In This Issue: Member Spotlight: Barbara Pond | Join Us at the Open House on August 6 | Welcome, Jamie! | Links in Your Osher Account | NEW! NRC's Osher Online | Presenter Spotlight: Andrew Lam, MD | Symposium for Successful Aging | Osher Programs in the Spotlight | SIGs in the News | Conversations With Exceptional Women | Upcoming Partnership and Community Events | Thank You for Your Support | Travel With Osher | |
Member Spotlight: Barbara Pond | |
Our Osher Institute thrives because of its outstanding members! This month's Member Spotlight shines on Barbara Pond.
In 2006, Barbara signed up for her first semester with Osher (then called the Renaissance Institute) after reading an article by Diane Ronayne in the Idaho Statesman, and she doesn't believe she's missed a semester since.
There have been many courses and favorite instructors that Barbara has enjoyed over the many years of her membership, including those presented by Dr. Howard Berger, Dr. Jill Gill, Dr. Shelton Woods, and Dr. David Adler. "My husband, Wally, loved to say he’d sign up for underwater stump-blasting, if any one of them was teaching it!" Barbara remarks.
A top-favorite memory was Dr. Steven Olsen-Smith’s course on Moby Dick – so much so, that Barbara ended up taking it twice! "Dr. Olsen-Smith’s hands-on background with Melville’s personal library and his own fascinating development of Melville’s Marginalia, hooked me completely on Melville’s classic. I have enjoyed every class Dr. Olsen-Smith has done for Osher, and am looking forward to his introducing us to Poe in October," Barbara says.
In her off-Osher time, Barbara enjoys reading, gardening, her cabin in Crouch, her Wheaten terrier, Luna, and frequent get-togethers with friends and family. Barbara's son and his family just moved to Boise in early July, becoming the highlight and joy of her year.
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Join Us at the Open House on August 6 | |
We hope to see you at our Osher Open House on Tuesday, August 6! Drop in between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to enjoy refreshments, mingle with friends, pick up a new parking permit, an optional public transportation sticker, and your new Osher name badge.
At noon, and again at 1:00 p.m., we will host a brief “All About Osher” session for new members to learn more about the Osher Institute and for returning members to find out about updates for the fall semester.
To register for this free event, visit the Log In/Register Online page, or call Customer Services at (208) 426-1709.
Join Osher Institute Director Dana Thorp-Patterson for a virtual fall preview with brief recordings of featured speakers giving a sneak peak of their upcoming programs. Keep an eye on your email for announcements!
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We're excited to announce a new addition to our Osher staff: Jamie Frederick is our Administrative Assistant I! Jamie was born and raised in Boise. Her love for education started in her elementary school days, and she recalls even then knowing she would pursue a path in education. Jamie attended Boise State University and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies with a Leadership and Human Relations Certificate. She will be starting her Master’s in Educational Leadership this Fall.
Outside of work, Jamie enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dogs Mowgli, Gibby, and Frankie. While she has lived nearly her entire life in Boise, she loves to experience new places. Every year she attempts to make it to two different National Parks. This year, she will be exploring North Cascades and Great Basin National Park. In Jamie’s free time, she enjoys backpacking, hiking, yoga, and running in the beautiful outdoors. She thrives in environments that promote continuous learning, and she’s excited to support the Osher Institute’s mission of providing engaging lifelong learning opportunities as an Administrative Assistant I.
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Links in Your Osher Account | |
This fall, you'll find the links to the recorded programs for which you've registered, as well as the livestream links, making them easier to access. Once you log in to your account, go to the top menu bar and choose
"My Course Links" (see right). All the recording links that you've registered for will be listed here. You can view these recordings any time before they expire at the end of the Osher membership year on June 30, 2025.
Need help learning how to get into your account? Come to the Osher Open House...we'll have volunteers on hand to provide demonstrations!
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The Osher Institute, in conjunction with the Osher National Resource Center (NRC), is pleased to offer NRC's Osher Online, a new slate of programs available for the fall semester!
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Visit the Browse Curriculum page to read descriptions of each program and biographies of the presenters, then register for the programs of your choice on the Log In/Register Online page.
- After you register, the NRC will email you a sign-in credential (which will be your email address and password) and a link to the Osher Online website through which you will access all of your Osher Online programs.
- You also will receive a link for a "new participant" orientation meeting via Zoom; it is recommended all registrants attend this meeting.
- All programs are held as Livestream Only; they are not shown in the Osher classroom and are not recorded.
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Please note: NRC's Osher Online programs are NOT refundable.
