SPRING 2021 Course Brochure
First Class for New Members $55 OLLI is open to anyone 50+ — there is no better time to join us!
Table of Contents Course Calendar 2 Spring Session Courses, Discussion Groups, and Workshops 4 Spring 2021 Registration: FAQ 8 Registration Information 9 Contact Us: Phone: 415-458-3763 Email: olli@dominican.edu Website: dominican.edu/olli
OLLI Staff Katherine Henderson Director
O
Calum MacKechnie Associate Director
Michelle van Kriedt Assistant Director
sher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dominican University of California is an academic program founded in 2004 and supported by a generous endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation, the resources of the University, and member donations and tuition.
There are three categories of membership in OLLI: Basic Members who take between one and five courses spread throughout the year, Session Members who take up to four courses in any one session and Premium Members who take UNLIMITED courses in the fall, winter, and spring sessions. Scholarships are available for members who qualify.
OLLI Honor Roll JULY 1, 2019 – JUNE 30, 2020 We are very grateful to the many loyal members of OLLI who made financial contributions during the fiscal year July 2019-June 2020. $5,000 AND ABOVE Anonymous Lorraine Barry $1,000 AND ABOVE Anonymous Joanne Bjork Howard Brownstein Elizabeth Burd Beverly Cantello David Lilien Robert Shores Cheryl Sorokin Steven Stein Marilyn Swieconek Barbara Ward
$250 AND ABOVE Caroline Buckles Lucinda Callaway Robert Dowling Ronald Elkin Abe Froman Trish Hibben Gloria Horns Valerie Lels Gwyneth Lister Susan Malone
$100 AND ABOVE Janice AndersonGram Vicki Bandel Joan Barr Joan Bergsund Pamela Bousquet Dewitt Bowman Martin Brownstein Ellen Buchen Marian Buckhart Wayne Bulette Janice Contini David & Rosalind Bloom Philanthropic Fund Barbara Denson Etty Dolin Vernon Dwelly Kathleen Eckert Nancy Ellenbogen Gabriel Farkas Arthur Fenn Betsy Frey Andrea Gale Donald German Marjorie Goodman Ellen Hall William Henley Jane Hills Janice Hitchcock William Hoehler Leonard Hoffman Pat Hollowell Teri Hollowell Mary Holton Henry Hopkins
James Jacobsen Anne Johnston William Kleinecke Barry Krantz Edward Kujawa Janice Leach Jeanne Lese David Levinson Wayne Loucks Theani Louskos Stephanie Lovette Gordon Manashil Janet McAllister Elaine McKenna Julie Monson Mary Jean Moore Joseph Ostrow Alan Pabst Caroline Perrino Purple Lady/ Barbara J. Meislin Fund David Rosen Glenda Ross Barbara Russell Rona Schmidt Betty Schrohe John Schrumpf Cathy Schuster Donald Smith Louis Spiesberger John Swieconek Marsha Torkelson Shirley Trimble Lorraine Voskanian Martin Zankel UP TO $99 Frances Abel Lee Battat Susan Beltran Shirley Bernson Ethan Browning Ernest Bryant Diane Burnham Elaine Casey Gail Cassee
Mary Jane Chetelat Barbara Clifford Christina Decker Barbara DeVault Eugene Fitzpatrick Linda Gore Mary Graham RobertHall Virginia Hanna Hugo Hanson Karen Hemmeter Louise Jacobsen Geraldine Jordan Barbara Leopold Myra Levenson Christopher Longaker Bettie Mansen Marilyn McKenna Veronica McKenna Paula McNally Kathleen Merrifield Sondra Napell Diane Neuhaus Scott Noble Patricia O’Brien Barbara Olson Stuart Pellman John Pfautz Alice Pollard Paul Prusiner Joan Raab Donald Reinberg John Robinson Judith Rodich Ruth Rosen Ellen Salomon Jill Sampson Scott Sanford Jules Schechner Richard Schoenbrun Kathleen Sheehan Helen Sitchler Molly Sterling Lura Thorp Timothy Warden Sharon Young
