Summer flowers in front of the WMU Library.

All Life is Learning - July 2024

Director's Note

We are excited to be entering a new OLLI at WMU program year! OLLI's annual membership runs from July 1 to June 30, so, unless you renewed when registering for summer classes, your membership expired at the end of June. Do not miss out on all the opportunities we have to offer this summer鈥斺痠f you have not already done so!  

Renewing is easy! Simply go to our鈥痮r you can call the OLLI office at鈥(269) 387-4157. Every OLLI member makes our lifelong learning community stronger and more self-sustaining. You are invaluable to us! Plus, everyone who renews their membership by July 15 will be entered into a drawing to win tickets for Miller Auditorium鈥檚 2024-2025 theater season鈥攕o don鈥檛 delay!鈥 

There鈥檚 even more great news, OLLI members! We鈥檙e excited to announce a brand-new texting feature that makes it even easier for you to stay connected with us. Opting in for text updates means you鈥檒l receive important information and reminders about courses, events, and trips to your phone.

You may opt-in to our texting feature by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign into your account:
  2. Select 鈥淎ccount鈥 at the top yellow bar
  3. Select 鈥淢y Profile鈥 under Account Overview
  4. Select the box that says 鈥淐heck here if you agree to receive mobile text notifications鈥
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  5. Scroll down to the bottom and select the green button that says 鈥淪ave Changes鈥

Now you are all set to receive texts from OLLI! We hope this new feature will facilitate clearer communication between us and improve your overall lifelong learning experience.

Curriculum

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There is still time to register for summer courses鈥攁nd to bring a friend with you so they can get a taste of all the opportunities that OLLI has to offer! If you plan on taking a course this semester that isn鈥檛 full, consider participating in our Bring a Friend program, which allows you to invite those who are curious about OLLI to sit in on a course with you for free. This is a great way to鈥痠ntroduce your friends and family to our lovely lifelong learning community鈥痑nd encourage them to join! Please make sure you contact the office beforehand to let us know that you will be bringing a friend so we can know who our guests are. 

Events

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Mark your calendars and bring your friends鈥攚e have several fun and informative events scheduled for the upcoming months!

  • August 14 鈥 Taste of OLLI:
    • Meet some of our instructors to learn about their fall courses and delight in our specially-planned entertainment! Bring your non-member friends with you to the for a fun time and discover all the opportunities our OLLI has planned for the upcoming semester. This is one of our most popular events of the year鈥攔egister now by calling the office at (269) 387-4157 to save your spot!
  • September 19 鈥 Good Times with OLLI:
    • If you missed our Good Times gathering in June, you have another chance to catch up with fellow OLLI members and make new friends as you enjoy games and refreshments from 1 to 3 p.m. at .
  • November 13 鈥 Annual Meeting
    • Enjoy our engaging guest speaker and get updated on all things related to OLLI with your fellow lifelong learners at ; details to come.

Membership

OLLI Members, Let's Go to the Theatre

Have you seen the incredible lineup for the 2024-2025 season at WMU鈥檚 ? Even better, would you like to go to the theater together as a group?

Well, get ready for some exciting news! Our OLLI staff has been working closely with the sales folks at Miller so that we can offer you the opportunity to experience two incredible shows鈥斺淭he Lion King鈥 and 鈥淭wo Trains Running鈥濃攁longside your fellow lifelong learners! This is a fantastic chance to enjoy world-class theater as a group, making the experience even more special.  

However, the deadline to register is July 15, which is just two weeks away, so act now to save your seat! Keep reading for all the details...

Image of the Lion King theatrical poster.

The Lion King

One of the longest-running shows on Broadway, Disney鈥檚 classic "The Lion King" is a well-known and beloved story. Follow the journey of Simba as he grapples with grief over the loss of his father, grapples with the theft of his Kingdom by his evil uncle Scar, discovers what it means to lead with integrity, and becomes empowered to reclaim his rightful place as King of the Pride Lands. 鈥淭he Lion King鈥 is Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 1 p.m.; tickets are $68.75.
Image of Two Trains Running theatrical poster.

