OLLI SFSU Newsletter
March 2006

Welcome

The monthly newsletter is a vital source for OLLI news and information as well as a glimpse inside our growing community of members, faculty, and related activities. Send us your suggestions to robertm@sfsu.edu. If you would like to submit something for the March newsletter, our deadline is March 10. We like to hear from MEMBERS about what is happening inside and outside the classroom that you think would interest other members.

In this Issue...

• Upcoming Events
• Faculty Spotlight
• Member Spotlight
• March Line-Up & Registration Information
• OLLI Community
• Opportunities

Upcoming Events

March Forums - Free & Open to Everyone

March 1 & 29, Wednesday, 4:00pm-5:00pm
OLLI Info Session about the coming month's offerings. Meet staff, members and faculty and learn more about each of the courses. Downtown Center, St.

March 9, Thursday, 10:00am-11:30am
China the Sleeping Giant with TraveLearn executive, Edwin Williams, at the Downtown Center, St. RSVP: 415.817.4251.

March 21, Tuesday, 3:00pm-4:30pm
Fiction You Wish You Had Read: a new book discussion group, Mechanics' Institute, 57 Post Street at Market (immediately at the Montgomery Street BART). The group will discuss Philip Roth's American Pastoral. For more information or to reserve a space, please call Sharon Miller at 415.393.0113.

March 28, Tuesday, 12:00 noon-2:00pm
World Affairs Discussion Group will meet at the Downtown Center to discuss the topic of democracy: What is the status of democracy worldwide; how does democracy differ from country to country. Contact alcrowell@sbcglobal.net for additional information.

Faculty Spotlight

Susan Hoffman

San Francisco OLLI's greatest resource is the collaborative spirit and practice among the members, the various committees and the Director Susan Hoffman. Susan embodies this spirit in her creative guidance and firm commitment to the vision and growth of OLLI and its members. Susan joked with the editors of this newsletter that she was relieved not to be asked what kind of tree she'd be, if she were a tree. It's perfectly clear that Susan would be a willow: flexible, sheltering, lovely, and able to withstand great storms.

In March, Susan teaches "The Magic Theatre's Hot House Plays" (begins March 1) and "Behind the Scenes: Conversations with Arts Leaders" (begins March 8). She along with other writers will be guiding "The Writers Circle" on Thursday nights in March and April (begins March 9).

How did OLLI find you; or was it the other way round?
Since 1994, the California State University system and individual campuses have hired me to work on special initiatives, particularly new Institutes. When the Osher Foundation invited the UC and CSU to submit proposals to establish an OLLI on their campus, SFSU hired me for the conceptualization and development of its OLLI. What I didn't expect was how much OLLI would affect me, how important the work would become and how impassioned I would feel about its mission.

What are some of the most interesting jobs you've had prior to OLLI? Why were they interesting?
For most of my working life, my job has been to start new enterprises—within universities, the arts, or politics. All were designed to serve the common good, provide meaning in people's lives and communities. I especially like creative projects where I aim for that unifying moment when my intentionality, expression, and reception of an artistic or educational piece resonates. That feeling is like none other. The Japanese call it "yugen", when the sunlight hits one snowflake and sparkles.

What are you learning about aging by being at the helm of OLLI? What personality trait do you think helps us the most as we age?
Obviously a sense of humor helps us at any age, but also the desire to keep learning and sharing (and being) with others.

Do you possess that trait?
Mostly, but I am experiencing a humor deficit lately—tell me a joke, quick!

Has retirement as we used to know it become obsolete given the health and longevity of today's boomers?
The notion of retirement will be different for boomers, but ultimately we will have to create a respectful way to grow older and more inter/dependent in our society. People of all ages must have more time to do the things that give them pleasure, that elevate their existence and connect them with their humanity and possibility.

What is your most fervent desire for OLLI?
My fervent desire for OLLI nationwide is to make a difference in how universities look at lifelong learning. For OLLI-SFSU, I wish for a shared governance model—where members and university staff realize the potential of a public space called OLLI that expands people's intellectual, civic and creative achievements. I also have a personal mission to have more stories, theater, media images of the older protagonist permeating the culture—partly because the stories are so rich and nuanced, but also because it educates all generations about remaining vital while getting older.

