Director's Note
Together We Did It!
Although Giving Day 2026 has ended, I want to once again thank everyone (OLLI members and friends of OLLI) who participated for their thoughtfulness and generosity. Without you, we would not have raised $5,130 in just 24 hours. Below are images that were posted on the University’s Giving Day page. Collectively across the University, we helped raise more than $4,000,000 for WMU.
All Fishing Isn’t Good Phishing
Written by Madison Watland
Phishing emails are becoming increasingly common, especially targeting older adults in our community.
Phishing scams are fraudulent attempts to trick individuals into sharing personal information or sending money by pretending to be a trusted person or organization. Scammers often use email messages that look legitimate, sometimes copying the names, language, or tone of someone you know, to gain your confidence and to create a sense of urgency.
These messages may appear to come from someone you know, often asking if they’ve reached you at the right email address. After gaining your trust, the sender might claim they are unable to talk on the phone or are dealing with an illness and then ask you to help by purchasing and sending gift cards. Please be cautious this is a common scam and with the help of AI, scammers can make an email message or email address look nearly identical to one that is legitimate. Never buy or send gift cards in response to an email request. If you receive a suspicious message from a friend or family member, call them directly using a trusted phone number to confirm it’s really them. If you believe you have already responded to a phishing email or sent money, contact the gift card company or your financial institution immediately to try to dispute the transaction. Staying alert and verifying requests can help protect you and others from these scams.
Key Warning Signs
· Mismatched Domains: The sender's email address does not match the official company domain
· Urgent Threats: Claims that your account will be deactivated or suspended if you do not act immediately.
· Generic Greetings: Uses phrases like "Dear Customer" instead of your name.
· Suspicious Attachments: Unexpected files that could contain malware.
Steps to Take
· Never click on email links asking you to login to a site to change or verify information. Instead, type the site address in your web browser and update the information there.
· Hover, Don't Click: Before clicking a link, hover your mouse over it to see the actual URL that appears.
· Verify Independently: If you receive an urgent request, log in to the official account directly or call the company via a verified number.
· Report and Delete: Use the "Report Spam" or "Report Phishing" button in your email client, then delete the message immediately.
· Enable MFA: Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on all important accounts to provide an extra layer of security.
In This Issue
Curriculum
Craft Brewing: History, Beers and Tasting
“Longtime brewer Mike Babb (and now an OLLI instructor) of One Well Brewing kicked off a two-week class in craft beer, complete with six tastings!”
Thanks to both Linda Babb and Sharon Wherry for the photos they captured during the class, see below.
Events
Save the Dates—You Won’t Want to Miss These!
The Events Committee has two special gatherings coming your way—mark your calendars now!
OLLI Open House at Walwood Hall. Join us on Thursday, June 18, beginning at 12:30 with a short program starting at 1:00 PM (which will include Volunteer Recognition) followed by a relaxed afternoon of conversation and refreshments until 4:00 PM. Come reconnect with friends, meet new ones, and explore OLLI’s new home at Walwood Hall - 741 Oakland Drive.
Located on East Campus off Oakland Drive, Walwood Hall is easy to find—just follow the drive and take the right fork (if heading North) into the parking lot. The address is 741 Oakland Dr. Walwood shares a parking lot with Heritage Hall. Walwood will be the building to your right.
Taste of OLLI You asked, and we listened! This year’s Taste of OLLI will take place before Fall registration. Join us on Wednesday, July 22 at the Fetzer Center for this always-popular event.
Check-in opens at 8:00 AM with continental breakfast refreshments, and the program runs from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Come for the learning, stay for the camaraderie—we look forward to seeing you at both events!
Shared Interest Group
Join Us for Virtual Happy Hour!
All OLLI members are invited to the next Virtual Happy Hour on May 14 at 4:00. It will be a time to reminisce about what kind of things we did as kids and what was popular growing up in the 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's. You can sign up via the OLLI website or contact the convener, Judy Sivak via email, @email. A Zoom link will be sent a few days before the Happy Hour date. CHEERS!
Wellness Moment
Functional Training: The Hottest Trend in the Fitness Industry that was Invented by Baby Boomers
Written by Tyler Norman, Ph.D.,
ACSM Exercise Physiologist, NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist, and Manager of Corporate Outreach at West Hills Athletic Club, WMU
The modern retiree has a different definition of retirement than the “Greatest Generation’s” definition. I remember my Grandfather Harold playing a little golf, and doing a little woodworking in the shop, but beyond that he spent most of his time sitting. My baby boomer client’s today want to be able to go kayaking, hike the Appalachian trail, go tubing with their grandchildren, and be able to garden, without pain, until they are dead. Is there a workout for that? Yes, and it was invented by baby boomers – FUNCTIONAL TRAINING. There are certain forms of exercise that can improve your sports performance known as sport-specific training. Functional training is a form of exercise to improve your performance in life. The day-to-day physical demands of whatever activity you enjoy can be performed with a lower degree of effort with this popular form of exercise. “Necessity is the mother of invention” comes to mind. The fitness industry had to adapt to the growing population of baby boomer clients with these radical new goals. I had a 77-year-old client that likes to go deer hunting and needed to incorporate a workout that allowed him to climb trees and haul hundreds of pounds out of the woods. Functional training was the answer.
A quick google search will lead you to countless articles, videos, and blogs. The basic philosophy is to try to replicate the random physical circumstances we deal with on a day-to-day basis and then add other forms of stress. In doing so, you have prepared the body to perform the given task with a greater stress than is generally called for, making the task seem easier. The generally accepted nucleus of functional training includes squats, lunges, deadlifts, pushing and pulling. Example: Imagine the physical demand of starting your lawnmower. The function includes a pulling motion on an unbalanced plane and perhaps an uneven surface. This function can be replicated by standing on one leg, bending over and rowing a dumbbell – a move commonly known as a one-legged dumbbell row. There are countless examples, but you get the idea. There are many variations of functional training that can be incorporated to ensure variety and results. Many of the exercises will remind you of some of the old school exercises you may have done in your high school P.E. class like the medicine ball, tug-of-war, jump rope, and sledgehammer workouts that left us drenched in sweat. A professional trainer will of course, adapt the intensity of the workouts to your current fitness levels, and limitations which usually include some sort of orthopedic consideration. Aside from the ease at which you will do day to day activities, other benefits include improved balance, posture, muscular strength, mobility (range of motion), quality of sleep, and overall health. The side effect of those benefits includes improved self-esteem and VITALITY!
In any case, if you’ve noticed your slowing down as you age, or having a harder time performing the day-to-day activities your used to doing, functional training can help. If you are just beginning any exercise program or planning to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, you should consult with a certified fitness professional.
What is the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute?
The program was initiated under the auspices of the WMU Emeriti Council and EUP, but now currently resides within the office of Government Relations and External Partnerships. 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 Government Relations and External Partnerships.
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.