PLATO Weekly Update

August 13, 2024

CURRICULUM

FALL COURSES

· NEXT WEEK! Tuesday, August 20: The fall course schedule will be posted to the Courses page and registration will begin. 

· September 16 – 20: Most fall courses will begin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THEATER TRIP
NEW! Register today for A Prelude to a Kiss on Sunday, October 13 at 2:30pm – don't miss this hit romantic comedy musical presented by the Milwaukee Rep at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Performing Arts' Harris Theater in Brookfield, Wisconsin. The registration deadline is just around the corner on Wednesday, September 3. Learn more and register here,

FIELD TRIPS
THIS WEEK! Forest Products Laboratory Tour on Thursday, August 15 at 9:15am and 9:30am. Registration is full for both tours. Find trip details here.

OCTOBER! Registration continues for a 90-minute Tour of Yerkes Observatory on Monday, October 7, 2024. Often called "the birthplace of modern astrophysics", this tour will touch on a range of fascinating topics including astrophysics, architecture, local history, photography, engineering, art and more. Afterward, enjoy two hours in Lake Geneva for lunch and to explore the downtown on your own. The registration deadline is September 22 and members may bring a guest. Learn more and register here.

COFFEE GATHERING
NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee on August 23 from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café on Atwood Ave. Connect with fellow PLATO members over a cup of coffee or tea. Feel free to bring a friend or family member who might be interested in PLATO! Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Recorded PLATO Lectures offer on-demand learning opportunities on a wide array of subjects presented by PLATO members and special guest presenters.

STAY IN-THE-KNOW WITH PLATO
Enhance Your Summer Reading List

As a membership benefit, PLATO Members are eligible to receive a complimentary UW-Madison Library Courtesy Card ($50 value) which offers borrowing privileges at all UW-Madison Libraries! Friendly reminder: Your Library Courtesy Card must be renewed each year. Learn how to apply here.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

August's Featured Offering is The Old Man and the Soil, a short story by William Eisinger that introduces a curious cast of characters in a 1950's rural American setting.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your summer reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for August 13 – 26, 2024

Warren M. Washington (b. 1936), the second African-American to earn a doctorate in the atmospheric sciences, received the highest scientific honor bestowed by the U.S. President, the National Medal of Science, for his fundamental contributions to the understanding of Earth's coupled climate system through numerical simulation, leadership in U.S. science policy, and inspiring mentorship of young people of all backgrounds and origins.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Warren Washington
and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update 

August 6, 2024

Also, new members may join by following the "Get Started" instructions on the Join PLATO page. Membership dues remain at $60 and are valid from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025. For assistance, please contact the PLATO office at info@platomadison.org or 608-572-6869.

CURRICULUM

FALL COURSES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS with these important dates:

· Tuesday, August 20: The fall course schedule will be posted to the Courses page and registration will begin. 

· September 16 – 20: Most fall courses will begin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

FIELD TRIPS
NEW! Join us on Monday, October 7, 2024 for a 90-minute Tour of Yerkes Observatory! Often called "the birthplace of modern astrophysics", this tour will touch on a range of fascinating topics including astrophysics, architecture, local history, photography, engineering, art and more. Afterward, enjoy two hours in Lake Geneva for lunch and to explore the downtown on your own. Registration deadline is September 22 and members are welcome to invite a guest. Learn more and register here.

THIS WEEK! Madison Youth Arts Center (MYArts) Tour on Wednesday, August 7 from 2:00-3:15pm. Completed in 2021, the $29 million dollar, four-story building is home to Madison Youth Choirs, the Children’s Theater of Madison, and over 25 more arts and community groups. This tour is free to PLATO members and their guests. Registration is required and there are only a couple of spots left! Learn more and register here.

NEXT WEEK! Forest Products Laboratory Tour on Thursday, August 15 at 9:15am and 9:30am. Registration is now full for both tours – check next Tuesday's Weekly Update for any last-minute openings due to cancellations. Learn more here.

