February	March
Feb. 7, 2pm: Study Group Committee Meeting at Peoria Next Innovation Center	Mar. 14, 12pm: Kickoff Luncheon for Spring 2018 Classes in Michel Student Center Ballrooms

Study Group Committee Meeting

Wednesday, February 7

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Peoria Next Innovation Center, 801 W Main St, Peoria

Join the volunteers on the OLLI Study Group Committee Meeting tomorrow as they plan study groups for Summer 2018!  All are welcome to attend and enjoy some refreshments and discussion, even if you are just curious to learn more about the planning process.  

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

AlphaGo  Documentary and 'Go' Board Gaming Session

Thursday, March 8

6:00 p.m. - Refreshments and opportunity to play or watch game of 'Go'

7:00 p.m. - Presentation by Adam Byerly and AlphaGo screening

Michel Student Center, Executive Suite and Marty Theatre, Bradley University

Cost: FREE!

Join OLLI for this special event in collaboration with Bradley University's Interactive Media and Computer Science departments.  Bradley students will be invited to join us as we learn and play the ancient Chinese board game of Go, enjoy a presentation on artificial intelligence by  Adam Byerly,  Bradley Lecturer for the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems, and view AlphaGo, a documentary that examines the age-old conflict of man vs. machine.  

The ancient Chinese game of 'Go' may seem simple at first -- a lined grid with black and white stones and simple rules -- yet there are more board configurations than there are atoms in the universe.    The complexity of 'Go' has made it an ideal challenge for artificial intelligence (AI) designers like Google's DeepMind, and in 2016, the world's top Go Masters competed against an AI opponent for the first time in history.  AlphaGo follows the AI journey from coding to the intense competition, featuring an original score by Academy Award nominee Hauschka.  

Refreshments brought to you by the generous donations of OLLI members will be available in the Executive Suite from 6:00 - 7:00, along with an opportunity for you to watch a live game of Go or play one for yourself.  Bradley gaming students will run a demonstration game and provide assistance at several smaller, practice boards for anyone wanting to give it a try!

To view a trailer for AlphaGo, click here.

Join this study group to learn from experts in the fields of neurology and physical therapy strategies to stay as healthy as possible as we age.  Register today by clicking here or calling Bonnie at (309) 677-3900!

The Best You Can Be (Participation-based)

Tuesdays, March 6 - 27

9:00 - 11:15 a.m.

Peoria Next Innovation Center, 801 W Main St, Peoria

Want to feel better and stronger?  Join us as we learn about the science of aging well.  Guest facilitators include Jana Reed, nurse practitioner with the Illinois Neurological Institute, who will discuss osteoporosis prevention and treatment, and Melissa Peterson, Bradley associate professor of physical therapy, who will discuss improving balance, increasing strength, fall prevention, and exercise as the "new medicine."  Using the book, Younger Next Year: The Exercise Program, available at local and online retailers or libraries, we will discuss strategies to improve our health and well-being.  Participants will need internet and email access; registration for this group includes a free ticket for OLLI's co-sponsored film event, Hello, My Name is Doris on Tuesday, April 17.  Call our office at (309) 677-3900 for details!

$45 - facilitated by Janet Bertschy, study group category coordinator, and Barb Ekstrum, retired nurse and study group category coordinator

Are you interested in learning more about emerging science and technologies?  This beginner-friendly study group will bring you up to speed with a variety of technological fields of study that impact our lives every day.  To register, either click here or call Bonnie at (309) 677-3900!

Understanding Science for Tomorrow: Myth and Reality

Mondays, March 5 - April 16

9:00 - 11:15 a.m.

Peoria Next Innovation Center, 801 W Main St, Peoria

Minimum 10 participants, register by Monday, February 19

Science and technology are, without a doubt, two forces that change the way we live.  Magnetism, artificial intelligence, robotics, genetic engineering, nanotechnology, biofuels, solar cells, and nuclear energy, along with many other fascinating fields, have the power to revolutionize almost every aspect of existence, including how we communicate, travel, learn, and even live.  In this study group, we will cover these fields and the basic science behind them, in terms that are easily understood.  Participants will need access to email and internet to watch videos outside of class each week.

$45 - facilitated by Diane Rock, study group committee member, Doug McCarty, study group category coordinator, and Bob Pfohl, retired engineer.  

Looking for a great new book to get lost in?  OLLI members have contributed to the OLLI Reads list to share information about their favorite books.

By clicking on the link below, you can open and read the list.  Clicking on most of the titles in the list will direct you to Amazon, where you can find more information about each book and a free sample ready for wireless delivery to your Kindle reader or mobile app.  

We would like to thank Greg Peine for starting and maintaining this list for the past few years!  If you have a great book you would like added to the list, please contact Elly Peterson at eepeterson@bradley.edu.

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Peoria Speaks is a new monthly community discussion program meeting on the second Thursday of each month at North Branch at 6:00 p.m., which will focus on topics of interest to Peorians.  Funding for Peoria Speaks is being provided by the Illinois Humanities through their Illinois Speaks program.  Illinois Speaks is a small group discussion program founded in November 2015 aimed at strengthening the democratic process through community dialogues across the state of Illinois.

Discussion topics differ from month to month and across regions and are often related to current events, questions, and issues arising in a community.  At each of the Peoria Speaks monthly discussions, a community "expert" will provide a 10 to 15 minute overview of the topic and then the group will further discuss the topic.  

On Thursday, February 8 at 6:00 p.m., the discussion will center on human trafficking.  Human trafficking has 24.9 million victims globally who are trapped in modern day slavery.  There were 202 cases of human trafficking in Illinois in 2016.  What is human trafficking and is it happening in Peoria?  Carol Merna, Executive Director at the Center of Prevention of Abuse, will explain the types and indications of human trafficking and describe some human trafficking victim's stories.  After her presentation, we wll discuss what participants can do about human trafficking, the second largest crime in the world.  

The Chillicothe Public Library hosts free programs each month, which OLLI members are invited to attend.  A few featured events are listed below, but a complete calendar of their events can be found on their website.