Volume 9, Number 6, June 2012

ReportsPresident Mac Rawson called the Annual Mee ng to order at approximately 1:30 p.m. and gave the 100+ members in a endance a report on “The State of OLLI.” Overall thesis: We are doing fi ne. Development Commi ee Chair Randall Abney gave a report on the “Leave a Legacy” project, calling members of his commi ee to stand up in front with him. Janet Stra on gave the report for the Finance Commi ee, poin ng out the need for changes in OLLI fee structures, and commending Richard Bouldin for his work on the ad hoc Budget Commi ee. (See Richard’s ar cle explaining the fee changes on page 4.)

Katy Crapo described the OLLI courses to be off ered in June. Curriculum Chair Be y Jean Craige reported that over 100 OLLI learning events (courses, lunch and learns) were in place for fall, including several on the intellectual aspects of food and drink! Carolyn Abney gave a lively report on the successful OLLI Special Interest Group programs.

AwardsMac presented the Carol Fisher award and gi cards to two outstanding OLLI members: Janet Stra on for her work with fi nance, and Chuck Murphy for his work with technology—including his help with se ng up the OLLI website and online registra on. Bill Alworth thanked Mac for his service as OLLI president 2011-2012 and presented him with a gi cer fi cate.

ElectionsAn important part of the mee ng was vo ng for the 2012-13 OLLI offi cers and new Board members. OLLIs voted to accept the nomina on commi ee’s recommended slate of offi cers: the re-appointment of the secretary (Carolyn Abney), treasurer (John Songster) , and Vice President

(Nancy Canolty) for another year. The new President will be the current President-elect Bill Alworth. Jay Shinn will serve as the new President-elect. Six of the eleven nominees were elected to serve on the OLLI Board: Randall Abney, Margaret Anderson, Be y Jean Craige, Larry Dendy (one year, taking Jay’s place), Richard Lynch, and Janet Stra on. See the collage of portraits of the new president-elect and new Board members on page 3.

A er the mee ng the Benson Hospitality Group (Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hilton Garden Inn) provided a delicious dessert buff et—ice cream, sauces, tarts, cakes, doughnuts, and fresh fruit. Many thanks!!

OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE at the University of Georgia Newsletter

The OLLI TimesOSHER

LIFELONGLEARNINGINSTITUTE

Photos by Pat McAlexander

REPORTS, AWARDS, ELECTIONS,AT OLLI ANNUAL MEETING

Development Commi ee Chair Randall Abney with commi eemembers (le to right) OLLI President Mac Rawson, Janet

Stra on, Bill Alworth, Melinda Thomas, John Songster

Mac presen ng Chuck Murphywith the Carol Fisher award

The Benson Hospitality Group’s dessert buff et

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute OLLI @ UGA“Having the time of our lives with OLLI@UGA”

River’s Crossing850 College Sta on RoadAthens, GA 30602-4811

Telephone: 706.542.7715Email: olli@uga.edu

Website: www.olli.uga.edu

OLLI StaffKaty Crapo - Execu ve Director

Zu Reuter - Administra ve Assistant

OLLI Of icers 2011-2012Mac Rawson - President

Bill Alworth - President-ElectNancy Canolty - Vice President

Carolyn Abney - SecretaryJohn Songster - Treasurer

OLLI Board of Directors Ann Darby Martha Phillips Helen Epps Jay Shinn Richard Hargrove Don Schneider Bill Loughner Nancy Songster Pat McAlexander Alexis Winger

OLLI Committee ChairsCurriculum: Be y Jean CraigeDevelopment: Randall Abney

Finance: Janet Stra onHistorian: William Loughner

Informa on Technology: Margaret AndersonLong Term Planning: Helen Epps

Member Services: Nancy SongsterMembership: Vic Armstrong

Nomina on: Bill AlworthPublic Rela ons: Jerri BerrongPublica ons: Pat McAlexander

Registra on: Nancy CanoltySpecial Interest Groups: Carolyn Abney

Strategic Marke ng: Randall AbneyTravel/Study: Joan Zitzelman

Volunteer Coordinator: Ann Darby

PRESIDENT’S NOTE:Dear OLLI Members,

Two groups met this year to consider how to address the $60,000 to $70,000 shor all occurring in 2013. The fi rst, the Budget Commi ee, led by Richard Bould-in, started the process by increasing the fees. Dues ($5 more in the fall) and a ered fee for classes were the modest recommenda ons. The second group, the Financial Op ons team, was led by Dick Lynch, the

fi rst director of the River’s Crossing building. The Financial Op ons team was charged with looking beyond July 2013 to the next fi ve years.

