OLLILife

A community of learners over 50

August 2024 | Vol 4, No.10

So Much To Look Forward To

While summer days are gradually fading and we prepare for the coming of fall, I am filled with sweet thoughts of you and our amazing program. With the new fall semester of courses approaching, there is so much to look forward to.

This term, we are continuing to explore the use of catalog variation in the form of a foldable, making it easier and more delightful for you to discover our offerings.

In a world full of new transitions and trends, I believe there will also be new triumphs for each of us. I encourage you to challenge yourself with a different, out-of-the-box course led by our fabulous instructors or to dive into our sensational Shared Interest Groups. Perhaps even consider taking a trip with your OLLI friends.

Wherever you go and whatever you do, know that our fantastic staff and I are here with much delight to serve you.

A very special thank you to our generous donors. Your time, talent, and treasure are immensely helpful and deeply appreciated.

Live out loud and stay curious!

Pictured above are OLLI-USF Director Veronica Maxwell (right) with

OLLI-USF Registrar Charise Dixie

Circle Gatherings:

Aug. 17 - Circle Five

Aug. 20 - Circle Three

Aug. 23 - Circle Six

Aug. 28 - Circle Eight

Aug. 30 - Circle Ten

Sept. 6 - Circle Nine

Sept. 12 - Open Circles

Sept. 27 - Circle Four

See article below for details.

Sept. 9 - RSVP deadline to register for OLLI Fall Open House

Sept. 12 - OLLI Fall Open House

The Fall Open House Is Almost Here!

A new Open House is coming up, and you and your friends are heartily invited to attend.

Mark your calendar for the OLLI Fall Open House on Thursday, Sept. 12, at TPepin's Hospitality Centre, 4121 N. 50th St. in Tampa. The program will run 10-11:30 a.m. A special newcomers gathering will begin at 9 a.m. 

Questions - And Some Answers - About AI

It can be difficult to see clearly through all the hype and noise

surrounding artificial intelligence. How close to human-level AI are we actually? What does human-level AI mean for creativity, law, education, and other values we hold dear? AI expert Dr. John Licato will provide an accessible overview of the current answers to these questions.

John Licato, PhD, is an associate professor of computer science and engineering at USF and an expert in AI. He is the founder and director of the Advancing Machine and Human Reasoning Lab, and the owner/founder of Actualization.AI, a new technology startup company.

The RSVP deadline is Sept. 9. For information and to register, visit

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/8hjrz7h or call 813-974-5848.

Cooking, Asian Style

Asian cuisine was the theme when members of the Cooks on the Loose cooking club met on July 10 for a flavorful and creative lunch. Club members brought an array of Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Korean dishes to the gathering at one of the members' houses. Cooks on the Loose is part of the Food, Glorious Food! SIG

Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

BEATLEMANIA – 60 Years Later

Eleven members from the class It Was 60 Years Ago Today – the Fab Four in 1964 took a field trip to Dunedin on June 28 to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the start of Beatlemania in the U.S.

Several students had attended the Beatles' live concerts back in 1964 and shared their experiences with the rest of the class.



All the classmates remembered seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan on those three Sunday nights in 1964 when the world stopped for a moment, reset itself, and then started heading in a new and different direction.

After a delectable lunch at Café Alfresco on Dunedin’s Main Street, the group strolled over to the Penny Lane Beatles Museum in Dunedin.

Following an introductory talk by the museum’s docent, the group toured the exhibits of Beatle memorabilia.

Exhibit items included A Hard Days’ Night and Help! posters, Beatles dolls, Paul McCartney’s autographed Hofner bass, Sgt. Pepper’s uniforms, a Beatles harmonica, a pair of John Lennon’s eyeglasses, a small version of Ringo’s drum kit, Beatles marionettes and thousands of other Beatlemania items.

It was a truly nostalgic Beatles Blast from the past.

This Beatles class and field trip will be repeated during OLLI’s fall semester, Thursdays Oct. 31–Nov. 21, 10 a.m.-noon, at Concordia Village.