BREAKFAST GATHERING
THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – Join us outdoors on August 9 at 10am at the UW-Memorial Union Terrace to connect with fellow PLATO members over a cup of coffee and breakfast snacks. Lunch items are available after 11am. Feel free to bring a guest! Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Recorded PLATO Lectures on a variety of interesting subjects are available 24/7 for your viewing pleasure from the comfort of home.

STAY IN-THE-KNOW WITH PLATO
Enhance Your Summer Reading List

As a membership benefit, PLATO Members are eligible to receive a complimentary UW-Madison Library Courtesy Card ($50 value) which offers borrowing privileges at all UW-Madison Libraries! Friendly reminder: Your Library Courtesy Card must be renewed each year. Learn how to apply here.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

August's Featured Offering is The Old Man and the Soil, a short story by William Eisinger that casts the reader back to a curious cast of characters in a 1950's rural American setting.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your summer reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for July 30 – August 12, 2024

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Maydm, 
PLATO's Education Fund and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update 

July 30, 2024

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2024-25
MANY THANKS to members who have already renewed!

Membership dues remain at $60 and are valid from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025. Renewing members, check your email inbox for your dues renewal invoice or visit the  Join PLATO page. Also, new members may join by following the "Get Started" instructions on the Join PLATO page. For assistance, please contact the PLATO office at info@platomadison.org or 608-572-6869.

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Have a question about a Summer Course? Find answers on the Courses Page or contact your Course Coordinator.

FALL COURSES
MARK YOUR CALENDARS with these important dates!

· Tuesday, August 20: The fall course schedule will be posted to the Courses page and registration will begin. 

· September 16 – 20: Most fall courses will begin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

FIELD TRIP TOURS

NEXT WEEK! Madison Youth Arts Center (MYArts) Tour on Wednesday, August 7 from 2:00-3:15pm. Completed in 2021, the $29 million dollar, four-story building is home to Madison Youth Choirs, the Children’s Theater of Madison, and over 25 more arts and community groups. This tour is free to PLATO members and their guests. Registration is required. Learn more and register here.

Forest Products Laboratory Tour on Thursday, August 15 at 9:15am and 9:30am. Registration is now full for both tours – watch the Weekly Updates for last-minute openings due to cancellations. Learn more here.

BREAKFAST GATHERING
NEXT WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – Join us outdoors on August 9 at 10am at the UW-Memorial Union Terrace to connect with fellow PLATO members over a cup of coffee and breakfast snacks. Lunch items are available after 11am. Feel free to bring a guest! Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Expand your horizons with timely topics through recorded PLATO Lectures.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is a poem titled Slipping Away, in which Rick Larson reflects upon the gradual loss of his dear friend after 60 years of friendship through thick and thin.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your summer reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for July 30 – August 12, 2024

Did you know that one of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is Maydm? PLATO's annual donation supports Maydm's ability to host immersive after school programs and workshops designed to enhance the STEM skills of middle and high school students in Madison.

Maydm equips students with the skills, confidence, and opportunities they need to succeed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics making strides toward a more inclusive & innovative STEM field.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Maydm, PLATO's Education Fund and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update 

July 23, 2024

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Have a question about a Summer Course? Find answers on the Courses Page or contact your Course Coordinator.

FALL COURSES
NEXT MONTH! Mark your calendars – the fall course schedule will be announced on Tuesday, August 20 and registration will begin the same day. Most fall courses will begin the week of September 16.

SPECIAL EVENTS

FIELD TRIP TOURS

Madison Youth Arts Center (MYArts) Tour on Wednesday, August 7 from 2:00-3:15pm. Completed in 2021, the $29 million dollar, four-story building is home to Madison Youth Choirs, the Children’s Theater of Madison, and over 25 more arts and community groups. This tour is free to PLATO members and their guests. Registration is required. Learn more and register here.

Forest Products Laboratory Tour on Thursday, August 15 at 9:15am and 9:30am. Registration is now full for both tours – watch the Weekly Updates for last-minute openings due to cancellations. Learn more here.

