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Spring 2022 Course Schedule

Inactive - For reference only

Registration

To register for a course, please email or call the course coordinator.

Printable Course Listing

Printable Spring 2022 Course List  (PDF)
Revised January 18, 2022

Course Details

Click on a course title below to view detailed information about the course.

Monday

#

Time

Course

Coordinator

Location

1 9:30 am - 10:30 am Classic Films Tobey Marsceill, Wes Marsceill, Bob Fry Virtual
2 9:30 am - 11:30 am Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition Michael E. Stevens Virtual
3 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Experiencing Great English Literature Phil Paulson Madison Senior Center
4 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Pathways to a Sustainable Planet Richard Steeves Hybrid - Oakwood Village West
5 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Refighting the Civil War Daryl Sherman Virtual
6 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Imaginative Drawing Heather C. Williams Virtual
7 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Exploring Creativity Karen Wulff Christ Presbyterian Church
8 1:00 PM - 3:00 pm Money Skills for Retirees Tom Eggert Virtual
9 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Novels New and Old Bonnie Dill, Marsha Urbaniak, Carol Spiegel Hybrid - Vista West
10 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Raspberry Pi for Tinkerers Al Nettleton Capitol Lakes
11 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Women's Journeys Toward Self-Discovery Sue Ellingson Virtual

Tuesday

#

Time

Course

Coordinator

Location

1 9:30 am - 11:30 pm Biographies Chuck Pils, Mary Becker Virtual
2 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Whither the State: Politics and Public Policy Dennis Dresang, Terry Shelton Virtual
3 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Short Stories and Essays Irv Klibaner Capitol Lakes
4 10:00 am - 11:30 pm Between the Covers: A Thousand Years of Manuscript Illumination Mary Em Kirn

Oakwood Village West

5 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Jazz Toni Jakovec Wisconsin Bank and Trust
6 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Not So Happy Days: History and Mystery in the 1950s Helene Androski Oakwood Village West

Wednesday

#

Time

Course

Coordinator

Location

1 10:00 am - 11:30 pm Global Affairs and the Media Leon Lindberg, Kirk Elliott, Steven Hirsch Virtual
2 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Continuing Philosophy Jim Halloran & Ed Cothroll, Bill Colwell Virtual
3 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Current Events AM Mert Corwin Virtual
4 10:00 am - 12:00 pm From Serenity to Insight: Three Buddhist Mindfulness Practices Craig Wille Hybrid - Vista West
5 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Drawing as a Sacred Activity: Observational Drawing Heather C. Williams Virtual
6 1:00 am - 3:00 pm Biographies Eastside

Helen Brewster

Goodwill Community Room
7 1:00 am - 3:00 pm Current Events West - PM Meg Taylor & Jerry Burns Virtual
8 1:00 am - 3:00 pm Frontiers in Life Science Paul Brandl UW Space Place
9 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Writing Workshop Andy Millman Virtual
10 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Film History Jim O'Brien Oakwood West
11 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Life Maps Norman Leer Email
12 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm Reminiscence PM Judy Havens, Mary De Wolf Hybrid - Madison Senior Center

Thursday

#

Time

Course

Coordinator

Location

1 9:30 am - 11:30 am What in the World Happened C. Pils, H. Whipple, J. Albright, J. Leidel Virtual
2 10:00 am - 11:30 pm Truth Decay Jack Mitchell Virtual
3 10:00 am - 11:30 pm Between the Covers: A Thousand Years of Manuscript Illumination Mary Em Kirn

Oakwood Village West

4 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Women’s Journeys toward Self-Discovery: A Writing Workshop Paula McKenzie Virtual
5 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee, guided book discussion Kathy Michaelis, Alan Zuckerman, Mary Jo MacSwain Virtual
6 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Writing Workshop-THURS Andy Millman Virtual
7 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm We Love a Mystery Barbara Evans Virtual

