PLATO Weekly Update

 November 8, 2022

QUESTIONS FOR PLATO LEADERSHIP

 
CURRICULUM

CURRICULUM SPOTLIGHT
Next Week! Learn what Wisconsin is doing to address Climate Change on Monday, November 14 at 10am during the virtual Pathways to a Sustainable Planet session featuring Maria Redmond, Director of the Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy. All PLATO members are welcome to attend via Zoom – please use this link and login by 9:55am so we can start on time: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86993898527.

WINTER COURSES
Interested in offering a Winter Course? Please contact Therese Stevens (thmstevens@gmail.com) or Kathie Burman (kburnam@burnamcoffee.com) for assistance. Winter courses generally run 6 to 8 weeks with most beginning the week of January 9th.

PLEASE NOTE
If you participate in a course at Capital Lakes, please note the coffee stand by the front desk is for residents only. PLATO members must bring their own coffee or buy it at the Café.

SPECIAL EVENTS

BREAKFAST GATHERING
This Week! Second Friday, November 11 at 9:30am, join fellow PLATO members and guests for breakfast and conversation at at Lakeside Street Coffee House in the Bay Creek neighborhood on Madison's near south side. Seating is on both the main floor and downstairs levels. You will need to climb nine steps in order to be seated on the downstairs level. RSVP and learn more here.

LECTURES
Tomorrow! 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.

Next Week! 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 pleased to host a virtual presentation of this important talk. We will begin by watching Smith's November 1 talk and follow with an online discussion of the many issues raised in his talk and the book. Register and learn more.

Enjoy archived PLATO Lectures on a range of interesting topics. 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Special Events don't just happen – and without your assistance, they won't happen. Your time, talents and thoughts are valuable to us on the Special Events Committee. We need more of all three and would welcome your presence with us in the new year. Contact Carla (carlad@tds.net) or Michael Di Iorio (mdiiorio1234@gmail.com) to learn more.

PLATO SATISFACTION SURVEY
Your Response is Due Wednesday, November 9

On October 26 you received a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO. If you have already completed the survey, thank you!

If you haven’t yet completed it we hope you will take a few minutes to do so today. Your feedback will enable the PLATO board and committee volunteers to better serve PLATO members. 

The survey was emailed to you by Russell Consulting, Inc. from this email address: noreply@alchemer.com with the subject line “Invitation to Complete the 2022 PLATO Members Satisfaction Survey”. The survey responses are due by November 9. Thank you for your involvement and support of PLATO!

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 Fall reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

DID YOU KNOW? for November 8 – 21, 2022

Did You Know… An African American dentist, Dr. George F. Grant, was the inventor of the wooden golf tee. On Dec. 12, 1899, Dr. Grant received a U.S. patent No. 638,920, the world’s first patent for ‘a wooden spike with a flexible rubber peg for the ball’ – a golf tee! Before this time, golfers carried small buckets of sand for pinching a mound of damp sand to elevate a golf ball on the tee box.

Visit the Social Justice webpage for more about Dr. George F. Grant & 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).

PLATO Weekly Update

November 1, 2022

CURRICULUM

WINTER COURSES
Planning for Winter Courses is underway. If you are interested in offering a Winter Course, please contact Therese Stevens (thmstevens@gmail.com) or Kathie Burman (kburnam@burnamcoffee.com) for assistance. Note that Winter courses generally run 6 to 8 weeks and most begin the week of January 9th.

FALL COURSES
Fall Courses continue through November.

PLEASE NOTE
When you participate in a course at Capital Lakes, the coffee stand by the front desk is for residents only. Please bring your own coffee or you may buy it at the Café.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THEATER TRIPS
Last Chance to Purchase Tickets – registration closes at midnight tonight! Join us as we head to Spring Green for this fun matinee with a shorter bus ride that includes lunch with friends! There are only four tickets left for Stones in His Pockets on Thursday, November 17 at the renowned American Players Theater. An Irish village meets Hollywood in this hilarious and heartbreaking "timeless hit". Register and learn more.

