NEWSFLASH
May 26, 2020
OLLI Annual Fund Nears Its Goal!
"No one has ever become poor by giving."
-Anne Frank

$3,500 will do it!
Your gift now, in any amount, will spell $ucce$$ for this year's Annual Fund. Click here to pitch in. Checks are also very welcome, and may be mailed (1250 Siskiyou Blvd, Ashland, 97520) or dropped off at the OLLI office.
Fall Course Proposals Due This Sunday, May 31
OLLI Spanish Instructor Teri Coppedge was initially reluctant to teach a course online. Here's what she says about the experience now:
"I decided that it might be a good challenge for me to learn something new. I approached it openly with my students as an experiment. I watched several videos about teaching with Zoom and each time I tried something new with the class, we all held our breath and it usually worked! Some things even worked better online, such as using the breakout rooms for small group discussion, because they didn't have to contend with a noisy classroom full of people. Although the first couple of classes had a lot of learning-to-Zoom instruction, we are now moving along fairly glitch-free and learning what works best for us. I took an "almost mid-term" survey in which students were very patient and accepting of the tech troubles and grateful that I've accepted the challenge. Zoom isn't really that hard to use, and gets easier with practice (that's life!)."

To learn more about teaching at OLLI or to submit a course proposal for fall, click here . Fall course proposals are due by May 31.
More Zoom Basics for OLLI Instructors
Still considering teaching an OLLI course for Fall 2020? Here are several links we’ve found that will help you discover how easy it is to use Zoom for teaching an online class.

Click here to check out “Tips and Tricks: Educating with Zoom” from the Zoom.us website.

Click here for “Learning with Zoom” and “Teaching with Zoom,” thanks to our OLLI friends from Arizona State University.

Click here to watch this how-to video (this is the link from last week’s Newsflash), with thanks to our OLLI colleagues at West Virginia University.

Support for Fall 2020 OLLI Instructors  
  • Free access to Zoom PRO for the Fall 2020 term, thanks to SOU and available to instructors in early July
  • Tech support through the OLLI office by a Tech Consultant 
  • Pairing with a Zoom Mentor to assist in learning which Zoom tools and techniques will work best for your class
  • The best OLLI students in the universe!

We hope you will decide to join the growing list of Fall 2020 OLLI instructors using Zoom!
Still Time to Sign Up for Spring Classes
Classes Wrapping Up This Week

Title: Five Records That Changed Us (well, me anyhow)
Instructor: Denny Caraher
Description: Each week I will talk about an LP that had a major cultural and musical impact and is still relevant today. I will play excerpts from the albums via Zoom but everyone should have listened to the recording before class. The first record will be “Sweethearts of the Rodeo” by The Byrds and the other four will probably be of that era.
Last Meeting: Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00 a.m . 90 minute sessions. (5 sessions)
Students may add at any time.
Distance learning methods/tools to be used: Zoom
Maximum number of students: Unlimited
Questions: Contact the instructor at [email protected]

Title: The Three Principles of Sydney Banks – Awakening to our Innate Well Being
Instructor: Dan Altman
Description: This class is an exploration of the teachings of Sydney Banks, a Scottish welder who awakened unexpectedly with profound insights about the nature of Life. He taught three principles that describe the nature of our experience. With this understanding it is possible for any of us to experience peace and well-being regardless of our circumstances.
We will watch short videos of Syd and other contemporary teachers including Michael Neill, Dr. Dicken Bettinger, Jamie Smart and Joe Bailey.
Additional information:  https://innateevolution.com ,  https://3pgc.org/ ,  and "The Inside Out Revolution" by Michael Neill.
Last Meeting: Friday, May 29 at 11:00 AM  (4 sessions)
Classes on May 8, 15, 22, 29 for around 90 minutes.
Distance learning methods/tools to be used: Zoom
Maximum number of students: 25
Questions: Contact the instructor at [email protected]
Classes Continuing to June 5

Title: Classical Music for the Pandemic
Instructor: Peggy Evans
Description: Classical Music for the Pandemic: a look at relatively short classical music works (e.g., a movement of a symphony, not the whole work), which may speak to students at this challenging time.
Students will be contacted by email twice a week to the end of the term. Each email will include several works. Each work would be described (history, musical style, form) plus there would be links to recordings and a score (if available). The works would come from western European classical music and its several historical periods, including music for the church. Students will be encouraged to suggest works to be included and to email questions which will be answered privately or in the next class email. Students will work through this material at their own pace.
Start Date: The class is self-paced, and students may add at any time.
Distance learning methods/tools to be used: Email
Maximum number of students: Unlimited
Questions: Contact the instructor at [email protected]

