About the CLL

The Center for Lifelong Learning [CLL] was established in 1993 as the "Senior Center for Lifelong Learning." Its purpose was to serve the educational interests of the senior community in the Fort Walton Beach area, although there was no criteria for who qualified as a "senior." The word "Senior" was dropped from the title as unnecessary and the purpose was expanded to include the entire adult population in our area. 

Our organization is a Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI). Throughout the nation, hundreds of Lifelong Learning Institutes are joined in an organization called the Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN), which is a branch of Elderhostel, Inc.  EIN furnishes information on curriculum, tips on starting a new program, and topics of interest to the membership. The organization of each LLI is entirely the option of the people setting up the program at each campus.  The CLL has the distinction of being one of the few all-volunteer programs in the country. 

Our students come from not only the immediate Fort Walton Beach area, but from adjacent counties and, during the January semester, from northern states and Canada. The CLL has more than 700 current members. A current member is defined as a person who has enrolled in one of the two past semesters.

CLL Board of Directors
President/Special Events:.................................Barbara Smith
1st Vice President/Planning:............................Aaron Thrush
2nd Vice President:...........................................Dr. Bob Kitahara
Secretary:......................................................... Martha Bradford
Treasurer/Past President:............................... Dr. Bob Carney
Parliamentarian:.............................................. Bob Garcia
Historian:......................................................... Virginia Peters
Curriculum:........................................................Betty Kentosh
Computer Liaison:.............................................Norm Blakley
Publicity:...........................................................Jackie Youngblood
Registration:.....................................................Lydia Weaver
Social:...............................................................Martha Cottrell and
                                                                                             Shoko Beggin

Member-at-Large:............................................Shirley Hibarger

CLL Board of Directors