OLLI Observer
April 8, 2018   
 
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In This Issue
TODAY 
Manheimer Book Talk 
Sunday, April 8, 3 p.m., 
Reuter Center Manheimer Room

Growing Up Existentially  

Ron Manheimer
Ron Manheimer 
Novelists, playwrights and philosophers of the existential tradition continue to attract a worldwide audience, young and old alike.

Their creative expressions and ideas have made a major impact on Americans from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Betty Friedan. In his new book, Growing Up Existentially: From Absurdity to Consciousness (Jorvik Press, 2018), Dr. Ron Manheimer explores what continues to make existentialism so intriguing, while he shares some of his own "existential moments." Come hear about his new book and enjoy a cup of coffee and a cookie.
Free and open to everyone.

OLLI VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Asheville City School\
 A Call for Proctors  
Give your time and make a difference  

Homeward Bound's 
Welcome Home Center
The key to ending homelessness

 
VOLUNTEER NOW ... You can make a difference!
Men's Wisdom Works
Chuck Fink
We hope you will enjoy this article about Men's Wisdom Works from the Mountain Express.  Many thanks to Chuck Fink for creating the concept for these groups and to the many men who enliven and sustain them.
If you would like to know more about joining one of these groups, 
please contact  Bob
 Tomasulo, 
robmtom@aol.com  
 
Roger Helm 
 
I love teaching at OLLI because I'm interacting with intelligent, caring people trying to make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of others.            
 
Roger teaches "Global Climate Change: A Disaster with Solutions."
Bridge Buddies 
Special Interest Group 
Tuesday, April 10, 2 p.m.
Reuter Center Atrium
 
cards 2 
The Bridge Buddies SIG is open for new members. We play at an intermediate level (e.g. stayman, transfers, Blackwood/Gerber, etc). We pride ourselves on our sense of humor. If interested, contact Connie Mitchell at  cmgm050@gmail.com 
 or just stop by.
Gardening Special Interest Group 
Vegetable Gardening
 
Tuesday, April 10, 4:15 p.m.
Reuter Center Room 230  
vegetables  
 This month's program will be presented by Patricia Grace, PhD, who spent many years teaching this subject to Master Gardeners and the public.  Dr. Grace will cover garden site selection, soil preparation, timing of the garden, planting, watering and care, container gardening, tools, and some common garden problems. 
"Jane Austen for the 21st Century"
Dr. Ana-Karina Schneider
Thursday, April 12, 7 p.m.
Reuter Center Room 206



Dr. Ana-Karina Schneider, associate professor in the Department of Anglo-American and German Studies, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania, will speak twice at UNC Asheville on
Thursday, April 12.
Both talks are free and open to the public.
  "The Only Reading is Comparative Reading": 
The Rewards of Cosmopolitanism in Reading
Noon, Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall, UNC Asheville Campus

Jane Austen for the 21st Century
7 p.m., The Reuter Center
Special Interest Group 
The Forum
Friday, April 13, 1 p.m.
Reuter Center Room 205  
 
Meeting Topic: 
"Politics and Religion or 
Politics of Religion?" 
 
 All OLLI members are invited to attend this free-flowing dialogue designed to enrich and expand participants' thinking on topics ranging from changing demographics of retirees to nuclear disarmament.  
   SIG contact: Beth Johnson,   johnson1ea@earthlink.com  
Buncombe Chautauqua Performance
Sunday, April 15, 3 p.m.
Doors open at 2 p.m.,  
Reuter Center Manheimer Room
 
"Rachel Carson's Silent Spring

Step inside the revolutionary book 
Silent Spring as its author Rachel Carson reveals the reckless destruction of our living world. Written more than 55 years ago  Silent Spring  inspired the environmental movement and has never been out of print. And now you have a chance to ask the author, Rachel Carson, how this came to be. Remember that Chautauqua doesn't offer simple performances but a chance to step into living history - to ask questions and go one on one with a women whose books shaped our country and our world.  Bring your stories. Share your experiences. Get inspired. Because it's not just history - it's personal.   
Caroline McIntyre will appear as Rachel Carson and speak in Carson's profound, prophetic and poetic words. This performance is appropriate for all ages but especially powerful when families share the experience. Tickets are $5 at the door. 
  For more information call 828.658.1951 or www.greenvillechautauqua.org
Volunteer Opportunity  

The Lord's Acre (TLA) is growing and we are looking for new board leaders to help us as we build upon the past nine successful years. Now in our tenth growing season, TLA continues to inspire new ways of working in  community  and increasing food access.  The Lord's Acre is seeking a Treasurer to join our board. This is a volunteer position.  Please send all inquiries   to LouiseBijesse@gmail.com.