COFFEE GATHERING

THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee on July 26 from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café on Atwood Ave. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea over friendly conversation. Feel free to bring a guest. Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Learn something new with our library of recorded PLATO Lectures.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is a poem titled Slipping Away, in which Rick Larson reflects upon the gradual loss of his dear friend after 60 years of friendship through thick and thin.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2024-25
Big thanks to members who have already renewed!

Membership dues remain at $60 and are valid from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025. Renewing members, check your email inbox for your dues renewal invoice or visit the  Join PLATO page. Also, new members may join by following the "Get Started" instructions on the Join PLATO page. For assistance, please contact the PLATO office at info@platomadison.org or 608-572-6869.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your summer reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for July 16 – 29, 2024 

Otis F. Boykin (August 29, 1920 – 1982) was an African American inventor who specialized in electronics. Earning more than 25 patents from 1959 to 1985, variations of his resistor models are still used today in televisions, computers, and radios. Boykin's most notable contribution was the development of control functions for the first successful, implantable pacemaker.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Otis F. Boykin, 
and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update 

July 16, 2024

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Have a question about a Summer Course? Find answers on the Courses Page or contact your Course Coordinator.

FALL COURSES
The fall course schedule will be announced on August 20 and registration will begin the same day. Most fall courses will begin the week of September 16.

COURSE COORDINATOR TOOLKIT
Interested in sharing your interests, knowledge, talents, and skills as a course coordinator? This new Course Coordinator Toolkit makes it easier than ever!

CURRICULUM SHOWCASE
Learn about a recent We Love a Mystery course gathering in this brief articlefeaturing an author who wrote a mystery set in Wisconsin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

FILED TRIP TOURS
NEW! Madison Youth Arts Center (MYArts) Tour on Wednesday, August 7 from 2:00-3:15pm. Completed in 2021, the $29 million dollar, four-story building is home to Madison Youth Choirs, the Children’s Theater of Madison, and over 25 more arts and community groups. This tour is free to PLATO members and their guests. Registration is required. Learn more and register here.

NEXT MONTH!

Forest Products Laboratory Tour on Thursday, August 15 at 9:15am. Free to PLATO members and their guests. Registration is required. Learn more and register here.

COFFEE GATHERING
NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee on July 26 from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café on Atwood Ave. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea over friendly conversation. Feel free to bring a guest. Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Explore a variety of interesting subjects through recorded PLATO Lectures.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is a poem titled Slipping Away, in which Rick Larson reflects upon the gradual loss of his dear friend after 60 years of friendship through thick and thin.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL 2024-25
Big thanks to members who have already renewed!

Membership dues remain at $60 and are valid from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025. Renewing members, check your email inbox for your dues renewal invoice or visit the  Join PLATO page. Also, new members may join by following the "Get Started" instructions on the Join PLATO page. For assistance, please contact the PLATO office at info@platomadison.org or 608-572-6869.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your summer reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for July 16 – 29, 2024 

Otis F. Boykin (August 29, 1920 – 1982) was an African American inventor who specialized in electronics. Earning more than 25 patents from 1959 to 1985, variations of his resistor models are still used today in televisions, computers, and radios. Boykin's most notable contribution was the development of control functions for the first successful, implantable pacemaker.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Otis F. Boykin, 
and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

 July 9, 2024

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Have a question about a Summer Course? Find answers on the Courses Page or contact your Course Coordinator.

FALL COURSES
The fall course schedule will be announced on August 20 and registration will begin the same day. Most fall courses will begin the week of September 16.

COURSE COORDINATOR TOOLKIT
NEW! Interested in sharing your interests, knowledge, talents, and/or skills as a course coordinator? This labor of love has never been easier – learn how with the new Course Coordinator Toolkit.

CURRICULUM SHOWCASE
NEW! Learn about a recent We Love a Mystery course gathering in this brief article featuring an author who wrote a mystery set in Wisconsin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – Join us outdoors on July 12 at 10am at the UW-Memorial Union Terrace to connect with fellow PLATO members over a cup of coffee and breakfast snacks. Lunch items are available after 11am. Feel free to bring a guest! Learn more and RSVP here.

