Greetings from the NRC................ April 2022
With remarkable consistency, history is the top subject of interest for Osher members. Between 2014 and now, the Osher NRC has surveyed Institute members four times, including a sampling of members from 14 programs. Every one of those surveys identified history as the number one area of interest of members. And with 5,000-6,000 members responding to these surveys, we are confident in this data. Of course, many of us in the 50+ demographic have personally lived through a good amount of history. We relish the opportunity to examine, relive, and reconcile it well after it unfolds. And the broad category of history has many different angles. OLLIs commonly find the history of baseball or of rock and roll as interesting as the history of the constitution or of various wars. There’s clearly something for all of us in history.

The three article submissions featured this month all have historical underpinnings. Members of OLLI at Stony Brook University on Long Island thoughtfully reflected on recent history featuring member contributions, including some that focus on life during the COVID pandemic. Russian History was the topic of a study group co-led by a noted figure in history at OLLI at Northwestern University, who also happens to be the initiator of the original group that became the Osher Institute in Chicago. And the 80th Anniversary of the iconic “Flying Tigers” of World War II (a group my own great-uncle flew for as an aviator) was recognized and celebrated by the OLLI community at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

As the past few years have reconfirmed, history repeats itself. Never is that repetition on schedule or fully predictable. Yet as adult learners, we certainly see that the adage is true.
I hope you find enjoyment in these historic articles. May they inspire you to continue or to begin exploring history – in whatever form might satisfy yours or your OLLI’s curiosity.

With spring greetings from the Osher NRC team,
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OLLI AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Newt Minow - A Rookie at 96
Newton and Mary Minow
In 1986, Newton Minow was a visiting fellow at Harvard Kennedy School while helping create the Commission on Presidential Debates. Every day, he passed by a building with the sign “The Institute for Learning and Retirement.” Curious, he stopped in and was immediately intrigued by the program, which provided classes taught by group members themselves. An active trustee of Northwestern University at the time, he later met with then-president Arnold Weber and told him about the program. “This would be very good for Northwestern,” Minow recalled telling him. After Minow promised the program would be financially self-supporting if Northwestern put up its buildings, Arnold assented. The program was later rechristened the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute with generous funding from The Bernard Osher Foundation in 2006.
 
Thirty-five years later, recruited by his daughter, Mary Minow, a Chicago-based library law consultant and active OLLI member, Newt Minow returned to OLLI in the fall to co-coordinate a study group for the first time. Mary proposed, “We should do something with Russian literature,” and Dad said, “That would be War and Peace.” They agreed that they would co-coordinate a study group focused on the newly restored 1960’s Sergei Bondarchuk version of the film. “It just seemed like it was meant to be,” says Mary. “Dad has told me all my life that he wanted to study Russian literature, but he’s just never had time. I don’t know what he’s been doing,” she says, with a laugh, referring to his prolific career as an attorney, former Federal Communications Commission chair, original PBS founder, author, and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, among many other achievements. The Minows coordinated the OLLI study group with the help of co-coordinators Stuart Applebaum and Donald DeRoche. Despite his longstanding support of OLLI, Newt admits to being surprised by the diversity and sophistication present in the group. “We’ve got these incredible experienced people from all walks of life,” he says. The group includes film majors and a music specialist with expertise in the balalaika, all of whom bring their experience to the discussion. “I know that there are so many online educational opportunities, but really what attracts us to OLLI is that it’s so participatory,” says Mary. “I have found that I learn much more than I’ve contributed,” agrees Newt. “And Dad’s 96,” adds Mary. “When he says, ‘lifelong learning,’ he means it.”

Read a longer version of this article by OLLI at Northwestern University.
 
Submitted by: Kari Fagin, Director, OLLI at Northwestern University
OLLI AT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY
OLLI Times Magazine
In 2020, OLLI at Stony Brook University formed a committee to produce a magazine for their members. The purpose of the magazine is to inform, illuminate, inspire, and invite OLLI members to participate more fully in all aspects of the program by showcasing their many talents. The magazine features articles by, about, and of interest to members: writings (fiction, poetry, non-fiction), interviews, visuals (art, cartoons, photography), reviews (books, movies, etc.).

The inaugural edition of the OLLI Times was published in 2021. While it was originally envisioned as a “fit for print only” piece, due to the various types of participation opportunities OLLI at Stony Brook offers, the magazine is available in both a digital format as well as print. This first edition even includes a special section, Journal of the Pandemic- A Year Like No Other: How We Coped, in which members share their personal stories of life with COVID-19. Perhaps other OLLIs will read it and be inspired to produce a magazine such as the OLLI Times from Stony Brook University, Long Island New York.

Submitted by: Elizabeth Wilson, Member Relations Assistant, OLLI at Stony Brook University
OLLI AT UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
"Flying Tigers" in China: 80th Anniversary
In December, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of South Florida (OLLI-USF) celebrated the 80th anniversary of the American Volunteer Group (AVG) known as the “Flying Tigers.” Organized by SIG leader partners Kun Shi and Nancy Stuart, in collaboration with USF World, this virtual gathering brought together more than 100 people including OLLI members, community members, and family members of the “Flying Tigers.”

The “Flying Tigers” fought its first air battle with the Japanese over China in December of 1941. This group included both American and Chinese service members and civilians. Over the next three and a half years, this group of volunteer pilots brought weaponry and other war-time goods to China to help in the effort to bring World War II to a victorious conclusion in Asia. 

The virtual event, the largest of its kind at OLLI-USF, honored World War II heroes and provided historical context to the importance of this group. The two keynote speakers were Major General Arthur Clark, who served in China from 1944 to 1945, and Major Daniel Jackson, a military historian and United States Air Force active-duty officer. 


Submitted by: Ara Rogers, Director, OLLI at University of South Florida 
AN ADVICE COLUMN FOR OSHER INSTITUTE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
Ask Olli
Dear Olli,
I serve as a volunteer on the curriculum committee for my Osher Institute. We are looking to expand or change some of our typical offerings in an effort to increase our appeal to new members. Any suggestions?
~OLLI Volunteer

Dear OLLI Volunteer,
Yes, the Osher NRC has many curriculum resources available to help generate ideas. First, on Osher.net, under the resources tab, you’ll find Curriculum Resources. The links on this page will provide you with materials or organizations that can aid you in your idea generation for future classes. Second, the NRC compiles data of the national network through our National Membership Survey. In the survey we ask members about their primary areas of interest. Above is a chart showing the areas of most interest for 2018 and 2020. Finally, most OLLIs have their catalogs available on their website. Do some research and check out what other OLLIs are offering. There is a plethora of unique ideas out there!
~Olli

Have a question for Olli? Please send it to Oshernrc@northwestern.edu. 
CAREER OPENINGS IN THE OLLI NETWORK
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Is there a staff opening at your Osher Institute? Please send it to us at oshernrc@northwestern.edu
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