OLLI Observer
October 22, 2017  
 
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In This Issue
College for Seniors Ride Share

College for Seniors is initiating a Ride Share strategy to help our members get from Parking Lots 1 and 2 to to the Reuter Center and back. If you ride the shuttle, place this sticker in your name tag holder to indicate that you would welcome a ride back to your car. If you are parked at the Reuter Center lots, you can offer someone a lift down the hill.

Many OLLI members are gifted poets and writers.  Their published books are clear evidence of the success of OLLI's mission in promoting lifelong creativity and learning.
 
We would like to compile a list of those published books for the benefit of all OLLI members. If you have authored or illustrated a book of poems or prose, fiction or non-fiction, while an OLLI member, please let us know. We are only interested in those works published while an OLLI member, not those published during one's active career. 
 
Once this list is compiled, it will be posted on the OLLI website. Then at the end of each coming year we would hope to add new books published that year.
 
So if you have published a book while an OLLl member, email the following information to Nelson Sartoris   [email protected] - - include the author(s), title, publisher, ISBN number, date of publication, and link or location where it may be purchased, e.g., Malaprop's, Amazon, etc., should others wish to buy a copy.  
Contemplate College for Seniors

Are you a College for Seniors instructor who wants to brush up on your class room skills?

College for Seniors Instructor Support plans an array of workshops between the terms. Check out what is coming up in the next few months and register now.
 
Click Here and scroll to Workshops and Skills Development.
Meditation Special Interest Group
 Monday, October 23, 4:15 p.m.
 Reuter Center Room 120

Bill Walz
 Our guest speaker, Bill Walz will discuss how "Meditation is the doorway into the truth of who you are and life as it really is."  Multiple short meditation experiences will occur during the program.

Bill Walz, College for Seniors instructor, worked as a clinical psychologist before focusing on teaching meditation and evolving consciousness as a path to personal healing and growth.  He taught meditation and consciousness at UNC Asheville and continues this work in public forums and with private clientele.  Bill writes a consciousness column for Rapid River Magazine.

The Meditation SIG is open 
to all OLLI members.   
  Driver Safety Program 
Friday, ,October 27, Noon-4 p.m.
Reuter Center Room 120
aarp Safe Drving
 AARP, in partnership with OLLI, will offer a Driver Safety refresher course designed to help mature drivers remain safely on today's faster highways with a myriad of challenges The four-hour AARP Driver Safety course teaches valuable defensive driving techniques, highlights hazards particular to seniors and provides a refresher about the rules of the road and tips for avoiding crashes.  The course is offered as a nationwide effort to keep drivers behind the wheel safely.  The cost of the course is $15 for AARP members and $20 for non-members. To register for either session, contact instructor Celeste Selwyn, 
828-708-7404 or email   [email protected] 
  Special Interest Group: 
The Forum 
Friday, October 27, 1 p.m.
Reuter Center Room 205
 
 Topic: "The Future of the Health Care & Pharmaceutical Industries in America"
 
  The Forum offers a free-flowing dialogue designed to enrich and expand participants' thinking on topics ranging from changing demographics of retirees to nuclear disarmament.

SIG contact: Eugene Jaroslaw, 828.255.9925, [email protected] 
OLLI Art Bazaar, 
Friday, November 10, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Saturday, November 11, 
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. 
Reuter Center Lower Level
  You will discover a delightful selection of paintings, fiber arts, photography, jewelry, scarves, assemblage (mixed media), handcrafted soaps and lotions, cards and paper art, pottery, wood art and so much more!

The beautiful artwork on offer includes stained & fused glass, watercolor and oil paintings, cross stitched gift items, one of a kind wood-turned bowls and art pieces, unique jewelry items from precious metals to vintage button necklaces. 

Home baked cookies, snacks and beverages will be on sale.Don't miss this festive annual event and a chance to kick start your holiday shopping!
New
Traveling for Fun and Enrichment Special Interest Group (SIG)
Friday, November 3, 3:30 p.m., Room 102A

The mission of the Traveling for Fun and Enrichment SIG is
  • To share and solicit information on travel
  •  To share past experiences of travel
  •  To assist individual members' efforts in planning for independent travel, joining a tour group, or using the services of a travel agent
  •  To reach out for travel companions
  •  To discuss pros and cons of traveling alone or with a companion
The meeting will cover preliminary questions and projected organization of future meetings.  

