You're invited to the OLLI Open House

Awesome opportunities are waiting for you!
Awesome opportunities are waiting for you!

OLLI at UNL will kick-off the 2018-2019 academic year with a free open house Sunday, Aug 19, 2018, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the downtown Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker, 333 S. 13th St.

At the open house you can register for fall term 1 courses and events, meet OLLI instructors and join or renew your membership. OLLI offers more than 220 courses and events each year. Fall term 1 course begin on September 4. OLLI and its partners will be hosting informational tables while representatives from OLLI courses, events, interest groups and travel will be available to answer questions.

For a $75 annual membership fee, OLLI members enjoy year-round programming from August 1 to July 31. Members also receive other discounts around town such as Abendmusik, Friends of the Ross Theatre, Lincoln Community Playhouse, Arts for the Soul and others.

This year’s theme is “A Brave New World: How the Future is Rooted in the Past and Present.” Here are a few examples of courses associated with this theme in term 1:

• “Good Morning Vietnam: Broadcasting in a War Zone.” In 1968, a young Army captain was sent to Vietnam to serve as officer-in-charge of network news for the American Forces Vietnam network—six radio stations and eight television stations manned by the U.S. military to broadcast news and entertainment to the half-million American troops stationed there. After 50 years, Randy Moody, OLLI member, revisits some of his experiences.

• “Black Lincoln: A History.” 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which is a perfect time to examine and reflect on Lincoln’s Black history. We will visit the Nebraska History Museum and the Malone Community Center where we will examine selected archival documents related to the chartering of the Lincoln branch and its early operation in the Lincoln community.

• “Beyond Borders.” The first of four films being offered this academic year, this 2016 documentary about undocumented Mexicans immigrants in the United States takes an intimate look at the struggles, contributions and aspirations of undocumented Mexican immigrants and their families. The film examines U.S. policy decisions that triggered the rise of undocumented immigration. The film reveals the reasons why millions of Mexican workers have settled in the U.S. over the past four decades instead of returning home. It also illuminates the remarkable networks that connect the film's characters with the families they left behind and the very real human impact of the anti-immigration backlash now sweeping the country. A moderator will introduce the film and facilitate a panel discussion with local experts.

• “It’s in the Bank: The FDIC and the Federal Reserve Bank.” Today’s world of banking and finance is supported by a variety of governmental agencies and organizations that affect everything from how safe our money is to how much interest we will earn on our savings or pay on our loans. Experts will fill you in on the origins, missions, evolution and potential future of two of the biggest: the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Reserve Bank.

Upcoming events included the fall symposium “Seeking a Just World Order: The Quest for Peace and Prosperity” scheduled on Saturday, Oct 27, and sponsored by OLLI and the Unitarian Church Winter Lectures Series. U.S. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska’s District 1, will be a speaker. “The Aging Brain: Everyday Solutions to Stay Sharp in Mind and Body,” is a half-day symposium on Friday, Nov 3, sponsored by OLLI, Aging Partners and Southeast Community College,

For further information or to get a catalog, email olli@unl.edu, visit olli.unl.edu or call the OLLI office at 402-472-6265.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UNL is a member-driven organization committed to providing and promoting superior-quality, high-appeal learning experiences, events and travel opportunities designed for adults 50 and over who believe that “curiosity never retires.”