|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greetings from the NRC Sep 2018
15
|
Do you remember school essay assignments with the prompt "what did you do over your summer vacation"? As summer winds down, I start to think of all that OLLI members do during their glorious summer months. Most of what comes to mind starts with "re" - recreating, reading, recharging, and revisiting friends and family.
This issue of the Osher Institute Newsletter includes mentions of a number of OLLI summer successes starting with "re": the renowned speakers of the Osher at Dartmouth's Summer Lecture series; rediscovering the dynamics of technology and aging at a campus-wide collaborative summit at the University of California, Berkeley; and, rejoicing in the contributions of OLLI volunteers at the University of Minnesota. It's clear that Osher members have relished their summers this year.
 In between biking along the Chicago lakefront and lots of summer reading (I recommend "Our Towns" by James and Deborah Fellows), I've attended a few OLLI fall preview events. Seeing what is in store for you in these kick-offs and in your course catalogs, I bet you'll be glad you rested up for the busy semester ahead.
Your NRC team sends all best wishes as you reengage with OLLI this September,
Steve Thaxton, Executive Director
|
|
|
|
|
Osher at Dartmouth College
Summer Lecture Series on Our Divided Country: How to Find Common Ground
|
 |
|
|
Speaker Susan Dentzer & Past OLLI President Ann Hargraves |
Each summer for the last 22 years, the Osher Institute at Dartmouth College has conducted a lecture series on a central, highly topical theme. The series consists of six or seven lectures on consecutive Thursday mornings from mid-July to mid-August at Dartmouth's Spaulding Auditorium. Featuring prominent speakers from around the country, lectures are open to the public, who pay admission to attend either the entire series or individual lectures. Each lecture lasts about one hour, followed by a break and then a one-hour Q&A period. Attendees are issued index cards, which they can use to submit written questions for each Q&A session. About 550 to 725 people attend each lecture.
This year, Osher at Dartmouth live-streamed the lectures and Q&A sessions to the Osher Institutes at the University of Vermont and Granite State College in New Hampshire. People at those sites participated "live" by emailing questions for the Q&A.
|
|
|
Senator George Mitchell & Past OLLI President Pete Bleyler |
In 2017, the series theme was "Global Challenges Confronting the United States." Speakers included former Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg, former Secretary of Defense William Perry, and former Supreme Commander NATO Admiral James Stavridis. This summer, in 2018, the series focused on contentious domestic issues. The theme was "Our Divided Country - How to Find Common Ground." Session topics included: racism, immigration, inequality, government dysfunction, and the Affordable Care Act. The prominent speakers were led by former Senator, Senate Majority Leader, and world statesman George Mitchell.
Osher at Dartmouth has the technical capability to live-stream next summer's series to other Osher Institutes who wish to participate. If interested, please contact Lisa King directly at the Osher at Dartmouth office at 603-646-0154 or by emailing
osher@dartmouth.edu
Submitted by
: John Ferries, Co-Chair Summer Lecture Series, OLLI at Dartmouth College
|
OLLI at University of California, Berkeley
Exploring Tech and Aging at the
Aging Research and Technology Innovation Summit
|
|
|
|
GAIT Project Research with OLLI Members |
On August 17th, OLLI at the University of California, Berkeley, along with several other UC programs, hosted the Aging Research and Technology Innovation Summit. In the presentation of this summit, OLLI collaborated with several UC Berkeley aging research and education programs, including: Center for Research and Education in Aging (CREA), Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society and the Banatao Institute (CITRIS), Center for Technology and Aging (CTA), Fung Fellowship for Wellness and Technology Innovations, and the Center on the Economics and Demography of Aging (CEDA). The summit drew more than 300 people from six UC campuses - and from as far away as Germany and Denmark. The summit featured a day of speakers, awards, poster sessions, and valuable networking focused on cutting-edge aging research and technologies. It highlighted the educational and research mission of the University of California and its diverse and significant impact on improving the well-being of older adults.
|
|
|
UC Berkeley Vice Chancellor of Undergraduate Education Cathy Koshland, Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Grace O'Connell, and OLLI at UC Berkeley Director Susan Hoffman
Photo by: Adriel Olmos |
Summit
presenters
provided an overview of recent work in fields as diverse as genetics, mechanical engineering, and demography. Presentations examined research and projects in 3D-printed upper limb prosthetics, the use of
artificial intelligence with multiple sclerosis patients
, and genetic pathways involved in the aging process, among other subjects. Notably, Susan Hoffman, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UC Berkeley, described the GAIT project, where undergraduate Fung Fellows consulted with OLLI members and designed a prototype for wearable gait training technology. The GAIT project was also featured in the
College of Engineering Spring magazine
and a video about the GAIT project is available on the
OLLI @ UC Berkeley website
.