Friday

#

Time

Course

Coordinator

Location

1 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Reading Vladimir Nabokov, Albert Camus, and Graham Greene John and Jan Kinar Virtual
2 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PLATO Travel Annette Bollig, Kevin Bollig, Lois Baseler, Linn Roth Capitol Lakes
3 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm After Glasgow: Challenges Confronting the Paris Agreement and Multilateral Climate Action in the 2020’s Peter Krug Virtual
4 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM What Really Happened on 9/11? Tom Schlicht Madison Senior Center

Saturday

#

Time

Course

Coordinator

Location

1 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Ontology Book Club Heather Williams Virtual

Spring 2022 Course dESCRIPTIONS

Monday

1

M1 Return to top

Classic Films

Coordinator

Name Email Phone
Tobey Marsceill tobey.marsceill@gmail.com 954-695-2778
Wes Marsceill wes.marsceill@gmail.com 608-276-7373
Bob Fry

Course Description

Virtual meetings to discuss a film, selected primarily from Turner Classic Movies (TCM) offered the previous week. Participants will be invited to join the virtual meetings via email – there will be a button to click to access the Google Meet site. Please contact Tobey Marsceill to register.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date April 25, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation No reading to minimal reading
Class Size 35
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Equipment Needs Participants need access to TV or app which carries TCM (Turner Classic Movies)

Monday 2

M2

Reading US History, Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition by Daniel Okrent

Coordinator

Name Email Phone
Michael Stevens Michaelstevens50@gmail.com 608-215-4887

Course Description

We will read and discuss Daniel Okrent’s Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition. Why did Americans give up a private right and how does the legacy of Prohibition continue to affect us today? His answers may surprise you. Why did the Walgreens chain see massive growth during those years? Why did progressives who supported women’s rights find allies in the KKK? Why did the courts rule the sale of sacramental crème de menthe legal? Join us to explore US history together in this lively account. Get a copy of the book and come prepared to discuss pp. 1-52 at the first session.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Start Date February, 28 2022
End Date April, 11 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 25
# of Sessions 7
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Syllabus Last Call Syllabus.pdf

Monday 3

M3

Experiencing Great English Literature

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Phil Paulson philplsn@gmail.com 608-318-1567

Course Description

During each semester we discuss a novel, selected poetry, and a drama. This Spring the novel will be Thomas Hardy’s The Return of the Native. In the novel Egdon Heath, “the untamable Ishmaelitish thing”, mirrors the relationships of the characters with each other and to nature and with the conflicting demands of nature and society. Poetry will be selected from the The Seashell Anthology, Christopher Burns, Ed. The drama, Hamlet, is perhaps Shakespeare’s most puzzling play. Hamlet is a timeless and universal everyman, conflicted and confused, human and yearning to know truth.

Location Madison Senior Center
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date April 25, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Monday 4

M4

Pathways to a Sustainable Planet

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Richard Steeves coot42@gmail.com 608-833-5586

Course Description

This discussion group focuses on the challenges we face as we adapt to a sustainable society. We examine the consequences of our current path, acidification of the oceans, rising sea levels, migration, increasing temperature, etc. And we explore how these consequences of climate change could be mitigated by using carbon-free energy sources. We’ll learn about opportunities afforded by nuclear and other carbon-free forms of energy and their effects on electrical distribution, as well as our own food choices, and how we promote biodiversity.

Location Hybrid - Oakwood Village West
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date April 25, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation No reading to minimal reading
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Monday 5

M5

Refighting the Civil War

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Daryl Sherman snippetswi@gmail.com 608-238-5106

Course Description

We will use Ken Burn’s documentary, The Civil War, followed by a discussion and question and answer period, then another presentation period continuing the format we have been using.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date April 25, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Some reading/discussion expected
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Monday 6

M6

Drawing as a Sacred Activity: Imaginative Drawing with the Non-Dominant Hand

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Heather C. Williams heather@drawingtogether.com 760-213-6060

Course Description

In this class you will explore your heart’s wisdom with drawing exercises that I presented around the world for twelve years for the Louise Hay International Teacher Training. You will learn that you have within you all the resources you need to do what you came here to do, to express your talents and abilities, to improve the quality of your life, to change old patterns, to fulfill your dreams. Drawing is a sacred activity because it connects your conscious mind, unconscious mind and supra-conscious mind.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date April 25, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Bio Heather C. Williams Bio

Monday 7

M7

Exploring Creativity

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Karen Wulff wulff.karen@gmail.com 608-770-8408

Course Description

Class will be a workshop where individuals work on their personal art goals in a sharing environment. Participants can exchange knowledge and offer “gentle” feedback to each other if they want to. Bring the supplies you will need for your own project. Everyone must bring a plastic or similar material sheet or tarp to put under their workspace. We are fortunate to be invited to use the space and therefore this requirement is a must. Also, the church requires that anyone entering the church MUST WEAR A MASK.

