cancel...up to a week refund policy was simple: If you paid for a class and didn’t attend, before with no penalty.) At times, people will refrain from registering you received your full tuition back…regardless of when you let us for free classes, thinking “There’s always room.” The problem with know. Unfortunately, this has caused some problems. Class costs are this is that we decide to cancel classes based on the enrollment dependent on tuition; when we plan on a certain number of paid numbers. We need to know how many are coming. Further, if students and have less, our programming ability is affected. Many you don’t register and we cancel or postpone, we have no way of of our classes have wait lists. If someone doesn’t show up at the last notifying you. minute, we can’t get to the wait list to accommodate these anxious students. 5. CHANGES TO CLASSES. When classes are cancelled by us, you will receive an email notice (if we have your email address) and/ Students will still be asked to pay within a week of their registration. or a call. We will also do the same if the date or time is changed. In There will be full tuition refunds up to a week before the class be- either of these cases, you can opt out of the class with no financial gins. (We can provide a check, credit your card or issue a voucher.) penalties if this is a tuition class that you have paid for. Students who cancel within the week before the class start date will forfeit the full tuition paid. If, for whatever reason, MTP has to cancel 6. WAIT LISTS. Wait lists are important. If the class you want is a class at any time, full tuition paid by students will be refunded. full, we encourage you to sign up on the wait list. Why? As people drop out we try to contact those on the wait lists, in the order of Let’s hope that this system works for all of us. If you have any their sign up, to invite them to attend. To be fair, we will not allow questions, please contact the MTP office at 861-9751. Thank you students not on the wait lists to attend if they show up...even if for your support. there’s room. Wait listed people need to be recognized. 2. REGISTRATION. We are committed to have a variety of 7. HOW ARE WE DOING? The late Mayor Koch was fond ways for you to register. You can stop by the office during business of saying “How am I doing?” We need to know how our faculty is hours, use our registration telephone line 24/7 (854-3699) or doing. We will have simple evaluation cards in every classroom. Take register online at www.MasterThePossibilities.com. That being said, a minute to fill out and drop off in our office. We will share these we encourage you to use the online alternative. Over 8,000 people with the instructor. The MTP office is open and you should feel free use MTP and online registration is the most cost and time effective. to let us know what we do well, and what we can do better. “How We will gladly help you navigate online registration and answer any are we doing?” questions you have. Register any time 24/7 and receive immediate confirmation. 8. CLASS SUGGESTIONS. Let us know if you have suggestions for topics. If we can find a credentialed instructor, we may be able 3. EMAIL ALERTS. When you register online, please take to incorporate in our curriculum. We take what we do seriously and advantage of signing up for our email alerts. They don’t automatically we are not just a “brokerage” for any kind of class. We are selective... come. You’ll need to request it online or fill out a request at the just like you. center. These alerts will let you know what’s coming up the next week as well as notify you of any new classes added that are 9. FACULTY. Interested in teaching? Provide a proposal and not in the semester catalog. There are usually a dozen or two resume. We are selective but we are always looking for credible new classes that are primarily advertised online or via email alerts classes and experienced, credentialed instructors. Work with us. for every season. Only about a quarter of you who use online Our goals are the same...to provide the best in lifelong learning. registration have signed up for these alerts. (Of course, you a can Our success is a function of your satisfaction. opt out anytime you want.) 10. STRESS FREE. Let’s have some fun. Learning and sharing is a 4. REGISTER EARLY & OFTEN. Early registration is highly wonderful process. Let’s declare MTP is a “stress free zone.” 2 CLASS LOCATIONS • Classrooms 1, 2, 3, 4 and Computer Lab are located in the MTP Education Center • Studios 1 & 2 are located right behind the MTP Education Center — park in the back for best access • Studio 3 is located between the MTP Education Center and The Town Square • CSCC is Circle Square Cultural Center • Live Oak Hall (LOH) and Cypress Hall are located next to the MTP Education Center — park in the back SW 79th St. Rd. N W E Future Retail Future Retail S SW 79th St. Rd. 6 N SW 80th Ave. Future Retail Future On Top of the World Design Studio 3 & Offices Studios Live 4 1&2 Oak Cypress W E Hall 5 Classes Hall 1-4 8 Master the 9 2 The Town Square KEY: On Top of the World 1 Possibilities Studio • Farmer’s Market • Weekend Entertainment 1 Sid’s Coffee Shop & Deli Homes Sales Center Education Center 3 • Festivals Circle Square Future Retail 2 McLeod Financial Group Cultural Center Future Retail S 3 Visiting Angels 4 Artful Gifts by Marion Cultural Alliance The Ranch Fitness 5 Mr. B’s Big Scoop Center & Spa N 6 Boyer Singleton 7 Candler Hills Restaurant (not shown) W E 8 Senior Health Plus S 9 Digital Video Services South to SR 200 Golf Cart Barn SW 90th Terr. Rd. 6 SW 80th St. SW 80th Ave. Candler Hills Golf Pro Shop and Restaurant Future Retail Future 7 On Top of the World Candler Hills 3 Community Center Design Studio & Offices Studios Live 4 1&2 Oak Cypress Hall 5 Classes Hall 1-4 8 Master the 9 2 The Town Square KEY: On Top of the World 1 Possibilities Studio • Farmer’s Market 1 Sid’s Coffee Shop & Deli 3 • Weekend Entertainment Homes Sales Center Education Center • Festivals Circle Square 2 McLeod Financial Group Cultural Center 3 Visiting Angels 4 Artful Gifts by Marion Cultural Alliance The Ranch Fitness 5 Mr. B’s Big Scoop Center & Spa N 6 Boyer Singleton 7 Candler Hills Restaurant (not shown) W E 8 Senior Health Plus S 9 Digital Video Services South to SR 200 Golf Cart Barn SW 90th Terr.