PLATO Weekly Update

July 13, 2021

CURRICULUM

Read about the history of courses over PLATO's 35 years!

Find out how coordinators and members have adapted to changing times.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

NEW - A number of "Walks in Dane County" are planned through October, occurring twice monthly on various mornings. A list can be found at PLATO's Local Tours page. Simply scroll through the list to find dates and times and click on "Show Details" for registration information.

PLATO's Lecture series will return this fall. In the meantime, members can access Past Recordings.

THEATER
Take a break from hot summer days by "attending" theater performances from your home through a variety of options on PLATO’s Virtual Theater Trips page.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL UPDATE

July is Membership Renewal Month!

For those who haven’t renewed, just a friendly reminder that current memberships will expire on July 31. Renew online now to be ready to take advantage of the wide variety of in-person and virtual PLATO courses and events being planned for this Fall.

We are pleased to share that dues remain at the pre-pandemic level of $60 per person.

Renew online now or mail a check for $60 to PLATO, 21 N. Park St., 7th Floor, Madison, WI 53715‐1218. If mailing your chec­­­­k, please let us know if your contact information has changed since June of 2019 and email any further questions to Stephanie Steigerwaldt, PLATO's office coordinator, at info@platomadison.org.

Thank you to those members who have already renewed – we look forward to seeing you at our many offerings lined up for the coming year. 

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to The Agora, PLATO's journal of arts and ideas. This week’s piece, Art Hodes, When He Was Old by Norman Leer, is a poem about art and aging.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings will resume this fall with in-person breakfasts. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

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

NEW BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Forgotten – The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, At Home And At War by Linda Hervieux (description and review on the Social Justice Webpage).

Launched in June is our new biweekly feature called DID YOU KNOW? – an opportunity to increase awareness of the many contributions in all areas of our community by individuals outside of our mainstream white world. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

DID YOU KNOW? Effie Waller Smith, a black woman with Wisconsin ties, was an early 20th-century poet known for her books of poetry, Songs of the Months (1904), Rhymes from the Cumberland (1909), and Rosemary and Pansies (1909).

Visit the Social Justice Webpage to learn more about Effie Waller Smith!

PLATO Weekly Update

July 6, 2021

CURRICULUM

Read about the history of courses over PLATO's 35 years!

Find out how coordinators and members have adapted to changing times.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

Stay tuned for new walks coming soon!

THEATER
Need a break from the hot weather? Check out these new Virtual Theater Trips:

The Arts Interrupted: In this 53-minute special edition of Great Performances, see how the arts have been managing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Arts organizations share their stories, along with examples of innovative performances, from COVID-19 inspired theater to site-specific operas. This feature streams free of charge through this week Friday, July 9th.

Tender Age: Stark and propulsive, this George Brant play is about living at the edge of your ethics. When Martín applies for a position at the local Walmart-turned-Detention Center, he is dismayed to discover that he'll be working as a security guard for a warehouse full of children separated from their families at the nearby Texan border. The steady paycheck outweighs his misgivings – until a strange epidemic grips the facility and Martín faces a moral reckoning.

PLATO's Lecture series will return this fall. In the meantime, members can access Past Recordings.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL UPDATE

If you haven't already, please renew your PLATO Membership!

Current memberships will expire on July 31. Renew online to continue to take advantage of summer activities and the mix of virtual and in-person activities anticipated for this fall.

We are pleased to announce that dues will remain at the pre-pandemic level of $60 per person.

Renew online or mail a check for $60 to PLATO, 21 N. Park St., 7th Floor, Madison, WI 53715‐1218. If mailing your check, please let us know if your contact information has changed since June, 2019. Please email any further questions to Stephanie Steigerwaldt, PLATO's office coordinator, at info@platomadison.org.

Thank you for your membership and continued support of PLATO! We look forward to seeing you at the many courses and events lined up for the coming year. 