Location Christ Presbyterian Church
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date April 25, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size 10
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Monday 8

M8

Money Skills for Retirees

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Tom Eggert tleggert@wisc.edu 608-279-8608

Course Description

Retirees have different financial challenges than younger people. We no longer save for retirement, but now grow and use the money we saved. We’ll cover diversification, interpreting your financial statements, taxes, socially responsible investing, thematic investing, investing outside the market, creating a personal investment plan and using tools in making investment decisions. The class is designed so that we’ll learn just as much from our classmates as from guest speakers. We will have a mix of presentations, guest speakers and reviews of our investing successes and failures.

Location Oakwood Village West
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date May 2, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 30
# of Sessions 11
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Monday 9

M9

Novels New and Old

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Bonnie Dill thedills8412@att.net 608-434-8919
Carol Spiegel lookingglass18@gmail.com 608-206-3623
Marsha Urbaniak urbaniakmarsha@gmail.com 608-219-2394

Course Description

During the Spring session we will discuss the following novels:

  • The Man Who Lived Underground by Richard Wright
  • A Separate Peace by John Knowles
  • Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
  • The Three Weissmanns of Westport by Cathleen Schine
  • The Friend by Sigred Nunez
  • Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
  • Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kell
Location Hybrid - Vista West
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date April 25, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Monday 10

M10

Raspberry Pi for Tinkerers

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Al Nettleton alnettleton70@gmail.com 608-238-6053

Course Description

Learn Raspberry Pi features, explore different operating systems, sources of free software and project designs, and create your own project to demonstrate. This is a seminar or DIY type class. Participants must have a Raspberry Pi computer by the third week and agree to demonstrate projects. A Pi costs between $50 and $100 to completely set up and attach to a monitor or TV. New class participants are welcome. The course coordinator and other participants will provide advice on selecting the best Pi for your interests. Tinkering interest is required. Previous Pi experience not required.

Location Capitol Lakes
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 21, 2022
End Date April 25, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size 15
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Handout Raspberry Pi Handout

Monday 11

M11

Women’s Journeys toward Self-Discovery

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Sue Ellingson sue.ellingson@icloud.com

608 320-8206

Course Description

Writing journals and memoirs helps you shape your life story while also clarifying what it has meant to you. This class will use prompts to help you enter into your writing as a stepping-stone toward deeper self-awareness. These prompts are meant to be suggestive, and class members are free to modify them as they choose. The class will continue to build a sense of community, based on discussion in an open non-judgmental atmosphere. Discussions are based on class members’ writings, and all sharing is voluntary and respectful of each person’s privacy.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Monday
Meeting Time 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Start Date February 28, 2022
End Date April 18, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size 15
# of Sessions 8
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Tuesday 1

T1

Biographies

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Chuck Pils cmpils@sbcglobal.net 608-841-1171
Mary Becker scrabblenutmj@gmail.com 608-395-9450

Course Description

We are biography readers who enjoy sharing their experiences. Presentations are participants’ responsibility. It is optional for participants to do a presentation. We will examine the lives of men and women who went into political, military, and entertainment careers. What factors caused them to enter these professions? Did they make contributions to national or international history? Not all are of heroic proportions. Some of the best life stories are about people who have fallen into oblivion, but lived interesting lives. Controversial personalities add particular spice to discussions.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Tuesday
Meeting Time 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Start Date February 22, 2022
End Date April 19, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 9
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Tuesday 2

T2

Whither the State: Politics and Public Policy

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Dennis Dresang dresang@lafollette.wisc.edu 608-438-0686
Terry Shelton Tkshelton1321@gmail.com

Course Description

Review of state and national political developments. Examination of key public policy issues affecting U.S. economy and society.