The Financial Op ons team discovered that OLLI@UGA – of all the OLLIs - was among the lowest in charging dues and the lowest in class fees. They gave six recommenda ons, First, increase the dues to $50. (It increased to $45 in the 2012-13 budget.) Second, implement varying amounts of class fees. Third, develop a robust giving program, like the Leave a Legacy program. Fourth, prepare to apply for the second million from the Bernard Osher Foun-da on. We have 905 members and must have over 1,000 before we can ap-ply for the second Osher Endowment. Fi h, work with UGA to obtain grants. Six, control expenses at the commi ee level. All of the ideas contribute to the overall program’s fi nancial health and will lead to a sustainable future for OLLI@UGA.

I want also to men on the Membership Commi ee. Under the leadership of Vic Armstrong, the commi ee has blossomed into a major partner in the drive toward sustainability. This commi ee is helping us grow. Most people learn about OLLI by word-of-mouth from friends. When Vic or a member of the commi ee learns that someone is interested in OLLI@UGA, the Commit-tee jumps into ac on. They provide brochures and try to bring the person into the group quickly. A name tag a ached to a red lanyard tells you who the new members are and gives you an opportunity to welcome them.

Finally, I must say good bye. This is my last message in the newsle er. My term ends at the end of June. I have enjoyed working with you and look forward to mee ng you in a diff erent role, Past President. Bill Alworth will be your President next year. It is good to know that the organiza on will be in good hands.

Mac

Mac Rawson

The OLLI TimesEditor: Pat McAlexanderConsultants: Katy Crapo, Mac Rawson Graphic Designer: Troy Basse

OLLI Publica ons: Deadline for submissions to the September newsle er(to be mailed by the week of September 24) is August 30.

The OLLI Times is published six mes a year, in September, November, January/February,March, April, and June, with news about OLLI, its members, and OLLI events.Address ques ons, sugges ons, and submissions to patmcalex@gmail.com.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute June 2012, Page 3

NEW PRESIDENT-ELECT AND BOARD MEMBERS

Clockwise from 11 o’clock: Margaret Anderson, Be y Jean Craig (and Cosmo, who is not a Board member—yet), Richard Lynch, Larry Dendy, Janet Stra on, Jay Shinn (President-Elect), and Randall Abney.

EDITOR’S NOTE:Mac, thank you for serving as president this past year. Your genial yet authorita ve presence has guided OLLI well.

As for The OLLI Times, thanks to Be y Jean Craige, who served as assistant editor September through January, and to Katy Crapo and Troy Basse , whose work with the newsle er has been truly invaluable. Thanks also to the members who have contributed stories and pictures. As with all newspapers, submissions must be selected and some mes edited, but your contribu ons make our newsle er not only interes ng but also truly representa ve of OLLI@UGA. Finally, thank you to all who have been reading this newsle er. Suppor ve readers are, a er all, one of the most important elements in a newsle er’s success. –Pat McAlexander

Photo by Chuck Murphy

Osher Lifelong Learning InstituteJune 2012, Page 4

REPORT OF THEFINANCIAL OPTIONS COMMITTEE

Set annual membership fee at $50 beginning in iscal year 2014.

A modest increase in the annual membership fee will go a long way toward assuring fi nancial sustainability for OLLI@UGA and s ll keep the fee among the lowest of all Osher ins tutes at other universi es throughout the country. Nearly two-thirds of other OLLIs charge a higher annual membership fee than UGA. The FOC concluded there were no discernible diff erences among the membership services off ered by OLLI@UGA and most other Osher ins tutes. Further, OLLI@UGA members can par cipate in 20 special interest groups at no addi onal cost. Thus, the FOC concluded that members of OLLI@UGA were ge ng a compara ve bargain for their annual fee.

Establish a robust system of gift-giving.OLLI@UGA has been organized as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt, nonprofi t associa on and, as such, allows a charitable deduc on, for federal income tax purposes, for some donors who make contribu ons to it. The FOC recommended that a tax-deduc ble annual contribu on be established and widely publicized to members and other friends of OLLI@UGA. Further, the commi ee recommended that a dona on as part of an estate or a major gi over me also be promoted.