Choose from an exciting array of topics:
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First Ladies: More Than the Women Behind the Men
Presenters: Dr. Diana Carlin and Dr. Myra Gutin
Dates and times: Mon., Sept. 30, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, and Nov. 4, 1:00-2:30 p.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 20
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Psychology Fundamentals
Presenter: Dr. Andrés Gvirtz
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5, and 12, 9:00-10:30 a.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 30
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Peace Leadership: Exploring Peacebuilding From the Ground Up
Presenter: Dr. Aleen Bayard
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and Nov. 5, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 23
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Wellness From Within
Presenter: Mónica E. Gómez
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5, and 12, 1:00-2:30 p.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 30
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Architecture, Engineering, Design and Technology: Case Studies From the Past, Present, and Future
Presenter: Dr. John Zukowsky
Dates and times: Wed., Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and Nov. 6, 9:00-10:30 a.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 24
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Art Movements From the Roaring 20s to the Swinging 60s
Presenter: Eleanor Schrader
Dates and times: Tue., Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, Nov. 5, and 12, 5:00-6:30 p.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 30
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Who is Frederick Law Olmstead? An Examination of This Visionary's Life, Work, and Living Legacy
Presenter: Dede Petri, JD
Dates and times: Wed., Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and Nov. 6, 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 24
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The Capable Consumer: Finding Your Purchasing Superpower
Presenter: Susan Loyd, MA
Dates and times: Thu., Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7, and 14, 1:00-2:30 p.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Oct. 2
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The Power of Introverts
Presenter: Jeri Bingham
Dates and times: Wed., Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and Nov. 6, 5:00-6:30 p.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 24
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The Great Con: The Talented Mr. Ripley in Literature and Film
Presenter: Dr. Heather Brown
Dates and times: Fri., Oct. 11, 18, 25, Nov. 1, 8, and 15, 9:00-10:30 a.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Oct. 3
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Gender and the Law
Presenter: Lauren Andersen, JD
Dates and times: Thu., Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, and Nov. 7, 9:00-10:30 a.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 25
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Exploring Crosswords
Presenter: Steve Weyer
Dates and times: Thu., Oct. 17, 24, 31, Nov. 7, 14, and 21, 3:00-4:30 p.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Oct. 9
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The Season of Sports Journalism: Tackle Media Coverage of the Summer Olympics Evolving Into Fall Athletics Across the Globe
Presenter: Annie Krall
Dates and times: Sat., Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26, Nov. 7, and 9, 9:00-10:30 a.m. MT
Cost: $65
Registration deadline: Sept. 27
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If you have questions about the NRC's Osher Online programs, (dates and times, deadlines, login process, orientation meeting, etc.), please contact the Osher NRC directly at osheronline@northwestern.edu. | |
Presenter Spotlight: Andrew Lam, MD | |
The Osher Institute is fortunate to have a wealth of talented presenters from all across the country. This month, we spotlight Andrew Lam, MD.
Dr. Lam grew up in Springfield, IL, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Yale University with a degree in history. He went to medical school at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his training in Ophthalmology and Retina Surgery at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. He is currently a practicing retina surgeon in Springfield, MA, and is an Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He and his wife, Christina, have four children, three in college and one middle schooler.
Among Dr. Lam's passions are military and medical history. His first book, Saving Sight, blended his memoir as a surgeon-in-training with stories of the greatest heroes of ophthalmology. He wrote two WWII novels: Two Sons of China that won a Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Award in 2014; and Repentance, a finalist for the Massachusetts Book Award in 2019. Dr. Lam's latest book, The Masters of Medicine, chronicles the greatest medical discoveries of our time. He is looking forward to sharing the remarkable stories of perseverance, serendipity, and innovation from WWII that resulted in many miracles of modern medicine pertaining to cardiac surgery, cancer treatments, ophthalmology, and trauma care in his upcoming Osher lecture, “The Only Winner in War Is Medicine” on Wednesday, August 28, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. via livestream. Dr. Lam says, "I think attendees will find my high-energy presentations as entertaining as they are educational, and my hope is they will find my passion and enthusiasm for these inspiring stories contagious."
One of Dr. Lam's personal goals is to visit every National Park site in the United States, including national battlefields, memorials, monuments, and historic sites - about 400 locations total. He has already been to about one-third of them and is looking forward to visiting the rest in decades to come.
Learn more at andrewlammd.com.
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Symposium for Successful Aging | |
Successful aging is often defined as the process of growing older while maintaining physical health, cognitive abilities and strong social relationships. The lectures and discussions in this symposium will focus on awareness of aging issues and improving YOUR quality of life. Experts in a variety of industries will share information on relevant topics, including balance and falls, heart and brain health, mindfulness, Medicare and supplemental insurance, caretaking and long-term care planning, and more. An optional morning walk on the Greenbelt (weather permitting) with a coffee stop at Zero Six Coffee Fix, our community partner, will get your day off to a great start! The first day’s conclusion will feature a resource panel. Visit the Browse Curriculum page for the list of programs.
