Dear friends, An OLLI member stopped by this summer to share with us an interview with filmmaker Ken Burns in Plough Quarterly. In “A Strange and Complicated People” Burns discusses his new documentary on the American Revolution and offers a compelling perspective on lifelong learning. He explains that the Founders understood the “pursuit of happiness” not as the acquisition of things, but as a lifelong pursuit of learning – one that helps us grow as individuals and fulfill our responsibilities as citizens.
As November brings Election Day, these ideas feel especially relevant. Lifelong learning encourages us to ask questions, challenge our assumptions, consider different perspectives, and engage thoughtfully with the world around us. At OLLI, we do this because curiosity enriches our lives and strengthens the communities we share.
That spirit of curiosity also means continuing to learn about ourselves as an OLLI community. This month, we have an important opportunity to do just that through a member survey conducted across OLLIs nationwide. The survey will help us better understand who our members are and what matters to them. Since our last survey two years ago, OLLI at CSU has grown tremendously, making your participation especially valuable.
Please take a few minutes and complete the 2026 OLLI member survey to help us better understand our membership as we look toward OLLI’s next chapter.
Warmly, Meredith
From blue jeans and teddy bears to fine porcelain and the automobile, some of the world's most iconic inventions have surprising German origins. Join historian Anette Isaacs for a fascinating journey through the lives of the innovators behind these creations, including Levi Strauss, Margarete Steiff, the pioneers of Meissen porcelain, and automobile trailblazer Bertha Benz. Discover how creativity, perseverance, and bold ideas helped shape fashion, childhood, luxury, and transportation as we know them today.
What if every walk outdoors could become part of a lifelong adventure? Inspired by the birding tradition of keeping a life list, this class explores how tracking the birds, butterflies, wildflowers, mammals, and other species you encounter can deepen your appreciation of nature. Join naturalist Kevin Cook to discover how life-listing sharpens observation skills, enriches outdoor experiences, and fosters a stronger connection to the natural world.
Sharpen Your Skills for Navigating OnlineInformation
Have you ever shared a story online only to discover later that it wasn't accurate? In this timely online course, learn how misinformation and disinformation spread across social media, email, and online communities, and why they can be so difficult to spot. You'll gain practical tools for evaluating online content, checking sources, and recognizing emotionally charged claims so you can navigate today's digital world with greater confidence. Please note: only the online section of this hybrid course is currently available.
From the Middle Ages to the modern concert hall, women have played vital roles in the world of classical music as composers, conductors, patrons, and artistic inspirations. Join former CSU music professor Leslie Stewart for an engaging exploration of the remarkable women whose contributions helped shape musical history around the world. Discover their stories, their influence, and the lasting impact they continue to have on classical music today.
Inside OLLI: Celebrating 20 Years of Lifelong Learning
Ever wonder what makes OLLI such a vibrant learning community? As OLLI at CSU celebrates its 20th anniversary, you are invited to join Director Meredith Naughton for an engaging behind-the-scenes look at OLLI's history, growth, and future. Learn how OLLI became part of a nationwide network of lifelong learning programs, how it serves more than 2,000 members each year, and how membership, philanthropy, and community support help sustain its mission for years to come.
GOOD NEWS: MORE SECTIONS ADDED
Because One Section Wasn't Enough - Don't Skip the Waitlist!
See a class that's full? Join the waitlist anyway! Think of it as casting a vote for another section. Waitlists help us identify high-demand courses and determine where additional sections are needed. In fact, 18 new sections were added this term, and most were filled by members who had already joined the waitlist.
The best part? Joining a waitlist is free. No payment is required, and there's no obligation to register if a seat opens or a new section is added. You'll simply receive priority access before registration opens to others. Below are several newly added sections with a few seats still available. Your next favorite class might be waiting for you!
For a full list of fall classes, visit our Online Catalog on our WEBSITE.
EVERY SEAT MATTERS: Important Details about Class Attendance
Making Room for Everyone: The Importance of Confirming Your Course Registration
OLLI classes are planned around the number of registered participants. Seating, materials, supplies, and facility arrangements are based on enrollment, and space is often limited. Recently, we have seen an increase in members attending classes for which they are not registered. When this happens, it creates challenges for instructors, staff, and fellow members. Most importantly, an unregistered attendee may occupy a seat that was reserved and paid for by another member or skip ahead of someone on the waiting list.
