Friday Value-Added Courses

• Potpourri of the Arts (9:30-11:00)
• Brown Bag Seminar Series (11:30-1:00)

Friday sessions are free of charge to all current Osher members: Premium, Semester and Basic. Sessions marked as HYBRID will allow participants to choose whether they attend via Zoom or in person.

Potpourri of the Arts

Fridays; 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Each semester, Osher invites the movers and shakers of mid-Missouri’s arts scene to discuss, display, perform and showcase their work. Join us for this grab bag of arts topics.

March 8: Havana’s Black Renaissance (2023)
HYBRID

Participants will watch a 70-minute documentary, followed by a discussion. Through the voices of over 30 prominent contemporary Cuban intellectuals, among them Nancy Morejón, María del Carmen Barcia, Martínez Furé, Eugenio Hernández Espinosa, Georgina Herrera, Miguel Barnet, Rigoberto López, Diago, “Choco,” Lescay, Magdalena Campos-Pons, Víctor Fowler, Gloria Rolando, and Roberto Zurbano, this documentary presents reflections on the development of Havana’s Black Renaissance, the unprecedented Afro-Cuban intelligentsia who emerged and continued to develop through multiple generations after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Their remarks go back to the historical antecedents of this black renaissance as well as to the literacy campaign and the extraordinary educational and artistic opportunities created for everyone including those in the margins of society who in their majority descended from African slaves. The film considers the flourishing of this Cuban black intelligentsia in a broad range of intellectual and creative disciplines, including history, literature, visual arts, theater, and dance.

Instructor: Dr. Juanamaria Cordones-Cook is a professor and filmmaker at the University of Missouri. She has made 23 films dealing with leading AfroCuban artists and writers and published extensively on contemporary Spanish American literature with a special interest on Afro-Hispanic writers. She is coordinating an international conference on Afro-Cuban legacies: visual arts, literature, theatre, music and religion at MU in April 2024.

March 15: Olivia Langdon Clemens on Her Own Terms
ONLINE ONLY

In this lecture, Barbara Snedecor, editor of a new volume of Olivia Louise Langdon Clemens’ letters, introduces Mark Twain’s spouse on her own terms, in her own voice—as a complementary partner to her world-famous spouse and as an enduring friend, mother to four children, world traveler and much more. The frail woman often portrayed by scholars, biographers and Twain himself is largely absent in these letters. Instead, Olivia (whom Twain affectionately referred to as “Gravity” in their early correspondence) emerges as a resilient and energetic 19th-century woman, her family’s source and center of stability, and a well of private and public grace in an ever-changing landscape. Students with an interest in literature and women’s studies or those who are simply curious to gain an intimate understanding of the formidable woman behind the man who changed the shape of American literature will delight in learning more about “Livy.”

Instructor: Barbara Snedecor served for many years as the director of the Center for Mark Twain Studies at Elmira College, Elmira, N.Y. In addition to editing the second edition of Mark Twain in Elmira, she has contributed pieces to the “Mark Twain Annual” and “American Literary Realism.”

March 22: No Potpourri of the Arts session.Osher members are invited to the Robert G. Silvers Memorial Seminar Series: Celebrating the Best of the Human Mind presentation by celebrated woodworker Ian Kirby at 10 a.m.

April 5: Friday Morning Book Talk with Author Barbara Leonhard
HYBRID

Barbara Leonhard, author of Three-Penny Memories: A Poetic Memoir, is a retired University of Missouri instructor of English as a Second Language who now writes poetry, memoirs and fiction. She is the editor of the online literary journal Masticadores USA and a member of Columbia Writers Guild, a branch of the Missouri Writers Guild. Her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize by publisher Experiments in Fiction.

April 12: Unbound Book Festival 2024 - Everything You Need to Know!
HYBRID

Unbound founder and director Alex George returns for his annual presentation about what to look forward to at this year's Unbound Book Festival, which takes place April 18-21 in downtown Columbia. He will give an overview of the various talks, panels, workshops and performances to look forward to this year and will introduce you to some of the world-class authors and poets who will be attending. This year, as every year, you can expect innovations, and this preview will allow you to plan your weekend. Alex will be available to answer all your festival-related questions.

