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. 

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Recommendation: How 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).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.m. 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 
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.

PLATO BOARD AMENDS BYLAWS

The PLATO Board has amended PLATO's bylaws. The revisions clarify current governance, add 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.

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. 

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).

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.

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.

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!

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 governance, add 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.

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. 

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).

PLATO Weekly Update

May 10, 2022

CURRICULUM

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

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

SUMMER COURSES
Registration begins today, Tuesday, May 10. Course lists are now available on the Summer Course Schedule page.

PLEASE NOTE 
The Tuesday, May 17 Whither the State class is cancelled.

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

SPECIAL EVENTS

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
THIS FRIDAY! Meet fellow PLATO members over coffee on Friday, May 13 from 9:30 - 11:30 am at The Marquette Hotel Café, 414 S. Baldwin Street. Find menu, directions and RSVP details here.

FIELD TRIPS 
SPOTS STILL AVAILABLE! 15 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  
Check out archived PLATO Lectures on a wide range of topics.

QUESTIONS FOR PLATO LEADERSHIP

This first in a quarterly series of questions for PLATO leadership is answered by President Kathy Brown about the year she is completing and links to her newly published PLATO annual report.

ELECTION RESULTS FOR PLATO 2022-23 BOARD

The annual election is now completed. Congratulations to President Rod McKenzie, Vice President Mike Kernats, Secretary Patricia Herrling, Treasurer Jatinder Cheema and new At-Large Director MaryJo MacSwain. The PLATO Board is composed of five officers, standing committee chairpersons, and five At-Large Directors. In lieu of an annual meeting, please see the link above for the PLATO Annual Report for fiscal year 2022.

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 3 – 16 is Kitchen Match, a short (true!) story written and narrated by Thomas Schlicht.

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).

PLATO Weekly Update

 May 3, 2022

CURRICULUM

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

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

SUMMER COURSES
Registration begins next week Tuesday, May 10. Course lists will be available on that date on the Courses page.

PLEASE NOTE 
Whither the State change of class dates:  
– The final Spring class will be on Tuesday, May 17 not Tuesday, May 24.

SPECIAL EVENTS

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
NEXT WEEK! Enjoy lively conversation over breakfast with fellow PLATO members at our next event on Friday, May 13 at The Marquette Hotel Café, located at 414 S. Baldwin Street in the popular Williamson-Marquette neighborhood. This is a great opportunity to invite a guest who might be interested in learning more about PLATO.

FIELD TRIPS 
Registration continues! Places still remain for our guided tour of the $10 million newly-renovated International Crane Foundation Headquarters. Lunch will be on your own in downtown Wisconsin Dells; restaurant suggestions are included in the registration information at the link below. Following lunch, we will have a guided tour of 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 wide range of topics.

ELECTION FOR PLATO 2022-23 BOARD

Voting Ends Wednesday Evening, May 4th

Tommorrow is the last day to vote on the slate of officers and one new At-Large Board member who will serve in 2022-2023. PLATO members, If you haven't voted yet, please vote today!

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 3 – 16 is Kitchen Match, a short (true!) story written and narrated by Thomas Schlicht.

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 April 26 – May 9, 2022

Did You Know… Mae Carol Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. In 1992 she became the first Black woman to travel into space when she served as a Mission Specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, spending more than a week orbiting the earth and fulfilling dreams that began when she watched Star Trek on television as a youngster. 

Visit the Social Justice Webpage for much more about Mae Carol Jemison & 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).

April 26, 2022

CURRICULUM

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

COVID-19 protocols are specific to each host site. Please see the post on the Curriculum Showcasefor details or contact your course coordinator.

GIVING THANKS
Many Spring courses are ending this week and next week. Thank you to all the coordinators whose dedication and hard work continue to provide PLATO members with opportunities for lifelong learning.

SPECIAL EVENTS

FIELD TRIPS 
Registration continues! We will have a guided tour of the $10 million newly-renovated International Crane Foundation Headquarters as we view the 15 world crane species in their natural habitat. After lunch on your own in Wisconsin Dells, we will have a guided tour of the Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm. Your trip organizers will provide information about luncheon restaurants within an easy walk of the bus stop. 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.

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
These delightful events invite PLATO members to enjoy lively conversation over your choice of breakfast. Join us on Friday, May 13th for our next gathering at The Marquette Hotel Café, located at 414 South Baldwin Street in the popular Williamson-Marquette neighborhood. These are great opportunities to bring along a guest who might be interested in learning more about PLATO.

LECTURES
Check out archived PLATO Lectures on a range of interesting and educational topics.

ELECTION FOR PLATO 2022-23 BOARD

Voting Ends Wednesday Evening, May 4th

Next week Wednesday is the last day to vote on the slate of officers and one new At-Large Board member who will serve in 2022-2023. If you haven't already voted and are a PLATO member, please vote today!

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 April 19 – May 2 is Sparkling River, a photograph by Bill Eisinger, who shares a bit about his artistic process and tips for snapping compelling photos.

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 April 26 – May 9, 2022

Did You Know… Mae Carol Jemison is an American engineer, physician, and former NASA astronaut. In 1992 she became the first Black woman to travel into space when she served as a Mission Specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, spending more than a week orbiting the earth and fulfilling dreams that began when she watched Star Trek on television as a youngster. 

Visit the Social Justice Webpage for much more about Mae Carol Jemison & 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

April 19, 2022

CURRICULUM

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS FOR COURSES

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

NEW CURRICULUM COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP
Big thanks to Paul Thompson for his thoughtful and dedicated service as curriculum chair through these challenging pandemic times. And a warm welcome to Kathie Burman who is stepping up to fill these big shoes! Kathie enjoys volunteering and finds lifelong learning one of the most appealing aspects of PLATO.

SPECIAL EVENTS

NEW - FIELD TRIPS ARE BACK 
Registration opens today! We will have a guided tour of the $15 million renovation of theInternational Crane Foundation Headquarters as we view the 15 world crane species in their natural habitat. After lunch on your own in the Wisconsin Dells, we will have a guided tour of the Aldo Leopold Shack and Farm. 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.

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
Enjoy lively conversation with PLATO members over a breakfast of your choice. The next gathering will be on Friday, May 13th, at The Marquette Hotel Café, located at 414 South Baldwin Street on Madison's near east side. Members, your guests are always welcome. Non-members interested in learning about PLATO are welcome to join us.

LECTURES
Our wide variety of archived PLATO Lectures is always available.

ELECTION FOR PLATO 2022-23 BOARD
BEGINS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

VOTING BEGINS TOMORROW - watch for a special email on Wednesday, April 20 with a link to the ballot. Learn about the nominees by clicking on the Nominee Biographies link below. Voting will close on Wednesday, May 4 at midnight.

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 April 19th – May 2nd is Sparkling River, a photograph by Bill Eisinger, who shares a bit about his artistic process and tips for taking compelling photos.

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 April 12 – 25, 2022

Did You Know… Gladys Mae West is a “Hidden Figure behind your phone’s GPS.” West is an American mathematician known for her contributions to the mathematical modeling of the shape of the earth, and her work on the development of satellite geodesy models that were eventually incorporated into global positioning systems (GPS).

As a studious Black girl in rural Virginia, West earned a scholarship to Virginia State College where she completed her first degree in math in 1952. She was eventually hired by the U.S. Naval Proving Ground where she combined information from Seasat and other satellites to refine an increasingly detailed and accurate mathematical model of the actual shape of the earth – called a “geoid.” This computational modeling would prove essential to modern GPS.

Visit the Social Justice Webpage for more about Gladys Mae West & 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).