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. This week we are pleased to present Redbuds by Jim Albright, who shares a bit about the choices he made in composing this peaceful painting. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings will resume this fall with in-person breakfasts. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

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

Launched last month is our new biweekly feature called DID YOU KNOW? -  which is intended to increase awareness of the many contributions in all areas of our community by individuals outside of our mainstream white world. Suggestions for inclusion are welcome (send to ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

DID YOU KNOW? Marcellus Gilmore Edson, who patented peanut butter, (US Patent # 306727) was an African-American chemist from Canada. Edson developed the idea of peanut paste as a delicious and nutritious food for people who had difficulty chewing solid food, a common issue in those days.

PLATO Weekly Update

June 29, 2021

CURRICULUM

Read about the history of courses over PLATO's 35 years!

Find out how coordinators and members have adapted to changing times.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

Upcoming Walks! 

Tuesday, July 6, 9-11:30 a.m. A Walk Along Table Bluff in Cross Plains. Comeexplore an Ice Age Trail overlooking two wooded valleys and hillsides. We will travel with two naturalists who have led us on other popular walks. Space is still available! Unvaccinated individuals who participate will need to wear masks as there will not be social distancing.

Tuesday, July 20, 8:30-11:30 a.m. A Morning Walk in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve with Amy Rosebrough. Come explore the UW-Lakeshore Preserve and discuss the 13,000-year history of De Jope (Madison). Dr. Rosebrough will describe the various archaeological and historic sites found along this scenic route and will provide trivia both entertaining and hair-raising. Registration is full, but you may join the waitlist. Unvaccinated individuals who participate will need to wear masks as there will not be social distancing.

PLATO's Lecture series will return this fall. In the meantime, members can access Past Recordings.

THEATER

Continue to "attend" theater performances from your home through the variety of options listed on the PLATO Virtual Theater Trips page.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL UPDATE

It’s time to renew your PLATO membership!

Current memberships will expire on July 31. Renew online to continue to take advantage of summer activities and the mix of virtual and in-person activities anticipated for this fall.

We are pleased to announce that dues will remain at the pre-pandemic level of $60 per person.

Renew online or mail your renewal form and a check for $60 to PLATO, 21 N. Park St., 7th Floor, Madison, WI 53715‐1218. Please let us know if your contact information has changed since June, 2019, and email any further questions to Stephanie Steigerwaldt, PLATO's office coordinator, at info@platomadison.org.

Thank you for your membership and continued support of PLATO! We look forward to seeing you at the many courses and events lined up for the coming year. 

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. This week, join us in celebration of the season with a poem titled Summer by Mary DeWolf.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings will resume this fall with in-person breakfasts. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

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

Just launched last week is our new biweekly feature called DID YOU KNOW? -  which is intended to increase awareness of the many contributions in all areas of our community by individuals outside of our mainstream white world. Suggestions for inclusion are welcome (send to ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

DID YOU KNOW? Marcellus Gilmore Edson, who patented peanut butter, (US Patent # 306727) was an African-American chemist from Canada. Edson developed the idea of peanut paste as a delicious and nutritious food for people who had difficulty chewing solid food, a common issue in those days.

PLATO Weekly Update

June 22, 2021

CURRICULUM

Read about the history of courses over PLATO's 35 years!

Find out how coordinators and members have adapted to changing times.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

New Walks! 

Tuesday, July 6, 9-11:30 a.m. A Walk Along Table Bluff in Cross Plains. Comeexplore an Ice Age Trail overlooking two wooded valleys and hillsides. We will travel with two naturalists who have led us on other popular walks. Registration for this walk will begin this Thursday, June 24th at noon. Unvaccinated individuals who participate will need to wear masks as there will not be social distancing.

Tuesday, July 20, 8:30-11:30 a.m. A Morning Walk in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve with Amy Rosebrough. Come explore the UW-Lakeshore Preserve and discuss the 13,000-year history of De Jope (Madison). Dr. Rosebrough will describe the various archaeological and historic sites found along this scenic route and will provide trivia both entertaining and hair-raising. Unvaccinated individuals who participate will need to wear masks as there will not be social distancing.