What was your favorite year? Or are you still waiting?
1980 when I married Brian, started People's Theater Coalition, and sailed in the Caribbean with my (now) lifelong friends—Katy, Lenny, Bill, and Cynthia. 1984 and 1990, when my sons were born, were also incredible years.

What do you think you'll do in retirement?
Since my husband is nine years older than I am, my simple hope is for us to be ready for retirement at the same time.

What is your favorite way to spend time when you're not shepherding OLLI?
Reading and dancing. One of the things I inherited from my mother is a natural athleticism (she played professional baseball during the late 40's)…I feel truly at home in myself when I am moving.

What makes you laugh really hard?
Conor, my 15 year old son makes me laugh hardest. He is a very visual and empathetic soul. We have a fun time doing what we call "sociology", watching people and imagining who they are and what they are thinking, usually with a comic, ironic twist. He has his dad's sense of humor.

In March, Susan teaches "The Magic Theatre's Hot House Plays" (begins March 1) and Behind the Scenes: Conversations with Arts Leaders (begins March 8). Susan will be also guide "The Writers Circle" on Thursday nights in March and April (begins March 9).

Member Spotlight

Judy Goddess

OLLI's membership is comprised of a wide cross section of people, many of them high achievers such as Judy Goddess.

First, there's that name—what woman wouldn't love to possess the surname "goddess?" Judy says the origin is lost during various attempts to assimilate following emigration from Russia. Although she reluctantly confesses that the name was not quite so "hot" when she was growing up.

Judy's résumé reflects her having been raised by very progressive parents in an ethnic ghetto in Chicago where, according to Judy, "Like many of my compatriots, I placed an undue emphasis on education and work."

Judy graduated from Northwestern University with a PhD in Philosophy of Education. Before completing her undergraduate degree, Judy married and raised two sons. Judy has spent all of her professional life in nonprofit work in the areas of fund raising and program development or as an advocate for students and parents who are having problems in the public schools. Like many OLLI members, retirement for Judy simply means retooling; Judy works as a consultant and continues to serve on the corporate board of statewide nonprofit representing parents whose kids attend Title I (No Child Left Behind) schools. Anyone who knows her can imagine the effectiveness her calm manner and modulated delivery bring to potentially incendiary meetings between school officials and parents of students. Judy finds that, "It's very satisfying to see some of the younger people I've worked with become ever more competent and self-assured."

Judy believes strongly in the participation of grandparents in the lives of their children and grandchildren. Also, she has lots of fun! With her three grandchildren, she's been on rafting trips, trips to Yellowstone and Utah, and wolf tracking in Minnesota; she's gone to Hawaii with them and sees them at their respective homes and hers.

Like most of us over 50, Judy remembers childhood summers as a magical time of unsupervised exploration. Judy says, "My most treasured childhood memory would be the freedom of summers. We had a cottage in the Indiana Dunes where living was primitive, even for those days: no phones, no streets or sidewalks, no electricity, no plumbing—just Lake Michigan, endless dunes and friends. We swam and played everyday—my friend Naomi and I engaged in endless conversations, climbed dunes, played mind games, and hiked from one end of the beach to the other."

Judy and OLLI member Mary Hegwood have worked with the Mechanics' Institute to start a monthly OLLI fiction reading group called "Fiction You Wish You Had Read." The first meeting of the group, which is open to members of the Institute and to members of OLLI, will be at 3pm Tuesday, March 21, 2006 in the Institute's fourth floor Board Room. The first selection for the hour-long discussion is Philip Roth's American Pastoral.

March Line-Up & Registration Information

For a registration form, please visit the OLLI website or call Robert at 415.817.4270.

Mondays in March: The JCC will host three OLLI courses: International Human Rights Law with Dr. Rita Maran; a new (and ongoing) Shamanic Journey course for all who are interested with Debra Varner; and San Francisco, 1906 with Eileen Keremitsis.

Tuesdays: Dr. Michael Graham wowed the SixtyPlus Gamma group with his talk in January and offers his course on the Supreme Court at the DTC.