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For more information, call 415-458-3763 or email olli@dominican.edu |
$500 AND ABOVE Anne-Marie Caple Patricia Ernsberger Linda Gomez Katherine Henderson Arnold Kahn Henri Lese Diane Lynch Dorothy Nirenstein Barbara Romain Carol Rothman Gretchen Saeger Jeffrey Skinner David Stern Francoise Stone John Sutro
Nancy Mattson Sandra Ogden Joyce Pavlovsky Carma Rose Nancy SangsterDeHaan Douglas Sheft Therese Stawowy Julia Strauss
Spring Session 2021
OLLI Spring Session | March 22 - May 21 MONDAYS
Course
Instructor
Morning Session 10 – 11:40 a.m. (eight weeks) March 22 - May 10
Before the Storm: America from 1815-1850
Mick Chantler, MA
Afternoon Session 2 – 3:40 p.m. (eight weeks) March 22 - May 10
The Use and Misuse of Michael Baker, MD, FACS the American Military
Discussion Group 4 – 5:30 p.m. (four meetings) March 29, April 12, April 26, May 10
Short Novel Discussion Group
| www.dominican.edu/olli
TUESDAYS
Course
Katherine Henderson, PhD
Instructor
Morning Session 10 – 11:40 a.m. (eight weeks) March 23 - May 11
Masterworks: Uncovering Hidden Meaning within Great Paintings
Bruce Elliott, PhD
Afternoon Session 2 – 3:40 p.m. (eight weeks) March 23 - May 11
Exploring Opera: The Divas
James Sokol, MBA
Discussion Group 4 – 5:30 p.m. (eight weeks) March 23 - May 11
The Economist Discussion Group
Michael Bremer and Robert Garb
WEDNESDAYS
Course
Instructor
Morning Session 10 – 11:40 a.m. (eight weeks) March 24 - May 19 No class Mar. 31, Cesar Chavez Day
Great Voices
Pete Elman
Afternoon Session 2 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. (eight weeks) March 24 - May 19 No class Mar. 31, Cesar Chavez Day
Mainstreams of Modern Art
Wood Lockhart, PhD
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Spring Session 2021
THURSDAYS
Course
Instructor
Courtroom Drama in the Movies and Theatre, Part XI
Oak Dowling, JD
Morning Session 10 – 11:40 a.m. (four weeks) April 29 - May 20
Resistance in the Third Reich: 1932-1945
Jean Bowler, MA
Afternoon Session 2 – 3:40 p.m. (eight weeks) March 25- May 13
Politics, Law, Order, Justice
Darren Zook PhD
Discussion Group 4 – 5:30 p.m. (eight weeks) March 25 - May 13
The Socratic Circus Discussion Group
Mitch Grunat
FRIDAYS
Course
Instructor
Morning Session 10 – 11:40 a.m. (eight weeks) March 26 - May 21 No class April 2, Good Friday
Poetry Workshop: Nature, Poetry and the Language of the Spirit
Diane Frank, MA
Afternoon Session 2 – 3:40 p.m. (eight weeks) March 26 - May 21 No class April 2, Good Friday
Exploring the Golden State: A Reader’s Journey Through California History
Chris O'Sullivan, PhD
In the event of cancellations for reasons beyond our control, every effort will be made to offer make-up or substitute classes or courses. Course credit will be awarded to anyone who cannot attend the make-up or substitute classes.
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For more information, call 415-458-3763 or email olli@dominican.edu |
Morning Session 10 – 11:40 a.m. (four weeks) April 1 - April 22
Spring Session 2021
MONDAYS Before the Storm: America from 1815-1850, Mick Chantler, MA March 22 – May 10 (8 weeks) | 10 – 11:40 a.m. America experienced more changes in these 35 years than earlier societies did in two or three centuries. Great cities sprang up in the East, vast new farmlands in the West were opened to provide opportunities for millions of enterprising pioneers, and common, ordinary folk came to see “the good life” as theirs for the taking. In this lecture course we will trace the impact of the key players in this dizzying drama.
