OLLI at SOU NEWSFLASH
February 15, 2021
February & March Calendar Dates
  • February 22 - Spring catalog is available online and in mailboxes. Spring course request period opens
  • February 23 - OLLI Council Meeting
  • March 5 - Spring course request period ends
  • March 12 - Winter term ends
  • March 15 - Spring course assignments mailed/emailed
  • March 22 - Spring open enrollment begins
  • March 23 - OLLI Council Meeting
  • March 29 - Spring term begins

One catalog will be received by each OLLI member household by the time the course request lottery period opens on February 22. The catalog will also be available online on the OLLI website. And remember, there's no rush to submit your lottery requests. It makes no difference whether a request is received on the first day or the last. So take your time to look over the outstanding courses offered this spring and decide on your top choices. Then you can fill in the gaps on your schedule when open enrollment begins on March 22.
 
Your OLLI membership lets you take as many courses as you can schedule from among the many courses being offered, including new options along with old favorites. Take your time deciding–the lottery period doesn't close until March 5.

Conversation Connections (Con-Cons) are one-time meetings on a specific topic of discussion. No preparation or teacher is required, just someone to facilitate the conversation so everyone has a chance to talk.

Dan has added a few more spots for this Conversation:
  • Topic: American Musical Theatre since the 1970s
  • Description: This lecture and conversation is designed to provide an overview of the history and aesthetics of the American musical theatre since the innovations to the form in the last half-century. Beginning with the works of Stephen Sondheim and advancing through the 1980s “megamusical,” rock operas, to contemporary hits that engage with crucial questions of gender, sexuality, race, and ethnicity that are central to American cultural identity and society today, we will discuss a broad range of works created by leading artists in the American musical theatre.
  • Date: Wednesday, February 24
  • Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
  • Facilitator: Dan Venning. Dan is Assistant Professor of Theatre and English at Union College in Schenectady, NY. He holds a Ph.D. in Theatre from the CUNY Graduate Center, a M.Litt. in Shakespeare Studies from the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and a BA in English and Theater Studies from Yale.
  • RSVP: Reservations are required, and honored on a first response basis. The maximum number of participants for this event is 19, OLLI members only. RSVP by 3:30 on Tuesday, February 23. Click here to RSVP.
If this topic doesn't resonate with you or fit your schedule, stay tuned for other options, or host one yourself. It's easy to hold a Conversation Connection on on a topic of your choice. To find out more, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Pauline Black at blackp@sou.edu
Events This Week
Asante Ashland Community Hospital
In partnership with Asante Ashland Community Hospital, OLLI's winter lecture series continues.

•Wednesday, February 17, 7:00-8:00 pm: Orthopedics and the Aging Athlete

Wednesday, February 24, 7:00-8:00 pm: Cancer Care in the Rogue Valley

•Two additional lectures in March. Click here for more information and to register.

Non-members are welcome.
Join us on Thursday, February 18, at 6:30 pm for a new Zoom play created by OLLI's Players of 2018-19 "Cafe Noir" fame. It's free and all are welcome to tune in on this Zoom link: https://sou.zoom.us/j/88570258343?pwd=K2hzZjJYN0dGalE3Wk9HaHV3YzduZz09
Meeting ID: 885 7025 8343 with Passcode: 615785
One tap mobile +13462487799,,88570258343# US (Houston)
SOU's Honors College students invite you to participate as they consider the fragility and strength of democracy through a series of lectures, discussions, and presentations via Zoom and radio. 

•Thursday, February 18, 7:00-8:00 pm: American Democracy on the Eve of the Day of Remembrance

•Additional events in March, April and May. Click here for more information.
Article #4 in Lifelong Learning Series
Read the latest in the series that OLLI's Communications & Community Outreach Committee has partnered with Rosebud Media to develop in order to increase awareness of OLLI at SOU, make community connections, and offer exploration of knowledge and skills for adults living in the Rogue Valley.

This month's article features OLLI volunteer treasurer, instructor, and author Irv Lubliner discussing the enjoyment and satisfaction that his involvement with OLLI gives him. Click here to download a copy (PDF) of the article, or here to read it online.
 
In case you missed the earlier articles in this series:
  • On January 11, volunteer instructors Steve Weyer and Terri Stewart outlined disaster preparedness and the OLLI course they are offering both winter and spring terms, "Disaster Preparedness: Almeda, Cascadia, Zombies." Click here to download a PDF of the article, or here to read it online.
  • On November 6, new OLLI instructor Gary Anderson focused on the kind of economic future that could be in store for the Rogue Valley after the Covid-19 shutdown and the Almeda Fire. Click here to download a PDF or here for a link to the article online.
  • On October 9, OLLI volunteer Anne Bellegia reported on how the Covid-19 pandemic and the Almeda Fire have impacted volunteerism in the Rogue Valley. Click here to download a PDF or here for a link to the article online.

Look for more relevant and engaging articles in the months to come. Congratulations and thank you to the Communications and Community Outreach Committee for this successful collaborative effort with our local media.
Free Tax Help
AARP Tax-Aide will be offering free tax preparation services again this year (beginning February 10,) using a process intended to keep taxpayers and tax counselors safe in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines provided by the authorities. Click here to learn more from the City of Ashland News site.

If you're not in the Ashland area, click here for AARP tax help information nationwide.
Free Lifelong Learning Opportunities
With a new administration comes a fundamental shift in focus. Which priorities have the best chance at moving the country — and the world — forward? New York Times DealBook’s DC Policy Project convenes leaders in business and policy to debate this question. Explore a series of focused sessions over the course of two days, February 22–23. Free. Click here to learn more or to register.

The Aspen Institute hosts free lectures and panel discussions on a wide range of topics from personal to global issues. Click here to see what's coming up this week.