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Weekly Update 
is emailed every Tuesday to PLATO members and  those interested in joining

Be sure to add: PLATO Office Operations and "info@platomadison.org" to your email contacts or approved sender list in order to direct PLATO emails to your Inbox and keep them out of your junk folder.
  • July 19, 2022 11:53 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    PLATO Weekly Update

    July 19, 2022


    CURRICULUM


    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Current COVID protocols for specific Host Locations for Summer Courses are listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Find everything you need to know on the Summer Course Schedule page.

    FALL COURSES

    · On Tuesday, August 23, the Fall Course schedule will be posted to the Courses webpage and course enrollment begins that same day!

    · Fall courses start the week of September 19.

    COURSES PAGE


    SPECIAL EVENTS
     

    BREAKFAST GATHERING 
    Join us on Friday, August 12 at 9:30am at the UW Memorial Union Terrace. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. Note – just to let you plan ahead – at our July 8 gathering we found there were no restaurants open but 15 of us shared Peet's Coffee and conversation at a crowded but friendly indoor round table. RSVP and learn more here, including parking tips!

    FIELD TRIP: REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
    On Wednesday, August 31, we’ll board a bus for a day in the Sheboygan, Wisconsin area. In the morning we will spend time at the beautiful Kohler-Andrae State Park followed with an afternoon visit to the new Art Preserve of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center. Lunch will be on your own at Shops at Woodlake KohlerRegister, view photos, and learn more here.

    MARK YOUR CALENDAR
    Details coming soon! 

    Tuesday, October 4 – A Walk Through Forest Hill Cemetery lead by Bruce Gregg, longtime member of PLATO and of Historic Madison.

    Sunday, October 16 – a theater trip to see Titanic at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

    Plans are also in the works for a second field trip in late August/early September and another theater trip in November!

    LECTURES  
    Stay cool and entertained indoors watching archived PLATO Lectures.

    SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR


    FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

    Our Biweekly Feature for July 12 – July 25 continues to be Kohlrabi, a poem by Kate Dike, who reflects on a joyful childhood summer memory.

    AGORA FEATURE


    SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

    Select from a range of topics and formats 

    for your Summer reading, viewing, or listening, 

    curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

    DID YOU KNOW? for July 19 – August 1

    Did You Know… Matthew Henson was an African American explorer best known as the co-discoverer of the North Pole in 1909 with Robert Edwin Peary. While Peary received much recognition for the accomplishment, Henson, as a black man, was largely ignored in press reports at the time. It took almost 30 years for him to receive the proper recognition.

    Born to Maryland sharecroppers in 1866, Henson was orphaned early and had to make his own way. He became a cabin boy on a ship where the captain mentored him in seamanship. Henson was working on land in a hat shop in Washington D.C. in 1887 when he met naval engineer and global explorer Robert Peary. Peary was impressed by Henson’s seafaring credentials and hired him as his valet for upcoming expeditions to Nicaragua, Greenland, and eventually the North Pole.

    Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more about Matthew Henson and 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).

    SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE


  • July 12, 2022 1:09 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    PLATO Weekly Update

    July 12, 2022


    CURRICULUM

    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Current COVID protocols for specific Host Locations for Summer Courses are listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Questions? Find answers on the Summer Course Schedule page.

    FALL COURSES
    Mark your calendar! 

    · On Tuesday, August 23, the Fall Course schedule will be posted to the Courses webpage and course enrollment begins that same day!

    · Fall courses start the week of September 19.

    LEARN MORE...
    Ever wonder how PLATO is able to offer so many great courses? For a behind-the-scenes peek, read this brief article: About the Curriculum Committee, posted in the Curriculum Showcase.

    COURSES PAGE 


    SPECIAL EVENTS 

    BREAKFAST GATHERING 
    NEXT MONTH!
     Join us on Friday, August 12 at 9:30am at the UW Memorial Union Terrace. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. Note – just to let you plan ahead – at our July 8 gathering we found there were no restaurants open but 15 of us shared Peet's Coffee and conversation at a crowded but friendly indoor round table. RSVP and learn more here, including parking tips!

    SAVE THE DATES
    More details coming soon! 

    Wednesday, August 31 – A field trip to the Kohler-Andrae State Park and the Art Preserve of the John Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan. 

