Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UMass Boston

Learning for the love of it!

Above: Members explored historic Plymouth on foot during OLLI's first fall day trip. The group is pictured with Leo Martin from the Jenney Interpretive Centre which provides historic walks through the town. Later that afternoon, the group got a another perspective from Tim Turner (Cherokee) who is currently the Associate Director for Indigenous Education at the Plimoth Patuxet Museum. Tim founded the Native Plymouth Tours which gives walking tours presented through the eyes and perspective of Native American guides. OLLI's next day trip is to Quabbin Reservoir on Tuesday, October 9.

What's included in this edition of OLLI Connections: Quabbin Day Trip, Harbor Island Excursion, Fall Health & Wellness Presentations, Padraig O'Malley Event, Fall OLLI Talks and Walking Tours, Travel with OLLI, and Paid Research Opportunity.

OLLI Office Fall Hours

The OLLI office's normal operating hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

The campus office is staffed Monday-Thursday; all employees work remotely on Fridays with access to email and phones. Due to meetings and programs, please call the office (617.287.7312) to make sure someone is on campus if you plan to visit.

OLLI Zoom Courses - Helpful Tip Update

Many OLLI members still enjoy taking OLLI programs online via Zoom. There might be some confusion if OLLI students click on a Zoom link and get a message that states "Waiting for the host to start the meeting." This simply means the course facilitator or presenter has not logged onto Zoom yet. Don't panic and don't leave Zoom...the facilitator will be there shortly! We are trying to work with facilitators to change the setting on their Zoom accounts so folks find themselves in the general Zoom classroom like usual. Note: if you get this notice and it is past the class's start time, please contact (617.287.7312 or ollireg@gmail.com) the OLLI Office so we can see what the issue might be.

Lunch at Salem Cross Inn!

OLLI members will travel out to central Massachusetts on board a Yankee Line motor coach to learn more about the Quabbin Reservoir and have a chance to explore portions of the grounds. Lunch will be at the Salem Cross Inn and there will be a stop at the Breezeland Orchards Farmstand on the way home.

Event flyer with registration form.

Cost: $45, includes transportation and lunch

Date: Tuesday, October 8

Departure Times: 7:30 a.m. from the West Garage, UMass Boston. A second pick-up location will be at the old Lombardo's parking lot in Randolph at 8:00 a.m.

Lunch will be at the Salem Cross Inn at 1:00 p.m. Please select an entrée on your registration form. Meal comes with vegetables, rolls, dessert, coffee, or tea.

Note: If seats are available a week prior to the trip, non-member guests of OLLI members may attend.

How to register. Folks may call the OLLI Office (617.287.7312) and register over the phone with a credit card. The register form (found on the event flyer) can be printed out and sent back to the OLLI Office with payment. You may also email the OLLI Office to reserve your spot for the program (please include your meal choice along with pick-up location), and pay at a later date prior to the day trip.

Enjoy a fall day out on the water.

Enjoy the autumn colors of the ocean and the Islands along with a narration by OLLI member Suzanne Gall Marsh and OLLI Scholar Cyrus Marion. Cyrus is currently teaching an OLLI fall course entitled: “On the Edge of the World: An Archaeological History of the Boston Harbor Islands.”

Boarding begins at 10:15 a.m. at the UMass Fox Point dock. Bring a snack and beverages; there is no food sold on the vessel. Upon return check out the Campus Center cafeteria for lunch. We will travel rain or shine as we have over the years on other boat tours.

Event flyer with registration form.

Cost: $15

Date: Wednesday, October 9

Departure Time: 10:30 a.m. sharp from the Fox Point dock. Boarding begins at 10:15.

Note: Given the capacity of the boat, this trip is open to non-member guests of OLLI members.

How to register. Folks may call the OLLI Office (617.287.7312) and register over the phone with a credit card. The register form (found on the event flyer) can be printed out and sent back to the OLLI Office with payment. You may also email the OLLI Office to reserve your spot for the program, and pay at a later date prior to the excursion.

Open to all current OLLI Members.

As part of OLLI’s ongoing collaboration with UMass Boston’s Department of Nursing, OLLI members can attend various health and wellness presentations that are created and presented by third-year undergraduate students working toward their nursing degree.

These presentations not only provide the opportunity for future nurses to practice teaching and relaying health information, they also allow OLLI members to interact with undergraduate students.

These presentations are free to any current OLLI member. You can register for them online or you may also email the OLLI Office with your selections.

Explore the list of presentations being offered. Note: all presentations have now been scheduled.

First Friends of OLLI event for the fall semester.

Padraig O'Malley is an Irish international peacemaker, author, and professor. O'Malley specializes in the problems of divided societies, such as South Africa and Northern Ireland. He is also the John Joseph Moakley Distinguished Professor of Peace and Reconciliation at UMass Boston's McCormack School.

Padraig will talk about his new book that came out in 2023: Perils and Prospects of a United Ireland. In his book, Padraig presents a wide-ranging and unique study of the questions around the future of Northern Irish politics, including the idea of reunification. The book was published ahead of a major international conference to mark the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement in April 2023.

Event flyer with registration information. Please select an entrée when registering.

Register Now! This fundraiser is open to the public and non-members.

Date: Wednesday, October 16

Time: 12:30 p.m.

Location: Neighborhood Club of Quincy

Cost: $45, includes a sit-down luncheon. All proceeds go to the Friends of OLLI fund which helps support the various programs and operations of our OLLI community.

How to register. Folks may call the OLLI Office (617.287.7312) and register over the phone with a credit card. The register form (found on the event flyer) can be printed out and sent back to the OLLI Office with payment. You may also email the OLLI Office to reserve your spot for the program (please make sure to include your entrée choice), and pay at a later date prior to the event.

