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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Southern Maine |
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Looking Ahead
OLLI Director Update
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I hope this summer is a safe and relaxing one for all of you!
While we are in the midst of our summer session, OLLI is also looking forward to our fall roster of classes and workshops. I am delighted to share that our fall schedule is at the pre-pandemic level, with 60 offerings, including 31 remote experiences, 27 in-person classes/workshops, and 2 hybrid classes combining members in a Wishcamper classroom and participants joining from home. It is exciting that our faculty has stepped forward to offer such a cornucopia of learning opportunities, and I hope that you will find lots of tantalizing options. Our catalogs should be mailed out by late July, and you can also visit our website to explore fall offerings as well.
This past year has been one of experimentation and adjustment to the changing realities that COVID has presented to us. In preparation for our next year, the staff and advisory board will assess what is working and how we can enhance our strengths for the future. One unequivocal success is OLLI’s remote learning program, which is not only a safe and convenient option but also a favored choice for faculty and learners who enjoy the accessibility and intimacy of group learning on Zoom. Our in-person courses will all be offered on Fridays, in both the Wishcamper Center and Luther Bonney Hall—right across the sky bridge from the parking garage/Abromson Center. Our fall SAGE lecture series will also be offered as webinars for this coming academic year, as the flexible format allows attendees to engage with the speakers while some members prefer to watch the lectures at a time of their own choosing. As always, we are working to make the OLLI experience joyful and enticing.
As we turn the page from one fiscal year to the next, I would like to thank all the Advisory Board members (especially Sue Jennings, Gael McKibben, and Star Pelsue, who have completed their Board service), committee members, faculty, learning and classroom assistants, and office volunteers for their exceptional support of OLLI this past year. We are looking forward to a wonderful FY 22/23!
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—Donna Anderson
Director
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In this edition . . .
- Director's message (above)
- Update from the board
- Fall registration "Save the Date"
- Volunteer appreciation luncheon (a success!)
- SAGE returns this fall
- OLLI’s mythic trip to Iceland
- Trivia column
- The OLLI History Book Club
- Pass
- September newsletter deadline
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Save the Date!
Fall registration will begin Wednesday, August 17 for OLLI members.
Registration opens at midnight (Tuesday night into Wednesday morning) between 12:05 - 12:15 a.m.
Keep an eye out for a digital catalog later this week and a hard copy in the mail in early August.
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Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon a Success
(in spite of the weather!)
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On a raw, rainy June 9, over fifty of OLLI’s intrepid volunteers gathered under a tent on USM’s lawn to celebrate yet another year of surviving and flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The many forms of volunteerism were represented, and each member group was acknowledged: the OLLI Advisory Board; the five Board committees of Membership and Administration, Teaching and Learning, Social Relations, External Relations, and SAGE; and the SIG coordinators and the Office volunteers.
For one faculty member, this was the first time she was “on campus,” the first time she was seeing any other OLLI member in person, and she was brimming with excitement! The same excitement and pleasure were enjoyed by all as the meeting and mingling went on before the official program began and during lunch.
Donna Anderson spoke and then introduced Jeanne Paquette, USM Vice-President, Corporate and Workforce Engagement, under which OLLI falls, who had already been mixing with the crowd. Outgoing USM Present Glenn Cummings stopped in and called OLLI’s volunteers “role models,” envied the range of OLLI offerings, and hoped that he will be able to participate after settling into his new job.
|  | Glenn Cummings speaks at the Volunteer Luncheon (picture above) |
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Though all volunteers bring special and diverse backgrounds and talents, and each is committed to OLLI, three were specifically honored this year for their outstanding contributions over the past several years.
After retiring from a long-time career at L.L. Bean, Richard “Dick” Leslie became involved in OLLI, in various capacities from student to volunteer committee person to Board member. Many remember him wearing crazy hats and selling raffle tickets between classes at Wishcamper. Others remember him as running the huge book sales held for several years. Perhaps unknown to many, he authored an 18-page analysis of a major survey about all aspects of OLLI activities, from which the Board was able to develop a three-year Strategic Plan. This year he did the same for another survey that is useful to the Board for future thought and planning.
Several years ago, Star Pelsue couldn’t wait to become old enough to join OLLI. In a long journey from being a scientist with a degree in Interdisciplinary Environmental Science; a Developmental Therapist working with autistic children; a very active volunteer with Maine’s political arm of AARP (and received the 2020 Andrus Award, its highest and most prestigious recognition); docent at the Victoria Mansion; and volunteering at the Ronald MacDonald House, she finally landed at OLLI’s door. This is her last year chairing the SAGE and External Relations committees. With her long and detailed experience with Zooming, she committed to the emergency training of faculty so that Zoomed classes could continue to be presented to OLLI members when face-to-face classes were not possible. She has continued to be a techie for those unsure of using Zoom. And it is she who introduced many members to the monthly popup games such as Trivia, Taboo, and Mad Gab from her extensive experience in playing with friends around the country.
