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Greetings from the NRC Oct 2017
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As the fall semester gets underway, a number of Osher Institute are celebrating anniversaries. Just during September and October we've seen OLLIs recognizing some big milestones: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - 10 years; University of Southern Maine - 20 years; Northwestern University - 30 years; and, Duke
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OLLI at Duke Members Attend 40th Anniversary Celebration |
University - 40 years! Many others have or soon will do the same. While lifelong learning institutes are a relatively recent innovation in higher education, it turns out we're becoming almost as seasoned in years as our members are in age. In fact, the oldest of our OLLIs would now qualify for membership at 54 years old, the senior among our group is the Osher Institute at University of Kentucky.
Of course, many of our colleague programs began before Osher Foundation grants were awarded as the University of Southern Maine was the first Institute funded in 2001. Those forerunners who began their programs years earlier set the course that inspired investments by the Osher Foundation. They quickly proved their high value to members, campuses and communities. Other Institutes began operations at the time of their first Osher funding. The average age for OLLIs is nearly 21 years old, with a range between 7 and 54.
Regardless of when your Institute hits a milestone mark, take pride in the success you are having in improving lives, engaging minds, and celebrating learning every day of the year. Enjoy example stories of that success right now in this month's newsletter.
Happy Anniversaries from the Osher NRC,
Steve Thaxton, Executive Director
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Osher Institute at Dartmouth
OLLI at Dartmouth and University of Vermont Collaborate for Summer 2017
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 The Osher Institute at Dartmouth offers an annual summer lecture series, which is open to the general public and covers contemporary, relevant topics. This year marked the 20th summer providing this series and the Summer Lecture Series committee attracted high profile speakers from across the country on a very timely subject: Global Challenges Confronting the United States.
This summer was also the first attempt at a partnership with the OLLI at University of Vermont to coordinate a live broadcast of each lecture from Hanover to Burlington. From the launch, there was great enthusiasm for this project. Not only did 600 plus participants attend the lecture in person each week, UVM participants also were able to view the event live.
Lectures took place every Thursday morning in July and August for seven weeks at Spaulding Auditorium in Hanover, NH. Attendees heard from a stellar list of speakers that included James Steinberg, Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State; Chris Inglis, Former Deputy Direction, NSA; William Perry, Former U.S. Secretary of Defense; Julie Smith, Former National Security Advisor to Vice President Biden; Matthew Rojansky, Director, Kennan Institute; Kerry Emanuel, Profess of Atmospheric Science; and Admiral James Stavridis, NATO's 16th Supreme Allied Commander Europe and 15th Commander of the U.S. European Command. During each intermission, both audience members and UVM viewer-participants were able to submit questions which were passed along to a moderator.
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OLLI at UVM Members Watching the Lecture Streamed from Dartmouth |
UVM collected feedback from some of their participants, who shared the following responses: "Outstanding lecture in all aspects. Made a complex world problem clear and compelling." "Excellent lecture! This Dartmouth series is excellent!!!" "High quality speaker. Very informative and timely." "Loved this lecture...loved the streaming! Aren't we lucky to have this available!"
This pilot program for Osher at Dartmouth's Summer Lecture Series will be reviewed, along with the feedback from the UVM participants, in hopes of offering this program next summer to any Osher Lifelong Learning Institute wishing to participate.
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OLLI at The University of Alabama in Huntsville
2018 Southern Regional Conference for Learning in Retirement
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 OLLI at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (
UAH) invites everyone to join them in Huntsville next year, August 1-3, for the 2018 Southern Regional Conference for Learning in Retirement. Everyone is also invited to submit session proposals addressing aspects of lifelong learning by completing the
Call for Session Proposals form.
The conference will explore techniques to inspire and educate staff, volunteers, faculty and board members of lifelong learning institutes, which can assist in making programs successful in this ever-changing and expanding population. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn new dimensions of lifelong learning through curriculum, marketing, membership, technology, travel programs and connecting with community.
