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Upcoming events

  • 1st Friday Breakfast on the West Side

    • September 04, 2026
    • December 04, 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • 601 Junction Road, Madison




    Where?  Panera Bread,  601 Junction Road, Madison, WI 
      When?  Meets on the first Friday of each month from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
        What?  Breakfast with friends, old and new.    To view the menu go to https://www.panerabread.com/en-us/menu.html.

        Directions:   Located 1.5 blocks south of Old Sauk Road on Junction Road.

        Parking: There is plenty of parking in the adjacent parking lot.  No stairs!

        Organizer:  Catherine Masi 

        RSVP or Questions?  Email Catherine at catherine.masi@gmail.com  by the Thursday before the breakfast to let her know you are coming.  Also email her if you have any questions.

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          • 2nd Friday Coffee at ZuZu Cafe

            • September 11, 2026
            • December 11, 2026
            • 4 sessions
            • 1336 Drake Street


            • Where:  ZuZu Cafe

            • When:  Meets on the second Friday of each month

            • Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am
            • Place:  ZuZu Cafe, 1336 Drake Street, Madison
            • Across the street from the Henry Vilas Zoo
            • Directions are pictured on the map below
            • Parking: Street Parking
            • Organizer: Sharon Scrattish
            • RSVP or Questions?:  If you are new to the 2nd Friday gathering please RSVP Sharon by email or phone (sscratti@gmail.com or 608-280-8050)



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          • 3rd Friday Meet-Up on the East Side

            • September 18, 2026
            • December 18, 2026
            • 4 sessions
            • 876 Jupiter Drive


            3rd Friday Meet-Up on the East Side at Great Dane East


            Where?  Great Dane East,  876 Juniper Drive,  Madison  
              When?  Meets on the third Friday of each month from 11:30-1:30
                What?  Meet-Up with friends, old and new.   Non-members are welcome.  We will no longer meet in the upstairs room but in the downstairs bar area.  You are welcome to order from the menu or feel free to order just a beer or coffee.  

                Directions:   Entrance is a few hundred feet from Cottage Grove Road and conveniently located on Madison Metro's Route C.

                Parking: There is plenty of parking in the adjacent parking lot.  No stairs!

                Organizer:   Sue Ellerhorst 

                RSVP is appreciated but not required.  If you forget to RSVP come anyway.   Email Sue at  nana@orcagranny.com by the Wednesday before the lunch to let her know you are coming.   Also email her if you have any questions.



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                • Lecture – Camp Randall: From the Civil War to “On Wisconsin!”

                  • November 12, 2026
                  • 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
                  • Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

                   

                  Thursday, November 12 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.


                  In-Person at Oakwood Village University Woods

                  Arts & Education Center


                  6205 Mineral Point Road


                  Registration is Not Required

                  FREE PARKING


                  Bob Block's lecture features his presentation on the 175-year history of Camp Randall, one of the nation’s most iconic football stadiums. He will trace its remarkable history from its beginnings as a Civil War training camp to its place as one of college football’s most iconic stadiums. The audience will learn why Camp Randall remains a lasting symbol of Wisconsin’s history, resilience and pride!


                  A resident of Oregon, Wisconsin, Bob spent 34 years with the Wisconsin Crime Laboratory in Madison, retiring as head of the Drug Identification Unit. Over the course of his career, he testified as an expert witness 500 times. Today, Bob channels that same commitment into his work as a public historian. He brings decades of expertise and a deep passion for Wisconsin history to his presentations. As a member of the Oregon Historical Society, he has developed a collection of twelve engaging presentations on significant Wisconsin and American historical events, people and places. His programs are known for their strong research foundation, compelling storytelling, and accessible style.

                                                                                                                                            

                  ________________________________________

                  Transportation Options:


                  Bicycle:  Bike racks are available


                  Bus: The BRT Route A bus  runs every 15 minutes and stops in front of Oakwood at the Island/Mineral Point station.  


