PLATO Weekly Update

May 27, 2025

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
NEXT WEEK! Most Summer Courses will begin the week of June 2 and some of the 14 in-person and virtual courses still have space – find the Summer Course Schedule on the Courses webpage and contact the course coordinator to register.

SPECIAL EVENTS

 FIELD TRIPS

REMINDER! Registration closes this Sunday, June 1, 2025 for the Circus, Stage and Sips Tour on Thursday, June 19, 2025. This Sauk County summertime adventure will include visits to three destinations: Circus World Museum, AL. Ringling Theatre, and Wollersheim Winery. Organized by PLATO, there will be three pick-up stops in Madison: East Towne Sears, Capital Lakes, and Oakwood Village University Woods. Learn more and register here.

Milwaukee History in the Making Tour on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 – this field trip is now full. Learn more and join the waitlist here.

THEATER TRIP

REMINDER! The registration deadline is this week Thursday, May 29 for The Church Basement Ladies in The Last (Potluck) Supper on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at The Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson. Note that PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity so pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST & COFFEE GATHERINGS
These social events offer members and their guests opportunities to share conversation over coffee and breakfast or breakfast snacks. Learn more below including updates on two new summertime locations and one time change!

First Friday Breakfast – June 6, 9:00-11:00am at Yola's Café on Commerce Drive – note the new summertime location! Learn more and RSVP here.

Second Friday Breakfast – June 13, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Memorial Union Terrace – note the time change and new summertime location! Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Enjoy past recordings of PLATO Lectures on an array of topics offered by PLATO members and local, national and international speakers.

BIKE RIDES
Explore the greater Madison area with self-guided bicycling routes – and, if you are curious, find out where to rent a Madison BCycle (electric bike).

STAY IN THE KNOW ABOUT PLATO

BIG THANKS to those who attended PLATO's Member Appreciation Annual Meeting 2025! Much information was shared, including this Committee Highlights flyer which features the many accomplishments achieved during this past year. 

Virtually everything that you enjoy about PLATO – courses, lectures, trips, publications – is available due to the efforts of members like you. Whatever your skills, there is a place for you – we welcome you to get involved!

THE AGORA
The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

View highlights from this past season on the The Agora Features webpage.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats for your spring viewing or listening pleasure, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

Visit the Social Justice page to read more about Maydm, PLATO's Education Fund, and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

May 20, 2025

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Registration for Summer Courses continues with 14 courses to choose from including in-person and virtual offerings! Most will begin the week of June 2 and vary in length from 3-10 weeks. Find the Summer Course Schedule on the Courses webpage and contact the course coordinator to register.

THIS WEEK! Best-selling author Robert Kurson talks writing at the PLATO Writing Workshop on Wednesday, May 21 at 1pm and today is the deadline to register – learn more and register here!

SPECIAL EVENTS

 FIELD TRIPS

NEW! Register today for the Milwaukee History in the Making Tour on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Architecture enthusiasts will be awed by the beauty of St. Josaphat's Basilica – Milwaukee's largest church – followed by lunch and a riverboat tour of Milwaukee's sites from the unique perspective along the river and harbor of Lake Michigan. PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity so pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips. The registration deadline is Wednesday, June 11. Learn more and register here.

NEXT MONTH! Register today for the Circus, Stage and Sips Tour on Thursday, June 19, 2025. This Sauk County summertime adventure will include visits to three destinations: Circus World Museum, AL. Ringling Theatre, and Wollersheim Winery. Organized by PLATO, there will be three pick-up stops in Madison: East Towne Sears, Capital Lakes, and Oakwood Village University Woods. The registration deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025. Learn more and register here.

 THEATER TRIP

The Church Basement Ladies in The Last (Potluck) Supper on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at The Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson. "It is 1979, the day of the church’s Centennial Celebration, and past parishioners have gathered to share hotdishes, bars, and stories from the last 100 years. As the women work in the kitchen, shared memories burst into life through a series of flashbacks." PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity so pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips. The registration deadline is next week Thursday, May 29. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST & COFFEE GATHERINGS
These social events offer members and their guests opportunities to share conversation over coffee and breakfast or breakfast snacks. Learn more below including updates on two new summertime locations and one time change!

THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee – May 23, 9:30-11:30am at Rotunda Café. Learn more and RSVP here.

First Friday Breakfast – June 6, 9:00-11:00am at Yola's Café – note the new summertime location! Learn more and RSVP here.