--Michael Hayes

A Taste Of Thailand

Thai Ruby in Tampa welcomed 16 happy diners from Conviviality and Celebrations on July 12.

The group of OLLI members and guests was cordially greeted and enjoyed generous portions of delicious Thai cuisine. 

Conviviality and Celebrations meets monthly for lunch to celebrate and recognize birthdays and other special occasions. All are welcome to join in the fun.



The next luncheon is scheduled for Fri., Aug. 23, at 1 p.m. at Ford’s Garage, 10413 Sheldon Rd., Tampa.

Email Kat Hanscom for further information.

A Plant Museum Tour

On July 11, members of the Local Culture SIG toured the historic Henry B. Plant Museum, originally built in the 1880s as the Tampa Bay Hotel.

SIG members enjoyed learning about the luxurious experience of guests who stayed in its 511 rooms.

Peruvian Cuisine: Hablemos Says ¡Que Rico

Hablemos, the OLLI-USF Conversational Spanish SIG, gathered for lunch at Terra Sur Peruvian restaurant on July 16. Peru is known as a world-class gastronomy travel destination, but 17 Hablemos members sampled some renowned Peruvian dishes right there in Carrollwood instead of having to go through security lines at TSA and flying to Peru.

Some of the delicias peruanas included Ceviche de Pescado (fresh snapper, marinated in leche de tigre (tiger’s milk) made with lime juice, onions, garlic, and other spices, then served with choclo (large Peruvian corn kernels), and sweet potato, all topped with red onions); Pollo Saltado (sauteed chicken with tomatoes and onions, served over French fries);  Pescado a lo Macho (fried fish filet, topped with seafood cooked in a tomato sauce made with coconut milk);  Estofado de Carne (slow-cooked beef, with carrots, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and paprika, served with white rice), and many other mouthwatering Peruvian delicacies.

All the while, the Hablemos gathering was comparing each other’s scrumptious dishes, evoking endless discussions throughout the afternoon, in Spanish (well, mostly in Spanish).

--Michael Hayes

Lunch And Quite A Show

The rainy afternoon on July 28 was most appropriate for members of the Local Culture SIG. Nearly two dozen of the SIG's members met for

lunch at Via Italia Woodfired Pizza and Bar, then moved on to the New Tampa Performing Arts Center for a lively showing of Singin' In The Rain performed by the New Tampa Players.

Women’s Rule Bike Ride

The informal ride on the Coastal Anclote Trail was a Women’s Rule Ride.

Five ladies biked six to nine miles on July 23. Most of the trail is shady, so it was a good choice for the summer heat.

Taking a cooling break at the Anclote River Beach, they went to Miss Vickie’s on the River for an early lunch where they were joined by two other bike group members.

Way to go ladies of OLLI Outdoors!

--Diane White

A First for Circle One

Twenty-eight OLLI members joined OLLI-USF Membership Chair Pam Tyler for the first Circle One gathering at Michael’s Grill in Carrollwood on July 30.

Circle One encompasses the Carrollwood area and is the largest Circle with 196 members. 

Kudos to Beth Davey and Ray Ann Favata for serving as Circle One point persons.

Additional Circle Gatherings are scheduled for August and September. See the article below in the Membership Corner for dates, times, and locations. 

Is Portugal On Your Bucket List? 

OLLI-USF has booked 12 seats on a Collette tour to Sunny Portugal for a nine-day experience, May 8-17, 2025. The cost is $3,999, a $400 savings, and includes round trip airfare with early booking and deposit by Nov. 2. Extend your trip with an optional four-night post-tour extension to Madeira Island.

Begin the trip flying into Lisbon for three days of experiencing the arts and traditions of the Portuguese and UNESCO sites. Then move onto Evora and Lagos, where you will see the stunning coasts of the Algarve, have a traditional lunch, and visit a family-owned cork factory. Portugal is the world’s largest producer of cork.

