OLLILife

A community of learners over 50

May, 2024 | Vol 4, No.7

We're Embracing Our Connections

As we step into the vibrant month of May, I invite you to join us in celebrating Older Americans Month, led by the U.S. government's Administration for Community Living.

This year, the theme is "Powered by Connection," highlighting the profound impact that meaningful relationships and social connections have on our health and well-being.

Here at OLLI, our members exemplify the spirit of connection in every way. From the camaraderie shared at events like the Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast to the joyous gatherings at the recent Member Appreciation Picnic, our community thrives on the bonds we create with one another.

As we continue to embrace the theme of connection, we're excited to invite you to our upcoming Open House on May 8. It's the perfect opportunity to explore new classes, discover exciting adventures, and connect with fellow members who share your interests and passions.

So mark your calendars and get ready for a month filled with opportunities to expand your horizons, forge new friendships, and embark on memorable journeys with OLLI-USF.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Pictured above: OLLI Director Veronica Maxwell and OLLI member Mary Landsberger at The Greater Brandon Kiwanis Meeting where Veronica was the guest presenter.

May 8 - OLLI Summer Open House

May 14 - Newcomer Luncheon

OLLI Honors Our Volunteers

"If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded."

Quoting those words by Maya Angelou, OLLI Director Veronica Maxwell expressed her heartfelt thanks last month to the more than 90 OLLI volunteers attending the OLLI-USF Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at the Temple Terrace Golf and Country Club.

The annual event, hosted by the Volunteer Engagement Committee, is held to thank and honor the many volunteers who donate their time and efforts in support of OLLI. Attendees enjoyed a hearty buffet breakfast, door prizes donated by sponsors, and the chance to socialize with each other.

The morning's highlight was the presentation of the 2024 Volunteer Achievement Awards. The awards honor volunteers who have made significant contributions to the mission and values of OLLI-USF.

Many thanks to the event's sponsors. They include BeMORE Mobile Fitness, First Watch, Mission BBQ, Mister Car Wash, OLLI-USF, Sprouts, Village Inn, Yardhouse, Wellcare and Dedicated Senior Medical Center.

Congratulations to these Volunteer Achievement Award winners!

Michael Hayes: The Award of Excellence

Brian and Penny Noriega: both recipients of the Above and Beyond Award

Bruce Gobioff:The Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Diane Russell of the Volunteer Engagement Committee.

The OLLI Outdoors SIG Leadership Team: The Exemplary Teamwork Award. From left, Nancy Wisgerhof, Diane White, Delia Palermo, Anne Haywood, and Judy Hanna. Not pictured is team member Donna McGrew who was unable to attend the breakfast.

The Faculty Honor Roll Class of 2024

These three instructors who have taught 10 or more classes were inducted into the honor roll at the breakfast:

Angela Birdsong

Maryam Mercier

Barbara Goldstein

Thanks To Our Hosts, The Volunteer Engagement Committee Members:

From left, Diane Russell, Sydney Sharp, Carolyn Clark, Diane White, Pamela Seppelt, Kathy Palmer, and Marylou Raterman.

--Sandy Buckley

--Photos, Michael Hayes

It Was Quite A Picnic!

It was a perfect day for a picnic, with sunny skies and balmy temperatures. And if you had any doubts, the OLLI-USF Member Appreciation Picnic at Al Lopez Park on April 26 showed that OLLI knows how to party.

Over 140 OLLI members and staff came out for the three-hour event. They enjoyed an abundance of food, music provided by a DJ, fun games to appeal to people's competitive sides, and lots of opportunity to socialize.

Putting it all together were party mavens Kathy Palmer, Pam Tyler, Robin Cheung, and OLLI Director Veronica Maxwell.

Many thanks to picnic sponsors Sam's Club, Target, and Right House.

Here are some scenes from the event:

You’re Invited!