This course meets every other Tuesday.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Tuesday
Meeting Time 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 1, 2022
End Date May 10, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 8
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Tuesday 3

T3

Short Stories and Essays

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Irv Klibaner irwinklibaner@gmail.com 608-274-4089

Course Description

For those who love reading and discussion, this is the perfect entertainment. One hour each is devoted to a short story and an essay. There is always a lively, opinionated, and friendly atmosphere with a welcome for all participants. Come join us as we delve into the ever-fascinating world of short stories and essays created by some of the best writers who have put pen to paper. Texts to be used: Best American Short Stories 2021 and Best American Essays 2021.

Location Capitol Lakes
Meeting Day Tuesday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 22, 2022
End Date May 10, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size 15
# of Sessions 12
Registration

Tuesday 4

T4

Between the Covers: A Thousand Years of Manuscript Illumination

CANCELLED

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Mary Em KIRN mkfloridays@yahoo.com 239-287-2325

Course Description

Using PowerPoint presentations and discussion, we’ll examine the rich visual tradition of illuminated manuscripts produced in Europe from the Late Antique to Early Modern periods. In order to understand the complexity present in these hand written and illustrated books, the manuscripts will be placed within the time and space they were created using analytic tools associated with style as well as interpretations of the pictorial content.

This course meets Tuesday and Thursday for 3 weeks.

Location Oakwood Village West
Meeting Day Tuesday and Thursday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Start Date March 22, 2022
End Date April 7, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation No reading to minimal reading
Class Size 30
# of Sessions 6
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Tuesday 5

T5

Jazz

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Toni Jakovec tjakovec@yahoo.com 650-948-5831

Course Description

We are a congenial group of people who share an interest in and enjoyment of music called jazz. We have presenters from within the group as well as outside experts who share with us music ranging from early New Orleans to contemporary jazz. No musical skills are necessary – only an interest in learning about and enjoying this truly American music genre. Class members learn about upcoming jazz events and a group outing is organized, if there is enough class interest.

Location Wisconsin Bank and Trust
Meeting Day Tuesday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 22, 2022
End Date April 26, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Tuesday 6

T6

Not So Happy Days: History and Mystery in the 1950s

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Helene Androski helene.androski@wisc.edu 608-335-5105

Course Description

Nostalgia for poodle skirts and sock hops aside, the 1950s was a turbulent decade and we’ll explore it by means of these crime novels:

  • Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders, John Mortimer
  • Snow Falling on Cedars, David Guterson
  • The Big Nowhere, James Ellroy
  • Child 44, Tom Robb Smith

Topics to be covered: racism, McCarthyism, Stalinism, beginnings of the Cold War. It is best to have read the books in advance as we will discuss them as mysteries, including the endings, as well as histories. The Mystery to Me Bookstore on Monroe St. will stock these books and give a discount to class members.

Helene Androski was a reference and instruction librarian at UW Madison Memorial Library and has taught History and Mystery classes, formerly through UW DCS, for 25 years.

Location Oakwood Village West
Meeting Day Tuesday
Meeting Time 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date March 8, 2022
End Date March 30, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 45
# of Sessions 4
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday 1

W1

Global Affairs and the Media

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Leon Lindberg lindbe@tds.net 608-238-9000
Kirk Elliott kirk_elliott@hotmail.com 608-255-5646
Steven Hirsch Hirsch4622@icloud.com 608-347-5810

Course Description

We focus on international events and concerns, addressing national issues as they relate to the world. A guest speaker or a member of the group does a presentation for about 40 minutes, and then takes questions or comments for about 20 minutes. After a break, we discuss items of interest that members have brought to this meeting (all members are invited to have a news clipping or summary of an item of interest). In this way, we hope to increase our exposure to high-quality sources of news and information and to expand our appreciation of the importance of global affairs.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation No reading to minimal reading
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday 2

W2

Continuing Philosophy

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Ed Cothroll cothroll@tds.net 608-831-4493
Bill Colwell wscacct@live.com 847-830-1501
Jim Halloran jp.hallo@tds.net 608-238-7201

Course Description

The class will be reading and discussing Classic Asian Philosophy: A Guide to the Essential Texts by Joel Kupperman, Oxford 2006 (second revised edition only). An introduction to Asian philosophy via its canonical texts. Kupperman ranges from the Upanishads to the Bhagavad Gita through Confucius to Zen Buddhism. The author explains the philosophical roots of these various canons. This is a revised version of his earlier 2000 edition. Contact Ed Cothroll to register.