Instructor: Alex George is a novelist, a bookseller, an attorney and a literary festival organizer–although not always in that order. The author of seven novels and the owner of Skylark Bookshop in Columbia, Mo., he is also the founder and director of the Unbound Book Festival. In 2022, he was named Midwest Bookseller of the Year.

April 19: History of American Painting, an Addendum
ONLINE ONLY

Over the last two years, the instructors have provided Potpourri presentations on American deaf artists and African American artists and, in fall 2023, a four-session course on two centuries of American painting. Of necessity, we have omitted many excellent artists. In this Potpourri, we will feature artists and representative paintings that were not included in the previous Osher presentations. We will focus on art created from the early 19th century into the 1950s and consider such painters as John L. Krimmel, Jasper Cropsey, Walter Ufer, Florine Stettheimer, Clementine Hunter and Hale Woodruff, among others. As with previous presentations, the art will be discussed in the context of social, economic, political and cultural conditions. It is not necessary to have attended any of our previous sessions to enjoy and learn from this presentation.

Instructors: Robin and Cokie Blake have provided numerous Osher presentations on art history. Robin is a docent at the MU Museum of Art and Archeology.

April 26: Putting it Together: 21 Years at Maples Rep
HYBRID

Professional theatre is a risky business–lots of individual artists, lots of moving parts. For 20 years, Todd Davison has guided the Maples Repertory Theatre in Macon, Mo., through the ups and downs of more than 100 shows. This course will be a whirlwind retrospective of lessons learned and stories to share from 20 seasons, with a special emphasis on the process of putting together the 21st season for 2024. If you wonder where all these people come from and how they decide to spend a season making theater in rural Missouri, here's your chance to find out.

Instructor: Todd J. Davison is the founder and producing artistic director for the Maples Repertory Theatre. He is a graduate of Graceland University. After spending time in the grocery business, video rental, public relations, antiques, theater and music, he returned to his hometown of Macon to start the company in 2004. He actively directs, designs and appears on stage, but also bakes dessert, writes advertising copy and occasionally cleans toilets.

May 3: Friday Morning Book Talk with Author Robin Blake
HYBRID

Robin Blake, retired family physician and Emeritus Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Missouri, is the author of From Here to There and Back, a collection of 18 short stories, six works of nonfiction and one parody based on his experiences practicing medicine in a small Appalachian community in the 1970s.

Brown Bag “Lunch and Learn” Seminar Series

Fridays; 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Brown Bag seminars are open to all Osher Premium and Basic members throughout the academic year. Semester members may attend for the semester in which they enroll. Feel free to nosh on your lunchtime treats (with or without your camera on!) during this “lunch and learn.”

March 8: Pollinators
ONLINE ONLY

The instructor will cover the process of pollination, common Missouri pollinators and planting to attract pollinators.

Instructor: Katie Kammler has been a horticulture specialist with University of Missouri Extension since 2008. Her favorite thing about working for MU Extension is that there is always something new to learn about horticulture! She works with commercial horticulture producers and home gardeners, teaching about growing horticulture crops and solving problems through workshops, one-on-one interactions and site visits.

March 15: A Conversation with Mayor Buffaloe on the Mayoral Delegation to COP28
HYBRID

Mayor Barbara Buffaloe was recently invited to participate in a small delegation of mayors to the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28) meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mayor Buffaloe, who serves as chair of the Environment Committee for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, spoke on numerous panels and met with officials from around the world at the conference. She will share her experience with attendees and what takeaways she has on what Columbia can do to make a difference in global climate change.

Instructor: Barbara Buffaloe is the mayor of Columbia, the fourth largest city in Missouri. Mayor Buffaloe serves on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Innovation Center and as an ex-officio member on the Board of Directors for Regional Economic Development Incorporated (REDI) and the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. Before being elected mayor of Columbia, she served as Columbia’s first sustainability manager, where she worked to advance a more sustainable, vital and well-planned future for the city.

March 22: No Brown Bag session.Osher members are invited to the Robert G. Silvers Memorial Seminar Series: Celebrating the Best of the Human Mind presentation by celebrated woodworker Ian Kirby at 10 a.m.

