All students will be able to choose a cleaned and crafting-ready half gourd for their masks. Students will learn simple techniques to create their personal disguise (or terrifically cool wall decoration). Each participant will also be supplied with all the basic materials needed: paints, dyes and other coloring materials, beads, feathers, and other stuff too numerous and mysterious to list. Drills, a mini-saw and wood burning tools will be available to share. Participants are also welcome to bring their own creative stuff and tools such as an Exacta-knife, Dremel drill, etc. www.karenrossman.com

This lecture-type course about traditional Japanese Embroidery will show participants the tools and methods used to produce a piece of work. There will also be a video introducing the student to Japan classrooms. To learn more about Japanese Embroidery go to www.japaneseembroidery.com

Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement (ATM) lessons consist of verbally directed, sophisticated movement sequences designed to create the conditions for improved functioning. Sensory-motor activity is used to free us from habitual patterns and allow for new patterns of thinking, moving, and feeling. The lessons involve tremendous variety, helping to make the learning intriguing and enjoyable. This course will be an introduction to the Feldenkrais ATM lessons.

This course discusses ethical and cultural animal issues and ways to prevent animal cruelty. New Mexico's animal cruelty law definitions will be discussed along with enforcement, animal food production cruelty, cattle rustling, livestock molestation, hunting and trapping ethics and issues, and wolf re-introduction. Participants will learn what is being done to curb animal cruelty and will discuss what they can do to help.

A survey course of the powerful, science-based approach to nutrition that can dramatically reduce your risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity and improve your quality of life. Topics to be covered include: nutrition fundamentals, diseases of affluence, and principles in practice.

Grant County and Silver City claimed many firsts in the Territory of New Mexico. The commitment of its citizens to public education created the first public school and school board in the Territory. Local citizens helped assure the location of New Mexico's first Normal School in Silver City. The availability of public education affected the evolution of Silver City and its citizens. The class will trace the roots of public education in Grant County and New Mexico and how the actions of Silver City citizens influenced other parts of New Mexico.

This course presents a history of the town of Hurley NM from 1914 to the present. The discussion will center on the contributions of the diverse people who inhabited and built Hurley, North Hurley, and the mining economy.

This course will provide an analysis and discussion about forces shaping our ever more inter-connected world economy, and will illustrate how the current worldwide financial situation turns on events in individual countries to create unexpected impacts in economies half a world away. Whatever is happening at the time of this class will be explored in this context.

Meet at a.i.r. coffee shop in Bayard. Relax while surrounded by art in a home-like atmosphere and sample different styles of coffee while learning about the history and benefits of drinking coffee from owner-operator Louis Baum Sr. Mr. Baum will demonstrate to participants how coffee beans are roasted, and will share tips on successful coffee roasting. http://www.aircoffee.biz/

M-m-m-m, chocolate. Just the word can send shivers up one's spine! Join us for a one-day course on the origins of chocolate, its historic uses, and then dig into some delectable recipes of chocolate delights. Bring your lunch to nibble on while dessert is being prepared before your eyes. Be sure to bring something to keep your hair tied back or covered and pen and paper. The course will take place at The Church of the Good Shepherd, which is located at 7th and Texas Streets.

This course will serve as an introduction to woodcarving. The forms of woodcarving, types of wood, books, safety concerns, and tools used will be discussed. Techniques to carve in the round will be introduced and used to carve a cowboy boot and a dog. Individuals using blood thinners should consult their physician, but probably should not start woodcarving, since accidental cuts are possible. Participants will need a knife, wood blanks, carving glove, and thumb guard.

Learn how fun and versatile Polymer Clay (Fimo, Sculpy, etc.) can be. This class is perfect for beginners, and if you have worked with polymer clay before, Ilese will show you some new techniques and projects. From jewelry to objects for your home, you will learn to sculpt, mold and make various kinds of designs, as well techniques for finishing.

This course will first help participants to find their singing voice and learn proper posture and breathing. Then they will sing familiar tunes with that found voice. Participants will also look at music so they can see what they hear and begin to learn to read music. Who knows, this may be the beginning of a new found musical career!

