OLLILife

A community of learners over 50

December, 2024 | Vol 5, No.2

Reflections and Celebration At This Holiday Season

As we step into this wonderful holiday season, my heart is full of gratitude and excitement. This is a time to reflect on the blessings of the year and to celebrate the joy and connection that define our incredible community.

Looking ahead, we are gearing up for a momentous winter-spring term, offering more classes than ever before! Our reach is expanding into Pinellas and Pasco counties through exciting new partnerships with USF St. Petersburg and St. Leo University. These milestones are a testament to the shared commitment and passion that you, our members, bring to OLLI.

This past month has been filled with meaningful opportunities to connect. I was thrilled to represent USF in the Great American Teach-In, where I read to preschool children. It was my honor to speak at the Palm Harbor Sunrise Rotary Club, attend the Lunch and Learn event, and chat with Circle 1 members. (see photo collage) These moments remind me of the incredible impact we have when we share and grow together.

This past October marked the end of my second year and the beginning of my third as your director. I am truly overwhelmed by the warmth, dedication, and unwavering support of our staff, board of advisors, faculty, volunteers, members, and generous donors. You have become an extension of my family, and I am deeply honored to walk this journey with you.

As we celebrate the holidays, I humbly ask for your help in spreading the word about OLLI and sprinkling joy wherever you go. I also hope to see you at our Holiday Gathering on December 12—it’s the perfect opportunity to share some festive cheer together!

Wishing you and your loved ones a delightful and restful holiday season filled with love, laughter, and light.

Changes Are Coming!

With the new year, we will be rolling out a redesigned OLLILife that, hopefully, will provide a better reading experience for you.

Beginning in the January 2025 issue, OLLILife will have a new look with a more streamlined access to some of your favorite features. But although our publication will look different, it will continue to include the regular content you’ve come to enjoy.

As always, we welcome your feedback. We would love to hear from you about the new design and to receive any of your articles and pictures pertaining to OLLI-USF and other OLLIs in the country. We are always available at ollinewsusf@gmail.com.

-- Kathy, Pat and Sandy

Circle Gatherings:



Dec. 6 - Circles 8, 9, and 14

Jan. 7 - Circle 12

Jan. 8 - Circle 3, OPEN

See article below for details

Dec. 12 - Holiday Gathering

Jan. 8 - OLLI Open House

Check out more OLLI events here:

OLLI Calendar

Let's celebrate the holidays together!

OLLI-USF's Holiday Gathering will be held on Dec. 12 at 4 p.m., at the USF Embassy Suites (3705 Spectrum Blvd., Tampa) - $15/person and $25/couple. To register, call Charise at 813-974-5848.

Please note: Reservation Deadline is Dec. 9.

Carpool with your Circle friends and neighbors!

We'll be collecting food donations for the USF Feed-A-Bull Food Pantry. Please bring your non-perishable food donations with you. Grocery store gift cards and monetary donations will also be gratefully accepted.

Click here for information on the Feed-A-Bull Food Pantry and ways you can help.

Help brighten the holidays for our USF students in need!

New Year And New Open House Coming Your Way

Wed., Jan. 8, 2025, at 10 a.m. 

Join your fellow OLLI members at TPepin's Hospitality Centre, 4121 N. 50th St. in Tampa, for the Winter-Spring Open House.

Due to health issues and other complications, guest speakers previously scheduled for the Open House will not be able attend. Instead, the Open House speaker will be Jeff Berardelli, chief meteorologist and climate specialist for WFLA News Channel 8, leading the Max Defender 8 Weather Team.

Berardelli appears in broadcasts at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 11 p.m. Previously, he worked in the Tampa Bay area from 1997 to 2003 and later served as CBS News meteorologist in New York City. Berardelli focuses on the impacts of extreme weather due to climate change.

You will also have the opportunity to learn about upcoming classes and chat with the instructors at the Open House. While conversing with other members, you can indulge in delicious pastries and a cup of coffee. 

Please feel free to bring a friend and introduce them to OLLI-USF!

Register here for this event.

Fat Beet Farm Tour

Eighteen members and five guests of the Food, Glorious Food! and Outdoors SIGs met at the Fat Beet Farm in Oldsmar for a tour on Nov. 6.

