Wonderings
A publication of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at MSU
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"A fun and interesting look at an American Institution that reflects our multi-cultural, immigration-based roots."
-Participant, "Levi Strauss and the Blue Jeans"
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Jessica's Note
This April, OLLI at MSU will offer LGBTQ+ Everyday Allies, where you can learn more about LGBTQ+ people, pronoun use, jargon (like what LGBTQ stands for and why there is a "+" at the end), what to do if you slip up, how to support individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and discuss the role bias can play in our interactions with our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to experience loneliness than heterosexual or cisgender people. They are less likely to have children and more likely to be separated from their biological families. They are often isolated from important support structures, like schools, clubs, or religious organizations.
A supportive community is essential for everyone; through learning together, we can better support those around us. Join us April 19-May 17 for these important conversations.
Jessica Alvarez
Program Coordinator, OLLI at MSU
SOURCES: American Heart Association News, National Center for Biotechnology Information
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Upcoming OLLI at MSU Programs | |
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February OLLI Extras
Introduction to Fly Tying with Matt Wilhelm. Fridays, February 23 - March 15, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Hope Lutheran Church. Back by popular demand, local guide and licensed fly casting instructor, Matt Wilhelm will teach and facilitate a hands-on fly tying workshop for beginner anglers. Limited space, few spaces remain.
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February Speaker Series
Citizen Science: It's More Than Just Science! with Suzi Taylor. February 12, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies.
It Isn't Glass Until It Breaks with Ruth King. February 26, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Online via Zoom.
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A Historic Cattle Ranch in Southwest Montana
Developed by an OLLI at MSU volunteer writer
The Grant-Kohrs Historic Ranch in Deer Lodge is one of Montana's most iconic and beautiful properties. It is rich in history and dates back to the mid-1800s.
The 1860s marked an era of mass migration to the western portion of the U.S. The gold rush was peaking, and the passage of the Homestead Act of 1862 brought an influx of people from all corners of the globe, including Europe. British settlers continued many of the great Christmas traditions of the Victorian Era when they settled in Montana.
Johnny Grant started out as a fur trader along the Oregon Trail. He quickly realized that he could make more money in the cattle business. Over time, he accumulated a substantial herd, built a profitable business, and settled in the Deer Lodge Valley, where he constructed a large house that now stands as the centerpiece of a National Historic Site.
Conrad Kohrs began as a miner during the California gold rush but pivoted to cattle when he realized it was more profitable. Over time, he built an enormous cattle business, culminating in shipping 10,000 head of cattle annually to the Chicago stockyards for distribution. Eventually, he also made his home in Deer Lodge.
Grant and Kohrs became acquaintances, and in 1866, Kohr bought Grant's property, which included the ranch house. After marrying Augusta Kruse Kohrs in 1868, she made the ranch house the focus of her legacy. The Park Service has done an incredible job preserving the house and some of the Grant-Kohrs' original decorations. See this Montana icon and take a tour of the house, check out the blacksmith shop, or take the grandkids on a horse-drawn wagon ride, available on special occasions.
SOURCES: southwest mt.com/blog/southwest-montana-christmas-traditions
Click or tap here for more information about the previous article on Winston Rods.
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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.
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January 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.
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Seeking volunteers for program development
We're seeking adventurous volunteers who are eager to infuse their unique perspectives into the OLLI experience. Whether you're a seasoned multitasker or possess a talent for crafting memorable programs, we invite YOU to be a part of our vibrant community.
Spark Your Imagination: Join the OLLI Extras Committee and indulge your passion for creating engaging programs and connecting with others. Share your wisdom and help us shape experiences that resonate with our lively community of learners.
Empower Future Adventures: Consider lending your expertise to the Development Committee and contribute to planning and implementing future fundraising initiatives for long-term sustainability. Your involvement will ensure that the joy of curiosity will continue for generations to come.
Ready to dive in? Complete our short volunteer form or reply to this email, and we will contact you with follow-up information. Let's make every OLLI moment extraordinary together!
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Campus Corner
Below are a few upcoming events on the MSU campus that may be of interest to 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.
Rural Education in a Changing World with Jayne Downey. Tuesday, February 13, 7:00 p.m. Museum of the Rockies, Hager Auditorium. As part of the annual Provost's Distinguished Lecturer Series, Jayne Downey will explore some of the current challenges facing our rural schools and communities, both here in Montana and around the globe.
Unruly Matters: Blackness, Aesthetics, and the Late 19th-Centuries 'New' Data Regimes with Dr. Autumn Womack. Thursday, February 15, 5:30 p.m. American Indian Hall Rm. 166. Dr. Womack, an associate professor of African American studies and English at Princeton University, will discuss the burdened yet vital interplay between turn-of-the-twentieth-century data regimes and Black life itself.
MPG Ranch: Restoration, Research and Conservation with Beau Larkin. Thursday, February 22, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Animal Biosciences Building, 134. In this talk, Beau will document examples of successes and works in progress at MPG Ranch since its inception in 2011.
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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. | | | | |