Two Trains Running

Written by the 鈥渢heater鈥檚 poet of Black America,鈥 August Wilson, "Two Trains Running" is set in 1969 and explores racial tensions in the Civil Rights era through the lives of regulars at a soon-to-be-demolished diner as they argue over the ideas and events that were unfolding during this critical turning point in American history. 鈥淭wo Trains Running鈥 will only be performed in Kalamazoo for just one night, so you won鈥檛 want to miss this opportunity to see one of the greatest plays of 20th century American theater. 鈥淭wo Trains Running鈥 is Friday, March 21, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.; tickets are $47.50.

The deadline to purchase tickets is July 15, which is just two weeks away! Please note that this opportunity is a members-only benefit, so you must have a current OLLI membership at the time of purchase.

Get your tickets today! Easily register by following the directions below:

  1. to go to the OLLI registration landing page
  2. Sign into your OLLI account
  3. Click the tile on the far right
  4. Select the show(s) you want to attend and add them to your cart
  5. Proceed to check out as you normally would for other courses and events

Additionally, we will offer an OLLI course in the Winter/Spring 2025 semester featuring special guests to dive deeper into these productions. Details will be available in the course catalog for that semester, coming out in late December/early January 2025. 

Please note that by reserving tickets, you are committing to attend. If your plans change, you must call the OLLI office for a refund, which is the ticket price minus fees, before December 1, 2024.

OLLI Senior Readers Theatre

Calling All Playwrights: Our OLLI Senior Readers Theatre Needs New Scripts! 

Are you a playwright or an aspiring writer looking to see your work come to life on stage? OLLI鈥檚 Senior Readers Theatre is seeking talented individuals to submit original plays to use in their performances. This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your writing skills, engage with a passionate community of performers, and contribute to Kalamazoo鈥檚 vibrant arts culture alongside your fellow lifelong learners!

About OLLI Senior Readers Theatre: 

This Special Interest Group (SIG) consists of a troupe of OLLI members who perform short plays by reading scripts aloud that address the issues and challenges facing today鈥檚 elderly population. Because we don鈥檛 move around the stage much, our actors must convey their characters by relying on voices, gestures, and facial expressions. We perform at various senior residences to entertain and engage audiences, reminding everyone that through both the highs and the lows, we are all in the process of aging together. 

Why Submit to OLLI Senior Readers Theatre? 

  • Community Engagement: Your work will be performed by a dedicated group of senior actors who bring depth and authenticity to their roles. 
  • Artistic Development: You鈥檒l gain valuable feedback from our experienced directors and performers to help sharpen your skills and bring your writing to the next level. 
  • Visibility: Your play will increase the visibility of OLLI in the community, fostering appreciation for the organization all while contributing to the flourishing arts scene found here.  

What We Are Looking For: 

  • Genre: Open to all genres, including comedy, drama, mystery, and more. 
  • Themes: We welcome themes that resonate with our senior performers and audience, including but not limited to: personal growth, relationships, historical events, and contemporary issues. 
  • Length: Scripts should be approximately 20 to 30 minutes in duration. 
  • Cast: We encourage scripts featuring roles suitable for a senior cast, with a preference for ensembles. 
  • Format: Submissions should be written in a standard play format, including clear stage directions and character descriptions. 

How to Submit:

If you have a script you would like to submit, please follow these steps: 

  1. Prepare Your Script: Ensure it is in a standard playwriting format . You must include your contact information on the title page. 
  2. Submit Electronically: Email your script as a PDF attachment to olli.rt.wmu@gmail.com using the subject line: 鈥淥LLI Senior Readers Theatre Play Submission.鈥 
  3. Deadline: Submissions must be received by September 1. 

We look forward to reading your submissions and bringing new, compelling works to our stage! If you have any questions or need further information, please don鈥檛 hesitate to contact us at olli.rt.wmu@gmail.com

Thank you for helping us celebrate the power of storytelling and the arts! 

Travel

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The Road So Far and Where We鈥檙e Heading Next... 

A message to the many OLLI travelers who have explored near and far enjoying fun, adventure, and education over the years. Our journeys began in 2012 under the leadership of Peggy Strong and the banner of our predecessor, the WMU Life Long Learning Institute. From September 2012 through June 2014, we launched 13 trips and filled over 200 seats, taking trips to Chicago, Detroit, Cuba (with Road Scholar), and countless other local points of interest. 