Farm Manager Kaitlin Reyes graciously guided us on a one-hour tour of the farm and explained the farm operation in detail.

Following the tour, we enjoyed an amazing lunch at the farm's café that was freshly prepared with farm-grown ingredients and sandwiches made with freshly baked bread. We also tasted fresh quiches prepared with farm eggs.

It was a great experience and a beautiful day to be outdoors.

If you are in the area or want to take a drive for fresh, delicious food, stop by for lunch or take home some fresh farm goods.

The Fat Beet Farm is open to the public, Wednesdays through Sundays, and offers tours to the public, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.  

Click here for more information.

-- Grizelle Aldea

-- Photos, Mike Hayes

A Taste Of Ukraine

Nene’s Restaurant and Bar in South Tampa was the setting for the recent Conviviality and Celebrations November luncheon.

The restaurant features Georgian/Ukrainian menu selections.

Seventeen OLLI members and guests discovered traditional Ukrainian dishes and new ways to eat dumplings while enjoying friendly, attentive service from their server, Ida.  

Conviviality and Celebrations meets once a month at various eating establishments in the local area to celebrate and recognize birthdays and other special occasions. The next luncheon is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m., at Yummy House, 2020 E. Hillsborough Ave., Tampa.

All are welcome to join in the fun. Email Kat Hanscom for more information.

“Buzz” At The Bee Experience!

Forty-eight Outdoors SIG members, along with some friends from the Food, Glorious Food SIG, spent a wonderful, inspiring day outdoors. The buzz was, literally, all around us at the Bee Experience at Abby’s Organic Community Farm.

Beekeeper John Morse started us off with a presentation about bees, and once you hear him explain how a hive works – well, honeybees are fascinating and inspiring. You can visit John’s website, Gem Apiaries, to learn more about honeybees and honey.

After the presentation, one group visited the apiary. John, in his beekeeper suit, showed us the inner workings of a hive. 

The other group toured the farm and learned how it feels to pollinate flowers - it's not that easy.

It was an ideal OLLI day: learning and being outdoors with great people.

We learned that it’s good to be the queen. Only honeybees make honey. Worker bees are selfless. Feed the bees - plant local flowers!

Abby’s Farm in Lutz is a true community farm, and we were glad to be able to contribute nearly $500 through our donations to the important work they do on the farm.

OLLI Outdoors: Nature experiences with great people, which make an impact. Click here to join us!

-- Diane White

USF Tampa Campus by Foot - Natural Wonders, Art, and Architecture

What imperiled butterfly thrives on campus?

How many bulls are in the MSC plaza?

At what height is the bust of Martin Luther King, Jr?

The recent OLLI-USF Outdoors Adventures class took an urban hike around the USF Tampa campus and learned the answers to these questions and more.

Following the Greenway, a corridor of parks and green spaces across campus, the walk started at the GeoPark. We veered over to Symmons Park where a little blue heron, ducks and ducklings forage alongside the public art installation Concentric Circle. 

A brief stop at the Contemporary Art Museum allowed us to get a map marking the public art installations. Admission is free to this lovely museum. Then onward to the MLK plaza in the center of campus and the Marshall Student Center Plaza for the iconic photo op with the bulls! 

On the way to the modern Interdisciplinary Science (IDS) building, all around the outside we watched in awe as the imperiled Atala butterflies swirled around the Coontie - their host plant - along with their chrysalis and caterpillars.  

Inside the IDS building, we saw one of my favorite art installations the Caelum Dust that spans seven stories. We viewed a panoramic view of Tampa on the seventh, top floor.

There will be another Outdoors Adventures class which begins on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025. Come join the class as you never know where we'll go! 

Answers to the questions at the beginning of this article: Atala butterfly, three bulls (hence USF Bulls), the bust of Martin Luther King Jr. is at his full height of 5'10. 

--- Diane White

--- Photo credits: Mike Hayes and Diane White

Operation Downfall -

An Intriguing Course

At first glance, the first two words of this course title could refer to any strategic battle plans in any war: Operation Downfall.

This unique course caused intrigue in the rest of its title: The Largest Invasion in History (that Didn’t Happen).