Sue Jennings, the outgoing Chair of the OLLI Advisory Board, also came from a science background. As a Medical Sociologist in Boston, she developed software that would evaluate the delivery of health care. Then, a few years after moving to Los Angeles and becoming a VP of the company she was working for, she was headhunted by Pfizer Health Solutions. Disease Management software became her focus. Only a few years ago after arriving in Maine, she was told that OLLI was where the action was, and if she wanted to know anything, she should join. Immediately upon doing so, she signed up for her first class and found out the many aspects of this senior college’s offerings. As an inveterate volunteer in other dimensions of her previous life, she has worked on “Wrinkle in Time” and “One Book–One Community,” chaired the 20th Anniversary Celebration committee, and has become the coordinator of the Arts and Crafts Special Interest Group. Plus, in her leadership capacity, she has pulled OLLI through these years of great stress, strain, and many challenges, not the least of which we have all struggled with growing accustomed to passport-photo-sized faces on-screen rather than face-to-face interaction.
A surprise performance, planned by the OLLI Ukes!, was struck down at the last minute by a COVID attack.
One last note: the large, profuse flower box created by Donna, Grand Prize of the raffle that was ongoing during the program, was won by Terry Foster. This was particularly appropriate, for he is the Grand Master of OLLI Volunteers, the longest-participating volunteer. It was he who, in 1995, was at the very beginning of plans for an adult, peer learning group at USM that evolved into the founding of OLLI in 2001. That led to the establishment of OLLIs all across the country. He has been on our volunteer faculty list ever since.
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SAGE Returns to Virtual Webinar Programming this Fall with Excellent Speakers |  | |
Yes, that’s right. After a session trying in-person SAGE programs at The Point in South Portland, our Fall and Spring series will return to Zoom Webinar programs. Hopefully by Fall 2023 SAGE will be able to return to Hannaford Hall on campus, but that depends on whether the construction in the back of Wishcamper Hall is sufficiently complete and the status of COVID variations is under control to meet the concerns of OLLI members.
Here’s what that means for OLLI members who attend SAGE programs.
- You can wake up on Tuesday mornings, grab your coffee and breakfast, and connect your laptop or another device to the Webinar by 9:29 a.m.
- You can keep your PJs on and still participate in the Webinar while enjoying your preferred coffee and pastry.
- You can still ask questions of speakers.
- You can still choose to buy the entire series of eight programs for the cost of five.
- You can still select individual programs to purchase if you wish.
- You can still tell your OLLI friends after a program—or even SAGE committee members—that you really liked a particular program that you didn’t expect to like.
Here’s what you can see and virtually participate in this fall at SAGE:
Two terrific book-end programs will begin and end the Fall series
The opening program on September 13 will feature Dr. John Devlin, who recently returned home after a five-month stint with Doctors Without Borders in South Sudan. On November 1, Bill McKibben, noted American environmentalist, author, and journalist, as well as the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College and founder of the Third Act, will report on the climate change battle.
Challenges facing immigrants in the early 20th and 21st Centuries
Michael Connolly, retired St. Joseph’s professor, will explore through family stories the life of Irish Immigrants in Portland at the turn of the 20th Century; and Georges Budagu Makoko, publisher of Amjambo Africa will explore the challenges facing asylum seekers and immigrants in 21st Century
Efforts to address homelessness and the challenges facing mental health service providers
Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, Ryan Fecteau, will discuss the affordable housing crisis throughout the state. Over the past several decades, when mental health patients have been released from institutions to be served in their communities, often on the streets, Shalom House has been one of the most distinguished providers of such services. Mary Haynes-Rogers, Executive Director; and Jill Silander, Development Director, will discuss the challenges faced by providers of mental health services.
The language of gender identity
Dr. Idella Glenn, USM Vice-President for Equity, Inclusion, and Community Impact will explore the language of gender identity, gender expression, sex, and sexual orientation.
What the decline of blue herons tells us
Danielle D’Auria, Wildlife Biologist of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, will share the work of the Heron Observation Network in understanding the decline of great blue herons.
The Fall 2022 SAGE Brochure should arrive in your mailboxes within the next couple of weeks.