Second Friday Breakfast – June 13, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Memorial Union Terrace – note the new summertime location and time change! Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Partake in past recordings of PLATO Lectures on timely topics offered by PLATO members and local, national and international speakers.

BIKE RIDES
Explore the greater Madison area with self-guided bicycling routes – and, if you are curious, find out where to rent a Madison BCycle (electric bike).

STAY IN THE KNOW ABOUT PLATO

BIG THANKS to those who attended PLATO's Member Appreciation Annual Meeting 2025! Much information was shared, including this Committee Highlights flyer which features the many accomplishments achieved during this past year. 

Virtually everything that you enjoy about PLATO – courses, lectures, trips, publications – is available due to the efforts of members like you. Whatever your skills, there is a place for you – we welcome you to get involved!

ELECTION RESULTS FOR PLATO 2025-26 BOARD

Congratulations to President J. K. Cheema, Vice President MaryJo MacSwain, Treasurer Rod McKenzie, Secretary Edie Urness-Pondillo, and At-Large Director Allen May! The PLATO Board is composed of five officers, standing committee chairpersons, and five At-Large Directors. The new Board’s term starts on July 1, 2025. Learn about PLATO’s structure, policies, and more on the Organizational Documents webpage.

THE AGORA
The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

View highlights from this past season on the The Agora Features webpage.

PLATO Weekly Update

May 13, 2025

TOMORROW! PLATO's Member Appreciation Annual Meeting 2025 on Wednesday, May 14 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm at the East Side Club. Registered members and guests may review the Schedule of Events here. Feel free to arrive a bit early to get checked in!

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Registration for Summer Courses is underway! Most will begin the week of June 2 and vary in length from 3-10 weeks. There are 14 courses to choose from which include in-person and virtual offerings. Find the Summer Course Schedule on the Courses webpage and contact the course coordinator to register.

CURRICULUM SHOWCASE
The Curriculum and Diversity Awareness Committees are seeking coordinators for two possible new courses: Classic Films II and Criminal Justice – find descriptions of these potential courses in the Curriculum Showcase.

NEXT WEEK! Best-selling author Robert Kurson talks writing at the PLATO Writing Workshop on May 21 at 1pm – learn more and register here!

SPECIAL EVENTS

 FIELD TRIP

NEXT MONTH! Register today for the Circus, Stage and Sips Tour on Thursday, June 19, 2025. This Sauk County summertime adventure will include visits to three destinations: Circus World Museum, AL. Ringling Theatre, and Wollersheim Winery. Organized by PLATO, there will be three pick-up stops in Madison: East Towne Sears, Capital Lakes, and Oakwood Village University Woods. The registration deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025. Learn more and register here.

THEATER TRIP

The Church Basement Ladies in The Last (Potluck) Supper on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at The Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson. "It is 1979, the day of the church’s Centennial Celebration, and past parishioners have gathered to share hotdishes, bars, and stories from the last 100 years. As the women work in the kitchen, shared memories burst into life through a series of flashbacks." PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity so pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips. The registration deadline is Thursday, May 29. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST & COFFEE GATHERINGS
These social events offer members and their guests opportunities to share conversation over coffee and breakfast or breakfast snacks. Learn more below including updates on two new summertime locations and one time change!

NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee – May 23, 9:30-11:30am at Rotunda Café. Learn more and RSVP here.

First Friday Breakfast – June 6, 9:00-11:00am at Yola's Café – note the new summertime location! Learn more and RSVP here.

Second Friday Breakfast – June 13, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Memorial Union Terrace – note the new summertime location and time change! Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Expand your horizons with past recordings of PLATO Lectures on important topics offered by PLATO members and local, national and international speakers.

ELECTION RESULTS FOR PLATO 2025-26 BOARD

The annual election is now completed. Congratulations to President J. K. Cheema, Vice President MaryJo MacSwain, Treasurer Rod McKenzie, Secretary Edie Urness-Pondillo, and At-Large Director Allen May. The PLATO Board is composed of five officers, standing committee chairpersons, and five At-Large Directors. The new Board’s term starts on July 1, 2025. Learn about PLATO’s structure, policies, and more on the Organizational Documents webpage.

THE AGORA
The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

View highlights from this past season on the The Agora Features webpage.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats for your spring viewing or listening pleasure, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for May 6 – 19, 2025

Aileen Cole Stewart (c.1893 – c.1997) passed her nursing exams in Maryland during the same year that the United States entered World War I. Though the army was in desperate need for nurses, it wasn’t until the1918 influenza epidemic that African American nurses were assigned to active duty.