You can read the preface to the book if you link to: Classic Asian Philosophy : A Guide to the Essential Texts in SearchWorks catalog (stanford.edu)

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 24
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday 3

W3

Current Events AM

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Mert Corwin mdcorwinjr@gmail.com 608-845-3304

Course Description

This class will discuss hot and current events on the local, national and international levels. Some topics will be very current and others will be ongoing issues. Topics will be determined each week at the start of the session. All viewpoints are encouraged. The format will be very casual and interactive. Throughout the week, participants are encouraged to forward relevant links about current topic for discussion.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date May 4, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Some reading/discussion expected
Class Size 20
# of Sessions 11
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday 4

W4

From Serenity to Insight: Three Buddhist Mindfulness Practices

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Craig Wille wille.craig@gmail.com 608-692-3163

Course Description

Meditation is an important component of the Buddhist approach to living a good life. This class will note various aspects of practice but will focus on three styles of mindfulness. While these styles will look familiar to repeat participants, a new component is a focus on the concept of Samadhi (concentration or unification of mind) and an introduction to Jhanna States. These Jhanna States are a powerful potential outcome of Samadhi. While these states usually take time and practice to access, this introduction can pave the way. This class is for beginners and experienced meditators.

Location Hybrid - Vista West
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Some reading/discussion expected
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Syllabus From Serenity to Insight syllabus.pdf

Wednesday 5

W5

Drawing as a Sacred Activity: Observational Drawing

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Heather C. Williams heather@drawingtogether.com 760-213-6060

Course Description

In this class you will explore my unique approach to perception and observational drawing that I learned during my 5-year Art Apprenticeship with Norwegian artist, Jan Valentin Saether. You will learn my 5 Keys to observational drawing and whether you are a beginner or an advanced artist, you will gain a new way of seeing the world around you. Drawing is the core method of researching, investigating, developing and communicating ideas. Today, drawing is viewed as an essential skill for everyone. It is a sacred activity because it engages your mind, your heart and your unique point of view!

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
BioHeather C. Williams Bio.pdf
Other If you wish to purchase my book, Drawing as a Sacred Activity, it is available on Amazon

Wednesday 6

W6

Biographies Eastside

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Helen Brewster hbrewster1944@gmail.com 608-358-6774

Course Description

Class members may volunteer to present a biographical sketch on a person (or group) of their choice. Participants need only do a presentation once or at most twice a year. Otherwise there is no preparation or homework, just join the discussion. We learn a lot and enjoy lively discussions. Contact Helen through email.

Location Goodwill Community Room
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 20, 2022
No Course Dates March 16, 2022
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 8
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday 7

W7

Current Events PM

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Meg Taylor taylome@charter.net 206-369-3578
Jerry Burns geburns@facstaff.wisc.edu 608-556-2924

Course Description

This is an in-depth discussion course on current events in Wisconsin, the United States and the world. Course members choose the topics and lead and moderate a discussion or two. We email readings and website links prior to each discussion. Each presenter may invite a guest with some first-hand knowledge or experience on the topic for the discussion.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size 25
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday 8

W8

Frontiers in Life Science

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Paul Brandl pbrandl90@gmail.com 920-698-6097

Course Description

This class will bring us to the “cutting edge” of scientific research. Each week a different researcher or science expert reports and discusses his or her innovations, inventions and/or discoveries. The UW Biotechnology Outreach Directory has brought a variety of researchers to this class during the past several years. Topics have included: bird flu, heart disease, cancer, aging, stem cells, DNA sequencing, nanotechnology and others. You will be able to discuss your questions and concerns with these science experts each week.

