In This Issue: Member Spotlight: Jackie Agenbroad | Special Guest at Casual Coffee Social | Osher Presenters on Idaho Matters | ISPFS Call for Applicants | Volunteer Drawing Winners | Presenter Spotlight: Alisha Graefe | Osher Programs in the Spotlight | SIGS in the News | Travel With Osher! | Upcoming Partnership and Community Events | Opportunity for Osher Members | Campus Food Pantry Donations

This month, our Member Spotlight shines on Jackie Agenbroad.

Jackie has been an Osher member for seven years since her return to Idaho. She finds it hard to pick a favorite Osher program, but she enjoys presentations from Dr. David Adler, "even though they scare me, but they do make me want to be more politically active." She also likes American History programs by Dr. Richard Bell. She found the Creative Calm: Easy Art to Ease the Mind course with Terra Feast very helpful and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team lecture with General David Bramlett and Shane Sato very moving.

Jackie enjoys doing things that she didn't have time for while she worked, such as volunteering at Osher and other organizations, attending events with Opera Idaho, Boise Baroque Orchestra, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, as well as local theatre productions and concerts at the Sapphire Room. Her favorite Osher memories include attending last year's Osher Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and the recent lecture on The Armenian Genocide of 1915, which "moved me to tears."

You won't want to miss our next Casual Coffee Social on Wednesday, April 24, at the Yanke building...we are excited to welcome popular Osher presenter Dr. Richard Bell in person!

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m. for members to mingle and get acquainted. Following Dr. Bell's Osher course, The American Revolution Beyond the British Empire, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, he will join the Social at 12:10 p.m. Afterwards, members are welcome to enjoy refreshments provided by the Osher Baker's Dozen and continue their social visits until 1:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you on April 24!

Our Osher presenters are frequently featured on the Boise State Public Radio show Idaho Matters, hosted by Gemma Gaudette. You can hear the show weekdays from noon to 1:00 p.m. and again at 8:00 p.m. Each show is archived on the site, so you can catch up in case you miss one. We also post the episodes that feature our presenters (such as Ralph Bild and our special guest from the Osher NRC, Steve Thaxton) on the Osher on Demand page of our website.

The Idaho State Police Forensic Services (ISPFS) announces four positions available on their Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) team:

• Genealogist
• Management Assistant/Grant Manager
• Intelligence Analyst
• Victim Advocate

To learn more about these positions and how to apply, visit the SAKI Cold Case Team page on the ISPFS website.

If you have questions, please contact Darin Boyd at (208) 846-7583 or daren.boyd@isp.idaho.gov.

Congratulations to Osher members Elaine Mayo, Steve Villachica, and Sue Norton for winning the January, February, and March volunteer drawings! A new winner will be drawn each month, and the prizes will vary. To be eligible, members must be an active Osher volunteer during the month of the drawing. One entry per month, please.

If you are a current volunteer, you can fill out the entry form located at the Volunteer Corner in the Osher office. If you would like to become a volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer Interest Form.

Our April Presenter Spotlight shines on Alisha Graefe. She will be presenting the lecture, A History of Hate: The Aryan Nations and White Supremacy in Idaho, on Thursday, April 11, from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

Alisha hails from four generations of Idahoans primarily located in the Twin Falls area. She received her BA and MA in history from Boise State University and her MLIS from San Jose University. Her extensive research revolves around white supremacy and white separatism and how the Aryan Nation's presence has shaped Idaho. Alisha enjoys teaching people about this segment of Idaho's history and discussing how the state can continue to move forward from it. She also enjoys teaching about queer Idaho history, a topic that is close to home for her. She loves sharing the vast history of Idaho that may be unknown to many people. Both of Alisha's research interests rely heavily on resources that live at the Boise State University Special Collections and Archives.

Alisha is looking forward to meeting the lifelong learners at the Osher Institute and hopefully learning more from them as well. She loves having conversations and is eager to hear how events have shaped participants' experiences in Idaho.

The Story of the Cosmos: Four Forces That Define the Universe

Presenter: Dr. James Russ

Dates and times: Tue., Apr. 16, 23, and 30, 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Cost: $35

Introduction to Chinese Language and Taiwanese Culture

(In Person Only)

Presenter: En-hsun (Vanessa) Lai

Dates and times: Mon., May 6,

10:00 a.m.-noon

Cost: $35

Indigenous Art of the Southwest

(In Person Only)

Presenter: Linda Friedman

Dates and times: Mon. and Tue.,

Apr. 29 and 30, 10:00 a.m.-noon

Cost: $25

The Brain Explained: Neurology

in a Nutshell

(Livestream/Recorded Only)

Presenter: Dr. Paul Schanfield

Dates and times: Thu., May 9, 16, and 23, 10:00 a.m.-noon

Cost: $35

To register for these programs, visit the Log In/Register online page, or call Customer Services at (208) 426-1709.