Visit the Social Justice page to read more about Aileen Cole Stewart and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

May 6, 2025

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
NEW! Registration for Summer Courses is now open! Most will begin the week of June 2 and vary in length from 3-10 weeks. With 14 courses to choose from, including in-person and virtual offerings, something is sure to please! Find the Summer Course Schedule on the Courses webpage and contact the course coordinator to register.

CURRIULUM SHOWCASE
The Curriculum and Diversity Awareness Committees are seeking coordinators for two possible new courses: Classic Films II and Criminal Justice – find descriptions of these potential courses in the Curriculum Showcase.

SPECIAL EVENTS

 THEATER TRIPS

NEW! The Church Basement Ladies in The Last (Potluck) Supper on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at The Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson. "It is 1979, the day of the church’s Centennial Celebration, and past parishioners have gathered to share hotdishes, bars, and stories from the last 100 years. As the women work in the kitchen, shared memories burst into life through a series of flashbacks." PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity so pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips. The registration deadline is Thursday, May 29. Learn more and register here.

 FIELD TRIPS

Celebrate the advent of summer with the Circus, Stage and Sips Tour on Thursday, June 19, 2025. This Sauk County adventure will include visits to three destinations: Circus World Museum, AL. Ringling Theatre, and Wollersheim Winery! Organized by PLATO, there will be three pick-up stops in Madison: East Towne Sears, Capital Lakes, and Oakwood Village University Woods. The registration deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025. Learn more and register here.

REMINDER – East Troy Railroad & Yerkes Observatory Tour on Monday, May 12, 2025. Registrants may review event details here.

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS

THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – enjoy conversation, coffee and breakfast snacks with fellow members on Friday, May 9 at 9:30-11:30am at Lakeside Street Coffee House. A prominent stairway leads to the lower level where our group meets. Guests are welcome, so feel free to bring a friend who may be interested in PLATO! Learn more and RSVP here.

Fourth Friday Coffee – May 23, 9:30-11:30am at Rotunda Café. Learn more and RSVP here.

First Friday Breakfast – June 6, 9:00-11:00 at Yola's Café (note the new summertime location). Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Peruse past recordings of PLATO Lectures on many interesting subjects offered by members and local, national and international speakers.

ELECTION FOR PLATO 2025-26 BOARD
Voting is underway and will close on Wednesday, May 7 at midnight

Read about the nominees by clicking on the Nominee Biographies link below and then cast your vote with the provided link. Note that you will need to login and there is a "forgot password" button if needed. The Nominating Committee thanks the members who agreed to be listed as nominees as well as those who have already voted!

THE AGORA
The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

View highlights from this past season on the The Agora Features webpage.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats for your spring viewing or listening pleasure, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for May 6 – 19, 2025

Aileen Cole Stewart (c.1893 – c.1997) passed her nursing exams in Maryland during the same year that the United States entered World War I. Though the army was in desperate need for nurses, it wasn’t until the1918 influenza epidemic that African American nurses were assigned to active duty.

Visit the Social Justice page to read more about Aileen Cole Stewart and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

April 29, 2025

MEMBER APPRECIATION ANNUAL MEETING

THIS WEEK! The deadline to register is this Friday, May 2. This lively social event features keynote speaker John Stofflet, Local Broadcast Legend and 26-time Emmy Winner who will share anecdotes and challenges from his career as a newscaster. Enjoy light refreshments, the annual PLATO business meeting, door prizes and more! This is a complimentary event and members may invite a guest. Find event and registration details here – including the list of door prizes!

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
NEXT WEEK! Registration for Summer Courses will open on Tuesday, May 6, and most will begin the week of June 2. Courses will vary in length ranging from 3-10 weeks with in-person and virtual offerings. With 12 courses to choose from, something is sure to please! Course Schedules are always announced here in the Tuesday Weekly Update and on the Courses webpage.

SPECIAL EVENTS

LECTURES

THIS WEEK! Join us to learn about the science and technology involved in coffee production! Dr. Juan Rodrigo Sanz Uribe from UW-Madison will present Espresso Yourself: The Science & Art of Coffee, on Thursday, May 1 from 1:30-3pm at Oakwood Village West's Nakoma/Westmoreland Room. Dr. Uribe will deliver his lecture virtually from the country of Colombia while participants gather in person to sample the wonderful flavors of Colombian coffee. Registration is not required for this lecture, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

Quench your curiosity with past recordings of PLATO Lectures on a variety of timely topics offered by members and local, national and international speakers.