WALKS OF DANE COUNTY
Next Week! Our last walk of the season – Tuesday, November 8 at 9:30am – enjoy the prairies and waterways of Pheasant Branch Conservatory. Register and learn more.

BREAKFAST GATHERING 
Next Week! Second Friday, November 11 at 9:30am, join fellow PLATO members and guests for breakfast and conversation at at Lakeside Street Coffee House in the Bay Creek neighborhood on Madison's near south side. Seating is on both the main floor and downstairs levels. You will need to climb nine steps in order to be seated on the downstairs level. RSVP and learn more here.

LECTURES
Next Week – 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.

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 pleased to host a virtual presentation of this important talk. We will begin by watching Smith's November 1 talk and follow with an online discussion of the many issues raised in his talk and the book. Register and learn more.

Explore archived PLATO Lectures on many timely subjects.

PLATO SATISFACTION SURVEY
Please respond by Wednesday, November 9

On October 26 you received a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO. If you have already completed the survey, thank you!

If you haven’t yet completed it we hope you will take a few minutes to do so today. Your feedback will enable the PLATO board and committee volunteers to better serve PLATO members. 

The survey was emailed to you by Russell Consulting, Inc. from this email address: noreply@alchemer.com with the subject line “Invitation to Complete the 2022 PLATO Members Satisfaction Survey”. The survey responses are due by November 9. Thank you for your involvement and support of PLATO!

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 Fall reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

DID YOU KNOW? for October 25 – November 7, 2022

Did You Know… Kiel, WI was once known as the Wooden Shoes Capital of Wisconsin or that Pleasant Ridge, WI was founded by the formerly enslaved Shepard family? While we usually feature an individual here in Did You Know, we’re making a brief detour to highlight Recollection Wisconsin – an online cultural heritage resource providing free access to over half-a-million historical photos, maps, documents, and narratives telling the stories of Wisconsin’s people and places.

Visit the Social Justice webpage for more about connecting to 
Recollection Wisconsin & 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).

PLATO Weekly Update

October 25, 2022

CURRICULUM

WINTER COURSES
Interested in offering a Winter Course? Please contact Therese Stevens (thmstevens@gmail.com) or Kathie Burman(kburnam@burnamcoffee.com) for assistance. Note that Winter courses generally run 6 to 8 weeks and most begin the week of January 9th.

FALL COURSES
 Fall Courses continue through November.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THEATER TRIPS
Been waiting for a play that is fun? With a shorter bus ride? One that includes a companionable lunch with friends? Wait no more! Join us when we head to Spring Green to see a matinee of Stones in His Pockets on Thursday, November 17 at American Players Theater. An Irish village meets Hollywood in this hilarious and heartbreaking "timeless hit". There are sufficient seats available on the bus for you to bring more than one guest. Register and learn more  – registration deadline is Tuesday, November 1.

WALKS OF DANE COUNTY
Tuesday, November 8 at 9:30am – enjoy the prairies and waterways of Pheasant Branch Conservatory. Register and learn more.

BREAKFAST GATHERING 
THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday, October 28 at 9:30am, join fellow PLATO members and guests for breakfast and conversation at Marquette Hotel Café in Madison's Willy Street neighborhood. RSVP and learn more.

LECTURES

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.

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.

Check out archived PLATO Lectures on many interesting subjects!

PLATO SATISFACTION SURVEY –

COMING TO YOU TOMORROW

Tomorrow, October 26, you will receive a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO. Your feedback will enable the PLATO board and committee volunteers to better serve PLATO members. The survey will be emailed to you from noreply@surveygizmo.com with the subject line “PLATO Members’ Annual Satisfaction Survey”. Please take a few minutes to let PLATO know how you feel about the organization and its programs. Thank you for your involvement and support of PLATO!

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 Fall reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

DID YOU KNOW? for October 25 – November 7, 2022

Did You Know… Kiel, WI was once known as the Wooden Shoes Capital of Wisconsin or that Pleasant Ridge, WI was founded by the formerly enslaved Shepard family? While we usually feature an individual here in Did You Know, we’re making a brief detour to highlight Recollection Wisconsin – an online cultural heritage resource providing free access to over half-a-million historical photos, maps, documents, and narratives telling the stories of Wisconsin’s people and places.