All OLLI members are invited to attend. 
New Special Interest Group
Stitch 'N Time Organizational Meeting
 
 Wednesday, November 8, 4:15 p.m.
Reuter Center Room 206 
 
Stitch 'N Time is a fellowship group for stitchers of all types (knitting, crochet, quilting, needlepoint, embroidery, cross stitch, sewing, etc.) to help, encourage, inspire and support each other. The Stitch 'N Time SIG meetings will be an opportunity for members to meet others who share their interest in fiber projects, provide a forum for stitchers, and offer help beyond classes to finish projects or start new ones!
 
All OLLI members are invited to attend. 

Thomas Wolfe Memorial 
Literary Award
Saturday, November 11, 4-6 p.m.
Top of the Plaza, Asheville Renaissance Hotel, 31 Woodfin Street, Downtown Asheville

The Western North Carolina Historical Association and the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Site are pleased to announce the 62nd annual presentation of the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Literary Award honoring the author Julia Franks for her work Over the Plain Houses.  After the presentation, Ms. Franks will provide comments and read excerpts from her award winning novel.

The program will also feature excerpts from the four finalists' works:  Jim Stokely reading from Wilma Dykeman's  Family of Earth;  
Daniel Pierce reading from his book  Hazel Creek
Ron Rash's
The Risen and
Stephanie Powell Watts'
No One Is Coming To Save Us.

A reception hosted by the Renaissance Hotel will follow the program.  Reservations are required.  Event tickets are $5 for WNCHA members and $10 for the general public.  Tickets may be reserved by calling the Smith-McDowell House at 828-253-9231 Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Individual Medicare Counseling Appointments
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,
November 14, 15, 16 at the Reuter Center
Medicare  The Council on Aging of Buncombe County will be providing on-site appointments for OLLI members who want to review their Medicare drug plans or make changes to their Advantage plans, etc.  Call the Council on Aging at 828.288.8288 to make an appointment and remember to mention you are an OLLI member.
   
There are a limited number of appointments; 
the counseling is by appointment only. 
 

The Ideas to Action students would like to give a big shout-out THANK YOU to all the OLLI members who attended their pitches on October 16th.  And, they would like to invite you to see the Ideas to Action competition on:

Tuesday, December 5, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
417 Sherrill Building - Mountain View Room
OLLI VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

MANNA Foodbank Team
Providing tens of thousands of meals a day to the hungry


The Asheville Terrace Appartments Food Pantry
On-site food pantry support

Discover UNC Asheville
A new program for K-12 students residing in Asheville public housing communities
 

 
VOLUNTEER ... It Makes a Difference!
Special Thanks 
OLLI would like to thank Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend 
tour leaders and organizers for their many contributions to the program:  
 
Connestee Falls Realty  (828) 885-2015
"Let us help you discover what makes our area amazing"
CREW helps those considering relocation in retirement examine all their options carefully and make an informed decision about this major life transition.
Dear OLLI Members,
UNC Asheville's website (including olliasheville.com) was offline this morning, Sunday, October 22, so some of our links may be unavailable as you go to search.  We trust our IT staff will have things up and running as soon as possible.

We want to congratulate UNC Asheville provost Joe Urgo on being named interim chancellor for the university as a replacement is sought for Chancellor Mary Grant. The university hopes to have a permanent leader in place by July 1, 2018. OLLI is part of Academic Affairs under the leadership of Dr. Urgo, and we have genuinely appreciated the ways that he has included our organization as part of the campus community.  We are grateful for his leadership, expertise, and good humor as we await a new chapter at the university.

This Tuesday, the university will be sponsoring a Career Fair, which often leads to even more parking problems than usual.  We applaud CFS program manager Herb Gunn for thinking about a "Ride Share" program.  People who take the purple shuttle to the Reuter Center may pick up a tag to put in their name tag holder to let people know that they would appreciate a ride back down the hill to P01 and P02 from those who have a spot closer to the building. We continue to encourage carpooling.  The Purple Shuttle seems to be working relatively well, but let us know if you experience difficulty. We do have representatives on the university's transportation committee, so our voices should be heard. We also remind people that you will be ticketed for parking anywhere other than in designated nonresident student parking spots. As we have noted, parking is limited this year because of construction on campus.  We appreciate patience and understanding as we work to communicate about ongoing challenges. 