How often have you thought of writing a novel? What's the usual excuse? Could it be that you don't have enough time or ideas? Well now's your chance to not only participate in writing that "novel" but to also participate in WILL's first on-line course. Participants in the course will take turns writing a paragraph or two and, when finished, will send it on to the next person on the list, who will then add his/her own paragraph or two. And, if you receive the document at an inconvenient time, or are experiencing writers block, you can always "pass" until your turn comes around again. The emphasis here is creativity and FUN. The group will meet in-person once at the beginning of the fall semester to go over ground rules and once at the end to meet and read the final product.

Are you concerned about the health of your bones? Bones for Life benefits include: better posture, improved equilibrium and vitality, freedom from back and joint problems, and stronger bones. Gentle weight-bearing movements challenge your bones to be strong and sturdy while improving overall balance and coordination.

T'ai chi ch'uan is the most popular of the internal martial arts of China. It is, at once, an intense physical and mental exercise, an expression of traditional Chinese philosophy and medicine, and among the most effective of the Asian martial arts. T'ai chi is an incomparable exercise for developing balance, and leg and core-body strength. Yet, as a 'moving meditation', it simultaneously promotes relaxation and a quiet calmness of mind.

Pilates is the ultimate workout for anyone interested in strengthening their body, improving flexibility, reducing stress and having fun! It has been described as "active yoga" and focuses on developing strength in one's core and can be modified for varying levels of fitness. All you will need to have for class will be comfortable clothes and an exercise mat.

Learn the spiritual understanding behind physical illness and discomfort so you can regain your own personal power and maintain good health. See how the body is a roadmap for emotional or mental blockages and learn how to release these blockages.

This class offers an overview of several alternatives to the traditional medical profession. In an effort to establish a more progressive approach to the health needs of Grant County, this class provides an opportunity for several noted alternative treatment practitioners and members of the traditional medical community to share their modalities with you. The modalities include therapeutic massage, cranio-sacral therapy, mind-body medicine, acupuncture, herbal treatment, detoxification, and brain state technology. The presentations will include lectures as well as some hands-on activities.
Oct. 18 - Naava Koenigsberg (Herbal Medicine)

Oct. 25 - Gilbert Arizaga (Curanderismo)

Nov. 1 - Jennifer Agosta (Consciousness & Health: Mind-Body Medicine)

Nov. 8 - Panel discussion: Gaye Rock (Reiki Treatment) and Virginia Nañez (CranioSacral & Lymph Drainage)

Nov. 15 - Panel discussion: Allee Barr (Eden Energy Medicine) and JoAnne Galbraith (Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, & Allergy Elimination)

It's out there! The Great Outdoors is calling. If you are interested in any type of outdoors activity, sign up for this course. WILL is scheduling at different levels hikes, bike trips, and other activities for members over the next year. Monthly informational & sign-up meetings for each activity will take place on the fourth Tuesday of the month prior to a scheduled event. We are looking for reliable trip leaders for all kinds of activities. Can you take a group on your favorite hike? Can you canoe? Do you dance with the stars, or are you down and dirty in caves? Contact WILL to set up dates!

This course is intended for novice birders. It will cover the tools for birding - binoculars, field guides and other birding resources. Tips on quickly reducing the possibilities of what bird you are looking at. Finally going through pictures of birds often seen in SW New Mexico and their distinguishing characteristics.

Missing from the landscape for more than 30 years, the howl of the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi), can once again be heard in the mountains of the southwestern United States. The Mexican wolf, like many species protected by the Endangered Species Act, is getting a second chance to play its role in nature through an ambitious recovery program led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Reintroduction of a top predator such as the Mexican wolf is highly complex and often controversial. It is important to understand the role Mexican wolves are playing on the landscape, including all of the potential biological, social and economic impacts - be they good, bad, or indifferent. This course will highlight the history of Mexican wolf extirpation in the Southwest, their biology, behavior and the current status of Mexican wolf reintroduction in AZ and NM.

The course will examine selected aspects of amphibian biology, with special emphasis on frogs (which comprise the great majority of living amphibians). If frogs were known only as fossils, most might think it unlikely that evolution could produce such bizarre creatures. Course topics will include the evolutionary origins of frogs, the relationship of frogs to other species of living amphibians, the extraordinary diversity of reproductive tactics among frogs, the role of vocal communication in the life history of frogs, and the world-wide decline in frog population.

As humans our primary form of communication is verbal. Dogs, on the other hand, use not only vocalization but also their whole bodies to communicate. There are many more complex combinations of signals that make up the canine communication ballet beyond the obvious use of tail, ears, face, posture, and voice. Participants will be looking at many pictures and video clips of dogs to help them gain a better understanding of how dogs communicate with each other, other animals, and people. The course will also include a discussion of how to use this information to better communicate with canines.