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

Mark your calendar for the OLLI-USF Summer Open House on Wednesday, May 8, at 10 a.m., at Centro Asturiano de Tampa, 1913 N, Nebraska Ave., in Tampa.

If you're new to OLLI, you're also invited to a special Newcomer Gathering at 9 a.m.

Join us for coffee, conversation, and presentations by OLLI instructors on our upcoming classes and programs. Meet our SIG leaders and learn about fun-filled activities and social gatherings in store for OLLI members.

A Special Guest Speaker

Our keynote speaker will be Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Daniel Ruth who is the USF Honors College visiting professor of professional practice and a member of the Tampa Bay Times editorial board. In his inimitable presentation, he will give an assessment of the contemporary political, cultural, and social landscape.

The Summer Open House is the perfect event and opportunity to introduce you and your friends to OLLI-USF. And it’s free.

For information and to register, visit USF.seniors.org or call Charise at 813-974-5848. Please make sure to register specifically for the Newcomer Gathering if you're also planning to attend that event.

We will be collecting donations for the USF Feed-a-Bull Food Pantry. Please consider bringing one or two non-perishable food items with you. You can find out more on USF Feed-a-Bull below in a separate article.

You Can Help!

A small Lunch Bunch group from the Food, Glorious Food SIG collected donations for the Feed-a-Bull food pantry when they met at the Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market for shopping and lunch on April 2.

The Operatunity SIG also continues to collect donations for the food pantry at their monthly in-person meetings.

Pictured is a student volunteer from the food pantry with donated Publix gift cards and non-perishable food items from the Gulfport Lunch Bunchers.  He emphasized how grateful they are for the support the Feed-a-Bull Pantry has been receiving from OLLI during this academic year.

Feed-a-Bull Food Pantry is open year-round to provide supplemental food assistance to students experiencing food insecurity. 

How can you help?

All OLLI members are invited to show their support for the Feed-a-Bull Pantry by bringing non-perishable food donations to the Open House at Centro Asturiano de Tampa on May 8.



Items most in demand include canned chicken, canned fruit or fruit cups, canned tuna, canned vegetables, juice, cereal, oatmeal, grits, macaroni and cheese, pasta, pasta sauce, peanut butter, rice, shelf-stable milk (non-refrigerated), ramen, snacks (popcorn, pretzels, granola bars).

Feed-a-Bull Pantry also accepts gift cards and cash donations. 

Click here for more information on the Feed-a-Bull Food Pantry. 

They've Got The Blues!

It was a perfect addition to Michael Hayes' class, The Beat Goes On: Roots of Rock & Roll - a field trip to the Blues & BBQ outdoor music festival, presented by the Carrollwood Village HOA on April 6.

Michael's class focused on American music from the late 1800s through the 1940s, all precursors to the phenomena called Rock & Roll.

Since Blues had a major influence on the genre, the daylong festival added an extra element to the classroom lessons.

Under a canopy of trees in a park outside the Carrollwood Cultural Center, festival attendees enjoyed the rocking sounds of live music, goodies from numerous food trucks, and the chance to enjoy each other's company.

Lunch with Luis

Nineteen OLLI members and guests from the Conviviality and Celebrations group enjoyed fresh, delicious lunch delights and specials at their April 19 meeting at Luis’s Garden Grill in Tampa.

The group meets for lunch monthly at various eating establishments in the Tampa area to celebrate and recognize birthdays and other special occasions.  

The next luncheon is scheduled for Fri., May 17, at 1 p.m., at BJ’s Restaurant Citrus Park Mall, 8002 Citrus Park Town Center, in Citrus Park.

All OLLI members are invited to join in the fun. Email Kat Hanscom for more information.

Appreciating the Great Outdoors

Pictured are members of the OLLI Outdoors SIG enjoying a beach walk led by Ranger Beth at Honeymoon Island on April 18.

The beach walk was one of several events hosted by the Outdoors SIG during the month of April.