Volunteer Opportunity  

Contact:  Judy Mattox, judymattox@sbcglobal.net, 
615-584-4570, 
Ann McLellan, annmclellan1@gmail.com, 
828-350-9005 

Dear OLLI Members,
We appreciate our volunteers every day of the year, but we have set aside this week to recognize the many ways they make OLLI work and also the many ways that they contribute to the broader Asheville community.  Please plan to take part in the celebration.  Fill out a crossword puzzle for the possibility to win prizes, attend the ice cream social on Wednesday, enjoy refreshments throughout the week and take some time to contribute to the flip charts in the lobbies where you can let us know where you volunteer in the community.  We are honored that Dave Brown, UNC Asheville's second chancellor, founder of the NC Center for Creative Retirement and now a member of our organization, has written an article for this newsletter offering some history of volunteering in America and advocating for the importance of the "retiree volunteer." 

Please note that we have some exciting events planned.  In particular, you can hear today from the founding director of the NC Center for Creative Retirement, Ron Manheimer, as he talks about his book Growing Up Existentially.  You can learn about "Jane Austen in the 21st Century" on Thursday from visiting scholar Ana-Karina Schneider or you might choose to attend the Leadership Asheville Forum panel discussing safety in our schools.  Please note that in order to manage the number of people in the room Leadership Asheville Forum requires that you register for this event with the link provided in this email.  We are also holding an event on Wednesday, April 18 (originally scheduled for Friday, May 4) with film-makers Diane Tower-Jones and Sekou Coleman to talk about their film "Beneath the Veneer." We will send a special link for registration for that event.

Finally, note the many notices in this email about our SIGs.  We hope you will take some time to read more about Chuck Fink's work in creating Men's Wisdom Works in a link to an article recently published in the Mountain Express.

Take some time this week to thank our many volunteers, including our instructors who spend so much time and energy putting courses together, our class reps who create a hospitable environment, the SIG leaders who help us continue learning outside the classroom and the many people who organize events, serve on committees and create our community.  If you want to help with any of these activities or have ideas about volunteering, please let any volunteer or staff member know or send us an email at olli@unca.edu.

Thanks to the many people whose time and talent make OLLI such a vibrant community of teachers and learners.
Catherine Frank
Executive Director


 Check the links here to see OLLI and UNC Asheville current events:
 
Upcoming UNC Asheville Athletic Events
April 8 -15, 2018 UNCA Bulldog

Sunday, April 8, 1 p.m., Baseball vs. Presbyterian College, 
Greenwood Baseball Field

Tuesday, April 10, 6 p.m., Baseball vs. USC Upstate, 
Greenwood Baseball Field

Wednesday, April 11, 6 p.m., Men's Soccer vs. USC Upstate, 
Greenwood Soccer Field

Thursday, April 12, 7 p.m., Women's Soccer vs. Wofford, 
Greenwood Soccer Field

Saturday, April 14, 2 p.m., Women's Soccer vs. Lincoln Memorial,
Greenwood Soccer Field

Saturday, April 14, 4 p.m., Women's Soccer vs. Alumni Game, 
Greenwood Soccer Field

  Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 9-13, 2018
This week has been designated "Volunteer Appreciation Week" at OLLI--a time to ex press our thanks to all those who give of themselves either at OLLI or within our Asheville community.

The week will feature opportunities at the Reuter Center for recognizing and thanking all those who volunteer while reminding us of the gift that volunteerism bestows on our lives.  There will be food and fun with complimentary cookies, an ice cream social and even a crossword puzzle with prizes for those who know OLLI's 11 standing committees.  We look forward to seeing you "on campus."    
  Ice Cream Social 
Wednesday, April 11, 4:30 p.m.
Reuter Center Atrium

As part of our Volunteer Week Celebration, we will be holding events throughout the week, including morning refreshments.  Plan to join us on Wednesday for an ice cream social, featuring ice cream from The Hop, including vegan options.  
This event is free and open to all OLLI members.
Retiree Volunteers, America's Resource for the Future
by David G. Brown, UNC Asheville Chancellor 1984-1990

