In this Issue:
Travel Survey | Travel with Osher and Road Scholar | Call for Advisory Board Nominations | Thank You, January Volunteers | Repeat Offerings for Spring | Welcome, Makayla! | In the Spotlight | Classroom Considerations | SIG Leaders Wanted! | Free Learning Opportunities on Campus
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As we continue to evaluate the best travel options for our members, the Osher Travel Committee would like to hear from you! We want to go where
you want to go and explore the world that
you want to explore.
Whether you have traveled with the Osher Institute or not, please consider filling out our
Travel Committee survey. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete and responses are anonymous. Your feedback will help to shape future travel opportunities at the Institute.
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Travel with Osher and Road Scholar
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There is still space available in our "Best of Yellowstone" trip with Road Scholar. If you are already registered for this trip, you are welcome to invite a friend! Osher membership is not required to participate.
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Dates: May 19-25, 2019
Program Price:
Double Occupancy: $1,849
Single Occupancy: $2,409
Activity Level:
"Keep the Pace." Expect daily, moderate walking up to three miles on established trails, paths, stairs, and boardwalks. Walking is integral to the program content.
Registration is open and available only through Road Scholar. To register, call Road S
cholar toll free at (800) 322-5315. Reference program #23358 "Best of Yellowstone" and tell them that you are a member of the Osher Institute at Boise State University.
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Call for Advisory Board Nominations
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The Osher Institute Nominating Committee is now accepting applications for Advisory Board positions. The Advisory Board meets up to five times per year and advises and assists the director in areas including planning, finance, marketing, fundraising, member recruitment, and volunteer engagement.
Terms are three years and Board members are encouraged to chair or serve on at least one committee. For more information about the Advisory Board and to read the bylaws, visit the
Advisory Board website.
If you would like to be considered for the Advisory Board, please complete the online application listed on the Advisory Board website. Applications are due on
Friday, March 1 by 5:00 p.m.
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Thank You, January Volunteers
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Thank you to the following volunteers who helped us kick off another great semester by serving as greeters:
Steve and
Pam Ahrens, Rick Ogle, Rainey Pieters, Brent and
Nancy Fricke, Steve Fields, Dennis Hayzlett, Dave and
Peggy Currie, Janet Davis, Marilyn Floyd, Mary Kruzich, Mary Lou Taylor, Jacquie Ausmus, Mary Lou Kinney, Susie Fisher, and
Carole Flatter. We appreciate you!
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Repeat Offerings for Spring
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Great news! Thanks to the robust interest from our members and the availability of our presenters, we have added repeats of the following offerings.
Confucianism in China: A Short History
For almost 2,000 years, Confucianism served as the key doctrine by which elites in China understood everything from grand concepts like the nature of the universe and humanity's place in it, to practical ones, such as how to govern the state, the family, and one's own life. This lecture will introduce the key philosophers, texts, and doctrines of Confucianism, as well as examine ways in which the doctrine evolved over time in response to changing social conditions in China. It will also examine the introduction of competing philosophical systems in China, such as those of Buddhism, Christianity, and, eventually, nationalism and communism.
Presenter:
Dr. Jeff Kyong-McClain, co-director of the Confucius Institute, University of Idaho
Date and time: Tue., March 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership
Visit the
Osher Registration Website to register online. You can also register by phone by calling Customer Services at (208) 426-1709.
Death Cafe
A Death Cafe is an open, facilitated conversation about death and dying using the internationally recognized format of Death Cafes. There is no pointed agenda, but a safe and comfortable setting for people to share thoughts and feelings about death and dying. Facilitators will include vision quest guides, a Buddhist priest, death midwives, and a former pediatric oncology physician.
Presenter:
Joyce Harvey-Morgan, retired dean of Extended Studies, Boise State University
Date and time: Wed., March 27, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership
Visit the
Osher Registration Website to register online. You can also register by phone by calling Customer Services at (208) 426-1709.
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We have also added a repeat of our special event, "Campus Art Tour." Members on the waitlist for this event will be contacted by email if they are eligible to register.
Keep an eye on your inbox!
Although we were not able to add a repeat of our special event, "National Interagency Fire Center Tour," we have expanded the capacity for both Event One and Event Two. Members on the waitlist for these events will be contacted by email if they are eligible to register.
Keep an eye on your inbox!
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We will say hello to our new student office assistant,
Makayla Muilenburg, this month! She is taking the place of our previous student assistant, Mitchell Crocker. Makayla is a sophomore at Boise State who hails from the Seattle area and is majoring in media arts with a public relations emphasis.
Makayla is involved in a variety of on-campus activities including the Public Relations Student Society of America and the Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority. In her free time, Makayla loves to be outdoors and explore Boise—whether that includes hiking Table Rock, skiing at Bogus Basin, or walking downtown and finding new restaurants to try. Welcome to the Osher team, Makayla!
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Every month,
Osher News highlights offerings that still have space available for members to enroll. The following offerings take place during the month of February.
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Bitcoin and Blockchain
Is Bitcoin made for hackers or normal people? Explore the fact and fiction behind Bitcoin, the magical internet money used to buy drugs, destroy banks, evade governments, and buy pizza. This course will explore the history of money, explain the cryptographic computer science innovation known as blockchain, decode the myths of modern society’s finances, and put a price on the future of cryptocurrency. This course will also help you understand the concepts of decentralization and how blockchain fits into our daily lives. No financial advice will be given.