 FIELD TRIPS

Celebrate the advent of summer with the Circus, Stage and Sips Tour on Thursday, June 19, 2025. This Sauk County adventure will include visits to three destinations: Circus World Museum, AL. Ringling Theatre, and Wollersheim Winery! Organized by PLATO, there will be three pick-up stops in Madison: East Towne Sears, Capital Lakes, and Oakwood Village University Woods. The registration deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS

THIS WEEK! First Friday Breakfast Gathering at the Pancake Café on Gammon Road on Friday, May 2, from 9:00-11:00am. Enjoy good food and conversation with fellow PLATO members. Learn more and RSVP here.

NEXT WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – enjoy conversation, coffee and breakfast snacks with fellow members on Friday, May 9 at 9:30-11:30am at Lakeside Street Coffee House. A prominent stairway leads to the lower level where our group meets. Guests are welcome, so feel free to bring a friend who may be interested in PLATO! Learn more and RSVP here.

NATURE WALK

REMINDER – Nature Walk at Oakwood West on May 5 at 10am followed by a social hour with lemonade and cookies in the Oaks Community Room. This event is full – find event details here.

ELECTION FOR PLATO 2025-26 BOARD
Voting is underway and will close on May 7 at midnight

Read about the nominees by clicking on the Nominee Biographies link below and then cast your vote with the provided link. Note that you will need to login and there is a "forgot password" button if needed. The Nominating Committee thanks the members who agreed to be listed as nominees as well as those who have already voted!

THE AGORA
The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Big thanks to the many PLATO members who submitted their work for consideration for inclusion in The Agora, Volume 9, which will be published in Fall 2025. With so many high-quality entries, this edition is sure to please!

To view highlights from this past season, visit The Agora Features.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats for your spring viewing or listening pleasure, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for April 22 – May 5, 2025

Visit the Social Justice page to read more about Lussier Community Education Center, PLATO's Education Fund and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

April 22, 2025

ELECTION FOR PLATO BOARD 2025-26
Read the biographies for the nominees!

THIS WEEK! PLATO's Board of Directors Election for 2025-26 will run from April 23 – May 7, 2025. Read about the nominees by clicking on the Nominee Biographies link below so you are ready to vote. The Nominating Committee thanks the members who agreed to be listed! Watch for a PLATO email tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23, with your link to the Ballot. Voting will close on Wednesday, May 7, at midnight.

CURRICULUM

SPRING COURSES
Everything you need to know is available on the Courses webpage. 

SUMMER COURSES
NEXT MONTH! Registration for Summer Courses will open on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Most Summer Courses will begin the week of June 2.

COURSE UPDATE
PLEASE NOTE: There's been a change to the Film History schedule – the last date this course will meet for the Spring Term is tomorrow, Wednesday, April 23.

CURRICULUM SHOWCASE
Best-selling author Robert Kurson talks writing at the PLATO Writing Workshop on May 21 at 1pm – learn more and register in this brief article!

SPECIAL EVENTS

FIELD TRIPS

NEW! Celebrate the advent of summer with the Circus, Stage and Sips Tour on Thursday, June 19, 2025. This Sauk County adventure will include visits to three destinations: Circus World Museum, AL. Ringling Theatre, and Wollersheim Winery! Organized by PLATO, there will be three pick-up stops in Madison: East Towne Sears, Capital Lakes, and Oakwood Village University Woods. The registration deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES

NEXT WEEK! Join us to learn about the science and technology involved in coffee production! Dr. Juan Rodrigo Sanz Uribe from UW-Madison will present Espresso Yourself: The Science & Art of Coffee, on Thursday, May 1 from 1:30-3pm at Oakwood Village West's Nakoma/Westmoreland Room. Dr. Uribe will deliver his lecture virtually from the country of Colombia while participants gather in person to sample the wonderful flavors of Colombian coffee. Registration is not required for this lecture, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

PAST RECORDINGS
Check out two new offerings on PLATO's Past Recordings webpage:

The Benefits of Strength Training for Life's Journey, a webinar presented for PLATO members by Dr. Katie Starr, Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. Learn how staying strong boosts mood, sleep, and memory and get tips for how to incorporate strength training into your routine.

