Director's Note
Director's Note & Curriculum
Starting Fall with a Bang!
Our Curriculum Team has outdone themselves—this fall’s lineup of classes is one of our best yet! A big thank-you to everyone who has already registered. We appreciate your patience during the busy opening days of registration, and we’re thrilled to see such strong enthusiasm for the semester ahead.
Beyond our exceptional courses, we’re bringing in two remarkable presenters you won’t want to miss:
Irshad Manji Founder of the Moral Courage Project Join us on September 9th for an engaging, interactive session with Irshad Manji. She’ll share insights on Moral Courage and why it matters at every stage of life. Space is limited—register here: https://moralcourage.eventbrite.com
Sky Bergman Award-winning filmmaker and author On September 18, we’ll premiere Sky’s new film, The Jollytologist®. After the screening, Sky will join us virtually for a lively Q&A. Want a sneak peek? Enjoy this teaser: THE JOLLYTOLOGIST®
This event is free and open to the community, thanks to the Kalamazoo Community Foundation. Seating is limited, so be sure to register: OLLI at WMU Course Catalog
In This Issue
- Director's Note
- Curriculum
- Events
- Membership & Marketing
- Wellness Moment
- WMU Staff Exhibits
Events
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
NEW – SOCIAL EVENT!
The Events Team heard you loud and clear! We’re planning more opportunities to gather, laugh, connect and have fun—whether you’re catching up with old friends or making new ones. Be sure to register here and not miss out on the Cider and Donuts.
CIDER and DONUTS
A DELIGHTFUL FARM AFTERNOON!
OLLI Members — Come Join the Fun!
Leave the city behind and join your OLLI friends for a fun, relaxed afternoon on a farm! Register here (please insert link) by September 21st so you don’t miss out on the fun.
Seating at picnic tables may be limited, so we encourage you to bring your own camp chair.
Visit Schultz Fruitridge Farms, 60139 Co Rd 652, Mattawan, MI 49071
September 24 from 1:00PM to 3:00PM
HOW TO GET THERE:
Take I-94 to Mattawan, exit 66. Enter the roundabout and go around, exiting past the Shell Station on your right. Go straight through Mattawan, over a railroad bridge, up a hill, and down again...the farm is on the left past the intersection at the bottom of the hill.
OR
You can take Centre Street all the way, through Texas Township where it becomes West Q Avenue and then 60th Street in Van Buren County. At the first stop sign you come upon after Texas Township, you will see the Schultz Fruitridge Farm sign. Turn left up the hill and turn left again into their drive where you will be directed to a parking spot.
FOR SALE, FRESH FROM THE FARM:
Stop by the Donut Depot for
🍩 Fresh-made donuts
🍎 Fresh apple cider
☕ Coffee
And don't miss the FARM MARKET, featuring an abundance of fresh apples and produce, plus delicious frozen treats—including pies and cider!
COME FOR THE CIDER… STAY FOR THE COMPANY!
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the farm, indulge in some delicious refreshments, and—most importantly—spend a delightful afternoon with your OLLI friends!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
OLLI ANNUAL MEETING
Wednesday, November 11, 1:00–3:00 p.m. at People’s Church
A VERY SPECIAL AFTERNOON OF CELEBRATION!
This year’s Annual Meeting falls on Veterans Day, giving us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our 250th Birthday while honoring the veterans who have served our country.
Come enjoy refreshments, friendship and camaraderie—and bring your friends and relatives to share in this special OLLI occasion!
BRING A DONATION FOR ONE OR BOTH
Bring a non-perishable food item for the WMU food pantry to help students in need. Nonperishable items should be in their original, unopened, and unexpired packaging.
Bring office supplies for the Literacy Council to help students learn and tutors teach. You can find a list of needs at https://kalamazooliteracy.org/endowment/#DonateMaterials
THE STATE OF OLLI
Dr. Toni Woolfork-Barnes will bring us up to date on OLLI’s exciting growth. Our latest membership number is an impressive 460 members—and rising!
This year’s reorganization under VP Jeff Breneman, along with our move to Walwood Hall, has proven tremendously beneficial to OLLI and gives us even more reason to celebrate.
FEATURED PRESENTATION: EMBRACING OUR MORTALITY
Sue Caulfield, an end-of-life doula and frequent OLLI instructor, will share her thoughtful and important perspective:
“I will speak on embracing our mortality and engaging in planning for dying and death in a way that respects our choices and our dignity.”
If you haven’t yet taken one of Sue’s classes, you’ll find her presentation both thought-provoking and informative. If you have, Sue will reinforce the importance of being prepared and making choices that reflect your wishes.
PLEASE REGISTER!
Be sure to sign in and register online under “SIGS and Events” to attend the Annual Meeting. And please include any friends or relatives you are bringing. Instructions for registering appear at the bottom of the registration page. If you have trouble, call the office. SIGs and Events
Why is registration so important? At the Taste of OLLI, 50 people attended who either had not registered or thought they had completed registration. An unexpected turnout like that makes it difficult to plan adequately for refreshments.
Membership & Marketing
500 and Growing!
Thank you to everyone who has renewed their membership or joined OLLI for the first time! Your support is helping us move steadily toward our goal of 500 members. At the time of this writing, we are just 40 members away from reaching that milestone.
You can help us get there by encouraging your friends, family members, and neighbors to discover all that OLLI has to offer. Remember, an OLLI membership also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who enjoys lifelong learning, meaningful connections, and new experiences.
