Open University Fall Schedule
Special Interest

Baha’i 101
Confident Cycling: Commuter
Books:  Evaluating the Value of Used and Rare Books
Canning:  Apples to Applesauce
Canning Fruits and Veggies at Home
How To Choose A Remodeler
Non-Violent Communication
Shopping For Treasures – Blacksburg and Christiansburg
Shopping for Treasures: Roanoke and Salem
Social Networking For Businesses
Ladybug Wine School - Wine Deconstructed
Ladybug Wine school – Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc in Depth
Southwest Virginia from Prehistory to 1780 - A Personal View

Baha’i 101
Introduction to principles of the Baha’i Faith, a global religion that honors all major world religions. Topics include “Questions about life and death,” “Role of prayer in spiritual life,” and “Understanding the Baha’i Writings.” Joy Tucker has been a member of the Baha’i Faith all her life. She has served extensively on Baha’i administrative organizations and has been trained to teach the course. Patty Mostaghimi, a local realtor, is a long term resident of Blacksburg and has been a Baha’I for 31 years. She serves on the Local Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’i Faith, and she has received the approved training to teach this class. Free class, book is $5.

Confident Cycling: Commuter
Whether your motivation is saving money, improving your health and fitness, beating traffic or reducing your carbon footprint, this Confident Cycling guide to bicycle commuting provides practical and effective solutions to some of the challenges and barriers you may face. As with other Confident Cycling courses, even experienced bicycle riders will find helpful hints and new techniques to make your ride more enjoyable and safer. If you are new to bicycling — or returning after many years out of the saddle — we’ll show yoßu how to incorporate cycling into your daily routine. This class is taught by the NRVBA's (New River Valley Bicycle Association) certified instructors. $35

Dates	Day	Time	Location
10/12 & 10/13	M&T	6:30-9:30PM	CRC – Conference Room

Books: Evaluating the Value of Used and Rare Books
This is a hands-on course on how to evaluate the value of books and other paper ephemera using the tools available on the Internet. Students should bring a pen, notebook, and some books to evaluate to class. Taught by Roger Hjulstrom, owner of Books Below. $30

Canning: Apples to Applesauce
A hands-on, "can-along," workshop that will provide a full understanding of canning techniques to help preserve the apple harvest (from the garden or the farmer's market) and eat local all year long. Participants will walk away with several jars of applesauce. All supplies, cannery fees and apples included. $24. Members of the Waldron Family YMCA will receive a 25% discount on the class. Please call 961-9622 to register if you are a member.

Dates	Day	Time	Location
10/18	Sunday	1-5pm	Riner Cannery

Canning Fruits and Veggies at Home
Is canning something you never got around to learning, even though it sounds intriguing? This is a fun class to teach you all the basics you need to know for successful canning at home. If you’ve never done any canning because you think it’s too complicated, this class will change your mind and your pantry forever. Instructor Marie Goodwin will demonstrate canning techniques for fruits and veggies. All supplies provided. Participants will take home a sampling of their work. $22. Members of the Waldron Family YMCA will receive a 25% discount on the class. Please call 961-9622 to register if you are a member.

Dates	Day	Time	Location
9/22	Tuesday	6:00–8:30PM	Meadowbrook Center

How To Choose A Remodeler
Have you ever wondered why your neighbors had such a successful remodeling project and still managed to keep all their hair? Come learn the inside secrets to choosing a remodeling contractor from an expert. Learn the right questions to ask, and how to identify when “it sounds too good to be true” from someone with 30 years of valuable experience. Taught by Tim Lawrence. $15

Date	Day	Time	Location
11/17	Tuesday	6:30-8:30PM	Y Center

Non-Violent Communication
Violence can be verbal as well as physical. When we accuse or blame ourselves or others, punish based on “badness”, blame others for our feelings and decisions, and demand that things be done our way we are communicating violently. This workshop will offer principles and practice in another way to communicate – a way to listen and speak with honesty and compassion to ourselves, children, parents, partners, friends, and business associates.  Taught by Patricia Bevan. $42

Dates	Day	Time	Location
9/22-10/27	6 Tuesdays	7-8:30PM	VT Campus - Litton Reaves 1800

Shopping For Treasures – Blacksburg and Christiansburg
Visit favorite thrift, consignment and antique shops in Blacksburg and Christiansburg with Rebekah Paulson. She’ll introduce you to the owners and managers of these local treasure troves. Find bargains and unique items for yourself, as gifts or to resell.; We’ll begin the adventure at the YMCA Thrift Shop where you will receive a $5 discount coupon to use on your purchase. $20 (includes a $5 gift certificate to the Y Thrift Shop). Plan to carpool.

Date	Day	Time	Location
9/22	Tuesday	9AM-1PM	Begin at Y Center	Canceled

Shopping for Treasures: Roanoke and Salem
Explore thrift, consignment and antique shops in Salem and Roanoke including Black Dog Salvage with Rebekah. Find bargains, antiques and unique items for yourself, as gifts or to resell. We’ll meet at the YMCA Thrift Shop to carpool. Plan to drive or pay your driver $5 for gas. We’ll have lunch while we are out shopping. $23

Social Networking For Businesses: Tweaking and Tweeting the Social Media Marketing Mix
An introduction to integrating social media tools into your business marketing mix. In the first class, an overview of how to create accounts and begin using the top social media networks such as MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and others will be addressed. The second class will focus on how to integrate these tools to help to channel your message and promote your brand. If you've been thinking about adding Facebook business pages, using Twitter, or wondering how LinkedIn can be of benefit, then this class will get you started. Instructor Kelly Queijo is an award-winning writer and has spearheaded many “firsts” in interactive marketing. She freelances and blogs with passion about the intersection of business, technology, geeks, and artists. $25

Dates	Day	Time	Location
9/22-9/29	2 Tuesdays	6:30-8pm	VT Campus

Ladybug Wine School - Wine Deconstructed
This class will provide an innovative approach to understanding wine. Participants will have the opportunity to sample wines and learn how to ask the right questions to ensure they get the wine that will best suit them. Heavy Hors d'œuvres at Bookbinders Grill are included in the fee for the class. Instructor Thom Horsey has 20 years of experience in the wine industry and has led over 500+ seminars and tastings. You must be 21 to register for this class. $105

Ladybug Wine school – Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc in Depth
A continuing class for those who have taken the Ladybug Wine School in the past or have more advanced knowledge of wines. Heavy Hors d'œuvres at Bookbinders Grill are included in the fee for the class. Instructor Thom Horsey has 20 years of experience in the wine industry and has led over 500+ seminars and tastings. You must be 21 to register for this class. $105

Dates	Day	Time	Location
10/19 & 10/20	M & T	6-9pm	Bookbinders Grill

Southwest Virginia from Prehistory to 1780 — A Personal View
This class will provide participants with an overview of the history
of Southwest Virginia from pre-European contact until almost the end of the Revolution. Its focus will be on topics either untreated or treated modestly in conventional regional history books. Emphasis will be placed on aspects of the region’s prehistory and history about which instructor Jim Glanville has extensively published and lectured. $30

Dates	Day	Time	Location
11/09-11/30* *No Class 11/23	3 Mondays	7-9pm	Y Center

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