David G. Brown
Thirty one years ago, May 1987, at the Grove Park Inn, hundreds of national and local leaders left the Roll Out Luncheon for the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement (now OLLI at UNC Asheville) with a slick paper, six-fold brochure that articulated the audacious aspiration of a new movement, a movement intended to keep the volunteerism of our nation as the bedrock of the America of the future (Click here to see the brochure.)
On the brochure's front page, the challenge was put forth: "the Center for Creative Retirement is a vision of ...local communities enriched by the creative talents and resources of retirees living within them...of an American society...rejuvenated by the effective utilization of the creative resources of its retired citizens." UNC Asheville, and specifically the North Carolina Center for Creative Retirement, was challenged to lead a national movement where healthy retirees would serve selflessly as a voluntary army of unpaid leaders and servers.
Meditation Special Interest Group
Monday, April 9, 4:15 p.m., Room 102B

Walking Meditation with Ginny Goodin

Ginny Goodin
Ginny Goodin will share a simple walking meditation practice that increases the flow of chi in our bodies.  As we walk, we will explore body awareness, alignment and deep relaxation to open the spine and increase our chi fluidity.  Ginny will augment the presentation with the Chinese Five Element theory to help personify and strengthen the practice.  

Ginny Goodin is a t'ai chi, qigong and meditation instructor, and a personal development coach.  Tai Chi Chuan was an easy love affair for her, enthralled by the fluidity and gracefulness of the movements, and deeply moved by the centering and peacefulness of the discipline.  With 30 years of practice, she has experienced how energy moves through the body and how profoundly we can affect our daily life with this simple yet deep practice.
All OLLI members are welcome.   More information, contact:  Sally Ekiareb , beriake@yahoo.com
A Free Evening 
Leadership Asheville Forum Presentation
Thursday, April 12, 2018, 7p.m ., 
Reuter Center Manheimer Room
 
"School Safety in Asheville & Buncombe County"

In the aftermath of yet another deadly school shooting, the nation's attention has been focused on how to prevent more such mass killings in our schools. How safe are our local schools and what is being done to enhance school security in Asheville and Buncombe County?
          
Baldwin
      
Patterson
      
Fisher
                      
Our panelists will be Buncombe County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tony Baldwin, Asheville Schools Superintendent Dr. Denise Patterson and Representative Susan Fisher of the NC House Select Committee on School Safety. 

This event is free and open to everyone, but due to space limitations reservations  are  REQUIRED . Reserve online by following this link: https://lafapril12.eventbrite.com
Reservations will be open until the event.  
Sponsored by Leadership Asheville Forum 
USA Sub-Group of the Travel Special Interest Group
Thursday, April 12, 4:15 p.m., Reuter Center Room 206
 
At its next meeting, the USA subgroup of the Travel SIG we will determine the direction of the group moving forward. Interest has been expressed in travel in the southern U.S. One member has also offered to share information about national park travel in Utah. We will also consider t he idea of expanding the scope of the subgroup and calling it "The Americas Subgroup" to include countries in North, Central and South America
All OLLI members are invited to attend. 
Fab Friday
Friday, April 13, 11:30 a.m., Reuter Center Manheimer Room

Type 2 Diabetes: What It Is, How It Harms, How You Can Take Control to Prevent, Reverse or Manage It 
 
Michael Hanlon 
Type 2 diabetes is a significant threat to health and well being in an older population, often reducing length of life and quality of life. In this lecture you will learn about the causes, consequences and proven ways to prevent, reverse or manage Type 2 diabetes. You will learn about The YMCA of Western Carolina's proven program that enables participants to take control of their Type 2 diabetes. Michael Hanlon, Diabetes Director of the YMCA of Western North Carolina, helped develop the YMCA diabetes control program and has conducted over 2000 hours of diabetes and lifestyle change education.This lecture is part of the
Health Education Series.
 
    
On  Fridays,  11:30 a.m. - 1:15 p.m.  during our fall, winter and spring terms, the Fab Friday series of lunch and learn lectures are held in the Manheimer Room and are free and open to everyone. Purchase lunch in our Reuter Café or bring your own brown bag. End your week and start your weekend with Fab Fridays. Don't miss these great programs.
Symphony Talk
Friday, April 13, 3 p.m., Reuter Center Manheimer Room

Candidate Jayce Ogren, pianist Joyce Yang. 
Composers John Adams, Manuel de Falla and Jean Sibelius

  
"The three vibrant and dramatic pieces on this program are tremendously
Jayce Ogren
contrasting on the surface," says conductor Jayce Ogren of the program he will 
perform with the Asheville Symphony on April 14 . "The sound worlds of John Adams, Manuel de Falla, and Jean Sibelius are rooted in different countries, time periods, and artistic influences, yet they share a great deal of DNA. All three of these works deal with nationalism, and each composer used relentless rhythmic drive and vigor to communicate that theme."
Pianist Joyce Yang will join the orchestra for Manuel de Falla's "Nights in the Gardens of Spain." 
For more information about the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, or to find out how to purchase tickets for performances at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, visit  ashevillesymphony.org 
 
