October 2025 | Vol.5, No.12 | | |
CIRCLE GATHERINGS:
The Circle gatherings are back! You can get all the details in the Membership Corner further down this page.
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Oct. 15 - Port Of Tampa Tour
Nov. 18 - Tampa International Airport Tour
Dec. 12 - Holiday Gathering
Check out more OLLI events here:
OLLI Calendar
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Hello Fall!
What a wonderful season we are stepping into together. Last month, our outstanding staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to prepare for — and successfully host — three Fall Open Houses. What a feat! Each event reflected the strength and heart of our OLLI community, and I could not be prouder of the way we continue to grow.
As we expand our program, we are learning, adjusting, and fine-tuning so that our members enjoy the very best experience.
A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU goes out to all of you who have registered for classes, joined, or renewed your memberships. We were faced with a challenge, and we met it head-on. The patience, kindness, and grace you have shown remind me why OLLI is such a special family. Please keep sending sweet thoughts to our beloved registrar, Charise, as she continues to recover.
To our volunteers — thank you. Your dedication and selfless support help lighten potential stresses and carry us forward. Your love and labor cannot be measured, but they are deeply felt and sincerely appreciated by me and by all of OLLI’s staff.
This time last year, we were preparing for unprecedented weather. While we hope for calmer skies this season, let’s be wise and ready. Please take a moment to review Hillsborough County’s resources for hurricane and tropical storm preparedness here.
Here’s to a fall filled with learning, laughter, and connection.
P.S. Save the date for our Holiday Gathering - Friday, Dec, 12, at 4 p.m., at the USF Embassy Suites Hotel.
The photo shows me with Colleen Cherry, executive office administrator at USF St. Pete.
--Veronica Maxwell
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We Look Back – And Ahead – At Fall Open House In Tampa
Read what Brian Ford, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' chief operating officer, had to say about 50 years of football in the Tampa Bay area, including its impact on the community, and what's coming up next. Also learn what's next for USF and OLLI. And of course, view the numerous photos of your friends at the OLLI Open House.
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How Did We Get Here?
From the very first OLLI in 2001 at the University of Southern Maine, there are now over 120 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes on college campuses across the nation, including our favorite OLLI at USF. If you've ever wondered how all this came about, you'll want to watch this four-minute video that introduces you to Bernard Osher and how and why he created this wonderful organization
| | | Energy and Inspiration At The St. Pete Fall Open House | | |
Nearly 100 attendees gathered for our second term of classes at USF St. Petersburg, and the energy was electric as we prepared to launch 13 exciting courses ranging from The 100 Foods That Define Florida to Human Sexuality. The keynote address by Dr. Heather O’Leary, Happiness: Finding Meaning and Wellbeing, left us smiling and inspired as we headed into the fall term.
We are deeply grateful to our wonderful volunteers, including Krista Kutash (pictured with me), whose dedication and support is truly appreciated.
-- Veronica Maxwell
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Helping Feed A Bull
Members of the Food, Glorious Food SIG collected food donations for the USF Feed-A-Bull Food Pantry at their general membership meeting on Sept. 29, at the Children’s Board in Tampa.
Pictured is a student volunteer at the food pantry unloading the carload of donations from the group. She was very grateful for the donations, which will help keep the pantry shelves stocked.
The Feed-A-Bull pantry supplies supplemental food assistance to USF students facing food insecurity while attending the university.
Click here for more information on the Feed-A-Bull pantry and ways you can help.
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Speaking of Hablemos...
Hablemos is the Spanish word for “let’s talk.” And that's what the Hablemos SIG is all about: lots of interesting and enlightening conversations - in Spanish only. The SIG is so successful that in April it received an Exemplary Teamwork Award. What make this group so successful - and so much fun? Read on....
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In The Spotlight With AI
OLLI Membership Chair Kathryn Alyson has been out and about spreading the news about OLLI.
Kathryn and volunteer Krista Kutash recently hosted a table at the Tampa Bay Times Spotlight on AI in our Communities at the Palladium in St. Pete.
Read what OLLI is doing to help seniors make AI part of their lives.
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Circles News
Circles gatherings are becoming increasingly popular among OLLI members.
Pictured above are members from Circles 5, 7, 12, and 15 at their gathering at Tibby's in Brandon on Sept. 24.
Look for your friends in our photos from recent Circles gatherings.
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Circle The Dates
Save the date for your next Circle gathering. Check out the Fall Circles Schedule and mark your calendars accordingly.
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Circle Zip Codes
Find the zip code for the Circle you belong to in the attached list.
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New Orleans and Cajun Country
Experience New Orleans and Cajun Country with OLLI-USF.
Join us for a free virtual presentation on this group-guided Premier World Discovery New Orleans & Cajun Country multi-day tour on Oct. 21 at 10 a.m.
Read on to register for the virtual presentation and for details and highlights of this exciting tour and a link to their brochure.