                  Car: 

                  • Use the Island Drive entrance at 6205 Mineral Point Road.
                  •  Veer left and follow the drive to the 2nd driveway with sign “Heritage Oaks Parking Garage.”
                  •  Turn right into driveway.
                  •   Press the buzzer and the Oakwood desk attendant will buzz you in. There are 70 parking stalls. Park in any visitor or non-reserved stall. Take the elevator up one floor to the main entrance, turn right and walk through the mail box area into the lobby. Ask at the desk for directions to the Performing Arts Center.
                  • When you exit the underground parking, the garage door opens automatically.
                  • _________________________

                  Questions?  Contact lecture organizer Barbara Drake at barbaradrake21@gmail.com

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                • Lecture – My Father’s World War II

                  • November 19, 2026
                  • 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
                  • Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

                   

                  Thursday, November 19 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.


                  In-Person at Oakwood Village University Woods

                  Arts & Education Center


                  6205 Mineral Point Road


                  Registration is Not Required

                  FREE PARKING


                  About 16 million Americans served in the military in World War II; only 31,000 of them are still alive, so the voices that can tell us about their experiences are fast disappearing. Rebecca’s late father, David Warner, served in the Army in Europe during the war. He left photographs, letters, and memoirs along with his Eisenhower jacket and other possessions. During her lecture she will share brief selections from his writing and play a video recorded interview in which he describes the event that had the greatest impact on him in his own words. His stories describe unique situations with interesting details, and they have themes in common with letters and diaries published by many other veterans. Her lecture will remind many in the audience of parents and relatives who served our country in World War II.



                  Dr. Rebecca Warner earned her bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon in Social Relations and a PhD from Harvard in Social Psychology. She was a professor at the University of New Hampshire until she retired in 2017. She has published journal articles in statistics and psychology, statistics textbooks, an edited collection of her father’s writing, and two historical novels. After moving to Madison in 2025, she joined PLATO and Attic Angel. As a recent arrival in Madison, she is looking forward to learning more about Wisconsin!

                                                                                                                                            

                  ________________________________________

                  Transportation Options:


                  Bicycle:  Bike racks are available


                  Bus: The BRT Route A bus  runs every 15 minutes and stops in front of Oakwood at the Island/Mineral Point station.  


                  Car: 

                  • Use the Island Drive entrance at 6205 Mineral Point Road.
                  •  Veer left and follow the drive to the 2nd driveway with sign “Heritage Oaks Parking Garage.”
                  •  Turn right into driveway.
                  •   Press the buzzer and the Oakwood desk attendant will buzz you in. There are 70 parking stalls. Park in any visitor or non-reserved stall. Take the elevator up one floor to the main entrance, turn right and walk through the mail box area into the lobby. Ask at the desk for directions to the Performing Arts Center.
                  • When you exit the underground parking, the garage door opens automatically.
                  • _________________________

                  Questions?  Contact lecture organizer Barbara Drake at barbaradrake21@gmail.com

                  Show details

                • Noon Zoom - The Data Center Debate in Wisconsin

                  • December 01, 2026
                  • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
                  • Online via Zoom
                  Register


                  Tuesday, December 1, 2026

                  12pm - 1:00pm

                  Online via Zoom

                  Registration is required

                  Members can register a guest


                  The December Noon Zoom will focus in on the growing concerns over data center construction in Wisconsin.  What are the pros and cons of data centers?  Should we be concerned about their impacts when it comes to energy and water use?  What about their implication on taxes? 

                  Terry Shelton, former city editor of the Wisconsin State Journal, will discuss these issues with two guests from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.  President Jason Stein and Senior Research Associate Tyler Byrnes will share information from their latest report: Grounding a Charged Debate: Data Centers in Wisconsin and a report released earlier this year - Data Centers May Change Wiscnsin's Utility Landscape

                  Noon Zooms are a new PLATO Madison offering available to members and their guests. These occasional virtual discussions will feature a host and guest expert discussing an issue in the news with the opportunity for attendees to join in the discussion.  The offering is free, but you need to register to receive the Zoom link. 


