"This was a terrific class with information and resources provided by an instructor

with lived experience on this important and relevant topic."

-Participant, "Reframing Rural: Rural Representations in the

Media & Rural Issues in the West"

Jessica's Note

Calling all OLLI at MSU enthusiasts! Ever wonder who's behind the scenes crafting those captivating programs you love? It's our amazing member volunteers!

If you're passionate about OLLI Extras, tours, activities, and learning adventures, why not join our dynamic team? Bobbi and I are on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers ready to help us bring to life a plethora of exciting new ideas for future programs.

Continue reading to find all the details on these fun and essential volunteer roles. 

Jessica Alvarez

Program Coordinator, OLLI at MSU

Member Spotlight - Blue & Gold Through and Through

Bud and Jennifer Johnson lived in Hamilton, Billings, Harlowton, and Laurel before moving to Bozeman. They have also visited all 50 U.S. states.

The Johnsons met at MSU and are both MSU alums. Bud earned a degree in electrical engineering. His employment included managing several car dealerships. He then worked as an automotive software trainer for ADP/CDK. While with the company, he was involved in a large Canadian project. The job necessitated traveling all over the U.S. and Canada, which was a lot of fun. Before getting married, Jennifer majored in microbiology and worked at the FBI crime lab. After marriage, she concentrated on being a “professional mom.”

Bobcat blue and gold flowed through their veins to their offspring. All four of the Johnson’s children are MSU grads.

Before moving to Bozeman, the Johnsons lived in Nashville, TN, near one of their sons. That son recently followed them back to Bozeman when he and his wife could work from home. The Johnsons are pleased to be back in Bozeman. This spring, they are celebrating their 50th anniversary of graduating from MSU.

In retirement, Bud received his HAM radio license and became interested in robots. He has volunteered with the First Lego League and First Tech Challenge. These two programs encourage young students to pursue studies in STEM. Jennifer is rejuvenating her interest in genealogy and loves painting rocks with her grandchildren. Lucky Grands!

The Johnsons enjoy OLLI as a resource for learning and meeting new people. They thank Carol Flaherty and Suzanne Winchester for introducing them to this fantastic organization.

Upcoming OLLI at MSU Programs

Courses

Our Constitutions, Federal and State, Plus a Few Others To Boot with Stephen Maly. Tuesdays, March 26 - April 30, 10:00 a.m. - noon. Hope Lutheran Church. Learn about the origins and evolution of federal and state guiding documents. How are they interconnected and how do they compare with others in the world? 

Gardening Under the Big Sky with Toby Day. Wednesdays, March 27 - May 1, 10:00 a.m. - noon. Hope Lutheran Church. Discover ideas to tackle Zone 4 growing challenges.

Modern Art with Sarah Maki. Thursdays, April 18 - May 23, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Hope Lutheran Church. Gain a broader understanding of art and learn to view works of art critically, no matter the style, era or culture.

OLLI Extras

Nature’s Calendar: The Phenology of Spring with Cedar Mathers-Winn. Wednesday, March 20, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Hope Lutheran Church. Explore the natural history of change and deepen your experience of the seasons here in Montana.

Taste of OLLI: Dry Hills Distillery Tour and Tasting Tuesday, March 26, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Dry Hills Distillery. Learn about Dry Hills Distillery's farm-to-bottle process and enjoy sipping craft spirits in their warm, inviting tasting room.

Speaker Series

My Life in Hollywood: A History of Film in Montana Through the Lens of a Casting Director with Tina Buckingham. March 18, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.

Ptolemaic Queens as Greco-Egyptian Goddesses with Tara Sewell-Lasater. March 25, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.

Life in Ice with Christine Foreman. April 8, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.

Osher Online Courses

Osher Online programs are not recorded. These online courses are offered through the National Resource Center for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes.

The Sixties in America: From Rebellion to Rights to Commodity with Jeff Rice. Mondays, April 1 - May 6, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Online via Zoom.

Peace Leadership: Exploring Peacebuilding from the Ground Up with Aleen Bayard. Tuesdays, April 2 - May 7, 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Online via Zoom.

Chemistry Inside You with Kjir Hendrickson. Tuesdays, April 2 - May 7, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Online via Zoom.

Click or tap here to see additional newly added Osher Online offerings.

Learning Opportunities for Everyone - Feed Your Curiosity at a Price That Works for You!

We strive to keep member participation affordable so everyone 50 years of age and better can engage with us in lifelong learning. Therefore, OLLI at MSU offers financial assistance for both tuition and membership.

We are grateful to the family and friends of our late OLLI at MSU leader and consummate lifelong learner, Doug Young, for establishing the Doug Young Memorial Scholarship Fund.

We encourage you and your neighbors or friends to apply for membership or program tuition assistance as needed. Our application is quick and easy. Click or tap here to view more information or apply for financial assistance. Applications must be submitted prior to program registration.

March Reads



OLLI at MSU offers three member exclusive book discussion groups. We are sharing the below titles to allow you time to enjoy a good cozy autumn read and join in the discussions! You may join any of the groups below for one, a few, or all of the sessions.

OLLI Mystery Book Discussion Group

1st to Die

James Patterson

April 2,

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Online via Zoom

OLLI Non-Fiction Book Discussion Group

The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements

Sam Kean

March 18,

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Online via Zoom

OLLI at MSU Book Discussion Group

Waiting for the Barbarians

J. M. Coetzee

March 11

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Face-to-face

Hope Lutheran Church

Seeking volunteers for program development

We're seeking adventurous volunteers who are eager to infuse their unique perspectives into the OLLI experience.

Spark Your Imagination: Join the OLLI Extras Committee and indulge your passion for creating engaging programs and connecting with others. Share your wisdom and help us shape experiences that resonate with our lively community of learners.



Empower Future Adventures: Consider lending your expertise to the Development Committee and contribute to planning and implementing future fundraising initiatives for long-term sustainability. Your involvement will feed other's curiosity for generations to come.

We invite YOU to be a part of our vibrant community. Complete our short volunteer form or reply to this email, and we will contact you to discuss further. Let's make every OLLI moment extraordinary together! 

Campus Corner

Below are a few upcoming events offered on the Montana State University Bozeman campus that may interest our OLLI at MSU members. Click or tap titles and locations for more information. These events are not sponsored or produced by OLLI at MSU.

An Evening with Dr. Cora Neumann, Grassroots to Global: The Power of Public Health Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Norm Asbjornson Hall, Inspiration Hall. In celebration of Women’s History Month, Montana State University brings you a special lecture by public health practitioner, policy advocate and non-profit strategist Dr. Cora Neumann, founder of the First Ladies Global Alliance. 

The Office of Research and Economic Development presents "994 Journeys" with Ilse-Mari Lee, dean of the Honors College. Tuesday, March 26, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Strand Union Building, Room 233. Ilse-Mari Lee will tell the story of where she trained, how she came to MSU, and a few key highlights of her research and scholarship.

History is a Joke Friday, April 5, 6:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies, Hager Auditoriums. To celebrate April Fool's Day, Bozeman's finest comedians and historians will engage in a series of amusing challenges to determine who can provide the most entertaining hot takes on famous and notorious historical figures, locations, and incidents. At the conclusion of the event, the audience will choose the top three funniest performers for valuable and amusing awards. Click or tap here to purchase tickets. Ticket purchase required.

We hope you enjoy the selection of items we have chosen for this edition. Everything in this email will be archived on the Newsletter Archive page of our website.