September 1, 2019
Executive Director's Newsletter
GOODBYE SUMMER-HELLO FALL 2019!
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:


OLLI at DU Launches the Fall Term 2019

After a very active summer filled with nine (9) summer seminars, with more than 1,200 OLLI members and guests in attendance, and several hiking outings scheduled by the various hiking groups, we are now ready to launch into the Fall term. In total, OLLI at DU is offering more than two hundred thirty (230) courses at our six locations. A huge thank you goes to each of the Curriculum Committees and the many Facilitators…all volunteers within the OLLI network. 

Classes begin the week of September 16 th . Please review your confirmation emails. Some of our course offering do not begin the first week of class and a very few are being held at locations other than our main church homes. 

I hope you are looking forward to classes beginning soon. Meeting again in the ‘Halls of OLLI’ is a very special experience. Enjoy!

Barbe
WorldView Trips – June 2020

OLLI at DU is offering two WorldView trips in June of 2020. 

Shades of Ireland (including Northern Ireland)
Company: Collette Travel AND an OLLI Trip.
13 days from June 1st to the 13 th , 2020

From vibrant and history-filled Dublin, across rolling green hills to the dramatic coast and onwards to Derry, experience the charms of Ireland on this magical tour of the Emerald Isle.
  • Uncover the legend of the Titanic at Belfast’s famed Titanic Experience;
  • View the Atlantic from the stunning 700-foot Cliffs of Moher;
  • Tour the walled city of Derry;
  • Stand on the awe-inspiring Giants Causeway;
  • Experience the world-famous beauty of the Ring of Kerry;
  • And much more.

You will be receiving an invitation for a Webinar on September 24 th . If you are at all interested, I highly recommend you register for the Webinar.

Sorrento ~ The Charm of the Amalfi Coast

Company: AHI International AND an OLLI Trip
8 days from June 17 th to June 25 th , 2020
Indulge in Italy’s enchanting Amalfi Coast, a region that has been luring travelers, writers and romantics for centuries. Staying in captivating, cliff-side Sorrento for seven nights, we will discover the full breadth of treasures that this region has to offer.
  • From fabled villages to flower-filled alleys;
  • Thrill to visual splendors and legendary sites.
  • Travel a serpentine road along the Amalfi Coast, passing awe-inspiring natural scenery and vertiginous houses, including colorful Positano;
  • Taste exquisite cuisine in the Campania region;
  • Walk through history in ancient ruins; and much more.
You will receive a flyer on this trip in the mail if you were registered for classes during this past academic year. There will also be some flyers at OLLI sites and you can find information at: https://ollden.ahitravel.com and click on the ‘View Trip’ tab.
2025 Vision Task Force Update

After many meetings, a great deal of research, and much gnashing of teeth, the 2025 Vision Task Force completed their findings and have created a future vision for OLLI at DU. I want to thank all the incredible OLLI at DU members for their diligence on this project. Having some understanding of what the future may bring allows OLLI at DU the opportunity to engage in strategic and tactical planning.

I will be presenting the OLLI at DU 2025 Vision Task Force findings at Town Hall meetings being held at the OLLI at DU sites during late October and early November. 
Simultaneously, we will be posting the report to the various OLLI at DU websites. 

Our future is bright with a great deal of opportunity. And, as with any opportunity, the challenges are evident as well. Our 2025 Vision provides the direction…the strategies and tactics have yet to be developed. That is our next task. 

Opportunities for OLLI at DU Members

I want to thank each of you who completed the Mentoring survey. With this information, we were able to determine which groups to collaborate with for mentoring/mentee opportunities. More information on these opportunities will be forthcoming. In the meantime, you may choose to…

Being a Mentor:

For those of you who are interested in becoming mentors, you may want to research The Bridge Project ( http://www.denverbridgeproject.org/about ).  The Bridge Project was created in 1991 through a collaboration involving community representatives and faculty members of the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver. Each of the four program components includes a number of distinct opportunities for children and youth. 

Being a Mentoree:

It is not normal that at our age we are able to be ‘mentorees’. In this project, we begin by being a mentoree and may well move toward being a mentor or at the very least assisting a college student in understanding the vitality of OLLI at DU members. This will be through an organization known as Generation Exchange. 
 
The first Generation Exchange workshop at DU is now official: it will be  Saturday, October 12th from 10:30am - 12:30 at the Anderson Academic Commons  main event room. You can find the signup link on their website: 

Please only register if you are committed to attending. As a first event, the registration is limited.
 
And for the Physically Active:  

University of Denver's 7th Annual Crimson Classic
Each year the University of Denver holds their annual Crimson Classic - a 5k Walk/Run to celebrate wellbeing and bring the community together. This year's Crimson Classic takes place on Friday, October 18th, and DU would like to invite OLLI at DU members to attend and partner with undergraduate students to participate in the 5k together.
 
Beginning September 19th, in the weeks leading up to the Crimson Classic, students and their OLLI at DU partners will train together through weekly walks or jogs and have the opportunity to get to know one another. 
 
Registration for the event is free. If you're interested in participating, please contact Carson De Fries, the Knoebel Institute for Health Aging's Intergenerational Program Coordinator at Carson.DeFries@du.edu .
L ooking forward to seeing you in the 'Halls of OLLI' this coming Fall term.
Barbe Ratcliffe
Executive Director
OLLI at DU