Implement varied fees for courses.In examining data and informa on from 118 ins tutes around the country, the FOC noted that OLLI@UGA had the lowest set fee for a course at $5. However, it was not clear from the data and informa on provided as to what “is” a course. The FOC assumed some ins tutes off er a variety of course pa erns from a one- me lecture through semester-long college-level courses. Regardless, in drawing from prac ces at other Osher ins tutes, the FOC recommended that OLLI@UGA implement varied fees for courses depending on the length of the course, number of sessions, instruc onal costs, books and supplies, etc.

Apply for an additional endowment from the Osher Foundation.

When OLLI@UGA achieves an annual membership number of 1,000, it is eligible to apply for an addi onal $1 million in endowment funds (total = $2 million) from the Osher Founda on. The FOC encourages OLLI@UGA to begin planning and organizing to apply for this addi onal endowment amount. According to membership projec ons, OLLI@UGA should be eligible to apply for a grant within two years. An addi onal $1 million endowment would guarantee revenue of $100,000 per year.

The President of OLLI, Mac Rawson, convened a commi ee in early March, 2012 to take an objec ve look at fi nancial op ons for suppor ng the opera ons of OLLI@UGA with a view toward at least fi ve years of sustainability. Members of the commi ee were Richard Lynch(Chair), Jim Kradel, Grace Rabek, and Jay Shinn. A er reviewing OLLI@UGA’s fi nancial situa on and fi nancial data from other Osher ins tutes, the commi ee recommended the following:

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute June 2012, Page 5

In order to fund the opera on of OLLI and the salaries of our excellent staff , we must increase our revenue from non-Osher sources by $60,000 by July 1, 2013. The funding gap is approximately 60% of staff salaries, or 150% of all the revenue produced by course fees during the most recent three quarters. The data collected by the Financial Op ons Commi ee shows that course fees and membership dues here are among the lowest of all the OLLI organiza ons across the country. On the basis of this informa on, the budget, developed by the Budget Commi ee, approved by the Board in April, and accepted by the membership at the Annual Mee ng in May, has raised fees as of July 1, 2012.

As you already know, membership dues have been increased from $40 per year to $45. The change in course fees is more complicated. The current charge for enrolling in a course is the number of class mee ngs mul plied by $5. So a course that meets once costs $5 and a course that meets 10 mes costs $50. Since we get our instruc on for free and our facili es are almost free, the actual costs of a course is the cost of the overhead expenses – prin ng and distribu ng the course catalog, handling registra on, etc. So it costs almost the same

Collaborate on UGA research projects and grants.

The FOC and others on campus noted that OLLI@UGA provides a demographic, sociological, and cap ve group that is a rac ve to researchers, research centers, and the government. There is funding available for lifelong learning and geriatric research. Prospec ve grantees on campus and in the Athens community should be encouraged to include OLLI in proposal development and share in the fi nancial award either through direct costs or a share of indirect costs.

Encourage OLLI committees to generate revenue/control expenses.

The FOC was impressed with the strategies and crea vity of commi ees in genera ng revenue and controlling costs as part of their annual ac vi es. A few examples include promo on of the OLLI@UGA store and its related sales; par cipa on in the Stadion Classic at UGA; community sponsorship of lunch and learn or special events; and discounts from merchants.

The Financial Op ons Commi ee believes that with increased a en on to the revenue op ons delineated in its recommenda ons, OLLI@UGA will con nue to grow and advance its programs and services so that all of us will con nue to be “having the me of our lives with OLLI@UGA.”

CHANGES IN FEESby Richard Bouldin, Chair, ad hoc Budget Committee

to off er a course with ten mee ngs as it does to off er a course with one mee ng. On July 1, 2012 we shall change to a system that be er refl ects our actual costs.

Here is the plan. A course that meets once costs $8, a course that meets twice costs $14 (or $7 per mee ng), a course that meets three mes costs $18 (or $6 per mee ng), and course mee ng four or more mes cost $5 per class mee ng except that the course fee cannot exceed $50. In addi on to being a more forthright representa on of our costs, this plan has the advantage of raising more money. In the current Spring Quarter this scheme for course fees would have resulted in 29% more revenue.

