THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OLLI ON #GIVINGTUESDAY | | |
Thank you to everyone who donated or signed up to become a sustaining supporter this past #GivingTuesday! All donations, large and small, one-time gifts and sustaining support, impact the OLLI of today and help ensure its future.
If you missed #GivingTuesday, it's not too late to support OLLI. Make a gift today to give back to the OLLI community.
| | HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM OLLI! | | |
The winter holiday season is in full swing. Whatever holiday you're preparing to celebrate, or if you don't celebrate any of them, we hope you find joy and a bit of warmth in these chilly Chico winter days!
OLLI Holiday Deadlines
The OLLI office will be closed for Winter Break December 17-30, but Social Meetups will continue. We will have early deadlines for social meetups so we can get emails set up before break. The deadline to submit a social meetup for the weeks of December 21-27 and December 28-January 3 is noon on Tuesday, December 16. Additionally, the dining hall at The Social Chico will be closed December 19-January 18.
Winter Solstice
The moment of the winter solstice, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted as far away from the sun as it can possibly get, is at 7:03am Pacific Time on December 21 this year. While our part of the Earth is titled far away, the Earth as a whole is closest to the sun in the winter, and will reach its closest distance to the sun at 9:15am on January 3.
Christmas
The Christian holiday of Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. Most Christian traditions celebrate Christmas on December 25. Some, however, like Eastern Orthodox Christians, celebrate Christmas on January 7 because January 7 on the Gregorian calendar corresponds to December 25 on the older Julian Calendar.
Hanukkah
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, begins at sundown on December 14 and ends at sundown on December 22 this year. Hanukkah has a variety of symbols and celebratory objects, from the menorah to jelly donuts.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American culture observed December 26-January 1. The holiday was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga as a holiday for Black people to come together and connect with elements of African cultural traditions.
New Year's Day
One tradition for New Year's Day, on January 1, is to make New Year's resolutions. The practice began approximately 4,000 years ago with the Babylonians, when their New Year festival of Akitu included promises to return borrowed farm equipment and repay debts.
| | MEMBER BENEFIT: REGISTER FOR CLASSES TODAY | | |
The most popular benefit of being an OLLI member is taking OLLI classes. Classes start up again for the winter term on January 5, and registration is open now!
You can browse the more than 100 classes we're offering this winter in our Winter 2026 Online Class Catalog. Be sure to check out the Newly Added Classes, which were added to the schedule after the catalog was printed.
You must be signed in and have a current membership to register for classes. When you find a class you want to take, add it to your cart. When you've chosen all your classes, check out.
Having trouble registering? Call us at 530-898-6779, email us at olli@csuchico.edu, or visit our office in Aymer J. Hamilton, Monday-Thursday, 9am-2pm. We will be closed for Winter Break December 17-30 and for New Year's Day January 1. We will be open 9am-2pm on December 31, and we'll have special Friday office hours 9am-2pm on Friday, January 2.
| | CONNECTING MEMBERS AND CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES | | |
The OLLI Social Meetup Team, part of OLLI's volunteer Advisory Council (AC), is hard at work developing new ways for members to stay connected between terms. The team has been brainstorming fresh social meetup ideas, encouraging members to host their own gatherings, and spreading the word about this fun and flexible member benefit. Their mission: make it easy for everyone to connect, share interests, and keep learning together all year long.
Hosting a social meetup is simple! Choose a day, time, and place, then share those details using the simple online Social Meetup Listing Form, also found on the OLLI website. The Social Meetup Team and OLLI staff handle the rest: adding your meetup to the weekly calendar, promoting it to members, and offering friendly support along the way.
Meetups can be anything you imagine – movie outings, museum tours, book discussions, knitting circles, game groups, or mini art sessions like watercolor sketchbook practice. Some hosts even use meetups to try out ideas for future OLLI classes. And since they're free and drop-in friendly, members can come and go as they please – no registration required.
The Social Meetups Team is always looking for new members to help expand this special intersession benefit to everyone. Visit the Social Meetups page to learn more or email olli@csuchico.edu to join the Social Meetups Team.
Pictured: Diane Bryant demonstrates origami techniques at a recent social meetup.
| | MEET A MEMBER: JUDITH GROPP | | |
The COVID-19 pandemic prompted Judith Gropp, pictured, to join OLLI. Happy that she could keep her love of learning alive with online classes, she has studied mainly history, literature, and art. A particular favorite of hers has been Jack Ayer's slow reading of Shakespeare's plays. She will miss Jack's scholarship and thought-provoking discussions now that he has retired from teaching for OLLI.
A member of some other OLLIs – the University of Hawai'i is one – Judith enjoys being able to participate in hybrid classes and chime in on discussions.
Judith is also interested in science classes, although she has less time now that she is co-fostering two standard poodles and devoting at least a month each year to international travel with her husband. Their last trip was to Albania, Macedonia, and Northern Greece. Albania’s status as a new democracy was particularly fascinating. Next will be New Zealand and Australia. To save money on travel costs they tolerate long layovers in airports. "That's why backgammon was invented," she claims.