—SAGE Committee
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OLLI’s Mythic Trip to Iceland |  |
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This May, an intrepid group of OLLI travelers went to Iceland for ten days. Most of the group took the spring pre-trip course that familiarized us with Iceland’s history, culture, literature, geology, and natural history. Our 39 travelers were able to experience the mythic dimension of Iceland along with geological perspectives provided by Dr. Irwin Novak. Stepping back into the Viking past, considering the country’s contemporary resilience, and exploring the primal landscape of glaciers, lava fields, steam vents, geysers, hot springs, and ancient volcanos created enduring impressions on the travelers.
Here are some of the highlights of the trip:
- After a lively walking tour of Reykjavik, an intrepid group of 16 made our way for an evening swim at Reykjavik’s “Swim Palace,” where we soaked in hot tubs, swam in stunning indoor and outdoor pools, and chatted with Icelandic families enjoying the warm water.
- During “Saga Day,” we went to Borgarnes, where we visited the Children’s Waterfall, the Settlement Center (with very creative exhibitions about Egil’s Saga and the Viking settlement of Iceland), and the site of poet Snorri Strulson’s homestead, dipping our fingers in the stone hot tub reportedly built by Snorri.
- The “Golden Circle” did not disappoint, with stops at the stunning Þingvellir (Thingvellir) National Park (where the continental plates are pulling apart and where the Viking parliament was held), the Gullfoss waterfall (where we got soaked by the mist), and Geyser National Park with its bubbling mud pots, steaming vents, and spectacular geyser. We ended the day with some yummy tomato soup at the Friðheimar greenhouse and saw a fascinating demonstration of the unique gaits of Icelandic horses
- The Snæfellsnes Peninsula north of Reykjavik gave us our first glimpse of a glacier, iconic mountains, and an unforgettable cruise on Breiðafjörður Bay, where we saw unique sea birds nesting on rocky islands. Some travelers went down an extinct lava tube, their way lit by lights on their hardhats.
- On our way to Vik, we stopped at a geothermal plant to learn about how Iceland is harnessing the power of its turbulent geology. We then had a memorable visit to the Lava Exhibition Center, with very engaging high-tech displays talking about the active volcanos in Iceland—many of which were visible from the center’s observation tower. The moss covering the lava fields was now vibrant green, and we stayed in a hotel between the glacier-covered highlands and the basalt cliffs and black lava beaches along the turbulent North Atlantic. Special treats included visits to the Skógar Museum and the Icelandic Lava Show, where lava rocks are re-melted, and hot molten lava flowed down in a specially designed chute right in front of us.
- On our last day in Vik we ventured out to the Jökulsárlón Glacial Lagoon, where we took an amphibious cruise around icebergs calved from the nearby glacier. Fragments of the vibrant blue icebergs drifted along the current, turning the dense ice crystal clear. Many ice “gems” end up on the black lava Diamond Beach, where we braved the wind and light rain to walk along the swift-flowing glacial river.
- Our final day brought us to either the Perlan Center—a fabulous natural history museum—or the Blue Lagoon, where many of us luxuriated in the mineral-rich opaque blue water. Among the spa treats were a silica mud facial and a beverage from the bar set into the lagoon. Deeply relaxed, we returned to our hotel for a final night in the magical Icelandic twilight—sunset coming around 10:30 p.m. and sunrise waking us around 4:00 a.m.
Visiting Iceland in the spring meant that we saw many young lambs, nesting birds, early spring wildflowers, and horses out in green fields. We sampled skyr (a very soft Icelandic yogurt-like cheese), lots of very fresh fish, and Iceland’s famous hot dogs. The bravest among us sampled fermented shark. The spectacular landscape punctuated by small farms and isolated white-and-red churches still haunts the mind, making the trip deeply moving and very satisfying for our adventure-loving group.
—Donna Anderson
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History Helps Us Makes Sense of Our World
OLLI's History Book Club
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Both history buffs and newcomers are welcome to this OLLI group of engaged readers for a monthly book discussion. In future months, the book choices cover the world—Paris, the Adriatic, Ukraine, Rome, India, and much more. Book suggestions are submitted by members and voted on in the spring. There’s no obligation to read all the books or to attend regularly.
Currently, we meet via Zoom, with an average attendance of 18 to 20. OLLI members are invited to join the history book club, which meets at 3:15 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month, September through June. To join the e-mail list, contact Sue Gesing at [email protected] or Dawn Leland at [email protected].