                  Jason Stein has worked with the Wisconsin Policy Forum since 2018, serving as President since July 2024 and prior to that as Vice President and Research Director. In his time with the Forum, his reports have received multiple awards from the Governmental Research Association.

                  Before joining the Forum, Jason worked as a Capitol reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and for the Wisconsin State Journal. He is the author with Patrick Marley of More than They Bargained For: Scott Walker, Unions and the Fight for Wisconsin. His reporting was recognized by journalism groups such as the American Society of News Editors, the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. Milwaukee Magazine also named him as one of the city’s most influential media figures in 2015.

                  He serves on the board of Neighborhood House in Madison and previously served on the board of the Government Research Association as well as the board president of both the Wisconsin Capitol Correspondents Association and of The Daily Cardinal, the University of Wisconsin-Madison student newspaper. He speaks English and Spanish and holds a master’s degree in journalism from UW-Madison and bachelor’s degree in classical languages from the University of Kansas.

                  Tyler Byrnes is a Senior Research Associate at the Forum. He was awarded his PhD at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  Byrnes most recently worked at the conservation nonprofit Gathering Waters to identify the fiscal impact of conservation land purchases on local governments. From 2008 to 2016, he served as an Executive Budget and Policy Analyst at the Wisconsin Department of Administration, working directly with former Gov. Scott Walker and former Gov. Jim Doyle on their state budget proposals. Byrnes has a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Northern Iowa and a bachelor’s degree from Ripon College.

                  REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE ZOOM LINK TO ATTEND.  PLEASE REGISTER BEFORE THE EVENT STARTS.   ORAL AND WRITTEN QUESTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED DURING THE EVENT.

                  As this event is online, you can use your computer or smartphone to listen to the conversation and then add your voice to the conversation during the "Question & Comment" time.

                  Questions? Contact lecture organizer,  Joy Cardin at cardinjoy@gmail.com

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                • Winter Course Registration Opens

                  • December 08, 2026

                  PLATO Course registration generally begins on a Tuesday four weeks before the week in which most courses begin.  Registration generally ends after week 2 of the session.

                  The Course Schedule becomes public on the same day that registration opens.


                  Show details

                • Lecture – Old Farm Country Christmas

                  • December 10, 2026
                  • 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
                  • Oakwood Village University Woods Arts & Education Center

                   

                  Thursday, December 10 from 1:30-3:00 p.m.


                  In-Person at Oakwood Village University Woods

                  Arts & Education Center


                  6205 Mineral Point Road


                  Registration is Not Required

                  FREE PARKING


                  Along with her late father, Jerry Apps, Susan Apps-Bodilly has written a new book entitled, Old Farm Country Christmas. In her lecture she will take the audience on a journey to Christmases past—when the first snowfall signaled the start of the holiday season and simple joys lit up the long, dark Wisconsin winter. In her lecture Susan will use vivid family memories, interviews, historical research and vintage photographs to take the audience inside farmhouse kitchens, one-room schoolhouses, rural churches, and through snow-packed fields to share Christmas stories from the mid-twentieth century. She will re-create a time when holiday traditions were handmade, inspire memories of personal holiday celebrations and invite the audience to rediscover the warmth and wonder that make this holiday so special!


                  Susan Apps-Bodilly is a retired educator and writer. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction. When she is not reading or writing, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, hiking at the family cabin, kayaking, and trying new recipes with produce from her garden. She is the author of One Room Schools, Seeds in Soil, The ABCS of Wisconsin Cheese, and a coauthor with her father, Jerry Apps, of Timber! and Old Farm Country Cookbook, all published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband.

                                                                                                                                            

                  ________________________________________

                  Transportation Options:


                  Bicycle:  Bike racks are available


                  Bus: The BRT Route A bus  runs every 15 minutes and stops in front of Oakwood at the Island/Mineral Point station.  