Wednesdays: Susan Hoffman guides the conversations with arts leaders in a course on campus called Behind the Scenes exploring new directions in dance, performance art, jazz, and theater. See the OLLI website for complete details.

Thursdays: As a part of her course, How do Philanthropists Do What They Do, Sheila Cunningham, former columnist for Business Weekly, will interview Mary Bitterman, President, the Bernard Osher Foundation (March 9); Sandra Hernandez, CEO, San Francisco Foundation (March 16); and Debra England, Program Officer, Koret Foundation (March 30). The interview for March 23 will be announced shortly. The popular course offerings, Global Lens and The Writers Circle also continue in March and April.

Global Lens:
The International Documentary (Historical) OLLI - SFSU
Thursdays, 12:00 noon-2:00pm
March 9-30, 2006
Michael Fox
foxonfilm@yahoo.com

For better or worse, television is the primary medium through which most people around the world get their information. Newscasts deliver the headlines, but it falls to documentary filmmakers to uncover stories, provide context and offer insight. This class offers a rare look at recent documentaries from around the globe, with an eye on social responsibility and storytelling. This session consists of historical documentaries. We'll discuss each filmmaker's focus and historical analysis, the various forms of argument, the use of archival footage and what the films aspire to tell us about the present.

Session #1: Mirror Dance
(Maria T. Rodriguez, USA/Cuba, 2005) 54 min.
Once-inseparable sisters haven't seen each other since one emigrated from Cuba to the U.S. 40 years ago. Each is a prima ballerina who went on to head a ballet school, and there's ample footage of rehearsals and performance.

Session #2: The Power of Nightmares
(Adam Curtis, U.K., 2004) 59 min.
The provocative first hour of a three-part series, rarely seen in the U.S., connects the rise of American neo-conservatism with that of Islamic fundamentalism.

Session #3: Tijuana Jews
(Isaac Artenstein, USA, 2005) 52 min.
This first-person survey of a little-known community is part oral history, part home movie, part sociological excavation.

Session #4: Cinema Dali
(Josep Rovira, Spain, 2004) 56 min.
A sly, stylish and occasionally surrealistic look at the mustachioed artist's relationship to the camera as creator and subject.

Fridays: Al Crowell offers Know your Personality Type and That of Your Family, and Dave Hurley continues our tech series with Digital Photography.

Check the OLLI website for more details www.cel.sfsu.edu/olli/.

OLLI Community

• OLLI member Regula Weill is involved with the art and bouquet exhibit March 21-26 at the DeYoung Museum. This annual event features the work of noted Bay Area florists, designers and garden clubs each of which selects a painting or sculpture from the de Young in advance, and creates a floral design related to the artwork or setting.
  
  
• Bernardo Mendez, who has been in OLLI for the past two years heads, business and trade relations for the Mexican consulate. Bernard was featured in the East Bay Business Times, February 6, 2006, then search site for Bernardo Mendez. That profile reported that Bernardo speaks four languages fluently and that "He has established a network of businesses, schools, and government and non-government organizations to help entrepreneurs" work with Mexico.
  
  
• Geezer Theater had a smashing sold out run at the SF Mime Troupe's studio in San Francisco and are now producing a video documentary on the making of Geezer Theater that they will screen at the national OLLI conference in April 2006. The photos of the rehearsal process and the production can be viewed on the OLLI website. If you are interested in knowing more about Geezer Theater or perhaps getting involved, contact Juanita Rusev.
  
  
• OLLI Website's Creative Work Gallery has been updated with the creative work from fall 2005. You can find these new entries under OLLI community.

Opportunities

Want to shape the future of the OLLI course offerings, or suggest a new interest area? Please send us an email ollipr@sfsu.edu if you have ideas to share. For the subject heading use IDEAS 06.

There are still neighborhoods in the city which need OLLI liaisons. Let us know if you would like to connect OLLI with your neighborhood ollipr@sfsu.edu.

We are investigating taking the OLLI curriculum to the North Peninsula communities in San Mateo county. If you commute to the city for the OLLI program and have suggestions about what kinds of courses would work, send us an e-mail: ollipr@sfsu.edu.