GIVE FOR THE LOVE OF LEARNING THIS VALENTINE'S DAY | |
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Fellow Members
With Valentine's Day last week, LeeAnn and I want to remember there is much to appreciate and be grateful for. We are particularly grateful for OLLI. As both instructors and students, we’ve met many fantastic people over the years. OLLI helps us feel connected with others who we share common interests with, as well as the opportunity to explore new paths by taking classes that are both inspiring and meaningful.
— Bill Unger, pictured with LeeAnn Schlaf
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Your donations keep the HEART of OLLI ticking! We've raised $14,650 from individual members this year. Support OLLI this Valentine's Day and help us reach our $35,000 GOAL for the year so we can keep our members, like Bill and LeeAnn, engaged and aspiring to learn more. | | |
Photo credit: Jason Halley, Chico State university photographer. | |
DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS EMAIL | |
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If you're one of the over 300 members reading this email in Gmail, you might miss part of it. Gmail has a display limit, and when your email is longer than that limit, it shows a message, pictured, that says "[Message clipped] View entire message." You can click on the "View entire message" link to see the rest of the email, or go the top of the Bits & Bytes email and click the "Having trouble viewing this page? Click here to open as a Webpage" link.
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SUBMIT YOUR ARTWORK FOR THE SPRING EXHIBIT | |
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All OLLI members are encouraged to submit up to three pieces of artwork to the OLLI Gallery Member Art Show.
Submit your artwork with the entry form (pdf). For more information, contact Debbie Vermette at [email protected].
Art drop-off in Bradley 2: March 18-19
Exhibit: April 22-June 28
Opening Reception: April 28
Art pick-up: July 1-2
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PLAY FESTIVAL AUDITIONS TODAY AND TOMORROW | |
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The OLLI Play Festival will be back this April with more laugh-out-loud plays, written, directed, and acted entirely by OLLI members.
Come one, come all to audition for a part in one of four short and fun plays written by OLLI members!
Auditions
Today, February 22, 2:30-5pm
Tomorrow, February 23, 1-4pm
Gordon 1 at The Social Chico
For copies of the 2024 plays, email Rachel Jablon at [email protected].
Play Festival Schedule
Auditions: February 22-23
Rehearsals: March 11-April 17
Performances: April 18-21
For more information about the festival, contact Pam Loyd at [email protected].
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MEMBER BENEFIT: SOCIAL MEETUPS | |
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The spring social meetup term starts when winter classes end. In our last two social meetup terms, members went to the movies, had a yarn exchange for fiber enthusiasts, and celebrated the new year on Zoom.
Social meetups are an easy, casual way to get together with other OLLI members. Any member can organize a meetup, and we invite you to bring your friends to meetups to give them a taste of what OLLI is all about.
Social meetups are very easy to organize. All you have to do is pick a day, time, and place, and then fill out the form to get it on the weekly calendar.
Pictured: Members learned about beekeeping when Cracker Barrel continued as a meetup between terms.
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THE SOCIAL CHICO PARKING REMINDER | |
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We love that our members have found a classroom home with OLLI at The Social Chico. If you drive to The Social, please park only in designated spaces. In particular, this is a reminder to not park your car in the smaller spaces meant for motorcycle parking, pictured. If you ride a motorcycle to class, you are welcome to use the motorcycle parking. If you ride a bicycle to class, please park it in the bike racks.
Thank you for helping us to be valuable, responsible tenants at The Social.
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"I appreciated hearing from the native point of view about how to manage the environment," OLLI member Alex Lorenz shared in reference to what he likes most about this winter's new Ecotherapy: A Nature-Based Wellness Class.
Instructor Blake Ellis, Big Chico Creek Ecologial Reserve ecotherapy program manager, is a certified forest therapy guide and an associate clinical social worker. She sees forest therapy as a hopeful intervention to support community healing and recovery. Alex went on to say he enjoys the class, especially the new ideas and concepts he's being introduced to. "Blake is a good teacher, and she brings a lot of enthusiasm to class."
Pictured: David Mitchell, Butte County Resource and Conservation District, and OLLI member Cheryl Armstrong.
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MEET A MEMBER: MAUREEN FREDRICKSON | |
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Retired teacher and bibliophile Maureen Fredrickson, pictured, has been an active OLLI member for more than a decade. This winter she's enrolled in both online and in-person classes, including Dolores Mitchell's Vincent Van Gogh's Transformation of Influences class that started last week. "I love art, art history, and touring art galleries," Maureen said.
An avid reader, she's currently participating in three book groups. An elementary and middle school teacher for 36 years, 29 of them in Chico, Maureen is a lifelong learner by nature. "OLLI offers a way for me to continue learning, while also staying engaged socially," she said. Maureen is one of 10 members of the OLLI Social Meetup Committee, helping to shape this intersession program with social commitments in mind. "I love the spontaneity of the OLLI Social Meetups and the opportunity to get to know other members," she said. When asked what she likes best about OLLI, she said, "The people, of course!"
