Diane Rock is the new chair of the newly-created membership development committee.  She is responsible for the recruitment, orientation, and retention of OLLI Members and is also a member of the OLLI Executive Committee.

"I wish others knew how much fun they could have if they participated in OLLI," says Rock.  Learn more about Diane's thoughts on what led her to become a lifelong learner with OLLI at Bradley.

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Beginning this fall, OLLI will start celebrating its 25th anniversary as a lifelong learning community at Bradley University.  We'd like your help recounting our past. 

We invite you to share some of  your memories of OLLI and its predecessor, the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR), so that we can compile memories that will help us commemorate our silver anniversary.  

You can even use a convenient online link to share your memories:   Your OLLI Memories.  

If you prefer to email your memories, please send them to [email protected].

Tell us something about your experiences; share a funny or heartfelt story; let us know what OLLI has meant to you - or comment about the memory you most value. 

Hope you enjoy your trip down memory lane!

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A Night at the Movies

OLLI's Fifth Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser

Friday, August 23

5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Bradley University

The February 24 Oscars and the August 23 OLLI Trivia Night Fundraiser have one thing in common - MOVIES!

Save the date, and polish your movie knowledge for "A Night at the Movies" when OLLI hosts an evening of fun and movie minutiae in August.  Watch for more details in upcoming newsletters.

In the meantime, here's a warm-up question: For the 2019 Oscars, which film is one of the nominations for Best Picture? 

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Dear OLLI Insider,

I've been wait listed for a local trip and don't understand why you can't take more people on each learning trip.

Signed,
Traveling Tom

Dear Traveling Tom, 

We really appreciate this question, because it's one that gets asked quite a bit.  

We are always very mindful of our host sites  - and area restaurants - and how many people they can accommodate at one time.  Keeping our group at 28 + 2 staff members helps to ensure everyone gets a wonderful learning experience.  Some of our host sites ask us to limit our numbers to less than 28, which is why we now include the number of available seats for each trip in our brochure descriptions.

We have made a deliberate attempt to offer at least one trip each season that can accommodate more than 28 people.  For instance, on the trip to the 182nd Airlift Wing this spring, we can take almost 100 people for two reasons:  first, the air base has room and staff to allow this many OLLI members, and second, the lunch is catered on site, so we don't have to find a restaurant that can seat that many folks!

Finally, we do also make every effort to repeat popular trips with long wait lists.  Again, the time frame of the repeat trip is always up to our host sites.  We always encourage members who don't get on a trip to sign up for the wait list.  Even if you're number ten on the list, you may be called, since we often go through wait lists names quickly when someone cancels a trip.

Finally, our wait lists also help us determine the overall interest level of a trip - and when we should try to repeat it.  

Sincerely,

OLLI Insider

OLLI Insider   is a weekly article that addresses questions from our members.  If you have a question about OLLI you'd like featured in an upcoming edition, please email  [email protected] .

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March 2019	April 2019
	April 3, 10, 17, 24, OLLI Classes, Bradley University Michel Student Center
March 7, 9:00 a.m., Informational Meeting for Vicksburg Learning Trip , Peoria Next Innovation Center	April 4, 9:00 a.m., Study Group Committee Meeting, Peoria Next Innovation Center
March 13, Noon, Spring Kick-Off Luncheon , Bradley University Michel Student Center	April 9, 12:30 p.m., Learning Trip Committee Meeting, Peoria Next Innovation Center
	April 18, 9:00 a.m., Study Group Committee Meeting, Peoria Next Innovation Center

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Symphonic Winds: Tribute to John Philip Sousa

Sunday, February 24

3:00 p.m.

Bradley University Dingeldine Music Center

The Bradley University Symphonic Winds, conducted by Dr. David Vroman, will present a costumed, turn-of-the-century park concert. The concert will be presented in the same style that John Philip Sousa used to entertain large audiences and which made him a household name throughout the U.S. 

Admission is $15. Tickets are available at the Bradley University Hartmann Center or by calling (309) 677-2650. 

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15th Annual Bradley University Jazz Festival
Tuesday, February 26

Various times

Bradley University Michel Student Center

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It's the final week of the Love Bradley campaign, an initiative to spread kindness on the Hilltop.  

Here are this week's suggestions for "spreading the love:"  

Compliment the first three people you see each day

Leave an encouraging note for someone

Practice self-kindness by doing something you love

Share a note on social media about why you love Bradley University

In 2019, make a commitment to do one act of kindness a day 

Students, faculty, staff, and OLLI members are encouraged to complete any of these acts of kindness (or to create your own!) and share your experience on social media.  Use the hashtag #LoveBradley, and tag Bradley University in your post for a chance to win one of the weekly prizes!    Email Liz Gunty if you have any questions.

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Music for Two Pianos

Friday, February 22

7:30 p.m. 

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1420 W. Moss Avenue

Artists Chee Hyeon Choi and John Orfe will present a program of music for two pianos. This offering features some of the finest music written in the last hundred years for duo pianos including pieces by Scott, Medtner, Bernstein, and Rachmaninoff. 

The program will be followed by a Meet-and-Greet the Artists hour with hors d'oeuvres and refreshments in the church parlor.  

The program is free.  For more information, call Westminster at (309) 673-8501.

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Becoming a State the Illinois Way: Creative Accounting and Humble Beginnings

Saturday, February 23

2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Peoria Public Library North Branch

Award-winning Springfield writer and author Tara McClellan McAndrew will discuss how Illinois Territory leaders fudged figures and maneuvered to make our land a state.  She will also describe some of the challenges we faced as a new state.

Kickoff Event for 2019 Peoria Reads
Sunday, February 24
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Peoria Public Library North Branch

Illinois songwriter and folklorist Chris Vallillo has created a musical program that reflects the touching themes and life changes represented in the newest Peoria Reads selection, Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant by Roz Chast.  Like the book, itself, Vallillo approaches this delicate subject lightly, featuring a combination of songs designed to stir the memory and swell the heart.

Peoria Speaks: Alzheimer's and Dementia Care and Education
Tuesday, February 26
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Peoria Public Library Lakeview Branch

In this edition of Peoria Speaks, Daryl Carlson of the Alzheimer's Association will provide background information about this issue and his organization's initiatives, and then the floor will be opened up for questions and discussion.  Peoria Speaks is a monthly community discussion program which focuses on topics of interest to Peorians. Funding for Peoria Speaks is provided by Illinois Humanities.

For more information about any of these free programs, call the Peoria Public Library at (309) 497-2186

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