Recently, The New York Times published a few of her short "Metropolitan Diaries," fulfilling her dream of writing. She has found the OLLI staff to be very helpful and instructors to be excellent, so Judith will continue to seek out opportunities to expand her horizons.
| | CALL FOR ART: THE WONDERS OF NATURE | | |
The Bradley 2 Art Gallery will feature OLLI members' art during the winter and spring terms. The Gallery Team invites our artistic community of members to contribute their work (painting, collage, photography, textiles, fabric art, etc.) to this jury-free exhibit on the theme of The Wonders of Nature.
Submit your artwork with the entry form (pdf).
Art Drop-Off: January 5-6
Exhibit: January 12-June 26
Opening Reception: January 25
Art Pickup: June 30-July 1
Email Margaret Rader at mwrader13@gmail.com with any questions about the gallery.
Pictured: Original Wildflowers by Donna Sandberg.
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Virginia Lewis, pictured, was inspired by attending OLLI collage classes to create this poster for the bus driver captain at her church. "Ms. Layfield and her sister have invited me into their family," Virginia said. "They invite me to dinner, provide rides, companionship, and love." Virigina wants them to know how much they mean to her and created this poster to tell them just that.
Virginia graduated from Bishop College in Texas in 1953 with a BS in chemistry. In 1987 she went back to earn an AA degree in social behavior from Butte College and was the oldest graduate to cross the stage. Virginia, now 90, is indeed a lifelong learner!
| | ELEVENTH ANNUAL OLLI PLAY FESTIVAL | | |
The OLLI Play Festival will be back in April with more laugh-out-loud plays, written, directed, and acted entirely by OLLI members. Come join the fun!
Mark your calendars for the following dates:
Plays due: January 23
Auditions: February 26-27
Rehearsals: March 9-April 15
Performances: April 16-19
For more information, contact Pam Loyd at pamloyd@icloud.com.
| | NATURE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD | | |
Hilary Hassenzahl has spent five years wandering weekly and researching the animals she's observed and photographed. This winter, she will share new photos and research in Nature in the Neighborhood.
This photographic journey of wildlife in Chico and the greater Northern California area looks at animal behaviors and interactions, cool adaptive features, interesting facts, rare mutations, seasonal and developmental changes, nature's beauty in the abstract, diversity, and captured moments. Pique your curiosity and understanding for next time you step into your backyard or adventure further afield.
Register now for Nature in the Neighborhood and learn more with Hilary this winter.
Pictured: One of Hilary Hassenzahl's nature photos.
| | TRAVEL AND LEARN WITH OLLI | | Discover the Best of Eastern Canadian Cities, Fall '26 | | |
From the old-world style of Quebec City to the power of Niagara Falls, say bienvenue to Eastern Canada. Visit charming Canadian cities, learn about maple syrup making, and walk cobblestone streets. An unforgettable experience awaits as you venture along picturesque countryside and glistening skyscrapers. Your 9 days and 12 meals will be guided by seasoned tour guides from Collette.
View the Discover the Best of Eastern Canadian Cities full itinerary (pdf) and book now for discounted rates.
| | Spotlight on New York City, Fall '26 | | |
Start spreading the news! This extended Spotlight on New York City tour makes the most of a single hotel stay to explore Manhattan and Brooklyn. Experience the best of the "Big Apple" from Rockefeller Center to Greenwich Village and across the Brooklyn Bridge. Your 7 days and 8 meals will be guided by seasoned tour guides from Collette.
View the Spotlight on New York City full itinerary (pdf) and book now for discounted rates.
| | Discover South Pacific Wonders, Fall '26 | | |
Experience Queenstown, cruise Sydney Harbour, and discover the wonders of Aboriginal culture on this incredible journey through New Zealand and Australia. From the ethereal beauty of New Zealand's glacial fjords to the tropical splendor of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, enjoy the best of the South Pacific. Your 18 days and 28 meals will be guided by seasoned tour guides from Collette.
View the Discover South Pacific Wonders full itinerary (pdf) and book now for discounted rates.
| | Discover Scotland, Spring '26 | | |
OLLI remembers Bill Augros, a longtime member, dedicated instructor, and generous friend to our community who passed away on November 7. Bill shared his love of learning in countless ways: hosting lively Shakespeare screenings, providing space for hands-on cooking classes, and helping secure off-site spaces so OLLI could grow.
Though he lived with modest means, Bill always found a way to give back, supporting OLLI with heartfelt donations and an unwavering belief in lifelong learning. His warmth, curiosity, and quiet generosity enriched the lives of so many. Bill embodied the spirit of OLLI, and he will be deeply missed and warmly remembered.
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Ongoing
December 17-30
January 1
January 2
January 4
January 5
January 19
March 13
March 15
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Winter Social Meetups
Winter Break (OLLI Closed)
New Year's Day (OLLI Closed)
Special OLLI Friday Office Hours 9am-2pm
Winter Social Meetups End
First Day of Winter Classes
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No Classes, OLLI Closed)
Last Day of Winter Classes
Winter Social Meetups Begin
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HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE?
If you have something to say, a photo to share, or a question to pose to the editor, you can submit information using our OLLI Newsletter Submission form.
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