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Wonderings
A publication of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at MSU


"I have taken literally dozens of classes on varied topics, from Wonderlust and now OLLI.

A former teacher, I love being a student!"

-Participant, The Prophetic Passion of Leonard Cohen

Jessica's Note

OLLI at MSU out and about!


In the past month, OLLI members have enjoyed the warmer weather by getting out and about with OLLI Extras and How It's Made!


First, we toured the new HRDC facility, Market Place at Community Commons. Though the goal was awareness of the new facility and provided services, many stayed for a delicious meal to support our local pay-what-you-can restaurant managed by HRDC. Dinner contributions that evening exceeded staff expectations (and ours), supporting HRDC's many efforts to, in turn, help our community families and friends. Thank you to our OLLI members who attended the OLLI How It's Made tour and those who paid for a home-cooked meal after that! 


Then, OLLI members toured Bozeman, Montana's own farm-to-bottle Dry Hills Distillery for a tour and tasting! We learned about creating various spirits and saw the distillery in action.


On April 24, OLLI members will serve the community by volunteering at Fork & Spoon. We hope you will come to cheer them on and enjoy a wonderful home-cooked meal you didn't have to cook yourself!


Let the joy of curiosity lead you to new experiences of lifelong learning.

 

Jessica Alvarez

Program Coordinator, OLLI at MSU

April Friday Forum: Is a New City and County Government Structure Needed for Our Growing Community?


The Montana Constitution requires local governments to ask their citizens to review local government structures every 10 years to decide if the existing form of government meets that community's needs. Gallatin County will mail ballots to county residents in June.


At the Friday Forum, Ashley Kent, Associate Director at the Local Government Center at MSU, will discuss the history of this feature in the Montana Constitution and how it can benefit communities experiencing change. Forum participants are encouraged to submit questions and comments in advance via Zoom registration.


This Friday Forum meets on April 12 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, April 12. Upon registration confirmation, participants will receive an email with the Zoom link and instructions on how 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.

Aerial image of Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park (view from the south)

Unique Montana

Developed by an OLLI at MSU volunteer writer


When asked, most Montanans express excitement and deep gratitude for living in such a great state. Most of those polled point to its topography, wildlife, geology, and abundant water sources as the primary reasons for their appreciation.


Below are some Treasure State facts that may surprise you:

  • Triple Divide Peak is unique to Montana and is located in Glacier National Park. Its triple divide enables water to flow to three waterbodies: the Pacific, Atlantic, and Hudson Bay.
  • Elk, deer, and antelope populations outnumber the number of humans in Montana.
  • Montana has more species of mammals than any other state.
  • Yellowstone National Park is home to half of the world's active geysers and the world's largest geyser field.
  • Flathead Lake is considered the largest freshwater lake in the West.
  • Helena was the millionaire capital of the world in 1888, with more millionaires per capita than anywhere else.
  • The Crown Jewels of England has only one gem from North America: the Montana Yogo Sapphire.
  • A 15-inch snowflake fell on Montana during a storm in 1887. It is widely believed to be the largest snowflake ever observed.
  • The largest temperature range in one state occurred right here in Montana. In 1937, Medicine Lake hit 117 degrees, and Roger's Pass recorded at -70 degrees in 1954.
  • Finally, nearly 80% of Montana's counties are considered "frontier counties" with an average population of 6 or fewer people per square mile.


In summary, it's good to be us for those who live, raise families, and work in Montana.


SOURCES: Sustainablelumberco.com, Aerial image of Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park by Carsten Stegar through CC BY-SA 4.0

Upcoming OLLI at MSU Programs

Courses


Modern Art with Sarah Maki. Please note the dates have changed to April 11, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 30 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. There will be no class on April 18 and May 23. Hope Lutheran Church. Gain a broader understanding of art and learn to view works of art critically, no matter the style, era or culture.


Microbes in Sickness and in Health with Kari Cargill. Tuesdays, April 23 - May 14, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Hope Lutheran Church. Gain an appreciation for the role that microbes play in our daily lives and enjoy hands-on lab activities.

OLLI Extras


LGBTQ+ Everyday Allies with Bee Bowman, Bryn Goodwin, and Shawn Reagor. Fridays, April 19 - May 17. Are you confused by LGBTQ+ jargon or wonder if you should call someone “sir” or “ma’am” or something else? Join this program to learn the role bias can play in our interactions with LGBTQ+ people and how to support those around us in our greater community.

Speaker Series


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


Nelson Story: Bozeman Pioneer and Capitalist with John Russell. April 15, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.


Finding Tut's Tomb with Tony Demetriades. April 22, 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. New July and August offerings coming soon!


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.


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


AI for Regular People with Hod Lipson and Melba Kurman. Thursdays, April 18 - May 23, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Online via Zoom.


The Intersection of Maps and History with Libby Bischof, Matthew Edney, and Louis Miller. Fridays, April 19 - May 24, noon - 1:30 p.m. Online via Zoom.


Click or tap here to see additional 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.

Spring 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 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

Rules of Prey

John Sandford

May 7,

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Online via Zoom

OLLI Non-Fiction Book Discussion Group

Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death, and Art

Rebecca Wragg Sykes

April 15,

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Online via Zoom

OLLI at MSU Book Discussion Group

The House Gun

Nadine Gordimer

May 6

3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Face-to-face

Hope Lutheran Church

Seeking volunteers for program development

 

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


Spark Your Imagination: The OLLI Extras Committee seeks enthusiastic, curious volunteers who enjoy community outreach. Help shape these fun, interactive, seasonal "OLLI Extra" experiences.

 

Empower Future Adventures: Consider lending your expertise to the Development Committee as we chart and implement new development initiatives and events to support program development and sustainability for future generations and members.


We invite YOU to join 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.


Dinosaurs and MOR! All Access Lecture Package Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. Museum of the Rockies, Hager Auditorium. Over two days, 18 renowned paleontologists will present on topics ranging from trilobites to T. rex to fossil whales. Each presentation will be 30 minutes long and include a Q and A, making it an informative and engaging experience for all attendees. Click or tap here to purchase tickets. Ticket purchase required.


Montana Supreme Court Oral Arguments Monday, April 22, 10:00 a.m. Strand Union Building, Ballroom A. Oral arguments for STATE OF MONTANA, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. DANIELLE WOOD, Defendant and Appellant. Most cases before the Montana Supreme Court are decided based on the written briefs submitted by the parties. However, the Court may determine that a case requires further discussion in addition to what the parties have argued in their written briefs. In such cases, oral arguments are scheduled in open session before the Court. Approximately 15 cases a year are scheduled for oral argument. All oral arguments are open to the public.


The Office of Research and Economic Development presents "994 Journeys" with Sreekala Bajwa, dean of Agriculture. Tuesday, April 30, 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Strand Union Building, Room 233. Sreekala Bajwa will tell her story, including where she trained, how she came to MSU and key highlights of her research and scholarship.

Would You Like More OLLI?

Follow the OLLI at MSU Facebook page for program updates and reminders, news, and technology tips. The best time to follow is now.
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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.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at MSU is a program of MSU Academic Technology and Outreach. OLLI at MSU provides intellectually stimulating and enjoyable programs that foster lifelong learning and community engagement for individuals 50 and greater. There are no tests, no grades and no papers. OLLI at MSU offers opportunities for the pure joy of learning. Become a member, support lifelong learning, consider teaching for OLLI at MSU. Contact the OLLI office by phone at 406-994-6550.