The best way to enjoy the Asheville Symphony Orchestra's Masterworks concerts is to come to the Symphony Talk for the inside scoop on the music, composers, and soloists. Come early to get a seat; this popular series is very well attended. Free and open to the public. Asheville Symphony Orchestra folks will speak about the performance for the next evening's concert and local music aficionado Chip Kaufmann will speak about the composers. The Symphony Talks during OLLI's Spring term are scheduled:

 

The Friday, May 11, 3 p.m . Symphony Talk originally scheduled at Lord
Jacomo Bairos 
Auditorium will take place at the Reuter Center.  Mark your calendar to hear from c andidate Jacomo Bairos and violinist Jennifer Frautschi as they discuss a program that will include works by composers Bernstein, Hyken/Vivaldi and Brahms.
 
 

WNC Historical Association Event 
Saturday, April 14, 2 p.m., Manheimer Room

The Role of African-Americans in the History of WNC:
    Building the 1870s Swannanoa Train Tunnel and
      The South Asheville Cemetery Project

Presented by Jeff Keith and Kevin Kehrberg of Warren Wilson College

Join Warren Wilson College professors Jeff Keith and Kevin Kehrberg as they present public memories about slavery and the Jim Crow South  through the story of the Swannanoa Tunnel and efforts to maintain the South Asheville Cemetery. While often associated with southern Appalachia, the "myth of racial innocence" is lost in the exclusive use of African American convict labor to build the Swannanoa Train Tunnel that connected the mountains of Western North Carolina to the NC Piedmont  in the late 1870s. This tragic construction story is highlighted through the conversations as well as the music of the laborers. In addition, an overview of the current community work to cultivate and protect the oldest public African American cemetery in WNC, the South Asheville Cemetery, will be discussed. The South Asheville Cemetery is the final resting place for nearly two thousand people-many of them slaves.  

Tickets sold at the door: $5 donation, WNCHA members
Program sponsored by the Western North Carolina Historical Association.
Audubon Society Meeting 
Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m., Manheimer Room

Golden Opportunities: Protecting and Managing Land 
for Birds in the Southern Appalachians

Have you ever wondered how habitats are selected, protected and managed for rare species such as the golden-winged warbler or golden eagle? This talk, by Marquette Crockett of the Southern Appalachians Highlands Conservancy, (SAHC), will examine how land trusts use science-based guides like Audubon's Important Bird Areas to select land for protection. She will also discuss how SAHC uses a variety of land management tools - from cows to Christmas trees - to manage habitat for those rare species. 
Founded in 1974, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy is one of the country's oldest and most respected land trusts. SAHC has conserved over 70,000 acres of unique habitat, including farmland, in the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. They achieve this by maintaining long-term conservation relationships with landowners and 
Marquette Crockett
agencies, and by managing critically important conservation land using the best available science.  SAHC works closely with Audubon NC and other organizations to maximize habitats needed by threatened or endangered bird species. 
  Ms.Crockett joined the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy in 2014 as the Director of Roan Stewardship, where she focuses on protection and management for birds and other species that use the unique habitats found on our mountaintops, including high elevation grassy and shrub balds and spruce-fir forests. She earned her MS from East Tennessee State University and has worked as a Wildlife Biologist for more than 15 years. As a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, she managed unique high elevation habitats in the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge in West Virginia. 
More Than A Month Event 
Wednesday, April 18, 8p.m., Manheimer Room
 
Beneath the Veneer:
The Gaps Between Dominant Narrative and Lived Experience
 
Join us Wednesday, April 18, 8-9:30 p.m. in the Reuter Center Manheimer Room for the next in the "More Than A Month" series. Diane Tower-Jones and Sekou Coleman are the director and producer respectively for Beneath The Veneer, a documentary currently in production, that highlights the gap between the dominant narrative of American society and the lived experience of African Americans in Asheville and nationwide.

The film follows a cohort of African American boys who participate in My Daddy Taught Me That, an enrichment program that serves some of Asheville's most vulnerable youth. During this workshop, Diane and Sekou will share recently filmed footage featuring the young men, their families, and some of their activities. As part of a larger discussion on the impact of multigenerational trauma and systemic inequity on communities of color, they will also share strategies for those inspired to action by the presentation. This event is free and open to everyone, but seating will be limited. 
We will send a link later this week to sign up for the workshop.
Contact us at 828.251.6188 for more information.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute | 828-251-6140 | olli@unca.edu | http://www.olliasheville.com
Reuter Center, CPO #5000
UNC Asheville
One University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804