November 2025 OLLI Newsletter

Notes from Heather

It’s been a while since I’ve written an introductory article for the OLLI at Iowa State newsletter, but with Beth still traveling, I have the privilege of stepping in. She and I usually collaborate on this article—and truthfully, deciding what to include can be a challenge with so much happening! I’ve narrowed it down to three key updates I’d love to share with you.

1. Meeting with Me
   If you’d like to meet, please contact me ahead of time to schedule a meeting. With our move to Howe Hall, parking and office access can be tricky. On days I’m away, I’ll make sure a colleague is available to assist—or we can meet somewhere in Ames, depending on the day and time.
2. First Friday Coffees
   These gatherings will be online only starting in November and continuing through March. You’ll find the Zoom link on the Events page of our website https://olli.iastate.edu/. While you’re on the website, consider bookmarking it for quick access to updates and resources.
3. A Heartfelt Thank You
   Your flexibility, support, and dedication during our transition to a new registration system have been nothing short of inspiring. Learning new processes isn’t always easy, and your patience when things don’t go as planned means the world. Your commitment to lifelong learning and your resilience continue to amaze me—I’m truly proud to be part of this incredible community of lifelong learners.

Heather Bristow, OLLI at Iowa State Director

P.S. I will be out of the office on Wednesday, Nov. 5
P.P.S. The offices will be closed Wednesday – Friday. Nov. 26 – 28 for Thanksgiving

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.

Share the OLLI at Iowa State Experience

With the holidays just around the corner, consider a meaningful gift for the curious minds in your life—a gift certificate from OLLI at Iowa State! You choose the amount, and your loved ones choose how to use it within the OLLI at Iowa State program.

Whether nearby or far away, adults of all ages can join in the joy of learning thanks to our online programming. I hope you will consider sharing the OLLI at Iowa State experience this season!

Curiosity Doesn’t Age—And Neither Does Learning!

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Iowa State is now welcoming adults of all ages to join its vibrant community of learners. This exciting new development opens the door wider than ever before—because the desire to explore, grow, and connect doesn’t fade with time.

Help us spread the word! Share this news with your family, friends, and anyone who believes that learning is a lifelong adventure.

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 ($225 value)
• Monthly newsletter delivered to your email inbox
• 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 off 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 renew your membership, visit our website at https://olli.iastate.edu/ to complete the online membership form. Or you may contact Heather Bristow (see her contact information at the end of this newsletter).

Fall Term Wrap Up

As we conclude the last few classes of the fall 2025 course term, let’s pause to express our gratitude to all the instructors and volunteers who helped to make the fall 2025 course term a success. If you encounter any of these individuals, please take a moment to thank them.

We would also like to take a moment to thank those who have registered for courses. The knowledge shared, the questions answered, the discussions held, and the community engagement that occurred make it all worthwhile!

To those of you who completed the evaluation form, thank you! It is because of you that we can continue to improve our course offerings and experiences. Feel free to email OLLI at Iowa State staff at any time throughout the year with your comments or concerns. We love to hear from you and look forward to exploring ways to make OLLI at Iowa State even better.

Athletics Update with Jamie Pollard

Jamie Pollard’s “All Things Iowa State Athletics” presentation, hosted on September 25, was a joint event between OLLI at Iowa State and the ISU Retiree Association at Green Hills. Nearly 90 attendees, including OLLI at Iowa State members, ISU retirees, and their guests, joined in person and online. Jamie provided an engaging overview of the CyTown project, covering its origins, current development stages, and projected completion timeline. He even threw in a few fun facts about the project, such as the proposed children’s playground will be called Cy’s House and look like birdhouses, the hotel that will be built will be called “The Cardinal,” parking actually increased by 10%, there will be a replica football field, and the Iowa boys’ high school basketball state tournament will move to Hilton Coliseum in 2027.

OLLI at Iowa State Member Speaks at Stephens Auditorium

On October 9, CY Stephens Auditorium welcomed the World Ballet Company for a stunning performance of The Great Gatsby Ballet. “It was a riveting performance. I’ve never seen a ballet like this one before,” shared Heather Bristow, director of OLLI at Iowa State.

Earlier this spring, OLLI offered a course titled Gatsby at 100: The Author & His Book, taught by Ron Palumbo. In collaboration with CY Stephens, we secured a discounted ticket agreement with the ballet company, citing the course as a connection point. The company was happy to extend the offer, and we hope many of you were able to take advantage of it.