April 5: Medicare 101
HYBRID

This course covers the various aspects of Medicare and allows participants to be able to determine what coverage may be best for them. While participants may have an understanding of Medicare, it is complicated, and some basic knowledge can be very beneficial. The instructor will provide vital information for those who are getting ready to join medicare and important info for those already receiving medicare.

Instructor: James House was a certified Medicare counselor for more than eight years. Prior to his retirement, he served as executive director for the Mental Health Association of Greater St. Louis.

April 12: Common Mistakes in Estate Planning
HYBRID

Estate planning is an important process that ensures a person’s wishes are carried out after death and during incapacitation.  A thorough estate plan often consists of several documents designed to accomplish a variety of goals.  While an estate plan may be unique to each individual, there are common mistakes that sometimes occur.  During this presentation, we will share some common estate planning pitfalls and discuss steps you can take to avoid these mistakes and create an estate plan that will provide peace of mind for you and your family.

Instructors: John Bailey, CFP, is senior vice president of Central Trust Company, a division of the Central Trust Bank. John began his financial services career in Columbia, Mo., in 1996. His primary role with Central Trust is to develop relationships with potential clients and match client investment and estate planning needs with the expert services of Central Trust. As a Certified Financial Planner professional, John is an integral part of the Central Trust team approach to providing clients with comprehensive wealth management strategies customized to their unique needs and circumstances.

Chris Watkins is vice president and relationship manager for the Central Trust Company.  Chris is one of the estate planning attorneys on the Columbia team. Chris has worked in private practice as an attorney for over 20 years, representing and advising individuals and businesses in matters involving estate planning, corporate law, contracts and business transactions. His primary role at Central Trust Company is to provide guidance and expertise to clients in matters concerning estate planning, trust administration, wealth management and business succession planning. Chris' contact information is chris.watkins@centraltrust.net

April 19: Chakra activation?  Oh yes!
HYBRID

Want a pleasant way to reduce stress and improve general health and well-being?
Discover what the Chakras are, and the endocrine glands and physiological processes associated with them—a metaphysical Eastern and scientific Western combinatory approach. Learn about creating your own supportive domestic environment to 'activate your Chakras' and energize your soul.

Instructor: Paul Stang, MA, electrical engineer, world traveler and international teacher, presenter and author of a unique curriculum, is able to help people understand and embrace the magic that underlies their existence and that there is a real scientific mind behind creation. His work is internationally recognized, and he has been invited to curriculum reform in Europe.

April 26: A Part of the World Less Traveled: Iran, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan
HYBRID

In 2019, the instructor traveled overseas for six months, ending her adventure exploring Iran, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. In this session, she will share stories of her experiences in these three countries that continue to evoke her imagination.

Instructor: Lynda Linneman spent her career teaching in the Columbia Public Schools. During that period, she escorted groups of travelers throughout Europe for 14 years in the summer. She retired in 2009 and moved overseas for eight years. During that time, she lived in southeastern Turkey, Singapore and Mumbai, India. She continues to travel and has visited 90 countries, mostly as a solo traveler.

May 3: Give 5!
HYBRID

Give 5 is a new, free program hosted by Heart of Missouri United Way that matches retirees to volunteer opportunities that align with their passions and skills while learning more about the needs of our community. Give 5 participants impact our community’s economy and quality of life. They will develop relationships, reignite their purpose and experience the joy of helping others.

Those in attendance will learn

• The health danger of isolation, particularly to retirees.
• The significance of social capital and bridging social capital.
• The specific, unique and pressing issues facing Columbia.
• Examples of upstream and downstream problems.
• The importance of volunteerism to agencies, the community and the citizen.
• About area agencies with unique and varied volunteer opportunities.

Instructors: Lorraine Gustavis coordinates and manages the Give 5 volunteer program, provides logistical support for other volunteer activities and is also a graduate of Heart of Missouri United Way’s inaugural Give 5 cohort. Before joining United Way, she was the career advancement specialist with Love Columbia. She has facilitated numerous projects for multiple organizations. Prior to that, Lorraine was with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, St. Louis, for 14 years in various positions, including global learning manager.