Visit the Social Justice webpage for more about connecting to 
Recollection Wisconsin & 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).

PLATO Weekly Update

October 18, 2022

CURRICULUM

WINTER COURSES
If you are interested in offering a Winter Course, please contact Therese Stevens (thmstevens@gmail.com) or Kathie Burman (kburnam@burnamcoffee.com). They can help set it up. Winter courses are usually 6 to 8 weeks and most begin the week of January 9th. 

FALL COURSES
 Fall Courses continue through November.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THEATER TRIPS
Sunday's trip to Milwaukee Repertory's production of Titanic was enjoyed by all from whom we heard. Join us next time when we venture to: Stones in His Pockets –Thursday, November 17 at American Players Theater. Irish village meets Hollywood in this hilarious and heartbreaking "timeless hit". Register and learn more  – registration deadline is Tuesday, November 1.

WALKS OF DANE COUNTY
NEXT WEEK! Tuesday, October 25 at 9:30am – explore the natural beauty of the Hills of Donald Park. Register and learn more here.

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

BREAKFAST GATHERING 
NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday, October 28 at 9:30am, join fellow PLATO members and guests for breakfast and conversation at Marquette Hotel Café in Madison's Willy Street neighborhood. RSVP and learn more here.

LECTURES

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.

Cozy up with an archived PLATO Lecture – choose from topics galore.

PLATO SATISFACTION SURVEY IS COMING

Next week Wednesday, October 26 you will be asked to participate in a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO. Your feedback will enable the PLATO board and committee volunteers to better serve PLATO members. You will receive the survey in an email with the subject line “PLATO Members’ Annual Satisfaction Survey” sent from noreply@surveygizmo.com. When you receive the survey please take a few minutes to let PLATO know how the organization and its programs are performing. Thank you for your involvement and support of PLATO!

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).

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).

PLATO Weekly Update

October 4, 2022

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
Registration is Open for Stones in His Pockets – Thursday, November 17 at American Players Theater. Winner of the 2001 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, Nate Burger and Marcus Truschinski play every role. Register and learn more here – registration deadline is Sunday, October 16.

WALKS OF DANE COUNTY
NEXT WEEK! Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 9:30am, to explore the natural beauty of the Pope Farm Conservancy. Afterward, we suggest gathering at a local café to relax and socialize before returning home. Register and learn more here.

Also, plans for two more Autumn Walks are underway – stay tuned!

BREAKFAST GATHERING 
NEXT 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 levels. You will need to climb nine steps in order to be seated on the downstairs level. RSVP and learn more here.

LECTURES
NEXT WEEK! Discover the latest research in Alzheimer's Disease in this virtual lecture on Tuesday, October 11 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.

NEXT MONTH! A virtual lecture on The History of Television Soap Operas. On Wednesday, November 9, 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’sinfluence on pop culture. Register and learn more here.

Find archived PLATO Lectures on a range of important topics.

EDUCATION FUND UPDATE

THE GIFT OF EDUCATION – helping PLATO help others. This week members will receive a mailing with the PLATO Education Fund's scholarship flyer and donation forms for the upcoming year. The flyer highlights 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.

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 pleasure. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

Select from a range of topics and formats 

for your Autumn reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

DID YOU KNOW? for September 27 – October 10, 2022

Did You Know… What do the famed ‘round barns of Wisconsin’ owe to the son of a former slave? Many of the round barns, especially in southwest Wisconsin, were the work of Alga Shivers whose father operated the largest “negro-owned” farm in the state in 1900. Shivers became widely known for his skill in the design and construction of round barns, most of which were built between 1890 and 1930.

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).

September 20, 2022

CURRICULUM

FALL COURSES

· Fall Courses are underway!

· Many courses still have room – it's not too late to register.

