Director's Note
Giving Day 2025 is Almost Here!
Please mark your calendars and set your clocks—WMU's Giving Day 2025 is almost here! On April 16, for one day beginning at midnight until 11:59 p.m., we're putting our best fundraising feet forward to show how much we care about our beloved lifelong learning community. In support of OLLI’s 10th anniversary, you might consider giving in increments of $10. We, alongside our OLLI Giving Day Champions, invite all OLLI members and community allies to join us in donating on April 16.
This year, several OLLI Leadership Team and Committee Volunteers are actively fundraising on behalf of our organization as OLLI Champions. If you are part of their personal networks, you may receive an invitation asking you to help them reach our Giving Day fundraising goal. If you do not receive an email, no worries, please still consider lending a hand.
The easiest way is to give online, and we will share our OLLI Giving Day direct donation link as we get closer to April 16. While we encourage you to make your gift online, you can also mail checks made out to the WMU Foundation (include OLLI at WMU Giving Day in the memo line) or call the WMU Alumni Association at (269) 387-8700. Checks must be received before 5 p.m. on April 16 to count toward Giving Day 2025.
Our mailing address is:
WMU Foundation
Attn: Gift Processing
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-5403
Thank you for all that you do to support OLLI at WMU!
Sincerely,
Toni Woolfork-Barnes, Ed.D.
Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WMU
A Life Well Lived - Kalamazoo
What An Amazing Event!
March 15 was the last event associated with the collaborative community project “A Life Well Lived – Kalamazoo.” The project began in October 2024 with a showing of the documentary film “Lives Well Lived,” produced by Sky Bergman. Between October 2024 and March 2025, our OLLI joined forces with WMU’s Center for the Study of Ethics in Society and the Kalamazoo Lyceum to host eight separate events, including a film screening, book clubs, community conversations, an OLLI Photovoice course and gallery exhibit, and a showcase of films produced by WMU students. Across all of the events, over 400 community participants were in attendance, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
On behalf of the collaborating partners and exhibitors, we thank you for helping to make “A Life Well Lived – Kalamazoo” an incredibly successful venture, and we offer our deepest gratitude. Below are some of the pictures from the March 15th event—enjoy!
Curriculum
Are You Still Looking to Register for Courses?
Below are some courses that might be of interest:
- Refugee Workforce Integration: Building Community Support
- Rohullah Wahidi; Tues. 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 10 a.m. to Noon. CHHS Room 1057
- Making Life Histories Come Alive: Learning to do Oral Histories
- Donna Odom; Thurs. 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Goodwill SWMI
- WMU's Werner Sichel Lecture Series: Refugees and Asylees
- Susan Pozo; Thurs. 4/17, 4 to 5:30 p.m. CHHS Room 1057
- Pétanque, an Outdoor Game to Enjoy
- Martha Beverly & Stan Sackett; Mon. 4/28, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. KVCC Main Campus
- Live Performance of Music from the Civil War, Reconstruction Period, and Minstrel Era
- Howard Steiner & Band; Fri. 5/2, 3 to 5 p.m. PZSC Community Room West
Also, if you are registered for Lofty Durham’s course, “Behind the Scenes of ‘The Book of Silence’: Transforming a Medieval Romance into a Modern Performance,” you may want to take a moment to purchase your ticket to the play as well. Lofty is encouraging students in his course to attend the performance on Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m. If you are available to join us, you can save your seat at the following link: The Book of Silence | Western Michigan University.
Volunteering
Thank you, Carol Hodges, for Many Years of Teaching for OLLI!
We are delighted to highlight Carol for her committed involvement in OLLI at WMU, notably as an instructor, volunteer Advisory Board member, and active member. Thank you, Carol, for all that you give to our lifelong learning community—we are better for it! From your wonderful class experiences on various topics to serving as a part of OLLI’s Leadership Team, we are grateful for your presence and participation.
In the words of Carol’s peers on the OLLI Leadership Team:
"I took Carol's very popular class, ‘Jane Austen, so much more than Mr. Darcy.’ I waited for over two years to get into the class, because it was always full before I could register for it. When I took the first session it was immediately clear to me why the class was so popular, Carol's enthusiasm and her ability to get everyone actively involved in the class, along with her great sense of humor, just made you want more and more.”
—Gillian Stoltman
“I recall Carol’s helpful service on the Advisory Board—two terms I think—and the outstanding course she taught on tectonic plate theory. I so enjoy taking courses about topics I know little about, and that one was great! Carol’s teaching style was interactive. I remember her enlisting us to participate in group exercises that were very engaging. I regret I never took her Jane Austin course. As an English major, I thought I was familiar with Austin’s work. But I heard many folks say they gained a lot of new information.”
—Mary Doud
In the words of participants in Carol’s classes:
“I enjoyed my first OLLI class very much, and I am excited about taking more courses.”