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The Canadian Maritimes
Discover the Canadian Maritimes with your friends at OLLI-USF and meet members of the University of Delaware OLLI on this private tour.
Read more to find out how to receive $150 off the price of this EF Go Ahead Canadian Maritimes tour and for links to a video presentation and brochure on this exciting tour.
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Tour of Tampa International Airport
The OLLI-USF Travel Opportunities Committee is offering another local tour of Tampa International Airport.
Join us for this guided walking tour and learn why Tampa International is one of America's favorite airports.
Click on the TIA button to register for the airport tour and for important, helpful details.
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Red Rocks to the Rockies
Thirteen OLLI-USF members just returned after visiting four National Parks and two days abord the famed Rocky Mountaineer.
Photos from the tour and what they had to say about their experience can be viewed by clicking the Red Rocks Tour button below.
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Whistling has been called the original wireless device — no batteries, no monthly fees, and the signal goes as far as your lungs will take it. Some folks can whistle a tune so sweet it could charm the birds from the trees, while others sound more like a teapot that’s been left on the stove too long. (And let’s be honest — most of us fall somewhere in between.)
From catchy movie themes to calling the dog, whistling has been a handy skill for centuries. It’s part music, part communication, and part… well, spit management. Some say whistling is a lost art, but we’re not so sure — so let’s have a little fun and find out just how our OLLI members measure up in the whistling department!
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| What Is Your Whistling Capability? | | | | |
Fun On A Sunday
Appropriately, 10 members of the Local Culture SIG met on Sunday, Sept. 7, to attend the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Tell Me On A Sunday at freeFall Theatre in St. Petersburg. The fun continued after the show at the Three Birds Tavern where the group met for dinner and some lively conversation.
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A Taste Of The Islands
Bahama Breeze on Rocky Point was the restaurant of choice for the Conviviality and Celebrations monthly luncheon on Sept. 18. Nineteen diners from the group enjoyed a variety of delicious island dishes and were treated to excellent service by friendly, attentive staff.
Conviviality and Celebrations is a group of OLLI members and friends who meet once a month for lunch to celebrate and recognize birthdays and other special occasions.
The next luncheon is scheduled for Thurs., Oct. 9, at 1 p.m. at Pho Quyen Vietnamese Cuisine at Ross Plaza, 8404 W Hillsborough Ave., Tampa.
Additional luncheons planned for the remainder of the year include Thursday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m., at Yuengling Draft Haus, 11109 N. 30th St., Tampa, and Thursday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m., at Stonewater Grill, 4422 Land O’ Lakes Blvd, Land O’ Lakes.
All are welcome to join in the fun. Email Kat Hanscom for further information.
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Fired Up!
The Local Culture SIG got fired up at the play Ada and the Engine.
Twelve OLLI members from the group attended the production at Stageworks on Sept. 20.
At the dawn of the British Industrial Revolution, Ada Byron Lovelace, a fiery young inventor and the daughter of flamboyant poet Lord Byron, discovers the boundless creative potential of "analytical engines."
With her friend and soulmate Charles Babbage, the inventor of the first mechanical computer, Ada dreams of a new world where art and technology converge. We wondered what they would think of artificial intelligence if they lived today.
Through her work, Ada is sometimes considered to be the first computer
programmer.
This thoughtful play was produced by Powerstories - a nonprofit professional
theater group whose mission is to stage true stories of women and girls to open minds and hearts and inspire action worldwide.
--Diane White
| Inside the World of Amazon | |
Twenty-four OLLI members traveled to Temple Terrace in September for a look inside a 465,000-square-foot Amazon fulfillment facility.
The OLLI Day Trip provided a firsthand look at how products in your shopping cart "magically" get from Amazon to your front door. It’s a symphony of people and technology that allows Amazon to deliver orders quickly and efficiently to customers around the world. The Temple Terrace facility is said to have the most modern robotics technology of any Amazon fulfillment center in existence.
-- Mary Coffeen
--Photo, Grizelle Aldea
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Gadgets...And More Gadgets
Those old gadgets sitting unused in kitchen drawers had a chance for a new life on Sept. 29 when members of the Food, Glorious Food SIG held a gadget exchange. A variety of cooking utensils, electronic gizmos, cookbooks, and other interesting items went home with their new owners after the meeting held at the Children's Board.
The group's members also brought donations of grocery items for the Feed-A-Bull Food Pantries at USF. And true to the SIG's name, everyone enjoyed homemade goodies while discussing ideas for upcoming programs.
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Be One Of The Portraits
You can be part of a Capstone project being created by Ashley Tabachnick, a USF student working toward a master's degree in gerontology in the School of Aging Studies.
Learn more about the project and how to participate by scanning the QR code on the adjacent flyer, calling Ashley at 561-313-3808, or by clicking on this link.