NEW! Ever wonder what goes on in the building located opposite the Veterans Hospital on Madison's west side? Find out on this fascinating tour of the Forest Products Laboratory at 9:15am on Thursday, August 15. Registration is required and feel free to bring a friend. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES
Escape the heat with recorded PLATO Lectures on an array of interesting subjects.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is a poem titled Slipping Away, in which Rick Larson reflects upon the gradual loss of his dear friend after 60 years of friendship through thick and thin.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR 2024-2025
July is Membership Renewal Month

Please check your email inbox for your membership renewal reminder invoice.As always, current members may renew online with a credit card by clicking the link in the reminder emails or send in a check via snail mail. New members may join by following the "Get Started" instructions on the Join PLATO webpage.Membership dues remain at $60 and are valid from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025. For assistance, please contact the PLATO office at info@platomadison.org or 608-572-6869.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your summer reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for July 2 – 15, 2024

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Lussier Community Education Center, PLATO's Education Fund, and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

Did you know that one of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is Lussier Community Education Center? PLATO's annual donation supports educational programming for elementary and middle school students to help prepare them for success..

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Lussier Community Education Center, PLATO's Education Fund, and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

 July 2, 2024

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Summer Courses continue. Visit the Courses Page or contact your Course Coordinator with any questions you may have.

FALL COURSES
The fall course schedule will be announced on August 20 and registration will begin the same day. Most fall courses will begin the week of September 16.

SPECIAL EVENTS

NEXT WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – Join us outdoors on July 12 at 10am at the UW-Memorial Union Terrace to connect with fellow PLATO members over a cup of coffee and breakfast snacks. Lunch items are available after 11am. Feel free to bring a guest! Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Recorded PLATO Lectures – learn about timely topics from the comfort of home.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is a poem titled Slipping Away, in which Rick Larson reflects upon the gradual loss of his dear friend after 60 years of friendship through thick and thin.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR 2024-2025
July is Membership Renewal Month

Please check your email inbox for your membership renewal reminder invoice.As always, current members may renew online with a credit card by clicking the link in the reminder emails or send in a check via snail mail. New members may join by following the "Get Started" instructions on the Join PLATO webpage.Membership dues remain at $60 and are valid from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025. For assistance, please contact the PLATO office at info@platomadison.org or 608-572-6869.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your summer reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for July 2 – 15, 2024

Did you know that one of the local community programs that PLATO's Education Fund supports is Lussier Community Education Center? PLATO's annual donation supports educational programming for elementary and middle school students to help prepare them for success..

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Lussier Community Education Center, PLATO's Education Fund, and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

June 25, 2024

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Summer Courses are underway! Visit the Courses Page or contact your Course Coordinator with any questions you may have.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee on June 28 from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café on Atwood Ave. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea over friendly conversation. Food options are limited but now include breakfast burritos and doughnuts! Feel free to bring a family member or friend who may be interested in PLATO. RSVP via email with Catherine Masi or new co-host Donaby Henton –learn more and find their email addresses to RSVP here.

THEATER TRIP

The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool – 2pm Matinee on Thursday, August 29 at American Players Theater. "Prepare for a wild, theatrical ride through the final hours of a waning Queen. As her monarchy teeters, she defers her duties, seeking solace in her bawdy, irreverent Fool. A witty, twisty thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat!" Members may bring a guest. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES
Enjoy recorded PLATO Lectures – at your own pace from the comfort of home.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is Mixed Doubles, a villanelle (poem) by Tim O'Donnell that compares the choice of “going it alone" to facing the challenges of life with a loving partner and the sometimes-fitful process of finding connection.

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL FOR 2024-2025
July is Membership Renewal Month

NEXT WEEK! Please watch your email inbox for your membership renewal reminder emails. As always, current members may renew online with a credit card by clicking the link in the reminder emails or send in a check via snail mail. New members may join by following the "Get Started" instructions on the Join PLATO webpage. Membership dues remain at $60 and are valid from August 1, 2024 through July 31, 2025. For assistance, please contact the PLATO office at info@platomadison.org or 608-572-6869.

