March 2021
In This Issue: A Message From the Director | Pack Your Parachute: Tech Tip of the Month | March Virtual Social Hours | Thank You, Volunteers! | Osher-Sponsored Events | Other Upcoming Events | Tax Receipts for Donations | Time to Spring Ahead!
A Message From the Director
Dear Osher Members,

March brings a mix of emotions to me this year. One year ago, we made the monumental decision to cancel our spring semester of Osher programs to protect our members’ health and well-being. While we had an unforeseen journey ahead of us, you came along for the ride. So here we are, nearing the one-year anniversary of an historical event and a full circle of change. Our transitions included establishing a new way to deliver programs, changes in our office team, the addition of several new Advisory Board members and volunteers, AND gaining many new members from across the country. I am eager to see what the next year will bring us!

March is Women’s History Month, and we have some amazing speakers to highlight. We are delighted to finally introduce you to them: Dr. Lauren McGough, a falconer trained in Mongolia; Magni Hamso, MD, Medical Director of the Idaho Department of Health & Welfare; Dr. Kimberly Marshall, Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Oklahoma; Tracey Kindall, History teacher from North Fork School; Dr. Jessica Wells, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Boise State University; and Dr. Ellen Ochoa, astronaut and former Director of the Johnson Space Center. If you are not yet registered to attend their lectures, there is still time! Visit the Osher Registration website here

While I admit to being a fan of winter (there is never too much snow!), even I get excited for the signs of spring as a reminder that a new beginning is ahead. It’s also a month when we adjust our clocks and look forward to more daylight hours. I hope I see you out on the Greenbelt or at a park as we enjoy the extra time and new season.

Finally, you may have noticed that we are featuring guest appearances at our bi-weekly Osher Virtual Social Hours. This month, we will be joined by Kâren Sanders, President of City Club of Boise (March 10) and Charlie Fee and Sara Bruner from the Idaho Shakespeare Festival (March 24). You never know who is going to show up, so mark your calendars for our Virtual Social Hour.

As always, I wish you good health, great joy, and happy learning! 

Warm regards,

Dana

Dana Thorp Patterson, Director
Pack Your Parachute:
Tech Tip of the Month
We want to pack your parachute! As a way of showing our appreciation for the support of our Osher members, the Osher staff will be answering common questions and providing helpful tips on various topics.

This month, we're addressing what may be one of our most frequent issues:

"I didn't get the link/invite to the lecture/course
I signed up for."

  • If you know you've registered for the lecture or course, please check your junk or spam folder. Many folks have reported that invitation emails are going to their junk or spam folder instead of their inbox. For members with Gmail, check the "Promotions" tab in your inbox as well.

  • You should receive a reminder email, which contains a link to join the webinar, approximately one day and one hour before the lecture or course session. If you don't see that email in the day or hour before the session, please give us a call at 208-426-6554 or email us at osher@boisestate.edu.

  • Make sure you are checking the same email address that you used to register.

  • If you still can't find the email, you can use the "search" function of your email inbox to type the title of the lecture or course and see if the email shows up.
March Virtual Social Hours
Grab a beverage and join us at our bi-weekly Osher Virtual Social Hour on the Zoom Meeting platform! It is a great way to engage with other Osher members, meet the staff, hear special guest speakers, and stay connected during the semester.

The social hours will be held from 12-1 p.m. on Wednesdays, March 10 and March 24. An email with the link to join will be sent out the day before the meeting date.

If you need assistance joining the Zoom meeting, please contact the Osher office at
(208) 426-6554.
Thank You, Volunteers!
Even though many of our volunteer activities have been put on hold due to the pandemic, we would like to thank our committees that have been working behind the scenes on a variety of tasks to help us plan for future semesters. This month, our thanks go to Board Development Committee members Cindy Anson, Bae Emilson, Dennis Hall, Merilee Marsh, and Ben Simko.

Our five Curriculum Track Committees are currently looking for new members. These tracks help the Director in the planning of Osher programming by suggesting course, lecture, and presenter ideas. If you are interested in this position, please fill out a Volunteer Interest Form.
Osher-Sponsored Events
City Club Virtual Conversation
Marc Johnson, author, Osher presenter, and City Club founding board member; and Bill Russell, former City Club board member
Tuesday, March 2, at 12 p.m.

For more information and to register, click here.
First Friday Astronomy Lecture
"Psyche: Journey to a Metallic World"
Lindy Elkins-Tanton, Professor, School of Earth and Space Exploration, Arizona State University
Friday, March 5, at 7:30 p.m.

To join the livestream: http:/www.astrojack.com/ffa-psyche/
Idea of Nature Lecture Series
"Idaho First: How Archaeological Discoveries on the Lower Salmon River Change Our Perspectives on the Peopling of the Americas"
Loren Davis, Professor of Anthropology, Oregon State University
Wednesday, March 17, at 6 p.m.

To register, email ideaofnature@boisestate.edu.
Have you heard us on the radio? The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a proud underwriter of
Boise State Public Radio, 91.3 FM.
Other Upcoming Events
Literature for Lunch
Professor Elizabeth Outka, author of Viral Modernism: The Influenza Pandemic and Interwar Literature
Part of the Pandemania! Reading in Isolation series
Thursday, March 4, at 5 p.m.

To register, email english@boisestate.edu.
Steve Swanson Lecture
"Lessons from Space Quarantine"
Steve Swanson, retired NASA astronaut and Boise State University Distinguished Educator in Residence
Available now! Click here to view.

Be sure to visit our
Osher on Demand website for a variety of online resources, including curated articles, community programs,
TED talks, lectures from Osher presenters across the country, recipes from Osher members, and much more!
Tax Receipts for Donations
Tax day is just around the corner! If you donated to the Osher Excellence Fund in 2020, we appreciate your continued support of our Osher Institute. If you need a gift receipt to file with your 2020 tax return, please email the Boise State Foundation at giftprocessing@boisestate.edu and they will send a receipt to you.
Time to Spring Ahead!

A friendly reminder: Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour on Saturday night, March 13,
for Daylight Savings Time!
Our thanks for the continued support from our Community Sponsors and Partners:
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University
Phone: (208) 426-OLLI (6554)
Email: osher@boisestate.edu
Website: boisestate.edu/osher

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University operates within the Division of Extended Studies. It is a membership-based, lifelong learning program offering non-credit, college-level programs for intellectually curious adults age 50 and over.

Osher Institute Advisory Board
Chair: Merilee Marsh | Cindy Anson | Ralph Bild | Russ Centanni
Bae Emilson | Chuck Folkner | Susan Gibson | Dennis Hall | Rod McLean | Celeste Miller
Sharon Moses | Rainey Pieters | Virginia Rivers | Chuck Robertson | Ben Simko
Osher Institute Staff
Director: Dana Thorp Patterson | Program Coordinator: Laura Mehlhaff
Communications Specialist: Jill Chmelko | Administrative Assistant: Jeremy Trent
Like us on Facebook