Director's Note
Dig Deeper into Lifelong Learning with Osher Online
In alignment with our commitment to provide course offerings that are accessible to all lifelong learners, I am excited to announce that OLLI at WMU is embarking on our second year in partnership with the Osher National Resource Center’s (NRC) Osher Online program. This collaboration provides an invaluable avenue for us to continue building a strong online curriculum, all while growing the diverse range of educational opportunities we can offer our members. With at least 15 courses and several upcoming virtual community events, there is something for everyone with Osher Online this fall!
With that said, here is how you register for these exclusive, members-only Osher Online courses:
- Login into the course registration system and sign into your account.
- Under the course icon, you will see *Osher Online Courses*.
- Click on *Osher Online Courses* and then you can start to register for courses.
- Each course offers six sessions for $90, which is only $15 per session.
- Once you are registered for the course, all communication about the course will come from the NRC staff.
- All Osher Online courses will be held over Zoom.
I also encourage you to register for the free Osher Online Community Event, “Finding Beauty at Home and Abroad: The Osher Collection of American Art,” scheduled for September 5. This webinar will feature a 60-minute presentation followed by a 20-minute Q&A discussion session. Seating is limited for this free event, and participants are asked to register on a first come, first serve basis by clicking the link here.
View the flyer for Finding Beauty at Home and Abroad
Warmly,
Toni Woolfork-Barnes, Ed.D.
Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at WMU
Curriculum
“A Life Well Lived – Kalamazoo" Collaborative Project
“Lives Well Lived” is an award-winning documentary film that celebrates the wit, wisdom, and life experiences of older Americans who are committed to living full and meaningful lives. In response to this film, ten members of our lifelong learning community will use a process called Photovoice to develop a visual narrative of their ideas, beliefs, values, aspirations, and life experiences to document what “A Life Well Lived - Kalamazoo” looks like.
Photovoice is a participant-centered photography workshop that is sometimes referred to as “pictures with a purpose.” Utilizing Photovoice concepts, we’ll explore new and creative avenues for sharing feelings and concerns about the aging process, as well as highlight your accomplishments as we celebrate what gives your life meaning, purpose, and joy. The program will culminate in an exhibition of your photographs, portraits, and written work.
In addition to the six October OLLI course sessions, workshop participants will be asked to attend a special, free viewing of the film, “Lives Well Lived,” on Saturday, October 5, at the Kalamazoo Public Library’s Van Deusen Room (3rd floor) from 1 to 4:30 p.m.
We would love to have your work included and archived as part of this incredible collaborative project! Ready to share your story with the world? Learn more and register to participate in a “Photovoice: A Life Well-Lived Kalamazoo” by clicking here.
Bring A Friend
The 2024 fall semester is underway, and we are excited about the many thought-provoking courses we have lined up! While attending your courses this fall, don’t forget to take advantage of our Bring a Friend program, which gives you the opportunity to invite those who are curious about OLLI to sit in on a course with you for free. This is a great way to introduce your friends and family to our lovely lifelong learning community and encourage them to join—so please continue to share information about OLLI with your friends who are not currently members! Remember to contact the office beforehand to let us know that you will be bringing a friend so we can know who our guests are.
Heritage Month Celebrations
Do you celebrate heritage months during the year, such as National Hispanic-Latino month (Sept 15-Oct 15), National Older Americans month (May), or National Native American month (November)? If so, we’d like to hear from you! The Curriculum Committee is creating a new series of courses in 2025 centered around heritage month celebrations to learn more about the traditions and experiences of the many cultures that make up our beautiful United States.
Events
Join Us for Good Times with OLLI on September 19!
Were you one of the 200+ people who attended Taste of OLLI? Did you meet and make friends that you would like to see again? Then you should plan on joining us for our next fun-filled event, Good Times with OLLI, at Milestone Senior Services on Thursday, September 19, from 1 to 3 p.m. This is a perfect opportunity to socialize, play games, enjoy refreshments, and share some Good Times with your fellow lifelong learners!