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

DID YOU KNOW? for June 18 – July 1, 2024 

Marian Croak, a black woman in the engineering group at Google who has filed more than 200 patents, is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP). This technology converts a person’s voice into a digital signal which allows one to make a call directly from a computer or another digital device. Croak became one of the first Black women to be inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame. 

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Marian Croak

and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

June 18, 2024

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Have a question about a course? Find everything you need to know on the Courses Page or contact your Course Coordinator.

SPECIAL EVENTS

NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday Coffee on June 28 from 9:30-11:30am at the Rotunda Café on Atwood Ave. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea over friendly conversation. Food options are limited but now include breakfast burritos and doughnuts! Feel free to bring a family member or friend who may be interested in PLATO. RSVP via email with Catherine Masi or new co-host Donaby Henton –learn more and find their email addresses to RSVP here.

THEATER TRIP

The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool – 2pm Matinee on Thursday, August 29 at American Players Theater. "Prepare for a wild, theatrical ride through the final hours of a waning Queen. As her monarchy teeters, she defers her duties, seeking solace in her bawdy, irreverent Fool. A witty, twisty thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat!" Members may bring a guest. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES
Enjoy recorded PLATO Lectures – at your own pace from the comfort of home.

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is Mixed Doubles, a villanelle (poem) by Tim O'Donnell that compares the choice of “going it alone" to facing the challenges of life with a loving partner and the sometimes-fitful process of finding connection.

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

DID YOU KNOW? for June 18 – July 1, 2024 

Marian Croak, a black woman in the engineering group at Google who has filed more than 200 patents, is best known for developing Voice Over Internet Protocols (VoIP). This technology converts a person’s voice into a digital signal which allows one to make a call directly from a computer or another digital device. Croak became one of the first Black women to be inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame. 

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Marian Croak

and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).

PLATO Weekly Update

June 11, 2024

CURRICULUM

Summer Courses are underway! Have a question about a course? Find everything you need to know on the Courses Page or contact your Course Coordinator.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – Join us outdoors on June 14 at 10amat the UW-Memorial Union Terrace to connect with fellow PLATO members over a cup of coffee and breakfast snacks. Lunch items are available after 11am. Feel free to bring a guest! Learn about parking tips, food options and how to RSVP here.

THEATER TRIP

The Virgin Queen Entertains Her Fool on Thursday, August 29, 2pm Matinee at American Players Theater – "Prepare for a wild, theatrical ride through the final hours of a waning Queen. As her monarchy teeters, she defers her duties, seeking solace in her bawdy, irreverent Fool. A witty, twisty thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat!" Members may bring a guest. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES
Recorded PLATO Lectures – a treasure trove of timely topics!

STAY IN-THE-KNOW WITH PLATO

PLATO volunteers provide thousands of hours each year on committees that oversee all aspects of the organization. Here is a summary of their accomplishments this past year. New members are always welcome! 

If you love being a PLATO member, please help spread the word! PLATO seeks to attract new members, so we have put together this flyer for you to pass along to a friend, family member, or acquaintance – anyone who might be interested in learning about PLATO. We invite you to print out this flyer to pass along or simply forward this email to folks who might be interested.

Reminder: New members can join now for just $60 and their membership is valid through July 31, 2025! 

THE AGORA FEATURES
PLATO's Literary & Fine Arts Journal, The Agora,
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

This Month's Featured Offering is Mixed Doubles, a villanelle (poem) by Tim O'Donnell that compares the choice of “going it alone" to facing the challenges of life with a loving partner and the sometimes-fitful process of finding connection.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats 
for your late spring reading, viewing, or listening pleasure,
curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for June 4 – 17, 2024 

PLATO's Education Fund provides four annual partial scholarships for returning UW adult students. Administered through the UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies, scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and target single-parent students and other nontraditional adult returnees. Financial need and academic potential are critical components in determining the awards.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about PLATO's Education Fund

and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).