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TRAVEL AND LEARN WITH OLLI | |
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Travel Information Session
Want to know more about our upcoming trips, including our two newly announced trips to Costa Rica and Greece? Have questions about what Collette does? Join us for a travel information session to learn more.
Wednesday, February 28, 10:30am
A hybrid event – join us in Bradley 2 at The Social Chico or on Zoom. Check the OLLI website closer to the event for the Zoom link.
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Tropical Costa Rica, Winter '25 | |
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Experience the paradise of lush forests and stunning waterfalls, rumbling volcanoes and endless coastlines in Costa Rica. Take in tranquil views of Arenal Volcano, visit the Cano Negro nature preserve, experience the Monteverde Cloud Forest's lush canopy, and relax on sandy beaches. Your 9 days and 13 meals will be guided by seasoned tour guides from Collette.
View the Tropical Costa Rica full itinerary (pdf) and book now for discounted rates.
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Exploring Greece and Its Islands, Spring '25 | |
Discover the Islands of New England, Fall '24 – Discount Deadline Next Month! | |
Memorials of World War II, Fall '24 | |
A LITTLE BIT OF MATH FOR THE NON-MATHEMATICAL | |
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The way math is taught in schools turns many people off from the subject. But an understanding of mathematics is part of a liberal education, and it’s never too late to learn a little bit about it.
Join Glenn Barlis, experienced instructor from OLLI at Rochester Institute of Technology, for A Little Bit of Math for the Non-Mathematical, starting on March 6. This class will help you understand what math is and not how to do math. It presents the development of math from a historical perspective. And don't worry – there are no tests or homework!
A Little Bit of Math for the Non-Mathematical is just one of the classes from OLLI at Rochester Institute of Technology and OLLI at the University of Arizona that start in March. Visit the Newly Added Classes page to see all of our classes shared from those OLLIs.
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CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT CHICO STATE | |
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Celebrate Black History Month with at the Victory In Unity event on February 25. Celebrating both the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
The Victory In Unity event features a rally, an exhibit that includes activities for kids, a program of performances, and a keynote speech from NAACP Butte County Branch 1029-B 2nd Vice President Minister Charles Larry Coleman on how far we've come since the passing of the Civil Rights Act
Sunday, February 25
1-2:30pm Rally, Wildcat Plaza (map)
1:30-3pm Arts & Facts Exhibit, Bell Memorial Union, Room 203 (map)
3-4:30pm Program, Bell Memorial Union Auditorium (map)
4:30-6pm Community Dinner, Bell Memorial Union Auditorium (map)
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OLLI USA LECTURES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY | |
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OLLI at Berkshire Community College invites OLLI members from across the country to attend their 2024 virtual lecture series.
21st Century Medicine: A Four-Part Introduction to New Approaches in Medicine
Extraordinary research is not only guiding the progress made in treating individual diseases, but also the aging process and human longevity. Changes in medicine and research will impact physician/patient interaction, our health, and of course, the cutting edge of laboratory science. Join us in exploring this exciting progress in this series of talks with four experts in their fields and bring your questions, concerns and curiosity.
Wednesdays, March 6-27, 2:30pm Pacific Time
Register to receive Zoom information.
View the full schedule of presenters and topics.
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OLLI at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) invites OLLI members from across the country to attend their weekly Pfaudler Lecture Series.
The Future of Urban Education
Adam Urbanski
The initiatives of an influential figure in American education reform include an internship program for new teachers, a peer-review plan, and a homework hotline for students
February 29, 9:15-10:30am Pacific Time
Register to receive Zoom information.
History Co-Existing with the Present Day: Preservation Is a Responsibility for Revitalization
Wayne Goodman
Hear from the one of the nation's oldest and most active historic preservation organizations, who has a reputation as a specialist in preservation planning and long-term partnerships.
March 7, 9:15-10:30am Pacific Time
Register to receive Zoom information.
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Living in Afghanistan Before and After the Taliban Takeover and Adjusting to a New Life in the US
Sadaf Kohistani
Hear an immigrant from Afghanistan speak about her childhood, her escape from Afghanistan, her arrival in the US, and what has happened to her family and country since the Taliban takeover.
March 14, 9:15-10:30am Pacific Time
Register to receive Zoom information.
The lecture series continues weekly through March 21. View the full schedule (pdf) and register for one or more lectures.
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BUTTE COUNTY MUSEUM WEEKEND IS THIS WEEKEND | |
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY | |
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International Women's Day has been celebrated since 1909. In 2024, the United Nations has declared the theme Invest in women: Accelerate progress. In 2015, the UN adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which is centered around the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 5 is gender equality, and gender is reflected in a number of other goals. This year's International Women's Day theme highlights the need to invest funding toward reaching the goals.
The Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023 report looks at where the world is now in terms of achieving the goals. The report includes a special focus on older women. The report says that the world must adopt policies that support older women "and ensure their access to lifelong learning, education and training, social protection, health and social care, including long-term care, housing and transportation."
This International Women's Day, learn about gender-responsive budgeting or explore facts and figures about women's economic empowerment.
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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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