With these changes, our budget for the fi scal year beginning July 1, 2012 should produce a surplus of approximately $30,000, which moves us half way toward closing the funding gap occurring on July 1, 2013. In addi on to helping us prepare for unforeseen increases in our expenses, this surplus will provide us a safety net in case we do not completely close the funding gap during the next fi scal year.

Thanks to Richard Lynchfor providing this summary.

Osher Lifelong Learning InstituteJune 2012, Page 6

BATIK CLASSby Margaret Agner

Ba k is a method of pu ng an image on fabric using dye baths for the colors, with hot wax painted, drawn or stamped on the fabric to resist the color selec vely. Only the fi rst dye bath can be a pure color. For example, start with white co on. Reserve a few highlights of white with wax. A tjan ng tool is used to apply wax to the fabric in fi ne lines. Hot wax is poured into the needle. It then fl ows through the needle spout. Tipping the tool forward starts the wax fl ow, and pping it back stops it. A er waxing areas to reserve the white highlights, dip the fabric into yellow dye. When that is dry, “wax-paint” the areas you want to keep yellow. Next, dip the fabric into blue. It will turn green, not blue, because yellow and blue make green. When the green is dry, paint areas you want to keep green and dip into a red dye. The unwaxed parts of the fabric will turn a brownish color because red and green are complements and will cancel each other’s brightness. Meanwhile, as the fabric is s rred in the dye, the wax on it will crack and the artwork will develop a charming all-over unifying crackled look that is the signature of the ba k look.

I had the pleasure of teaching an OLLI ba k workshop at my basement studio in April, 2012. Six people a ended the two-a ernoon workshop. We all had lots of fun, ge ng down and dirty.

Some mes it’s easier to show somebody how to do something than to tell them. As I start to explain ba k, students are in midated by a process that seems very complex. So I tell them to go through the process step by step. The fi rst step is understandable. Then the second one will be. As soon as their waxed fabric goes into the dye bath and it all turns blue EXCEPT where they painted wax, it starts to make more sense. When they lay the now blue and dry co on over their pa ern, it is clear where to paint the second wax area.

I tell the students that it’s important not to worry much about pa ern or the quality of the waxing and dyeing. It takes years of prac ce to handle the tjan ng tool and the hot wax brush, so why not just have fun and make it a learning process. Isn’t that what OLLI is about?

We were lucky to have such beau ful weather for April’s workshop. We were able to do all the work outside, from drawing to waxing to dyeing to hanging fabric on the rack or the bushes to dry to ironing out the hot wax onto newspapers. Several of the students brought the fi nished pieces to the First Annual OLLI Art Show at Central Presbyterian on April 13.

THREE OLLI COURSES

Ba k fabrics drying on rack

Members of Jim Porter’s Bu erfl ies class, le to right: Sandy Clark, Norma Bowman, Alice Zwaagstra, Julia Dowda, Margaret Agner, Jim Porter, Anita and Barney Brannen, Alexis and Parley Winger

JIM PORTER’S “BUTTERFLIES!” CLASSJim Porter’s bu erfl y class provided an amazing opportunity to learn about bu erfl ies and their importance in nature. Not only are bu erfl ies beau ful, but they also demonstrate a myriad of adapta ons, play a signifi cant role in plant pollina on, and are key sen nels in iden fying ecological impacts from habitat loss and global warming. Jim’s lectures were illustrated by Chuck Murphy’s beau ful bu erfl y photographs.

Mary Ann Cox at the dye bath

Photo from Margaret AgnerPhoto from Margaret Agner

Photo byRaymond Zwaagstra

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute June 2012, Page 7

OLIVE OIL—FROM TREE TO TABLERandall Abney and his wife Carolyn spent ten years living on an olive farm in Tuscany, where Randall became involved in the growing, picking and processing of olives into oil. In fact, Randall holds a “Master of Olive Oil” cer fi cate from Slow Food. Randall’s two-session April course “Olive Oil—From Tree to Table” included, for the second class, an olive oil tas ng, with samples of olive oil from diff erent countries and regions and of diff erent age and quality. Brenda Abdul-Hafez tells a story tes fying to the quality of the course. She signed up her husband Abdel, who is from Egypt and “a healthy cook,” but did not register herself. A er the fi rst class Abdel was so enthusias c that he insisted Brenda come with him to the second! I guess BOTH Abduls will now be using olive oil with even more exper se.