Location UW Space Place
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation No reading to minimal reading
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday 9

W9

Writing Workshop - WED

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Andy Millman mill60062@yahoo.com 847-275-6251

Course Description

“The scariest moment is always just before you start,” said Stephen King in On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. Maybe you haven’t written the first word. Possibly you’re polishing that manuscript. Our writers group will provide you with the feedback, structure and support you need to push forward or get started. All writers are welcome, regardless of your experience or the type of writing you wish to pursue.

Andy Millman’s writing has appeared in several outlets, including “Whistling Shade,” “Points in Case,” “Midwest Review,” “The Big Jewel,” “Zest Literary Journal,” “Black Heart Magazine,” “Flash Fiction Magazine,” “The Helix,” and “Pif Magazine.”

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date March 9, 2022
End Date May 11, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 14
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday 10

W10

Film History

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Jim O’Brien jimrobr@gmail.com 608-286-1946

Course Description

The Hays Office Production Code, largely ignored since 1924, disappears as a concern with the coming of sound - the gangster film and the musical having benefited the most. Shoot-outs, car chases and bloody victims abound. The musicals provide bedrooms, bathrooms and boudoirs, to say nothing of the racy production numbers. The censors will strike back hard.

Location Oakwood Village West
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation No reading to minimal reading
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday

11

W11 Return to top

Life Maps

CANCELLED

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Norman Leer normanleer@att.net 608-236-0158

Course Description

This class is for people interested in modern literature, film, music, philosophy and the visual arts, who want to explore connections between these areas and their own life searches. Both parts of the dialogue are equally important. We’ll focus on the poetry of Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks. We’ll explore her poetry both as an expression of African American life and larger universal issues. We will use The Essential Gwendolyn Brooks, which is available courtesy of the Library of America at and other online stores.

Location Via Email
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Some reading/discussion expected
Class Size 20
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Wednesday

12

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Reminiscence PM

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Judy Havens judyandpeteh@charter.net 608-443-0777
Mary De Wolf leeandme@arkansas.net 608-318-0556

Course Description

Participants write stories about their pasts and share them with the class. Sometimes they’re funny, sometimes they’re sad, and sometimes they’re simply fleeting memories that we want to capture with our pencils. We choose our topics from our childhood, our family life and our careers to express who we are. No experience required!

Location Hybrid - Madison Senior Center
Meeting Day Wednesday
Meeting Time 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Start Date February 23, 2022
End Date April 27, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size 10
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Thursday 1

TH1

What in the World Happened

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Chuck Pils cmpils@sbcglobal.net 608-841-1171
Hank Whipple hwhipple7854@att.net 608-249-7773
Jim Albright albright.jd@gmail.com 608-852-0590

Course Description

This course is made up of presentations on eclectic historical topics of interest, from prehistoric times to the present. Presentations last 45 minutes to an hour (or more, depending upon presenter and topic), with time remaining for questions and answers. Enthusiastic Q&A’s are the norm. Some of the topics for this semester will include: The Occupation of Japan, Machiavelli and the Decline of Democracy in the EU, and The Census. One day is set aside for Good Reads – brief reports on books that may be of interest to the members.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Thursday
Meeting Time 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM
Start Date February 24, 2022
End Date April 28, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Some reading/discussion expected
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Syllabus What in the World Happened syllabus.pdf

Thursday 2

TH2

Truth Decay

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Jack Mitchell Jwmitch1@wisc.edu 608-274-6903

Course Description

Former President Trump and many of his supporters deny the fact that he lost the 2020 election. Millions reject the facts of climate change or the importance of vaccinations. Traditional news media are accused of reporting fake news, while upstart media make no pretense of sticking to facts and striving for truth. This course will look at evolving attitudes toward human rationality and objective methods for seeking truth. We will also explore media technology from the printing press to the Internet and their implications for journalism that pursues truth and propaganda that seeks to persuade.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Thursday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Start Date February 24, 2022
End Date April 21, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 16
# of Sessions 9
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Thursday 3

TH3

Between the Covers: A Thousand Years of Manuscript Illumination

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Mary Em Kirn mkfloridays@yahoo.com 239-287-2325

Course Description

Using PowerPoint presentations and discussion, we’ll examine the rich visual tradition of illuminated manuscripts produced in Europe from the Late Antique to Early Modern periods. In order to understand the complexity present in these hand written and illustrated books, the manuscripts will be placed within the time and space they were created using analytic tools associated with style as well as interpretations of the pictorial content.