Through a combination of limited lecturing, discussion, and two field trips, this course will look at how plants and people might help each other to survive over the next millennium.

Learn about the ecological and human communities along the Gila River and what these communities tell us about the condition of the river. Course sessions will cover: cultural history of the river, current water allocation and agricultural use, ecological flows and what makes/keeps the river healthy, environmental services to human life provided by the river, wildlife of the Gila watershed, water planning in the region, and climate change and its impact on the Gila. www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newmexico | www.gilaresources.info

As the urban/rural/forest interface expands, interactions with wildlife will continue to increase affecting both the social and ecological processes on the landscape. This is both the challenge and the opportunity! Participants will spend time examining examples and discussing situations familiar to us in NM and the Mexican-US Borderland Region in order to gain a better understanding of these processes and how they can choose to be part of a workable solution. During the time-frame of the course the facilitator will also be available for: a project that addresses some specific wildlife/habitat/human challenge that the class agrees to work on; individual projects (i.e. something in your own "backyard"); and putting people in contact with organizations that support citizen science work in which people are offered the experience of recognizing an issue and addressing it in a proactive manner.

If you are new to New Mexico (or you just enjoy history), this course will provide an overview of the state's glorious past- interesting facts and trivia. The course will be a discussion format, geared toward the newcomer, and with lots of pupil participation-including an extensive bibliography.

NO WAR! NO TAXES! NO POLLUTION! NO EVOLUTION! - Have you ever wondered about the political thoughts and theories behind what protestors are trying to say? Or maybe you stay up all night trying to decipher the rhetoric of pundits who talk on and on about conservatives versus liberals or elitists versus populists. If so, then this course might help. The course will examine the drama of politics as it is played out within the social context. Current "high priority issues" will be identified and looked at through the lens of multiple political theories. Sure to spark great discussions.

This course is a continuation of Ancient Egypt Part I from the Spring 2010. It will cover the periods known as the First Intermediate Period starting with the 9th Dynasty-14th Dynasty; the Second Intermediate Period (15-17th Dynasty-Hyksos) and then into the New Kingdom of Hatshepsut, Akhenaten/Tutankamun. It will also cover various aspects of daily life not covered in Part I including astronomy; the military, warfare, the changing architecture, the rise and fall of monotheism, its rise and fall.

The 14th Century was a period marked with profound disasters, turmoil, and loss. And yet from this horrific period, the changes which followed shaped future generations. This course provides an examination of that time and how it changed Europe in the 14th Century.

We're the battling bastards of Bataan. No mama, no papa, no Uncle Sam, no aunts, no uncles, no cousins, no nieces, no pills, no planes, no artillery pieces. And nobody gives a damn. — Frank Hewlett. This is a course about the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in WWII, the Bataan Death March, the POW camps, the "hell ships" and slave labor camps in Japan, the guerilla warriors led by various US soldiers who did not surrender to the Japanese, the 6th Rangers rescue of 500 POWs at Cabanatuan, and especially the role of New Mexican National Guard soldiers of the 2/200th Coastal Artillery.

A Spanish course for people who speak no Spanish (other than to maybe order food at a Mexican restaurant). The course will focus on speaking and understanding Spanish. The format will be a relaxed and conversational rather than formal or academic.

La clase es para personas que hayan tomado las clases de español 101 y 102 o personas que ya se sienten bastante proficientes para participar en un curso que se dará completamente en español. En esta clase se usarán cuentos y novelas cortas como un punto de partida para la discusión, se repasará poca gramática, y se harán ejercicios para el aumento de vocabulario. NOTE: If you can't read/understand the above course description then this course is probably too advanced for you.

Living abroad experiences will include the following countries:

• France - Oct. 7 – John Lawson
• Ethiopia – Oct. 14 – Karen Bryan
• England – Oct. 21 – Doc Campbell
• Malaysia – Oct. 28 – Ted Presler
• Baja California, Mexico – Nov. 4 – Doug Dexter
• Turkey – Nov. 11 – Karen Murphy

This course will cover 3 topics in the history of Afghanistan.
1 - A general overview of Afghanistan
2 - The Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan
3 - The Taliban regime in Afghanistan

What constitutes violence? This class will include identification of violence within the conflict management continuum, violence in history, violence in relationships, and current events, and group discussions.