Thank You All Who Helped Make A Taste of OLLI a Major Success!
Coordinating off a massive annual event like A Taste of OLLI takes a village, and it starts with the Events Committee—Marylan Hightree, Joey Miller, Shirley Wise, Connie Ferguson, Karen Sandoval, Katy Steadman, Stephanie Grathwol, Babs Herman, Mary Roberts, Kelly O’Leary, Joan Gray, Ginny Spenner, and Stephanie Grathwol. They brainstorm and talk about what worked and didn’t work at the last event.
Our office staff and WMUx team make sure the emails, flyers, Facebook posts, and other communications are ready to spread the word to OLLI members and through our community outreach activities at Famer’s Markets, Expos, etc.
Then there are the countless volunteers and our heartfelt gratitude to all those who step up for the “one-time” and “special events” duties…
- Mary Doud, Marcia Watts, and Stephanie Grathwol for assembling 200 folders
- Instructors and Special Interest Group (SIG) representatives who take the time to let us know about their upcoming courses and SIGs
- Babs Herman, Shirley Wise, Mary Roberts, and Joan Gray for staffing the check-in and name tag/folder tables.
- Our Moderator/Escorts, Judy Sivik, Chris Chadderdon, Katy Steadman, and Stephanie Grathwol
- Madison Watland, Shannon Huneryager, and Toni Woolfork-Barnes for set-up the day before and take-down after the event, along with the others who stepped in to help with take-down.
- Our OLLI at WMU Senior Reader’s Theater for reminding us that getting involved helps to combat loneliness seniors sometime face.
- And to the countless others who make our events so successful!
Congratulations to the door prize winners whose names we were able to capture!
- Diann Martin – Grand Prize winner
- Dan Wherry – Miller Auditorium tickets
- Eurkres Rallings – Miller Auditorium tickets
Membership and Marketing
A New Way to Communicate with OLLI
We would like to remind you that we have a new texting feature that we hope will provide an easier way for you to stay connected with us. Opting in for text updates means you’ll receive important information and reminders to your phone. You may opt-in to our texting feature with these simple steps:
- Sign into your account: Sign in to your account (wmich.edu)
- Select “Account” at the top yellow bar
- Select “Account” at the top yellow bar
Select the box that says “Check here if you agree to receive mobile text notifications”
- Scroll down to the bottom and select the green button that says “Save Changes”
Now you will be set to receive texts from OLLI!
Congratulations to all OLLI at WMU winners!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the WMUx Marketing focus groups. All those who participated were entered into a raffle and our winner is Yvonne Payton, who won tickets to see “Two Trains Running” at Miller Auditorium.
Additionally, everyone who renewed their memberships or became new members of OLLI were also entered into a raffle; the five lucky winners are: Timothy Charron, Pamela West, Lauri Holmes, Eurkres Rallings and Hans Engelke.
We appreciate you, your involvement in our lifelong learning community, and your willing participation—and we hope you enjoy your special prizes!
A Special Shout-Out...
“Shannon’s contributions to OLLI—and especially to the OLLI Curriculum Committee—have been extraordinary. She is thorough and timely in her interactions with committee members and has made significant contributions to the OLLI and the life of this committee. I have appreciated her ‘good cheer’ and her willingness to provide leadership on one of OLLI’s most important committees.”
Wellness Moment
Secrets of Vitality Series
by Tyler Norman, Ph.D.,
ACSM Exercise Physiologist, NCFI Corporate Fitness Specialist,
and Manager of Corporate Outreach at West Hills Athletic Club, WMU
Vitality has been a common theme in my Wellness Moment series, and it occurred to me that it would be helpful to share a wide variety of perspectives on how to lead a life centered around Vitality, as well as uncover the secrets of many retiree-aged individuals that seem to have found the fountain of youth.