Students in Randall’s class tas ng samples of olive oil

Photo by Brenda Abdul-Hafez

Olive Oil Master Randall oversees the tas ng.

Photo byBrenda Abdul-Hafez

OLLIs AND LEARNING ALLYby Carolyn Abney

Looking for another fun and meaningful thing to do this summer (and fall, winter, and spring) while staying cool? How about volunteering at Learning Ally? Formerly known as “Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic,” Learning Ally provides audio textbooks for over 300,000 students – children and adults – across America. Whether they are blind, visually impaired, dyslexic, or have another learning disability, these folks cannot read standard print. That’s where volunteers come in. And don’t say, “Oh, I don’t like to read aloud.” There are other roles as well!

You can train in several areas. You can be a “marker.” The books that are going to be read aloud must be marked up fi rst, showing the “offi cial” end of each page – where the reader knows to stop – or indica ng areas of the material that are not to be read. Second, you can, of course, be a reader. That’s what I am. Third, you can train to be a director. The director follows along with the reader, stopping the recording if there is a mistake, as well as placing computer marks in the recording so that the listener – the fi nal user – is able to move easily from one part of the text to another. Randall, who has trained as a director, LOVES being MY director: he says it’s the only me I absolutely have to do what he says!

It’s easy to run into OLLI@UGA members at Learning Ally. Sorry if I leave anyone out, but current volunteers include Jeff Engel (who seems to be there daily!), Benedicte Milward, Joe Berrigan, Mac Rawson, Dorinda Dallmeyer, Bill and Lois Alworth, Jane Hague, and Randall and myself. I’m sure any of them would be happy to talk with you about their experiences. The books wai ng to be read on a typical day might be art books, novels, scien fi c books, or business books. There’s a keyboard in one booth for books about music! I was reading a play in an anthology one day, stopped when my session was over, and handed the book to Lois Alworth, who was about to begin the next 1 ½ hour session!

We are lucky to have the recording studio in Athens – it’s the only one in Georgia. It’s just across from the new library and has free parking for your session. If you’d like to learn more, contact Eleanor Co on, Produc on Director, by phone at 706.549.1313 or email to eco on@learningally.com. Booth space is available from 8:30 a.m. well into the evening, so there is always a me you could come; you aren’t ed to a schedule. And, another perk, you can buy the books at a giant discount! Hope to see you there!

Osher Lifelong Learning InstituteJune 2012, Page 8

AT THE FAIROLLI’s First Annual Art Fair was a success in so many ways—the enthusias c OLLI par cipants, the number of visitors, the sales. But one of Joanne Roth’s main goals in ini a ng this event was to give ar sts who had never displayed their work the “new life experience” of par cipa ng in an art fair. In this respect also the Fair seems to have succeeded beau fully. For example, Helen Epps, who had been pain ng pictures of fl owers for only ten months, displayed her work to the public for the fi rst me. She wrote the day a er the Fair, “I am ELATED…I could hardly sleep last night thinking about it…[I] can’t get over all the nice comments.”

Photos by Pat McAlexander

Joanne Roth, painter and gardener, who started it all.

John Weber, photographer, displays his “mixed media photos”

mounted on aged wood

Tina Carlson with three friends she brought to the

Fair in a burka-like carriage.June Mazur and Alexis Winger at the

Picture This! Photography SIG’s display.

Jim Murdock, writer, holding his novel The Blankenschipf Curse

Bill Alworth visits Erika Lewis at her weaving display.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute June 2012, Page 9

continued on page 10

THANK YOUto BB&T Bank

and Talmage Terrace,Our OLLI Art Fair Sponsors!

In MemoriamLouis DeVorsey

TRIP TO CIVIL WAR BATTLEFIELDSOn April 17 and 18, several OLLIs traveled to the key Civil War ba lefi elds of Chickamauga and Cha anooga, guided by Norman Dasinger, Jr., instructor of an OLLI course on those ba les. The photo below was taken at the top of Missionary Ridge in Cha anooga, close to the spot where the Union forces broke through the Confederate line on November 24, 1863 and forced the Confederates to withdraw from Cha anooga through Ringgold Gap to Dalton, Georgia. The OLLI trip, organized by Bill Alworth, enhanced the course discussion of the tac cs, personali es, and strategies of these key ba les.

