With an average daytime high of 71 degrees, and the city’s famous azaleas blooming, enjoy springtime in Savannah.   LERN people rave about the city. Which is why the 2026 Leadership Conference March 2-5, 2026, will be there.    Camellias and azaleas usually start to bloom in late February. The temperature rarely gets below 55. 

Here’s the first news from the most exciting week of the year in lifelong learning. First Watch Party   Chicago Botanic Garden hosted the first ‘Watch Party.’  People gathered in-person to both watch the Live Online Conference, and then participate in informal discussions with others in the room. Chair of the LERN Board Beth Pinargote hosted

Leadership in the field is a big issue for 2026. The 3 driving forces:1.The more visible, central role your program now has in your institution;2.The generational turnover and need to develop young leaders;3.A society-wide demand for greater leadership. Continuing education and lifelong learning programs are emerging as both course developers of leadership and also as

Here’s the latest on what you say, from polls at the 2025 LERN Annual Conference. The top challenge for programs for 2026  Your top challenge is again Marketing, polling 33% of the attendees.Programs still don’t have a good handle on social media, for example.-The second top challenge at 29% is Operations and procedures, including –or

 The lifelong learning program in the wonderful country of Bermuda is the first program to report success with YouTube advertising for the field.    Tawana Flood, head of the program says, “Based on expert recommendations highlighting that video content is more memorable and emotionally engaging than static media. We hired the services of a local

   The first report of a targeted discount for only specific classes will set a new trend in targeted discounts for the field.   We’ve had Early-Bird Discounts in our field forever.  And forever, they have worked. In fact, any Discount works if you design it correctly.   But what’s new is Forest Hills Public Schools Community

 The top marketing area to improve for 2026. The most likely hot marketing tip to be implemented in the coming year. And the marketing tip that would have the biggest impact for programs.  These were the 3 big marketing topics practitioners responded to and set the direction for LERN practical, how-to tips for members. Top

   Programs doing community classes for the public most want to grow their older audiences in the coming year.   People in their 40s and 50s were rated the most wanted growth area by 33% of practitioners, followed by people over aga 60, which came in at 30% of programs.   The 40s and 50s age range

Some 30 member organizations have achieved Gold Club member status for 2026 with LERN. Gold Club membership is brand new and our highest level of services and benefits. You can join them. In addition to receiving all the benefits and services of both Essential membership and Premier membership, Gold Club members get: *Free consulting via