PLATO Weekly Update

April 13, 2021

CURRICULUM

The Curriculum Committee is keeping a library of class videos from two 2020-21 courses: Whither the State and Pathways to a Sustainable Planet. 

Both courses have many guest speakers discussing important and timely topics. Learn more about issues and questions like, If the commercial mix of State Street businesses changes will it become the "Bourbon Street" of the midwest?(Whither the State, April 6) or Can nuclear energy production really be done safely in seismically active areas? (Pathways/Planet, April 12). 

Visit the Courses Page for links to course video recordings.

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

MAY 6: The Birds & the Bees: How To Get Involved in Citizen Science through Your Garden A garden can be home to birds, animals, pollinators, and many other living things.  Jessica Ross, a Research Specialist at UW-Madison will discuss how you can use the citizen science practices and principles to observe, monitor and document garden life -- for your own records and to contribute data to a project.

THEATER

Looking for something to watch this week? Then consider these recent additions to the Virtual Theater Trips page:  SMOKEFALL from Chicago's Goodman Theatre, which explores the lives of this family in a lyrical treatise on the fragility of life and the power of love, or SHADOW/LAND a harrowing new drama/audio production set amid the ongoing devastation of Hurricane Katrina (Free podcast). 

AND MORE . . .

As the Spring buds and blooms emerge, so do bicycles and helmets! If you're ready for some biking ideas check the PLATO website for Self-Guided Bicycling Routes Around Madison. There are 5 routes listed:  Around Lake Monona; the Cannonball Path/Arboretum Loop; the Southwest Commuter Path/Capital City State Trail Loop; the McFarland Loop; or the Blackhawk Path/Lake Mendota Drive/Lakeshore Nature Preserve Loop.  Each guide is broken into distinct sections with maps providing detailed instructions. 

WEEKLY UPDATE -- Also Available On The Web!  

The Weekly Update e-newsletters --with announcements, event schedules, and current PLATO information-- are now posted on the PLATO website in addition to being emailed each Tuesday.

You can find the latest Weekly Update in the ABOUT tab's drop-down list on the blue menu bar.

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. In recognition of April as National Poetry Month, we present from our poetry files, Seasons Stirring by Mary De Wolf.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast is this Friday, April 16 from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

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. April highlights include several new broadcast and online video offerings from PBS Wisconsin and a new featured book title.

PLATO Weekly Update

April 6, 2021

CURRICULUM

If you're planning your Summer, Fall, or even next Winter's calendar, be sure to include PLATO course registration and semester dates. All information about Courses is posted on the COURSES page.

Click below then scroll to "2021 Courses Related Calendar" (right-hand column).

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

MAY 6: The Birds & the Bees: How To Get Involved in Citizen Science through Your Garden A garden can be home to birds, animals, pollinators, and many other living things.  Jessica Ross, a Research Specialist at UW-Madison will discuss how you can use the citizen science practices and principles to observe, monitor and document garden life -- for your own records and to contribute data to a project.

THEATER

New performances have been added and some are to expire April 11.  Review what's new and what's leaving on the Virtual Theater Trips page.  One of the additions is Duchess! Duchess! Duchess! from Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre.  It's loosely inspired by Meghan Markle and the royal family and uses the monarchy to investigate how society's institutions of power affect Black women.  Also added: Spotlight on Plays: 7 Great Plays by 7 Great Playwrights.  This is a series of livestream readings of Broadway's best plays to benefit The Actors Fund. 

AND MORE . . .

Now that it's getting warm, cycling enthusiasts may want to go for those first Spring rides. The PLATO website offers Self-Guided Bicycling Routes Around Madison. Explore the City and surrounding area on one of 5 routes:  Around Lake Monona; the Cannonball Path/Arboretum Loop; the Southwest Commuter Path/Capital City State Trail Loop; the McFarland Loop; or the Blackhawk Path/Lake Mendota Drive/Lakeshore Nature Preserve Loop.  Each guide is broken into distinct sections with maps providing detailed instructions. Happy Cycling!

WEEKLY UPDATE -- Also Available On The Web!  

NEW: These Weekly Update e-newsletters --with announcements, event schedules, and current PLATO information-- are now posted on the PLATO website. 

In addition to being emailed each Tuesday, you can find the latest Weekly Update in the  ABOUT  Tab's drop-down list (see the blue menu bar).

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 present "Contentment" --a sculpture by Donald Tubesing.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast will be Friday, April 16 from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

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. April highlights include several new broadcast and online video offerings from PBS Wisconsin.

PLATO Weekly Update

March 30, 2021

CURRICULUM

Are you planning your Summer, Fall, or even next Winter's calendar? All information about Courses, including Registration and Semester Start Dates is posted on the COURSES page! 

Click the link below then scroll to "2021 Courses Related Calendar" in the right-hand column.

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

APRIL 6: Hidden in Plain Sight: Native American Cultural Landscape Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator, UW-Madison Office of the Provost/School of Education, talks about the Native American cultural landscape that is present all around us.