Senior Living Options, a presentation recorded during a Money Skills for Retirees class session. Charlene Avery and Mary Erdman share information on considerations around aging in place versus moving to senior living communities. For those who will move, several Dane County senior living options are discussed.

COFFEE & BREAKFAST GATHERINGS

THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee Gathering on Friday, April 25, from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café. Note that Sue Ellerhost has replaced Catherine Masi to co-host these Fourth Friday events events along with Donaby Henton. Learn more and RSVP by contacting Sue or Donaby here.

NEXT WEEK! Catherine Masi has launched a new First Friday Breakfast Gathering at the Pancake Café on Gammon Road. The next event will be on Friday, May 2, from 9:00-11:00am. Learn more and RSVP here.

REGISTRATION CONTINUES!
PLATO's 2025 Member Appreciation Annual Meeting

Members are invited to attend this lively social event which features keynote speaker John Stofflet, Local Broadcast Legend and 26-time Emmy Winner who will share anecdotes and challenges from his career as a newscaster. Enjoy light refreshments, the annual PLATO business meeting, door prizes and more! This is a complimentary event and members may invite a guest. Registration is required and will close on Friday, May 2. Learn more and register here.

THE AGORA

The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Big thanks to the many PLATO members who submitted their work for consideration for inclusion in The Agora, Volume 9, which will be published in Fall 2025. With so many high-quality entries, this edition is sure to please!

To view highlights from this past season, visit The Agora Features.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats for your spring viewing or listening pleasure, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for April 22 – May 5, 2025

Visit the Social Justice page to read more about Lussier Community Education Center, PLATO's Education Fund and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

 April 15, 2025

ELECTION FOR PLATO BOARD 2025-26
Read the biographies for the nominees!

NEXT WEEK! PLATO's Board of Directors Election for 2025-26 will run from April 23 – May 7, 2025. Read about the nominees by clicking on the Nominee Biographies link below so you are ready to vote. The Nominating Committee thanks the members who agreed to be listed! Watch for a PLATO email next week, Wednesday, April 23, with your link to the Ballot. Voting will close on Wednesday, May 7, at midnight.

CURRICULUM

SPRING COURSES
Everything you need to know is available on the Courses webpage. 

SUMMER COURSES
NEXT MONTH! Registration for Summer Courses will open on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Most Summer Courses will begin the week of June 2.


COURSE UPDATE
There's been a change in the Film History schedule – the last date this course will meet for the Spring Term is next week Wednesday, April 23.

CURRICULUM SHOWCASE
NEW! Best-selling author Robert Kurson talks writing at the PLATO Writing Workshop on May 21 at 1pm – learn more in this brief article!

SPECIAL EVENTS

LECTURES

THIS WEEK! A Conversation with Chloe Benjamin on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 1:30-3:00pm at the Oakwood Village West Performing Arts Center. The Alt-Pinney Book Club will interview the award-winning author of The Immortalists and The Anatomy of Dreams who is now based in Madison, Wisconsin. Registration is not required, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

NEXT MONTH! Join us to learn about the science and technology involved in coffee production! Dr. Juan Rodrigo Sanz Uribe from UW-Madison will present Espresso Yourself: The Science & Art of Coffee, on May 1 from 1:30-3pm at Oakwood Village West's Nakoma/Westmoreland Room. Dr. Uribe will deliver his lecture virtually from the country of Colombia while participants gather in person to sample the wonderful flavors of Colombian coffee. Registration is not required for this lecture, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

COFFEE & BREAKFAST GATHERINGS

NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee Gathering on Friday, April 25, from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café. Note that Sue Ellerhost has replaced Catherine Masi to co-host these Fourth Friday events events along with Donaby Henton. Learn more and RSVP by contacting Sue or Donaby here.

NEXT MONTH! Catherine Masi has launched a new First Friday Breakfast Gathering at the Pancake Café on Gammon Road. The next event will be on Friday, May 2, from 9:00-11:00am. Learn more and RSVP here.

NATURE WALK
Registration is full – for the one-hour Nature Walk at Oakwood West on May 5 at 10am lead by Barb Littlewood which will be followed by a social hour with lemonade and cookies in the Oaks Community Room. Learn more and join the waitlist here.