Introducing Bev Clarke, age 73. Bev has been a member of West Hills for six years and has impressed me time after time with her feats of fitness, strength, and endless energy. In fact, Bev contains so much energy that she sometimes feels the need to do a Tango or a Salsa dance in between exercises. She is a walking advertisement for Vitality, so I asked her to share her secrets, and here are the key takeaways…
“Nutrition is one of the most important aspects”, she says. Bev describes growing up in Jamaica, where the food they eat is generally as fresh as it can possibly be. They would eat fish that were caught from the ocean that day. The fruits and vegetables they would eat were grown in gardens and harvested before each meal. She has eight older siblings, the oldest of which is 97, and all are still alive and kicking—which Bev attributes to the healthy eating habits her family instilled in them in Jamaica.
When Bev came to the U.S., it was difficult to continue those habits, but she made the effort. She avoids red meat, will have chicken on occasion, and very rarely eats in restaurants. Bev also likes to make fresh juice with a juicer four or five days per week. Her favorite recipe includes three carrots, one small beet, one granny smith apple, and a small piece of ginger.
Balance in her workouts is paramount. Bev started doing Yoga in 1973, way before it was as popular as it is today. That, combined with her dance background, got her hooked on fitness and now she likes to experiment with all sorts of exercises. “I don’t like to be bored,” Bev explains while describing her versatility of workouts, “and I’m not afraid to try anything.” She works with a trainer twice per week for strength training, does Pilates, and enjoys stretching. “I like to maintain my flexibility,” Bev says, and finds stretching in the morning “invigorating.”
Additionally, Bev says maintaining your sense of humor, involvement in social communities, and keeping your brain sharp are also important to living with vitality and living long. “The way you eat and physical activity will keep you alive or destroy you.” Well stated Bev, and thanks for the inspiration!
Kerry (the workout partner), Bev, and Chanda (the trainer).
Bev and her workout partner Kerry pushing 100 lbs. on the prowler!
Community Connections
“Finding Meaning and Hope” Discussion Series for Family Caregivers
Dr. Heather Renter is delighted to announce the first offering of “Finding Meaning and Hope,” through the Memory Care Learning Center. This is a free, 10-session discussion series centered around helping family caregivers cope with stress and grief during and after experiencing the caregiver role and are interested in learning “how to regain hope and build resilience when dealing with the challenges of caring for someone with dementia or other cognitive impairment.”
The “Finding Meaning and Hope” series is designed to offer practical and applicable knowledge and skills that are shown to improve care-giver resilience, quality of life, and overall well-being. Beginning Tuesday, September 10 through November 12, participants will meet for an hour and a half each week for 10 weeks to explore, share, and learn about grief, hope, meaning, and self-care. Classes will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Peoples Church in Kalamazoo.
Registration is required for this free event, and space is limited. Save your spot by emailing Dr. Heather at hrenter@heritagecommunity.com or by calling (269) 226-6325.
You can learn more about the class by clicking this link.
Kalamazoo Literacy Council
Celebrating 50 Years of Empowerment: Kalamazoo Literacy Council
This year marks a significant milestone for the Kalamazoo Literacy Council (KLC) as it proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary of promoting literacy and education within our community. Since being founded by a group of volunteers in 1974, the KLC has dedicated itself to providing essential reading, writing, and English language skills to adults, helping transform lives and foster self-sufficiency.
Over the decades, the KLC has developed a suite of programs that support learners from diverse backgrounds, equipping them with the tools needed to succeed academically and professionally. From one-on-one tutoring sessions to specialized workshops and more, the impact of our work can be seen through the numerous success stories of individuals who have gained confidence, secured employment, and pursued further education.
OLLI encourages all members to engage with this important local initiative. Whether through volunteering, attending events, or simply spreading the word, we can all contribute to the mission of fostering literacy and empowering our neighbors. Together, let’s celebrate the gift of literacy and the doors it opens for all!
Join us in commemorating 50 years of the Kalamazoo Literacy Council—a vital resource that continues to shape the future of our community through the power of literacy. For more information on how you can get involved, visit kalamazooliteracy.org or contact us at (269) 382-0490 ext. 4786.
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.