|
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine |
| |
Director's Message--A Time for Pride and Revitalization | |
|
In September 1997 the Senior College at USM began, offering six classes to community members. A few years later, in 2001, Bernard Osher endowed the senior college, which became OLLI at USM in honor of his gift. His generosity then helped to build the Wishcamper Center, with OLLI-dedicated offices and classrooms that allowed us to grow further and to equip our instructors with media resources and comfortable spaces that were soon filled with debate, reflection, and often laughter.
This fall—25 years later—OLLI is offering 46 classes and 14 workshops, 32 of which are remote! We also have a robust SAGE lecture series that features diverse speakers and provocative themes. The silver lining of the pandemic was the development of our remote learning program, which is now the most popular format for learning at this OLLI. Our experiment with social “pop-ups” was not only essential to keeping some members connected through the pandemic but is also a source of joy and laughter—from music/cocktail hours to trivia and games to discussions on contemporary issues. Through the pandemic, Special Interest Groups were creative, meeting outside or even online to sustain activities. Our membership has now topped 1,000 and we hope that we will continue to grow not just in numbers but in the range of topics and experiences we offer for our members. We should be proud of our accomplishments—as the first OLLI in the country (there are now 125 OLLIs), we are healthy and enjoy a strong and mutually supportive relationship
with USM.
But we are not resting on our laurels! The Advisory Board is working with me to make our OLLI stronger than ever. As many of you have experienced, we have strong instructional collaborations with USM, the Maine Senior College Network, and other OLLIs across the country (thanks largely to Mike Berkowitz’s classes in political culture). Here are our aspirations for the year:
- Creating vibrant, member-responsive programs.
- Sharing social activities that make a positive impact on members’ lives.
- Having a creative, inspiring learning environment in-person and online.
- Maintaining a positive relationship with USM and the Osher Foundation/National Resource Center.
- Sustaining OLLI as a healthy, meaningful place for learning and workspace for staff and volunteers.
- Together with the Advisory board, we will…
- Identify ways to increase our membership.
- Increase and sharpen our outreach.
- Assess and refine programs.
We have plenty to celebrate at our 25th anniversary and lots of great ideas that will help to refresh OLLI as we move forward, anticipating a full return to campus in
Fall 2023!
—Donna Anderson, Director
|
You can still register for the OLLI trip to Classical Greece in May 2023! | |
OLLI will be offering another magical trip for its members: From May 21 to 31, 2023, we will visit Classical Greece! For more information or to register contact donna.anderson@maine.edu.
The 10-day trip includes round-trip travel and transfers from Portland to Boston, nine breakfasts, one lunch, and
six delicious dinners, and a variety of meaningful, delightful activities. This is an ACTIVE trip for the go-go traveler, involving climbing up uneven, rugged paths and steps without railings and with loose stones. (This is not the right trip for members who are challenged to walk
independently and for some duration.)
The cost of the trip is $4,550 (double) and $5,150 (single accommodation).The cost includes cancellation waiver and insurance, round-trip transport from South Portland to Boston/Logan Airport, round-trip airfare from Logan International Airport, air taxes/fees/surcharge, and hotel
transfers. Be sure to register before November 7 to avoid a cost increase.
P.S: As with our recent Iceland trip, we will arrange a fantastic pre-trip class in spring 2023, so you’ll be infused with Greek history, literature, architecture, and cultural information, making the most of this trip for you.
| | |
|
—Donna Anderson
Director
|
| |
In this edition . . .
- Director's message (above)
- OLLI's 2023 trip to Greece (above)
- Update from the board
- SAGE in October and November 2022
-
Reflections Launch in November
- USM Construction Update
- Trivia
- "We Have to Talk"
- Passages
- Senior Moments
- Contributing to the Newsletter
| | | |
SAGE in October and November 2022 | |
|
House Speaker Ryan Fecteau on affordable housing
October 4.
One of the major challenges facing our communities today is the alarming shortage of affordable housing. According to House Speaker Ryan Fecteau, this problem has reached “a crisis level.” The Speaker co-chaired a bipartisan commission on affordable housing and successfully introduced and sponsored a housing reform bill to respond to this critical situation. He will discuss the findings of the commission, what needs to be done over the long term, the specific recommendations in his housing reform bill, and range of obstacles to achieving success.
| |  |
|
Danielle D'Auria on the decline of blue herons
October 11.