· Review the Fall Course Schedule to choose from a variety of in-person, virtual and hybrid courses to meet your personal needs.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

· Before attending in-person Fall Courses, check the Fall 2022 COVID Protocols for your specific host locations in the Curriculum Showcase.

ARTICLE
Find out how PLATO is experimenting with hybrid technology and how coordinators and participants can contribute to its success: Hybrid PLATO Courses.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

THEATER TRIPS
NEW! Now open for registration! Stones in His Pockets – Thursday, November 17 at American Players Theater.Winner of the 2001 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy, Nate Burger and Marcus Truschinski play every role. Register and learn more here – registration deadline is Sunday, October 16.

NEXT MONTH! Titanic The Musical – Sunday, October 16 at the Milwaukee Rep. Tickets are still available if you act now! Winner of five Tony Awards, this epic musical features real stories of people aboard the most legendary ship in the world. This stunning and majestic musical sails back after being curtailed by the pandemic to kick off the 2022/23 Season. Register and learn more here. 

WALKS OF DANE COUNTY
Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 9am, to explore the natural beauty of the Pope Farm Conservancy. Afterward, we suggest gathering at a local café to relax and socialize before returning home. Register and learn more here.

Also, plans for two more Autumn Walks are underway – stay tuned!

BREAKFAST GATHERING 
THIS WEEK! Friday, September 23 at 9:30am, join fellow PLATO members and guests for breakfast and conversation at at Marquette Hotel Café. RSVP and learn more here.

LECTURES
NEW! Join us for a virtual lecture on The History of Television Soap Operas. On Wednesday, November 9, Dr. Elana Levine shares why after seven decades, soap operas hold an important place in television history. Dr. 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.

Also, more details coming soon for a lecture on Tuesday, October 11 on recent developments in Alzheimer's research.

Finally, as always, enjoy archived PLATO Lectures on a variety of topics.

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 pleasure. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

Select from a range of topics and formats 

for your late Summer reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

DID YOU KNOW? for September 13 – 26, 2022

Did You Know… 14-year old Harini Logan is the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion after a first-ever spell-off at the 94-year old event. The Texas 8th grader received a trophy and check for $50,000 after going head-to-head with Vikram Raju, of Colorado. The spell-off, a format that tested the contestants on how many words they could correctly spell within 90 seconds was necessary because the two finalists remained tied after 18 rounds – the maximum number of rounds the Bee allows. In the spell-off Harini spelled 21 of 26 words correctly, while Vikram got 15 of 19 words right.

Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more on Harini Logan and sample words from the 2022 Scripps Spelling Bee championship, along with 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).

CURRICULUM

FALL COURSES

· NEXT WEEK! Most Fall Courses begin the week of September 19

· There's still time to register for many Fall Courses! 

· Check out the Fall Course Schedule to choose from a variety of in-person, virtual and hybrid courses

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

· Before attending in-person Fall Courses, check the Fall 2022 COVID Protocols for your specific host locations in the Curriculum Showcase.

· Please note that at Attic Angels, all visitors are asked to wear a 3-ply procedure mask, a surgical mask or a N95 mask while in the building.

NEW ARTICLE
Learn how PLATO continues to experiment with hybrid technology in order to meet various member needs: Hybrid PLATO Courses.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

CANCELLED: Historic Pullman House Tour on Sunday, October 9 Unfortunately, this trip was cancelled due to low registration.  

THEATER TRIP
NEXT MONTH! Titanic The Musical – Sunday, October 16 at the Milwaukee Rep. The registration deadline is Thursday, September 15 and you are welcome to invite a friend or two. Winner of five Tony Awards, this epic musical features real stories of people aboard the most legendary ship in the world. This stunning and majestic musical sails back after being curtailed by the pandemic to kick off the 2022/23 Season. Register and learn more here. 

WALKS OF DANE COUNTY
Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 9am, to explore the natural beauty of the Pope Farm Conservancy. Afterward, we suggest gathering at a local café to relax and socialize before returning home. Register and learn more here.

Also, plans for two more Autumn Walks are underway – stay tuned!