    Tuesday, October 4 – A Walk Through Forest Hill Cemetery lead by Bruce Gregg, longtime member of PLATO and of Historic Madison.

    Sunday, October 16 – a theater trip to see Titanic at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

    Also in the works is a second field trip in late August/early September and another theater trip in November!

    LECTURES  
    Beat the summer heat indoors watching archived PLATO Lectures on many intriguing topics.

    SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR 


    MEMBER FEATURE
    TIM OTIS DOES IT ALL

    MEMBER PROFILE 


    FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

    Our Biweekly Feature for July 12 – July 25 continues to be Kohlrabi, a poem by Kate Dike, who reflects on a joyful childhood summer memory.

    AGORA FEATURE 


    SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

    Select from a range of topics and formats 

    for your Summer reading, viewing, or listening, 

    curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

    DID YOU KNOW? for July 5 – 18

    Did You Know… Ann Cole Lowe was the first African American to become a well-known fashion designer. Her designs were favored by high-society women, including members of the DuPont, Post, and Rockefeller families, well-known department stores like Henri Bendel, Nieman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue, and ‘fashionistas’ of the time from debutants to Oscar winners.

    Ann was born in Alabama in 1898 and grew up sewing like her grandmother and mother who were dressmakers. Ann’s fashion designs became recognized nationally in the 1920’s and stayed popular for more than four decades. Some of her most famous work was for the bride and bridesmaids in the 1953 wedding of Jacqueline Bouvier to then Senator John F. Kennedy. In 1968 Ann opened her Ann Lowe Originals boutique on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, becoming the first African American-owned business in the center of American fashion.

    Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more about Ann Cole Lowe and 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).

    SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE 


  • July 05, 2022 1:03 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    PLATO Weekly Update 

    July 5, 2022


    CURRICULUM

    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Current COVID protocols for specific Host Locations for Summer Courses are listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Find everything you need to know on the Summer Course Schedule page.

    FALL COURSES
    Mark your calendar! 

    · On Tuesday, August 23, the Fall Course schedule will be posted to the Courses webpage and course enrollment begins that same day!

    · Fall courses start the week of September 19.

    NEW! Check out the latest article, About the Curriculum Committee, posted in the Curriculum Showcase.

    COURSES PAGE 


    SPECIAL EVENTS 

    BREAKFAST GATHERING 
    THIS WEEK!
     Join us for this Friday’s breakfast gathering at the UW Memorial Union Terrace on July 8 beginning at 9:30. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. RSVP and learn more here, including parking tips!

    SAVE THE DATES!
    October 4 – A Walk Through Forest Hill Cemetery lead by Bruce Gregg, longtime member of PLATO and of Historic Madison.

    October 16 – a theater trip to see Milwaukee Repertory Theater’s smash hit production of Titanic. Details are in the works and will be announced soon.

    Also in the planning stages are two field trips in late August or early September – stay tuned for details to come.

    LECTURES  
    As always, enjoy archived PLATO Lectures on an array of topics.

    SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR 


    FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

    Our Biweekly Feature for June 28 – July 11 is Kohlrabi, a poem by Kate Dike, who memorialized a joyful childhood memory in the act of writing this poem.

    AGORA FEATURE 


    SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

    Select from a range of topics and formats 

    for your Summer reading, viewing, or listening, 

    curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

    DID YOU KNOW? for July 5 – 18

    Did You Know… Ann Cole Lowe was the first African American to become a well-known fashion designer. Her designs were favored by high-society women, including members of the DuPont, Post, and Rockefeller families, well-known department stores like Henri Bendel, Nieman Marcus, and Saks Fifth Avenue, and ‘fashionistas’ of the time from debutants to Oscar winners.

    Ann was born in Alabama in 1898 and grew up sewing like her grandmother and mother who were dressmakers. Ann’s fashion designs became recognized nationally in the 1920’s and stayed popular for more than four decades. Some of her most famous work was for the bride and bridesmaids in the 1953 wedding of Jacqueline Bouvier to then Senator John F. Kennedy. In 1968 Ann opened her Ann Lowe Originals boutique on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, becoming the first African American-owned business in the center of American fashion.

    Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more about Ann Cole Lowe and 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).

    SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE 

  • June 28, 2022 1:20 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    PLATO Weekly Update

    June 28, 2022


    CURRICULUM

    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Current COVID protocols for specific Host Locations for Summer Courses are listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Have a question about a Summer Course? Find everything you need to know on the Summer Course Schedule page.

    FALL COURSES
    Mark your calendar! 

    · On Tuesday, August 23, the Fall Course schedule will be posted to the Courses webpage and course enrollment begins that same day!

    · Fall courses start the week of September 19.

    COURSES PAGE


    SPECIAL EVENTS 

    Plans are underway to offer exciting events for the Fall season. Stay tuned to the Weekly Updates for more information to come.

    BREAKFAST GATHERINGS

    COMING SOON! On Friday, July 8 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. take in the scenic view of Lake Mendota while enjoying coffee and conversation with fellow members outdoors at UW Memorial Union Terrace. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. RSVP and learn more here, including parking tips!

    LECTURES  
    Pique your curiosity with archived PLATO Lectures on an array of topics.

    SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR


    FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

    Our Biweekly Feature for June 28 – July 11 is Kohlrabi, a poem by Kate Dike, who memorialized a joyful childhood memory in the act of writing this poem.

    AGORA FEATURE


    SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

    Select from a range of topics and formats 

    for your Summer reading, viewing, or listening, 

    curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

    DID YOU KNOW? for June 21 – July 4

    Did You Know… The 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Abdulrazak Gurnah who was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania and now teaches and writes in Canterbury, England. The Swedish Academy cited Gurnah for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents”.

    Gurnah is the first Black writer to receive the Literature Nobel since Toni Morrison in 1993. Gurnah has written 10 novels, including 1994’s Paradise, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and 2001’s By the Sea, longlisted for the Booker. Gurnah’s writing has been noted for pushing back against previous Western takes on the African continent.

    Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more about Abdulrazak Gurnah and the titles of his novels plus 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).

    SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE


  • June 21, 2022 11:34 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    PLATO Weekly Update

    June 21, 2022


    CURRICULUM

    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Find current COVID protocols for specific Host Locations for Summer Courses listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Information about Summer Courses can be found on the Summer Course Schedule page.

    FALL COURSES
    Fall course enrollment begins August 23 and Fall courses begin the week of September 19. 

    COURSES PAGE


    SPECIAL EVENTS 

    The Special Events Committee is busily planning several exciting events for the Fall season. Stay tuned to the Weekly Updates for details to come.

    BREAKFAST GATHERINGS

    COMING SOON! On Friday, July 8 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. enjoy coffee and conversation with fellow members outdoors at UW Memorial Union Terrace. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. RSVP and learn more here.

    LECTURES  
    Explore archived PLATO Lectures on a range of topics.

    SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR


    FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

    Our Biweekly Feature for June 14 – June 27 is Melrose, a short story by Allen Youngwood, who shares an anecdote about the creation of this piece.

    AGORA FEATURE


    SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

    Select from a range of topics and formats 

    for your Summer reading, viewing, or listening, 

    curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

    Did You Know… The 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Abdulrazak Gurnah who was born in Zanzibar, Tanzania and now teaches and writes in Canterbury, England. The Swedish Academy cited Gurnah for his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents”.

    Gurnah
     is the first Black writer to receive the Literature Nobel since Toni Morrison in 1993. Gurnah has written 10 novels, including 1994’s Paradise, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and 2001’s By the Sea, longlisted for the Booker. Gurnah’s writing has been noted for pushing back against previous Western takes on the African continent.

    Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more about Abdulrazak Gurnah and the titles of his novels plus 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).

    SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE


     

  • June 14, 2022 11:25 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    PLATO Weekly Update

    June 14, 2022


    CURRICULUM

    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Find current COVID protocols for specific Host Locations for Summer Courses listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Summer courses are underway! Information about Summer Courses, including contact information for course coordinators, can be found on the Summer Course Schedule page.

    COURSES PAGE 


    SPECIAL EVENTS

    BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
    NEXT MONTH! Meet with fellow members on Friday, July 8 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. for coffee and conversation outdoors at UW Memorial Union Terrace. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. RSVP and learn more here.

    LECTURES  
    Escape this week's heatwave watching archived PLATO Lectures on a variety of topics.

    SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR 


    MEMBER FEATURE

    PLATO Story As Told by Oakwood Village

    Click on the Oakwood Article button below to see how Oakwood Village has described and promoted PLATO in a feature story in its semi-annual Outlook Magazine. This article is also available on PLATO's Member Feature webpage.


    OAKWOOD ARTICLE 


    FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

    Our Biweekly Feature for June 14 – June 27 is Melrose, a short story by Allen Youngwood, who shares an anecdote about the creation of this piece.

    AGORA FEATURE 


    SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

    Select from a range of topics and formats 

    for your June reading, viewing, or listening, 

    curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

    New Book RecommendationHow the Word is Passed by Clint Smith. Because this is the UW-Madison “Big Read” book for 2022-23, several Madison community reading/discussion events are being planned - visit the Social Justice webpage for more information. 

    DID YOU KNOW? for June 7– 20, 2022

    DID YOU KNOW… Professor George W. McLaurin(1887-1968) was the first African-American to attend the University of Oklahoma, and the plaintiff in the precedent-setting McLaurin vs. Oklahoma State Regents 1950 Supreme Court decision. In the McLaurin case the Court ruled unanimously (9-0) that racial segregation within colleges and universities is inconsistent with the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, therefore African American students must receive the same treatment as all other students in higher education.

    Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more about George McLaurin and the McLaurin vs. Oklahoma State Regents decision plus 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).

    SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE 


  • June 07, 2022 10:14 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    PLATO Weekly Update 

    June 7, 2022

    CURRICULUM

    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Please check the updated COVID protocols for specific Host Locations for Summer Courses listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Summer courses begin this week! You may still be able to register for some courses by contacting the course coordinator.

    COURSES PAGE 

    SPECIAL EVENTS

    BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
    THIS WEEK! Enjoy coffee and conversation with fellow members on Friday, June 10 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. outdoors at UW Memorial Union Terrace. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. RSVP and learn more here.

    WE WANT YOU 
    The Special Events Committee seeks a few more members in order to offer theater and field trips!Please send an email to info@platomadison.org if you are interested in learning more about this committee's activities and learning how to participate with this welcoming group.

    LECTURES  
    Check out archived PLATO Lectures on a wide range of topics.

    SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR 

    FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

    Our Biweekly Feature for May 31 – June 13 is Storm Approaching, a painting by Joanna Kutter, who shares how reflecting on her childhood family vacations inspires much of her creative work.

    AGORA FEATURE 

    SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

    Select from a range of topics and formats 
    for your June reading, viewing, or listening, 
    curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

    DID YOU KNOW? for June 7– 20, 2022

    DID YOU KNOW… Professor George W. McLaurin (1887-1968) was the first African-American to attend the University of Oklahoma, and the plaintiff in the precedent-setting McLaurin vs. Oklahoma State Regents 1950 Supreme Court decision. In the McLaurin case the Court ruled unanimously (9-0) that racial segregation within colleges and universities is inconsistent with the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, therefore African American students must receive the same treatment as all other students in higher education.

    Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more about George McLaurin and the McLaurin vs. Oklahoma State Regents decision plus 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).

    SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE 


  • May 31, 2022 10:39 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

    PLATO Weekly Update 

    May 31, 2022


    CURRICULUM


    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Please check the updated COVID protocols for Host Locations for Summer Courses listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Summer courses begin next week June 6 - 10.

    COURSES PAGE


    SPECIAL EVENTS

    BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
    Join us on Friday, June 10 from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. for coffee and conversation with fellow members outdoors at UW Memorial Union Terrace. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. RSVP and learn more here
    .

    FIELD TRIPS 
    Register now to insure your spot on our guided tour of the International Crane Foundation Headquarters – though please note that some of the exhibits are closed temporarily due to avian flu. We will also tour the Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm. Lunch will be on your own in downtown Wisconsin Dells. Review the required COVID-19 Protocols below and learn more and register here

    COVID-19 Protocols for this Field Trip:

    · Persons wishing to wear a mask are encouraged to do so.

    · Neither site we will visit requires mask wearing.

    · Health protocols are subject to change closer to the time of this field trip.

