PLATO upcoming events

Centennial Revisited: An Oral History of the Epic TV Miniseries (October 28, 2026)

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

12pm - 1:00pm

Online via Zoom

Registration is required

Members can register a guest

Centennial is a 12-episode American television miniseries that aired on NBC for two years beginning in 1978. The miniseries follows the fictional history of Centennial, Colorado from 1795 to the 1970s and is based on the 1974 novel by James Michener.

Perry Hibner, a retired Wisconsin journalist, communications director, and teacher, wrote his first book, Centennial Revisited: An Oral History of the Epic TV Miniseries, which was released in March 2026 by Dorrance Publishing. He will share why he decided to write a book, why he selected the topic he did, and share stories he heard from many of those included in his book. He will also explain why he went with the oral history format and more about the writing and publishing process.

Hibner’s book contains more than 75 interviews with cast, crew, extras, locals, experts, and fans. Among those interviewed were Gregory Harrison (Levi Zendt), Barbara Carrera (Clay Basket), Cristina Raines (Lucinda McKeag Zendt), Cliff DeYoung (John Skimmerhorn), William Atherton (Jim Lloyd), Stephen McHattie (Jake Pasquinel), Kario Salem (Mike Pasquinel), Mark Harmon (Captain John McIntosh), and John Wilder, who adapted the James A. Michener best-selling novel for television and was the main producer. The book also includes excerpts from more than sixty primary sources.

The hardcover, paperback and e-book are available on the Dorrance Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites along with select bookstores.

Perry Hibner worked for 25 years at the Wisconsin State Journal as a sports reporter, sports copy editor, designer and as assistant sports editor for his last 15 years. He also worked for a decade as the communications director for the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District. He worked as a social studies and journalism teacher at Green Lake High School in Wisconsin and continues to fill in as a substitute teacher in retirement. He also served as the lead survey strategist for The Donovan Group, helping Midwest school districts engage their staff, students, families and communities.

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, Stephanie Steigerwaldt at info@platomadison.org

Epic's Learning Campus Tour (October 31, 2026)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Epic's Learning Campus Tour

Saturday, October 31, 2026

11:00 am - 12:30 pm

Because of limited slots, this is a Member Only event

Registration begins Tuesday, October 6 at 10:30 am

Epic, the health software company in Verona, has a unique corporate headquarters. Divided into separate campuses with differently themed buildings, Epic aims to create an environment that is comfortable, sparks creativity, has variety, and results in productivity.

Following up on our earlier Epic tours, this time we will be taking a tour of the Learning Campus. The tour will be led by PLATO members Barb Drake and Bob Shaw using Epic's self-guided handout.

Even though the Learning Center is designed for training and meetings, it isn't a conventional corporate training center. You'll encounter elaborate architecture, artwork, unusual furnishings, themed gathering spaces and outdoor landscaping. Epic deliberately uses distinctive themes and designs to make the campus more interesting and to help employees navigate the large complex.

The Learning Campus is primarily centered around space, astronomy, and sci-fi themes. Major landmarks located within this subsection include:

Voyager Hall: The central learning hub optimized for training and large-scale healthcare conferences. It houses the whimsical, historical carousel salvaged from the former Ella’s Deli in Madison.
Classroom & Observatory: Heavily themed academic spaces that blend high-tech educational facilities with cosmic decor.
Sci-Fi & Mystery: Buildings featuring hyper-creative interior design paying homage to science fiction lore, retro-futurism, and classic whodunit mysteries.
Deep Space Auditorium: A massive, underground auditorium hidden right next to the Learning Campus that seats thousands of people.

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Self-Guided Tours: If you are unable to join our tour or are comfortable touring Epic yourself, you can sign up for a tour at https://www.epic.com/visiting/. Note that reservations are required and slots fill up rapidly. Slots open up 30 days in advance.

Registration: There is no registration fee and there is a limit of 12 for the tour.

Parking and Meeting Instructions: Take Highway 18 to Verona and exit right on Epic Lane (Exit 76). Cross Verona Avenue and continue on Epic Lane. After a short distance Epic Lane will intersect with Northern Lights Road. At that intersection you will see a sign pointing to the left that says: "Epic Visitors, Epic Lane, Deliveries". DO NOT TAKE THAT LEFT ON EPIC LANE. Instead continue straight on Northern Lights Road. After a half-mile turn left at the sign that says "Staff Park A". You will see a parking lot with solar panels on top. Park in the visitor's parking lot (Zodiac lot).

At the northwest part of the parking lot you will see a small Humpty Dumpty sculpture. Walk up the stairs by the sculpture and follow the signs that say Visitor's Center. We will be meeting near the visitor's desk in the Andromeda building.

You can also view a map by typing in "Epic Visitor Parking Verona" in Google Maps.

Length, Accessibility, and Pace of Walk: We will be walking almost constantly for the 90 minutes at a leisurely pace for a total of almost four miles. There are a number of stairs on the tour but there are elevators if you would prefer that over the stairs. The tour will be entirely inside the buildings.

