Fall 2020...Coming to a Virtual Classroom Near You!

We're polishing up the Fall 2020 schedule and are excited to share it with you very soon! 44 intrepid peer leaders have assembled a terrific schedule of 57 mostly live-online classes that covers a wide array of interests. We are grateful to these volunteer instructors who have stepped boldly into the realm of online learning while continuing to make lifelong learning fun, varied, and engaging—even as we continue to shelter safely during the pandemic—to 1,000+ older adults in Butte County this fall.

NEW CLASSES such as Science Fiction Masters, Ethics of Aging, Asian Art History, Harness Your Hippocampus & Balance Your Brain, Race in American Art & Literature, and Intro to Drawing & Painting on iPads join RETURNING FAVORITES like Wisdom through Meditation, the Chico State Faculty Lecture Series, Great Decisions, Lewis and Clark, Tuesday Tunes, and Bread Making.

Here are a few key dates to mark on your calendar:

• Today! Join OLLI and/or Pay Fees for '20-'21 
• August 19: Fall Class Preview
• August 27: Class Registration Opens
• September 14: Fall Classes Begin

Fall Fees ~ Join Today

Pay Fees Now & Be Ready for Fall Class Registration

• To pay fees online in a single payment, log onto the OLLI membership site [1].
• To sign up online & pay fees in installments, please use this online form [2], download our membership form (pdf) [3] or call the OLLI office at 530-898-6679.
• To join & pay fees by mail or in person, download our membership form [3] (pdf)

Zoom Zoom!

By now you've likely heard of Zoom, or even become a fan of its ability to let us connect with colleagues, friends, and family from a (social) distance. OLLI is using Zoom to hold live-online classes; to keep our advisory council and volunteers connected for planning and outreach; and more. If you're new to Zoom and are interested in participating in any live event, such as our VIRTUAL Fall Class Preview (details coming soon), here are some tutorials you will find helpful in learning this new technology. It takes a bit of getting used to but with a few minutes of practice you'll be Zooming in no time!

• How to Join a Zoom Meeting [4]
• How to Participate in a Zoom Meeting
[5]• How to Access a Class Meeting on Zoom [6] (From Univ. of North Florida)
• Zoom Tutorial Video [7]

Join the OLLI Party Line!

We are 100% committed to making sure that everyone who wants to can connect and learn in our new, virtual environment. In addition to the training tips and tutorials below, join us in our new, “always-on” Zoom meeting room! • Test out your computer, smart phone, or tablet • Connect with members • Get comfortable with Zoom • Available online 24-7! Just answer a few questions [8] to get started!

Learning Looks a Bit Different These Days...But Never Stops!

Stay engaged with a library of recorded lectures available to OLLI members!

One of the most vital roles of OLLI is bringing people together. OLLI Chico took the lead in creating a national inventory of recorded lectures for all 200,000 OLLI members in the network to access. While there’s no substitute for learning together, we hope this provides one small way to connect (virtually) during these uncertain times. We hope you enjoy our growing library of:

• Presentations & Lectures by OLLI Chico Instructors [View Library [9]]
• Presentations & Lectures by Other OLLIs [View Now [10]]
• Recorded Presentations, Lectures & Panels at CSU, Chico [View Library [11]]
• Additional Online Learning Resources, Virtual Tours & Live Cams [View Library [12]]

Virtual Annual Business & Town Hall Meeting

On April 28, forty people took part in the OLLI 2020 Virtual Business & Town Hall Meeting to learn more about key issues facing OLLI this year. This annual event offers members a forum for understanding how OLLI operates. Did you know, for example, that membership fees cover just 61% of OLLI expenses? Do you know the actual cost per member for running OLLI is $350, or that office volunteers alone have provided more than 2,500 service hours so far this year?

Program Director Ann Nikolai shared budget highlights from the 2019-20 fiscal year and reviewed the 2020-21 budget [13]. She also addressed how OLLI is navigating the current pandemic, bringing lifelong learning to members in new and creative ways.

Following the budget review [13], Ann was joined by Dr. Janet Rechtman, a newcomer to Chico but not to Osher programs. Dr. Rechtman, whose background is in organizational management and planning, recently relocated from Atlanta, Georgia, where she consulted with OLLI at University of Georgia on strategic planning. She is volunteering her skills and expertise to help OLLI develop more long-range thinking and a contingency plan, and invited members who joined the call to participate in the conversation.

Knowing where we’re going, and gaining member input along the way, helps ensure OLLI can deliver the types of programming that make it special. We invite you to watch recordings of the Business Meeting presentation [14], as well as the Q&A that followed [15].

A Brighter OLLI Is an Engaged OLLI!

OLLI serves a vibrant community of adults over 50 who are generally well-educated, active, engaged in life, and have disposable income. The generous gifts of our business sponsors support the cognitive and social benefits of OLLI, help us deliver excellent programming, and enable us to offer fee assistance to members who couldn’t otherwise afford to participate. Thank you to our Business Sponsors!

	[ Learn more about our sponsors [16] ]
	• Altum Wealth Advisors • Harris & Plottel, Attorneys at Law • Chico Hearing Aid Center • California Water Service • North Valley Eye Care [ Learn more about our sponsors [16] ]
	• Chico Eye Center • Enloe Medical Center • Loeta Robles, DDS • Mark Womack, DDS • Chico Hospital for Cats • Tri Counties Bank • [ Learn more about our sponsors [16] ]

Meet Your Match!

Volunteers are the backbone of OLLI at CSU, Chico. They provide instruction, communications, technical support, outreach, and help us make important social connections. Without volunteer support, OLLI Chico could not provide the array of lifelong learning experiences members enjoy year-round. The Volunteer Connections Program is designed to keep OLLI programming sustainable by expanding volunteer participation. Learning more about you—your skills and interests—will help us connect you to areas of need within the organization. Email us if you'd like to Connect Today [17].