While the debate carries on about returning children to school in person or continuing remote learning, OLLI at Granite State College never entered the debate. OLLI is a “learning-for-the-fun-of-it” program designed specifically for the over-50 population, the exact definition of the “most vulnerable” population that must be extra careful during this pandemic. So, even as stay-at-home requirements are being relaxed somewhat, OLLI and Granite State College determined that fall term classes will be offered remotely on the Zoom platform. Committee meetings and social events also are conducted remotely for this fall term.
There is no substitute for the joy of gathering in a room to enjoy the company of peers and OLLI members miss that experience terribly. But lifelong learners don’t stop learning when one avenue of education is blocked. Volunteer curriculum committee members took extra pains to put together 54 courses that not only offer something for everyone but will be irresistible to many.
OLLI members’ favorite topics are history and politics. Political junkies will line up for David Hess’s “Picking the President 2020: Here We Go Again,” “The Electoral College – Why Do We Have it and Can We Change It?,” “Barriers to Voting in Elections,” “Constituting Revolutionary Governments,” “Restructuring American Democracy,” and, in November, Josh Shaine will present “The Election is Over. What Does It Mean?”
History courses cover a broad spectrum from “Civil War Soldier” and “Bringing History North: Slavery in Massachusetts Province of Maine” to “Denmark and France Under Nazi Occupation,” a sequel to OLLI’s wildly popular “Freedom Trail Stories” and the story of “Passaconaway, the Merrimac Chief” narrated by the ever-popular Sebastian Lockwood.
The literature category will feature seven courses covering a novel, “Sour Grapes: The Impact of Grapes of Wrath;” a biography, Hermit: The Mysterious Life of Jim Whyte; a magazine, The New Yorker; a newspaper, “Mountain Ear: A Newspaper’s Unusual Stories;” poetry, “Poetry Reading by N.H. Poet Laureate” and “Finding Hints of Gladness in a Favorite Poem,” and personal skills, “Explore Your Creative Voice.”
Four courses appear under philosophy and religion: “Buddhism – Philosophy, Religion and Science,” “Muhammad and the Birth of Islam,” “Major Women in the Hebrew Bible” by Concord’s own Rabbi Robin Nafshi and “Moral Philosophy: The Ethics of Compromise.”
Members may expand their personal skills in “Learning Facebook,” “Organizing and Managing Your Digital Photo Library,” “Organizing Your Records for your Family,” “Writing a Legacy Letter,” “Bridge for Your Brain,” “Mindfulness” and “How to Mindfully Declutter.”
Arts and sciences are covered with “Exploring Japanese Art,” “Duke Ellington,” “Climate Change and its Impact on New England,” “What is Your Food Science IQ?” “Sustainable Urban Farming,” “Forecasting the Weather” and “Living With Bears in Your Community.”
And there are more. To see the full list of courses, visit the OLLI website at olli.granite.edu. Classes are open to both members and nonmembers with member rates set $20 less than nonmembers. Becoming a member is easy; simply have your credit card ready and call the OLLI office at 513-1377 on Thursdays. An annual membership is available for only $40 and entitles you to participate in the free offerings – Lunch & Learns, social events, special interest groups and others. Registration for Fall courses begins at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, and the first class of the term is Aug. 18.
The love-hate relationship that so many people have with Zoom and other internet-based delivery systems exists in OLLI. Some members have adapted easily, but most have had to overcome a lack of confidence in their technology skills and equipment with some reluctance. But, to the surprise of many, Zoom is generally easy … and it’s better than having no classes at all.