FALL CLASSES START MONDAY |
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Back-to-school day is almost here! Classes begin on Monday, September 12.
There's still time to join us for the fall term.
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Log in to your OLLI Account or create an account
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Pay your annual Membership Fee if you haven't done so already
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Register for classes
Proof of vaccination is required to attend in-person and outdoor classes. Boosters are not required.
3-Class Limit Restriction Lifted
The 3-class limit has been lifted! You can now register for more classes, if there are seats available. Need help? Give us a call at 530-898-6679.
A Note About Fall Break
Learning never retires – but sometimes it takes a nap. There will be no classes during the fall break, October 17-28. The OLLI office will be open during the break and OLLI staff will be hard at work building the spring schedule.
This year’s two-week fall break is the last of its kind! We’ll return to our usual one-week, mid-term break in the spring. Thank you for your patience while we’ve adjusted to leading classes online and in person with fewer staff.
Keep up with holidays and other important dates on the OLLI Calendar or at the end of this email.
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Refrain From Fragrance in Classrooms
Members have asked us to pass on the message that wearing fragrances to class has some unintended consequences. Headaches and asthma attacks can be triggered by perfumes and scented lotions – especially in close quarters.
Please remember that your use of fragrances is voluntary, while another person’s reaction is not. We want members to feel welcome and comfortable in every OLLI classroom, and we appreciate your cooperation in doing your part to help us meet this goal.
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COVID-19 Policy
COVID-19 continues to be an evolving situation. We will keep you updated as changes occur. Here is our current policy:
- Proof of vaccination is required for all in-person classes and events. Boosters are not required. Register your vaccine here.
- Masks are strongly recommended for indoor spaces. Masks are always welcome.
- There are HEPA air purifiers in all four classrooms at The Social Chico.
- If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or any other communicable illnesses, such as a cold or the flu, please stay home.
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MEMBER BENEFIT: MERIAM LIBRARY COURTESY CARD |
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Library cards are back! OLLI members are eligible to receive a Meriam Library courtesy card. A courtesy card allows you to check out books and nonprint media from Meriam Library at Chico State.
How to get a card:
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Email the OLLI office at [email protected] or call us at 530-898-6679.
- We will confirm that we have received your request and let you know when you can visit the Meriam Library to get a card. Requests will be processed within two business days.
- At the Meriam Library, you will need to show a valid California driver’s license or DMV identification card and provide your social security number.
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CAFÉ AND CAFETERIA OPEN AT THE SOCIAL |
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The Social Chico café and cafeteria are open!
Café 1400, located near the Bradley 2 classroom in the Social East Building and proudly serving Starbucks beverages, is open 7am-10pm, Monday-Friday and 10am-2:30pm Saturday-Sunday.
OLLI members are also welcome to eat lunch in the main cafeteria 11:30am-12:30pm, Monday - Friday at the discounted price of $7.50/meal. Note that these are new hours this year. The cafeteria is located in the Social Central Building, facing W. 3rd Street.
A Few Reminders
Credit/Debit Cards only! Due to COVID-19, The Social Chico cannot accept cash. Weekend dining is permitted, too; however, the OLLI discounted rate
does not apply.
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HOW TO ACCESS ZOOM CLASSES |
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Good news! We have set up the OLLI registration system to automatically send Zoom links to all registered participants seven days before the class begins and the morning of each class session. All you have to do to join your Zoom class is click on the link in your email!
We are also emailing out the link to recordings to all registered participants. The link will go out once the first recording for the class is available. As new class recordings are posted, they will be posted at the same link, so save your recording link email or add the recordings page to your favorites or bookmarks.
Note: We ask that you not share Zoom class and recording links. Due to copyright restrictions, we are currently unable to share these links more broadly.
Having trouble with Zoom links or recordings? Email us at [email protected] or call us at 530-898-6679.
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OLLI Instructor David Price, pictured, faithfully leads "Cracker Barrel" in a hybrid in-person and online format every Monday. He’s so dedicated, he even continues to invite previous "Cracker Barrel" participants to join him for the class during OLLI breaks – and members appreciate it.
"Today’s 'Cracker Barrel' class was one of the best OLLI presentations I have heard in my 13 years as a member. His fast-paced, entertaining presentations include current events, history, science, and always end with a positive uplifting message."
— Myron Flindt
"'Cracker Barrel' is a very different class under David Price than it was previously. That’s a plus, actually. First and foremost, David is very curious, analytical, and bright. He pretty closely sticks to the format of short presentations but continuously invites class members to present their own topics. Since there isn’t a lot of that, he’s left to do the vast majority of the work himself. I am continuously impressed and very satisfied with his effort. It is one of my favorite classes."
— Mike Harper
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SPRING CLASS PROPOSALS DUE OCTOBER 3 |
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Whether you’ve led a class in the past or could be convinced to lead one for OLLI for the first time, we hope you’ll submit a Spring '23 Class Proposal.
You could offer a single presentation in an area of interest or expertise, or facilitate up to 10 weeks of discussion, activities, and lectures. OLLI instructors are our most valuable resource, and we are beyond grateful to the volunteers who keep OLLI going.
Pictured: Dr. Joni Samples teaching a class. Photo by Jennifer Bartlett.
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HOT OFF THE PRESS: NEW CLASSES |
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We've been lucky enough to add some new classes, like "The $10 Founding Father" class below, after our catalog was printed. Here's a brief sampling of these classes we're offering, many in partnership with other OLLIs and Chico State:
Astronomy/Geosciences continues an exploration of the Earth, Solar System, and Universe with OLLI-UA instructor Guy Jette.