TRAVEL REPORTSSMITH WILSON’S OHIO TRIP: FEASTING ON HISTORY, SCENERY, AND NEW FRIENDSHIPS

by Joan Zitzelman,with much-appreciated edi ng by Smith Wilson

On May 1, about two dozen OLLIs and friends of Smith gathered at the Akron-Canton Airport to begin a journey to the Ohio Amish Country, Cleveland, and the shore and islands of Lake Erie. Smith’s long- me friend, Pulitzer-Prize winner and history professor Ed Larson, fl ew in from his current assignments at Pepperdine and Stanford to join us.

From le to right: Barbara Weekley, Teddie Batzer, Cheryl Copeland, Bill Bray, Norman Dasinger, Jr., Bill Alworth, Bill Loughner, Jerry Adams, Lois English,

Clarissa Finco, Dick Smith, Marilyn Smith, Norman Dasinger, Sr., Brad Hogue,and Don English. In front: Karen Jacobsen-Mispagel and Michael Mispagel

Smith Wilson’s Ohio Travellers. Back row le to right: Don Schneider, Smith Wilson, Wayne Middendorf, Bob Hart, Charles Carter, Gary Fleming, Carolyn Berdanier, Laura

Carter, Ed Larsen, Amy Andrews, Nancy Canolty, Louise Fleming, Reese Berdanier. Middle row: Tom Brown, Karen Middendorf, Sara Kepp, Francis Ennis, Diane Penny Wilson Front

row: Carol Brown, Ann Darby, John Kipp, Nancy Hunt, Penny Adams, Joan Zitzelman

Photo by Lois Alworth

Photo from John Kipp

Our fi rst a ernoon Ed and Lovina Yoder welcomed us to their tradi onal Old Amish order farm. A er si ng in the large outbuilding room, site of the Amish church service the preceding Sunday, and learning about the custom of rota ng the service bi-weekly to one of the three dozen families making up this congrega on, we walked around the dairy and horse farm that provides the family living. Ed breeds and raises the huge Percheron horses that plow his fi elds and those of his neighbors, as well as horses trained to pull their buggies, providing the principal transporta on of the Old Order Amish community.

Osher Lifelong Learning InstituteJune 2012, Page 10

Civil War and remembrance of the harsh a tude of Garfi eld to the former Confederate States a er the War, contributed $33 (only North Carolina contributed less—$4). In the cemetery we also visited the Wade Chapel, with its stunning Tiff any stained-glass window and micro-mosaic glass wall panels.

On our fi nal day of the tour we explored Lake Erie, noted for beauty, recrea on and historical signifi cance. (The evening before, we had learned that it was the site of what Ed Larsen considers the most cri cal ba le of the War of 1812, when Oliver Hazard Perry enlisted local people to build a small fl o lla that vanquished the Bri sh and drove them to the East and South.) We visited Johnson’s Island, site of a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp for offi cers from 1861-65. On Kelly’s Island we saw “Glacier Grooves,” large grooves in the bedrock formed by movement of glaciers thousands of years ago. On Bass Island, a large sec on of our party accompanied Ed Larson and Smith Wilson to a winery that has in its cellar a giant geode—a crystal forma on large enough for more than a dozen of us to stand inside at one me.

Throughout the tour, we all mixed and shared our delights with one another. We con nued visi ng even in the Akron-Canton airport where we dispersed to return to our daily lives.

Note: On the OLLI Facebook page you can see over400 of John Kipp’s photos of this trip.

www.facebook.com/OLLIatUGA

ONE MORE CLASS: CRITICAL READING

continued from page 9

Lovina Yoder invited us to walk through the family home, showing us how daily life is conducted without electricity or telephones. She shared samples of her hand-sewn quilts, many of which she creates to be sold for charitable purposes. The Amish community provides for the ill and poor among their numbers without dependence on government assistance.

We next stopped at a one-room school house and learned that Old Order Amish children generally complete their school educa on at the eighth grade. Un l they reach adulthood, these Amish children o en experience some of the culture of non-Amish children and families (rumspringa). It is cri cal to the Amish religion and life that only an adult may be bap zed and make the lifelong decision to remain in the Amish community. Another Old Order family, the Shrocks, hosted our dinner on their farm. Our evening fi nished with a Shrock family sing, the thirteen singers consis ng of three genera ons.

