Director's letter
Dear colleagues
It’s yet another hot afternoon—one in a string of days above the mid 90s going into the fourth week. This one is predicted as 103F. Nevertheless, the discomfort I’m feeling has little to do with this unremitting heat wave. The pain emanates from my psyche. It’s that perilous debt ceiling tug of war consuming our nation’s capitol. Are there no grownups left in D.C? I want to let go of my fears and focus on our tomorrows in the Osher Institute ‘s 2011 Fall Semester. Yet, I am haunted by the question: Will our country emerge as a viable nation after being torn asunder?Â
Let’s just put that sense of helplessness aside and chat about the Fall offerings in our Osher program.
Look ahead with me to informative and pleasurable days together when Fall classes launch on September 12, 2011. That Monday morning course we call, “A Potpourri of Critical Issues and Personalities,” has become “a club”—a cadre of inquiring folks enrolling in it every session in which it is offered. It’s a platform for bringing you vignettes of what’s new and interesting. Take Warren Dalton and David James, for example, joining us to share their excitement about another of their soon to be published books, this one, available in the Fall, titled, The Writings of North Todd Gentry: Stories from Columbia’s Colorful Past. Thereafter, wonderful and prolific scribe, Warren Dalton returns to fascinate you with findings from his research on the early presidents of the University of Missouri. Bring your smiles to that session—Warren loves to tell colorful tales—certainly, only well-researched ones. You are about to learn, too, about the impressive behind the scenes diplomacy required of our CEO of Economic Development, as Mike Brooks brings us an Economic Development update. And, the recent election brought new Ward 1 and Ward 5 council representatives to our City government. Enjoy an up close and personal session with Fred Schmidt and Helen Anthony.
A cathartic procession, a purged certificate of death and a new gravestone is a community’s attempt to right a horrific wrong that dated to 1923. Learn the details from a compassionate professional who spearheaded these ‘undoing’ efforts. Another wonderful local citizen and former state legislator tells us about a network of volunteers who are correcting serious omissions in the system of care of the mentally ill. In two sessions titled, Extremes!, MU Atmospheric Sciences professor and department chair, Tony Lupo, returns to our classroom to convey details of weather dynamics that brought astounding affects to our corner of the world and internationally. Dr. Lupo’s two sessions cannot occur consecutively because of a professional meeting. The week between his presentations will feature a Brown Bag Seminar of the social networking phenomenon of “blogs and blogging.” Here’s a chance to undo some of the mystery you are harboring about is this form of social media.
That’s just the Monday morning course and a couple of three Brown Bags. Take a deep breath and we will move on.
Our consummate newspaper professional—is the term now ‘hardcopy media,’ Rod Gelatt, again offers his discussion course—the content for which is current events. Do your homework, come in to sound off. Of course, the experience is a lot more elegant and thoughtful with Rod as facilitator. Sustainable Energy is another offering that will goad you into acquiring facts about an increasingly important aspect of contemporary life—energy: a dwindling resource, critically needed to maintain the American lifestyle.
Our courses also address “the world of the hands”—and not simply that of the mind. The introduction to Home Interior Design, the art of Knitting in the Round, and Fishing for Beginners are examples. Acquisition of technological skill, too, is here. In addition to the very capable professional who will teach blogging, excellent new technology instructors are to be found teaching “Getting Familiar with Your Home Computer” and “Digital Photography”—the latter our first Saturday morning offering. Both courses will meet in our computer lab, Room E.
Wonderful Sharon is back with Part 2, a completely new scion of her “Travels with….” course. Sharon is also the force behind the Travel Club that meets the second Wednesday of the month at the Green Meadows’ Upper Crust at 2 PM. And, to assist you in immortalizing the images, mementos and memories you capture in your travels, Charming Cathy Salter instructs you in her popular course, “Travel Writing.”Â
Courses also offer just plain fun and even feed your hobbies. Conversational French as taught by Aline Kultgen is one in which everyone delights. And don’t forget the eternal hobby, Birding. Laugh if you will but hold off wondering until you sit the often hilarious class conducted by the Medical Examiner—who, probably to balance experiences emanating from his professional role, shares takes on life funny enough to have brought him success as a stand up comic.