By taking a few moments to confirm your registration before attending class, you help ensure fair access and a positive learning experience for everyone.
How to Confirm Your Registration: There are several easy ways to verify that you are enrolled in a class:
Check your registration receipt.
Each time you register for a course, a confirmation receipt is emailed to you. This receipt includes the course title, dates, times, and location. We strongly encourage members to save these receipts in a dedicated email folder for future reference.
Review your account online.
Visit OLLI at Colorado State University and click the Log In button in the upper-right corner of the screen. After logging in with your username and password, look for the section titled My Current Courses. Every course in which you are currently enrolled should appear on this list.
Call the OLLI office. If you are uncertain about your registration status, contact the office at 970-491-7753 or email OLLI@colostate.edu. A staff member can verify your enrollments and resend copies of your registration receipts.
Look for the course reminder email.
Perhaps the easiest way to confirm your registration is to watch for the course reminder email sent the day before the first session of every class. If you do not receive that reminder, please contact the OLLI office before attending the class.
Check the Attendance Sheet. Before entering any classroom, please check that your name is on the attendance sheet.
If your name does not appear, do not assume you are registered. Instead, contact a staff member before taking a seat. Please only write your name at the bottom of the attendance sheet if you registered online in the past 24 hours. All members attending an OLLI class should be registered for that class and listed on the attendance sheet.
Attendance Is Not Transferable. Please remember that course registrations are not transferable. Friends, family members, or other guests may not attend in place of a registered member who is unable to attend.
Thank You for Your Cooperation. Our registration, waiting list, and attendance procedures help ensure that classes remain organized and fair to all participants. We appreciate your cooperation and your respect for fellow OLLI members, instructors, host sites, and OLLI staff.
✈️ LIFELONG LEARNING, GLOBAL EDITION
Take your learning beyond the classroom in 2027 and beyond. Explore unforgettable travel experiences designed exclusively for OLLI members.
October 2–8, 2027 | 6 nights
Road Scholar & OLLI Tour
Reference program #8864 7 spots remaining
FROM VISION TO COMMUNITY
THE PEOPLE BEHIND TWENTY YEARS OF LIFELONG LEARNING.
Honoring the leadership and dedication that nurtured lifelong learning at Colorado State University
Joannah Merriman, A legacy of insight and inquiry; guiding learners through stories on the page and screen.
Joannah Merriman
I was having coffee at The Cart coffee shop in the Sprouts Market, and said hello to Kevin Oltjenbruns and Jan Fritz, professors from the Human Development Department at CSU, who were sitting at a table near me, enjoying their brew. I hadn’t seen either of them for a while, but I had given some guest lectures in that department for many years . . . subject? Prepared Childbirth!
Kevin told me she was now co-director of a new CSU program called Osher Lifelong Learning Center (OLLI) and explained the general purpose of the fledgling effort. In conversation, she asked whether I might be interested in offering a reflective writing class. I had been teaching this type of workshop for fifteen years by that time, and I was happy to become part of this new program. For several semesters I offered one-day, four-week, six-week and eight-week workshops in this new program.
Then in 2009, I think, Kevin asked whether I might be interested in facilitating a cinema course, Cinema du Jour at the Lyric, a little art-house theater downtown. I said yes, and nearly 20 years later, I’m still here, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, for six weeks every semester, at the current Lyric Cinema with a total of sixty interesting and interested participants, viewing and discussing a wide variety of films from all over the world. It’s still a joy and hasn’t lost its wonder for me!
The "Joy and the Wonder" is still there for Joannah's faithful followers as well. Those words capture the spirit that Joannah has brought to OLLI from the very beginning. As one of our early instructors, she has inspired generations of learners through both writing and film, creating spaces where curiosity flourishes and thoughtful conversations thrive. A gifted facilitator with a deep love of learning, Joannah has a remarkable ability to guide discussions that are insightful, engaging, and welcoming to all. Her classes have earned a devoted following, not simply because of the films she shares, but because of the community of discovery she creates around them. Joannah's enthusiasm, intellect, and sense of wonder have enriched OLLI and left a lasting mark on countless members.