PLATO's Lecture series will return this fall. In the meantime, members can access Past Recordings.

THEATER

Continue to "attend" theater performances from your home through the variety of options listed on the PLATO Virtual Theater Trips page.

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. This week's piece, a painting titled Baling on the Lokai Farm by Jim Albright, was inspired by a photograph from his wife's family farm, as explained in a brief audio segment. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings will resume this fall with in-person breakfasts. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

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

Just launched last week is our new biweekly feature called DID YOU KNOW? -  which is intended to increase awareness of the many contributions in all areas of our community by individuals outside of our mainstream white world. Suggestions for inclusion are welcome (send to ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

DID YOU KNOW? The inventor of laser cataract surgery was Dr. Patricia Era Bath, a black American ophthalmologist and inventor. She holds patents in Japan, Canada and Europe. Learn more on our Social Justice webpage.

PLATO Weekly Update

June 15, 2021

CURRICULUM

Check out the Summer schedule of classes!

It is not too late to join one of the online courses offered this summer.

See the Courses Page for Summer Schedule 2021 details...

SPECIAL EVENTS 

Places still available! June 20 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. A Summer Solstice Evening Walk in the Tenney- Lapham Neighborhood. Celebrate the summer solstice with a leisurely 3-mile evening walk through this beautiful, historic neighborhood located on Madison's near eastside. Fully-vaccinated participants do not need to wear masks unless they feel more comfortable doing so. Unvaccinated individuals who participate will need to wear masks as there will not be social distancing.

PLATO's Lecture series will return this fall. In the meantime, members can access Past Recordings.

THEATER

Continue to "attend" theater performances from your home through the variety of options listed on the PLATO Virtual Theater Trips page.

PLATO OFFICE OPERATIONS UPDATE

We are pleased to welcome Stephanie Steigerwaldt to the PLATO team. She started on June 1 and is our new administrative services and office coordinator, working with Louise Fowler for the onboarding process. Click here to read about Stephanie. Louise Fowler will reduce her PLATO office hours starting July 1, but we are pleased that she will continue to mentor Stephanie through the Fall. Stephanie will be working virtually and can be reached at info@platomadison.org or at 608-262-5823. 

We are also pleased to announce that an ongoing partnership with the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies will be maintained with a few modifications. We’ll post updates later this summer as details on our partnership revisions are finalized.

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. This week's offering is Chambered Nautilus narrated beautifully by Barbara Carson herself.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings will resume this fall with in-person breakfasts. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

NEW! DID YOU KNOW? -  a new biweekly piece from the Diversity Awareness Committee, is intended to increase awareness of the many contributions in all areas of our community by individuals outside of our mainstream white world. Suggestions for inclusion are welcome (send to ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

Kicking us off with this new feature...

DID YOU KNOW? The inventor of laser cataract surgery was Dr. Patricia Era Bath, a black American ophthalmologist and inventor. She holds patents in Japan, Canada and Europe. Learn more on our Social Justice webpage.

PLATO Weekly Update

June 8, 2021

CURRICULUM

Summer Courses Begin This Week!

All courses are online this summer.

See the Courses Page for Summer Schedule 2021 details...

SPECIAL EVENTS 

NEW - June 20 - 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. A Summer Solstice Evening Walk in the Tenney- Lapham Neighborhood. Celebrate the summer solstice with a leisurely 3-mile evening walk through this beautiful, historic neighborhood located on Madison's near eastside. Fully-vaccinated participants do not need to wear masks unless they feel more comfortable doing so. Unvaccinated individuals who participate will need to wear masks as there will not be social distancing.

PLATO's Lecture series will return this fall. In the meantime, members can access Past Recordings.

THEATER

Continue to "attend" theater performances from your home through the variety of options listed on the PLATO Virtual Theater Trips page.