This course meets Tuesday and Thursday for 3 weeks.

Location Oakwood Village Wes
Meeting Day Tuesday and Thursday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Start Date March 22, 2022
End Date April 7, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation No reading to minimal reading
Class Size 30
# of Sessions 6
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Thursday 4

TH4

Women’s Journeys toward Self-Discovery: A Writing Workshop

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Paula McKenzie paula.mckenzie@tds.net 608-231-2725

Course Description

Writing journals and memoirs helps you shape your life story while also clarifying what it has meant to you. This class will use suggested prompts to help you enter into your writing as a stepping-stone toward deeper self-awareness. The class will continue to build a sense of community based on trust, active listening and discussion in an open, non-judgmental atmosphere. Discussions are based on members’ writings, and voluntary sharing with respect for each person’s privacy. 

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Thursday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 24, 2022
End Date April 14, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size 15
# of Sessions 8
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Thursday 5

TH5

The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee, guided book discussion

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Kathy Michaelis ksmichaelis@gmail.com 608-576-4285
Alan Zuckerman mzazdc@yahoo.com 608-216-5496
Mary Jo MacSwain mjmacwi@earthlink.net 608-372-6806

Course Description

Heather McGhee’s thought-provoking book, “The Sum of Us” describes how policies that denied opportunity, services, housing, or wealth to Black people also hurt everyone. The course will examine evidence concerning facilities that were closed rather than integrated, housing policies like redlining and sub-prime mortgages, criminal justice inequities and severe cuts to programs and services to help poor and low-income Americans. We will also explore policies and programs than can combat these inequities. The book is available through Madison Public Library or at many bookstores.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Thursday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February, 24 2022
End Date April, 14 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 20
# of Sessions 8
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Syllabus Sum of Us Syllabus.pdf

Thursday 6

TH6

Writing Workshop-THURS

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Andy Millman mill60062@yahoo.com 847-275-6251

Course Description

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.” Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft

Maybe you haven’t written the first word. Possibly you’re polishing that manuscript. Our writers’ group will provide you with the feedback, structure and support you need to push forward or get started. All writers are welcome, regardless of your experience or the type of writing you wish to pursue.

Andy Millman’s writing has appeared in several outlets, including “Whistling Shade,” “Points in Case,” “Midwest Review,” “The Big Jewel,” “Zest Literary Journal,” “Black Heart Magazine,” “Flash Fiction Magazine,” “The Helix,” and “Pif Magazine.”

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Thursday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date March, 10 2022
End Date May, 12 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 14
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Thursday 7

TH7

We Love a Mystery

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Barbara Evans evansbj@charter.net 608-833-6822

Course Description

We read and critique contemporary mystery novels and short stories. Members take turns leading the discussion focusing on the author, settings, characters, plot development, and conclusion. Readings are chosen at the end of each semester for the next semester. Full-length novels alternate weekly with short stories. The short stories are selected from the anthology The Big Book of Female Detectives edited by Otto Penzler. The first class we will discuss The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths. Novels can be found in the South Central Library System. Anthologies are usually purchased.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Thursday
Meeting Time 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Start Date February 24, 2022
End Date April 28, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size 18
# of Sessions 10
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Friday 1

F1

Reading Vladimir Nabokov, Albert Camus, and Graham Greene

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
John and Jan Kinar jrkinar@gmail.com 608-238-2826

Course Description

During this semester we will read works by three authors: Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov (ISBN: 9780679723424), The Plague by Albert Camus (ISBN: 9780679720218) and The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene (ISBN: 9780143107552). For the first class, please read the Forward, Canto I, and the Commentary for Canto I in Pale Fire.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Friday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February 18, 2022
End Date May 6, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size