“Carol is an outstanding instructor!”
“The instructor's enthusiasm and energy level was infectious. The content went along with the instructor's past history of being in Oxford and added an extra dimension to the course.”
“The instructor was knowledgeable and well-prepared to share her enthusiasm for the topic.”
“Carol’s lively conversation style encouraged discussion!”
Events
The topic of focus at the Events Team’s meeting on March 10 was planning for OLLI at WMU’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration, which will be held at our annual Taste of OLLI event this summer. Instead of inviting a keynote speaker, we have been considering showcasing all that our lifelong learning community has done over the last ten years with an ongoing slide presentation and video. A venue and date have yet to be determined—so make sure you continue to read this monthly newsletter for the latest updates. As always, Taste of OLLI is open to the public, and members are encouraged to invite friends. The more the merrier!
Shannon's Hitting the Stage at Farmers Alley Theatre!
Come out to support live theatre and cheer on our very own OLLI Team member, Shannon Huneryager, during her performance in the upcoming production of “A Jukebox for the Algonquin” from April 3rd through the 20th!
At a senior living community in the Adirondack region of upstate New York, a small group of residents decide they’re not quite ready to go “gentle into that good night.” This band of displaced former city dwellers from Brooklyn and The Bronx devise a plot to prove that “old” is not a New York state of mind. Encore Michigan writes, “JUKEBOX sparkles…a classically structured, beautifully written play.”
Don’t just take their word for it—see this compelling performance for yourself! Seats are selling out quickly, so call (269) 343-2727 to purchase your tickets today!
Wellness Moment
“Leaky Water Bags”
Manager of Corporate Outreach
ACSM Exercise Physiologist
NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist
West Hills Athletic Club, WMU
Happy spring! I’ve got clients telling me that the yardwork has already begun. I wouldn’t know about that since I’m in a condo (ha ha). For my readers that do have yardwork to do, and many other outdoor activities that we haven’t done in months, this is a friendly reminder to stay hydrated! At an American College of Sports Medicine conference a few years ago, I attended a lecture entitled “Leaky Water Bags.” The reference was, of course, to the human body, being that we are made up of more than 60% water and that we lose an average of 80 ounces of water daily through normal activity. For retiree aged individuals, the risk of dehydration is increased, and can have potentially much more serious consequences compared to younger individuals. Additionally, dehydration is one of the biggest culprits for hospital visits for people over the age of 65.
Symptoms of dehydration can include dizziness, dry skin, rapid heartbeat, rapid breathing, and fainting. With advancing years, seniors can have a diminished sense of thirst and tend to not drink enough water to maintain optimal well-being. The health benefits of optimal hydration make it worth the effort, so here’s my attempt at getting the “buy in.”
First, metabolism, or the rate at which our bodies use calories, is maximized with proper hydration. Second, optimal hydration will boost nutrient absorption and gives us more “bang for our buck” from the calories we are consuming. Third, proper hydration will improve the elasticity of the skin, preventing or reducing wrinkles. Fourth, consuming enough water will send a message to the body that you’re not in a desert, which reduces water retention, leading to reduced body circumferences! Finally, it helps with the feeling of satiety, which is helpful in preventing overeating.
- Question: how much water should I drink?
- Answer: 2/3 of an ounce per pound of bodyweight per day.
- Example: a 150 lb individual should be consuming 100 oz per day.
- Caveat: Alcohol and caffeine can be counterproductive to optimal hydration, so add an ounce of water to your daily total for every ounce of alcohol or caffeine ingested.
Happy drinking!
Kalamazoo Literacy Council
Call to Action: Volunteer as a Digital Skills Class Assistant!
Are you passionate about empowering others through education? The Kalamazoo Literacy Council is seeking enthusiastic volunteers to assist with our Digital Skills Level 1 or Level 2 classes. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in your community by helping adults improve their basic digital literacy skills. These learners are working on things like using a mouse, typing, sending email, and using Google. The Class Assistant will help them as they work on lessons provided by the instructor. No previous teaching experience is necessary to lend a hand!
What we're looking for:
- Volunteers who are comfortable with basic computer skills and using the Internet.
- A commitment to supporting learners of all backgrounds and ages.
- An eagerness to inspire and foster a love of learning!
Why volunteer?
- Share your knowledge and experience with those willing to learn.
- Help individuals gain confidence in their tech skills, opening doors to new opportunities.
- Support the KLC, the only local nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that Kalamazoo becomes a fully literate community.
How to join:
If you’re interested in becoming a Digital Skills Class Assistant, please contact Abbey at aweathers@kalamazooliteracy.org or (269) 382-0490 ext. 219. Classes are on Tuesdays from 2 to 3 p.m. or on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 420 E. Alcott St. in Kalamazoo. To learn more about the KLC's free literacy services, please visit kalamazooliteracy.org. Your time and talents can truly help change someone's life!
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.