The Use and Misuse of the American Military, Michael Baker, MD, FACS March 22 – May 10 (8 weeks) | 2 – 3:40 p.m. The United States military has been used and at times misused during the past 75 years as a foreign policy cudgel in an uneven and sometimes inexplicable fashion, making the US appear imperialistic, arrogant, hypocritical and erratic. The world’s most powerful military has not won a war in 75 years. We will look at case studies of American military aggressions which have eroded the image and reputation of America around the world and ended the role of the US as a staunch defender of freedom, the rule of law, and democracy.
Short Novel Book Club, Moderator: Katherine Henderson, PhD March 29, April 12, April 26, May 10 (4 meetings) | 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Meeting every two weeks, the group will select six to eight short novels from the best classic and contemporary American and British fiction to discuss over the course of the session. *Note: Limited to 25 participants.
TUESDAYS Masterworks: Uncovering Hidden Meaning Within Great Paintings, Bruce Elliott, PhD | www.dominican.edu/olli
March 23 – May 11 (8 weeks) | 10 – 11:40 a.m. Art has never been created for “The Ages”. Paintings we think of as timeless masterpieces were created for viewers from the artist’s own era; consequently, much of the embedded meaning is often lost on today’s audiences. This course will provide cultural context for classic paintings and put modern viewers in the mindset of each artist’s contemporary audience. Course sessions will be structured around three elemental themes that have inspired some of the most magnificent, yet most enigmatic, artistic masterpieces: Art of Creation, Art of Transformation, and Art of Mythology.
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Spring Session 2021 Exploring Opera: The Divas, James Sokol, MBA March 23 – May 11 (8 weeks) | 2 – 3:40 p.m. The concept “Diva” strikes excitement in some and fear in others. Regardless, an opera diva usually has an exceptional voice. Discover some of these great ladies, learn about their backgrounds and experience their brilliance through performance videos. Hear the variations among the female vocal ranges – soprano, mezzo, contralto. Don’t miss this series, terrific for opera newcomers and long-time fans!
The Economist Discussion Group, Michael Bremer, Robert Garb March 23 – May 11 (8 weeks) | 4 – 5:30 p.m. The Economist magazine provides unbiased reporting and thought-provoking articles on global political and economic developments. Each week we will review 6-9 articles selected from the current week’s issue. Class participants are expected to volunteer to lead a discussion on at least one article. Participants must subscribe or have access to current editions of The Economist (on-line or paper copies, also available at most libraries) and be familiar with using Zoom. Information on subscriptions, student rates and special rates is available at 1-800-456-6086 or economistsubscriptions.com.
*Note: Limited to 25 participants. A tutorial will be held for new participants on appropriate equipment for Zoom and Zoom etiquette prior to their first session.
WEDNESDAYS Great Voices, Pete Elman March 24 – May 19 (8 weeks – no class Cesar Chavez Day, Mar. 31) | 10 – 11:40 a.m. Throughout the long arc of popular music, the great singer elevates the great song to another dimension. This course will explore the lives and careers of eight iconic Rock and R&B singers from the period 1955-75. We will take a cultural and musical journey through the amazing lives and work of these artists through several media: lectures, recorded music, film clips and live music. The instructor will play piano, guitar and sing, and will choose appropriate examples from each genre to perform in class.
Mainstreams of Modern Art, Wood Lockhart, PhD March 24 – May 19 (8 weeks – no class Cesar Chavez Day, Mar. 31) | 2 – 3:40 p.m. The foundation of modern art lies in the work of the late nineteenth century Impressionist and Post Impressionist painters. This course will trace the development of modern art from the French Impressionism of Edward Manet and Claude Monet in the 1870’s to the American Abstract Expressionism of Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning in the 1950’s. Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism, Dada and Surrealism will also be discussed as reflective of twentieth century ideas and values.