They're Supporting the Arts at USF

Members of the Operatunity SIG recently attended a fundraising event at Tampa Palms Country Club in support of the USF School of Music.

The event was held on April 19 and included a dinner and concert presented by Dr. Kyoung Cho, USF professor of voice. The extensive concert had a wide variety of vocal music provided by five of her students, herself, and her husband, Won Cho.

From opera arias to sacred classics, and Broadway to Korean folk songs, it was a showcase of the Vocal Music Department's achievements. 

Donations from this event will fund student travel and related expenses.

-- Kathryn Alyson 

WHODUNIT?

The OLLI-USF class More Mystery of Agatha Christie had fun staging a play reading of The Mousetrap – the longest running play in the world.

Instructor and director Diane White said the play began as a BBC radio play, titled Three Blind Mice and was written for Queen Mary's 80th birthday.

Reading the play aloud, and including sound effects like the creepy Three Blind Mice rhyme, was an entirely different experience for both the class audience and the cast.

In theater tradition, the name of the murderer will not be revealed.

The Cast:

Mollie Ralston - Sheryl Long

Giles Ralston – Charlotte Brown

Christopher Wren - Kathy Palmer

Mrs. Boyle – Bruce Gobioff

Major Metcalf – Mike Hodges

Miss Casewell – Jean Amuso

Mr. Paravicini - Liz Nelson

Detective Sgt Trotter – Sylvia Pheneger

-- Diane White

A Magnificent Cruise On The River

On April 24, after a hearty seafood dinner at Rusty Bellies Waterfront Restaurant in Tarpon Springs, OLLI Shutterbug SIG members boarded 

the Odyssey Sunset Cruise for a photoshoot on the Anclote River heading toward the Gulf of Mexico.

After spotting osprey and nesting great blue herons followed by some shelling on Anclote Key, an inspiring sunset closed out another magnificent Florida spring day.

-Photos, Michael Hayes

Special Exhibit Review By OLLI's Kun Chi

The event will be May 4. Everyone is invited. See the information below.

Pilot Testing A Disaster Preparedness App

At the forefront of innovation, a groundbreaking app designed to assist caregivers in disaster preparation is currently in its infancy stages.

Your invaluable assistance is sought to collaborate with the talented app developers, test the app's functionalities, and provide insightful feedback on its performance.

This unique opportunity is open to all older adults eager to contribute to this meaningful project, regardless of their caregiving experience. Join in shaping the future of disaster preparedness technology.

If interested, please email Lindsay Peterson, director of USF's Long-term Care and Aging Sciences Internship Program.

Morning, Afternoon Or No Preference of Class Time

Last month, we delved into the insightful results of our previous poll, revealing that a majority of 62 percent of respondents identified as Early Birds, while 38 percent resonated with being Night Owls. Building on this discovery, we extended our inquiry to explore your preferences regarding OLLI classes, whether it be in the invigorating morning, the dynamic afternoon, or if you hold no particular preference.

Embracing the diversity of preferences among Early Birds, it's fascinating to note that a significant 53 percent of responses actually leaned towards afternoon classes over morning ones.

This intriguing insight challenges the assumption that morning classes are the default choice for early risers.

The close competition between morning classes and having no preference further highlights the nuanced nature of individual preferences.

It seems that for some Early Birds, the afternoon presents an opportunity to unwind and absorb knowledge after a productive morning, perhaps aligning with the habits of Night Owls.

This understanding underscores the beauty of individuality and the varied ways in which individuals approach their daily routines. "Birds of a feather flock together!"

--Pat Dodge

Proposed New Shared Interest Group - Florida Gardening - Taking Root

Gardeners, unite! A new SIG is being organized for members of all experience levels to share information and learn more about gardening in Florida. 

The group will consider everything from house plants to balcony/patio gardening, food and butterfly gardening as well as specialized gardening such as orchids, roses or native plants, pesticide and fertilizer use.