Presenter: Marcus Downing
, cryptocurrency researcher and cofounder of ProperToken
Dates and times:
Wed., Feb. 6 and 13,
10 a.m.-noon
Cost:
$25
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Blake Edwards: The Eternal Struggle Between the Sexes
No director has explored a theme more consistently and entertainingly than Blake Edwards. Best known for his series of
Pink Panther
comedies, Edwards has also directed drama, musicals, and episodic television. His films offer a fresh take on friction between the sexes, breaking the bonds of gender roles, and love as a contact sport. This course will follow the evolution of these themes in four Oscar-nominated Edwards films from different eras:
Operation Petticoat
,
The Great Race
,
10
, and
Victor/Victoria
. Enlightenment offered and laughs guaranteed for anyone who’s ever been in love.
Presenter: Lance Thompson
,
President, Idaho Media Professionals
Dates and times:
Tue., Feb. 19 and 26, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost:
$25
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Visit the
Osher Registration Website to register online. You can also register by phone by calling Customer Services at (208) 426-1709.
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Perfume/Cologne
Many members have sensitive respiratory systems or are allergic to fragrances found in scented lotions, perfumes, colognes, and aftershaves. Please keep these members in mind as you get ready for class and avoid wearing fragrant products.
Classroom Accommodations
Do you need some extra assistance in the classroom? Perhaps you are now using a walker, having difficulty hearing the presenter, or having trouble seeing the presentation screens. We are committed to making sure you have a great classroom experience and are able to accommodate a variety of needs. If you would like to request an accommodation, please contact the Osher office at (208) 426-6554 or
osher@boisestate.edu so we can discuss the best option for your situation.
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Have you wanted to start your own Special Interest Group (SIG) but aren't sure where to start? Are you willing to take the lead and coordinate meetings? We would love to hear from you!
SIGs are member-led groups that meet outside of regularly scheduled Osher programming. Our current SIGs range from hiking in the Boise foothills to book discussion groups, and we are interested in adding a few more options to the next catalog.
If you have an idea for a SIG and are willing to be a facilitator, contact Program Coordinator Jamie Lundergreen at
jamielundergreen@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-2027.
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Free Learning Opportunities on Campus
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Entrepreneur Connect Speaker Series
Join the Boise State College of Business and Economics (COBE) for the Entrepreneur Connect Speaker Series on
Wednesday, February 6
at 3 p.m. in the Micron Business and Economics Building
Skaggs Hall of Learning (map). The topic will be "Starting ClickBank and Kount" featuring Eileen Langan Barber, director and co-founder of Keynetics Inc., and Bradley J. Wiskirchen, CEO of Kount.
Visit the COBE website to read their biographies.
Entrepreneur Connect Speaker Series seeks to connect successful entrepreneurs with students and the community to share stories and advice in a casual, open setting. A faculty panel will ask questions about entrepreneurship and encourage members of the audience to share inquiries of their own.
This event is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the Brady Garage for an hourly fee. If you have any questions, please contact COBE at
cobe-info@boisestate.edu or (208) 426-1125.
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The Idea of Nature Lecture Series
The first of three lectures of The Idea of Nature public lecture series will be held on
Wednesday, February 6 at 6 p.m.
in the Student Union Building Simplot Ballroom. The topic will be
"Rights of Nature: The Future of Idaho's Landscape"
presented by Paulette Jordan, formerly of the Idaho House of Representatives and candidate for governor of Idaho.
A reception will follow at 7 p.m. with a no-host bar and appetizers. To reserve a spot at the reception, please contact Dr. Samantha Harvey at
ideaofnature@boisestate.edu
.
This event is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the Lincoln Garage by selecting "Idea of Nature" at the payment kiosk. For more information, read the
Boise State Update article
.
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Hemingway Literary Center Events
The Hemingway Literary Center at Boise State University and Melville's Marginalia Online
are celebrating the bicentennial of the birth of Herman Melville. Melville's most iconic work,
Moby Dick
, faced considerable criticism when it was first published. Yet, it's opening line of "Call me Ishmael" is a cultural touchstone. Join the following lectures and book discussions to explore the lasting influence of Herman Melville.
Friday, February 8 at 6 p.m. - Dr. Michael Sawyer, assistant professor at Colorado College, will present "The Discourse of Race in the Art of Herman Melville" in the Student Union Building Berquist Lounge. A reception will follow with light refreshments. Parking will be available in the Lincoln Garage for an hourly fee.
Friday, February 22 at 12:10 p.m. - The first Literature for Lunch book discussion will be held at the Boise Public Library in the Bingham Room on the third floor. Herman Melville's
Billy Budd, Sailor will be discussed. Participants are encouraged to have read the book prior to attending.
Billy Budd, Sailor is available at Rediscovered Books and the Boise State bookstore in the Student Union Building.
These events are free and open to the public. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Cheryl Hindrichs at
cherylhindrichs@boisestate.edu or (208) 901-5500.
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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University
Phone: (208) 426-OLLI (6554)
Email: osher@boisestate.edu
Website: osher.boisestate.edu
The Osher Institute at Boise State University operates within the Division of Extended Studies. It is a membership-based lifelong learning program offering non-credit, college-level offerings for intellectually curious adults over age 50.
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Osher Institute Advisory Board
Chair: Ben Simko
| Ralph Bild | Russ Centanni | Carol Delaney | Bae Emilson
Chuck Folkner | Susan Gibson | Dennis Hall | Merilee Marsh | Mike Merz
Virginia Rivers | Gary Robb | Sheri Robison | Nancy Roehrkasse
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Osher Institute Staff
Director:
Dana Thorp Patterson |
Program Coordinator:
Jamie Lundergreen
Assistant Program Coordinator:
Holly Goldgrabe
Student Office Assistant:
Makayla Muilenburg
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