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Museum of Art in Huntsville |
OLLI at UAH looks forward to sharing their beautiful campus and historic city. Conference attendees are encouraged to stay at the host hotel, the
Element, located at one of the south's premier shopping and entertainment destinations, the
Bridge Street Town Centre. Enjoy the
U.S. Space & Rocket Center during the conference Welcome Reception.
Post conference activities will include a thrill of a lifetime, the OLLI at UAH Space Camp.
Save - the - date so you don't miss joining OLLI at UAH in The Rocket City next August. For more information, visit the
conference website.
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OLLI at the University of Minnesota
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Quilt Exhibit at the Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln Nebraska |
After a successful collaboration in the fall of 2016 when OLLI at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln members had the opportunity to join OLLI at the University of Minnesota members in the Twin Cities to attend a Twins game, along with other fun activities, Nebraska OLLI members reciprocated with an invitation to visit Nebraska in 2017.
Over the summer, members from the OLLI at University of Minnesota traveled to Lincoln, Grand Island, Kearney and Red Cloud with their hosts and new friends from the OLLI at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Highlights of the trip
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Sandhill Cranes Migration |
included a dinner in the atrium of the International Quilt Study Center and Museum in Lincoln with a tour of the museum and performances of 1950's tunes from the OLLI Greasers. Members also visited the Rowe Sanctuary where thousands of cranes stop to rest on their migration north each year. The trip also included stops at museums and other exhibits in the state. Members from both OLLIs greatly enjoyed the trip and the opportunity to spend time with one another.
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OLLI at University of North Carolina at Asheville
Spotlight on Volunteers
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The OLLI at UNC Asheville is fueled by volunteer power - by some calculations as many as 600 volunteers perform many different functions during a typical year! They work with the dedicated staff to deliver exceptional programming and activities.
 To celebrate the volunteers and encourage others to join the effort, OLLI's Marketing Committee ran a 30-week e-newsletter series entitled "Volunteer Spotlight", showcasing volunteers, who described in one sentence why their experience is meaningful to them.
Also included in the spotlight was a short summary of how each volunteer contributes -- committees and what they oversee, as well as a photo and their quote. Lastly, a link was provided to the 'Volunteer Opportunities' page on the OLLI at UNC Asheville website, so readers could learn more about OLLI's volunteer efforts.
Volunteers said "I love volunteering at OLLI because...":
- I love being with kindred spirits who are smart, self-motivated and fun to work with.
- I meet new people and widen my ideas so I can make a difference in the world.
- It makes me feel good to use the skills I have developed throughout my professional life.
Carol Gillen, who steered this project, stated, "Our goal was to give people a taste each week of who these volunteers are and how they value volunteering. Our hope is that more will consider how they can give of themselves to such a worthwhile cause and feel great doing it!" Contact Carol at
carol@gillen.com
for more information.
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Osher NRC 2017-18 Webinar Series
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Mark your calendar for the next webinar on October 18, 2017 beginning at 2:00pm Eastern/1:00pm Central/noon Mountain/11:00am Pacific/10:00am in Alaska and 8:00am in Hawaii.
Register for the webinar.
The Role of an OLLI Coordinator/Assistant Director 
Successful OLLIs often enjoy the benefit of hard working program coordinators or assistant directors who complement their Institute's primary staff leader. While job functions and descriptions are as varied as the 120 Osher Institutes, interesting similarities and differences in practices can inspire the work of any Institute. This webinar brings three skilled and valued staffers together to share some of the secrets of their success. Participants will add to their own professional development hearing about the hard-learned lessons of these talented peers.
Presenters
Rob Hyssong
Program Coordinator
OLLI @ University of Southern Maine
Toniann DeSousa
Program Coordinator
OLLI @ University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Joan Hardman Cobb
Assistant Director
OLLI @ North Carolina State University
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An Advice Column for Osher Institute Staff and Volunteers
Dear Olli
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 Dear Olli,
When I was talking to a friend in another state who is also an Osher Institute member, I was surprised to learn that their OLLI has a membership waiting list. I recently joined my OLLI and was assured by our membership committee that they are always looking to increase membership. What gives?