Great learning opportunities via walks and talks!

We are thankful for all the wonderful presenters and tour guides who are taking the time to research and offer such thought-provoking topics and insightful tours this fall semester. You can surely find one or more that interest you. Check out the descriptions and schedules and register today:

Fall OLLI Talk List

Fall Walking Tour List

OLLI Talks are typically one-hour presentations, lectures, or workshops held over the noon hour. This fall, over 30 OLLI Talks are being offered on a variety of topics from our national parks to our national debt; from environmental protection to squirrels; and from Madagascar to brain health. A great wealth of new knowledge and information can be found by attending an OLLI Talk!

Before the weather turns too cold, OLLI's Walking Tour guides have researched and created three fall walking tours for members to enjoy:

• A One-Block Walk Around Longwood Medical Area - Sept. 21
• Explore the Neponset River Greenway: Mattapan to Lower Mills - Sept. 28
• The Synagogues of Woodrow Avenue - Oct. 18

Check out the full descriptions of these walking tours and register today! Most walking tours are limited to 15 participants. For that reason, we are requesting that members enroll in one in-person walking tour only so that more members can sign up for these great tours.

Walking Tours and OLLI Talks are now available through the online registration system. Sign into your OLLI account and find them listed under Courses & Programs. Members can also email or call (617.287.7312) the OLLI Office to register.

OLLI Talk and Walking Tour fee reminder. With the new membership structure and pricing, Full and OLLI Carte members do not pay extra for each OLLI Talk or Walking Tour they register for and attend. For General members, there is a $15 fee per talk and/or tour that they register for. At this time, online payments are not possible, so General members can either send a check to the office or call the office, and we are happy to take a credit card payment over the phone.

Trips arranged through travel agencies.

OLLI members enjoy traveling and now have several opportunities to consider! Read through the various trips below and contact the OLLI trip leaders for more information.

Please note: All travelers must be current OLLI members at the time of travel.

The OLLI office does not handle reservations for these overnight trips. Please contact the travel agency listed in the travel fliers.

The following two trip to Japan has a last minute double room vacancy. Please contact the trip leader for more details

Japan's Cultural Treasures

March 9–23, 2025

Immerse yourself in this travel experience to four different Japan cities: Tokyo, Hakone, Kanazawa, & Kyoto. Visit a small mountain town and experience a unique opportunity to witness one of Japan’s rural towns.

Cost: $7,045 (including international airfare). For questions or more information, please email trip organizer and leader Elaine Kerrigan or call (781.985.4222).

The following trips are currently taking reservations. Check them out, reserve your spot, and pack your bags!

National Parks of America

May 20-31, 2025

Experience the grandeur of the American West as you explore five fantastic national parks on this exciting journey. Gain new appreciation of the great outdoors on this journey that takes you from the Grand Canyon to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and everywhere in between.

Cost: $5,999 (including airfare from Boston). For questions or more information please email trip organizer and leader Eileen Condon.

Planning on traveling on your own, but interested in finding a roommate to avoid paying a single supplement? Please contact Eileen and let her know so we can try to match you with someone.

Resources: Trip flyer/brochure Recorded Information Session

To book this trip: Go online to: https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1273335

London: The City, Theatre, and More!

September 6–14, 2025

London was once considered the capital of the world-and it shows. It has a history that stretches back 2,000 years, and a culture rooted in the local pub as it is in world class museums. Enjoy a backstage tour of the Royal Opera House and the Globe Theatre and take a walking tour of the West End, London’s theater district.

This unique tour has been especially customized for OLLI at UMass Boston, which a focus on the theatre district. Most evenings have been left free so travelers can attend various plays and musicals of their choosing.

Cost: $5,067 (including international airfare; double occupancy). For questions or more information please email trip organizer and leader Deborah Baron or call (508.728.8024).

Planning on traveling on your own, but interested in finding a roommate to avoid paying a single supplement? Please contact Deborah and let her know so we can try to match you with someone.

Resources:

Trip flyer/brochure

Recorded Information Session

PowerPoint from Information Session

To book this trip: Call 1-800-438-7672 – Reference OLLI UMass Boston London Trip and group coordinator Deborah Baron.

Sicily and Malta

October 16–November 1, 2025

The trip begins with a five-day exploration of Malta, including a visit to ancient Hagar Qim, one of the oldest religious sites on Earth. Then it is off to Sicily! Dangling off the boot tip of Italy, embraced by two fabled seas, and crowned by legendary Mount Etna, Sicily proudly retains its own distinct cultural flavor. Join OLLI as tapestry of cultures is unveiled as you stroll through the markets in the lovely capital of Palermo, marvel at Mount Etna in Taormina, and enjoy stunning views of the Mediterranean. Pre- and Post-Trips options available.

Cost: $5,245 (including international airfare; double occupancy). For questions or more information, please email trip organizer and leader Pat Flynn or call (617.312.5190).

Resources:

Trip Flyer

Recorded Trip Information Session (apologies as there were some technical challenges during the live presentation)

Online Promotional Video



To book this trip: Call Grand Circle Travel Reservations at 1-800-221-2610 and mention the group code G523625.

Focus on Black Adults Ages 45-62

The Center for Social and Demographic Research on Aging (CSDRA) conducts applied research, engages with communities, and advocates for public policy focused on social health and aging well in community. Like OLLI, the CSDRA is part of UMass Boston's Gerontology Institute.

The CSDRA is currently seeking information about how people get information about retirement, specifically social security benefits. This study is focused on Black adults ages 45-62. Everyone will receive a $100 Amazon gift card for participating. 

Please consider participating or sharing with your family & friends!

Questions? Interested? Please email the CSDRA Office (csdra@umb.edu)