Whether poised at a river bend or cruising the coastline with slow, deep wing beats, the Great Blue Heron is a majestic sight. This stately heron, with its subtle blue-gray plumage, often stands motionless as it scans for prey or wades belly-deep with long, deliberate steps. Since 2009, Danielle D’Auria, a wildlife biologist with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, has spent a majority of her time studying why these magnificent birds are declining along the Maine coast. More broadly, Danielle focuses on understanding statewide populations of colonial wading birds, secretive marsh birds, black terns, loons, and other rare water birds.
| | |
|
Dr. Michael Connolly on Irish immigrants
October 18.
Probably no one knows more about the assimilation of Irish immigrants into Maine over the last 140 years than Michael C. Connolly. Michael is a Professor Emeritus from St. Joseph’s College, who earned his MA in Modern Irish History from University College Dublin and his Ph.D. in American Immigration History at Boston College. He continues to live on Munjoy Hill in Portland where he grew up in the city’s predominantly Irish and Italian, working-class neighborhoods. Michael’s publications include They Change Their Sky: The Irish in Maine (2004, University of Maine Press), and Seated by the Sea: The Maritime History of Portland, Maine, and its Irish Longshoremen.( 2011, University Press of Florida).
| | |
 | |
Dr. Kristin Taber Honey on human patient partnerships in medical research
October 25.
Those living with complex conditions, like Lyme disease and Long COVID, have unique understanding that can accelerate scientific discoveries. Kristen Taber Honey is passionate about empowering patients and caregivers—especially those facing complex “invisible illnesses”—to co-create solutions as equal partners with clinicians, researchers, and policymakers. To do this, Kristen leads the “InnovationX” team at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) headquarters in Washington, D.C. She puts patients at the center of their innovation process using human-centered design, data, and partnerships. Kristen is a Stanford Ph.D. scientist who worked three years in the White House at the highest levels of government, yet her superpower comes from personal experience with medical misdiagnoses. Ultimately, we’re all patients; we’re all teachers; we’re all experts. As a proud Mainer and graduate of Portland Public Schools, Kristen will enlighten us as to the nerdy meaning of “Wicked Problems,” which is not just from Maine lingo.
| | | |
|
|
Bill McKibben on climate change
November 1.
One of our country’s most recognized names in environmental activism is Bill McKibben. Bill is a prolific author and the co-founder of 350.org network, a global grassroots movement that seeks to address and inform about the climate crisis. In 2014, biologists credited his career by naming a new species of woodland gnat—Megophthalmidia mckibbeni—in his honor. You may have read one of his articles published in magazines like Rolling Stone, The Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s or The New Yorker. One might think he prefers a stage or the adrenaline of the crowds, but you would be wrong. He is happiest tucked away in a quiet room working on his next book. He spends as much time as he can outside in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
| | |
|
TO REGISTER FOR SAGE: Single lecture tickets at $10 each can be purchased by contacting the OLLI office no later than the Thursday prior to the specific program.
Finally, the SAGE Committee welcomes your comments on lectures, any suggestions you may have for future presenters, and people willing to volunteer to be SAGE Committee members. You could send your comments, suggestions, or volunteer interest to either of the SAGE Committee’s Co-chairs, Claire Smith and Stephen A. Abramson, at their following email addresses: forclaire@hotmail.com; steve8353@aol.com.
*Please note only emails containing “SAGE” in the email subject line will be read.
| |
Reflections Launches in November
| |
In case you were wondering, our OLLI Arts and Literature Journal Reflections is in the process of being readied for publication. We are planning our first in-person launch party in three years, to be held in Wishcamper Center in The Forum near Room 133.
The date is Friday, November 4, the last day of the fall term. The time will be from 11:30 to 12:30, right in between morning and afternoon classes.
The journals will be available, and light refreshments will be served. We are planning to have some writers, poets, and artists on hand to share some of their work. Everyone is welcome (though be advised the usual COVID precautions will be taken for anyone wishing to enter the building). We hope to see you there!
—Robert Petrillo. Reflections Chair
|
| | |
USM Construction Ahead of Schedule | |
|
There are three major construction projects around the Wishcamper Center: The Portland Commons (a student residence),The McGoldrick Center--The Center for Student Success, and the parking garage extension. The good news is that all projects are moving along ahead of schedule and should be completed in June 2023. Soon, the large-scale outdoor work will be finished and the crews will move to the interiors. We hope that this shift to the interior will reduce noise, traffic, and the surprise of having large structural elements near walkways.
For the fall term, please remember to use the brick walkways along Bedford Street to move from the parking garage to the Wishcamper Center. Those members taking classes in Luther Bonney can take the Skybridge from the Abromson Center to Luther Bonney Hall.
