I have some bad new and some good news. The bad news, as you have probably guessed, is that the spread of COVID 19 makes in-person classes for the Peer Learning Fall 2020 semester impossible. The good news is, our dedicated team of teachers and volunteers have stepped up to the plate to bring you a wonderful fall semester via Zoom.
I know that many of you are experienced Zoomers but, for those who are not, let me assure you that using Zoom is not difficult and, while we will miss the enjoyment of in-person contact, Zoom has a few advantages. For example: you don’t have to come out in inclement weather or stay home when you have the sniffles. And, once you are used to it, you will find it easy to ask questions and participate in discussions. Beth Timson has prepared excellent instructions for using Zoom and they are posted on the home page of the Peer Leaning website. There is also a link to a video, if you would rather get help that way.
There will be some differences this semester and we will need your help to make it work. This year, ALL registrations will be done ON-LINE. Completing one is very simple: just go to the Peer Learning website at: peerlearningofchapelhill.com, click on the registration form, fill out the form and click the submit button. As usual, you may choose as many courses as you wish but YOU MUST REGISTER for each course you wish to attend.
Many courses will have both a teacher/facilitator and a Zoom moderator. In the week prior to the beginning of the class, either the teacher/facilitator or the moderator will send an invitation to participate in the class to all the Peers who have registered for the class. You will get a SEPARATE INVITATION for EACH CLASS you are registered for. We will give you more detailed instructions but, for now, it is important that you remember to register for each class you wish to attend and save all your invitations.
This semester, we expect to have fewer expenses so we are offering a decreased tuition fee of $20 per person. Please send your check to Peer Learning, PO Box 2821, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2821, NC.
So what is happening this year? Plenty! We will have many old favorites: Kitchen Table, Short Story, Book Club, plus new courses from George Baroff, Michael Joseph, Gary West, Beth Timson and Andrew O’Brien. Check them out on the website and plan to attend. We also hope to have a few one-time seminars which we will announce later.
And one more thing – be sure to share this email with your friends and neighbors and invite them to join us in September.
Hope to see you on Zoom.
Sally