OLLI National Conference
Inspiration Across the OLLI Network
2026 OLLI National Conference
OLLI at CSU Director Meredith Naughton and Advisory Council Member Susan Jones
Susan Jones & Mr. Bernard Osher
OLLI Director Meredith Naughton and Advisory Council member Susan Jones recently represented OLLI at Colorado State University at the Osher Lifelong Learning national conference in Eagan, Minnesota, where two representatives from each OLLI across the country are invited to gather, collaborate, and share ideas.
There’s a saying, “To know one OLLI…is to know one OLLI.” Each program reflects the unique community and region it serves, but when those differences come together nationally, they become a tremendous source of inspiration. Having recently reached 2,000 members, OLLI at CSU is proud to be among the five largest OLLIs in the nation.
Perhaps the most inspiring presence at the conference was the founder of the Osher Foundation and over 120 OLLI’s nationwide, Mr. Bernard Osher. At 99 years old, he continues to exemplify the spirit at the heart of lifelong learning: curiosity, engagement, and the belief that growth never stops.
Class hosts play an important role in creating a welcoming and well-organized experience for members and instructors. We are currently looking for additional volunteers to serve as class hosts.
Getting started is easy. Training is brief, convenient, and designed to fit your schedule.
Reflecting on a remarkable legacy. Investing in an even brighter future.
For 20 years, OLLI has thrived because of the vision, generosity, and dedication of supporters, leaders, and outstanding instructors such as Veronica Patterson, Kevin Cook, and Joannah Merriman. Their contributions, along with those of countless members and volunteers, have helped create one of Northern Colorado's most vibrant lifelong learning communities.
As we celebrate this milestone anniversary, we also look ahead. Your support of the OLLI Building Fund helps ensure that future generations of lifelong learners will continue to enjoy exceptional classes, meaningful connections, and welcoming learning spaces.
Celebrate 20 years. Invest in what comes next. Your gift today helps sustain and strengthen OLLI for years to come. 🍂📚
This November, help brighten the holidays for children in our community by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to the OLLI office for our Toys for Tots collection. Please choose an age-appropriate gift and avoid realistic-looking weapons or gifts containing food. Together, we can help make the season a little brighter for local children and families.
Sesame3GMentoring
Spring 2027 Cohort: Early Childhood Center • 9 Sessions over 11 Weeks
Cultivate Connection Across Generations
Societies are becoming more age-diverse, but daily life remains age-segregated. Sesame 3G intentionally brings generations together, creating structured, joyful spaces where children, young adults, and older adults learn with and from one another.
Youth (Preschool/Kinder)
Individualized Attention: Young children learn best through warm, supportive attention from caring mentors.
Flexible Thinking: Exposure to age diversity helps children develop social understanding and reduces stereotypes.
Real Relationships: Social and emotional skills build through face-to-face interactions, not just screens.
Young Adults (15-25)
Purpose & Leadership: Adolescents benefit from meaningful roles that build confidence, purpose, and responsibility.
Learning by Teaching: Explaining concepts to younger children deepens understanding and strengthens memory.
Mentorship: Positive relationships with older adults outside the family support healthy development and emotion regulation.
Older Adults (55 +)
Healthier Aging: Social engagement is linked to physical health, cognitive functioning, and longevity.
Share Your Wisdom: Bring valuable life experience, patience, and emotional wisdom to enrich the entire triad.
Meaningful Contact: Create structured,joyful opportunities to spend time with young children and teens.
Program Logistics
Location: Early Childhood Center (ECC)
Timeline: Starting late January 2027. The program runs for 11 weeks total (9 active sessions), observing breaks the weeks of March 8 and 15. Programs have historically run Thursday or Friday morning, around 11am to Noon.
Scan to fill out Interest Form for Spring 2027
DRAKE HALL DETAILS
Thank you for staying home when you’re not feeling well. At OLLI, we love sharing knowledge, ideas, connections, and just about everything else, except germs! We appreciate your thoughtfulness in helping keep our OLLI community healthy.
Let’s put names to faces! When you fill out your name tent, please write your name on BOTH sides. That way, your instructor can learn your name, and so can the classmates sitting beside and behind you. It’s a small step that helps make our classrooms a little more connected.
Ready to register? Have your credit card ready, too! When you call to register for a class, please have your credit card handy. For your security, our registration system does not store credit card information, so we’ll need the card details each time you register. A card at the ready helps us get you registered and on your way!