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Spring Session 2021
THURSDAYS Courtroom Drama in the Movies and Theatre, Part XI, Oak Dowling, JD April 1 – 22 (4 weeks) | 10 – 11:40 a.m. Whether you’ve taken a past Courtroom Dramas course or are new, we welcome you to learn about the following topics: • Socialists on Trial (two classes): 1) Eugene V. Debs; 2) Paul Robeson • Fictional legal drama, Michael Clayton, starring George Clooney • Nixon and Watergate: “All the President’s Men”
There will be an extended Q&A at the end of each class. The course will include video clips, slides, and discussion.
Resistance in the Third Reich: 1932-1945, Jean Bowler, MA April 29 – May 20 (4 weeks) | 10 – 11:40 a.m. “There are times, it is true, when madness reigns. And days when the best heads hang,” Albrecht Haushofer – April 1945
From numerous plots, to social disruption, to diplomatic efforts, and more than 40 assassination attempts, an extensive list of patriotic Germans from all walks of life risked everything to attempt to stop Adolf Hitler and the Nazi leadership.
Politics, Law, Order, Justice, Darren Zook, PhD March 25-May 13 (8 weeks) | 10 – 11:40 a.m. No political system exists without law, and no legal system exists without order and justice, but how exactly do these different elements relate to one another? Why, for example, do we say “law and order,” but not “politics and order”? Drawing on national as well as international examples, this course will explore issues such as reparations and defunding the police as well as broader ideas such as the rule of law to answer the question of why we have so much politics and law and yet so little order and justice.
| www.dominican.edu/olli
The Socratic Circus Discussion Group, Mitch Grunat March 25-May 13 (8 weeks) | 4 – 5:30 p.m. At the Socratic Circus you’ll find intelligent and thoughtful discussion on myriad topics. The goal is not to change anyone’s mind, but to engage in meaningful conversations. Everyone gets to participate, so enroll and join us for the fastest 90 minutes you will experience. Prerequisites: Must have opinions and be willing to share, listen, and maintain civility at all times.
*Note: Limited to 25 participants. The instructor will provide Zoom assistance upon request.
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Spring Session 2021
FRIDAYS Poetry Workshop: Nature, Poetry and the Language of the Spirit, Diane Frank, MA March 26 – May 21 (8 weeks – no class Good Friday, April 2) | 10 – 11:40 a.m. Poetry is the language of the soul. It’s a powerful technique to access your inner wisdom and express it with power and beauty. In this workshop we will explore how to go beyond description with poems inspired by the natural world; wildness, meditative silence, leaping and light; how to write a poem that is larger than you are; and writing techniques to make your language sing. All writers are welcome – from raw beginners to seasoned poets who need a jump start for their inspiration. Diane Frank’s teaching style is joyful, loving, and intuitive.
Exploring the Golden State: A Reader’s Journey Through California History, Chris O’Sullivan, PhD March 26 – May 21 (8 weeks – no class Good Friday, April 2) | 2 – 3:40 p.m. Outsiders are often astonished to discover that California has such a rich literary history. What is so distinctive about California authors and how did they differ from their contemporaries elsewhere? This course will explore the dramatic adventures of Gold Rush-era storytellers including Dame Shirley, Bret Harte and Mark Twain; progressive-era bards such as Frank Norris, Ambrose Bierce and Jack London; depression-era novelists such as Dashiell Hammett and John Steinbeck; and a sampling of the Beats, as well as California’s distinguished non-fiction authors.
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Spring Session 2021
OLLI Registration: Frequently Asked Questions When does registration begin?
Are discounts offered on courses?
Spring registration opens Monday, March 1, for Premium Members and Monday, March 8 for Basic and Session Members.
Yes. Individuals who have never taken a Dominican OLLI course are eligible for a NEW TO OLLI discount. Also, Dominican University faculty, staff, and alumni are eligible for discounts. Please note: discounts are not extended to family members. Discounts must be applied by office personnel. Contact the office for assistance.
How do I register? Visit dominican.edu/olli and click the Register Online button on our website.
REGISTER ONLINE
May I register by phone? If you are having trouble registering online, we can help. Contact our office for assistance: email olli@dominican.edu or call 415-458-3763.
How do I know my enrollment is confirmed? You will receive your confirmation via email.