Allison Sekuler, Managing Director of the Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI), captured the mood of the day when she said "We need to stop thinking of aging as a disease and start thinking of it as an opportunity to grow."
See the full article here.
|
OLLI at University of Minnesota
A Thank You Poem for OLLI Volunteers
|
|
|
|
OLLI at University of Minnesota Volunteers |
Peg Lonnquist, executive director for the OLLI at the University Minnesota, wrote the following poem for their Annual OLLI Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon, and also read it at their SIG Leader Appreciation Picnic.
Out of Six Billion There's Only One You!
A thank you poem for OLLI@U of MN volunteers
July 2018
Congratulations! Today is your day.
Your service is aces! We're throwing bouquets . . .
of flowers for you, 'cause the feet in your shoes.
can steer your course any direction you choose . . .
And look! You chose OLLI, we're grateful, impressed!
All that you gave us makes us so blessed.
Your work was like magic, effective, fantastic,
OLLIs think you are be-yond galactic!
You welcomed all members, let them know that they are
Precious and worthy of wishes on stars
You've helped them with steps to the dance in their hearts
Classes! Events! And SIGs! You jumpstart!
Volunteers are magical, powerful too
You've given so much - We must say thank you!
As you all know the reward still is coming!
Each day, in your heart, you hear its thrum-thrumming
A song of salute- because of your actions
OLLIs succeeding! There's great interaction!!
You also read books! Take tours! Gain knowledge!
You did NOT leave your brains back at college!
You take care of yourself! Eat lots of brocc-oli!
Soar with the eagles. You really rock OLLI!
OLLI's ecstatic---a proud institute
With volunteers - savvy, suave and astute!
Each as unique as the great Dr. Seuss
To you we shout out - a root-a-toot-toot!!!
Out of six billion there's only one you
We're grateful you chose us. . . a MILLION thank yous!
Submitted by
: Peg Lonnquist, executive director, OLLI at University of Minnesota (with extraordinary help from Ken, Children's Musician and brother)
Adapted from Seuss. (1990). Oh the places you'll go. New York: Random House.
|
OLLI at University of North Carolina Wilmington
2019 Southern Regional Conference for Learning in Retirement
|
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (
OLLI at UNCW
) invites you to join us in Wilmington July 29-31, 2019 for the Southern Regional Conference for Learning in Retirement.
Each year, lifelong learning organizations throughout the southern regions and beyond gather to build partnerships and learn about the best practices for curriculum, marketing, membership retention, diversity, technology and travel. It is a great way for staff, volunteers, faculty and volunteer leaders to network and connect around these topics and more in the field of lifelong learning.
|
|
|
Cape Fear Bridge |
Join us on the beautiful University of North Carolina Wilmington campus, located between the Cape Fear River and pristine Atlantic beaches where you will be able to enjoy the many attractions of the Port City region and historic downtown Wilmington - voted one of America's Best Riverfronts. We are planning an extraordinary learning experience where you are sure to engage, connect, and grow!
Conference attendees are encouraged to stay at the host hotel -
Hotel Ballast -
"Wilmington's Favorite Waterfront Hotel". It sits across the Cape Fear River from the beautiful and majestic
Battleship NORTH CAROLINA,
Wilmington's most popular tourist attraction, and on the winding River Walk which takes you a short distance into the historic district with great shopping and restaurants. As conference attendees, you will be offered the special hotel conference rate.
Come early or extend your stay to include visiting our nearby beaches!
Everyone is invited to learn more about the conference and to submit session proposals by completing the Call for Session Proposals form on the conference website.
Save the date! We look forward to seeing you in Wilmington in July 2019.
|
|
The final webinar of the 2017-18 series was on July 18, 2018. The Osher NRC will begin a new series in January of 2019, allowing staff to focus on the upcoming National Conference this fall. In the meantime, past webinars are archived in the digital library available through the secure NRC website.
If you have any suggestions for future topics or would like to be a webinar presenter, please contact Kevin Connaughton,
Kevin.Connaughton@Northwestern.edu or 312-503-6056, to get involved.
|
Scottsdale, AZ - October 2018
|
We've got a great lineup of sessions for attendees at the upcoming Osher Institutes National Conference! Here's a peek at the daily agenda.
|
An Advice Column for Osher Institute Staff and Volunteers
Dear Olli
|
 Dear Olli,
Recently, our university raised our parking rates, how do other Institutes address parking costs?