14

# of Sessions 12
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Friday 2

F2

PLATO Travel

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Annette Bollig acbollig@gmail.com 267-303-1328
Kevin Bollig kevinbollig@gmail.com 267-303-1328
Lois Baseler julois@chorus.net 608-220-1840
Linn Roth rothlinn@sbcglobal.net 608-238-2297

Course Description

PLATO Travel Group participants are adventurous, curious, and eager to share their experiences and information from trips all over the planet. Members present travelogues of their adventures and information on their destinations in a friendly atmosphere where exchange and discussion are welcome. The group compiles information on various travel companies and tips for specific trips, and members socialize and explore trip materials during a mid-presentation break. We encourage members to bring friends interested in a trip topic and/or joining PLATO, and armchair travelers are always welcome!

Location Capitol Lakes
Meeting Day Friday
Meeting Time 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Start Date February, 25 2022
End Date May 13, 2022
No Course Dates April 15, 2022
Participation No reading to minimal reading
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 11
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Syllabus Travel Course Syllabus.pdf

Friday 3

F3

After Glasgow: Challenges Confronting the Paris Agreement and Multilateral Climate Action in the 2020’s

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Peter Krug pkrug@ou.edu 608-298-7233

Course Description

In November 2021, the global climate conference in Glasgow concluded with mixed results. Critics from a variety of perspectives voiced skepticism about the efficacy of the Paris Agreement, and perhaps multilateral climate action generally, to address the threat that climate scientists forecast will intensify during the 2020’s. The course will examine the conference process and results, and the implications of those results for the Paris Agreement system in the 2020’s. We will identify the most pressing challenges confronting this system and the decisions made in Glasgow for addressing them.

Location Virtual Course Presentations
Meeting Day Friday Session 1 - 02/25/2022
Meeting Time 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM Session 2 - 03/04/2022
Start Date February 25, 2022 Session 3 - 03/11/2022
End Date April 1, 2022 Session 4 - 03/18/2022
No Course Dates Session 5 - 03/25/2022
Participation No reading to minimal reading Session 6 - 04/01/2022
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 6
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Syllabus Glasgow Conference Syllabus.pdf

Friday

4

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What Really Happened on 9/11?

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Tom Schlicht 608-831-6593

Course Description

Questions still remain about 9/11. Why did we attack Iraq? When 9/11 survivors were suing the Saudis, why did a powerful lawyer friend of President Bush defend the Saudis? What was VP Cheney monitoring as an aircraft approached the Pentagon? Why do Clarke's and Cheney's version of Cheney's actions on 9/11 sharply disagree? Why did AG Ashcroft issue a gag order on an FBI whistleblower? Whose slogan was “It’s not about oil.”? Through readings, DVDs and lively discussion, together we'll try to answer these and other questions

Location Madison Senior Center
Meeting Day Friday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Start Date February 18, 2022
End Date April 29, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation Regular reading/discussion expected
Class Size 10
# of Sessions 11
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions

Saturday

1

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Ontology Book Club

Coordinator

Name  Email Phone
Heather Williams heather@drawingtogether.com 760-213-6060

Course Description

The Ontology Book Club will continue its discussion of Self Observation by Red Hawk. The first class will offer a synopsis of the first nine chapters presented by Heather and participants from the Fall 2021 session. Feel free to join this ongoing book club discussion – we’ll make sure to catch you up! Ontology is the science of Being. The book Self Observation offers a simple yet powerful and clear guide for anyone interested in observing themselves moving through old habits and engaging the pathway of freedom called “Know Thyself”.

Location Virtual
Meeting Day Saturday
Meeting Time 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Start Date February 19, 2022
End Date April 30, 2022
No Course Dates
Participation High participation with assignments and/or possible presentations by participants
Class Size No limit
# of Sessions 11
Registration Required, contact coordinator for instructions
Bio Heather C. Williams Bio.pdf
Other Ontology is the science of Being. Heather Williams has been a High Watch Mentor in The Prosperos School of Ontology since 1978. Red Hawk is a poet and professor at the University of Arkansas. Self Observation is available on Amazon.


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