Thanks for your patience—the campus will be beautiful when the construction is completed!
| |
|
The fall term has started, and it’s wonderful to reconnect with OLLI folks. Now that you know your fall schedules, take a look and see if you’d like to join us on Monday evenings for Trivia. Look for us under Special Events on the OLLI website or in the email from OLLI for October Pop-Ups!
Here are some favorite questions from our late summer Trivia Nights. Enjoy!
1. After what famous composer was F. Scott Fitzgerald named?
2. Who was the efficiency expert, considered by many to be the Father of Management Engineering (and of time/motion studies), who had his story told by his children in a non-fiction book?
3. What is the gnarly name of the square root symbol ?
4. “A horse is a horse, of course, of course.” Can you name Mr. Ed’s owner?
5. What is the largest island in the Mediterranean?
6. What was the first year that women were allowed to compete in the Olympics?
7. What are the first five words of “The Marines’ Hymn?”
See the answers below!
|
|
1. After what famous composer was F. Scott Fitzgerald named?
(Frances Scott Key)
Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896. He was descended from a long line of Marylanders on his father’s side. Frances Scott Key, author of the lyrics for “Star Spangled Banner,” was his distant cousin.
2. Who was the efficiency expert, considered by many to be the Father of Management Engineering (and of time/motion studies), who had his story told by his children in a non-fiction book?
(Frank Gilbreth)
Frank Gilbreth was born in Fairfield, Maine, in 1868. He was a mechanical/industrial engineer, an inventor, and an efficiency expert. He and his wife Lillian founded a management consulting firm and had twelve (!!!) children. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth’s two oldest children wrote the book Cheaper by the Dozen to share the story of heir parents, who often used their large family for efficiency experiments. The book inspired a 1950 film. Frank Gilbreth’s maxim was: “I will always choose a lazy person to do a difficult job, because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”
3. What is the gnarly name of the square root symbol?
(Radical)
4. “A horse is a horse, of course, of course.” Can you name Mr.
Ed’s owner?
(Wilbur – or Wilburrrrr, as Mr. Ed would spell it)
5. What is the largest island in the Mediterranean?
(Sicily)
6. What was the first year that women were allowed to compete in the Olympics?
(1900)
Women were a very small proportion (22 out of 997) of the athletes at the 1900 Olympic games in Paris. They competed in five events: sailing, golf, tennis, croquet, and equestrianism.
7. What are the first five words of “The Marines Hymn”?
(From the halls of Montezuma)
Did you know that the next phrase, “to the shores of Sicily,” describes an OLLI trip destination of the past?
This month's trivia is by Faye Gmeiner
|
|
|
We Have to Talk
That’s what humans do. We recall, inform, opine and gossip, because we need to communicate with each other. Here’s what I’m thinking. Here’s what I’m doing. Here’s what I know. What do you know? So not surprisingly, for many loyal members of OLLI, catching or lending an ear before or after class in the hallways of Wishcamper has been a much-loved part of their lifelong learning experience.
BUT COVID STOPPED THAT. We couldn’t meet eye to eye to find out if we could see eye to eye or show off our latest photos. The disconnect was disheartening. So OLLI quickly moved the chatty camaraderie to computers, bringing us face to face again on Zoom. In so-called pop-up discussions, we have gone on sharing our news, ideas, photos, discoveries and worries—free speech, because there is no charge to members for chatting.
Our online gab is no different from the hallway yak. We talk about moving from California to Maine, our favorite reads, and of course, food. There’ve been regular get-togethers to dish about local farmers’ markets, best bakeries for holiday treats, recommended restaurants, and how to save summer’s bounty for the long winter. Up next is psyching out where to go global in greater Portland to find the ingredients to make “foreign food,” and someone who has mastered that art to feed her family the food of her homeland will join in.
Pop-Ups are free, but you need to register on the OLLI website: https://www.enrole.com/usmmaine/jsp/index.jsp?categoryId=10029
Let us know what you might be puzzling over or what you wish the friend you bump into might know. What would you like to discuss face to face with your classmates at OLLI? We can
Zoom in on it. Please contact Star Pelsue at srpelsue@gmail.com
—Sandy Garson, esandyg@gmail.com
| |
|
Beloved member of OLLI, Betty Smith died on September 9th. Betty was heart and soul of our SAGE lecture series for many years. A talented artist and writer, her works appeared in several issues of Reflections.