As we grow bigger, it may be harder to see that our program runs on the ideas and talents of individual members who see this as a community of teachers and learners.  Our programs run best when we see we are all accountable for our intellectual and community experiences, rather than seeing ourselves as consumers and purveyors. In addition to ongoing groups (The Forum, the Meditation SIG, Thriving in Community) we are interested to see in this newsletter three new special interest groups (SIGs) forming around travel, "stitching" and hiking. SIGs are a great way to continue learning and fellowship outside the classroom.  We also applaud our Civic Engagement Committee, whose members find opportunities to volunteer in the broader Asheville community, using their time and talent to serve others. We encourage you to find ways to use your own time and talent to contribute to OLLI.

With respect for all that you do to model creative retirement,
Catherine Frank
Executive Director


Check calendarthe links here to see OLLI and UNC Asheville current events:
 
Around the Center
Intermediate Hiking in Western North Carolina class led by Randy Fluharty and Nancy Gordon.  Photo courtesy of Nancy Gordon

Watch for the Beginning Hiking Class coming up in Winter Term!
Click here for a Sneak Peek  of Winter 2018 courses
UNCA Bulldog unca 
              
    
Saturday, October 28, 1 p.m.,
Women's Swimming UNC Asheville vs. Georgia Southern, Justice Center Pool

Saturday, October 28, 7 p.m.,
Men's Soccer UNC Asheville vs. Campbell, Greenwood Soccer Field
 
Wednesday, November 1, 7 p.m.,
Men's Soccer UNC Asheville vs. Presbyterian, Greenwood Soccer Field
    
Friday, November 3, 7 p.m.,
Women's Basketball UNC Asheville vs. Mars Hill (Exhibition Game), 
Kimmel Arena

Go Bulldogs!
  Fab Friday Lunch & Learn Lecture
Friday, October 27, 11:30 a.m., Reuter Center's Manheimer Room

"Improving Your Odds of Thriving After a Heart Attack" 
by Dr. David Mouw


 
Dr. David Mouw
Sudden death, usually due to an MI (myocardial infarction or heart attack), kills a third of a million Americans annually, and heart disease is our leading cause of death. We try to eat well, exercise, and manage blood pressure and cholesterol, but still we get MIs. This lecture will focus on the critical period between the first warning signs of an MI, and your arrival in the ER, during which time there are ways you can greatly improve your odds of a good outcome. The lecture will include case scenarios with audience  response questions. Dr Mouw, MD PhD, and a retired geriatrician, has given 13 previous HES lectures over the past decade. Free and open to everyone, this lecture is a part of the Health Education Series.
Forget Me Not Series
Friday, October 27, 1:30 p.m., Reuter Center Manheimer Room

Sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association of WNC ( www.alz.org/northcarolina), this series of lectures will offer insight into this illness. Denise Young, regional manager of the Alzheimer's Association of Western Carolina chapter will present along with area experts.  Scheduled 1:30-3 p.m. in the Manheimer Room, the series is free and open to everyone.

    The final session of the series is scheduled on Friday, October 27, 1:30 p.m., October 27, 1:30 p.m., Legal and Financial Planning for Alzhiemer's Disease, and is designed to help persons in early stage dementia, their care partners and family members understand the legal and financial issues that may impact them, make legal and financial decisions and put plans in place.

Free and open to everyone.
Behind the Scenes at NC Stage
    Friday, October 27, 1:30 p.m., Reuter Center Manheimer Room

"Rapture, Blister, Burn"

Charlie Flynn-McIver
Go behind the scenes of professional theatre with NC Stage Artistic Director and co-founder Charlie Flynn-McIver.  Explore the themes of this season's plays, talk with the actors, directors and designers about design concepts and the rehearsal process, and experience a scene or two performed live.  Join us for an insider's view of how theatre happens!  Free and open to everyone, this series is scheduled in the Manheimer Room.
Click here for information about NC Stage, including how to purchase tickets for performances at the theatre in downtown Asheville.

