Our thanks to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Director, Paula Mathis, for providing our program Tuesday.
L-R: Steven Utroska, Paula Mathis, and Steve Ramp.
President Steven Utroska and presided over today’s meeting. Mark Killingsworth gave today’s invocation and Cole Grissett led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thanks to Mark Killingsworth and Ryan Pollacci who served as our greeters today. There were no guests at today’s meeting
Steven asked for volunteers to sign up for the Meals on Wheels program. He also reminded members that our officer installation and awards program is scheduled for June 25th. The next Kollege of Knowledge for Red Badge members will be held at Southern Oaks beginning at 11 a.m. on July 9th. Prayers for healing were requested for Maura McLaughlin, Ben Donald, and Larry Leblanc.
Steve Ramp then introduced our guest speaker, Paula Mathis. Paula is the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Paula says that OLLI members are doers, thinkers, and learners. They lead a more satisfying life because they are engaged. The program has 600 members who are between the ages of 50 to 100. Some of the programs offered at OLLI include Tai chi, yoga, health, arts and humanities, history, religion, technology, and science. Members pay an annual fee of $50 and then a small fee for what programs or seminars they wish to attend. Instructors include USM, William Carey, and community college professors. Many of the OLLI members teach classes. They travel together for learning experiences. One of the trips planned for the summer semester will be a visit to the Civil Rights Museum in Jackson.
In the 1970s Bernard Osher donated money to 123 campuses across the nation to begin a life learning program on each campus. The University of Southern Mississippi received a $1 million grant. The annual budget for the program consists of 5% of the original grant. Mr. Osher wanted to create programs for older adults who wanted to improve the quality of their lives by learning just for the sake of learning.
OLLI is housed on the USM campus in the Peck House. Parking is free. The OLLI grounds are amazing and include a walking path to a pond. The summer program began on June 10th however, you can still enroll in many of the programs unless they are already full.
Steven thanked our speaker and then adjourned the meeting with our motto, Service Above Self.