~On a Budget
Dear On a Budget,
As you (and the readers) likely know, parking and transportation can be a hot issue for OLLI members. The situation varies widely. Some OLLIs enjoys cheap, ample, and easy parking, while others deal with expensive, scarce, and difficult parking. Institutes run a range from complimentary parking to pay-to-park private lots. For a little background, our annual benchmarking survey asks; "Is parking available for members at the primary location for the Institute's classes?". The following chart displays the 2017 results:
*An additional option, "No parking is available", received 0% respondents
Additionally, OLLI parking costs can pale in comparison to what a traditional student pays for a similar spot. This price difference is often the impetus for parking cost adjustments at colleges. As a result, each individual Institute addresses and manages parking in different ways with their host university or college. This can be in the form of added membership fees, discount agreements with private lots, and sometimes in using shuttle buses. While it's not easy, Institutes manage parking in the best way possible for their location through agreements with their schools/universities, often finding creative solutions that meet the needs of all involved parties.
~Olli
Have a question for Olli? Please send it in care of Stacey Hart at the NRC:Stacey.Hart@Northwestern.edu
|
Educational Travel Ideas from the OLLI Network
The OLLI Traveler
|
OLLI at San Diego State University
Exploring the Night Sky: Naked Eye and Deep Space Observing
Discover the amazing amount of stars, planets, satellites, meteors, and even galaxies you can see on a clear dark night. In SDSU's Planetarium, we'll discuss how to map the night sky and what we can learn about the universe without a telescope. Then we'll switch rooms and remote-control operate SDSU's 1-meter telescope at Mt. Laguna Observatory (50 miles away at an altitude of 6,100 feet). Weather permitting, we'll open the dome and use a CCD camera to observe some "deep sky" wonders: star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies millions of light years away. Learn more about this trip to the Observatory.
Date:
November 4, 2018
 OLLI at Saginaw Valley State University
Ireland in Depth
As you travel through Ireland, delve deeply into a land rich in history, legend, stirring music, and verdant landscapes. Begin your journey in Dublin, Ireland's cosmopolitan capital, before continuing on to the historic city of Kilkenny. From there, you're off to Cork and its nearby seaport of Cobh, from which thousands of Irish emigrated during the Potato Famine. You'll also visit Killarney and the 110-mile Ring of Kerry, boasting some of Ireland's most astonishing scenery, before exploring the eerie landscape of the Burren and the captivating Cliffs of Moher. Finally, end your Ireland guided tour in lovely Galway, where there's a tune playing around every corner. This Ireland tour is an in-depth discovery of the Emerald Isle-its lore, its lands, and above all, the gregarious charm of its people.
Learn more about this trip to Ireland.
Dates: May 22 - June 5, 2019
 OLLI at Furman University
Atlanta Civil Rights Trip
Join us as we explore the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, replete with significant historical sites. Our visit will include the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King served as pastor; the King Center, including Dr. and Mrs. King's tomb, and Freedom Hall, which honors Dr. and Mrs. King, Gandhi, and Rosa Parks. We'll take a look at the historic Fire Station No. 6, and learn about the Atlanta Fire Department and it's desegregation. We'll also join a docent for a guided tour of the King Birth Home, where Dr. King spent the first 12 years of his life, located in the heart of "Sweet Auburn," Atlanta's historic African-American district. In Atlanta, we'll also visit historic Morehead College, site of the King Memorial Chapel and the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum.
Learn more about this trip to Atlanta.
Date: October 26, 2018
|
Quick Tips for Helping Operate an Osher Institute
Quick Tip - Hearing in the Classroom
|
 Classrooms are difficult acoustic environments. Distance from the talker, background noise including other students' voices and reverberation (echoes) off hard surfaces can make it more difficult to hear the talker's voice. When it's difficult to hear, cognitive processing must be used to fill in or make sense of the message. This means that fewer cognitive resources are available to learn or to think about the material. For productive learning, good communication is essential. The OLLI at Northwestern University shares these tips with speakers to make listening easier:
- Visual cues are important. Be sure your face is adequately lit and face the audience directly when speaking
- If you are a presenter and use the whiteboard, do not talk with your back to the group
- Speak up and clearly but don't shout or exaggerate mouth movements. * Don't talk in a very soft tone
- Keep your face and mouth visible-don't turn your head or cover your mouth with your hands or your book. Objects in front of your face impede visual cues, and also lower the sound level by blocking the flow of sound
- Avoid overlapping conversations - only one person should speak at a time
|
Career Openings in the OLLI Network
Job Board
|
Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
Academic Program Assistant
OLLI Coordinator, Part-Time - Oklahoma City
OLLI Coordinator, Part-Time - Tulsa
Administrative Specialist
Is there a staff opening at your Osher Institute? Please send it to us at
oshernrc@northwestern.edu
|
|
|
|
| |
|
