Hundreds of on-line courses now available for signup

Aug 20, 2011 - Even learners who cannot attend the 100 local classes offered in the Club Ed Fall catalog can fit an online course into their busy schedules. Hundreds of new and favorite Ed2Go classes are now open for signup at www.clubed.net.

Online Courses are informative, fun, convenient, and interactive, according to Phil Houseal, Director of Kerrville ISD’s Club Ed program. “You can complete a typical course in a six-week format, complete with projects, lessons, quizzes, hands-on assignments, and discussion.” The convenience of the web means that courses also offer handy and informative links.

Subject areas cover Computers (including programming and web design), Grant Writing, Language, Personal and Professional Development, and Writing and Publishing. The Test Prep section includes official preparatory courses for SAT and ACT, often required by area high schools. Most fees are less than one-hundred dollars.

The full listing is accessible at www.clubed.net, then by clicking on the Courses link. Online courses begin the middle of each month year round. Classes currently posted start between now and October. 

Students will also find listings of local courses that start throughout the fall. Complete information and registration is available now at www.clubed.net, by calling 830-895-4386, or by visiting the Auld Center, 1121 Second Street, Kerrville.

Betty's dead

Aug 19, 2011 - Sad news today. Betty died.

Betty was a cockatiel - our Club Ed mascot who enlivened our lobby starting in 2005. In recent years she lived in the home of former Club Ed secretary Dee Dee Sheridan. Dee Dee called this morning to report the loss of our squawk-ative friend.

In memory, below is a reprint of the story of Betty's Great Escape (and retrieval) in 2007. Now she has escaped for good.

Betty's Great Ed-Venture

by Phil Houseal, Director

Kerrville ISD Community Education

Originally published Sept 5, 2007

Most folks know and love Club Ed's tropical theme. It evolved as a way to show that learning is fun. Over the years, we've added flamingos, beach scenes, and palm trees to the decor at the Auld Center.

About two years ago we thought it would liven up the place if we had a cockatiel. A trip to Pets & More brought us "Betty," the Club Ed bird.

For two years, Betty was content perching in our lobby, helping Dee Dee answer the phone and greet customers. On nice days, we would set her outside in her cage (Betty, not Dee Dee), to soak up the sunshine.

But this summer, tragedy struck. On a day that turned out to be not so nice, a gust of wind knocked the cage off the rock ledge. The door flew open, and Betty - bless her birdbrain - flew out.

She ended up on the lowest branch of the tree in our front yard. We proved horribly inept at bird rescue. The more we tried, the higher in the tree she went. We pulled out the big ladder, and a ridiculously small butterfly net. At my last desperate attempt, Betty cocked her head, blinked, and flapped off across the street to a taller tree.

We were devastated. All weekend, we left the cage hanging in the tree, door ajar and tempting birdseed scattered inside. Dee Dee checked back every day, but Betty was gone.

Monday, the lobby seemed too quiet without Betty. Every time a flock of dove buzzed our window, we rushed outside, thinking we had seen our bird. But it was not her.

Exactly one week after the great escape, I could stand it no longer. Back to Pets & More, I bought a darling white parakeet. Triumphantly I strode into the office, hiding the prize behind my back.

"I have a surprise," I announced.

"So do we!" they screamed. "We found Betty!"

Betty's rescuers were the Davis family. Jesse Davis had spied her on the roof of a neighbor's house. The former resident of Key West had lots of experience with exotic birds, and by whistling and wheedling, he patiently had coaxed Betty off the roof, onto a wire, down to a fence, and onto his hand, which she immediately bit.

"She was just so upset, and ruffled, really terrified of the environment," he said. "I just whistled to her. She felt comfort in me, she came down, I grabbed her and brought her home."

So Betty is back. In her week in the wilds along Tivy Street, Betty had traveled all of three blocks, flocked with doves, and bit the hand that caught her.

We've clipped her wings. And it may be our imagination, but it seems she looks out the window with a little less yearning.

Center for Fitness offers six new classes

Photo: Kathy Sears Hall, Director at The Center for Fitness, is offering six popular fitness courses through Kerrville ISD’s Club Ed this fall

The Center for Fitness is offering six classes that have been added to the Club Ed online catalog for Fall 2011.

Students can now sign up online for one-month sessions in Pilates Mat, Zumba Fitness®, TaiChi Light, Drums Alive® / Step, Yoga, and Aqua Aerobics.

“This is a convenient way for anyone to try out several new fitness styles before deciding on making one a part of their regular routine,” said Phil Houseal, Director of Club Ed.

This continues a long and successful history between the two organizations. Club Ed is a non-profit organization that offers hundreds of community education courses throughout the area as part of the Kerrville Independent School District. The Center for Fitness has been offering group exercise classes in the community for 37 years.

“So many of our staff and members either teach or were educated in the Kerrville area,” said Kathy Sears Hall, Director at The Center for Fitness. “It is a pleasure to participate in this local organization that benefits the schools, the participants, and the sponsoring businesses.”

Log on to www.clubed.net to view the schedule and register for classes, or call 830-895-4386. For information, call The Center for Fitness at 830-257-7070.

Motorcycle Training Kudos

Almost daily we at Club Ed receive wonderful comments about the classes you take. But in the rush to keep serving customers, we don't always take time to share them. Today we received a wonderful letter about our Motorcycle Safety Course. Here it is...

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN :
On August 6 & 7, I attended and successfully completed The Basic Rider Course ( Motorcycle 101 ). I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Karen Dampeer and Robert Allen, the two Certified Instructors who conducted the two day training course, for the professional knowledge they brought to the students who attended. They can only be considered to be an asset to Club Ed, and it was my privilege to have been trained under their careful leadership. At all times, they displayed a personal touch, but when it came to the basics of safely riding a motorcycle here in town, or out on the open road, they showed no favoritism, and above all, were completely fair to all those attending. They were very patient with me, a new rider to the world of motorcycles, and encouraged me throughout the training, however made it very clear that I would be expected to perform at an acceptable level of competence in every maneuver required in this course. I had absolutely no experience prior to attending this Basic Rider Course, however at its conclusion, believed that I was ready to safely and efficiently navigate the roads and highways wherever I may choose to ride. At the successful conclusion of this course, I went to the DPS licensing department, and successfully completed their exam for motorcycles. Once again, I attribute these newly acquired skills and knowledge to Karen and Robert, and their abilities to convey the importance of riding safely and skillfully. I would very much appreciate if you would forward my email to them, with my sincere thanks for being the skilled, patient and professional instructors they are. Thanks also to Club Ed for offering this and many other useful courses to all members of our community.
Sincerely,
DCS
Kerrville, TX