PLATO Weekly Update

October 11, 2022

MEMBER PROFILE 

CURRICULUM

FALL COURSES

· Have a question about a Fall Course? Find answers in the Fall Course Schedule posted on the Courses page.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

· Fall 2022 COVID Protocols for specific host locations are listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

THEATER TRIPS
REGISTER THIS WEEK! for Stones in His Pockets – Thursday, November 17 at American Players Theater. Two of our favorite actors, Nate Burger and Marcus Truschinski play every role in this nearly sold out "timeless hit". Register and learn more here – registration deadline is Tuesday, November 1.

WALKS OF DANE COUNTY
NEW WALKS! 
Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 9:30am – explore the natural beauty of the Woods of Donald Park. Register and learn more here.

Tuesday, November 8 at 9:30am – enjoy the hills, prairie and waterways of Pheasant Branch Conservatory. Register and learn more.

BREAKFAST GATHERING 
THIS WEEK! Friday, October 14 at 9:30am, join fellow PLATO members and guests for breakfast and conversation at at Lakeside Street Coffee House. Seating is on both the main floor and downstairs level. You will need to climb nine steps in order to be seated on the downstairs level. RSVP and learn more here.

LECTURES
TODAY! Discover the latest research in Alzheimer's Disease in this virtual lecture on Tuesday, October 11 from 1pm – 2:15pm with Dr. Sterling Johnson of the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention (WRAP). Dr. Johnson, a neuropsychologist and neuroscientist, leads the WRAP program and is also the Associate Director and Biomarker Core Leader in the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC). Register and learn more here.

NOVEMBER 9! The History of Television Soap Operas will take place virtually on Wednesday, November 9 from 1pm – 2:15pm. Dr. Elana Levine, a professor of media, cinema, and digital studies in the Department of English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is a longtime soap opera fan who looks at the genre through two connected lenses: the role soaps have played in shaping cultural understandings of gender, as well as the rise and fall of network television’s influence on pop culture. Register and learn more here.

NOVEMBER 15! Clint Smith's Go Big Read Lecture on his new book: How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America on Tuesday, November 15 from 1pm – 3pm. PLATO is proud to host a virtual presentation of this important talk. We will spend the first hour+ watching his November 1 talk, followed by an online discussion of the many issues raised in his talk and the book. Register and learn more here.

Explore archived PLATO Lectures on many interesting and timely subjects.

EDUCATION FUND UPDATE

THE GIFT OF EDUCATION – helping PLATO help others. Recently members received a mailing with the PLATO Education Fund's scholarship flyer and donation forms for the upcoming year. The flyer spotlights our current scholarship and community organization recipients.This is all made possible by the generosity of PLATO members like you who value lifelong learning and want to provide much-needed financial support to others in need. A contribution of any size makes a difference!

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO.

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

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

Select from a range of topics and formats 

for your October reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

NEW on the Social Justice webpage – review of the book, The Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America by Candacy Taylor.

DID YOU KNOW? for October 11 – 24, 2022

Did You Know… African American scientist and inventor Valerie L. Thomas (b: 1943) loved math and science but because she was a girl, she was discouraged from studying them. Once she got to college Thomas chose to major in physics which led to a career at NASA where she developed and patented the illusion transmitter – a key component of NASA’s digital imaging technologies, as well as worked as leader of a computer team researching Halley's Comet, and earned multiple NASA awards including the prestigious Goddard Space Flight Center Award of Merit. Thomas’ illusion transmitter was used not just by NASA but also adapted for surgical applications and in television and video screens.

Visit the Social Justice webpage for more about Valerie Thomas 
& 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).