"'Illuminating the Dark Ages: Europe 500-1000' was absolutely outstanding. I have taken a fair number of medieval history courses, and this one was superior. Just a delightful, fascinating, intriguing presentation. Thank you!"

-Participant, Illuminating the Dark Ages: Europe 500-1000

Jessica's Note:

You may know that OLLI at MSU offers member scholarships. However, if you are a new member, you might not know about the scholarship fund's history and namesake.

Doug Young was a consummate lifelong learner and beloved OLLI at MSU member and volunteer. Doug taught as a Professor of Economics at Montana State University for 33 years, specializing in public finance and international economics—his ability to entertain made even the Dismal Science fascinating for hundreds of students. In retirement, he served as the OLLI at MSU Advisory Council president twice, taught courses, and was treasurer for the Friends of Wonderlust (the organization that became OLLI at MSU in 2019).

Doug was larger than life with a contagiously positive attitude and insatiable curiosity. In his memory, family and friends established the Doug Young Memorial Scholarship Fund to allow his legacy to bring the joy of lifelong learning to others for years to come.

We encourage you to apply for membership or program tuition assistance as needed. Please inform your curious-at-heart neighbor or friend about this fantastic opportunity. Our application is quick and easy. Click or tap here to view more information or apply for financial assistance.

Jessica Alvarez

Program Coordinator, OLLI at MSU

OLLI at MSU Friday Forum: The Future of Zoning in Bozeman

Data from the 2020 U.S. Census showed that Bozeman was one of the fastest-growing small cities in America. With that growth comes challenges related to environmental and climate impacts, open space, adequate transportation infrastructure and housing affordability. Years of studies and plans led to the recently proposed update to the city's development code, promoting compact growth while creating more housing units and options.

Bozeman-based planning consultant Mark Egge will discuss the theory behind the recently postponed revisions to Bozeman’s development code. The city’s community development manager and project lead planner, Chris Saunders, will answer questions about where the proposal stands now that the city commission has postponed adoption.

This Friday Forum meets on November 10 from noon to 1:30 p.m. online via Zoom. Click or tap here for more information or to register directly through Zoom.

Participants must register by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 10. Upon registration confirmation, participants will receive an email with the Zoom link and instructions to join the Friday Forum. Registration is required to receive the Zoom information.

Friday Forum offers presentations and campus discussions on local and regional timely topics. OLLI at MSU Friday Forum is free and open to the public.

Click or tap here for past Friday Forum recordings on the OLLI at MSU Recordings page.

October and November OLLI at MSU Offerings

Courses

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!

OLLI at MSU/MOLLI Brawl of the Wild with Jill Olsen. November 16, 1:00-2:30 p.m. While long-time rivals MSU and U of M prepare to take to the gridiron, 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 the MSU mascot, Champ, and the MSU Spirit Squad! You can also help "Can the Griz" and support the Gallatin Valley Food Bank by bringing non-perishable food items. This year's presentation is about sports safety with a virtual presentation by MOLLI guest speaker Jill Olsen, broadcast live over the big screen at our Brawl event.

Speaker Series

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.

Have a friend who wants to learn with you? Bring them along with your OLLI at MSU guest pass to enjoy the OLLI at MSU Speaker Series presentation together! Passes were provided in your membership

confirmation letter.

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!

The Journey of Legacy Letter Writing

Contribution by Jill Davis

What an incredible journey our OLLI group has embarked on over the past 18 months since our serendipitous meeting during “The Gift of Legacy Letters: Turing Your Stories Into Forever” OLLI class offered in April 2022. Our monthly gatherings have become a source of inspiration, creativity, and heartfelt connections. During each session, we delve into our writings, prompted by various themes, sharing the progress we’ve made in crafting our family stories for Storyworth or life story booklets and the legacy letters we have written to family members and friends. 

Presently, our collective is working on the 5 Wishes Booklet. This venture not only offers guidance but fosters mutual support and introspection. I want to extend my gratitude to OLLI for bringing the eight of us together in this shared venture. As the leader, I want to express my deep appreciation to each member of our class for your commitment to our monthly meetings, the openness in sharing your remarkable stories, and the collaborative spirit you bring to the table -- all of these have made this experience extraordinary.

November 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

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us

Ed Yong

November 20,

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

OLLI Tips and Tricks

Are you looking forward to Friday Forum? If your Zoom invitation doesn't appear in your inbox the day before or the morning of the Friday Forum, please check your spam or junk mail folder. Now that the links are delivered directly by Zoom, they come from a different email address that your email client may view as spam! Contact the OLLI office if your Zoom invitation doesn't arrive at all.

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.

Honors Presents: Flying Supersonic with Tony Demetriades. Tuesday, October 31, 4:00-5:00 p.m. Chemistry and Biochemistry Building, Byker Auditorium. Priority seating is given to students; however, Honors Presents programs are open to the public, and registration is not required.

Tracers of the Past: What Can Fossil Molecules Tell Us About the history of Yellowstone’s Herbivores with John Wendt and Dr. Dave McWethy. Wednesday, November 1, noon-1:00 p.m. Chemistry and Biochemistry Building, Byker Auditorium and online via Webex.

Bridging the Gap Between Innate and Adaptive Immunity with Dr. Jay Evans. Tuesday, November 7, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Strand Union Building Procrastinator Theater.

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! 

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.