December 2025 OLLI Newsletter

Letter from OLLI Council Chair

Greetings fellow OLLI members,

It is holiday time again and I was asked last week if I had finished my Christmas shopping. I have not even started! I am concentrating on more ways to show my gratitude with my gift giving. The Oxford Dictionary defines gratitude as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Our family has been moving away from giving things and concentrating more on experiences.

I am grateful for the OLLI classes and participating in social activities. I am going to be gifting our OLLI to family and friends. Now that OLLI is open to all adults, I can share an OLLI membership with a wider group of people. And our online classes allow for those living (and working) across the country to take 90 minutes to participate in a course.

I also want to take this opportunity to say thank you. I am personally grateful for Heather Bristow’s leadership during our unexpected move to our new home in CELT and how flexible, kind, and supportive our membership has been during the transition. I hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season!

See you in an online class in January.

Beth Larabee, OLLI Advisory Council Chair

To become a Friend of OLLI at Iowa State by a show of financial support, please go to https://isu.foundation/olli and select the Friends of OLLI at Iowa State fund.

Learning is a Treasure…

…that follows its owner everywhere.” You may have heard this phrase described as a Chinese proverb, attributed to Confucius, or even as a modern interpretation of Confucian wisdom. Wherever it comes from, the sentiment rings true– knowledge is something we carry with us, enriching every stage of life.

With the holiday season upon us, it’s the perfect time to think about gifts that go beyond the ordinary. OLLI at Iowa State offers gift certificates in any amount, making it easy to share the joy of lifelong learning with family and friends.

If you’ve got someone on your list who’s tricky to shop for, consider giving them the opportunity to explore new ideas, meet new people, discover new passions, and the membership benefits listed below.

A gift from OLLI isn’t just a present—it’s an experience that lasts well beyond the holidays.

OLLI at Iowa State membership benefits for 2025-2026 include:

• Connection to a community of enthusiastic learners
• Access to quality non-credit educational opportunities (priced separately)
• Nine OLLI Talk programs with no cost or registration ($225 value)
• Monthly newsletter
• Weekly Friday emails during class sessions about the next week’s activities
• Ames Chamber Artists complimentary pair of concert tickets ($30 value)
• Central Iowa Symphony complimentary pair of concert tickets ($40 value)
• ISU Library card for use at Parks Library for $5 (non-ISU retiree, Iowa residents only) ($15 value)
• Octagon Center for the Arts 10% discount on a purchase of $25 or more
• Stephens Auditorium Buy One Get One ticket offers to select shows

To become an OLLI at Iowa State member or to purchase a gift certificate, visit our website at https://olli.iastate.edu/ to learn more.

Winter 2026 Term

December is full of preparations: finding that perfect gift for a special someone, planning family gatherings with all the trimmings (food included), and considering New Year’s Resolutions (if you’re into that kind of thing). Or perhaps you are just looking for a way to survive the cold winter months by keeping yourself busy.

OLLI at Iowa State has a fantastic line-up of courses for our winter term. We hope you can join us for the Course Preview event on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at 1:30 p.m. CT via Zoom. Instructors will be present to give an overview of what they intend to teach in January & February. You can find the link on the Events page of our website. Registration will open on Friday, Dec. 12 at 8:30 a.m. CT.

For those of you who already activated your OLLI at Iowa State membership, to register for winter courses, click the Register Now button on the Course Information page of our website, sign in with the password you set up when you paid for your membership, and pick your classes. If you aren’t yet a member, visit the Membership page of our website, pay for your membership, then you can register through the Course Information page. Feel free to contact Heather Bristow, Director of OLLI at Iowa State, if you have any questions.

If you have issues with the forms themselves, you will need to contact the ISU Extension Registration Services team at registrations@iastate.edu or 515-294-6222.

Winter 2026 Course List

• Advancing Food Safety Awareness for People Over 50
• AI and The Human Future
• Ames Celebrates the Nation’s Centennial
• Authentic Italian Home Cooking: Valentine’s Day Dinner
• Benjamin Franklin–The Wise and Witty Founding Father
• Beyond the Game: How Athletics Academic Services Shape the Lives and Futures of Iowa State Athletes
• Cover Crops: Green Fields, Clear Water
• Demystifying AI
• Discussion About Ultra-Processed Foods
• From Icons to Perestroika: A History of Visual Culture
• It’s Not What You Said! It’s How You Said It! The Role of Nonverbal Communication in Our Interactions With Others
• Let’s Talk OLLI
• Lessons from the Great Depression
• Managing Your Digital Stuff
• Mediterranean diet (Science and Recipes)
• Nineteenth Century Europe, 1815-1914
• Only Hope: My Mother and the Holocaust Brought to Light
• Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia: Normal Aging vs. Differential Diagnoses
• Physical Activity and Aging Study
• Spotlight on Ames Non-Profits
• The Growth of Presidential Powers in Foreign Policy-Making
• Understanding Global Climate Change
• Understanding Iowa’s Emerging Water Crisis
• Volunteer Community Radio; Learn to Interview/Produce Your Own Program
• Yikes (Data Breaches, Compromised Accounts, etc.)

