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OLLI is founded on classes led by members. As a member, you have the chance to share your knowledge, skills, or interests with other members and teach a class for OLLI. Whether you've led an OLLI class before or want to try it out for the first time, we invite you to submit a spring '26 class proposal.

Not sure if teaching is for you? Here are just a few things you could do, either on your own or in partnership with a friend:

• Teach a traditional lecture class about your area of expertise.
• Hold an art or craft class where you show people how you approach your creative pursuits.
• Lead a discussion group centered around a specific topic or book.
• Organize speakers for a lecture series.
• Organize a class, like Arts & Eats or Garden Gourmands, that pairs field trips with socializing.
• Convene a group to participate in an activity, like Let's Play Games.
• Lead a walk or hike on your favorite trail.

We'd love to have you help make our spring term a success. The spring term runs April 20-June 26, and your class can meet just once, every one of the ten weeks of the term, or anything in between. Class proposals are due December 8. Join us, and encourage your friends to lead classes too!

Submit a spring '26 class proposal now or contact us for more information at olli@csuchico.edu or 530-898-6679.

Pictured: OLLI Instructor Richard Ponarul. Photo by Matt Bates/Chico State.

The OLLI office will be closed for Fall Break November 24-28. We wish everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving a good holiday with food, family, and friendship. The OLLI office will reopen at 9am on Monday, December 1.

The Social Chico Dining Hall will be closed November 22-29 for Fall Break, reopening November 30.

Early Social Meetup Deadlines

Note that we will have early social meetups deadlines due to the break. The deadline to submit a social meetup that takes place the week of November 30-December 6 is noon on Friday, November 21.

A heartfelt thank-you to all the members who have already supported this year's annual fundraising campaign! We're especially grateful to the five members who signed up as new Sustaining Supporters – monthly or yearly donors who help keep OLLI strong, responsive, and accessible all year long.

It's not too late to join them! Our fall goal is 10 new Sustaining Supporters (and 20 new Sustaining Supporters for the year). Recurring gifts provide the steady foundation OLLI needs to plan confidently and invest in the future of lifelong learning.

Become a sustaining supporter today!

I want to share that Andrew Lavin, OLLI's Program Director, has decided to step down from his role, effective October 16.

During his time with OLLI, Andrew led several classes for our members, helped to reinstate the OLLI Advisory Council, and made himself available at our primary classroom locations to support members and volunteers. We appreciate his efforts and his commitment to OLLI's mission of lifelong learning.

In the absence of a director, I want to extend special thanks to OLLI's small but mighty part-time team – Ruth, Michele, Meg, and Grant – for all they are doing to keep operations running smoothly and to support our members, instructors, and volunteers during this transition.

We wish Andrew all the best in his future endeavors. In the meantime, OLLI operations will continue as usual, and we will share updates about program leadership as they become available.

—Professional & Continuing Education Program Director Ann Nikolai

An energized Membership Team, pictured, made their presence known last summer, leading to the largest Fall Class Preview turnout since before the pandemic! That enthusiasm continues, and we invite you to be part of it.

The Membership Team plays a vital role in helping OLLI reach and maintain 1,000 members by June 30, 2026 – a goal essential to meeting the Osher Foundation endowment requirement that sustains OLLI’s financial health and long-term future.

From welcoming new members and hosting classes to helping at Class Previews and community events like the Farmers' Market, every effort our volunteers make brings us closer to that 1,000-member milestone. Along the way, team members build friendships, strengthen our community, and make a lasting difference.

If you’re looking for a fun, friendly, and rewarding way to get more involved – and help secure OLLI's future – we'd love to have you join the team! Email us at dvermette@csuchico.edu and gaylew11@aol.com to join us.

Warmly,

Debbie Vermette and Gayle Womack

OLLI Membership Team Co-Chairs

The Winter Class Preview is a chance for you to learn about winter classes, plan your schedule, and hear from some of our volunteer instructors. It's also a chance to socialize with other OLLI members and friends. Plus OLLI's volunteer Hospitality Team will again bring delicious treats for you to enjoy.

The Winter Class Preview is a great time to introduce a friend to OLLI. Remember, when you refer someone you know to OLLI and they also join, you both get to register early for classes this winter. The deadline to confirm this with the OLLI office is the same day as the Winter Class Preview. Bring your friend with you, and you can let us know there!

Winter Class Preview

Thursday, December 4, 10:30am-Noon

Presentation begins at 11am

Chico Masonic Family Center, 1110 W. East Avenue, Chico (map)

Free parking, coffee, and snacks!

Pictured: OLLI Instructor David Popp speaking to members at the Fall Class Preview. Photo by Matt Bates/Chico State.

Jacqueline Flagg, pictured, calls herself a "fair-weather hiker, " but her adventures include several OLLI hikes plus climbing Mount Whitney, Machu Picchu, and some 14,000+ foot summits in Colorado.

Down at sea level, she's enjoyed horseback riding in Australia's Queensland waters (braving poisonous box jellyfish) and sailing in the British Virgin islands. For her 50th birthday, the family searched for the northern lights from hot springs in Fairbanks, Alaska – in January.