In August 2014, WMU officially became a part of the national Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes network and partnered with AAA of Omaha to manage the travel contracts, payments, and registration duties associated with trips that our Travel Committee planned. 

Over the course of the next five years, OLLI members participated in 62 trips with over 2,000 seats filled! Ten trips were fully planned for 2020, all of which were unfortunately cancelled due to Covid. However, your ever hard-working Travel Committee jumped back into action by planning five trips beginning in June 2022, followed by another two trips in 2023 as membership in our lifelong learning community began growing again, filling another 228 seats! 

That brings us to today. At the end of December, our OLLI learned that WMU had not renewed their travel contract with AAA but had instead selected a new vendor called Collegiate Travel Partners. Unfortunately, despite several meetings indicating they would work with us, they were ultimately unable to take on this partnership to help OLLI continue building the momentum and provide a growing number of Travel opportunities. We are continuing to work with Toni and WMU to find a company who can fulfill the essential role that AAA played in the success of OLLI Travel as it related to day trips and short regional discoveries. However, we are delighted to offer our OLLI members a variety of extended travel opportunities through Premier World Discovery; visit our OLLI Travel website to learn all of the details about these unique and exciting opportunities! 

We on the Travel Committee miss the fun and adventures we shared with all of you over the years so very much and sincerely hope that we can make a triumphant return to offering the diversity and frequency of trips you鈥檝e come to expect and enjoy.

Volunteering

Highlighting OLLI Volunteer Dr. John Geisler 

Dr. John Geisler has been a volunteer instructor for and valuable part of our lifelong learning community for many years. He has co-chaired OLLI鈥檚 Curriculum Committee and still serves on that team. As an excellent example of an avid knowledge-seeker, John has been an educator or a student since he was five years old. After many busy years as teacher, coach, counselor, and professor, John retired from a distinguished career in 2004 and immediately enrolled in classes at KVCC to explore areas outside his areas of expertise. 

Delving into new fields, especially history, led him to fresh pursuits, such as becoming a volunteer instructor for OLLI. John has always preferred a casual teaching style, with a maximum of preparation and a minimum of notes. Adapting his unique style for our OLLI learners, all while teaching in new disciplines, requires a depth of study鈥攂ut he thrives on the challenge. John considers volunteering for our OLLI extremely rewarding, finding intrinsic value in helping his peers enlarge their worldview, while also appreciating that being a part of our community fuels his own growth as a perpetual lifelong learner in so many ways.

 

What Members Are Saying... 

The Truth About Indian Boarding Schools with Robert Weir: 

鈥淭he testimonies of the four students from Indian Boarding Schools was an important part of the three-hour program. This is an outstanding program, which could be repeated another year to help spread information about the injustices to children and families affected by the Indian Boarding Schools, run by the U.S. government, about 1880-1970.鈥 

鈥淭he four panelists told their childhood experiences very powerfully. The facilitator was a very respectful ally for them.鈥 

Learning to Play P茅tanque with Stanley Sackett & Martha Beverly: 

鈥淚 loved learning about a new sport that was easy to play.鈥 

Wine 101 with Charlie Olszewski: 

鈥淭he instructor clearly knows wine and was most thorough.鈥

Wellness Moment

Milo of Croton: Mythology鈥檚 Original Weightlifter and the Important Lesson He Taught Us

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Tyler Norman, Ph.D.
Manager of Corporate Outreach
ACSM Exercise Physiologist
NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist
West Hills Athletic Club, WMU

I recently conducted a fitness consultation with Margie, a retired professor whose area of expertise is the Roman Empire.鈥疻hen I tried to impress her with my knowledge of鈥疢ilo, mythology's original weightlifter, she corrected me in letting me know that he was a real man! So, in honor of Milo, I decided to revisit his legendary story, and the lessons he taught us.鈥 

Milo of Croton, who originated from southern Italy, was a Greek wrestler believed to be the strongest person who has ever lived on Earth. Approximately 2,500 years ago, Milo discovered an abandoned newborn calf near his home and decided to take the calf home to raise. To train for wrestling, he would place the calf on his shoulders and walk one time around his property. He did this every day, and according to the myth, four years later he was carrying a full-grown, 2,000 lb. bull on his shoulders! Considering the current world record for a squat is approximately 1,200 lbs., you can deduce for yourself the likelihood of Milo鈥檚 myth being an exaggeration. 

