TSO Events
January – March, 2021

All events are being held online. To receive email about future events and how to register for them, please see our Contact Us page to sign up for the TSO email distribution list.

Aging Stronger (Online Seminar)
presented by Autumn Needles
Monday, March 8, 2021

Body systems suffer normal wear and tear as we age but some of what we think as the inevitable results of aging are actually the price we pay for not moving enough. What if we could notably decrease the risk of falling but also decrease the risk of breaking a hip if we do fall? What if we had a free method of improving our mental health and acuity as we age? What if we could have the satisfaction of a strong grip, good for handshakes and opening peanut butter jars and, it turns out, a great predictor of quality of life in aging? Movement accomplishes all of those things! It’s not hard and we all come equipped with everything we need: a body and gravity. Let’s explore the myths and the realities of aging together while putting together a tool box of ideas and exercises that will allow us to age stronger.

Autumn Needles, PMA-CPT began dancing and practicing yoga as a child. She first encountered Pilates as a young dancer at Smith College, but didn’t begin her teaching career until almost 20 years later in 2006. She taught yoga, mat Pilates and aqua-fit, then got her comprehensive Pilates certification and in early 2012 joined the teaching team at Vitality Pilates. Autumn particularly loves working with people who come to Pilates due to struggles with injuries or chronic and limiting health conditions, with the hope of finding functional strength, balance, and health in their everyday lives, as they age. With that goal, she completed a two-year training with “Nutritious Movement” to teach Restorative Exercise based on alignment principles, in 2016 and in 2018 she became a “Buff Bones” licensed instructor. “Buff Bones” is a research-based practice designed to develop bone health and strength in those at risk for, or diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia. When she’s not teaching Pilates, Autumn can be found with her nose in a book taking a walk, or up in the air on a a trapeze.

Cryptocurrency (Online Seminar)
presented by Ted Watts
Thursday, March 11, 2021

Get rich without exertion! Fabulous returns on your investment! All that is required is to invest in something that no one understands except the anonymous person who dreamed it up. Learn about “mining”, “proof”, “blockchain”, “wallets”, and much more. It is called “Bitcoin”, and it has made some rich and many others not so. What gives an electronic signal value, why is it better than money, who regulates it, how safe is it, and much more. Or, is Warren Buffet right when he counsels investors to never buy something they don’t understand? Find out and learn along with Ted Watts.

Ted Watts graduated from Whitman College and University of Washington Law School. He had a 50-year career in Law, specifically as a Civil Litigator. He also served three years as an Assistant Attorney General in the State of Washington,

Ted has taught several TELOS classes, facilitates the Constitution Club meetings and is the current President of the TELOS Student Organization.

Hummingbirds: Masters of the Air
presented by Connie Sidles
Tuesday, March 16, 2021

With their ability to hover in place, fly upside-down or backward, and cross seas without stopping, hummingbirds seem immune to the ordinary laws of physics. Their jewel-town feathers flash in the sun brighter than rubies or realms.

Find out more about one of the fiercest birds in the animal kingdom, as master birder Connie Sidles introduces you to the wonders of hummingbirds.

Connie Sidles is a master birder and long-time member of the Seattle Audubon Society, where she has been on the Conservation Committee and Chair of the Publications Committee. She has written 4 books about nature, focusing on her favorite “backyard” Montlake Fill, on the UW campus. Connie has taught many classes for the TELOS program.

TSO Presents Spring Course Preview
Meet the Instructors
Wednesday, March 17, 2021

Take a TASTE of TELOS by previewing FIVE Spring Courses presented by the instructors:

Paul Schmid – Enjoy Shakespeare: Henry V
Ray Pfortner – PhotoStyle: The Art of Arranging
John Jensen – The Home Front in World War II
Claudia Lawrey – Ballet for Balance
Claudia Lawrey – Dance in the Movies

All speakers are the instructors for these courses being offered in Spring Quarter.