~No Waiting
Dear No Waiting,
There are a handful of OLLIs that have capped membership or use various waitlist strategies for initial membership. The tension occurs when there is a high demand for membership but the Institute has reached capacity in some way (number of classrooms, instructors, parking limits, etc.). That being said, the majority of Institutes are able to accommodate new members, even if their overall capacity is tight. Far more Institutes grapple with heavy demand for certain courses - with the majority of OLLIs having waitlists for their most popular classes. In a recent survey of Osher Institutes, the NRC found that 88% of those responding said they do have various waitlists or standby lists for courses. There are a number of strategies to manage these waitlists and with the ingenuity of local OLLI directors and coordinators, they usually find ways to spread disappointments equitably to maintain fairness among members.
~Olli
Have a question for Olli? Please send it in care of Stacey Hart at the NRC:Stacey.Hart@Northwestern.edu
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Educational Travel Ideas from the OLLI Network
The OLLI Traveler
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The University of Alaska Fairbanks Offers Alaskan OLLI Travel Programs
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OLLI at University of Texas at Austin Members in Denali National Park |
The University of Alaska Fairbanks with it's own OLLI program has welcomed OLLI groups from all over the country for an eleven day Alaskan educational adventure. OLLI programs from the University of Minnesota, Duke University, University of Alabama Huntsville, University of Vermont, and University of Texas at Austin have enjoyed a travel study program that begins in Fairbanks, moves on to Denali National Park, heads south to Anchorage and on to the coastal community of Seward before returning to Anchorage for their flight home.
This hands-on travel program focuses on the natural, cultural, and political histories of Alaska. The reaction by all the OLLI groups has been highly positive and the OLLI members have thoroughly enjoyed themselves on this trip of a lifetime. Since we have an OLLI program here at UAF, one of the highlights has been to share a dinner one evening in the home of one of the local OLLI members.
 This eleven day Alaska travel program is built on a model where almost all expenses are included in the program fee once you arrive in Alaska: rooms with private baths, three meals a day, all entrance fees, educational programs, and transportation within the program including all tips. Transportation to and from Alaska is not included because participants often want to expand their travel plans or take advantage of frequent flyer miles they may have. There are only three expenses the individual is responsible for during the program called the three "L's': laundry, liquor, and luxuries (souvenirs). While in Alaska OLLI members travel by a Princess Tours motor coach and train. The size of the group is limited to twenty-five and these programs are geared to travelers who are capable of walking up to three miles a day. Participants don't walk three miles every day, but they are comfortable doing it when the activity warrants it. Every year we host one program and schedule it in June when there is endless daylight. With the midnight sun you can literally play golf or ride a bicycle at midnight.
If you would like to arrange a travel program to Alaska for your OLLI group, please contact Michelle Bartlett, Director, UAF Summer Sessions & Lifelong Learning at
michelle.bartlett@alaska.edu or call toll-free 866-404-7021.
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Quick Tips for Helping Operate an Osher Institute
Quick Tip - Creatively Contribute to Your University
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Osher Programs receive considerable in-kind services from their university/college hosts. Often, OLLIs look for ways to show appreciation to their host academies. Beyond some of the traditional and appreciated fundraising for scholarships or university-wide campaigns, there are OLLIs that have found creative ways to give back. The Osher Institute at Carnegie Mellon University recently contributed a few dozen adirondack chairs to the grounds of campus. These distinctly colored and comfortable chairs are placed throughout the green areas of their urban Pittsburgh campus for use by any student to rest, study, or to have a conversation. Each chair includes a small recognition plate with an inspiring and interesting saying on the back. Pictured here is OLLI at CMU executive director Lyn Decker, stopping to relax while giving a campus tour to Osher NRC executive director Steve Thaxton, the photographer and impressed guest. Consider the creative ways your Institute might show appreciation and become engaged in campus life at your host university/college.
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Career Openings in the OLLI Network
Job Board
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Administrative Coordinator II
Senior Coordinator, Osher
Program Representative III, Osher
Classroom and Facilities Coordinator, OLLI
Assistant II, Division of Lifelong Learning
Is there a staff opening at your Osher Institute? Please send it to us at oshernrc@northwestern.edu
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