NEW! MAY 6: The Birds & the Bees: How To Get Involved in Citizen Science through Your Garden A garden can be home to birds, animals, pollinators, and many other living things.  Jessica Ross, a Research Specialist at UW-Madison will discuss how you can use the citizen science practices and principles to observe, monitor and document garden life -- for your own records and to contribute data to a project.

Lectures are recorded and available online through the PAST RECORDINGS link in the menu bar on the PLATO website.  There are now 10 lecture recordings for you to enjoy!

THEATER

Several wonderful shows such as Dining With the Ancestors from the Guthrie Theater are in their final days, so catch them while they last. Find a link to this play and more, including information on APT's six-show, reduced capacity summer season and the online versions of their shows, on PLATO's Virtual Theater Trips page.

UPDATE ON PLATO's OFFICE OPERATIONS  

As we posted here in the Weekly Update last December, our relationship with the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies (DCS) is changing, but not ending.  Currently we pay an administrative fee to DCS, and they provide us with office support.  Beginning later this year that is changing.  Most of what changes will take place behind the scenes, and most members will not likely see any differences in the services and programs they enjoy.  The financial impact of these changes on our organization is not yet clear, but it will affect PLATO’s budget and dues in future years.

PLATO is soliciting proposals from independent contractors to perform the administrative services that we have received from DCS in the past.  Depending on how well the recruitment goes, we hope that a new contractor will be in place sometime this summer.  We will continue to keep you updated on these developments. 

PLATO MEMBER SURVEY DUE 
BY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31

On March 17 members received a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO, particularly during the past year when in-person programs were suspended.  Your feedback will help the PLATO board and committee volunteers prepare for future programming. 

The survey was emailed to you from Russell Consulting -"noreply @alchemer.com"with the subject line "Invitation to Complete the PLATO Member Survey 2021". Please take a few minutes to let PLATO know how best to address your interests and preferences. The survey responses are due no later than March 31.

Your involvement and support of PLATO is very important! If you have already completed the survey, Thank you! 

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 is abloom with "Crazy Daisies" in a collage photo from Jo Simons.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast will be Friday, April 2^nd from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

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

Select from a range of topics and formats for your early spring reading, viewing, or listening, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.  Our April highlights include several new video offerings from PBS Wisconsin.

PLATO Weekly Update

March 23, 2021

CURRICULUM

Could you be a course coordinator? Read all about coordinating courses and see if this is a way you can share your interests with others in PLATO! 

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

APRIL 6: Hidden in Plain Sight: Native American Cultural Landscape Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator, UW-Madison Office of the Provost/School of Education, talks about the Native American cultural landscape that is present all around us.

Did you serve in the Peace Corps?  If yes, and you want to help plan a fall PLATO lecture honoring the 60^th anniversary of the Peace Corps, please contact Tim Otis: tierneyotis@gmail.com 

THEATER

LOTS of new drama this week and coming up -- from George Takei's Allegiance, to Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's amazing productions of The Island and The Way She Spoke, or Lincoln Center's VANYA and SONIA and MASHA and SPIKE, and The Irish Repertory Theater's offering, The Aran Islands.  These and so much more are included on PLATO's Virtual Theater Trips page.

PLATO ANNUAL ELECTION: 
NOMINEES FOR 2021-2022 BOARD 

Each year PLATO members vote on the Board of Directors officers who will serve during the next membership year plus At-Large board members who will serve new 3 year terms. This spring online voting for these 2021-2022 board positions will take place from Wednesday, April 21 through Wednesday, May 5. An email with a link to the online Ballot will be sent on April 21.

Biographies of candidates on the Nominating Committee’s slate of candidates for the 2021-2022 officer and board positions are on the PLATO website. The Nominating Committee thanks all the individuals who agreed to be listed. 

PLATO MEMBER SURVEY DUE BY MARCH 31

On March 17 members received a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO, particularly during the past year when in-person programs were suspended.  Your feedback will help the PLATO board and committee volunteers prepare for future programming. 

The survey was emailed to you from Russell Consulting -"noreply @alchemer.com"with the subject line "Invitation to Complete the PLATO Member Survey 2021". Please take a few minutes to let PLATO know how best to address your interests and preferences. The survey responses are due no later than March 31. Your involvement and support of PLATO is very important! If you have already completed the survey, Thank you. 

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. Refresh your mind with this week's featured work and scroll through the Features page to appreciate past weekly highlights.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast will be Friday, April 2^nd from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

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

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

PLATO Weekly Update

March 16, 2021

CURRICULUM

Could you be a course coordinator? Read all about coordinating courses and see if this is a way you can share your interests! 

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

THIS WEEK! MARCH 18: Life's A Daring Adventure and You're Not Done Yet! Mary Helen Conroy, an inspirational speaker, reinvention life coach and author of The Amazing Itty Bitty Retirement Book, will examine the good, the bad and the ugly, the scary and sad, and the awesomeness of building our lives after we end our career. 

APRIL 6: Hidden in Plain Sight: Native American Cultural Landscape Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator, UW-Madison Office of the Provost/School of Education, talks about the Native American cultural landscape that is present all around us.