Together, we can reach 500 members and continue growing our vibrant OLLI community as we work toward our short-term strategic goal of 600 members. Every new member strengthens our community and helps ensure a bright future for OLLI.
Wellness Moment
"No Bones About It- GLP-1s and Osteoporosis"
Written by Tyler Norman, Ph.D.,
ACSM Exercise Physiologist, NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist, and Manager of Corporate Outreach at West Hills Athletic Club, WMU
I recently read a startling fact. 1 in 8 adults in the U.S are on a GLP-1 appetite suppressant. It occurs to me that probably 10% or more of the OLLI newsletter subscribers are using it. It’s the hottest topic in the health arena, and it has transformed the weight management industry, literally and figuratively. If 1 in 8 are on it, that means that you know someone or are related to someone using it, so please pass this info along. I’ve been in the fitness industry since 1986 when I was an instructor at Chicago Health Club, and I’ve never seen a more transformative drug or supplement in that time than the GLP-1's. I have written in previous articles that I am not at all opposed to the use of GLP-1's as they have been shown to have a positive effect on numerous health concerns other than weight management such as improved cholesterol, blood pressure, insulin absorption, and even alcoholism.
In the 80’s it was Dexatrim, in the 90’s it was Hydoxycut, in the 2000’s it was Ephedra, and now it's the GLP-1. Until now, it’s been a stimulant as the main ingredient for an appetite suppressant. The way a GLP-1 works, which is to slow down the digestive and metabolic process, goes against everything they teach us in exercise science classes. The fact of the case is that the published data shows that as much as 60% of the weight loss in GLP-1 users is coming from muscle. Why? Regardless of the appetite suppressant, if you create too dramatic a caloric deficit your body will respond by slowing the metabolic process, like a bear in hibernation, in an attempt to protect all things vital for survival. This includes organs, blood, and fat. It does not include muscle and bone, as they aren't essential to survival. This is an example of Homeostasis, or the body’s intrinsic desire to regulate itself to accommodate its environment. So, to be clear, if you create too dramatic a caloric deficit, your body will PROTECT THE FAT AND CHOOSE MUSCLE TO BURN FOR ENERGY. So, the user disintegrates as much as 60% of the vital, calorie burning, metabolic motor (pubmed, 2024). This serves effective at slowing down the metabolism, making the body a LESS efficient calorie burning machine, pre-disposing the user to gain the weight back, plus more, which is exactly where the yo-yo syndrome comes from. As an exercise physiologist, I AM opposed to muscle wasting, or sarcopenia as discussed in previous articles. Why? Muscle equals metabolism, muscle equals vitality, muscle equals physical independence, and muscle fights chronic disease.
It has been well documented and discussed that it is imperative to use resistance training and consume an adequate amount of protein to protect your muscle. This leads us to the newest concern for GLP-1 users, osteoporosis. A study that was published in March describes the significant increase in osteoporosis in GLP-1 users when compared to a control group, as data from 5 and 10-year follow up is now available (AAOS, 2026). Why? The answer is homeostasis. Why does the doctor tell us to do weight-bearing exercises to prevent osteoporosis? If you build muscular strength, your bones will have to adapt to their environment by INCREASING in density, another example of homeostasis. The same is true the other way, if you disintegrate 60% of your muscle, the bones adapt by reducing bone density, thereby increasing the risk of osteoporosis. Did you ever notice the difference in the physique of a marathon runner compared to a sprinter? It’s not a coincidence, it’s homeostasis. For the marathon runner, homeostasis perceives all weight as negative and sheds muscle bone and fat without preference. If you’re a Diabetic, or pre-Diabetic, you should be on this drug, and a weightlifting program, and protein regimen. The alternative is to be skinny, fatigued, and frail, which presents a whole new array of issues, but that’s another article. Use the links below to learn more.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38937282/
Happy September!
Community Connections
“Cathy Colella Presents Her Art at the
Portage District Library”
Our fellow team member and new OLLI Instructor, Cathy Colella, is currently displaying her beautiful array of paintings at the Portage District Library, now through September 30th. With over 15 paintings, her works explore nature, leading observers immersed in fields of flowers, along the coast of Lake Michigan, and under cherry blossoms.
Cathy Igea Colella is a contemporary abstract artist with over 25 years of experience creating work that explores calm, emotion, and inner landscapes through shape, color, and line. She will also be teaching, “Let the Water Lead: A 3-Part Expressive Watercolor Journey” with OLLI this Fall on October 15ththrough October 29th. Where students will explore intuitive painting techniques that focus on expression over perfection.
We are beyond grateful for her dedication to lifelong learning, and we encourage our OLLI members to check out her works at the Portage District Library, 300 Library Ln, Portage, MI 49002. You can find more information here: Bluefield Studio Visual Art and Healing
“There is Nothing New Under the Sun”
Madison Watland - Artist
Congratulations to our very own Madison Watland who was selected to showcase her most recent artwork ("There is Nothing New Under the Sun") as part of this year’s prestigious ArtPrize. This art piece will be hosted by City Life Church, at 574 Division Ave S, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. From September 13th - October 4th.
ArtPrize is an international art competition and cultural festival held annually in Grand Rapids, Michigan—a celebration of ideas, conversations, experimentation, and inclusiveness. ArtPrize begins September 18th - October 3rd and you can find more information here: ArtPrize
Make sure to visit City Life Church to see Madison’s art piece. She has worked tirelessly getting it ready. What a major accomplishment.
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.