The next morning we visited “Behalt,” an Amish visitor and educa on center containing a cyclorama pain ng that depicts the evolu on of the Amish religion. Beginning in Switzerland in the 16th-century, a me when many Protestant religions broke away from the Catholic Church, Amish culture moved through Europe and into America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

That a ernoon the group visited Rolling Ridge Ranch and Animal Reserve where we rode in wagons drawn by teams of Percheron dra horses through acres of woods populated by exo c animals from around the world. We were furnished with plas c buckets of food for the animals; as the wagon paused here and there, eager creatures came up to eat out of our buckets and even out of our hands. Later in Rolling Ridge’s pe ng zoo, I caressed a three-week-old camel, surely the closest I shall ever get to such an animal. Our evening event was a tour and then dinner served in the Warther Museum. Mooney Warther, a self-taught carver, created highly detailed wood and ivory carvings of miniature historic trains which are displayed in the museum. Though Mooney is deceased, his grandson carries on the family business of making custom kitchen knives; he was the host of this magical evening.

The next morning as we traveled to Cleveland, we were entertained with commentary by Ed Larson on everything from Johnny Appleseed to the eight U.S. presidents from Ohio. In Cleveland we visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and had a bus tour of the city. At Lakeview Cemetery, we saw the tomb of martyred President James Garfi eld. Within the tomb are windows and panels from the states of the 1881 period, the states represented being asked to contribute up to $150,000 for the design and installa on. Georgia, recovering from the

TRAVEL REPORTS continued

Le to right: Warren Flick, Alexis Winger, Inge Whi le,Lee Feathers, instructor Cecil Eby, Hugh Norse, Carolyn Abney.

In front: Randall Abney with Cecil's dog, KGB

Photo by Zu Reuter

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute June 2012, Page 11

SIGSBICYCLING

Contact: John Songster, 706 548-8181,John.songster483@charter.net

PICTURE THIS!On May 24 a group from Picture This! traveled to Hurricane Shoals for a photo shoot and picnic. They photographed historic buildings that had been moved to the site, a working water wheel, the rocks and shoals—and each other.Contact: Chuck Murphy, picturethis.athens@gmail.com

HAPPY HIKERSThe Happy Hikers will hike the 1.4 mile Dick’s Creek Trail in Raybun County near Clayton, Georgia, on Thursday, June 21. Beau ful Dicks Creek Falls is one of the highlights of both the Bartram Trail and the Chatooga River Trail. The trail allows access to the Cha ooga Wild and Scenic River area from Sandy Ford Road. This hike combines scenic beauty, a waterfall, and gently fl owing river. A visit to Tallulah Falls may be included. There is no hike in July, but in August there will be a meet and greet lunch. Watch email for details.Contact: Iris Miracle, happyhikers@yahoo.com , 706-353-6711

MAH JONGGAn update on our group: We have about eighteen members, but play three tables of four every week. We love hearing from beginners and have no trouble adding them to a table. All of our players remember what it was like when they were new, and are pa ent with beginners. We are at the point where some players know more than I do, and I love that. They keep me on my toes. We have two things we want to get out of every Tuesday a ernoon: to laugh a lot and play Mah Jongg with friends. We are succeeding beau fully.

Contact: Heidi Naylor, alpshv428@aol.com , 706 850-5013

INVESTINGWe have had an exci ng spring covering a wide range of topics: ethics, taxes, probate, inheritance, fi nancials, na onal economy, re rement survival, and inves ng in today’s markets. Our June mee ng will have two speakers talking about Reits and other safe investments for older investors and an introduc on to op ons, trading in stocks and how to get started. We take July off and start back in August with a new round of economic and fi nancial news, opinion and conversa on. In September Georgia Public Service Commission Chairman and Winterville resident Tim Echols will be our guest speaker. We usually meet the third Thursday at 3:00 p.m. Join us and learn how the na onal and interna onal economies and markets aff ect our lives and how we can prosper in these unse ling mes.

Contact: Carey Winzurk, gwinzurk900@msn.com, 706 549-9643

NEW SIG: OLLI PADDLERS?Exploring the possibility of a new SIG: OLLI Paddlers. Open to all who like to paddle their own boats--canoes, kayaks, sit-on-tops, whatever. We could get together and take trips to the numerous local (and not so local) lakes and river, fl atwater and whitewater, whatever people desire.

