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PLATO Weekly Update
February 24, 2026
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NEW! Save the Date – Registration for this complimentary event for PLATO members will open on April 7, 2026! The event will take place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 from 2:00-4:00pm at the East Side Club on Monona Drive.
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Henrik Schatzinger, Director of the Center for Politics and the People at Ripon College, which is dedicated to the promotion of constructive political debate and informed citizens concerned with good governance. The title of his keynote presentation will be Hidden Money, Visible Power: Super PACs and Dark Money in Wisconsin Politics. Learn more about Dr. Schatzinger and read an overview of his upcoming book to be published this fall by Cambridge University Press. Dr. Schatzinger will also be a featured guest on NPR’s Throughlineon February 26 on the history of Super PACs. Stay tuned – more details to come!
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CURRICULUM
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SPRING COURSES
There's still time to register for some, including 16 Courses that offer unlimited participation – review those courses here and contact the course coordinator to register.
Find the full Spring 2026 Course Schedule on the Courses page.
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HALF-PRICE MEMBERSHIPS
Memberships are half-price (just $30) through March 31, 2026! Visit the Join PLATO webpage for details.
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SPECIAL EVENTS
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FIELD TRIPS
View the Field Trip Schedule with day trips to interesting sites around Wisconsin through Fall 2026. Note that this is a preliminary list; more will be announced as details are finalized.
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NEW! Join us for a tour of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 1:30pm. This museum has won awards from the American Alliance of Museums and is affiliated with the Smithsonian! Free to members and their guests, the registration deadline is Monday, April 6. Learn more and register here.
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LECTURES
View the Lecture Schedule through Spring 2026.
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THIS WEEK! Global Entries: Anecdotes from My Travels Abroad on Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 1:30-3:00pm at Oakwood Village University Woods Arts and Education Center. In his lecture, author Joe Fahey will share his extraordinary adventures while traveling to the ends of the earth and many places in between during his 40-year corporate career working for several multinational companies. Registration for this lecture is not required, guests are welcome, and parking is free. Learn more here.
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NEXT MONTH! Birding: Transitioning from Winter to Spring! Join us on Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 1:30-3:00pm at Oakwood Village University Woods Arts and Education Center for this fascinating lecture with Chuck Henrikson, PhD. In his lecture, Dr. Henrikson will share how he got started with his birding adventures in the UW Arboretum, and what makes this post-retirement hobby such a meaningful way of life. Registration for this lecture is not required, guests are welcome, and parking is free. Learn more here.
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LECTURES RESOURCES
Download the slides from the Your Voice in Healthcare: How to Prepare and Partner for Better Outcomes lecture and find a link to the recording on PLATO's Past Recordings webpage.
Download this handout from the Protecting Due Process and Immigrants in Our Community lecture.
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BREAKFAST, LUNCH & COFFEE GATHERINGS
These social events offer members and their guests opportunities to share conversation over coffee or breakfast and lunch options.
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THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee at the Rotunda Café on February 27 from 9:30-11:30am. Learn more and RSVP here.
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THEATER TRIPS
View the Theater Trip Schedule with spring and summer offerings – destinations include Milwaukee, Fort Atkinson, and Chicago.
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