Have you ever wondered where the ideas for all our LLI courses come from or how the course schedule comes together? A great deal of this work is accomplished by the Curriculum Committee, and Steve Lenz, as co-chair, plays a big role.
Steve, who joined LLI in 2018, the year he retired, has served all seven years on the Curriculum Committee. This is his fourth year as a co-chair. He is also an LLI Board member. When he’s not taking LLI classes or helping to plan them, Steve enjoys traveling, golfing, hunting and photography. A few of his photos have even been published in calendars and magazines.
I asked Steve to explain just how the Curriculum Committee functions and how it supports the growth of LLI.
Curriculum Committee members (also known as recruiters) are a very dedicated group of LLI volunteers from Green Bay, Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Marinette. They work behind the scenes to recruit presenters, develop curriculum and schedule courses for each semester. Steve is proud and thankful for the work the committee does, but he reminds us, “We have a great LLI program and, in order to sustain it, we need—and must encourage—more members to volunteer.”
As a volunteer recruiter, Steve explained, your responsibilities would include the following:
Contacting potential presenters: There is no need to “find” presenters. Recruiters contact returning presenters to confirm their interest in offering additional courses. Most of the work is done through email. Volunteers are given only the number of contacts they feel comfortable with, and a mentor guides them through the entire process.
Submitting course information: Once a presenter completes a course proposal form, the recruiter submits the information online to the LLI office.
Attending a monthly Curriculum Committee Zoom meeting: This is scheduled for the first or second Monday of each month. Note: The kick-off meeting to discuss the Spring 2026 curriculum will be held Monday, July 7.
If you are interested in joining the Curriculum Committee and helping with some of the important work Steve and his colleagues do, or if you’d just like more information, contact the LLI office at lii@uwgb.edu or call (920) 465-2356. Steve promises that your involvement will be rewarding and greatly appreciated!
—By Sue Gerber-Hipwell, LLI Member