There will be guest speakers, tours of public and private gardens, and more. Seasonal weather will impact how and where meetings are conducted, whether on-line or in-person.

An organizational meeting will be held Monday, May 13 at 10 a.m. in the OLLI campus classroom, NEC 133. Come out and help get this new SIG going! 

To be added to the membership list and to RSVP for the May 13 organizational meeting, please contact the organizers at olliusfgardens@gmail.com.

May Greetings To All OLLI Members

We had a great turnout for the OLLI-USF picnic. If you missed it,

keep your eyes on this column for information about another festive outside gathering in the late fall.

Those of you who did come got a taste of the OLLI Circle vision. I’m looking

for Circle Point persons for all OLLI Circle zip codes to help us stay connected with OLLI members in our individual neighborhoods. If you are willing to brainstorm with a group of us, please call me at 575-779-1382 or email me.

If you are new to OLLI, welcome. Here are some immediate opportunities to

get to know other members: 

• NEWCOMER GATHERING at OLLI's Open House, May 8 at 9 a.m., Centro Esturiano. RSVP by calling Charise at 813-974-5848.

• NEWCOMER LUNCH at Brunchies, 14366 North Dale Mabry, on May 14 at noon. RSVP by calling Sally Ordway (813-351-0974)

--Pam Tyler

The Membership Committee has an article each month introducing a new OLLI member. Congratulations and welcome to OLLI’s newest member.

Introducing Dee Dee Poole

Dee Dee’s family moved to Broward County in South Florida from Chicago when she was young. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and completed her graduate studies at Florida International University, concentrating in accounting and tax.

For many years, she worked as a CPA at a large local accounting firm where she became a partner. The firm sold to a national firm, allowing her to transfer to Tampa where her daughter and two grandchildren reside.

She tried retirement but found she wasn’t ready yet, so she has joined with two others to create a small CPA firm in South Tampa, providing boutique tax and consulting to her clients.

OLLI has already benefited from Dee Dee's expertise as she serves on the Finance Committee. She has also represented OLLI at special events. She’s looking forward to participating in classes and SIGs.

Dee Dee loves to travel internationally and has visited Antarctica twice. She has visited all the continents except Australia. She has witnessed the infamous Mara River crossing of the wildebeests in Tanzania. During a trip to Zimbabwe at a time when the country was experiencing catastrophic inflation, she exchanged some money at a bank to purchase souvenirs and received a $5 billion note with a six-month expiration date.

Dee Dee also enjoys quieter pursuits close to home. They include cooking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Some favorite authors include John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks and James Grippando, who sets his stories in Florida.

-- Shirley Herring

From The Rocks To The Rockies

Sept. 15, 2025

Presented by OLLI-USF and Mayflower

This trip will include four national parks and two days aboard the famed Rocky Mountaineer in Silver Leaf Class.

The tour will begin with a flight to Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, where you will enjoy a welcome dinner and have time to take in the gliitz of the city. Then the adventure starts into Utah's red rock country aboard coach transportation from Las Vegas to Moab.

Tour Zion National Park aboard an open air sightseeing tram observing this natural wonder where the Virgin River has cut a dramatic rugged gorge and you can gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink and red.

Explore the geological marvel of hoodoos and natural bridges, at Bryce Canyon National Park.

After an overnight stay at Moab, you start the day by visiting Arches National Park.

After visiting Arches National Park, you will board the Rocky Mountaineer train, with its oversize glass-formed windows for viewing and spacious reclining seats, and travel through Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area. As the train travels along the scenic Colorado River, you’ll be in awe of the breathtaking views of red rock formations, desert cliffs of Ruby Canyon and mountain vistas. 

You’ll spend the night in Glenwood Springs. Nestled in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, the springs sit at the confluence of the Colorado and the Roaring Fork rivers. This “land of water” was treasured by the original inhabitants, the nomadic indigenous Ute people, who revered the area’s 50 hot springs and used the natural vapor caves at Yampah (Ute for "big medicine") as a place of respite and healing.