OLLI Talks

• McFarland Park Lake Restoration Project
• From Avian Influenza to Innovation: updates from the ISU VDL
• A Life after ISU

Calling all OLLI at Iowa State Members

An OLLI at Iowa State member recently had this to say, “OLLI is a tremendous program which benefits hundreds of us each year, and Heather and all of the volunteers do an admirable job.”

At OLLI at Iowa State, we’re lucky to have a number of volunteer teams that keep things running smoothly—each with its own special role in making our program thrive. Recently, the Advisory Council and staff took a fresh look at how leadership works here, and the result is a more flexible, welcoming structure for anyone who wants to get involved. Members may volunteer for a one-time project or serving a two-year term on one of our teams. And now, you don’t have to wait for the start of a fiscal year to jump in. Whether you’re interested in joining an Advisory Team, lending a hand on a Project Team, or being part of our Volunteer Pool, you can sign up at any point during the year (see below for a quick overview of each team).

The Executive Team of the Advisory Council makes up the nominating team each year. Together with the OLLI at Iowa State staff, they work to fill the vacancies on the teams for the minimum number of team members needed. But “many hands make light work,” and we will welcome anyone who wants to volunteer anytime. Contact Heather Bristow, Director of OLLI at Iowa State, if you would like to start a conversation on where you fit into the volunteer fabric of our organization.

Advisory Teams

These teams meet consistently throughout the year (monthly/quarterly).

• Community Engagement Team – promotes OLLI at Iowa State to both the membership and wider community through community presentations, social engagements, and advertising opportunities.
• Curriculum Team – assists OLLI at Iowa State staff through conversations with potential instructors about identified topics from suggestions from the membership.
• Finance Team – works with other volunteer teams and OLLI at Iowa State staff to monitor and report the financial status of the program.

Project Teams

These teams meet periodically when specific projects are needed.

• Evaluation Team – Assists with evaluative projects for the OLLI at Iowa State staff and membership.
• Program Development Team – Assists OLLI at Iowa State staff with strategic planning tracking documentation.
• Technology Team – Provides support for OLLI at Iowa State courses in setting up and tearing down equipment and helping to monitor online participants in hybrid classes.
• Volunteer Team – Coordinates the Volunteer Pool with individuals willing to serve OLLI at Iowa State through various intermittent projects.

If you’ve ever thought about sharing your time and talents with OLLI, this is the perfect chance—your involvement makes a real difference.

Newsletter Spotlight for OLLI at Iowa State

Recently, one of our members wrote an article about OLLI at Iowa State for the new online publication the Ames Voice. Feel free to check out the article on their website at amesvoice.com/a_lifelong_learning_opportunity_in_the_community. Feel free to peruse the rest of their website for other local news updates.

Mark Your Calendars!

First Friday Coffee

Friday, Dec. 5  |  9 a.m. CT  |  Online with Zoom, link on Events page of website
We hope you will join us for conversation and connection!

Winter 2026 Course Preview

Wednesday, Dec. 10  |  1:30 p.m. CT  |  Online with Zoom, link on Events page of website
Come learn about the winter course line-up directly from the instructors themselves.

Central Iowa Symphony

Saturday, Dec. 6  |  7:30 p.m. CT  |  Ames Auditorium, 520 6th St, Ames, IA
Concert Conversations with Eric McIntyre at 6:45 p.m. CT
**OLLI Members may use the two free concert tickets they received with their membership letter**

Herald in the holidays with music, and welcome yet another rarely seen solo instrument to the front of the orchestra as guitarist, Alex Aldridge, brings Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s effervescent first Guitar Concerto to life in a display of shining virtuosity. The balance of the program features various classical takes on Christmas music, including an endearing work by Arnold Schoenberg and Alfred Reed’s stirring Russian Christmas Music. Tickets are available online at https://centraliowasymphony.thundertix.com/.

Ames Chamber Artists

Friday, Dec. 12  |  7:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, Dec. 13  |  3 p.m. CT
Collegiate Presbyterian Church, 159 Sheldon Ave, Ames, IA
**OLLI Members may use the two free concert tickets they received with their membership letter**

A classical Christmas concert with the beautiful sounds of voices and strings, featuring Bach’s Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme and a quod libet mass of a cappella works. Tickets are available at the door and online at https://www.ameschamberartists.org/tickets; livestreaming will also be available.

OLLI at ISU Advisory Council & Teams 2025-2026

The OLLI at Iowa State Advisory Council includes the executive team and coordinators of the Advisory Teams. OLLI staff and Project Team Coordinators serve in an ex-officio capacity. Feel free to visit with any of these individuals about course ideas, volunteer opportunities, and any additional programming comments.

MISSION

OLLI at Iowa State nurtures a joyful community of lifelong learning for adults of all ages. We offer non-credit educational courses and social experiences that spark curiosity, connection, and personal growth, specially designed for mature learners.

VISION

To be recognized as the premier, volunteer-based organization of lifelong learning experiences.

VAULES

Adaptability, Curiosity, Integrity, Knowledge, Passion

GOALS

• To continue to offer quality classes and experiences led by excellent leaders
• To expand the base from which OLLI participants are drawn
• To strive for financial security and sustainable growth