BREAKFAST GATHERING 
NEXT WEEK! Friday, September 23 at 9:30am, gather with fellow PLATO members and their guests for breakfast and conversation at at Marquette Hotel Café. RSVP and learn more here.

LECTURES
Browse our archived PLATO Lectures on a range of interesting subjects.

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 pleasure. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

Select from a range of topics and formats 

for your late Summer reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

DID YOU KNOW? for September 13 – 26, 2022

Did You Know… 14-year old Harini Logan is the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion after a first-ever spell-off at the 94-year old event. The Texas 8th grader received a trophy and check for $50,000 after going head-to-head with Vikram Raju, of Colorado. The spell-off, a format that tested the contestants on how many words they could correctly spell within 90 seconds was necessary because the two finalists remained tied after 18 rounds – the maximum number of rounds the Bee allows. In the spell-off Harini spelled 21 of 26 words correctly, while Vikram got 15 of 19 words right.

Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more on Harini Logan and sample words from the 2022 Scripps Spelling Bee championship, along with 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).

PLATO Weekly Update 

September 6, 2022

CURRICULUM

FALL COURSES

· Registration for Fall Courses is underway! 

· View our Fall Course Schedule of in-person, virtual and hybrid courses

· Most Fall Courses begin the week of September 19

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

· Before attending in-person Fall Courses, check the Fall 2022 COVID Protocols for your specific host locations in the Curriculum Showcase.

· Please note that at Attic Angels, all visitors are asked to wear a 3-ply procedure mask, a surgical mask or a N95 mask while in the building.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

UPCOMING OCTOBER TRIPS
Registration deadlines are fast approaching. If we do not have enough registrants by these deadlines to make the trips financially feasible, they will be cancelled. So, we encourage you to invite a friend or two!

Historic Pullman House Tour on Sunday, October 9! The registration deadline is Thursday, September 8. Once a year residents of the Pullman Historic District in Chicago open their homes for their annual house tour. You will see beautiful homes, selected public buildings, exhibits and a video on the history of this unique landmark district, enjoying music, food, antique cars, and so much more. Register, view photos, and learn more here.

Titanic The Musical on Sunday, October 16! The registration deadline is Thursday, September 15. PLATO member Stuart shares, "I saw this fantastic production at the Milwaukee Rep and I was just so moved by the opening and closing numbers in particular, though the whole show is outstanding!" He's got a ticket to see the show again. Register and learn more here.

WALKS OF DANE COUNTY
Join us for these morning Walks starting at 9am to take in the natural splendor of the season. Following each Walk we have suggested gathering at a local café to relax and socialize before returning home.

· THIS WEEK! Friday, Sept. 9 we'll walk the woods of Stewart Lake County Park on the edge of Mt. Horeb. Register and learn more here.

· Tuesday, Oct. 11 we'll stroll Pope Farm Conservancy and enjoy its beautiful scenery. Register and learn more here.

· Two more events are planned – stay tuned!

BREAKFAST GATHERING 
THIS WEEK! On Friday, September 9 at 9:30am, members and non-members are invited to enjoy coffee and conversation with Host Sharon at the UW Memorial Union Terrace. RSVP and learn more here, including parking tips and what to do if rain is in the forecast.

LECTURES
Check out our archived PLATO Lectures on a variety of compelling topics.

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 pleasure. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS

Select from a range of topics and formats 

for your late Summer reading, viewing, or listening, 

curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

NEW! Movie Recommendation: THE BANKER – based on the true story of two Black men with great business acumen forced to hire a working-class white man to pretend to be the head of their business empire. Visit the Social Justice webpage for more about this 2020 film.

DID YOU KNOW? for August 30 – September 12, 2022

Did You Know… Andrea Mia Ghez (b: 1965) is an American astrophysicist professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UCLA. Ghez's research focuses on the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. In 2020 she became just the 4th woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, sharing the prize with Reinhard Genzel. Her Nobel was awarded for the discovery of a supermassive compact object, now generally recognized to be a black hole, in the Milky Way’s galactic center.

Visit the Social Justice Webpage for much more about Andrea Mia Ghez 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).