                  Car: 

                  • Use the Island Drive entrance at 6205 Mineral Point Road.
                  •  Veer left and follow the drive to the 2nd driveway with sign “Heritage Oaks Parking Garage.”
                  •  Turn right into driveway.
                  •   Press the buzzer and the Oakwood desk attendant will buzz you in. There are 70 parking stalls. Park in any visitor or non-reserved stall. Take the elevator up one floor to the main entrance, turn right and walk through the mail box area into the lobby. Ask at the desk for directions to the Performing Arts Center.
                  • When you exit the underground parking, the garage door opens automatically.
                  • _________________________

                  Questions?  Contact lecture organizer Barbara Drake at barbaradrake21@gmail.com

                  Show details

                • Stuff the Stocking Holiday Tour

                  • December 11, 2026
                  • 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM
                  • Janesville, Racine, Calendonia
                  • 0
                  Join waitlist



                  Stuff the Stocking Holiday Tour

                  Friday, December 11, 2026

                  Registration will open on Tuesday, November 3

                  Registration Deadline is Monday, November 23

                  It’s time to celebrate the magic of the season! Leave the winter driving to the professionals and step into a cozy, stress-free holiday wonderland. Just sit back, relax and make wonderful holiday memories with old and new friends as we head to southeastern Wisconsin for a day of pastries, pines, poinsettias and more. 


                  Our Holiday Itinerary

                  Lincoln-Tallman House - Janesville

                  Step into the elegance of 1857 at this Italianate-style landmark, built by the prominent Tallman family. During the holiday season, more than 100 beautifully decorated trees fill the historic rooms with light, color, and creativity. Explore at your own pace and enjoy one of Janesville’s favorite holiday traditions.


                  Rock County Historical Society Legacies Museum - Janesville

                  Discover Legacies Museum 2.0: The Heartbeat of Janesville’s GM. Memorabilia from General Motors, JATCO, Fisher Body, and the UAW brings the community’s industrial story to life—from the Janesville Machine Company’s beginnings in 1919 through the plant’s closing in 2008–2009.


                  Milaeger's Garden Center - Racine

                  Enjoy time to browse a family-owned destination that grew from a tiny backyard hobby greenhouse into a collection of more than 90 greenhouses. Take in colorful displays, seasonal décor, and inspiring collections for the home and garden.



                  O&H Danish Bakery - Racine

                  Now in their fourth generation of family and bakers - the Olesen Family believes sharing in the good life with a taste of happiness.  Voted Racine's best Danish kringle! 




                  Christmas Carnival of Lights - Caledonia

                  End the day surrounded by holiday sparkle at a festive drive-through light show billed as one of the Midwest’s biggest, brightest, and most dazzling seasonal displays.



                  _________________________________________

                  Accessibility & Comfort

                  The Lincoln–Tallman House ground floor is accessible by lift; the basement and second floor are not fully accessible. The Carriage House, Stonehouse, Frances Willard Schoolhouse, and RCHS Visitor Center are fully accessible. Please share mobility or assistance needs when registering.

                  _________________________________________

                  Lunch Choices (Indicate your choice when registering):

                  • Burrata Berry Salad (Mixed greens, burrata cheese, balsamic glaze, strawberries, blueberries, red onions, fresh basil, raspberry vinaigrette) (V)
                  • Margherita Pizza (II Famoso ground tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, garlic, fresh basil, olive oil) (V)
                  • Supreme Pizza (II Famoso ground tomatoes pepperoni, Italian sausage, green peppers, onions, button mushrooms, whole milk mozzarella cheese)
                  • Chicken Pesto Sandwich with roasted potatoes (Pretzel bun, grilled chicken breast, basil pesto sauce, mozzarella cheese, lettuce, tomatoes)
                  • Bourbon Burger with roasted potatoes (Brioche bun, cheddar cheese, crispy onion strings, applewood smoked bacon, bourbon BBQ sauce)
                  • Wisconsin Fish Fry with roasted potatoes (Beer-battered cod, coleslaw, marble rye, tartar)

                  Dinner Choices (Indicate your choice when registering):

                  All wraps will come with chips.

