In This Issue: Spotlight on Members: Mark and Cindy Eubank | Welcome Priscilla Gallardo! | Presenter Spotlight: Dr. John Bieter | Osher Programs in the Spotlight | Osher at Upcoming Senior Expo and Fair | Thank You, CapEd! | Casual Coffee Social Hour | SIGs in the News | Volunteer Drawing Winners | Osher Members in IdaHome Magazine | Upcoming Partnership and Community Events | Campus Food Pantry Donations

This month's Osher Members Spotlight shines on Mark and Cindy Eubank.

Mark has been an Osher member for 10 years, and Cindy has been a member for five years. Their favorite Osher classes are anything taught by Dr. David Adler, Dr. Shelton Woods, and Dr. Richard Bell. When they're not attending classes or volunteering at Osher, Mark enjoys biking, cross-country skiing, and promoting recreational trails. Cindy loves reading, walking, hiking, cross-country skiing, having coffee and/or walking with friends, volunteering with Advocates for the West, and learning to identify birds. They both enjoy traveling, live music, and visiting family and friends. Among their many fond Osher memories, Mark's favorite is the recent celebration of his birthday with the Chit Chat Club Special Interest Group (SIG), of which he is the facilitator.

We're happy to introduce our new student office assistant, Priscilla Gallardo!

Priscilla is a senior at Boise State majoring in Business Administration and Human Resource Management. She plans to work full time after graduation in an entry-level Human Resources position and would like to travel in her free time. Priscilla was raised in Idaho and is close to her parents and older sister; they enjoy taking walks and spending time together. Some of her favorite hobbies include watching movies, reading, and extracurricular activities. She is currently the President of Beta Gamma Sigma, Boise State's business club, where she organizes community service and networking events for club members.

Priscilla enjoys the positive work environment of Osher and says, "Every day that I come in, everyone is welcoming to me. It feels great to be around people at work who tell you that they appreciate your help. The Osher members that come into the office are also so happy to be there and eager to learn. I’m happy I get to contribute to a workplace that brings people together to learn and socialize."

Welcome aboard, Priscilla! We're glad to have you as part of our team!

The Osher Institute is fortunate to have a wealth of talented presenters from Idaho and across the country. This month, we spotlight Dr. John Bieter.

Dr. Bieter is Professor of History and Co-Founder of the Basque Studies Program at Boise State University. He will be presenting The American West: Land, Myths, Government and Identity on Thursday, October 26, from 10:00 a.m. to noon. He earned his undergraduate degree in Economics and Social Sciences from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, his Master's degree in History from Boise State University, and his Doctoral degree in History from Boston College.

Dr. Bieter and his five siblings were raised in Boise. His father was born in Minnesota but was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base and came to Boise, where he met his mother. His mother was born in Boise but both of her parents were from the Basque Country. His father worked as a professor in the College of Education at Boise State. He fell in love with his mother - and also with Basque culture - and subsequently started Boise State's first studies abroad program in the Basque Country in 1974-1975. Almost 50 years later, in summer 2024, Boise State will be starting another studies abroad program in the Basque Country through the Honors College.   

Dr. Bieter loves to teach courses on U.S. immigration broadly and Basque history and immigration as a case study. He also enjoys teaching courses where he works with History Secondary Education teachers. He started out as a high school teacher and really likes working with students on ways to effectively engage them with the past. He finds it to be very challenging and deeply rewarding.   

The experience of living in the Basque Country for a year when he was 12 and returning there for a total of three-plus years forced Dr. Bieter to delve deeper into understanding the U.S., particularly the American West. He loves discussing how foundational stories of the American West identity impact how people live their lives in the West, and additionally how they influence the culture, economy and politics of the U.S. on a global scale.  

Walking With Dinosaurs Along the Rockies (Livestream/Recorded Only)

Presenter: Dr. Patricia Quinlisk, former Medical Director and State Epidemiologist, Iowa Department of Public Health

Date and time: Wed., Oct. 11, 10:00 a.m.-noon

Cost: Included with membership

The Osher classroom will be open for viewing

Intersection of Religion and Law

Presenter: Bob Aldridge, JD, founder, Trust and Estate Professionals of Idaho, Inc. and Robert L. Aldridge, Chartered

Dates and times: Fri., Oct. 13, 20, and 27, 10:00 a.m.-noon

Cost: $35

Stories From Former Refugees (In Person Only)

Presenter: Idaho Office for Refugees

Date and time: Mon., Oct. 16, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Cost: Included with membership

UNESCO and Protecting Cultural Heritage (In Person Only)

Presenter: Dr. Bill Smith, Director, Martin Institute and Borah Foundation, University of Idaho

Date and time: Thu., Oct. 19, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Cost: Included with membership

Seats are still available for these programs! For more information, and to register, visit the the Log In/Register Online page, or call Customer Services at (208) 426-1709.

The Osher Institute will be part of the Idaho Senior Lifestyle Expo on Saturday, October 7, at Expo Idaho!

Stop by anytime between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to visit Osher Institute Director Dana Thorp-Patterson at our booth and take advantage of the available senior resources. The event is free with plenty of parking at the site. Hope to see you there!

You can also visit Osher at the Senior Health and Safety Fair on Tuesday, October 17, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Dick Eardley Senior Center!