Discover the importance to Portugal of the sardine-canning industry and the secrets of regional breads and fruits.

The trip continues to the Portuguese Riviera where you will visit the Mercado, one of the best fish markets in the world. Visit local artisans to learn how the famous Portuguese tiles are made.

Continue onto Obidos, where picture-perfect whitewashed houses sit within the medieval city walls. Your tour ends in Cascais where you will bid Portugal good-bye.

To learn more details about the trip and to register for a free virtual presentation on Tues. Aug. 27 at 10 a.m., click here.

Mark, our Collette representative, will be at the Travel Opportunities table at the OLLI Open House on Sept 12. He will be delighted to tell you more about this fantastic trip and answer your questions.

Helping Stock The Shelves For Summer

The Feed-a-Bull food pantry will remain open during the summer months to provide supplemental assistance to USF students experiencing food insecurity. 

Circles Gatherings in August and September

August

Saturday, August 17

Circle Five: Chicken Salad Chick, 2790 Fowler Ave., Temple Terrace, at noon. RSVP Greg Pennington, 813-494-0175

Tuesday, August 20

Circle Three: Chicken Salad Chick, 17623 North Dale Mabry Highway, Lutz, at 11 a.m. RSVP Penny and Brian Noriega, 813-810-4803

Friday, August 23

Circle Six: Stonewater Grill, 4822 Land O Lakes Blvd, Land o' Lakes, at noon. RSVP Kathryn Alyson 775-250-9698 or Betsy Jerner,

859-333-4629

Wednesday, August 28

Circle Eight: Chicken Salad Chick, 4050 West Kennedy Blvd, at 11 a.m. RSVP Pamela Tyler, 575-779-1382

Friday, August 30

Circle Ten: Keke’s, 12883 Citrus Park Dr., Citrus Park, at noon

RSVP Pamela Tyler, 575-779-1382

September

Friday, September 6

Circle Nine: Goody Goody, 1601 Swann Ave., Hyde Park, at noon

RSVP Pamela Tyler, 575-779-1382

Thursday, September 12

*Open Circles: Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City at 12:30 p.m. RSVP Pamela Tyler, 575-779-1382. Must RSVP by September 6.  

Friday, September 27

Circle Four: Liang Bistro, 17515 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, at noon RSVP Pamela Tyler, 575-779-1382

....................................................................................................

*Open Circles:  Seven, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, Fifteen and Sixteen. This is an opportunity for OLLI members living on the far north, south, east, and west edges of OLLI-USF territory to meet others from their area.  Space is limited. RSVPs must be received by Sept. 6. 

--Pamela Tyler         

OLLI-USF Circle Volunteers Needed

OLLI-USF wants to grow its community, but we can’t do it alone. Help us develop solid relationships from the ground up at the local level. Get to know OLLI-USF members who live near you by volunteering in small but meaningful ways. Here’s how you might assist.

• Welcome newcomers living in your circle to OLLI.

• Coordinate the Circle Gatherings calendar with the OLLI Membership Committee.

• Provide the latest information on OLLI events such as the Open

House, newcomer/volunteer gatherings, the OLLI picnic, the Holiday Party, travel opportunities and other informal Circle activities.

• Serve as conduit for a feedback loop between members and the

OLLI-USF Board of Advisors and the Membership Committee.

• Staff outreach tables at OLLI-USF events in the Circle area.

• Distribute OLLI-USF literature to local gyms, libraries, senior

recreation and residential facilities.

For more information: Call, text, or email Membership Chair Pam Tyler at 575-779-1382.

Meet Bruce Gobioff

2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Tech, Finance, and All Those Classes!

The Volunteer Recognition Awards honor volunteers who have made significant contributions to the mission and values of OLLI-USF. In April, the awards were presented to four individuals and one team. OLLILife is happy to introduce you to these award winners.

Two years ago, a grateful OLLI awarded volunteer Bruce Gobioff an Above and Beyond Award for his significant contributions to ongoing projects.

