LearningQUEST launches spring term with Rally Day

HUNTSVILLE – As far as the folks at LearningQUEST are concerned, you can teach an old dog new tricks. As late 20th century science fiction writer and professor Isaac Asimov once said, “You’re never too old to learn more than you already know and to do more than you already can.”

That’s the mindset at LearningQUEST, a volunteer-driven 501(c)(3) founded in 2009 offering education and enrichment opportunities for adults. It is hosting “Rally Day: What’s Poppin’ at LearningQUEST” at the Jaycees Building in John Hunt Park from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday.

Attendees can get program information, pick up a catalog, meet instructors, register for classes, chat with friends and enjoy refreshments including popcorn.

“Rally Day allows people to go to the Jaycee Building and visit with presenters because they will have a display,” Sandy Nicolette, public relations spokeswoman for LearningQUEST, told 256 Today. “You can sign up for classes and pay, and at the same time if you register online they get your information ahead of time and can hand you your name tag when you go on Rally Day.

“If you want to wait until Rally Day and sign up, then they’ll put the information in and you can pick it up later at the office or something like that.”

The varied and wide-ranging catalog and registration information have been posted at www.lquest.org. The LearningQUEST office is on the second floor of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library’s main branch in downtown Huntsville; it is open Tuesdays (10 a.m.-noon) and Thursdays (1-4 p.m.).

Programs are generally held in the library’s meeting rooms. Some off-site locations are used when needed. There are two terms each year: Spring (January–June) and Fall (July–December). Each term begins with Rally Day, which is open to the public.

Courses, programs and discussions range from American Poetry, Mah Jongg, Stained Glass and Writing to Zentangle art and subjects in between. Outdoor activities are included.

Overview:

• Membership fee is $20 yearly. That includes access to Special Interest Groups and a subscription to the group’s email newsletter. To attend term courses, an additional $30 for each of the two is required.
• Special Interest Groups allow members to pursue common interests. These are found at lquest.org/programs/special-interest-groups/ and are available to LearningQUEST.
• Term Courses require payment of a $30 course fee and a completed Course Registration Form. Payment of the course fee allows a member to register for as many courses as desired during that term, as long as the course is not at capacity. A course is closed when the maximum number of registrants is reached. There may be an additional materials cost for some courses.
• Trips planned for LearningQUEST members require reservations and may have an additional cost.
• Member Meet Ups are special events scheduled during the year for LearningQUEST
  members. They are usually announced in the weekly E-News
• Public Programs are free and open to the community at large. Normally these are single lectures on topics of interest to our members and the general public.

The organization bills itself as being dedicated to building a learning community for adults of all ages through educational and enrichment opportunities. LearningQUEST is partnered with the downtown library. Membership and participation is affordable; daytime programs cover a wide variety of academic disciplines in addition to enrichment activities, planned trips, and fellowship in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

According to founding member Joyce Howell, membership was nearly 900 before the pandemic and is still strong at more than 700.

“We wanted an organization that would be fun that we could meet and engage with other people in the community and share our experiences,” she said.

For donation, volunteering and membership information, visit www.lquest.org, or contact [email protected] or call 256-529-8695. Follow updates on Facebook.