Current Skills Being Offered
From Janet Tillman, UURMAPA Connections Coordinator
I am happy to announce that three very generous UURMAPA members are offering skills to share. The offering of the following skills marks the beginning of the UURMAPA Skill-Sharing Network. I hope to add more skills to the list in the coming weeks. Be sure to check the website periodically for updates.
- Beginning Spanish – Jeff Jones (Smyrna, GA)
I have provided Spanish Classes at the College for Seniors in Asheville, NC. I am happy to offer a full year of beginning Spanish (32 weeks), and a year later, I can offer a full year of intermediate Spanish (28 weeks). I estimate that 4 hours of preparation per week are necessary to get the full benefit of the classes. I also ask those taking my classes to give two hours per week to serve the immigrant community. It is completely on the honor system, and no one needs to tell me what they are doing, although sharing experiences and ideas on serving the immigrant community could be beneficial to all in the class. You simply must agree to it as part of signing up for the class.
As to 32 weeks of Spanish, it would be divided into 4 parts, each part taking 8 weeks, with a short break between parts. Each class will be 2 hours long, with a 10-minute break in the middle of the class. The classes will be 2-4 p.m. EST on Thursdays. The schedule for the classes is:
• Part 1 (the first 8 weeks) starts Thursday, April 2, and goes through Thursday, May 21.
•• Part 2 (the second 8 weeks) starts Thursday, June 4, and ends Thursday July 23.
••• Part 3 will be in September and October.
•••• Part 4 will be in January and February 2027.
My goal is to teach a class of 6-10 participants using Zoom. The classes are very interactive and fun. If you are interested in learning Spanish, contact me at jeffjonesuu@aol.com.
- Composting/Recycling – Jaco ten Hove (Bellingham, WA)
If you’re tossing out your household kitchen waste—such as coffee grounds and eggshells—and you’re not recycling yard waste, such as leaves and grass clippings, you’re wasting good stuff! All these items, which would otherwise end up in a landfill, belong in a compost bin—your own or a nearby commercial one. As an experienced (and certified!) Master Composter/Recycler, I can offer counsel and coaching on composting/ recycling from general guidelines and pep talks to specific habits and routines that improve the odds for keeping your waste out of landfills. Join me in my new ministry: Waste Diversion. Contact me at bthishere@gmail.com for more information.
- Appreciating Technology + Tips on Maintaining an Old Building – Norm Horofker (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
I am a retired mechanical engineer with plant management experience. How that relates to sharing skills with other ministers is to be determined… perhaps sharing optimism for appreciating the present and the amazing future of technology. I also have experience maintaining old buildings. Contact me at nhorofker@aol.com to begin a conversation about technology or that old building you are maintaining.
If you are interested in learning the above skills or have questions about the skill being offered, contact the person offering the skill for more details.
I love those connections that make this big old world feel like a little village. – Gina Bellman
See also:
Skill-Sharing Network: What is it and how does it work?
Desired Learning Opportunities