Since then, Bruce’s contributions to OLLI have grown ever larger – so much so that in May, OLLI presented him with a Lifetime Achievement Award. This prestigious award is for significant contributions to the growth and development of OLLI over the years.

While presenting the award at the Volunteer Appreciation Program, Diane Russell listed Bruce’s many contributions since he joined OLLI in 2015 after a 49-year career in the computer industry. From technology, to finance, to the classes he teaches – Bruce’s impact on OLLI has been substantial.

From Technology…

Bruce joined the Board of Advisors in 2017. “I thought it might be interesting, and I figured I ought to have some involvement instead of just taking up space,” he says with his characteristic wry humor.

For the first three years, Bruce served as board secretary, taking minutes at the meetings and distributing them to board members. At the same time, he worked on the Strategic and Operational Planning Committee (SOP), dedicated to developing a strategic plan with goals and objectives for the near and long terms.

Then in 2020, just as Bruce had become the SOP chair. the Covid pandemic hit the country.

"That brought a big change,” Bruce says. “Everything shut down completely. For a few months, OLLI didn’t have anything: no classes, no activities, no income coming in. And we had to do something.”

With classes cancelled and people unable to gather in person, the idea took hold to bring classes to OLLI members through Zoom. Bruce was involved in making this happen, serving as a technical moderator for numerous classes.

“There were other options, but Zoom turned out to be the best. It was easy to use and very functional,” he says. “One advantage was that we now had people from other cities and states who could participate. We had people from New York, Lakeland and other remote cities in Florida. We were picked up by a whole different set of people who could not be members before.

“However, there were also people who would never take Zoom classes, so we did lose a substantial number of members. Now our membership is growing, but we’re not quite where we were before the pandemic.”

In 2021, Bruce was part of the team that transitioned OLLI into the new, more user-friendly registration system, Lumens. For two months, Bruce and OLLI member Mike Viren spent countless hours on code writing and data migration for the new system, which went into effect in 2021. In addition, Bruce was instrumental in developing OLLI’s member survey.

To Finance

Bruce joined the Finance Committee five years ago and served as its chair for the last three years. The committee is responsible for supporting the development of OLLI’s annual budget and monitoring results every month.

As chairman, it was Bruce’s job to set the committee’s monthly agenda, suggest ways to accomplish goals, and guide committee members toward those goals. And he had to keep actively informed on OLLI’s finances.

“It was an interesting job,” Bruce says. “It was interesting to be in the center of everything. You get to understand the inner workings of OLLI. And you can make a difference.”

In June, after a seven-year stint on the Board of Advisors, Bruce stepped down from his Finance Committee chairmanship and retired from the board.

But though he no longer reports to the board or attends the meetings, Bruce still contributes to that group.

Every week, he puts together reports on membership changes for OLLI staff and Membership Chair Pam Tyler. And every month, he prepares financial and membership reports to the board and the Finance Committee.

To The Classes He Teaches

Bruce has long been an integral part of OLLI’s educational programs.

Over the years, he has taught some 20 different courses. They range from tech topics to those focusing on his travels to far-flung places such as Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, and Machu Pichu, with lots of photos. He has taught classes on the history of Jews in America as well as on Simon and Garfunkel.

Next semester, he’s teaching classes on artificial intelligence and on the Dreyfus Affair, focusing on the political crisis in France over the wrongful conviction of a Jewish army officer in 1894.

OLLI members can also thank Bruce for those Encore classes, created from recorded Zoom classes.

“Those recordings have to be edited, taking out technical errors, putting on headers and trailers, and rerecording them. I have a Mac and the tools to do that,” Bruce says.

All of Bruce’s work has been of so much benefit to OLLI. And he’s not done yet. Bruce is a Lifetime Achievement Award winner who continues to help our organization grow and develop.

--Sandy Buckley

SIGnificant EVENTS FOR AUGUST 2024

Nancy Baily-Williamson, SIG Liaison

PEOPLE NEWS

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.