FIELD TRIP
Registration is full – for the History & Heritage of Green Bay Tour on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 to uncover the rich history of the Oneida Nation and Green Bay topped off with a tour of Lambeau Field and a group lunch in the stadium! PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity. Learn more and join the waitlist here.  

REGISTRATION CONTINUES!

PLATO's 2025 Member Appreciation Annual Meeting

Members are invited to attend this lively social event which features keynote speaker John Stofflet, Local Broadcast Legend and 26-time Emmy Winner who will share anecdotes and challenges from his career as a newscaster. Enjoy light refreshments, the annual PLATO business meeting, door prizes and more! This is a complimentary event and members may invite a guest. Registration is required and will close on Friday, May 2. Learn more and register here.

PLATO Weekly Update

April 8, 2025

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

PLATO's 2025 Member Appreciation Annual Meeting

Members are invited to attend this lively social event which features keynote speaker John Stofflet, Local Broadcast Legend and 26-time Emmy Winner who will share anecdotes and challenges from his career as a newscaster. Enjoy light refreshments, the annual PLATO business meeting, door prizes and more! This is a complimentary event and members may invite a guest. Registration is required and will close on Friday, May 2. Learn more and register here.

CURRICULUM

SPRING COURSES
Everything you need to know is available on the Courses webpage. 

SUMMER COURSES
Registration for Summer Courses will open on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Most Summer Courses will begin the week of June 2.

Interested in offering a summer course? PLATO's Curriculum Committee created a Course Coordinator Toolkit to help get you started! Summertime is a great time to offer a new course because courses typically run just 4-6 weeks.

SPECIAL EVENTS

LECTURES

NEW! Join us to learn about the science and technology involved in coffee production! Dr. Juan Rodrigo Sanz Uribe from UW-Madison will present Espresso Yourself: The Science & Art of Coffee, on May 1 from 1:30-3pm at Oakwood Village West's Nakoma/Westmoreland Room. Dr. Uribe will deliver his lecture virtually from the country of Colombia while participants gather in person to sample the wonderful flavors of Colombian coffee. Registration is not required for this lecture, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

THIS WEEK! Slavery in "Free" Wisconsin Territory, 1800-1850 on Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 1:30-3:00pm at the Oakwood Village West Performing Arts Center. Using documentation gathered in the writing of her latest book Enslaved, Indentured, Free: Five Black Women on the Upper Mississippi 1800-1850, historian and author Mary Elise Antoine will discuss the history of slavery in Wisconsin. Registration is not required for this lecture, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

NEXT WEEK! A Conversation with Chloe Benjamin on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 1:30-3:00pm at the Oakwood Village West Performing Arts Center. The Alt-Pinney Book Club will interview the award-winning author of The Immortalists and The Anatomy of Dreams who is now based in Madison, Wisconsin. Registration is not required, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS

THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – enjoy conversation, coffee and breakfast snacks with fellow members on Friday, April 11, at 9:30-11:30am at Lakeside Street Coffee House. A prominent stairway leads to the lower level where our group meets. Guests are welcome, so feel free to bring a friend who may be interested in PLATO! Learn more and RSVP here.

UPDATE! Sue Ellerhost is stepping up to replace Catherine Masi to co-host the Fourth Friday Coffee Gatherings along with Donaby Henton. The next event will be on Friday, April 25, from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café. Learn more and RSVP here.  

NEXT MONTH! Catherine Masi has launched a new First Friday Breakfast Gathering at The Pancake House on Gammon Road. The next event will be onFriday, May 2, from 9:00-11:00am. Learn more and RSVP here.

NATURE WALK
REGISTRATION IS FULL – for the one-hour Nature Walk at Oakwood West on May 5 at 10am lead by Barb Littlewood which will be followed by a social hour with lemonade and cookies in the Oaks Community Room. Learn more and join the waitlist here.

FIELD TRIP
REGISTRATION IS FULL –for the History & Heritage of Green Bay Tour on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 to uncover the rich history of the Oneida Nation and Green Bay topped off with a tour of Lambeau Field and a group lunch in the stadium! PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity. Learn more and join the waitlist here.  

THE AGORA
The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Big thanks to the many PLATO members who submitted their work for consideration for inclusion in The Agora, Volume 9, which will be published in Fall 2025. With so many high-quality entries, this edition is sure to please!