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SIGnificant EVENTS FOR OCTOBER 2025
Mike Hayes, SIG Liaison
| | For more information on OLLI SIGs, see the full list here. Several of the SIGs meet on Zoom; others are meeting in person and are organizing group outings and events. To visit a SIG, email the contact(s) below. | | |
China SIG
The China SIG fosters an appreciation for and understanding of the Chinese people and their cultures. Our group meets at least quarterly, either virtually or in person. We celebrate Chinese traditional holidays and enjoy presentations and videos by a variety of speakers and musicians. For more information about the China SIG, please contact Kun Shi or Nancy Stuart.
Community of Readers and Writers
You are welcome to join our next lively Zoom every first Thursday of the month. This time it's Oct 2, from 3-3:45 p.m. You can chat with experienced writers and learn what we offer. If you can stay a half-hour longer, have fun with a group writing prompt you can work on at home and share with us when you're ready. To register for the Zoom link email readersandwriters.too@gmail.com.
Florida Gardening SIG
Gardeners, unite. The Florida Gardening SIG has members of all experience levels to learn and share more about gardening in Florida. We discuss house plants, balcony/patio gardening, food and butterfly gardening as well as specialized gardening such as orchids, roses or native plants, pesticide and fertilizer use. We have guest speakers, tour public and private gardens, and more. Seasonal weather will impact how and where meetings are conducted (on-line, in person, etc.) Contact us at olliusfgardens@gmail.com for more information and to be placed on the mailing list.
Food, Glorious Food! Explore Tampa's food world and all it entails - how it grows, where to buy it, where to eat it, and how to prepare it - through field trips, speakers, and other activities
Wed., Oct. 22, at 11:30 a.m. Dutch treat lunch at Curry Leaves restaurant. To RSVP, or to join the SIG, contact Sandy Buckley.
Games SIGs:
Online Games:
Thurs., Oct. 9, at 3:30 p.m. To play Scattergories, email Kathy Palmer.
Board Games:
Thurs., Oct. 16, at 11 a.m., at the Jimmie B. Keel Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave. Email Bobbi Riese or text her at 813-613-0299 if interested in joining.
German Conversation:
Tues., Oct 14 and 28 at 1 p.m. For more information, contact Patti Schatz or Theresa Sokol.
Talking Movies
Fri., Oct. 17, at 1:30 p.m. Watch a movie and then get together on Zoom and talk about it. Movie to be determined. For more information, contact Arlene Zimney.
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Hablemos! Spanish Conversation SIG
All levels of Spanish speakers are welcome to join our conversation group. Tues., Oct 7, lunch at Soul de Cuba restaurant. Regular Zoom meeting Tues., Oct 21, at 3 p.m. Email olli.hablemos@gmail.com for more information.
Ici on parle français!
Mon., Oct 6, at 1 p.m. For an invitation, contact Lise Bérubé.
Local Culture SIG
Do you enjoy attending plays and concerts, historical tours, art museums and the like? Do that and more with fellow OLLI members while you discover what our local culture has to offer.
Wed., Oct 8 - Jon Batitste Plays America at Ruth Eckerd Hall
Sun., Oct 26 - Oklahoma! New Tampa Performing
Arts Center
For more information, contact Marilyn Schwartz.
Operatunity
New to opera or an aficionado? Join OLLI's opera SIG as we explore ways to expand our knowledge and appreciation of opera. We enjoy lively presentations and discussions about opera that focus on Met in HD Broadcasts. Mon., Oct. 27, at 10:15 a.m., at the Jimmie B. Keel Library. For more information about this SIG, contact Kathryn Alyson.
OLLI Outdoors
Try out one of our events - we welcome guests!
Fri., Oct. 3 - Bike group rides of various lengths
Thurs., Oct. 9 - Moccasin Lake Park hike
Fri., Oct. 24, at 3 p.m., on Zoom, virtual tour of Marie Selby Gardens
Visit our website to learn more about us. Ready to have outdoors (and indoors) fun? Sign up here today! Want to RSVP or have questions, email the SIG leaders at OLLIOutdoors@gmail.com.
Politics SIG
The Politics SIG provides a forum for discussion and informal debate on topics related to U.S. domestic and foreign policy. The P-SIG complements and promotes OLLI-USF classes on political science and history and is an adjunct to our weekly Saturday Social, which covers current events of political interest. For more information, please contact Rich Kennedy.
Self-Hypnotherapy SIG
Explore and share many approaches that can be utilized and practiced dealing with stress, unwanted emotions and feelings, and the many challenges that everyday life presents. Please email Anne Haywood for more information.
Please note while there will be no Self-Hypnotherapy meetings in October, the OLLI Class titled Self-Hypnosis: Pathway to Peace of Mind, a pre-requisite for this SIG is being offered online on Fridays, Oct. 3 to 31, 10 a.m. to noon.
| | 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.
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