Earl Richardson boldly created a three-session course about the planned invasion of Japan in 1945, including events leading up to it and strategic 

plans.

The average American in 2024 has never heard about these plans. Earl provided detailed information and led an animated discussion of the strategic and moral consequences of decisions made by American and Japanese leaders in the summer of 1945.

Earl also shared links to several fascinating videos, including Pearl Harbor: 24 Hours After and Two Down, One to Go! The latter video was created by Frank Capra to motivate troops after V-E Day.

The course was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Brandon, a relatively new and comfortable venue, as OLLI expands its offerings in southeastern Hillsborough County.

-- Diane Russell

A Message From The Travel Committee: Come Join Us!

The Travel Opportunities Committee currently has six members and is excited to expand our team and welcome new volunteers who share a passion for travel.

If you enjoy organizing events, conducting surveys, marketing, and connecting with others through writing articles and virtual presentations, we would love to hear from you.

To learn more about this opportunity and how you can contribute, please contact the committee by clicking here and sending a note with your name, email information, and any comments or questions you may have. Committee Chair Karen Wright will get back in touch with you.

We look forward to collaborating with you to promote our tours and create memorable travel experiences for our OLLI members.

Check Off Your Bucket List:

These Exciting Tours Coming Up In 2025

Presented By The OLLI-USF Travel Opportunities Committee

Time is running out on the first two tours listed. Now is the time to register:

Collette: California Dreaming, June 16-23, 2025

Seven more seats will be held until Dec 16. To register, call Collette (800)581-8942; Booking # 1256828

Here is a link to the flyer.

Mayflower: The Red Rocks to the Rockies, Sept. 15, 2025 

Free airfare extended to Dec. 24.

Visit four national parks and spend two days on the Rocky Mountaineer train viewing the spectacular mountains of western Colorado.

To register, call Mayflower Cruises and Tours (800)728-0724;

Group#1 218348.

Here is a link to the flyer. 

Just Added - Collette: Explore Tuscany Nov. 4-12, 2025

To register, call Collette (800)581-8942 Booking # 1275120

Here is a link to the flyer. 

Collette: Sunny Portugal, May 8-17, 2025

The seat reduction date has passed, but there is still availability.

To register, call Collette (800)581-8942; Booking # 1256894

Here is a link to the flyer. 

Travel with Premier World Discovery in 2025 to Coastal Maine in August or Iceland in October 2025:  

PWD: Landscapes and Lighthouses of Coastal Maine, Aug. 9-15, 2025

16 seats held until Feb. 9, 2025 

To register, call Premier World Discovery (877)953-8687; Booking # 191205

Here is a link to the flyer. 

PWD: Iceland Explorer, Oct. 1-7, 2025

12 seats available until April 1, 2025

To register, call Premier World Discovery (877)953-8687; Booking #188722 

Here is a link to the flyer. 

Bring On The Mistletoe!

Wow, Fred Flintstone sure looks besides himself trying to hang Christmas lights. Bet you can hear him yelling in his boisterous voice “WILMA!”

Fortunately, times have changed and all we now need to do is pull out the tree from the box, assemble, plug in and presto! the tree is lit. With this faster method of tree preparing, you can have more time to unbox tree ornaments and admire each one that has been collected through the years, remembering related stories about them. Oh, and of course, time to create the enticing baking aromas in preparation for holiday celebrations. 

Want To Create Something Beautiful?

Zentangle Teacher Maryam Mercier Will Show You How

The beautiful, intricate-looking pattern fills a small square of paper. Covered with swirls, circles, and varying shades of gray, it appears to be the work of an experienced artist, something that only a person with years of training and immense talent could create.

Yet the artist had just minimal training. What she did have was a desire to create and the willingness to set aside distractions and allow herself to become immersed in the process.

This is Zentangle, a method of creating abstract drawings using repetitive patterns. Over the past five years, dozens of OLLI members have learned the art of Zentangle, thanks to OLLI instructor Maryam Mercier.

Maryam has taught numerous Zentangle classes for OLLI since 2019. Her dedication to teaching this art earned her a place of honor last April when she was named to the Faculty Honor Roll, which recognizes instructors who have taught 10 or more classes.

