It’s no secret that our town is blessed with many talented and accomplished folks who work to make Granby a safe, comfortable and welcoming community. We know their names, we see their pictures, hear them at meetings, or even read about them in the Drummer.
Beyond these more visible folks are those who may serve in ways that go unseen but that make a difference to many. People like these add to the fabric of Granby, volunteering time and talents for the benefit of others. Today’s story is about one of those unseen folks, and someone you should meet.
Occasionally, if you’re lucky, you meet a person like Gail Altschwager. Instantly, she strikes you as enthusiastic about life, knowledgeable and informed about a ton of subjects and inquisitive beyond belief. She is a good listener and is always interested in learning something new. At the core of these attributes one gets the sense that she dedicates herself to sharing what she has discovered for the benefit and growth of others. She has an open and gregarious nature but places her interests in others.
I met Gail about a year ago, our paths crossing in town at some common intersection of activity. Soon I discovered that she was a volunteer instructor/tutor/seminar leader at the Granby library and the Senior Center. What fascinated me was the varied subjects of her instruction.
She has or is currently teaching classes in computer and cell phone use, drawing, creative writing, origami and dowsing, to name a few. I learned that in her past professional life she provided instructive support in subjects including ESL, literacy and PC and MAC help desk support. In her “spare” time she also does freelance editing, teaches Reiki, tutors in math and English, coordinates the Granby Durable Medical Equipment Closet and studies energy medicine. In 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2016 she was a member of the winning teams at the Gran-Bee Trivia contest. Are you getting a picture of this person you should know?
Of course, she is an avid reader and researcher, having over two thousand books on her Kindle at any given time. Get into a discussion about authors and books, and Gail will be able to speak intelligently on an impressive array of topics while conveying an interest in learning more. Sharing this with others is clearly one of her joyous passions. One can hear it in her voice as she converses with others.
Gail is a native of Wisconsin, moved to Simsbury in 1968 with her family and to Granby in 1994. While formally educated at Carroll College in Wisconsin and at the University of Hartford, continuing education has been at the base of her pursuits since childhood. The daughter of two “very creative parents” she was engrained with natural curiosity and awareness of new ideas around her. In the words of Holly Johnson, Gail’s colleague and supervisor at the Granby library, “Her (Altschwager’s) antenna is always up. She helps people around her to learn, grow, thrive and access new talents.” She added, “If you were starting a new community or workplace, Gail would be a person you’d want to be there.”
Professionally, Gail had a career in the insurance industry, held project management credentials and was the owner/operator of two successful private companies. Her creative hobbies included active participation in community theatre with the Mark Twain Masquers (where Peter Falk got his start) and dowsing. She is a current active member of the American Society of Dowsers (ASD), and recently conducted a well-attended lecture. Gail explained that while most folks associate dowsing with searching for water with a divining rod, it is much more than that. According to the ASD website, it is also utilized for finding lost articles or persons and related para-psychological phenomena. The folks who attended her lecture gained a new interest in a subject they knew little about beforehand. Most left saying they would like to attend another lecture when offered. Knowing Gail, one will be scheduled soon, and new, interesting information will be shared.
Upcoming in March and April, Gail will be offering classes at the Senior Center on how to handle today’s technology with computers, cell phones, etc. Also in April, she’ll hold classes on Kumihimo, the Japanese jewelry making artform. You may want to look her up and sit in for some new tips or skills. I can guarantee that meeting Gail Altschwager will be a rewarding and learning opportunity for you, as it was for me. I think she is someone you’d like to meet.