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Volume 1 Issue 20

We are back with a brand new look and a new name for this weekly news source. Sorry to those of you who preferred Adventures, but we hope you will get used to Everything OLLI on our new masthead.

As usual you will find current news, information, updates, and essential information about what OLLI at DU does to serve our growing 50+ community! Keep scrolling to find a December calendar listing of events and activities with links for you to check out as well as a new Technology Initiative and giving program.

In our 28th year, our mission is to bring you excellent lifelong learning opportunities and to demonstrate the value of membership. In addition to our courses you will find many events, webinars, fitness classes, travel opportunities, and shared interest groups..

And, drumroll, get ready for the new Winter Catalog of Courses which debuts on our website on Monday, December 4. That gives you a week to decide what courses you want to sign up for when registration opens for the Winter Term at 10 am on Monday, December 11.

Please join us for an exciting array of in person and online courses this winter!

Bruce

Our Winter Term '24 Catalog will be Available on Monday, 12/4 on our website!

Get ready to sip your coffee and peruse the catalog of 110+ winter courses to be offered in Winter Term 2024. We also have webinars, fitness classes, and other offerings coming your way. Look for the flip book catalog on the front page of the OLLI at DU website beginning this Monday, 12/4..

First come, first served registration starts at 10 am on Monday December 11!

NEED ASSISTANCE WITH REGISTRATION?

In-Person Registration support available at two locations:

At the Central Campus at the First Universalist Church (4101 E. Hampden Ave., Denver)

• Monday, 12/11 from 10 am-2pm

At the OLLI Main Office (2211 S. Josephine St., Denver)

• Monday, 12/11 through Thursday, 12/14 from 9-4

Online workshop: Monday, December 11; 9:00-10:00

• Online Member Orientation to Campus CE
• Learn about how to register and purchase course packages
• Discover how to use your account to make a payment and obtain Zoom links for online courses and webinars
• Workshop Registration Zoom Link

Free for OLLI at DU Members

Saving the Peregrine:

The Story of an Extraordinary Human Effort

to Save a Species

December 8 from 10-11:30 am with Jeff Rucks

Perhaps one of the most audacious and difficult efforts to save another species, Colorado’s peregrine falcon recovery effort is a fascinating story. Once on the edge of extinction, today these magnificent birds thrive throughout North America thanks to the dedicated and dangerous work of the Colorado team of biologists. Join retired wildlife biologist, Jeff Rucks as he relives his years rappelling down massive cliffs to reach the nests and restore the population of this once endangered bird of prey.

Jeff Rucks

Jeff Rucks enjoyed a 40-year career as a wildlife professional. His early career included work for the U.S. Forest Service in California and The Bureau of Land Management in Alaska and Colorado. He also spent three years on Colorado’s peregrine falcon recovery effort. After a short stint with Boulder County Open Space, he was hired by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in 1987. Throughout his career he found great joy and satisfaction in sharing his love of the outdoors and wildlife with other people, especially children. This eventually led to supervising the agency’s Outreach and Education staff, which continued until he retired in 2009. But he wasn’t done yet. After retirement he went to work as an educator for The Wildlife Experience Museum in Douglas County. Today Jeff continues to write outdoor articles for local publications and accepts several public speaking engagements each year.

As demand for our programming grows, so does our need to upgrade the technology and systems which we use to deliver outstanding course quality. OLLI at DU is embarking on a short-term campaign to raise funds for two critical technology needs:

1. Hearing loop systems for each OLLI at DU site to enhance the experience of our members with hearing challenges. A hearing loop is a special type of sound system for use by people with hearing aids. The hearing loop provides a magnetic, wireless signal that is picked up by the hearing aid when it is set to ‘T’ (Telecoil) setting. It is the only assistive listening technology that can broadcast directly to a wide range of hearing aids, making them the most popular option for accessible audio in public spaces.
2. Hybrid AV equipment for each OLLI at DU site to allow us to offer courses in a hybrid format (both in-person and online). We will design and construct flexible video collaboration systems for two classrooms at each location.

Please consider a year-end gift to OLLI to help us meet the needs of our growing members. To give online, click here and select “OLLI General Gift Fund” as the designation for your gift. You may also call DU’s Gift Administration team at 303.871.2311 to give by phone, or mail a check to: University of Denver, PO Box 910585, Denver, CO 80291-0585 (put “OLLI General Gift Fund” in the memo). If you are interested in other ways to give, such as donating from your IRA or giving appreciated securities, please contact Jon Kraus, Executive Director of Gift Planning at jon.kraus@du.edu or 303.871.4619.

Thank you for your generous support!

Jackie Wyant

2211 S. Josephine Street | Denver, CO 80208 | olli@du.edu | 303-871-3181