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

For Further Information contact Epic tour leaders, Barb Drake, barbaradrake21@gmail.com, 608-535-2737 or Bob Shaw, robert.e.shaw@gmail.com , 608-255-3486

Noon Zoom - Analyzing the Election Results with Professor Barry Burden (November 05, 2026)

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Thursday, November 5, 2026

12pm - 1:00pm

Online via Zoom

Registration is required

Members can register a guest

The Director of UW-Madison’s Elections Research Center Barry Burden will join retired WPR talk show host Joy Cardin for a post-election Noon Zoom on Thursday, November 5 from 12:00pm to 1:00pm to discuss the results of the key races and issues on the ballot and what the outcomes could mean for Wisconsin and the nation.

Who will be Wisconsin’s next Governor? Will the balance of power shift in the State Legislature and Congress? What public policies could change as a result? We’ll examine who we voted for and why and what happens next on the November 5th Noon Zoom. Questions and views from attendees will be welcomed.

Noon Zooms are a new PLATO Madison offering available to members. 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.

Barry C. Burden is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also Director of the Elections Research Center and is the Lyons Family Chair in Electoral Politics.

His research and teaching are based in American politics, with an emphasis on electoral politics and representation. He is co-editor of The Measure of American Elections, author of Personal Roots of Representation, and co-author of Why Americans Split Their Tickets: Campaigns, Competition, and Divided Government. Burden has also published articles in the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Science Quarterly, and Electoral Studies.

Burden is affiliated with the La Follette School of Public Affairs, the Center for Demography of Health and Aging, the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership, and the Election Administration Project.

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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For another election related recap - see

1st Friday Breakfast on the West Side (November 06, 2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 15:30:00 GMT

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.

Fearless Science Tour (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Fearless Science Tour

Tuesday, November 10 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM

Free to PLATO Members and Guests

Registration is Required

Because our August Fearless Science Tour filled up within hours when registration opened, we are scheduling another one on November 10.

Registration opens Tuesday, October 13

Join us for a Fearless Science Tour at the Morgridge Institute for Research – a private, nonprofit research institute dedicated to interdisciplinary biomedical research in partnership with the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

This 2-hour tour is designed to introduce individuals and groups to the curiosity-driven research and STEM education/engagement work accomplished at the Morgridge Institute.

Fearless Science Tour Timeline

Introduction Presentation (30 min)
- Overview & History of the Morgridge Institute
Scientist Visit 1 (30 min)
- Scientist visits are typically a combination of a short presentation, opportunity for questions, and perhaps a quick look inside the lab
Scientist Visit 2 (30 min)
Principal Investigator (PI) Presentation (30 min)
- Values of Curiosity-Driven Research
- Their perspective on the value of Morgridge as an institute/why they choose to work here
- Q&A as time allows

Logistics: The PLATO tour of the Morgridge Institute on Tuesday, November 10 will be held from 10 am - 12 pm, beginning and ending in the Researcher's Link Room on the 2^nd floor of the Discovery Building. On the attached map, the elevator is highlighted (next to the Welcome Desk). The closest building entrance to the space is Door E, at the corner of Orchard St. & University Ave, though it’s accessible no matter which entrance to the Discovery Building you use. Card access is required to use the elevator and there will be a staff member stationed at the elevators to welcome us and scan us up to the 2nd floor.

Note that the Morgridge Institute in the Discovery Building is in a different building than Morgridge Hall, the new computer, data, and information sciences building. They are in adjacent buidings; the Discovery building is at 330 N. Orchard street and Morgridge Hall is at 1205 University Avenue.

Transportation/Parking:

The Discovery Building at 330 N. Orchard is located near several city of Madison Metro Transit bus stops and UW-Madison bicycle routes.

Although onsite parking is not available, three UW-managed lots (17, 20 and 80) are nearby. Due to construction around the engineering campus and Randall Ave., Lot 17 is only accessible coming from the north (University Ave. & Johnson St.) and has a different, less direct (but clearly marked!) walking route to the Discovery Building. However, it seems that Lot 17 usually has more open parking spaces than the other two nearby options. Each of the links for the three UW-managed lots (17, 20 and 80), has a real-time update of the number of open spaces to help plan your route as you’re headed to campus.

Questions? - Contact tour organizer Bob Shaw at robert.e.shaw@gmail.com or 608-255-3486

Lecture – Camp Randall: From the Civil War to “On Wisconsin!” (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 19:30:00 GMT

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.

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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

2nd Friday Coffee at ZuZu Cafe (November 13, 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 15:30:00 GMT

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)

Lecture – My Father’s World War II (November 19, 2026)

Thu, 19 Nov 2026 19:30:00 GMT

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!

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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

Noon Zoom - The Data Center Debate in Wisconsin (December 01, 2026)

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 18:00:00 GMT

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

1st Friday Breakfast on the West Side (December 04, 2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 15:30:00 GMT

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.

Lecture – Old Farm Country Christmas (December 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 19:30:00 GMT

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.

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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

2nd Friday Coffee at ZuZu Cafe (December 11, 2026)

Fri, 11 Dec 2026 15:30:00 GMT

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)