To further enrich the experience, CY Stephens invited Ron Palumbo to serve as their Café Speaker before the performance. A small group gathered in an intimate space at the auditorium to hear his engaging, abbreviated presentation on the book and its author. “Ron delivered an informative and lively talk, and even gave a kind shout-out to OLLI at Iowa State—thank you, Ron!” Heather added.

November Pop-Up Classes

Feel like you can’t wait for the winter 2025 term to start, no worries, join us in November for a couple online pop-up classes. Each course has its own registration form, you can access it by clicking the registration links below, or by visiting the events page of our website.

World War II and the Common Man: The Story of Three Young Men and Their Experience

Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT, $25
Online with Zoom
Register for the WWII Course Here

As Tom Brokaw said in his book, “The Greatest Generation,” “We took young, ordinary Americans and asked of them extraordinary service, sacrifice, and heroics.” This is the firsthand story of three men and their experience during the Battle of the Bulge, and what it was like for American women during the war.

Chuck Achter has been a lifelong educator and has taught OLLI classes for the past eight years.

Don’t Let Germs Crash the Party: Holiday Food Safety Guidance

Monday, Nov. 17, 2025
1 – 2:30 p.m. CT, $25
Online with Zoom
Register for the Holiday Food Course Here

Family holiday dinners too often become memorable events: “Remember that Thanksgiving when we all got sick from…” This class will discuss key food preparation steps to prevent foodborne illness at the family holiday dinner and in handling leftovers.

Gale Prince is an ISU Graduate with over 55 years of experience in food safety and regulatory compliance in the food industry. He has a long list of actual holiday food preparation procedures that have resulted in historical memories of family foodborne illness outbreaks from holiday dinners.

Winter 2025 Term

And now, we shift our focus to the winter term. Mark your calendars for Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. CT to join us online for the Winter 2025 Course Preview. Instructors will share what each of their courses will cover in brief 90-second soundbites. We hope you can join us for this event.

Winter courses are only offered online to save us all from the perils of potentially dangerous roads and temperatures. So, grab your hot cocoa, a blanket, and maybe even a furry friend, and join us online for classes.

Winter 2025 Course List (alphabetical order)

Friends of OLLI at Iowa State

Your gifts—whether through engagement, encouragement, or donations—help sustain OLLI at Iowa State and uphold the legacy of the Bernard Osher Foundation. We’re deeply grateful for your continued dedication to our mission.

As many of you know, Iowa State University and its partners have undergone several changes recently. The ISU Foundation continues to manage all donated funds for ISU entities, including OLLI. As part of these updates, our online donation form has been revised. You can also find the link on our website.

In the past, we were able to reallocate canceled registration fees as donations. However, new policies no longer allow this. If you’d like to support OLLI at Iowa State, please use the online form or contact the ISU Foundation directly. You can reach them at questions@foundation.iastate.edu or call (515) 294-4607 / toll-free (866) 419-6768.

Since our last quarterly report, we’ve received $1,960 from 16 generous donors. These contributions help us create joyful learning spaces by funding equipment and supplies that enhance the classroom experience. Thank you for being part of our vibrant community!

AARP Highlights Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes

An OLLI at Iowa State member recently shared a link to an AARP article. The article was published in early September, but the information is very relevant even today. We hope you will take a few moments to give it a quick read.

Mark Your Calendars!

First Friday Coffee

November 7, 2025, Online with Zoom
Join us for a virtual First Friday Coffee from the comfort of your own home. The Zoom link can be found on the events page of our website.

Stephens Auditorium

**Member Benefit Reminder**

Another opportunity to use the Buy One Get One Ticket offer from CY Stephens will be on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, with the Soweto Gospel Choir. To use the voucher you received with your membership letter, see the text at the bottom of the voucher for directions and contact information for the box office.

With their concert entitled “PEACE,” the multi-Grammy® and Emmy Award®-winning SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR returns to North America to perform a joyful program of South African freedom songs, traditional spirituals, and some classics. The inspirational concert will also feature the spirited music of Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Leonard Cohen, and more!

Formed in 2002, the Choir was created to celebrate the unique power of African gospel music and quickly established itself as a group that is “undeniably synchronized, appears unshakable, and simultaneously expresses universality and individuality” (San Francisco Classical Voice).

Heralded by Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Barack Obama, and Oprah Winfrey, SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR excites audiences worldwide, uplifting the soul and spreading joy through its earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, brilliant costumes, and infectious spirit. It’s perfect for the entire family!

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