PRESIDENT'S CORNER: June 16, 2017

Annual Meeting Edition: Yes, next Wednesday, June 21 is our OLLI Annual Meeting at the Erickson Alumni Center. This is our opportunity to conduct a bit of business, acknowledge some special people and events, and start the annual process of paying due and registering for the summer term. You should have your summer catalog in hand, so I hope you’ve taken the time to decide what classes would be of interest and are ready to sign up.

Yesterday, Sonja was testing the equipment so that, for the first time, we can offer an interactive course from the Smithsonian, this one on great art. Check it out.

Summer: …will officially begin next week. Most of us are officially senior citizens, so, whether we like it or not, the season has arrived when we have to be wise about the heat and humidity. Lately, I have been forcefully reminded that I am 71 going on forever, and that I can’t just go out and play in the heat and humidity without consequences, so I hope each of you has access to air conditioning and have planned how you take care of things in your life.  DO have fun, travel, see friends, go to classes and meetings, but with care, OK?

Sylvia: You might want to celebrate the beginning of summer by going to the next production of the WV Public Theater at the CAC. I saw its director, Jerry McGonigle a couple of days ago and he reminded me that one of our old faculty colleagues, and a fellow alum of San Francisco’s ACT Theater school, Joe Olivieri, would be featured in the cast. And one of our grad students from some years ago, Joe Mortimer, will also be in the cast. Both Joes are fine actors, so it will be a real treat to see them. The dates are June 21-25 and there’s a Sunday matinee on the 25^th.

Chautauqua Season: The 2017 season begins at the end of next week.  I have been enjoying watching the reconstruction of the Amphitheater all year. My gosh, these people know how to do it right. They claimed that they would build a whole new Amp that would be ready for the first day of the 2017 season…and it will be. You can check out the pictures at chq.org.  Just click on Amp Cam and be amazed. Bonnie and I will not be going this year, but if all goes well, we’ll be there next summer. BUT…for those of you that prefer armchair travel, check out their extensive collection of lectures on video at YouTube. Just search for Chautauqua Institution and you’ll find hundreds of possibilities.

I think that’s enough from me for this week.  Happy Summer, all, and I’ll hope to see many of you at the Annual Meeting!

Jim Held, President