Thriving in Community Special Interest Group
Friday, October 27, 3:15 p.m., Reuter Center Room 206
 
Come explore ways to live and age as independently as possible in the living environments of our choice with the support and services we need for as long as we can. Building individual resilience, creating community support, aging in place.

All OLLI members are invited to attend.
An open invitation from The Autumn Players
by RoseLynn Katz
 
Rosalyn Katz
The Autumn Players (TAP) wants you! Interested in drama? You won't want to miss Pack of Lies, October 29 at 2:30 p.m. at OLLI. OLLI members Pat Hart and Kermit Brown have acting roles; I am delighted to be director.
 
Originally performed in London, the play earned Dame Judi Dench a Laurence Olivier award as best actress. The film of the same name starred Teri Garr and Ellen Burstyn. Pack of Lies by Hugh Whitemore focuses on two married couples who are close friends. When one is suspected of spying for the Russians, their friendship is turned upside down with painful consequences. Although set in the 1960s, the play takes on unexpected relevance in today's world.  
 



So You Want To Teach with College for Seniors?
Come to an Orientation to Teaching meeting: 
 
Tuesday, October 24, 4:15-5 p.m.
Room 102B


 
Blue Ridge Orchestra Performance
Saturday, October 28, 2 p.m. & 4:30 p.m., UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium

 "Mendelssohn's Dream"

On October 28, the Blue Ridge Orchestra presents "Mendelssohn's Dream", featuring selections from Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," including his famous "Wedding March," the Finale movement from his "Reformation" Symphony, and Vivaldi's "Concerto for 4 Violins," with solos performed by some of the BRO's most talented violinists.
Tickets $15 General Admission, $10 Friend, $5 Student
Tickets & info, 828.782.3354  www.blueridgeorchestra.org/mendelssohns-dream
Sierra Club Meeting
Wednesday, November 1, 7 p.m.
Location Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Asheville, 1 Edwin Place, corner of Charlotte  and Edwin.

"Methane, Pipelines, and Climate Change"
Sierra Club's efforts to curb methane pollution by keeping fossil fuels in the ground, stopping fracked gas pipelines and enacting public health safeguards will be discussed.

For more information, contact: Judy Mattox, 828.683.2176 [email protected]. Free and open to everyone.
Midday Music with Pan Harmonia
 Friday, November 3, 1:30 PM: Open rehearsal
Reuter Center Manheimer Room  
Hwa-Jin Kim, Kate Steinbeck, and Fred Lemmons.  Photo courtesy of Micah MacKenzie 
Hwa-Jin Kim, piano * Kate Steinbeck, flute * Fred Lemmons, clarinet
 
The three musicians will explore "Portraits of Langston," a trio inspired by Harlem Renaissance poet, Langston Hughes, in an interactive session.
Guaranteed to be interesting, insightful and humorous. Feel free to bring friends and your lunch. Free and open to the public.  
Hiking Special Interest Group (SIG)
Wednesday, November 15,  10:30 a.m., Reuter Center Room 230

Dear Hiking Enthusiasts:

We have had numerous requests to consider a Hiking SIG at OLLI and circulated a sign-up sheet at the recent "Tips for Successful  Hiking" session.  Thanks to the 50 of you who indicated your interest!

A very small group of us have spent some time evaluating the SIG guidelines, discussing the feasibility of such a group and how it could work, and have come up with some thoughts around operations. 

One challenge will be filling certain operational roles (coordination, communication, and scheduling) along with a plan for keeping those positions filled over time.   

Another significant challenge will be having an adequate number of OLLI hike leaders willing to participate.  

We are planning an organizational meeting for interested hike leaders on 
Wednesday, November 15,10:30 a.m. - noon, in Reuter Center Room 230. If you are attending, please come with an idea for one hike including the distance, elevation and technical difficulty.  There is no obligation on your part; this is an exploratory meeting.

So that we can anticipate the number of potential leaders, please RSVP to Rebecca Banner  [email protected]  
 
See you on the trail!
 
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute | 828-251-6140 | [email protected] | http://www.olliasheville.com
Reuter Center, CPO #5000
UNC Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804