                  • Grilled Chicken Wrap (Grilled chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar jack cheese, wrapped up with buttermilk ranch dressing)
                  • Club wrap – (sliced turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar jack cheese with buttermilk ranch dressing)
                  • Veggie Wrap (spinach tortilla with lettuce, tomatoes, grilled onions, green peppers, mushrooms, feta cheese & Italian dressing
                  • Steak Wrap (grilled steak with sauteed green peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and cheddar jack cheese)

                  _________________________________________

                  PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center  and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity.  You will be required to fill out the 2026 Verona Senior Center New Member  and Trip Waiver Form   (no charge).  You can fill out these forms in advance or on the day of the trip.  

                  Schedule:  (Return times are approximate)

                  TRAVELERS ARE REQUESTED TO ARRIVE 15 MINUTES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE

                  7:30 a.m.  Depart Verona Park & Ride

                  8:00 a.m.   Depart (East Madison) Dutch Mill Park & Ride (East Lot)

                  7:00 p.m.   Return (East Madison) Dutch Mill Park & Ride (East Lot)

                  7:30 p.m.   Return Verona Park & Ride

                  Departure Locations:


                  Verona Park & Ride - 2585 Old PB, Verona, WI


                  East Side (Dutch Mill Park & Ride (East Lot))

                  Map below for those boarding the bus on east side Dutch Mill Park & Ride. Please park in the "east" lot as indicated by the arrow. (east of Arby's)


                  Cost: $125 per person and includes bus transportation, driver tip, admission fees, meal, taxes, and gratuities.

                  Seating is limited, so register today!  Registrations must be received no later than noon on Monday, November 23, 2026.

                  Refund Policy:  PLATO refunds an event fee if cancelled prior to the registration deadline.  Refunds after the registration deadline are only processed if a wait-listed registrant can attend.  

                  PLATO Membership:  PLATO membership is $60.00/year and all memberships renew on July 1. 

                  For further information, contact PLATO trip coordinator, Bob Shaw,  robert.e.shaw@gmail.com , 608-255-3486.



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                • Winter Courses Begin

                  • January 04, 2027

                  Many Winter courses begin the week of January 4th. Most Winter courses will meet once a week for 4 - 6 weeks.  Be sure to check the course list to see the dates, times and lengths of individual courses.  

                  Nonmembers may attend the first two sessions of a course at no cost, but if they intend to continue with the course, they should join PLATO by paying the appropriate fee. Residents of host facilities are exempt from fees when participating in PLATO activities at their residence.


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                • Spring Course Registration Opens

                  • January 19, 2027

                   

                  PLATO Course registration generally begins on a Tuesday four weeks before the week in which most courses begin.  Registration generally ends after week 2 of the session.

                  The course schedule becomes public on the same day that registration opens.

                  Show details

                • Spring Courses Begin

                  • February 15, 2027

                    Many Spring courses begin the week of February 15th.  Most Spring courses will meet once a week for 10 weeks.  Be sure to check the course list to see the dates, times and lengths of individual courses.

                  Nonmembers may attend the first two sessions of a course at no cost, but if they intend to continue with the course, they should join PLATO by paying the appropriate fee. Residents of host facilities are exempt from fees when participating in PLATO activities at their residence. 


                  Show details

                • Summer Course Registration Opens

                  • May 11, 2027

                  PLATO Course registration generally begins on a Tuesday four weeks before the week in which most courses begin.   Registration generally ends after week 2 of the session.

                  The course schedule becomes public on the same day that registration opens.


                  Show details


                PLATO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supported in part by:



                info@platomadison.org

                Facebook: @platomadison

                608-572-6869

                6209 Mineral Point Road #203
                Madison, WI 53705








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