Director's Note
Returning and New Members—It’s Time to Renew Your Membership!
OLLI at WMU's membership year runs from July 1 to June 30, so, unless you renewed when registering for summer classes, your membership will expire at the end of this month. Don’t worry—renewing is easy! Just go to our website or you can call the OLLI office at (269) 387-4157.
Your membership renewal helps protect OLLI's future and sustainability. For the current program year, we welcomed a little over 500 members; our goal moving into the next is to grow our lifelong learning community to at least 600 or more returning and new members. Can you help us achieve this milestone?
Plus, everyone who secures their OLLI membership before Monday, June 30th will be entered into a raffle to win a pair of Miller Auditorium tickets for this upcoming season! Get your membership before the end of this month and you could be one of five lucky winners!
Together in lifelong learning,
Toni Woolfork-Barnes, Ed.D.
Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WMU
In this issue:
Curriculum
Reminder—You Have to be Registered…
We know that it’s easy to show up for an OLLI course with the hope that space will be available for you to join on the fly. Although we would love to include every person who wants to drop in on an exciting lifelong learning opportunity that piques one’s curiosity, sometimes it’s not possible because the class is full.
Please remember that:
- We want to be respectful of the registration process. You are to attend only the courses that you have registered for; please do not just show up for a course that you have not signed up for beforehand.
- Decisions about course sizes are based on space limitations and the number of students instructors have indicated they can accommodate.
- For some courses there may be a waitlist. If space becomes available, OLLI members will then have the opportunity to register for that course; you will be notified by receiving a call based on where you are on the waitlist. If there are open seats in a course for which you are already registered, you can bring a friend, but you must call the office first so Madison can check if there is room and get them signed up if possible.
- Your name must appear on the class roster if you are registered for an OLLI course. If you happen to register late for a course, to make it easy on you and the liaison, please bring a copy of your course confirmation email with you to class.
- Thank you for helping us to make the lifelong learning experience as positive as we can for everyone!
Events
Get Ready for Our Tenth Anniversary!
Join us at “A Taste of OLLI” on Wednesday, August 20, as we celebrate OLLI at WMU’s 10th anniversary with a morning of memories, camaraderie, and a delicious continental breakfast buffet!
Why you don’t want to miss A Taste of OLLI this year:
- Slideshow Spectacular – Relive a decade of lifelong learning and laughter through highlights captured over the last 10 years.
- Video Retrospective – Enjoy a specially curated film showcasing our community’s beginnings, member stories, and milestone moments.
- VIP Guests in Attendance – Connect with OLLI’s founders, campus and community leaders, and special friends who have shaped our journey.
Mark your calendars for Wednesday, August 20, and get ready to join us at the Fetzer Center. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the program starts promptly at 9 a.m.
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS—EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO JOIN THE PARTY!
Osher National Conference in Chantilly, Virginia
We Won an Award!
Our OLLI at WMU Team Member Shannon Huneryager and dedicated Volunteer Barbara Sagara attended the Osher National Conference just outside of Washington D.C. the last week of April. This whirlwind of learning, networking, and deep conversations about all things OLLI occurs every 18 months and is managed by the Osher National Resource Center. There, Barb and Shannon had a chance to connect with fellow lifelong learners from the other three Michigan OLLIs—Aquinas College, Saginaw Valley State University, and University of Michigan. Running from April 28-30, the conference focuses on the current state of OLLIs from all across the country, hosts learning sessions and keynotes on a variety of topics from volunteering to community collaborations, and facilitates engaging discussions centered around the current Higher Education landscape. There were around 250 individuals in attendance representing all 124 OLLI chapters, including Mr. Bernard Osher himself.
And…our OLLI at WMU won award! The “WooHoo” award recognizes extra-special programming. Each OLLI nationwide shares a program highlight from the 2023-2024 program year and the whole assembly votes for their favorite. Toni submitted the Seniors Readers Theatre SIG and their performance at Lakeland Correctional Center. We are so proud of our lifelong learning community!
Thank You, Miller Auditorium!
“Ain’t Too Proud...”
Almost 90 OLLI members attended “Ain't Too Proud—The Life and Times of the Temptations.” Prior to the start of the show, Cal Street and her son Ricky Street took some time to share their experiences as part of the Motown family with us. Ricky discussed what it was like to have famous parents as a child and grow up surrounded by the Motown community. When the performance began, OLLI members and others were seen singing along, tapping their feet, and clapping to the music—clearly enjoying this excellent production!
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Tracey Lawie (Director, Miller Auditorium) and Heather Wiggins (Box Office Assistant Manager) for helping make this opportunity available to our members. We appreciate you both and are very thankful for Miller Auditorium’s partnership with and sponsorship of OLLI at WMU!
Wellness Moment
Exercise is Medicine
Manager of Corporate Outreach
ACSM Exercise Physiologist
NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist
West Hills Athletic Club, WMU
The articles I write for OLLI are geared towards living long and living with vitality. I’ve shared with countless people over the years about the fact that my father dying at age 53 is what led me to this career. When he died of a massive coronary, my purpose became crystal clear—which was to help people like him avoid the same fate.
“Exercise is Medicine” (EIM) is a global health initiative to facilitate collaboration between the fitness industry and the medical community. The idea is to get doctors to prescribe exercise instead of medications, when possible.
Here are the ACSM guidelines for retiree-aged individuals in summary:
- At least 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise per week (30 minutes 5 days on average).
- Resistance training of moderate intensity 2 days per week consisting of 8-10 exercises of 8-12 repetitions using large muscle groups.
- Flexibility exercises 3 days per week, stretching to the point of slight discomfort, holding each stretch for 30-60 seconds. Daily stretching is ideal.
- Balance exercises should be incorporated into the resistance training and/or the stretching.
Dr. Mini Cruz-Tolentino is a “Wellness Physician,” which is a new breed of physician that has emerged largely due to the efforts of EIM. This woman is my new HERO, and this video very impactfully encapsulates the argument that strength training/resistance training is not a luxury, but a necessity. It’s a 90 second video that will change your life.
Here are 3 takeaways:
- Higher muscle mass = 30% lower risk of dying from anything
- Strength training = 42% lower risk of dementia
- Resistance training = up to 40% lower risk of hip fractures
Kalamazoo Literacy Council
Make Your Move for Literacy at Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest!
The Kalamazoo Literacy Council invites you to put your love of words to good use at the 14th annual Scrabble Fest on Saturday, August 9, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. at the Radisson Plaza Hotel! This highly anticipated event is a spirited celebration of language that raises funds to support the KLC’s free adult education services. Whether you're a Scrabble enthusiast or just enjoy being a part of a meaningful cause, your participation empowers Kalamazoo to become a more literate and connected community.
Each $25 ticket includes a t-shirt, snacks, and parking. You can play in the Just For Fun, Competitive, or Teams divisions for the chance to take home a trophy. Players can also go head-to-head in the fast-paced “Cage Match” to win great prizes.
As an OLLI member, your love of lifelong learning aligns beautifully with the mission of the KLC: helping adults gain the literacy skills they need to thrive. Join us at Kalamazoo Scrabble Fest on August 19—it’s a great time for a great cause!
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.