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. This week we feature Iris by Fay Ferington. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings will resume this fall with in-person breakfasts. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

Select from a range of topics and formats for your reading, viewing, or listening, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. Just added is a link to a YES! magazine article with interviews of Asian-American and Pacific Islander artists, where they discuss how heritage and culture have or haven't influenced their work.

PLATO Weekly Update

June 1, 2021

CURRICULUM

Summer Courses Begin Next Week!

See the Courses Page for Summer Schedule 2021 details...

SPECIAL EVENTS 

UPDATE The Friday, June 11 Walk the Olin-Turville Conservancy Park event has a few spaces remaining! A natural gem on the shores of Lake Monona, this is the second of our planned walks so far this year. The Walk's information page contains a map of our planned route and details about our COVID-19 safety protocols. 

PLATO's Lecture series will return this fall. In the meantime, members can access Past Recordings and take advantage of the Self-Guided Walk in Madison's Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood or one of the Self-Guided Bicycling Routes around Madison. 
 

THEATER

Continue to "attend" theater performances from your home through the variety of options listed on the PLATO Virtual Theater Trips page.

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. 

Starting us off in June is To A Poet With Gratitude by Barbara Carson, who has published works in the last 3 volume's of The Agora.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings will resume this fall with in-person breakfasts at The University Club. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

Select from a range of topics and formats for your reading, viewing, or listening, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. Our current highlighted book grew from a popular YouTube video series...click below for more on this best seller.

PLATO Weekly Update

May 25, 2021

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSE REGISTRATION CONTINUES! Here are the 3 steps to register:

1. Make your selection from the Summer 2021 and Continuing Spring-Summer Course offerings (Continuing Spring-Summer courses all welcome new class members!)
2. Contact the Course Coordinator with any questions and to confirm space is available on the roster
3. Receive the course log-in link from the Coordinator

See the Courses Page for Summer Schedule 2021 details...

SPECIAL EVENTS 

Our Lecture series will return this fall. In the meantime, members can access Past Recordings and take advantage of the Self-Guided Walk in Madison's Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood or one of the Self-Guided Bicycling Routes around Madison.  

THEATER

Continue to "attend" theater performances from your home through the variety of options listed on the PLATO Virtual Theater Trips page.

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. 

We go to the southwest this week with sculptor Donald Tubesing and his work,  Kokophili. Our feature includes a brief audio segment where Don discusses a bit of the background for this piece.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Gatherings will resume this fall with in-person breakfasts at The University Club. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

Select from a range of topics and formats for your reading, viewing, or listening, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. May highlights include a new featured book that grew from a popular YouTube video series.

PLATO Weekly Update

May 18, 2021

Election Results and Annual Report

The annual election is now completed.  Congratulations to the PLATO Officers and 2 new At-Large Directors, Dory Christensen and Mike Kernats, who were recently elected.  The PLATO Board is composed of 5 officers, standing committee chairpersons, and 5 At-Large Directors.  

In lieu of an annual meeting, please see the President’s Report for fiscal year 2021.  Read how PLATO committees and members learned to adapt to the reality of a pandemic while remaining true to our tagline:  PLATO, where love of learning never gets old.

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSE REGISTRATION CONTINUES! Details for Summer are on the Courses Page.

SPECIAL EVENTS 

Our Lecture series will be back in September. In the meantime members can access Past Recordings and take advantage of the Self-Guided Walk in Madison's Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood or one of the Self-Guided Bicycling Routes around Madison.  

THEATER

View all the theater options here: Virtual Theater Trips.

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. 

This week's featured work, Margaret Mary (A Lullaby) by George Faunce, includes a reading of the poem plus the author's encouragement to personalize it if you'd like to share the poem/lullaby with a child.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

LAST Virtual Breakfast - this Friday, May 21 from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

We'll resume in-person breakfasts at The University Club sometime this fall.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

Select from a range of topics and formats for your Spring-time reading, viewing, or listening, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. May highlights include a new featured book that grew from a popular YouTube series.