Jacqueline, a second-generation OLLI member, is happy she took her parents' advice to join when she retired from her 20-year career as a physician's assistant, most recently at Chico State's WellCat Health Center. Tai chi was first on her list, but many classes have piqued her interest, from feng shui and yoga to the history of beer and French (next adventure: a barge in France).

She and her husband, a retired firefighter, are starting a new venture in the country, planting a small citrus orchard. They're also currently debating on whether to get a horse (husband) or a goat (Jacqueline).

Jacqueline has enjoyed her first year of OLLI, the people, and the classes and hopes to do more creative writing in the near future. She certainly has a wealth of material to draw on!

"The sky is falling!" That's a sentence you're more likely to hear in a children's story than an OLLI class. Recently, however, it was the sky – or rather the ceiling – that was falling in an OLLI space. "Once upon a time, a contractor in my home once told me he notices construction irregularities in people's homes," said one of the members who noticed the ceiling starting to sag. "His comment made me pay more attention to structures."

The Gordon 1 classroom was closed for two weeks for The Social Chico to repair a portion of the ceiling that was starting to cave in. Classes that were scheduled to meet in Gordon 1 were moved, and the OLLI AV and Facilities Team jumped into action to move the AV cart out of the classroom to avoid any damage to the sensitive electronics. After the classroom was repaired and cleaned by The Social's maintenance and janitorial staff, the AV Team reconnected the AV cart and returned the room to its normal state.

If you notice a classroom ceiling falling, or any other new classroom maintenance issues, contact the OLLI office at 530-898-6679 or olli@csuchico.edu and we'll follow up on it.

Congratulations to the OLLI walkers who completed the 51st Annual Almond Bowl 5k earlier this month. Wednesday Park Walks instructor Amy Hahn organized a group entry of over 30 OLLI members and arranged to have OLLI T-shirts created especially for the event.

Wednesday Park Walks meets weekly during the term, with 1-mile and 2.8-mile options. Get your walking shoes ready and register for the class when registration opens on December 11 to join them this winter.

Amy is also organizing a second order of T-shirts. If you want one, contact Amy at amyhahn12@yahoo.com.

Pictured: Amy Hahn and Mary Sweeney at the Almond Bowl 5k.

Are you planning a trip to France? Do you wish you were and want to learn about the language? Join French for Travelers this winter to get an introduction to the French you need for traveling.

The class focuses on French pronunciation, politesse, and practicalities – the vocabulary and idioms helpful as an introduction to French and for travelers in French-speaking countries. Classes are conducted mostly in English with basic French.

Register for French for Travelers when registration opens on December 11 and exercise your brain and facial muscles as you dive into the beautiful French language this winter.

TRAVEL AND LEARN WITH OLLI

Travel Information Session

Want to know more about our upcoming trips? Have questions about what Collette does? Watch the recording of last month's travel information session to learn more, complete with captivating slides of the areas we'll be visiting.

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

Discover a land of rolling green Highlands, friendly sheepdogs, and historic castles. Your 10 days and 15 meals will be guided by seasoned tour guides from Collette.

Book your trip now or view the Discover Scotland full itinerary (pdf).

Sheri Steinig, director of strategic initiatives and communications at Generations United, joined us last month to discuss intergenerational connections.

Intergenerational programs create opportunities for people of all ages to learn from one another, exchange perspectives, and grow together. If you missed Sheri's talk, you can watch the recording now.

Native American Heritage Month is observed in November to call attention to the culture, traditions, and achievements of the nation's original inhabitants and their descendants.

This November, you can take some time to learn about Native Americans and their heritage, or just enjoy writing by Native authors, with one of these curated book lists:

• Ebooks available with your Butte County Library card
• 20 Poets to Read for Native American Heritage Month from the New York Public Library
• A short list of books that celebrate Native American Heritage from the LA County Library
• A long list of books in various categories recommended by First Nations Development Institute staff

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.

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.

Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed annually on November 20, honors the lives lost to anti-trans violence in the previous year. Locally, you can join Stonewall Alliance to commemorate the day. Stonewall's event includes quiet reflection time, a community potluck, and the reading of the names of those lost to anti-trans violence in the previous year.

Trans Day of Remembrance

Thursday, November 20, 1-7:30pm

171 E. 18th Street, Chico

Transgender Day of Remembrance is preceded by Transgender Awareness Week, November 13-19, which is a time to learn more about trans people and their lives. Here are some ways you can learn more about trans people and their lives this Transgender Awareness Week:

• Read about what trans elders can teach us about joy.
• Watch a movie on this list of recommendations from trans icons.
• Review the 2025 Anti-Trans Bills Tracker.

November 14

November 16

November 24-28

December 4

December 8

December 11

December 17-30

January 1

January 2

January 4

January 5

January 19

March 13

March 15

Last Day of Fall Classes

Winter Social Meetups Begin

Fall Break (OLLI Office Closed)

Winter Class Preview

Spring Class Proposals Due

Class Registration Opens at 9am

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