Dates and times: Tue. and Wed., Sep. 17 and 18, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Location: Yanke Research Park, Osher classrooms 207 and 510
Cost: $99 (includes light breakfast and lunch each day)
SelectHealth is the premier sponsor of this semester's Symposium.
To register, visit the Log In/Register Online page and go to the "Starting in September" drop-down menu.
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Osher Programs in the Spotlight | |
Chronic Wasting Disease in Idaho (Hybrid)
Presenter: Tricia Hosch-Hebdon, Assistant Chief of Wildlife, Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Date and time: Wed., Aug. 14, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership
The Girl Prince: Virginia Woolf, Race and the Dreadnought Hoax (Livestream/Recorded Only)
Presenters: Dr. Danell Jones, author
Date and time: Tue., Aug. 20, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership
Biotechnology Crops for Farmers in Developing Countries (Hybrid)
Presenter: Muffy Koch, Senior Regulatory Manager, J.R. Simplot Company
Date and time: Thu., Aug. 29, 10:00 a.m.-noon
Cost: Included with membership
The Past, Present and Future of Ladino Culture (In Person Only)
Presenters: Nani Vazana, musician
Date and time: Thu., Aug. 29, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Cost: Included with membership
| To register for these programs, visit the Log In/Register Online page. | |
The Personal Writing SIG welcomes the opportunity to share selected works of its members. This month's featured writing is from Nate Benson.
Nate enjoys spending time with his wife, three sons, and two dogs. He also enjoys his retirement activities: biking, camping, cross-country skiing, gardening, pickleball, talking walks, and the Osher Personal Writing SIG.
You can read Nate's piece Crinkles in Osher on Demand.
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Conversations With Exceptional Women | |
Seats are still available for the Alturas Institute's Conversations With Exceptional Women: Defending Democracy and Women's Rights on Wed. and Thu., Aug. 21 and 22, from
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Yanke building for $165. This event showcases an extraordinary and award-winning slate of speakers from a multitude of industries including law, film, arts, journalism, academia, government, and business. Panels and interviews will focus on stimulating conversations about challenges for women, our nation, and democracy.
To register, click here. For more information on the presenters, visit The Alturas Institute. No calls to the Osher Institute, please.
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Upcoming Partnership and Community Events | |
First Friday Astronomy Lecture
NASA's Cold Atom Lab: Six Years of Quantum Science on the International Space Station
Dr. Jason Williams, Project Scientist, NASA's Cold Atom Lab
Friday, August 2, 7:30 p.m. MT
Boise State Liberal Arts Building, Room 106 and via livestream
To view the livestream, visit Astronomy at Boise State Physics.
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City Club of Boise Forum
The Destabilization of Healthcare in Idaho
Moderator: Corey Surber, Saint Alphonsus/Trinity Health
Thursday, August 22, 11:45 a.m.
The Grove Hotel, 245 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise
For more information and to register, visit City Club of Boise.
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Sawtooth Writing Retreat
Paul Bogart, author of The End of Night and The Ground Beneath Us, and Kim Cross, author of What Stands in a Storm and In Light of All Darkness
Thursday-Sunday, September 19-22
Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve
Applications will be accepted until August 15, 2024.
For more information and to apply, scan the QR code above or visit boi.st/SawtoothRetreat. For questions, email hemingway@boisestate.edu.
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Thank You for Your Support | |
The Osher Excellence Fund was established by members to demonstrate support and appreciation for the great programs offered through the Institute. This year, we're aiming for 35% of Osher member participation in contributing to the fund. Donate at your own comfort level! Visit Support Your Osher Institute, or mail your check to the Osher Institute at 220 E. Parkcenter Blvd., Boise, ID 83706.
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Our thanks for the continued support from our Community Sponsors and Partners: | |
The Osher Institute is a proud underwriter of
Boise State Public Radio.
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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.
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Osher Institute Advisory Council
Chair: Bae Emilson | Tom Baerwald | Linda Butler
Bob Fontaine | Rod McLean | Sharon Moses | Rick Ogle
Rainey Pieters | Diane Ronayne | Debra Silva | Steve Villachica
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Osher Institute Staff
Director: Dana Thorp-Patterson | Assistant Director: Laura Mehlhaff
Senior Communications Specialist: Jill Chmelko
Administrative Assistant II: Cherie Ellingson
Administrative Assistant I: Jamie Frederick
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