meeting the needs of the entire Island. For six years the Centre has offered those 55 years and older, the learning experience of their choice. Brainchild of Michael Brooks, Giff Stanton and Pete Doyles, the Centre began with 12 members and today, almost 400 walk through its doors. "We are affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute of Learning and Retirement,'' explained Frances Tucker Hinton. "The idea is to stimulate interest in seniors. There are no certificates awarded, it's merely to keep their minds active and help them meet with each other; and we pull them in from all parts of the community.'' A life membership costs $20, she said, and there is an annual $10 fee. Courses run during the day, and are held twice a year, spread over a period of six to ten weeks either from October to November or February to March. The charge for each course varies according to overhead but it averages at about $3 per lesson. "We started with about 4 courses in the very beginning and now we're putting on 18,'' she said. "We teach art history, health, finance, religion -- things that interest people. (The members) decide what we will offer and then we try and find people to teach the course. We teach three language courses -- Spanish, German and French, we also teach physical fitness courses and topical courses -- world decisions is one. We have the opportunity to use the gym, the teleconference room, the aerobics room where we do tai-chi and line dancing, the computer labs. The Bermuda College has given us a lovely office and a room where we hold some of the classes, they have been very generous to us in allowing us to use their facilities. And with so many seniors on the Island, we see the programme growing.'' PHOTO Members of the Seniors' Learning Centre at the Bermuda College MINI SUPPLEMENT SUP