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This fall we’re offering you a special opportunity to join a class from OLLI at University of North Florida!
The $10 Founding Father: Alexander Hamilton from Revolution to Stage will trace the founding father’s life and contributions to America. Discover how milestones in his life led him to become one of the most fascinating figures in American history. Track his youth and immigration to America. Learn about his time as an army officer and George Washington’s trusted confidant. Understand Hamilton’s role as a leading author of the Federalist Papers and his contributions to the Constitution. Consider his contentious relationships with Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr as well as his associations with the Schuyler sisters, one of whom would become his wife.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton: The Musical is woven throughout this course. Before you enter the room where it happens, find out what happened and why the musical’s themes resonate today.
There is an additional $45 fee for this class, due at the time of registration.
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BACK TO CAMP WITH OLLI AT CAL POLY HUMBOLDT |
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OLLI at Cal Poly Humboldt invited members from other California OLLIs to join OLLI Back to Nature Camp last month in the Redwoods. This annual five-day experience was a summer highlight for one of our own members. "I attended the OLLI Humboldt camp after reading about it in the OLLI Chico e-newsletter. The camp was fabulous, and I would like to share this Humboldt Outdoors video about our adventure so that more Chico OLLI members might join me next year!"
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HOMING IN ON HOMELESSNESS: PART 2 |
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Chico State Professors Jacque Chase and LaDona Knigge determined that 37,198 adult-aged individuals were displaced by the Camp Fire alone. The majority of these climate refugees remained within 30 miles of Chico, despite the longstanding shortage of affordable housing in the area. How can a community respond to so many people in need?
In the second of three webinars on the topic of homelessness, The League of Women Voters of Butte County will explore some solutions to this complex and large-scale problem, including proven models of innovative programs and services that can assist and empower people in their search for accessible, affordable, secure places to call home. Please send any questions you would like to learn more about in the upcoming session to Dr. Janet Rechtman, OLLI member and chair of the League of Women Voters Social Policy Committee, at [email protected].
Wednesday, October 5, 5-6:30pm
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HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH IS SEPTEMBER 15-OCTOBER 15 |
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National Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15. Why start in the middle of a month? September 15 is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence day on September 16 and Chile's is on September 18.
National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the historical and ongoing achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans. The National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) chose the pictured poster, created by Irene Matos Chan, to accompany this year's theme, "Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation."
Learn even more about Hispanic contributions to US history from the Hispanic/Latino Heritage collection at the National Archives. |
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This event featuring the Trinity Chamber Players is sponsored by Russell Burnham and The (remnant) Forestan Society Foundation. The program will include cello and piano works by Benjamin Britten and Robert Schumann and songs by Amy Beach and Russ Burnham.
The Burnham song cycle is based on the poems of George Keithley that comprise the middle section of his book The Starry Messenger. These poems form an interlude in the story of the astronomer Galileo and describe his milieu.
Performers include Deborah Rosengaus, mezzo-soprano; James Jaffe, cellist; and Ian Scarfe, pianist.
Sunday, October 2, 2pm
First Baptist Church of Chico
850 Palmetto Avenue (map)
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NATIONAL HIV/AIDS AND AGING AWARENESS DAY |
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September 18 is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day. A few facts about HIV/AIDS and aging:
- In 2018, over half the people in the U.S. diagnosed with HIV were 50 or older.
- Improved treatment options mean people living with HIV can live long, full lives.
- Older people are less likely to get tested for HIV than younger people.
- Some HIV symptoms may be mistaken for symptoms of normal aging or age-related conditions.
- People of any age can get or transmit HIV.
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John Berger, former president of Prime Timers, passed away June 25, 2022 at the age of 94. John guided Prime Timers with graciousness and determination from 2001 to 2003 during an important and difficult time of transition for the group that eventually became a part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Prime Timers began as an on-campus "Writing Your Slice of Life" class as part of the Passages, Area Agency on Aging, which expanded to include other peer-led classes, and which eventually was under the umbrella of the Associated Students. In 2001, the Associated Students decided it would no longer sponsor Prime Timers and other organizations, and Berger set out to find a new home for this group on the Chico State campus. After being turned down by several educational departments, Prime Timers was accepted by Dean Debra Barger as part of Regional & Continuing Education, now Professional & Continuing Education.
John was born in Wisconsin and met his wife Viola Berger when they were both attending North Central College in Illinois. He went on to further studies at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Illinois and at the Boston University School of Social Work in Massachusetts. A conscientious objector during World War II, he did alternative military service at East Moline State Hospital and was a pastor at Hampton Methodist Church in Illinois. Later he did social work in Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, where he retired after 20 years as the Executive Director of the Family Guidance Center.
In Chico, in addition to serving as Prime Timers President, he was on the Board of Directors of California Vocations in Paradise. John and Viola celebrated their seventy-first wedding anniversary at Roses and Ivy Elder Care shortly before John’s death.
Those who knew John will miss his gentleness and gentility, his forthrightness, his twinkling blue eyes, and his joyful laugh.
Pictured: Lena Valcarenghi, John Berger, and Alma Herrera at a 2001 Prime Timers luncheon. Photo by Tom Angel, Chico News and Review, 2001.
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Now
September 12
October 3
October 13
October 17-28
November 2
November 11
November 21-25
December 9
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Memberships Available, Class Registration Open
Fall Classes Start
Community Speaker Series
Fall Break (No Classes)
Community Speaker Series
Veterans Day (OLLI Closed, No Classes)
Thanksgiving Break (OLLI Closed, No Classes)
Last Day of Fall Classes
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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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