What did you most enjoy about the program? "Cutting-edge plant science with MSU labs

and people, including students. The Gallatin Valley [Kimm family] potato farm tour was outstanding. Should be a Ken Burns documentary."

-Participant, How Montana Farmers Produce Quality Seed Potatoes

Jessica's Note:

Catching up with OLLI

Thank you to those who joined us for the inaugural OLLI on Campus tour this past weekend as we explored the MSU Department of Land Resources and Environmental Science (LRES). 

Bob Peterson, the Department Head, and our guide, shared history, anecdotes, and facts about the vital and fascinating research in the LRES department. As always, your thoughtful questions made each module something truly special as we made mud pies in the soils lab, learned about aquatic macroinvertebrates and witnessed current experiments with agriculture. Our on-campus program ended with a hearty lunch on the patio of the Rendezvous Dining Pavilion, meeting with Sreekala Bajwa, the Vice President, Dean, and Director of the College of Agriculture and Montana Agricultural Experiment Station and learning about the work and studies within the MSU College of Agriculture. 

I may say this every time I have the opportunity to assist during a new OLLI MSU program, but the first-ever OLLI on Campus tour was my new favorite. I am looking forward to many more MSU department tours to come!

Jessica Alvarez

Program Coordinator, OLLI at MSU

Campus Corner

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

Provost's Distinguished Lecturer Series: Eric Boyd of the Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Tuesday, October 17, 7:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies Hagar Auditorium.

Surviving death row and racial injustice: Author and activist to share his decades-long journey to freedom with Anthony Ray Hinton. Wednesday, October 18. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Strand Union Building Ballroom.

Art Exhibition: Blackfoot Pathways - Sculpture in the Wild, Ongoing through Friday, October 20. Haynes Hall, Helen E Copeland Gallery.

October and November OLLI at MSU Offerings

Courses

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Grammar FUNdamentals for Everyone! with Ann Ellsworth. Enjoy the fun, lively discussion as we re-examine your grammar understanding and de-mystify the G-word in the process. For parents, grandparents, and child- or grandchild-free alike! Thursdays, October 19 - November 16, 10:00 a.m. - noon. Hope Lutheran Church.

The U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa with Bob Loftis. Gain a more complete understanding of relations between the U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa from a former United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho. Learn the history and value of the U.S. relationship with key African countries such as South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Mondays, November 6 - December 11, 10:00 a.m. - noon. Hope Lutheran Church.

Broadway Deconstructed with Sam and Candy Caponegro. Clap your hands and tap your toes along as you enjoy snippets of Broadway musicals to gain an inside view on the construction of a musical, from opening numbers to blockbusters to signature songs. Tuesdays, November 7 - December 12, 10:00 a.m. - noon. Online via Zoom.

Grasping Grasslands: A Prairie Primer with Beth Madden. Delve into the history, geography, and ecology of the complex and unique Montana prairie. Wednesdays, November 29 - December 20, 10:00 a.m. - noon. Hope Lutheran Church. Few spaces remain.

OLLI Extras - Extracurricular activities to add to your learning experience!

Diversity and Inclusion: Cultural Identities with Barbara do Amaral. Gain a deeper appreciation for "other" and a general understanding of cultural identity models. Dig into cultural issues and learn what makes us similar and different. Fridays, October 20 - 27, 10:00 a.m. - noon. Hope Lutheran Church.

OLLI at MSU/MOLLI Brawl of the Wild with Jill Olsen. While long-time rivals MSU and U of M prepare to take to the gridiron on November 18, join MSU OLLI and UM MOLLI (virtually) for an inter-OLLI friendly and cheer-filled educational program. Bring a friend and enjoy an appearance from Champ and the MSU Spirit Squad! Support the Gallatin Valley Food Bank and help "Can the Griz" by bringing non-perishable food items. Then, learn about sports safety with a virtual presentation by MOLLI guest speaker Jill Olsen.

Speaker Series

Montana's Mountain Goats: A Wilderness Icon with Bruce Smith. Monday, October 16, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.

Uncovering Secrets: American Indian Boarding Schools with Walter Fleming. Monday, October 30, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.

The Enduring Legacy of the First World War with Dale Martin. Monday, November 13, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.

Lasers, Optics and Quantum Under the Big Sky with Jason Yager. Monday, November 20, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.

The fall 2023 speaker series is graciously sponsored by:

Preludes & Performances

Verge Theater: Ride the Cyclone Thursday, November 16, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m.

Experience a behind-the-scenes dress rehearsal of a performance in the final stages before opening night. In this hilarious and outlandish musical, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a roller coaster accident. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell a story to win a prize like no other - the chance to return to life. This popular musical is a funny, moving look at what makes a life well-lived!

Help us connect and learn!

Are you a retired photographer or budding visual art enthusiast? We like to feature our members in action on our print and web communications. If you would be interested in helping to take pictures and video during OLLI programs, let us know via our short volunteer form and we will work with you to get the camera rolling! 

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.

October 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

Dead Simple

Peter James

November 7,

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Online via Zoom

OLLI Non-Fiction Book Discussion Group

The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero

Timothy Egan

October 16,

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Online via Zoom

OLLI at MSU Book Discussion Group

Niels Lhyne

Jens Peter Jacobsen

November 6,

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Face-to-face

Hope Lutheran Church

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.