This Week at OLLI

April 15, 2024

LAST WEEK FOR CYBER SENIORS– Paul has completed his hours for Cyber Seniors this semester so he will no longer be with us on Mondays and Tuesdays. Flora will still be available this week on Thursday (2:00PM-4:00PM) and Friday (9:30AM-11:30AM).

NEW CLASSES ADDED:

* Revolutionary War Patriots Buried in Washington County’s Historic Cemeteries

1 Session, Monday May 6, 4:00pm – 5:30pm. Click here to register! Free

* Be Ready for Ticks!

3 Sessions, Thursdays from May 2 – 16, 9:30am – 11:00am. Click here to register!  

* Cutting the Cord This month’s Let’s Talk Technology conversation is on Cutting the Cord via Zoom on Thursday, April 25 11:30AM.

Cutting the cable cord continues to be a hot topic as the competition between traditional cable networks, streaming services and Internet providers compete for your business. While there is no step-by-step solution for successfully navigating this entertainment environment, it is one that we consumers can tackle together. Bring your questions and experiences to share as we explore this topic. Bill Meisner and Etta Zasloff will facilitate the discussion, drawing on their own experiences. Click here to register

PARTNER ZOOM CLASSES WITH OLLI DARTMOUTH:

* The Mile of Manufactories on the Merrimack at Manchester

6 Sessions on Thursdays May 9 – Jun 13, 3:30PM – 5:30PM Click here to register!

* New Nuclear is Hot

5 Sessions on Fridays, April 26 – May 24, 12:30AM – 2:30AM Click here to register!

* Applied Games of Modern Economics

7 Sessions on Fridays, April 19 – May 31, 11:00AM – 1:00AM. Click here to register!

CLASS SPOTLIGHT: THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

7 sessions on Wednesdays, 10:00AM – 11:30AM from April 17 to May 29. Click here to register!

William Shakespeare is known for creating female characters that are as complex, intelligent, powerful, and interesting as his male characters. For modern audiences, however, The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare’s more controversial works. (The title alone is enough to enrage both humanists and feminists!)  Reflecting on our current culture and the post-#MeToo movement, we will discuss whether Shakespeare was the “first feminist” or really a misogynist. Explore Shakespeare’s bawdy banter, puns, use of disguises, and the influence of Commedia dell’arte in this entertaining and provocative play.

Kara Marziali holds a B.F.A. in theater arts from Emerson College and is a certified Ageless Grace® educator. As a dedicated patron of the arts, she is involved in many creative endeavors including writing, painting, crafting, and performing. For the OLLI at URI, Kara’s most recent offering was Hand Lettering: The Art of Drawing Letters.

THIS WEEK AT OLLI

Monday

  • 9:30AM Beginning Italian
  • 10:00AM Galileo Galilei
  • 11:30AM “I Found My Talk”
  • 12:00PM On the Docket
  • 12:30PM Landscape Photography
  • 1:30PM Purpose Drive Retirement
  • 2:30PM Cold War Relations with Central America
  • 4:00PM Contemporary Economic Policy Issues
  • 5:00PM The Age of Sail

Tuesday

  • 10:00AM John Brown House Museum Tour
  • 11:00AM Brain Injury and Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • 1:00PM Building a Second Brain Through Digital Note Taking
  • 1:00PM The JFK Assassination: 60 Years Later

Wednesday

  • 9:30AM Gloria Exercitus
  • 10:00AM Taming of the Shrew
  • 10:00AM Events Committee
  • 11:00AM Fabulous Fingers, Part II
  • 11:30AM The Concerto
  • 12:00PM Beginner Drawing
  • 12:30PM Bowling
  • 1:00PM How and Why is the Human Brain Unique?
  • 1:00PM Hiking Group
  • 2:30PM Beginner Watercolor

Thursday

  • 10:00AM Compassionate Conversations
  • 10:00AM Gmail Tips and Tricks
  • 10:30AM Rhody Ramblers
  • 11:00AM Current Events Discussion Group
  • 12:00PM Watercolor Practices
  • 1:00PM Mahjong
  • 1:00PM Cosmic Questions
  • 2:00PM-4:00PM Cyber Seniors-Flora
  • 2:30PM Movement Medicine
  • 2:30PM Finance Committee
  • 4:00PM Great Decisions: Science Across Borders

Friday

  • 9:30AM-11:30AM Cyber Seniors-Flora (LAST DAY!)
  • 10:00AM Great Decisions: Science Across Borders
  • 10:00AM Square Foot Gardening
  • 1:00PM The Chakra Energy System
  • 1:00PM Music and Events of the 80s
  • 1:00PM Book Group

TRAVEL WITH OLLI – Enjoy a virtual tour of two of our upcoming trips in our OLLI classroom on Monday, April 29, at 11:00AM. Our Collette Tour Rep will showcase Nashville & the Smoky Mountains Holiday, December 2-9, 2024, and Iceland’s Magical Northern Lights, March 19-25, 2025. Visit our website to preview the full tour schedule. Bring along a friend and consider traveling together.