The course will present a history of the ACLU and its efforts in defense of civil liberties and the constitution. Included will be discussion of some of the landmark Supreme Court decisions in which the ACLU has played a role, its legislative efforts and successes, its current priorities, and its role in the defense of civil liberties in New Mexico.

Remember the civics class you had in middle school and how you had to memorize the Constitution and the steps in how a bill became a law. Well, this government course will be nothing like that. Our State Senator, Howie Morales, will enlighten participants about the workings of the NM government from an "insiders' perspective." He will explain the functions of the executive and legislative branches and what those elected officials do when the legislature isn't in session. In addition, he will demystify the roles and responsibilities of the various state agencies, and will perhaps provide some surprise insights into how our state is run.

This course will include general descriptions of the three ways that rocks are formed (Sedimentary, Igneous, and Metamorphic), with emphasis on the local geology in Grant County. Selection of rock samples from the area for each type of formation will be presented. Participants should be able to identify several specimens from each category at end of the course.

"Space … the Final Frontier." This course will cover the universe from the alpha to the omega! Topics include: The astronomers; How we know what we know about the universe; Our solar system; Our galaxy; and Our universe. Prepare to be enlightened!

Math-phobics need not be concerned. This math course will likely be like no other you have ever encountered. This course will explore how common numbers may be placed into circular patterns called "mandalas" (in the Buddhist tradition) or "chakras" (in various yoga systems). These number patterns evolved out of the I Ching - also known as the Book of Change. Mandalas offer an alternative, non-linear perspective. They allow a person to view and organize the world - matter, energy space, and time - in relation to personal consciousness and to connect with the zero point of divine presence. Mandalas offer a means of reconciliation between science and religion, faith and knowledge, practical concerns and mystical experience.

The two classes will introduce basic astrological symbolism with the goal of facilitating and enhancing self-knowledge and awareness. The focus will be on the Sun and the Moon in the various signs. The relationship of the Sun and Moon will be explored as a means of understanding who we are and the directions of our evolution as individuals. We will also cover the significance of the Moon Nodes and the meaning of the houses and the angles (ascendant/descendent, MS, and IC). The participants will also be introduced to the free and extensive on-line astrological information and provided with direction and guidance for the use and navigation of these free resources. The course will cover how to generate charts and how to use and explore the available options for interpretation. Participants will need to provide birth data (date, time & birth location) to facilitator 2 weeks before class. Experience with PCs and the internet preferred.

Consciousness…is it awareness? Or wakefulness? Or what? This course will examine the classic concepts of consciousness, (or 'the mind's problem with the body'); the varieties of conscious experience, (or 'William James visits Monty Python's Flying Circus') and phenomenology and complex interactive systems (or, how the Buddha got it right).

Perhaps as never before, some understanding of Islam and various Islamic societies has become imperative for those who would comprehend the complexities of the 21st Century. A theory as old as the classic Greek philosophers suggests that a most profound experiential understanding might be derived from creative literature. Subscribing to that possibility, this reading experience and discussion posits the examination of works by three world-class novelists - Nuruddin Farah, Naguib Mahfouz, and Salman Rushdie - depicting life in Islamic societies.

Wish you could time-travel? Like to read? Using period mystery stories we will explore Victorian Britain, with particular attention to its social history. We will read short stories from contemporary authors, such as Arthur Conan Doyle, and discuss not only the story content, plot, and chraracters, but we will learn about nineteenth century, and the social, political, and economic aspects of Britain and that country's place in the world.

Political conspiracy, assassination, matricide, retribution, justice, and grand tragedy, all the things that the evening news aspires to give but can never offer in a neat and tidy package. Come read Aeschylus' THE ORESTEIAN TRILOGY ( Agamemnon~ The Liberation Bearers ~ The Eumendides), three of the best Greek dramas ever written and plays that provide a stunning conclusion to The Trojan War, as recounted by Homer in the Iliad and the Odyssey.

"Tis better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven." Paradise Lost is the great epic poem of the English language, a tale of rebellion and treachery, of pride and regret as Satan fights a bitter battle for control of mankind's destiny. The struggle ranges across heaven, hell and earth as Satan and his band of rebel angels conspire against God. One of the most charismatic characters in all of literature, Satan has captivated readers for centuries. Come find out why. This class will be a mixture of lecture, discussion and listening to a recording of the poem. Participants will also have a chance to read portions of the work out loud. In addition, a DVD of a performance reading of the poem by John Basinger will be shown.

