November	December	January
Nov. 1, 9am: Winter 2018 Registration Open House in Michel Student Center Ballrooms		Jan. 8, 1:30pm: Portugal and Spain Informational Meeting at the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center
Nov. 8, 15, & 29, 9am: Spring Curriculum Committee Meetings in Michel Student Center Executive Suite		Jan. 9-12: Winter 2018 Classes in the Michel Student Center
		Jan. 16, 9am: Learning Trip Committee Meeting in Michel Student Center Executive Suite
		Jan. 17, 9am: Spring 2018 Registration Open House in Michel Student Center Ballrooms
		Jan. 24, 2pm: Study Group Committee Meeting at Peoria NEXT Innovation Center

Tomorrow is the beginning of registration for Winter 2018 OLLI events, starting with the Registration Open House in the Michel Student Center Ballrooms at 9:00 a.m.

If you would like to view the brochure online, it is available now in PDF format: Winter 2018 Brochure

Choose your way to register:

Open House  - attend Wednesday, November 1, from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. in the Michel Student Center Ballrooms.  Doors open and queue numbers distributed at 8:45 a.m.  Shuttle service from Westminster Church on Moss Avenue begins at 7:45 a.m.  Enjoy snacks and refreshments, meet new friends, or simply drop off your form for processing.  Forms received at the Open House will be processed November 1.

Online  - visit OLLI's webpage (bradley.edu/olli) to make your selections starting on Thursday, November 2 at 9:00 a.m.

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As OLLI continues its annual fundraising drive (our fundraising year starts on June 1 and ends on May 31), we want to help our members understand why we ask for donations.

Nearly six years ago, we were asked by The Bernard Osher Foundation to develop a robust fundraising plan to promote our program's sustainability. The creation of an ongoing culture of giving was essential, and we have done just that: OLLI members have donated an incredible $365,000, and our donor levels have reached an all-time high of 40% of our membership!

But what about the endowment? Here are some facts about those funds:

The fundraising money is used for expenses that go above and beyond our class, study group, and learning trip fees. With donations, we have purchased and maintained our shuttles, funded two annual student volunteer awards, sponsored campus lectures and cinema programs at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, purchased audio-visual equipment and services, kept a savings account for future programming, and set aside $100,000 for audio-visual improvements to the Michel Student Center ballrooms.

This year's campaign (which ends May 31, 2018) focuses on raising our overall donor rate to 50% and raising $50,000 to fund the ongoing expenses (shuttle, awards, sponsored programs, and AV) and to develop new programming that will allow more people to enjoy the OLLI experience.

We thank all of our donors for their generosity, and hope that others will consider making a gift to our lifelong learning community. Don't forget, we have an anonymous donor who has pledged to MATCH all donations up to $25,000 ... whether you give a little or a lot, your donation is important!

To give to OLLI, please visit our fundraising page at Bradley.edu/olli/giving.

Limited spaces are still available on these local learning trips, so register today!  Click here to sign up online, or call Gwen at (309) 677-3900.

FOLEPI Floatmaking (Activity Level 2)

Friday, November 10

9:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Join OLLI for a unique behind-the-scenes look at the East Peoria Festival of Lights parade.  You'll have the chance to see the "Folepi Construction Company" and some of its staff: a merry band of volunteers who design and build the floats.  During our tour, we'll meet some volunteers who work year-round designing, welding, and maintaining the floats (and their 500,000 lights) and learn how the floats evolve from concept to reality.  Chamber of Commerce Director Rick Swan will also join us to discuss the latest commercial developments throughout the city of East Peoria.  

$25 - includes lunch, gratuities, tour, and shuttle transportation

OSF Rehabilitation Services (Activity Level 2)

Thursday, November 16

8:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

We will tour the Sheridan Avenue location and learn more about OSF's occupational and physical therapy programs and the Adaptive Driving School (a driving evaluation and training program).  We will learn about other programs offered by OSF Rehabilitation Services and gain insight into how therapy works to reduce fall risk and how exercise can slow and prevent many aging processes.  With 17 clinic locations, OSF Rehabilitation Services continues to expand and be a prominent leader in the healthcare industry.

$25 - includes lunch, gratuities, tour, and shuttle transportation

Grand View Alzheimer's Special Care Center (Activity Level 2)

Friday, November 17

9:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Grand View Alzheimer's Special Care Center is one of the newest assisted living care facilities in our community.  During our tour, we'll learn how the staff approaches memory care and dementia while incorporating each resident's life story, interests, and preferences into a unique support plan.  Our tour will also include information about how residents can choose between long-term assisted living arrangements and short-term respite care, the different forms of dementia, and what to do when a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

$25 - includes lunch, gratuities, tour, and shuttle transportation

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Restoring America's Democracy: Inspiring a New Generation of Civic Engagement

Friday, November 10

8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Peplow Pavilion, Hayden-Clark Alumni Center, Bradley University

OLLI members are invited to attend the symposium "Restoring America's Democracy: Inspiring a New Generation of Civic Engagement" on Friday, November 10, on the third floor of the Hayden-Clark Alumni Center.  Sponsored by The Dirksen Congressional Center in partnership with the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service at Bradley University, a variety of speakers will discuss topics related to civic engagement on local and national levels.  Featured speakers will include Congressman Darin LaHood, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Congresswoman Robin Kelly, State Representative Mike Unes, and more.

To view a complete listing of speakers and topics, click here.

This event is free and open to the public; advance registration is requested.  Please call (309) 677-2820 to register over the phone, or click here to register online.

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion at Bradley University will host its annual Tunnel of Oppression event November 7, 8, and 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Tunnel of Oppression is a multi-media, interactive, guided tour that highlights contemporary issues of oppression.  It is designed to introduce people to the concepts of oppression, privilege, and power by guiding them through a series of "tunnels" designed by people in certain marginalized populations.

Nearly 1,000 participants attend each year.  The event is free of charge, but advance registration is required at Bradley.edu/diversity. 

4th Biennial Midwest Women Artists Symposium

Transforming Midwest Culture and Society: Women Artists, 1960s to 1980s

November 2 and 3

Bradley University campus

Cost: FREE

The Art Department of Bradley University and the Illinois Women Artists Project (IWA) are organizing the fourth biennial Midwest Women Artists Symposium to be held on the Bradley University campus.  The event is co-sponsored by the University's Intellectual and Cultural Activities Committee and the Women's & Gender Studies Program.

This interdisciplinary symposium will explore the art, life experiences, and legacies of Midwest women artists working from the 1960s into the 1980s.  Anyone interested in the women of those decades and their connection to today's artists and to the future of women in the arts will want to attend.

Join historians, artists, writers, students, collectors, and instructors for conversations and presentations.

For more information about the symposium, visit the IWA website:

About the Symposium

Symposium Schedule

Advance registration is required.  Register online by clicking here, or contact Kristan H. McKinsey, Director of Illinois Women Artists Project, at [email protected] or call (309) 677-2860.

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"Road to the Little House"

Sunday, November 5

2:00 p.m.
1st United Methodist Church, 417 S Locust St, Delavan

Cost: FREE

First Impressions, the Delavan Women's Club, and the Ayer Public Library proudly present Jessica Michna as Laura Ingalls Wilder as she presents "Road to the Little House."

Generations of Children worldwide have been fascinated by the stories and books of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Her "Little House" series was the basis for a successful television series.  But how did her life really evolve?  What motivated her to put her experiences to paper?  In this new First Impressions presentation by Jessica Michna you will meet Mrs. Wilder, older, wiser, and reflecting back on her life.  She will tell you her life story and how she came to produce her literary works.

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