COFFEE DONATIONS NEEDED: We love having fresh coffee for our members! But we are in need of coffee pods (regular and decaf) along with ground coffee. Donations can be dropped off in the OLLI office. Thank you in advance for your help!

RHODY OUTPOST–  Rhody Outpost is URI’s principal basic needs pantry for students experiencing food insecurity.  The Outpost provides fresh and non-perishable food and personal care items at no charge to students. Click here to see the updated Spring wish list. High demand items include raisins and other dried fruit, nuts and seeds, crackers, and cookies.Donations can be dropped off in the OLLI office.

PHOTO FRIDAY: Check out some of OLLI’s Photo Friday March photos. The theme was MOTION. This month we’re snapping pictures of Buildings and Architecture! Join the group by registering online. Photos are uploaded to a shared Google Photo drive. We will meet on Zoom on Friday, May 3, to discuss our photos.

GREAT ARTICLE ON OLLI INSTRUCTOR AND MEMBER, JAN ARMOR! This semester he’s teaching a class entitled “Seven Years at the Sunday Friendship Breakfast” where he’ll share his experiences working with friends at the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church in Providence. Jan will share his photographs along with some famous street photographers and some tips and techniques for taking photos on the street. Click here to read the article on Jan and click here to register for his class.

TRANSFORMING THE LANDSCAPE: AUDUBON NATIVE PLANTS AND POLLINATORS SYMPOSIUM Saturday, April 20, 9AM-4PM, Rhode Island College. Click here for more information and to register.  

Join Audubon for a spring symposium on Transforming the Landscape and learn how to become part of a sustainable community and support our native species by creating beautiful pollinator habitats at home. Speak with local garden designers, community organizers, and Rhode Island’s scientific community to discover how your space can grow into a pollinator paradise. Learn about the latest bee research out of the University of Rhode Island, the detrimental effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on wildlife and our waterways, and local efforts to establish a living seed bank for native plants. Leave with knowledge on where to find native plants, ways to communicate with your community about this vital issue, and how to get your garden on the map by joining Audubon’s Pollinator Alliance.

Keynote Speaker Dr. Doug Tallamy, Professor and Chair of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware is well known for his lauded books on landscaping for wildlife. Tallamy will present an overview of his research and discuss the many ways that participants can restore biodiversity and support pollinators on their property. His books will be available for purchase at the event, and a book signing is scheduled.

URI STUDENTS SET TO PRESENT DESIGNS AT SPRING SPLASH FASHION SHOW On April 20, students from URI’s Department of Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design will showcase their creativity during the 20th annual Spring Splash fashion show in the Memorial Union Ballroom. This year’s event will feature the work of 16 student designers, while 24 student models will walk the runway. Tickets for the fashion show are $10 for URI students, $25 for the general public, and $50 for VIP tickets. Click for more information and to register.

THE URI AQUATICS CENTER is looking for lifeguards and learn to swim instructors for the summer season. If you or someone you know is interested, please click here for more information.

NATIVE PLANT GARDENING WORKSHOP, Thursday, April 18, at 7:00PM at Clark Memorial Library in Carolina. Master Gardener, Melissa Guillet, will help you learn how to transform your lawn into a wildlife habitat with native plants! Enjoy visits from birds, butterflies, and more while mowing less, having a place to put leaves, and working WITH nature to conserve water, reduce erosion, and even save money on heating and cooling. This workshop is free thanks to the URI Master Gardener program. All are welcome. Registration is not required.

POPULAR MUSICAL OPENS APRIL 18, IN FINE ARTS CENTER– “Little Shop of Horrors” runs April 18-20 and 25-27 at 7:30 p.m. and on April 21 and 28 at 2 p.m. in J Studio at the Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Road, Kingston Campus. Tickets are $20 for the general public and $18 for senior citizens and URI students, faculty and staff. Tickets can be purchased online, by calling (401) 874-5843 or at the box office in Room 101H in the Fine Arts Center.