Art In The Classroom

Maryam has always been an artist, starting as a child who loved to draw vivid pictures of animals, flowers, and swirling patterns that would go on homemade placemats and other home decorations. As an adult, her interest in art brought her into the computer graphics field, creating marketing materials for various clients.

It was later, as a stay-at-home mom of three boys in California, that Maryam began a lifelong pursuit of bringing art into the classroom.

“I was working as a volunteer in my youngest son’s elementary classroom. Class sizes were being cut to 20 per class, and the school had to make some budget cuts; it was going to cut music and visual arts. So I decided to teach art as a volunteer,” Maryam says.

The school gave Maryam a classroom where she taught kids to not only appreciate art but also to create it. “I did that for four years, five days a week, teaching 600 kids every two weeks in the first through sixth grades,” she says.

That experience instilled in Maryam a passion for teaching and a lifelong commitment to preserving arts in education. Over the years, she has taught art to children as a volunteer for homeschool and traditional school groups.

A New Realm Of Art

Her husband’s new job brought Maryam and her family to Tampa in 2011. In 2018, Maryam was working as a volunteer art teacher for a group of high schoolers when she heard about a free Zentangle class at a local library. The class brought her into a whole new realm of art.

“I knew that this was a method that aligned with what I think art is about in its deeper sense,” Maryam says. “It’s not the product that’s important, but the process – the slowing down, taking something, analyzing, appreciating the development. It’s the whole richness of the methodology,” Maryam says.

Now a Certified Zentangle Teacher, Maryam teaches OLLI classes nearly year-round, except for summers. Her classes, held on Zoom, are so popular that many of her students repeatedly sign up for new classes, learning something new with each session.

You don’t need years of training to produce beautiful and creative Zentangle creations, Maryam says. “If you can draw an I, a C, an S or O – that’s everything you need for Zentangle,” she says. “But it’s not doodling. It does have intent.”

Eight Steps

There are eight basic steps to Zentangle, Maryam says. The first is gratitude. “It’s gratitude for being there,” she says.

Then the actual drawing begins on a small square of paper, called a tile. A small dot is drawn with pencil in each corner of the square. Then you draw the border. You start to fill in the middle, working just a small section at a time.

“You’re drawing in pen because pens don’t have erasers. In Zentangle, there’s no such thing as mistakes,” Maryam says. “Sometimes the line is not where you wanted. Make it work. Mistakes can be opportunities.”

There’s no rush to finish. Slowly, a pattern begins to emerge, something beautiful. Then you add shading, bringing contrast and dimension to your picture. When it’s done, you add your signature and maybe some comments on the back about the experience.

 It’s the process that engulfs you. The end product is rewarding, but the process is its own reward, Maryam says.

The final step is appreciation of your work. In Maryam’s Zoom classes, students hold their finished products up to the camera for everyone to see.

“I do a screen shot and we all appreciate each other’s work and discuss what we like about it,” she says. “I learn a ton from the students. Someone may do something I never thought about.”

The process of teaching members of OLLI to create art also brings Maryam joy, she says.

“It’s like I won the lottery. The most satisfying thing is giving something back,” she says. ”OLLI people are amazing. They’re so inspiring, so supportive. They’re part of a community that is so vibrant. It’s wonderful to have people in my life like that who inspire me.”

-- Sandy Buckley

Greetings OLLI Circle Members

Thanks to all of you for helping OLLI-USF Circles get off the ground. It remains a work-in-progress. 

Circles 4, 8, 14 and 15 still need point persons to welcome newcomers, help choose local venues, and host Circle gatherings. It’s not a big job; but it’s a very important one. 

Pictured above are OLLI members enjoying lunch at the Circle 11 gathering at Tarpon Turtle on Nov 21.

Remember, the purpose of Circles is community. Your participation is critical to their success. Let us know how Circles can make your OLLI experience more enjoyable. 

Look for the 2025 Winter-Spring Circles schedule at the Open House on Jan. 8 and in the OLLILife newsletter on Jan. 1.

Pictured above are Circle 4 members at their gathering at Michael's Grill on Nov. 8.

ATTENTION OLLI-USF Snowbirds: We know you are out there, but we don’t know exactly how many members split their time between Florida and elsewhere.  Please identify yourselves so we can plan classes and events more thoughtfully.