Title:  OLLI Goes to the Virtual Ashland Independent Festival
Instructor:  Lorraine Vail, with Kathy Roselli, Dave Ferguson and local filmmakers
Description:  Regretfully, the 2020 Ashland Independent Film Festival (AIFF) was cancelled. Fortunately, Festival staff curated a “virtual” film festival (May 22-June 14) for independent cinema fans, and  OLLI Goes to the Virtual Ashland Independent Festival  was created. This is an opportunity to view unique films that are not likely to be shown elsewhere, plus the latest and best from our local filmmakers. The films are streamed on Film Festival Flix and can be viewed on a TV or PC. Nine full-length films and the  Locals Only  series will be discussed via Zoom. You choose how many films to view and how many class discussions to join. A brief description of the films will be available on April 30. On May 6, a Zoom meeting (optional) will provide more information and answer questions on the films and the viewing logistics.
Please note:  Enrolling in the class is a great way to express your support to AIFF and the work they do to ensure independent cinema is present in our community. The streaming channel subscription is $9.99 and a feature film rents for $7.99. Best of all, a subscription includes free access to the wonderful collection of 35 shorts, including NASA’s  CineSpace winners. A subscription is not required for the  37 short films from our community of local filmmakers and filmmaking students. If you are an AIFF member, you receive a free subscription to the channel and a number of feature film vouchers depending on your membership level.  Click here for details . 
Start Date: May 22, first film; May 24, 2:00-3:30, first meeting . Five sessions, plus film viewing.
Note: First film shows Friday, May 22.
Each feature film shows one day only during a 4- to 24-hour period. The “shorts” show continuously from May 22–June 14. The nine films chosen for discussion show on May 22, 23, 25, 26, 29, 30, and June 1, 4, 5.
Five class discussions at 2:00–3:30 pm on May 24, 27, 31 and June 2, 5. The June 2 discussion is devoted to the Local Filmmakers series and four local filmmakers whose films are showing will join us.
Distance learning methods/tools to be used:  Zoom for class discussions. FilmFestivalFlix channel for viewing films (TV or PC).
Maximum number of students:  Unlimited
 Questions:  Contact the instructor at  [email protected]
Watercolor Art Salon Coming Up in June
The May event was enjoyed so much by the participants that they are scheduling a second Salon in June. New participants are welcome to attend. RSVP below.

Event: OLLI Watercolor Art Salon
Facilitator: Charlie Noble
Description: Watercolor artists, wannabe watercolor artists! Join in for an internet art salon. We will show a piece of our work and have a positive discussion. We will discuss problems, successes and solutions of our work. A chance to come together in these difficult times from the safety of our own homes. This will be an easy-to-use Zoom event.
Date: Friday, June 5, 3:00 pm , approximately 90 minutes.
Distance meeting methods/tools to be used: Zoom
Maximum number of participants: 15
Questions: Contact Charlie at [email protected]
Zoom for OLLI Students – Getting Ready for Fall
Many of OLLI's fall courses will be presented via Zoom. If you haven't already tried it, this is a great time to learn how to use it. To get started click here to download this Basic Zoom Instruction for Beginners sheet (PDF) created especially for OLLI members by OLLI Remote Tech Support volunteers.
Member-to-Member Remote Tech Support
If you need some one-to-one coaching, OLLI's  Member-to-Member Tech Support Team volunteers may be able to help. Complete the request below and we will connect you with a Tech Support volunteer.

Click here to submit a request for tech support.

Please note: While volunteers will offer support to the best of their ability remotely, we cannot guarantee that every issue will be solved successfully. Please keep in mind that this process can require time and patience, too.
Council Election Ballots Due June 3
Participate in OLLI governance! Cast your ballot by 4:00 pm on Wednesday, June 3.

If you haven't voted yet and you're having trouble locating your ballot, please call (541-552-6048) or email ( [email protected] ) the OLLI office.
Lifelong Learning Resources
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Artist Series is comprised of live performance video from the archive, highlighting the artistry of eight artists, with an introductory interview offering audiences a personal look into the artists’ lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each concert will also include visual program notes and end with a live Q&A with the featured artist. Performances stream Sundays at 2:00 PM PDT and are available on demand for one week. Click here to learn more.

Premiering this Thursday, May 28, at 7:30 PM, Oregon Center for the Arts presents: Left Edge Percussion performs “Quintic” by Josh Gottry. Click here for information and access.

The Scottish Symphony Orchestra has a wide range of online performances for your entertainment. Click here to see what's available..

If you know someone who depends on library access for computer use, please let them know that Jackson County Library Services has opened some branches for computer use. Click here for information.