“Potpourri of the Arts” on Friday mornings falls somewhere in every category—it’s pleasurable, features the new and also fine familiar, popular artists. We welcome Rose Nolen’s first visit to the Osher program—joining our Fall faculty with a presentation whose description begins with: “From toe-tapping rhythms of ragtime to taste-tempting flavors of soul food”….. Aren’t you immediately drawn into her groove? It gets me! Ms Nolen offers a wonderful overview of the significant contributions of Missouri’s African Americans. She published a book last year, titled African Americans in Mid Missouri: From Pioneers to Ragtimers.
The Arts course will feature the soon to be published works of two impressive authors. Prolific author, Mary Collins Barile, joins us to share her latest book, The Haunted Boonslick. A scholarly and tongue-in-cheek treatise from the ‘twilight zone.’ Know that Dr. Barile will make believers out of the skeptics present. And, in the Brown Bag Seminar format, Charming Christine Montgomery joins us to provide an update on the wonderful re-publication of Blind Boone’s 1915 biography with a comprehensive introduction that reports posthumous events relating to the great man. Christine and Mary are co-editors of the new-old publication. New or not, among the cognoscenti, the republication will be a collectors’ item. Proceeds are to be donated for the completion and on-going support of the Blind Boone Home.
Two of the Arts programs present content that relates to the Civil War. The administrator of the Arrow Rock Historic Site, who had to cancel a scheduled talk in the Spring iteration of this course is with us to tell us about his research findings on George Caleb Bingham and the Civil War. The second presentation with a “war between the states” theme: Dave Para and Cathy Barton Para re-enact Music From The Civil War in the West, two compact discs they recorded with wonderful historic river man, Bob Dyer. Sadly, Bob will not be there to contribute his haunting Native American calls and perform on a “jaw bone”.
MU professor of percussion, young and vital Julia Gaines, will tantalize you and have you beating out syncopated rhythms—and you will delight in the experience. More music? Ah, don’t miss the performance of excerpts of the opera, Die Fledermaus—we’ve dedicated the event to the memory of Beloved Larry Morehouse. The live performance of talented singers dedicated to keeping opera alive will thrill you.
You will have the honor of meeting actor and artistic director of Arrow Rock’s Lyceum Theatre as he relates secrets of his incomparable creative abilities in “From Page to Stage!” Another unique event is to be experienced with the return of our very popular antique expert, Nancy Russell! Need I say more?
The heavies but goodies are The Calculus, Islam, Shakespeare, Energy Medicine, and Poetry—Sonnets and Blank Verse. In each of these courses you will find scholars—proud of the impressive knowledge they have acquired and born to teach!
Finally, you are offered no fewer than seven Brown Bag Seminars—all of them FREE, like the Friday Film Festival and the sweets and popcorn served at that event.  The Brown Bag events are rich with ideas and most interesting. Miss not one!—if you are wise.
This Fall, brings us the third in the Robert G. Silvers Seminar Series—celebrating the Best of the Human Mind! Ian Kirby returns with another in depth session related to the Arts and Crafts Movement. Mr. Kirby’s charisma will hold you spellbound. Stay for the reception, which immediately follows his presentation. Beginning at 1:30 PM, both events will take place on Thursday afternoon, October 27, in the same location as all of the Osher classes: the Stephens Lake Activity Center, 2311 East Walnut, on the north edge of Stephens Lake Park, in the white building with green awnings.
Be sure to put Wednesday evening, October 19, 2011, on your calendar—that’s our Faculty Tribute Dinner at the Reynolds Alumni Center Faculty Club. Treat yourself to a delicious, multiple course Taste of Tuscany dinner at a special price for the Osher group. Our volunteer faculty richly deserve our affection and accolades.
All of us are grateful for the support of the Extension administrators to whom we now directly report, the Vice Provost and the Associate Vice Provost for Programs. Genuine thanks, impressively gifted leaders!
Our fondness and appreciation for our hosts at SLAC grows deeper—thank you!
A cohesive Team of Three—including my intelligent, charming, wonderful and exceedingly capable staff, Joanne Heisler and Adam Newman bring you Osher—no one is full time!
We have done our best for you. Please join us in our 2011 Fall Semester—and invite your friends to enroll in this, our very fine Academy of the Willing.
Best, always,
Lucille
573-884-5927
SalernoL@umsystem.edu
Updated 8/15/11