Our table attendants at this free event will be Osher Advisory Board members Bae Emilson, Rainey Pieters, and Diane Ronayne. Stop in and say hello!

CapEd Credit Union has been a stalwart supporter of the Osher Institute for many years. They are committed to supporting quality education, financial empowerment, and the enrichment of individuals and communities. Their purpose is to continue to be the foremost financial resource for individuals, organizations, and businesses and to supply them with the tools and knowledge for strengthening their financial well-being.

The Hiking in the Foothills SIG has been enjoying their excursions around the foothills this semester! The group meets every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at various trailheads around Boise.

If you would like to join this SIG, visit the

Log In/Register Online page and click on the drop-down menu for Special Interest Groups.

The Personal Writing SIG welcomes the opportunity to share selected works of its members. This month's featured writing is from SIG member Tom Baerwald.

Tom is a geographer who spent most of his professional career working at the National Science Foundation in the Washington, D.C. area. Since retiring and moving to Idaho, he has become active at the Osher Institute. Currently, he serves on the Advisory Board and chairs the natural sciences and environment curriculum track committee. Tom says his engagement with other in the Personal Writing SIG has improved his creative writing.

You can read Tom's essay Conversations From a Neighborhood App on the Osher on Demand page of the Osher website.

Congratulations to Marge Butterfield! She is the August winner of a free $25 class in our first Osher volunteer drawing. Our Administrative Assistant, Cherie Ellingson, will draw a name each month, and the prizes will vary. To be eligible, members must be an active Osher volunteer during the month of the drawing.

If you are a current volunteer, you can fill out the entry form located at the Volunteer Corner in the Osher office. If you would like to become a volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form.

First Friday Astronomy Lecture

"Dark Matter: The Invisible Nests of Galaxies"

Friday, October 6, 7:30 p.m.

Boise State University, Education Building, Room 112 and via Zoom

Dr. Yao-Yuan Mao, Assistant Professor, University of Utah

To join via Zoom, visit the First Friday Astronomy YouTube page.

The Alturas Institute Presents: Constitutional Conversations

Thursday, October 12, 4:00 p.m.

Yanke Research Park, Room 207

Join us for an evening with Dr. David Adler to discuss current events. Hosted by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, but this is NOT an Osher program. This event is free and open to the public; no registration is required. Doors will open at 3:50 p.m.

Martin-Hindrichs Lit for Lunch Discussion Series

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Friday, October 13, noon-1:00 p.m.

Yanke Research Park, Room 207

Ann Campbell, Professor of English, Boise State University

Sponsored and hosted by the Osher Institute

Free and open to the public, no registration necessary

Non-Osher members may purchase a $5 parking permit for the Yanke building at the Osher office that is good for all Lit for Lunch sessions through May 2024.

Boise City of Public Works

Water Recycling Pilot Tour

Saturday, October 14, 10:00 a.m.

7781 Silicon Ln., Boise

For more information and to register, visit the tour's Eventbrite site.

Third Annual Brain Health Symposium

Saturday, October 21, 9:00 a.m.

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine

For more information and to register, visit the Brain Health Symposium site.

Boise State University Distinguished Lecture Series

"Is Civil Discourse Dead?"

Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Robert George

Monday, October 23, 7:00 p.m.

Boise State Student Union Simplot Ballroom

For more information, visit the Distinguished Lecture Series site.

City Club of Boise Evening Conversation

"Implications of Open Primaries in Idaho"

Thursday, October 26, 6:30 p.m.

Yanke Research Park, Room 207

Tom Luna, Senior Vice President and Chief of Government Relations Officer, Project Lead the Way, and Sean Coletti, Mayor, City of Ammon, ID

Hosted by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

To register, visit the City Club of Boise site.

Thank you for your donations to the Boise State Campus Food Pantry! You may drop off your nonperishable items in the Yanke building lobby bin anytime during office hours.

The theme for October is: Sweater Weather

Some donation suggestions:

Hot cocoa mix | Boxed teas | Instant coffee | Non-dairy creamer | Instant oatmeal

Dried soup mixes | Dried beans and lentils | Canned soups and stews

The Pantry is in need of volunteers on Tuesday through Friday to assist them with smaller deliveries, restocking, and completing routine tasks. If you are interested, you may fill out the Campus Food Pantry Volunteer Form.

For more information, visit the Campus Food Pantry website.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University

Phone: (208) 426-OLLI (6554)

Email: osher@boisestate.edu

Website: boisestate.edu/osher

The Osher Lifelong Learning 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 programs designed for intellectually curious adults age 50 and over.



Support the Osher Institute here.

Osher Institute Advisory Board

Chair: Cindy Anson | Chair Elect: Bae Emilson | Tom Baerwald | Michael Bixby

Chuck Folkner | Bob Fontaine | Dennis Hall | Rod McLean | Sharon Moses

Rainey Pieters | Dr. Chuck Robertson | Diane Ronayne

Osher Institute Staff

Director: Dana Thorp-Patterson | Assistant Director: Laura Mehlhaff

Senior Communications Specialist: Jill Chmelko

Administrative Assistant II: Cherie Ellingson

Student Office Assistant: Priscilla Gallardo