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.

PLATO Weekly Update

May 11, 2021

CURRICULUM

Summer Course Registration Opens Today! 

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

The Lecture series will be back in September. In the meantime, watch favorite presentations again; 12 of the past events can be accessed in Past Recordings. Interested in Lectures?? Join the PLATO Special Events Committee and help us plan our fall offerings.  Email info@platomadison.org

With Lectures on "vacation," consider a Self-Guided Walk in Madison's Tenney-Lapham Neighborhood or try one of the Self-Guided Bicycling Routes around Madison.  

THEATER

Catch The Royale from Lincoln Center Theater before on-demand streaming ends on May 16. The 2016 Obie and Drama Desk Award-winning play is about charismatic African-American boxer Jay "The Sport" Jackson. 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 Walking with Mother by Grethe Brix-J Leer is enhanced by a brief audio artist's statement connecting special Mother's Day memories with aspects in her collage. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast will be Friday, May 21 from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

Note: This will be the last virtual gathering; we're taking a break and hope to resume our 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.

PLATO Weekly Update

May 4, 2021

CURRICULUM

COMING NEXT WEEK: The Summer Course Schedule and Registration information will be posted on Tuesday, May 11. Watch for details here and on the Courses Page.

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

THIS WEEK: There is still time to register! THURSDAY, 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.

ATTENTION LECTURE FANS: Our online lecture series will take a "summer break" starting next week.  See you in September when we'll be back! In the meantime, watch for announcements about more Dane County walks being planned.

THEATER

Critics and audiences have fallen for Daniel J. Watts' The Jam: Only Child. This powerful and playful new show will take you on a musical journey through growing up in loving chaos in the 90's, the awkwardness of adolescence, and sorting through the past as an adult.  View all the theater options here: Virtual Theater Trips.

ELECTION FOR PLATO 2021-22 BOARD
Voting Ends Wednesday evening, May 5th 

This Wednesday is the last day for voting on the slate of officers and 2 new At-Large Board members who will serve in 2021-2022.  If you haven't already voted and are a PLATO member please vote today!

2021 MEMBERSHIP SURVEY RESULTS

Thanks to those who shared feedback in our recent membership survey; we had a 48% response rate.  Key findings were that two-thirds of respondents would be willing to participate in both online and in-person courses and lectures in the future, which gives Curriculum and Special Events Committees some flexibility as they develop programming for next year.  

The Agora received relatively broad support of PLATO members to continue their work, and the results pointed out an opportunity to find efficiencies in reducing the number of printed copies. 

Also of note is that 30 members asked about opportunities to coordinate a course, and 57 members asked for information about serving on a committee. As a volunteer organization PLATO values its volunteer members! 

Click here for a more detailed summary of the Survey results

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, Your Danish Hope Chest, a poem by Norman Leer, includes the author reading his work and speaking to its origin.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast will be this Friday, May 7 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. May highlights include a new featured book that grew from a popular YouTube series.

PLATO Weekly Update

April 27, 2021

CURRICULUM

COMING SOON! The Summer Course Schedule and Registration will open on Tuesday, May 11-- just 2 weeks away. All Summer courses will be online.  

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

Take a Virtual Theater Trip this week! Two great options for your viewing pleasure: 

• From TheaterWorks:   The Sound Inside - In this intensely intimate and haunting story, a creative writing professor encounters a brilliant and mysterious student.  Mike Fischer, former theater critic for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel says, "I can't recommend it highly enough." The Broadway production was nominated for 6 Tony Awards.
• From the Writers Theatre:  The Last Match - When a young Russian tennis phenom and an American superstar in his prime meet at center court, it's a tough call whether the greatest drama is playing-out off the court or on. 

BIKING AROUND MADISON

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!

ELECTION FOR PLATO 2021-22 BOARD
Open Now Through May 5th 

Online voting is now available for the election of officers and 2 new At-Large PLATO Board members who will serve in the 2021-2022 membership year.  If you haven't already voted and are a PLATO member please vote today!

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. Refresh with this week's featured work, Foundation Cranes, a sculpture by Donald Tubesing.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast will be Friday, May 7 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 a new featured book title, The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee.

PLATO Weekly Update

April 20, 2021

CURRICULUM

The Curriculum Committee has developed 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 challenging and timely topics. 

Consider public policy 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 learn about energy and sustainability concerns like, Can nuclear energy production really be done safely in seismically active areas? (Pathways to a Sustainable Planet, April 12).

The Courses Page has links to these and other class videos.

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

To watch or not to watch? That is the question! We have 2 Shakespearean options on the Virtual Theater Trips page to choose from:  Romeo and Juliet, the PBS Great Performances/National Theatre contemporary production, updated with actors from The Crown and Fargo, and Measure for Measure, the Goodman Theatre's 2013 production. 

WALKS

NEW May 11: Walk the Camrock Trail along Koshkonong Creek.  This is the first of the local walks planned for this year.  As we cautiously resume this outdoor activity, capacity will be limited to allow for social distancing.  Face masks will be required.  The Walk's information page contains details about our Covid safety protocols.

NEW June 11: Walk the Olin-Turville Conservancy Park. A natural gem on the shores of Lake Monona, this is the second of our planned walks.  Capacity will be limited to allow for social distancing. Face masks will be required.  The Walk's information page contains details about our COVID safety protocols.

ELECTION FOR PLATO 2021-22 BOARD 
BEGINS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 

Tomorrow, members will receive an email with a link to vote on officers who will serve during our next membership year plus 2 At-Large Board members who will serve 3-year terms.

As provided in our bylaws, the slate was selected by the Nominating Committee and is presented for your approval. The Nominating Committee thanks the individuals who agreed to be listed. 

Watch for a PLATO email on Wednesday, April 21 with your link to the Ballot. Voting will close on Wednesday, May 5 at midnight.

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, May 7 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 a new featured book title.

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.