Now Osher members can access their program recordings

from their Osher account!

Once you log in to your account, go to the top menu bar and choose "My Course Links" (see below). All the recording links that you've registered for will be listed here. You can view these recordings anytime before they expire at the end of the Osher membership year on June 30, 2024.

The Personal Writing SIG welcomes the opportunity to share selected works of its members. This month's featured writing is from SIG member Lori Postlethwait.

Lori is a retired engineer who worked for 37 years for the Bureau of Reclamation. Family. Horses. Dogs. Friends. Music. All have influenced her writing.

You can read Lori's piece Fear on Osher on Demand.

There's still time to register for the following Osher travel opportunities with Collette Travel for 2024 and 2025!

European Christmas Markets (December 12-20, 2024)

Kingdoms of Southeast Asia (January 16-February 3, 2025)

If you are interested in learning more about these trips, view the Collette Travel Information Session recording hosted by Andy Boone.

Fettucine Forum

Connected Along the Edges: How Boise's Environmental History Nurtured Community

Dr. Karl Brooks, JD, Professor of the Practice, School of Public Affairs and Administration, The University of Kansas

Thursday, April 4, 6:00 p.m. MT

Trailhead and via Zoom

For more information and to register for the livestream, visit Fettucine Forum.

Constitutional Conversations: Torn From the Headlines

Dr. David Adler, President, Alturas Institute

Thursday, April 11, 3:30 p.m. MT

Yanke building, Room 207

PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT an Osher Institute program. This event is free and open to the public. It will not be recorded. No phone calls, please.

For more information, visit the Alturas Institute.

City Club of Boise

After Hours Event: 2024 Post-Legislative Salon

Thursday, April 11, 6:00 p.m. MT

Beside Bardenay, 610 W. Grove St., Boise

For more information and to register, visit City Club of Boise.

First Friday Astronomy Lecture

Dead Stars and Rogue Asteroids: Learning About Exoplanets by

Ripping Them Apart

Dr. Amy Steele, Director of Astronomy and Research, Yerkes Observatory

[NOTE: This lecture will be held on the SECOND Friday in April]

Friday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. MT

Boise State University Education Building, Room 112, and via Zoom

To join the livestream, visit First Friday Astronomy.

Idea of Nature Lecture Series

The Nature of Taylor Swift

Stephanie Burt, Donald P. and Katherine B. Loker Professor of English, Harvard University

Thursday, April 18, 6:00 p.m. MT

Boise State Student Union Simplot Ballroom and via Zoom

Sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

For more information and to register, visit The Idea of Nature.

Bonus Webinar!

From Lament to Action: Why We Should All Engage With Eco-Church

Reverend Lydia Cook, Anglican Priest, Ottery St. Mary, England

Monday, April 22, noon MT

Livestream via Zoom

Sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

For more information and to register, visit The Idea of Nature.

Visit the Idea of Nature's Pony Up campaign to donate and support the program.

Shawn Simonson, Director of the Human Performance Laboratory and Professor in the Kinesiology Department at Boise State University, invites Osher Institute members to join his graduate-level course on Environmental Physiology this fall.

Click on the KINES 511 flyer for more information on the course, which will culminate with a service trip to La Paz, Mexico in December 2024.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Professor Simonson directly at shawnsimonson@boisestate.edu.

We appreciate your generosity in helping Boise State students by donating to the Campus Food Pantry! You may drop off your non-perishable donations on the table by the Osher banner in the Yanke building lobby.

In addition to non-perishable food items, you also can donate the following personal care items:

Toothpaste | Full-Sized Shampoo and Conditioner Deodorant | Feminine Care Items | Body Wash/Soap

The Pantry is in need of volunteers on Tuesday through Friday to assist them with smaller deliveries, restocking, and completing routine tasks. If you are interested, you may fill out the Campus Food Pantry Volunteer Form.

For more information, visit the Campus Food Pantry website.

Our thanks for the continued support from our Community Sponsors and Partners:

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University

Phone: (208) 426-OLLI (6554)

Email: osher@boisestate.edu

Website: boisestate.edu/osher

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Boise State University operates within the Division of Extended Studies. It is a membership-based, lifelong learning program offering non-credit, college-level programs designed for intellectually curious adults age 50 and over.



Support the Osher Institute here.

Osher Institute Advisory Board

Chair: Cindy Anson | Chair Elect: Bae Emilson | Tom Baerwald | Michael Bixby

Chuck Folkner | Bob Fontaine | Dennis Hall | Rod McLean | Sharon Moses

Rainey Pieters | Dr. Chuck Robertson | Diane Ronayne

Osher Institute Staff

Director: Dana Thorp-Patterson | Assistant Director: Laura Mehlhaff

Senior Communications Specialist: Jill Chmelko

Administrative Assistant II: Cherie Ellingson

Student Office Assistant: Priscilla Gallardo