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

    FALL SNEAK PEAK
    Plans are in progress to visit the Pullman Historic House Tour in Chicago, the Birds in Art exhibit at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, and trips to the Milwaukee Rep for Unforgettable and Ragtime. More details coming soon!

    WE WANT YOU
    The Special Events Committee welcomes new members. Please send an email to info@platomadison.org if you are interested in knowing more about this committee's activities and learning how to participate. We need member involvement in order to offer trips!

    LECTURES  
    Explore archived PLATO Lectures on a variety of topics.

    SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR


    FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

    Our Biweekly Feature for May 31 – June 13 is Storm Approaching, a painting by Joanna Kutter, who shares how reflecting on her childhood family vacations inspires much of her creative work.

    AGORA FEATURE


    SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

    Select from a range of topics and formats 

    for your Spring reading, viewing, or listening, 

    curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

    DID YOU KNOW? For May 24 – June 6, 2022

    Scott Joplin (1868-1917) was an African-American composer and pianist. He was considered the “King of Ragtime”, though he also composed music for ballet, opera, and broadway. Ragtime is a syncopated (i.e. off-beat) music style with roots in the African-American community. It was especially popular in America from about 1895 to 1919, and is considered one forerunner of jazz. Joplin’s "Maple Leaf Rag” (1899) was a major hit and is often referred to as the model for all ragtime works.

    Visit the Social Justice Webpage for much more about Scott Joplin and 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).

    SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE


  • May 24, 2022 11:05 AM | Anonymous member (Administrator)


    PLATO Weekly Update

    May 24, 2022


    CURRICULUM


    COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

    Please check the updated COVID protocols for Host Locations for Summer Courses listed in the Curriculum Showcase.

    SUMMER COURSES
    Be sure to register for Summer Courses – they begin the week of June 6.

    COURSES PAGE


    SPECIAL EVENTS

    BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
    COMING SOON! Next get together is Friday, June 10. Enjoy coffee and conversation with fellow members outdoors from 9:30 - 11:00 a.mat UW Memorial Union Terrace. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors – look for Host Sharon Scrattish in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. RSVP and learn more here.

    FIELD TRIPS 
    Only a few places remain! Register now to insure your spot on our guided tour of the newly-renovated International Crane Foundation Headquarters and tour of  the Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm. Lunch will be on your own in downtown Wisconsin Dells. Review the required COVID-19 Protocols below and learn more and register here

    COVID-19 Protocols for this Field Trip:

    • Persons wishing to wear a mask are encouraged to do so.
    • Neither site we will visit requires mask wearing.
    • Health protocols are subject to change closer to the time of this field trip.
    • You are asked to stay home if you are not feeling well. Please contact the trip organizer to inform them of your decision. 

    FALL SNEAK PEAK
    Planning is underway for Fall events, including the Pullman Historic House Tour in Chicago, the Birds in Art exhibit at the
     Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, and trips to the Milwaukee Rep for Unforgettable and Ragtime. Stay tuned for details on these trips and more! 

    WE WANT YOU
    The Special Events Committee welcomes new members. Please send an email to info@platomadison.org if you are interested in knowing more about this committee's activities and learning how to participate. Without member involvement there are no trips!

    LECTURES  
    Discover archived PLATO Lectures on a wide range of topics.

        SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR


        PLATO BOARD AMENDS BYLAWS

        The PLATO Board has amended PLATO's bylaws. The revisions clarify current governanceadd language to conform to state law, and give PLATO leaders specific authority to manage affairs after recent changes in PLATO's relationship with the University of Wisconsin. The amendments remove obsolete practices, add those currently used, and clarify ambiguous or inconsistent language. They are now organized so that similar subjects are grouped together and make explicit our standards of good governance. The amended bylaws can be viewed by clicking on the black button below and they can be found on our Organizational Documents webpage, along with other valuable information on PLATO's policies, history, finances, and more.

        PLATO BYLAWS


        EATURED AGORA WORKS

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

        Our Biweekly Feature for May 17 – May 30 is Yarn Dyers, a painting by Sherry Ackerman, who provides a peek into her artistic process through a brief video. 