What is the OLLI refund policy? Members are eligible for a refund of all fees minus an administrative fee of $25, if a written request is received via email, at least one week before the first class of the session.
Are the OLLI offices open on the Dominican campus? As of the time of this printing, the OLLI oncampus offices are not open. The OLLI team is fully operational from home offices per public health guidelines. If you require assistance, contact our office.
If two of us live in the same household, are we obliged to register and pay as individual OLLI members? On this issue we would like to appeal to your sense of honesty. The pandemic has reduced enrollments, and OLLI’s ability to function depends on member tuition. If you are able to register and pay as individuals, we ask you to do so.
What is the OLLI guest policy? Guests are welcome — the more, the merrier! You may invite a friend, or friends, to visit a course once; however, guests must register for the course in order to continue beyond a first visit.
| www.dominican.edu/olli
Does OLLI offer scholarships? Yes. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship, please send an email with the subject line SCHOLARSHIP. Include your contact information and most recent tax statement (the page with the taxable income). We recommend that you send your request before March 15. If you are selected for a scholarship, you pay only the administrative fee of $25 each session and may attend two courses per session.
Contact Info: 415-458-3763 | olli@dominican.edu | dominican.edu/olli 8
OLLI Registration Information Registration for the Spring 2021 session is online in accordance with public health guidelines. Register online at dominican.edu/olli. If you require assistance, simply call our office at 415-458-3763 or send an email to olli@dominican.edu. Registration opens March 1 for Premium Members and March 8 for Basic and Session Members COURSE: (C8=8 weeks, etc.), Discussion Group (DG), WORKSHOP: (W8=8 weeks) MONDAYS
TUESDAYS
WEDNESDAYS
Before the Storm: America from 1815-1850 C8 The Use and Misuse of the American Military C8
Masterworks: Uncovering Hidden Meaning within Great Paintings C8
Great Voices C8
Short Novel Discussion Group DG4
The Economist Discussion Group DG8
THURSDAYS
FRIDAYS
Courtroom Drama, Part XI C4
Poetry Workshop: Nature, Poetry and the Language of the Spirit W8
Resistance in the Reich: 1932-1945 C4 Politics, Law, Order, Justice C8 The Socratic Circus DG8
Mainstreams of Modern Art C8
Exploring Opera: The Divas C8
Exploring the Golden State: A Reader’s Journey Through California History C8
In the event of classes or courses canceled for reasons beyond our control, every effort will be made to offer make-up or substitute classes or courses. Course credit will be awarded to anyone who cannot attend the make-up or substitute classes.
MEMBERSHIP (ONE PER PERSON)
COST
*NEW TO OLLI DISCOUNT
Session Membership Spring 2021
$350
Deduct $50 from the fee
Basic Membership Spring 2021
$25
Not applicable
COURSE AND DISCUSSION GROUP FEES: To calculate the Grand Total add the Membership Fee + Course/Discussion Group Fees. TYPE
PREMIUM
SESSION
BASIC
*NEW TO OLLI TUITION
8 Week course (C8)
$0
$0
$165 each
$55
4 week course (C4)
$0
$0
$85
$55
Discussion Group (DG4)
$0 each
$0 each
$30 each
$30
Discussion Group (DG8)
$0
$0
$50 each
$50
Workshop (W8)
$30
$30
$200
$200
*In order to receive the NEW TO OLLI TUITION, prospective members must contact the OLLI office. Note: status is verified by records of past OLLI participation.
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For more information, call 415-458-3763 or email olli@dominican.edu |
MEMBERSHIP TYPE AND FEES:
This is an excellent opportunity to learn about Dominican OLLI spring programming. Anyone can join the Open House, including non-members. Event details will be posted to the OLLI website closer to the date and shared with our digital newsletter subscribers.
Join OLLI via Zoom to meet the OLLI Dominican Faculty and learn about the exciting array of spring courses. Leaders of our discussion groups will also share information.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 10 to 11:30 a.m., online
Spring 2021 Meet the Faculty Open House
Mark Your Calendars:
dominican.edu/olli
OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE 50 ACACIA AVENUE SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA 94901