Fall 2022–Spring 2023 Books
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Sept. 8, The Fall of Robespierre: 24 Hours in Revolutionary Paris, Colin Jones
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Oct. 13, The Trials of Harry S. Truman: The Extraordinary Presidency of an Ordinary Man, 1945–1953, Jeffrey Frank
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Nov. 10, Adriatic: A Concert of Civilizations at the End of the Modern Age, Robert D. Kaplan
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Dec. 8, The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and the Forgotten Colony That Shaped America, Russell Shorto
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Jan. 12, The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine, Serhii Plokhy
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Feb. 9, The Fate of Rome: Climate, Disease, and the End of an Empire, Kyle Harper
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Mar. 9, The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels, Jon Meacham
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Apr. 13, Traitor: A History of American Betrayal from Benedict Arnold to Trump, David Rothkopf
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May 11, Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire, Alex Von Tunzelmann
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June 8, Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas, Jennifer Raff
History Book Club Members Say…
“…historians and former professors and people who just want to learn about history. Throw in a few scientists, educators, and social workers, and there is bound to be a lively discussion from a variety of perspectives... discussion, insights, viewpoints, and disagreements are always thought-provoking and informative.”
—Gretchen Greenberg
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“The diversity of the members’ backgrounds and interests makes for a stimulating discussion. I always learn something.”
—Michael Torlen
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“The OLLI History Book Club was one of the first activities I joined when I retired at the beginning of 2022, and I am so happy to be a part.… [I]t has encouraged me to expand my reading…and the discussions are always lively and thought-provoking.
—Melissa H. Murphy
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- When Elizabeth Housewright, our Trivia host, stacks all of her trivia cards, how many inches tall is the pile?
- Why did the numbers 10, 2, and 4 appear on the Dr Pepper bottle?
- What is the wettest place in the United States?
- What was Jesse James doing when he was shot and killed?
- What three sporting events are won by moving backward?
- Who advised, “Go West, young man, and grow with the country”?
Scroll down for the answers!
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Join us for these upcoming Trivia Nights with our hosts Elizabeth Housewright and Star Pelsue!
Monday, July 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, August 8 at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, August 22 at 7:00 p.m.
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1. When Elizabeth Housewright, our Trivia host, stacks all of her trivia cards, how many inches tall is the pile?
(50 inches)
See the picture to the right.
2. Why did the numbers 10, 2, and 4 appear on the Dr Pepper bottle?
(As part of their slogan in the 1920s and 1930s: “Drink a bite to eat at 10, 2, and 4.”)
The slogan encouraged people to drink Dr. Pepper for a quick source of energy at these times of day.
3. What is the wettest place in the United States?
(Kauai, Hawaii)
Mt. Waialeale on Kauai, Hawaii, gets approximately 460 inches of rain a year—an average of more than an inch a day!
4. What was Jesse James doing when he was shot and killed?
(Straightening, or dusting, a picture on the wall of his home)
The governor of Missouri had put together a reward so large that Robert Ford and his brother, members of Jesse’s gang, turned traitor. On April 4, 1882, Jesse James turned to the wall to straighten or dust a picture after breakfast. Ford shot him in the back of the head, instantly killing him.
5. What three sporting events are won by moving backwards?
(Tug of war, back stroke, crew/rowing)
6. Who advised, “Go West, young man, and grow with the country”?
(John B. L. Soule)
Horace Greeley is generally credited with having coined the often-quoted phrase “Go West, young man,” but many observers point to John B.L. Soule, an Indiana journalist, as the actual originator of the phrase. Although Greeley used the phrase “Go West, young man, go West” in an editorial in 1865, Soule, indeed, had written “Go West, young man, and grow up with the country” earlier, in an editorial in the Terre Haute (Indiana) Express in 1851. Greeley, however, long an ardent advocate of western expansion, was anything but a stranger to the notion of the promise of the American West, and in the New York Tribune in 1841 he wrote, “Do not lounge in the cities! There is room and health in the country, away from the crowds of idlers and imbeciles. Go west, before you are fitted for no life but that of the factory.”—Source: Researcher’s Note, Encyclopedia Britannica, for its article about Horace Greeley.
www.britannica.com/biography/Horace-Greeley
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Bernard Zike died in late May. He was a member of the Bicycle & Nosh Special Interest Group at OLLI. Bernard was a lifelong, avid cyclist, using his bike for pleasure, and also for errands and shopping.
The last sentence in his obituary is: “When thinking about Bernard, please picture him riding a bike down the road with a big smile on his face.”
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Are you considering submitting an article to the OLLI Newsletter? Get in contact with us! | |
Email [email protected]
to submit your piece.
Phone: 207-780-4406
Tim Baehr, Editor
Don King, Editor Emeritus
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Deadline for the September issue
is August 15
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Maine Senior College Network | | |
OLLI National Resource Center | | |
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Non-discrimination Notice
The University of Maine, including USM, is an EEO/AA employer and does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, or veteran’s status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5754, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).
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