PLATO Weekly Update 

February 15, 2022

CURRICULUM

SPRING COURSES
Most courses begin next week – some will also begin the week of Feb. 28th and later. Be sure to check when the course you registered for will begin! Find these details and more on the COURSES webpage. 

REMINDER

These COVID-19 Protocols are required for in-person courses:

· Wear masks inside of Host Location buildings.

· Follow social distancing guidelines.

· Follow any additional guidelines required at Host Locations - visit the Courses Page or check with your course coordinator.

SPECIAL EVENTS

LECTURES
NEXT WEEK! Join Professor Joe Salmons on Thursday, February 24th at 2:00pm for an interesting one-hour exploration of Wisconsin English including pronunciations, words, associations and grammar. This is a virtual lecture and registration is required.

Also, enjoy archived PLATO Lectures on a variety of topics! 

THEATER TRIPS 
Our trip to see a matinee of a Beatles-inspired version of As You Like It at the Milwaukee Rep on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 is full but you can join the wait list. This production features more than 20 Beatles songs performed live, including "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand". We will take a chartered bus with various stops around Madison. Registration and other COVID-19 protocols are required. Join the wait list and learn more here.

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
Meet a future friend and enjoy good food and conversation at our next gathering on March 11th at 9:30am at The Marquette Hotel Café, located at 414 South Baldwin Street in the fun and funky Willy Street neighborhood. RSVP and other COVID-19 Protocols are required. RSVP and learn more here.

REMINDER 
These COVID-19 Protocols are required for in-person special events:

· Masks are required at all times, except while eating.

· You will need to show:

o   A picture ID.

o   Proof of COVID-19 vaccination or proof of negative results of a COVID-19 test 72 hours prior to the event. The test must be issued by a medical provider or pharmacy. At home tests will not be accepted. 

· You will not be allowed to join the event without providing acceptable documentation.

· Please stay home if you are not feeling well and contact the trip organizer to inform them of your decision.

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

Our Biweekly Feature for February 8th – February 21st is A Walk in the Woods (during Pandemic), a painting by Jim Albright and a poem by Judith Sokolow – two works of "quiet beauty" that come together to "soothe and nourish our hungry souls".

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

Select from a range of topics and formats 

for your Winter reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

NEW BOOK & VIDEO RECOMMENDATIONS – For more on the book “JUST AS I AM: A MEMOIR" by Cicely Tyson and the 2022 mini-series, “WOMEN OF THE MOVEMENT” click the Social Justice Webpage button below. 

DID YOU KNOW? for February 15 – 28, 2022

Did You Know… World War II Navajo code talker Thomas Begay was a teenager playing football near his high school in New Mexico when he heard news of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. As soon as he could, he went to a recruiting office to join the Marines. Because he was only 17 he had to go home and return with his mother to give permission for his enlistment. This was just the start of his lifelong commitment to public service. 

Begay, now in his late 90’s, is one of only 4 men still alive among the 400-plus Navajo code talkers from World War II.

Visit the Social Justice Webpage for much more about Thomas Begay & past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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