By CAROL HEARD

BC Communications Specialist

Twenty-six members of the Bainbridge College Academy for Lifelong Learners agreed to lower the minimum age of its members to 50 years old before enacting the Academy’s bylaws recently, allowing a larger audience to join in on this learning opportunity for active older adults in the community.

Prior to the change, the minimum age was 55. Aside from paying the $25 membership fee and the minimum age, there are no other limits to becoming a member.

Bainbridge College’s endeavor with the Academy for Lifelong Learning is new to this area, but not with other colleges and universities throughout the country. BC’s academy, BCALL for short, will offer a variety of stimulating and fun classes, at little or no cost, for personal growth that meet the interests of community members of various activity levels, schedules, life interests and lifestyles.

“This is the day we want to put the pencil to it and become an Academy of Lifelong Learning,” said Ann Wells, the director of BC’s Division of Continuing Education. “This is the place to start.”

Wells said the purpose of the academy is to provide learning experiences and opportunities that are selected by the membership. Peer instruction and experiences are encouraged in the organization. Among some of the topics members have expressed interest in are current events and book discussion groups, learning how to use smartphones and tablets such as an iPad or Kindle Fire, learning and playing bridge, cooking for one, and opportunities to travel as a group.

Members of the academy will also receive a 10-percent discount on selected BC Continuing Education classes.

Those interested in joining the academy may become charter members by joining on Jan. 31 or before. The fee is $25. The next meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, Feb. 8, beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Continuing Education’s office, and the academy will continue to meet on the second Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m.

If you have questions or are interested in BCALL, please call (229) 248-2516, or visit the Division of Continuing Education’s office, located at Bainbridge Mall behind Golden Corral on Shotwell Street.