Test your literary quotient: name the first American epic; who was the author of "Journey Across Texas 1529 - 1536"; who was the author of "I Am Joaquin?" Want the answers? Learn about the American literature you didn't read in American literature. This course will cover the historical evolution of Mexican American literature and will offer an overview of American literature and its lacunae for participants who want the whole picture. Readings for the class will include instructor handouts on a wide variety of Chicano prose, poetry, fiction, drama, biography, and autobiography.

Despite angry women being frowned upon in most societies, feisty, angry women abound on the big screen. Sometimes they make you laugh, sometimes they make you cry, sometimes they prevail, sometimes they don't. This course will include 4 films about angry women from different eras, countries, and perspectives.

Ingmar Bergman's film work embodies many themes of the human spirit including despair and bleakness as well as hope and comedy and faith or lack thereof. Woody Allen describes Bergman as "probably the greatest film artist…since the invention of the motion picture camera". During the late 1950's, he directed THE SEVENTH SEAL which describes a monumental game of chess between a medieval knight and the personification of Death. Following the much-heralded film, he directed a trilogy of films that explore the theme of faith and doubt entitled THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY, WINTER LIGHT and THE SILENCE. Together this foursome should provoke stimulating discussion/ conversation long after the class has ended. The course will also include parts of the feature INGMAR BERGMAN MAKES A MOVIE that is a documentary on the making of the film Winter Light.

Movies about food, yum! This course will examine 4 amazing films about food: BABBETTE'S FEAST ~ FRIED GREEN TOMATOES ~ LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE and TAMPOPO. Each provides a context for discussion about the ways the traditional patriarchy is subverted and replaced with a more egalitarian method of doing the business of life.

WILL members have attended a number of film series over the past several years. This series will offer four Brazilian films for your viewing pleasure and discussion: CITY OF GOD ~ ELITE SQUAD ~ DONA FLORA AND HER TWO HUSBANDS ~ and CENTRAL STATION. All are in Portuguese, subtitled in English and in color.

How do we successfully find common ground on diverse issues? A dialogue process provides an opportunity to improve ability to listen to and speak about things that matter. To have a coherent and collective view of thinking and acting requires a flow of meaning from many views. Understanding the process of effective dialogue with the participation of many views requires a group of about 20 people who are willing to express and listen carefully to the different thoughts.

"Effective communication" is communication that produces the result you intended. Therefore, there is no "effective communication" without a purpose and intended outcome. This course offers a brief survey of the fundamentals of effective communication, including: how to produce desired results in one-on-one conversations; breakthrough listening; e-mail etiquette; the theory of coaching; principles for public presentations; meetings that work; and how to handle difficult conversations.

This course will help you understand the causes of stress, the sources of stress in your life, and will introduce the "triple As" of stress management. It will also include a menu of tips and techniques to support your personal Triple A plan.

This course will cover preparing wills, powers of attorney and medical directives. It will also help to unravel, in plain English, scores of knotty legal issues. Few like to confront death and how estates will be handled, but in a WILL course, with an acknowledged expert, you can feel comfortable in asking questions and discussing issues that many have in common. The final session of the workshop will provide some simple tools you can use to get organized so that, in case emergency, your family and friends can take care of what needs taking care of.

Food Preservation is experiencing a resurgence today. This course will cover basic food preservation. Participants will receive instruction and have "hands on" experience with water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing, and dehydration of the summer's harvest.

This class is designed for the "know nothing about poker" person to the novice "know something, but not a lot about poker" person. A multitude of various varieties will be explained, but the lion's share of the course will be devoted to Texas Hold'em. Each session, except the first, will include instruction AND actual playing time. Each week, sessions will get increasingly intricate and cumulative. Most importantly, "HAVING FUN" will be the central theme.

The course, facilitated by a nationally ranked player, will introduce the basic rules of Gin Rummy. Variations of the game will be discussed and hands on playing will be an important part of the course. Participants will become familiar with different strategies of gin. Skills of observation, deduction, and memory should be improved. And most of all, participants should have a great time. Those who took this course in the spring of 2009 all had a very fine time.