Did you serve in the Peace Corps?  If so, we would like your help in putting together a fall PLATO lecture honoring the 60^th anniversary of the Peace Corps.  If you are interested in being part of a planning group, please contact Tim Otis:  tierneyotis@gmail.com 

THEATER

In the mood to watch a theater performance? Explore PLATO's Virtual Theater Trips listings for some applause-worthy options!

When Will PLATO Events Re-open?

The PLATO Board, in consultation with its COVID workgroup, will continue to monitor State and County guidance and recommendations on safely gathering to determine when it is safe to re-open our events.

The first step in re-opening will be Walks in Dane County sponsored by the Special Events Committee.  These walks are tentatively scheduled to begin in May, based on current health information. 

Registration information for the walks will include safety guidelines and will be subject to change based on health metrics at the time.

Watch here, in the Tuesday Weekly Update for dates and details.

PLATO SATISFACTION SURVEY SENT TO YOU TOMORROW

Tomorrow, March17, you will receive a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO, particularly during this past year when in-person programs were suspended. Your feedback will help the PLATO board and committee volunteers prepare for future programming when it becomes safe for PLATO to resume in-person activities.

You will receive the survey in an email from "noreply @alchemer.com" with the subject line "PLATO Members' Satisfaction Survey".  When you receive the survey please take a few minutes to let PLATO know how best to address your interests and preferences.  Thank you for your involvement and support of PLATO!

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, experience the serenity of a Morning on Toddy Pond through the eyes and brush of painter Jim Albright. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

THIS FRIDAY: The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast will be this Friday, March 19, 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

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

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

PLATO Weekly Update

March 9, 2021

CURRICULUM

We are beginning to plan for Summer courses! All summer courses will be online the year.  If you are interested in coordinating a course for summer please view the Propose A Course topic link from the Courses Page (left-hand column).

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

MARCH 18: Life's A Daring Adventure and You're Not Done Yet! Mary Helen Conroy, an inspirational speaker, reinvention life coach and author of The Amazing Itty Bitty Retirement Book, will examine the good, the bad and the ugly, the scary and sad, and the awesomeness of building our lives after we end our career. 

APRIL 6: Hidden in Plain Sight: Native American Cultural Landscape Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator, UW-Madison Office of the Provost/School of Education, talks about the Native American cultural landscape that is present all around us.

THEATER

There is still time to watch Tony DeSare and Capathia Jenkins sing Frank Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald on March 20 and 27.  The performances are part of A Virtual Season of Tributes from The Cabaret Project of St Louis, included on PLATO's Virtual Theater Trips page.

Last Chance to Submit to Volume 7 of The Agora!

The Agora Editorial Board is accepting submissions of:  fiction, non-fiction(including essays), poetry, and visual arts for publication in the upcoming Volume 7 of The Agora, PLATO’s magazine for arts and ideas. 

Submission Deadline is Monday, MARCH 15, 2021.
Click below for complete information. 

PLATO SATISFACTION SURVEY IS COMING

Next week, Wednesday, March 17^th you will be asked to participate in a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO, particularly during this past year when in-person programs were suspended.  Your feedback will help the PLATO board and committee volunteers prepare for future programming when it becomes safe for PLATO to resume in-person activities.

You will receive the survey in an email from "noreply@alchemer.com" with the subject line "PLATO Members' Satisfaction Survey".  When you receive the survey please take a few minutes to let PLATO know how best to address your interests and preferences.  Thank you for your involvement and support of PLATO!

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 highlight Rite of Passage along with a glimpse at the poem's inspiration from author Tom Schlicht. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

PLATO Virtual Breakfast Continues through May: The next gathering will be Friday, March 19, 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

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

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

PLATO Weekly Update

March 2, 2021

CURRICULUM

SPRING 2021 COURSES ARE NOW UNDERWAY!

• Spring courses are all online.  
• Check with Course Coordinators to confirm if seats are still available.

2021 Course Dates
Planning your calendar for 2021? Registration and course start dates for this Summer and Fall are all listed on our COURSES page (scroll down in the right-hand column).

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

MARCH 18: Life's A Daring Adventure and You're Not Done Yet! Mary Helen Conroy, an inspirational speaker, reinvention life coach and author of The Amazing Itty Bitty Retirement Book, will examine the good, the bad and the ugly, the scary and sad, and the awesomeness of building our lives after we end our career. 

APRIL 6: Hidden in Plain Sight: Native American Cultural Landscape Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator, UW-Madison Office of the Provost/School of Education, talks about the Native American cultural landscape that is present all around us.

THEATER

A Virtual Season of Tributes from The Cabaret Project of St Louis will be showcasing Tony DeSare and Capathia Jenkins singing Frank Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald on March 20 and 27, 7:30 pm.  Check out this and other performance offerings included on PLATO's Virtual Theater Trips listings.

Reprieve! 
Original Submission Deadline Extended

The Agora Editorial Board is currently accepting submissions of:  fiction, non-fiction (including essays), poetry, and visual arts for publication in the upcoming Volume 7 of The Agora, PLATO’s magazine for arts and ideas. 

Submission Deadline has been extended to March 15, 2021.
Click below for complete information. 

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 highlight Fay Ferington's work, Branches.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

THIS FRIDAY: The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast is this Friday, March 5, 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

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

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