To view highlights from this past season, visit The Agora Features.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats for your spring viewing or listening pleasure, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for April 8 – 21, 2025

Dr. Patricia Bath (Nov. 4, 1942 – May 30, 2019) was a pioneer in the field of ophthalmology. Dr. Bath is recognized as the first Black woman physician to receive a medical patent as the inventor of the Laserphaco Probe, a device and technique to remove cataracts. It performed all steps of cataract removal: making the incision, destroying the lens and vacuuming out the fractured pieces. 

Visit the Social Justice page to read more about Dr. Patricia Bath and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

April 1, 2025

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

PLATO's 2025 Member Appreciation Annual Meeting

Members are invited to attend this lively social event which features keynote speaker John Stofflet, Local Broadcast Legend and 26-time Emmy Winner who will share anecdotes and challenges from his career as a newscaster. Enjoy light refreshments, the annual PLATO business meeting, door prizes and more! This is a complimentary event and members may invite a guest. Registration is required and will close on Friday, May 2. Learn more and register here.

CURRICULUM

SPRING COURSES
Have a question about a Spring Course? Find answers on the Courses webpage. 

SUMMER COURSES
Registration for Summer Courses will open on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Most Summer Courses will begin the week of June 2. Interested in offering a Summer Course? Read on for details...

COURSE COORDINATOR TOOLKIT

If you're interested in offering a new course, PLATO's Curriculum Committee created a Course Coordinator Toolkit to help get you started! Summertime is a great time to offer a new course because courses typically run just 4-6 weeks.

SPECIAL EVENTS

NEW! History & Heritage of Green Bay Tour on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Join us as we uncover the rich history of the Oneida Nation and Green Bay topped off with a tour of Lambeau Field and a group lunch in the stadium! PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center  and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity. Registration deadline is Thursday, April 17. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS

THIS WEEK! The very first First Friday Breakfast on the West Side! Join fellow PLATO members and guests for breakfast and conversation at the Pancake Café on Gammon Road. Held the first Friday of each month from 9:00-11:00am, the first event will be on Friday, April 4, 2025. This venue provides the comfort of a private dining room and the convenience of a large parking lot. Bring a friend! Like all Breakfast and Coffee Gatherings, everyone is responsible for their own tab. Learn more and RSVP here.

NEXT WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – enjoy conversation, coffee and breakfast snacks with fellow members on Friday, April 11 at 9:30-11:30am at Lakeside Street Coffee House. A prominent stairway leads to the lower level where our group meets. Guests are welcome, so feel free to bring a friend who may be interested in PLATO! Learn more and RSVP here.

WEBINAR

THIS WEEK! The Benefits of Strength Training for Life's Journey by Vivo on Friday, April 4 at 2:00pm. This one-hour webinar features a presentation by Dr. Katie Starr, PhD, RD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine, followed by an interactive demo and Q&A session. This complimentary event requires registration to receive the Zoom link – the deadline is Thursday, April 3. Learn more and register here. 

FIELD TRIPS

There are a few spots left for the Linden Cohousing Tour on Saturday April 5, 2025, at 10:00am. Fun fact: there are about 200 cohousing communities across the United States and Madison is home to four of them! Come learn how cooperative living can facilitate interaction among neighbors to provide social, practical, economic, and environmental benefits. This is a complimentary two-hour tour for PLATO members and their guests and registration is required by this Thursday, April 3. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES

NEXT WEEK! Slavery in "Free" Wisconsin Territory, 1800-1850 on Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 1:30-3:00pm. Using documentation gathered in the writing of her latest book Enslaved, Indentured, Free: Five Black Women on the Upper Mississippi 1800-1850, historian and author Mary Elise Antoine will discuss the history of slavery in Wisconsin. Registration is not required for this lecture, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

A Conversation with Chloe Benjamin on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 1:30-3:00pm. The Alt-Pinney Book Club will interview the award-winning author of The Immortalists and The Anatomy of Dreams. Registration is not required, parking is free, and guests are welcome. Learn more here.

NATURE WALK
REGISTRATION IS FULL – but you may join the waitlist for this one-hour walk through the Oakwood Nature Preserve lead by Barb Littlewood followed by a social hour with lemonade and cookies in the Oaks Community Room. Listening devices will be provided for all participants. Unfortunately, the trail is not accessible to people with disabilities. Learn more and join the waitlist here.

THE AGORA
The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Big thanks to the many PLATO members who submitted their work for consideration for inclusion in The Agora, Volume 9, which will be published in Fall 2025. With so many high-quality entries, this edition is sure to please!

To view highlights from this past season, visit The Agora Features.