Regardless of the exaggeration, Milo taught us some valuable lessons that are still as relevant and applicable today as ever. First, progression in exercise is important. He started with a lighter load and gradually increased his load over time, giving his body a chance to adapt to the progressively increasing load. We have discussed how the body responds to this type of stress, which is to increase muscle mass and bone density, also known as muscle adaptation. Secondly, Milo taught us the value and importance of perseverance in exercise. Just like any discipline, exercise requires continuity to produce optimum results. When you combine the progression aspect with the perseverance aspect, you get the 鈥淧rogressive Overload Principle.鈥 

The 鈥淧rogressive Overload Principle鈥 is a very important training principle that is used by strength coaches, personal trainers, athletes, and millions of fitness enthusiasts around the world. In its simplest form, this principle describes how a gradual increase of weight, frequency, and volume in strength training forces the musculoskeletal system to adapt. As previously mentioned, the way it adapts is by getting stronger, and data shows us that this phenomenon can occur at any age. published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine if you are a data nerd like me. In my opinion, the prime takeaway is that 鈥渢wo decades of age-associated loss of strength and muscle mass can be regained in two months of resistance training.鈥 

I decided to share the story of Milo to illustrate the importance of weightlifting for vitality. As we embark on the summer, I challenge OLLI members and friends to approach their physical well-being with renewed motivation to be strong and to live with VITALITY! Immunity health is believed by industry professionals like myself to continue to be one of the top fitness trends of 2024 for obvious reasons (we all remember the lessons Covid taught us). The best first step in taking your vitality seriously is to start an exercise program or progress your current one, like Milo.  

I will conclude by adding that the myth of Milo also included the consumption of 20 lbs. of red meat and 20 lbs. of bread, plus 10 liters of wine鈥攏ot per month, but per day! For the record, I do not recommend that.

Kalamazoo Literacy Council

Calling All Word Wizards鈥擨t鈥檚 Your Time to Shine!

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Join us for the 13th Annual Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest, a fun-filled event that supports the free programs and services provided by the Kalamazoo Literacy Council. Scrabble Fest happens on Saturday, August 10, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo. This year promises to be even more special as the KLC continues to celebrate 50 years of empowering adults to reach their full potential. 

Gather your friends, family, and coworkers for a day of friendly competition, wordplay, and camaraderie. Whether you're a seasoned Scrabble player or just looking to have a good time, Scrabble Fest is a great way to give back to your community and help your neighbors reach their full potential through access to literacy and language services鈥攑lus, you have the chance to win big prizes, or even a Scrabble Fest trophy! 

Tickets are now on sale for $25; the . A commemorative t-shirt, delicious hors d'oeuvres, and gaming materials are all included with each individual ticket, plus parking is free and a cash bar is available! All proceeds from the Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest will benefit adult literacy programs in our community, so your participation will make an immediate and meaningful impact. 

We hope to see you there! Questions? Call Kito at (269) 382-0490 ext. 211 or reach out via email at @email.

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What is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute?

The program was initiated under the auspices of the WMU Emeriti Council and WMUx. OLLI offers intellectually lively and culturally appealing learning experiences. We accomplish this by focusing on intellectual stimulation, personal growth, social engagement and enrichment.  Read more

What do we do?

We offer short courses for one to four weeks. Sessions are usually two hours long. Travel programs are also a part of our offerings. There are no tests and no required homework, just exploring lots of interesting topics.

In the near future we will offer courses in different formats -- noon hour discussions, several sessions in one week, and more evening courses. OLLI courses and activities are developed and produced by its members with the support of the staff of WMUx.

We need your ideas for course topics and instructors. Let us know your suggestions. Call the OLLI office at (269) 387-4157 or send an email. The curriculum committee will review all suggestions.

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