We know our members want a convenient way to register for our programs.  The OLLI Executive Committee has heard you, and after much thoughtful consideration, we will transition our registration process starting next month.

The Winter 2020 season will include a final walk-in registration social on Wednesday, November 6 from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.  Staff will process forms received at the social AND via mail concurrently at 11:00 a.m. that day.  ONLINE REGISTRATION WILL ALSO OPEN AT 11:00 A.M.

Phone registrations and office walk-ins will not be accepted until Thursday, November 7 at 9:00 a.m.  We appreciate your cooperation by waiting to call or visit our office until that day.

Starting with Spring 2020 and beyond, we will no longer offer a walk-in registration social.  Online and mail registrations will be processed concurrently, and phone and office walk-ins will be accepted the next day.

We believe members will benefit from this change for several reasons:

• The new process will be fairer to all members by giving everyone equal opportunity to register with concurrent processing, without waiting in line or getting up early to attend a social.
   
• We hope to reduce the frustration of those members who have arrived at past socials on time, only to wait in a crowded lobby and find out they are already #200 in line.
   
• Members can mail forms at any time - brochures are available online and are delivered to post offices 10 days prior to registration day.
   
• For those who do not wish to use their credit cards online, we will now offer an option for payment by check.
   
• Online registration reduces errors caused by manual entry, mostly due to difficulty reading handwriting or incorrectly listed payment information.
   
• More than 90% of our members have email addresses, and this transition will enable those who prefer to use their online capabilities.
   
• There will be an overall increase in socialization opportunities, thanks to more OLLI Originals and upcoming member events to be designed by our new Membership Development Committee.
   
• Finally, our online system has been carefully re-designed over the past two years to ensure confidence in the process.  Event confirmation is also immediate - you don't have to wait for our mailed receipt to see your confirmed classes, etc.

Throughout this transition, our commitment to excellent customer service remains our top priority.  Please see the next article to learn more about hands-on training for our online registration system.

Thank you for your patience as we transition our registration options.  If you have questions or concerns, please email Continuing Education staff at [email protected].

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Because our commitment to excellent customer service is our top priority, the Continuing Education staff will provide hands-on training for our online registration system before Winter 2020 registration begins.

Staff will provide three separate training sessions on Tuesday, October 15:

• 10:00 a.m.
• 11:00 a.m.
• 12:00 p.m.

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We've all been there.  Our hearts were set on getting on a certain trip or study group, only to discover there's a waiting list.  What now?

First, we want you to understand why we have waiting lists.

Our staff is very cognizant of designing events that offer a wonderful educational and experience for all participants.  Over the past decade, we've learned that 28 participants is just the right size for most of our trip hosts, who want to make sure we can all see equipment or demonstrations without being crowded.  In some cases, a host site may limit the trip to 20 people; the Eureka Crime Lab is a great example.

It's about the right size as well for our local restaurants, who need the space to get us served and out the door in under 90 minutes.  The "seats available" for each trip is included in the brochure description.

For study groups, the volunteer facilitator for each group sets the minimum and maximum number of participants - a number based upon both the type of group and the space in which the group is held - to ensure  everyone has an opportunity to discuss the material.

For classes, we are mostly limited by room size in the Michel Student Center.  Some classes, such as hands-on art, are limited by the volunteer instructors.  Since 2018, when construction began on the new engineering and business complex, we have reduced the number of classes offered so we can fit them all in the Student Center.  We are looking forward to returning to our usual number of classes (60+ in Fall and Spring) when space opens up in other buildings on campus in 2021.  

We encourage everyone who finds a program full to sign up for the waitlist.  Many times, we will have several (if not many) cancellations for a full program, and staff may go through a dozen or so names on the list before we find someone available to fill the seat.

Finally, we ask for your patience and understanding.  Staff will call the next person on the waitlist as soon as we receive a cancellation.  Please do not go to a study group or meet the shuttles on the day of a trip to see if there are no-shows so you can fill a seat.  We don't want to put our volunteer facilitators or staff in the uncomfortable position of turning you away.

OLLI is committed to finding ways to accommodate our members who want to attend programs.  We've designed the OLLI Originals program to provide extra learning opportunities that don't fit the molds of our classes, study groups, and trips.  

They include after-hours events, workshops, films, lunch-and-learns, and dinners that often have twice as many available seats as local trips and study groups.  

We're also looking for creative ways to help more members experience what is offered in some of our most popular trips.  We are working hard to bring you more unique programs in 2020, and always use your feedback to continually improve all of our offerings.

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Space Available on Upcoming Trips 

Are you interested in joining OLLI for a day trip this fall?  Spend a few hours exploring your community with us.  All of the trips below currently have spaces available.

• Peoria Civic Center, October 24
• Joan's Trophy and Plaque Company, November 1
• Lutheran Hillside Village, November 8
• Festival of Lights -FOLEPI Floatmaking, November 11
• Art at Bodega, November 15
• The Community Festival of Nativities, December 5

 Register online  or call us at (309) 677-3900 to save your seat.

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One of your choices at OLLI's 25th anniversary gala is tequila sunrise salmon, herb potatoes, asparagus tips, rolls and butter, house salad, and bread pudding. 

We have all the information you need on our homepage:  bradley.edu/olli .

We'll send you a menu selection email when you register for the gala. Don't wait, save your seat today!

Register online  or give us a call at 

(30 9) 677-3900 today!

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