As the train pulls out of Glenwood Springs headed for Denver you’ll pass through dense wooded forests and white-capped mountains of the White River National Forest, the picturesque Byers and Gore canyons and the raging rivers and tranquil mountain lakes of Arapahoe National Forest. Cross the Continental Divide with a sparkling wine toast while cutting through the six-mile Moffatt Tunnel. Later, arrive in Denver for a two-night stay. 

Venture into Rocky Mountain National Park, a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. With elevations ranging from 8,000 feet on the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Longs Peak, the park is filled with breathtaking scenery. 

This trip is scheduled for September 2025, when Colorado's expansive vistas transform in vivid gold. Airfare is free when you make a deposit before Sept. 30, 2024.

Three ways to get more information on the trip:

• Stop by the travel table at the OLLI-USF Open House and meet Jean Rice, the Mayflower Representative.
• View the flyer for more details here.
• Register for a free Zoom presentation on the tour here May 15 at 10:00 a.m.



Opening The History Books A Little Wider

This month for Why We Love OLLI we will be learning from Sheryl Long, one of OLLI's dedicated teachers. She will tell about how her unique class topics became to be. At the end of the summer term here at OLLI, she will have taught 28 classes for us.

During my life I’ve worn many hats. These are some of the more interesting ones:

I attended college at USF for 1½ years right out of high school. Then I moved to Captiva Island where I managed a small independent bookstore. Later, I became a textile assistant to the famous artist Robert Rauschenberg.

In my mid-30s I returned to USF to earn a bachelor's degree in mass communications in the film track. Next, through contract work at WEDU, I produced a nationally syndicated television program.

In 1999, after deciding I needed a stable job with benefits, I entered the corporate world as a marketing and communications manager. After retiring in 2016. I started taking OLLI classes immediately on the recommendation of a friend.

For OLLI, I teach two different categories. The one I started with was women’s history. When my granddaughter was a preteen, we came across library books that featured amazing women I’d never heard of. It pleased me that young women could and would learn about some incredible females, but I realized that my generation might not.

And so in 2019, my first class on Women Inventors was born. It was followed by Women Explorers and Adventurers; Pirates Warriors and Spies. Oh, my!; Creative Women Parts 1 and 2; and Women In Medicine Parts 1 and 2. (Women in Science is next.) All of these are subtitled Women Who Didn’t Make the History Books.

To date I have profiled more than 275 fascinating women whom history has either never properly recognized or mostly forgotten.

The second topic I love and share is maps. It's a childhood fascination that I can’t seem to shake. The class, A Visual History of Mapmaking, features over 200 maps and some very interesting facts about how maps evolved, starting with prehistory up through GPS. It also delves into the many different types of maps and how some have been represented in advertising and art.

For the record, I have no formal training in either cartography or women’s history, but I do put a lot of research into these classes.

Some things I love about OLLI:

• All the classes I’ve taken to feed my curious mind
• The wonderful people I’ve met and the many friends I’ve made as a teacher, student, and SIG participant
• The fact that I learn something from the students in every class I’ve taught
• All the articles and information on topics I'm interested in that people who have taken my classes share with me.

--Sheryl Long

SIGnificant EVENTS FOR MAY, 2024

Nancy Baily-Williamson, SIG Liaison

Joint China SIG And Operatunity SIG Meeting On May 20th.

PEOPLE NEWS

Remembering Jay Hall 

Jay Hall passed away March 26. He was 85 years old.

Jay joined OLLI soon after retiring from the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority in 2005.

Jay’s eclectic interests were well served at OLLI as he led both technology training courses and classes in the liberal arts.

Jay’s spouse, Tempie Taudte, who led Taoist tai chi classes for OLLI for many years, survives him. 

A celebration of Jay's life is planned for May 4, at 2 p.m. at Concordia Village. Click here for details and to offer thoughts and remembrances. 

-- 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.