        AGORA FEATURE


        SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

        Select from a range of topics and formats 

        for your Spring reading, viewing, or listening, 

        curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

        DID YOU KNOW? For May 24 – June 6, 2022

        Scott Joplin (1868-1917) was an African-American composer and pianist. He was considered the “King of Ragtime”, though he also composed music for ballet, opera, and broadway. Ragtime is a syncopated (i.e. off-beat) music style with roots in the African-American community. It was especially popular in America from about 1895 to 1919, and is considered one forerunner of jazz. Joplin’s "Maple Leaf Rag” (1899) was a major hit and is often referred to as the model for all ragtime works.

        Visit the Social Justice Webpage for much more about Scott Joplin and 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).

        SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE


      • May 17, 2022 12:48 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)

        PLATO Weekly Update

        May 17, 2022

        CURRICULUM

        COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

        COVID-19 protocols are specific to each host site. Please see the updated post for Summer courses on the Curriculum Showcase for details or contact your course coordinator.

        SUMMER COURSES
        Registration continues! Find course lists on the Summer Course Schedule page.

        ARTICLE 
        Paula McKenzie shares her experience of being a course coordinator in her article, A Coordinator's Perspective, posted in the Curriculum Showcase.

        COURSES PAGE 


        SPECIAL EVENTS

        BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
        NEW! Friday coffee/breakfasts will move to the UW Memorial Union Terrace starting Friday, June 10. We will meet outdoors, weather permitting. If rain is in the forecast, we will meet indoors at the UW Memorial Union. Look for Sharon in the glassed-in lobby to find out where our tables are located. Our meeting time will continue to be 9:30-11:00 AM. RSVP and learn more here.

        FIELD TRIPS  
        SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE! Six places remain for our guided tour of the newly-renovated International Crane Foundation Headquarters. After lunch on your own in downtown Wisconsin Dells, we tour the Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm. Review the required COVID-19 Protocols and learn more and register here

        COVID-19 Protocols for this Field Trip:

        · Persons wishing to wear a mask are encouraged to do so.

        · Neither site we will visit requires mask wearing.

        · Health protocols are subject to change closer to the time of this field trip.

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

        LECTURES  
        Enjoy archived PLATO Lectures on a range of meaningful topics.

        SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR 


        PLATO MEMBERS, 
        PLEASE SHARE YOUR STORIES

        This is the first in a quarterly series of questions for PLATO members to share their experiences. A selection of responses to this question will be published in the June 14 Weekly Update. We look forward to hearing your story – please submit your answer by Tuesday, May 24 by clicking on the black button below!

        WHY I JOINED PLATO 


        PLATO BOARD AMENDS BYLAWS

        The PLATO Board recently amended our bylaws. Relatively little is changed in how we actually do governance. Rather the revisions clarify current governanceadd language to conform to state law, and give PLATO leaders specific authority to manage affairs after our change in the relationship with the University of Wisconsin. The amendments remove obsolete practices, add those currently used, and clarify ambiguous or inconsistent language. They also reorganize the bylaws so that similar subjects are grouped together and make explicit our standards of good governance. The amended bylaws can be viewed by clicking on the black button below and they can be found on our Organizational Documents webpage, along with other valuable information on PLATO's policies, history, finances, and more.

        PLATO BYLAWS 


        FEATURED AGORA WORKS

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

        Our Biweekly Feature for May 17 – May 30 is Yarn Dyers, a painting by Sherry Ackerman, who provides a peek into her artistic process through a brief video. 

        AGORA FEATURE 


        SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

        Select from a range of topics and formats 

        for your Spring reading, viewing, or listening, 

        curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

        DID YOU KNOW? for May 10 – 23, 2022

        Did You Know… Victor Jerome Glover (b: April 30, 1976) is a NASA astronaut from the class of 2013 and pilot on the first operational flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon to the International Space Station (ISS). Glover is a commander in the U.S. Navy where he pilots an F/A-18 and is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. He was a crew member of Expedition64 (ISS November 16, 2020 - May 2, 2021), serving as a station systems flight engineer and completing three space walks. 

        Visit the Social Justice Webpage for much more about Victor Jerome Glover and 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).

        SOCIAL JUSTICE WEBPAGE 


      PLATO is proudly supported in part by Oakwood Village.


      PLATO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in association with:

      for more information, contact us at:

      info@platomadison.org

      608-572-6869

      6209 Mineral Point Road #203
      Madison, WI 53705

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