Her obituary reads, in part: “Lured by a vivacious appetite for knowledge, she and her husband were drawn to a program designed specifically for seniors at the University of Southern Maine. It was OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) that prompted Betty to further spread her wings both intellectually and from a connectivity standpoint. She was extremely proud of her ability to secure riveting speakers [for SAGE] then bravely overcame her fear of public speaking when introducing each to an auditorium filled with lifelong scholars. Furthermore, this environment afforded her the ability to continue with her love of painting while in the company of like minded spirits.”
The full obituary appears here: https://www.hobbsfuneralhome.com/obituary/elisabeth-smith.
| |
|
Senior Moments
Dick Cass, Janet Stebbins
| |
Senior Moments” is an occasional article featuring accomplishments of OLLI members outside of usual OLLI activities: books published, awards bestowed, major speeches given, and so on. We appropriated the name to claim a positive connotation. Send information about Senior Moment accomplishments to ollinews@maine.edu.
| |
|
OLLI member and instructor Dick Cass has published a new murder mystery, The Last Altruist. Unlike his six Elder Darrow mysteries, which are set in Boston, this latest mystery takes place in Portland, Maine. On September 21, Dick was the guest at Longfellow Books, in Portland, to celebrate the book’s publication. He was interviewed by Kristina Niidas Holm, a crime book reviewer based in Maine.
| | |
|
OLLI member Janet Stebbins, who died last August, had been an Advisory Board chair and poet, among many other things. Her second book, All Those Words, was compiled and published posthumously by her friend and fellow poet, Ted Clausen. Another friend, Jay Roberts, has offered to send this privately published book to anyone who asks him, at jsrbox@aol.com.
| | |
Contributing to the OLLI Newsletter | |
I love doing the newsletter, don’t get me wrong. After all, I’ve been doing this for over a decade.
But I’d like some help from the contributors, whoever you are. You’ll see from the lists below that getting articles ready to send for posting can be time-consuming.
First, where to send articles: ollinews@maine.edu. This is the only official place to send stuff for the newsletter. You can cc me at my aol account if you know it, but I can often miss something in the crush of my aol inbox.
Second, how to send articles: Each article should be in Microsoft Word and sent as an attachment to the email. The subject line for the email should have the title of your article and the word Newsletter.
Now, the details:
Format
I now spend a lot of time formatting articles to a standard form. Here’s what I’d like to see:
- Microsoft Word (yeah, I already said that) in 12-point type. You can use bold or italic for emphasis. Color is okay too. I know a lot of people have Calibri 11 point as the default. Please try to avoid it.
- Single spaced (not “Multiple”)
- If you really want to help, indent each paragraph 1/10th of an inch.
- If you need to, please use the automatic bullet-list or numbered-list feature in Word. Otherwise I have to redo it.
-
Otherwise, don’t play around trying to format the layout with the Tab key or the spacebar. I just have to redo those, and that’s one of my more time-consuming tasks.
-
If you have a special format in mind, let me know in the body of your cover letter (a.k.a. the body of your email).
Content
- News about OLLI people, events, classes, clubs, Special Interest Groups, and so on are always welcome.
- Just about anything is OK, but it has to relate to our OLLI community. Political stuff and commercial stuff are likely to go poof into the little electronic bucket. The OLLI Director and staff have the final word. Never had a problem with porn. Don’t start.
- If you share an address (email address or website, or on-the-ground) make sure it goes where you want it to.
- Please make sure the names of people, places, and other proper nouns are accurate and spelled correctly.
- All acceptable content is subject to editing, shortening, grammar checking, etc. We typically do not send edited articles back to the writer for approval. (This is typical of most periodicals.)
Pictures
- Pictures, content-related or decorative, should be in one of these formats: jpg, jpeg, or png. Attach the picture file to your email; putting it in the body of the email sometimes doesn’t work. If you want to give or take credit for the picture, say so in your cover letter (the email).
- All photos and pictures are subject to cropping, resizing, and enhancing.
Finally, don’t let any of this stop you from sharing information with the OLLI members. I won’t show up snarling at your door or in your inbox. But try to do the best you can. Get help from a friend or relative, or Mr. Google.
And thanks!
| |
Email ollinews@maine.edu
to submit your piece.
Phone:207-780-4406
Tim Baehr, Editor
Don King, Editor Emeritus
|
Deadline for the next issue is October 15. |
| | | |
Maine Senior College Network | | |
OLLI National Resource Center | | |
|
Non-discrimination Notice
The University of Maine, including USM, is an EEO/AA employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).
| | | | |
