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                 The Story of ALIR
      (Highlights of San Antonio - click the pictures)

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Where did ALIR come from? How did it get here? Who started it? The Academy was started in 1989 by Marci and John Lane. Dr. Lane, a retired sociology professor at the University of Texas, San Antonio, envisioned an all-volunteer learning academy for retirees, patterned after one he knew about at the University of Delaware. He recognized that retirees needed an outlet for their love of intellectual pursuits and the need for continuing social contacts instead of settling into a life of inactivity. 

John and Marci Lane were the dominant force behind the beginnings of ALIR, the main ones who "got the ball rolling" on the idea of a school for retirees of 55+. John presented the idea to UTSA and the administration liked it. They gave their complete support and suggested that the classes be held at the Institute of Texas Cultures, down­town. The classes would go from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. These hours avoided the usual rush hour drive time. It would be an all-volunteer learning academy, offering a variety of classes, including volunteer teachers who would offer their various subjects. 

The school schedule was divided into two semesters, each approximately 12 weeks long. Labor Day and New Year's Day were the guidelines for the beginnings of each semester: A variety of classes was offered, chosen by each teacher; including languages, art, math, writing, literature and history. The art classes proved to be very popular; and an art show became an important feature of the end-of-semester luncheon. Student art was displayed in the hallways, and in any available space nearby. Some students even sold their work. 

In keeping with the idea of the importance of social interaction and communication, lunch time in the large ALIR gath­ering room was an important time for
ALIRians to visit and get to know one another: The class schedule included an hour-and-a-half lunch break, and since there were no lunch spots nearby, students brought their own lunches. The coffee pot was always perking at ten cents a cup. 

 

 

 



At the end of each month, there was a get-together during the noon hour with free coffee and drinks, plus any goodies that students brought. This was a time for important announcements and for ideas and suggestions to be shared and maybe acted on. Also, a special lunch was planned at the end of each semester. A main dish or sand­wiches were brought in and the rest was potluck of salads, vegetables and desserts. 

ALIR was started without a penny, but with the generosity of the Institute, it got off on a good footing. Once it got started, any expenses, aside from secretarial help, were covered by the registration fees of the students. ALIR was a success, readily accepted by the retiree community, and by 2005 it was offering up to 50 classes. The attendance soon grew to almost 200. And then, all this success caused a problem. ALIR had outgrown its rooms at the Institute, and the Institute had its own space problems. Also, some students did not like to drive downtown. 
                      

The ALIR Council appointed a committee to search for a new space in San Antonio where the ALIR classes could meet; one easily accessible with adequate parking. The committee checked shopping centers, churches, recently-closed spaces and any reasonable possibility for classrooms. They realized that it would be virtually impossible to find a replacement for the ALIR that had outgrown any possible venues.

 

An ALIR member, Sara Harris, was a recent retiree from the Communications Department of the Northeast Indepen­dent School District (NEISD}. She had kept in touch with her friends from work, lunching together each month or so. At one of those lunches, she learned that NEISD had recently purchased a building just down the street from their central office building, the Fox Photo building. It would be used for their Continuing Education Programs and evening school classes. (Remember when photos were mailed to be developed and then returned to you be mail?  The building had been the national headquarters for Fox Photo.)

 

The timing was perfect. The use of the building was perfect. NEISD classes were in the evenings and on Saturdays - and ALIR classes were on Mondays through Thursdays, clearing out at about 3:00 p.m. Agreements were made, the move from the Institute was accomplished and classes started in 2005. Financial agreements were taken care of fairly for both sides. ALIR would have full use of the facility and NEISD would have use of the class registration fees. Some of the hallways and rooms were ill-defined and furnishings were scarce. However, many old district desks, tables, and chairs found their way to the new digs, and some ALIR members even lent personal wall decorations to temporarily create some attractiveness for the new school.

 

Though the first year in the new place seemed quite primitive; by the time classes began again the following fall, the district had done a remarkable overhaul of the building. There were many classrooms, wide hallways, bright lighting, new desks and audio-visual equipment - in other words, most of the amenities that make a building a school.  ALIR had a new home.
 

So ALIR had come a long way, and fast, with astonishing success all along the way! We certainly have our excellent leadership, fantastic students and an extraordinary school district to thank for this. Today, success continues. There are presently over 400 students and over 70 classes. The parking is good, the classes are great and the monthly lun­cheons are fantastic. Oh, one more thing. Every year, ALIR offers college scholarships to deserving NEISD graduating students. This past spring four students were each awarded a $2,500 scholarship. This money comes from donations of our ALIR people.

                                                          Jean Kanninen (One of the old timers) & Miriam Ellison (Fellow AL/Rian)

 

 

 

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