Several OLLI-USF part-time residents voiced interest in having a Snowbird Circle. If this is something you might like, let us know.  Email responses to Pam Tyler.

Happy Holidays everyone!

-- Pam Tyler, Membership Chair, 575-779-1382

Circles Gatherings for December and January

December

Fri., Dec. 6

Circles 8, 9, and 14: Wright's Gourmet House, 1200 S. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, at 11 a.m. RSVP/Evite

January

Mon., Jan. 7

Circle 12: Finns Dockside Bar, 1112 Apollo Beach Blvd, Apollo Beach, at noon. RSVP/Evite

Tues., Jan. 8

Circle 3, OPEN: Zen Noodle Bar, 8787 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace, at 12:30 p.m. RSVP/Evite

RSVP to Pam Tyler

575-779-1382 Text

Meet Faith Wind - A New OLLI Member

Faith was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, in the Washington, D.C. area. She attended Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and American University in Washington, D.C. She graduated from USF in 1975 with a sociology degree.

Faith retired after more than 35 years with Pinellas County Human Services. She continues to work part time as a legal assistant for her husband’s real estate law practice.

Faith is an active volunteer for her neighborhood board, the Tampa Heights Civic Association, and the Jewish Book Festival Board at the Tampa Jewish Community Center. The Jewish Book Festival offers the opportunity to meet selected authors in person.

As an avid reader of both fiction and nonfiction, Faith participates in several book clubs, including clubs from the Tampa History Center and the Tampa Black History Center.

Faith joined OLLI this past summer and has already taken several classes that appeal to her devotion to diversity, discussion, and understanding. She has been impressed with the preparation and quality of teaching, as well as the pertinent and intelligent comments of the participants.

In the summer, Faith took The Evolving Goal of Government in Public Health, The Supreme Court Today, and African-American Military History. This fall, she is taking Ukraine vs Russia, Communicating Through Art: Murals of Tampa Bay, Leadership – Life Lessons from a Catholic Nun, Can Dementia Be Prevented?, Up for Discussion: War and Consequences, and Islam… No God but God. Faith has also participated in one OLLI Circle lunch and will attend the upcoming gathering on December 6.

^{---Shirley Herring}

Seniors Navigate:

Focusing On Relevant Concerns 

Would you like to be in on the development of a new SIG? 

Seniors Navigate will focus on topics we all have to think about to live safe and productive lives. 

Housing choices/downsizing, caretaking, eldercare, end of life, and tech safety are just some of the interests and concerns we need to be fully aware of and prepared for.

The format will be information-centered with the expertise of guest speakers, including members of OLLI and the community. 

We need a few more people to round out our development team to plan this potential SIG. 

If you are interested, please email Judith Page-Lieberman. 

-- Judith Page-Lieberman

SIGnificant EVENTS FOR DECEMBER 2024

Nancy Baily-Williamson, SIG Liaison

PEOPLE NEWS

Farewell To Ruth Robinson

OLLI mourns the passing of Ruth Robinson, who died Nov. 12 at the age of 95.

Ruth joined OLLI-USF in the early 2000s and found her tribe among its members. At the time, USF's International Student Office was trying to foster local friends for USF's foreign students. We hoped to develop an interest group of members who would befriend these students - who were often older and in graduate school - and help them adapt to life in the US.

Ruth quickly volunteered to mentor and host students in Public Health and other disciplines and ran a Special Interest Group for International Students that met through the early 2000s.

Group meetings consisted of presentations from students about their home countries, with plenty of time for socializing. It was a small but quite successful effort at intergenerational learning, and I know Ruth particularly developed strong bonds with several students who returned to their home countries with a graduate degree from USF.

--Ara Rogers

Carolyn Clark is our Goodwill Ambassador, sending notes of support, congratulations and comfort on our behalf. If you or another OLLI member have a significant personal event, please let Carolyn know.

Send Us Your News

OLLILife wants to share topics of interest that pertain to OLLI-USF and other OLLIs in the country.

Send your article to ollinewsusf@gmail.com to reach your editors Sandy Buckley, Pat Dodge, Veronica Maxwell, and Kathy Palmer. If possible, please send a picture along with the article as pictures help tell the story.