TSO Presents Spring Course Preview
Meet the Instructors
Thursday, March 18, 2021

Take a TASTE of TELOS by previewing FIVE Spring Courses presented by the instructors:

Paul Schmid – Master Your Mac
Ray Pfortner – Focus on Photography Composition
John Bishop – Brit on the Border
Ted Watts – Technology of the Civil War
Mark Waldstein – Readers’ Theatre

All speakers are the instructors for these courses being offered in Spring Quarter.

TSO Council meeting minutes March 2025

Posted on March 8, 2025 by Gerald Bunce

TSO Council meeting Minutes

Mar 26, 2025 – 03:30 PM

Top of Form

Attending: Jerry Bunce, Bryan Leyton, Chris Steele, Laura Stanely,

Ted Watts, Phil Andrews, Chris Stoynov

Quick recap

The team discussed the TSO Student Organization’s activities and future plans. They also met with the new Director of Continuing Education, Esteban Maldonado. They discussed the use of BC Foundation funds for advertising and instructor recruitment. Lastly, the council considered disbanding and the need for someone to update the website with meeting minutes, as well as the usefulness of a storage booth on campus.

Next steps

Jerry to send a note to Esteban Maldonado asking for an update on Telos program status, course numbers, and future expectations.

Jerry to inquire with Esteban about the status of cross-advertising between Edmonds Creative Research Institute and Bellevue College Telos.

Jerry to visit Student Programs to find a computer science student to help update the TSO website.

TSO Council to make a decision about disbanding at the next meeting on May 28th.

Jerry to report back to the council on any feedback from Esteban Maldonado regarding Telos activities.

TSO Student Organization’s Activities and Plans

In the meeting, Jerry led the discussion about the TSO Student Organization’s activities and future plans. TELOS had 20 classes in the winter quarter, with 5 being canceled, and 325 registrations. However, there was a question about the organization’s impact and whether it should continue. The group also discussed the upcoming spring quarter, with 16 classes planned for spring quarter. Fewer classes and registrations expected in summer. The possibility of adding another session of the generative AI for daily life class was also discussed. But George Liu now has a full time job and is not teaching at this time.

As always thanks go to Donna for collecting and sharing the TELOS class and registration information.

Esteban’s Role and Program Updates

Jerry, Ted, and Phil discussed their meeting with Esteban Maldonado, the new Director of Continuing Education and IBIT. Esteban was described as honest, earnest, and interested in their work. Phil suggested asking Esteban for an update on the college’s pulse regarding their program in their next meeting. Ted emphasized the need for Esteban to focus on their mission and not just be a nice face. Jerry noted that Esteban took over Liz Hollerman’s responsibilities, including the IBIT program, and expressed satisfaction with Esteban’s support for their program. The team agreed to send a note to Esteban, asking about the decrease in course numbers and what they can expect in the future.

Advertising and Instructor Recruitment Discussion

The team discussed the use of funds for advertising and instructor recruitment. They considered donating remaining funds in the TSO Student account with Student Programs to the foundation for more advertising and instructor recruitment. The team also discussed the process of hiring instructors as contractors, which simplifies the hiring process. The treasurer’s report showed that no money had been spent since the last meeting, leaving around $5,000 in the TSO student account. The team also discussed the potential for cross-advertising between Edmonds Creative Research Institute and Bellevue College.

Council Considers Disbanding and Storage

The council discusses the possibility of disbanding and agrees to make a decision at their next meeting on May 28th. They consider holding a final general meeting if they decide to disband. Jerry mentions the need for someone to update the website with meeting minutes, suggesting they might recruit a student for this task. The group also discusses the storage booth they have on campus, questioning its usefulness and contents. No new business is brought up, and the meeting is adjourned.

TELOS Student Organization

Educational Program for Retirees. Lifelong Learning. Lifetime Friends.

Events, January – March 2021

Recent Posts

TSO Council meeting minutes March 2025