Contact: Jeff Engel, jengel47@gmail.com

VEGETABLE GARDENINGMembers of our group include newcomers to Athens trying to adapt techniques they brought with them; folks who are new to gardening, whether in Georgia clay or elsewhere; and cer fi ed Master Gardeners. We help each other with planning or plan ng a vegetable garden (whatever its size), swapping seeds and cu ngs, sharing local knowledge, and touring both commercial nurseries and our own gardens.

Contacts: Carolyn Abney, carolynabney@me.comArt Crawley (co-chair), 706-353-3012.

Le to right:Jeff Engle, John Songster, Bruce Jacobson, Dortha Jacobson, Becky Engle,

Diane Montevideo, Karen Jacobsen-Mispagel on Arabia Mountain Trail April 20

Le to right:Bill Prokasy, Ken Pagel, Pat Frazar, Barbara Densen, Pat McAlexander, Lew Frazar,

Chuck Murphy, Erika Lewis, Alexis Winger, and Jeff Engel at Hurricane Shoals

Photo from John Songster

Photo by Bill Prokasy

Osher Lifelong Learning InstituteJune 2012, Page 12

OLLI BRIEFS Two six-hour defensive driving classes for senior

adults are being off ered by the AARP Driver Safety Program at the Athens Area Community Council on Aging June 28 and 29 and July 26 and 27, 9:00 a.m. ll noon. Course comple on may en tle you to auto insurance rate reduc on. The July course fee for current or past educators, broadly defi ned, is $5.00. Normal fees ($12 or $14) apply for others and for the June class. To register call the ACCA at 706-549-4850. For more informa on, contact:Don Schneider, 706-353-6709; dschneideider36@a .net.

OLLI members have been so very generous with dona ons to Food2Kids since September 2011. We have donated well over 700 pounds of food to this mission. We plan to con nue this program: cans of fruit for August and peanut bu er for September.

If you know someone who would like to join OLLI or take OLLI courses but is short of funds, remember that there is a scholarship program for such OLLIs. Ask Katy for informa on.

OLLI manned a table at the Athens-Clarke County Total Health Fair held at the Classic Center on April 24 from 9:00 to 3:00. Membership Commi ee members Pam Smith, Ann Darby, and Vic Armstrong answered ques ons and handed out literature. This year was the second year for the event with more than 900 a endees and 54 presenters. This event is for all ACC employees and is sponsored by the Human Resources Department of Athens-Clarke County.

The March OLLI Times ar cle about OLLI@UGA’s then-upcoming fi rst annual Art Show and Plant Swap was reprinted in the OLLI Na onal Resource Center’s online Newsle er—with the picture in color. A picture (also in color) of Mac showing the Mayoral Proclama on has been published in another issue.

Save/Mark These DatesThursday, August 9, 2:00-4:00 p.m.Newbees Orienta on—an informa ve mee ng for all OLLI members who have joined in the past year.

Thursday, August 30: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.OLLIs are cordially invited to a end the launch of the Athens Area Village, a program of ACCA. Come learn how you can become a charter member of this new program. Athens Area Village is a volunteer and membership organiza on dedicated to assis ng older adults to con nue residing in their own homes with dignity and respect as they age by off ering prac cal and cost-eff ec ve services and programs. For more informa on, contact:Jennie Deese at jdeese@accaging.org or 706-549-4850.

Thursday, August 30Deadline for submi ng materials for the September OLLI Times, to be mailed the week of September 18.

Thursday, September 6, 7:00 p.m.Oconee Rivers Audubon Society (ORAS) invites all OLLI members interested in birding and travel to a end a special presenta on at UGA’s Odum School of Ecology by author and birder Robert Gallardo, who lives and works in Honduras.

Monday morning, September 10OLLI’s Fall Back-to-Class Bash at Central Presbyterian.

A Happy Vic Armstrong with OLLI IDOLLI ID cards are now available at the Tate Student Center. You can use them with coupons in the ads that will be inserted in future issues of The OLLI Times or in some cases, to get student discounts. Vic Armstrong showed his OLLI ID card at Peach Mac and got a 10% discount off the $1000 laptop he purchased.

Photo by Alexis Winger