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New to OLLI at USM? Check us out at www.usm..edu/olli January 2013

Profile Important OLLI Barbara Bardack Winter Term Dates  Winter classes begin on Enthusiasm is the right word Tuesday, Jan. 8. for Barbara Bardack  Spring catalogs will be mailed and on-line by the Barbara Bardack’s lifelong love for acting has inspired middle of January. an enthusiasm that has enlivened her career as a teacher,  Spring class lottery will be a gardener, and now as the coordinator of OLLI Night held Feb. 6. Out. A Brooklyn native, she earned “Those years ranged from an associate’s degree in adver- teaching poor Appalachian tising from the University of students around Newport, New York at Farmingdale on Kentucky, to working in Cin- Long Island. She then went into cinnati’s inner city public the advertising business on schools, where I could witness Madison Avenue. She later be- firsthand the drug culture came a television makeup artist around the housing projects. I WEATHER CLOSINGS and worked on the inaugural likewise taught in Catholic If USM is closed, OLLI is broadcast on WNDT Channel schools and a private school, also closed, and THERE 13 (now WNET) starring Ed- where I was more of a social WILL BE NO CLASSES. For ward R. Murrow. director.” During those years the most current information she earned a master’s degree call the USM Storm Line at Following her marriage, she in reading from Xavier Uni- moved to Philadelphia, where 780-4800 for a recorded versity, where she taught in message. she continued in advertising the graduate school. and insurance as a promotional writer and designer. Then it was “All the time I was using my a move to Cincinnati, where she love for acting — that started decided to go back to college. in high school — to inspire With a degree in reading from the students to become in- Northern Kentucky University, volved in reading.” she was launched on a 30-year career as a reading specialist. Continued on page 6

In this issue: Notes from Susan—OLLI Movers and Shakers— One Book/One Community—Did It!—OLLI Night Out— Passages—Walking Club—World Affairs Council Sponsorship

January 2013 Page 2

NOTES FROM SUSAN

Happy New Year! I’ve decided that this year, instead of making any sort of resolutions, which I would probably break by February, I’m going to celebrate being another year older. With age comes wisdom, or at least some life lessons worth paying attention to. It’s never too late to learn something new. Step out of your comfort zone. Try something you’re not proficient at just for the fun of it. Nobody cares if you fail, except you. Get over it and have fun! Be flexible and resilient. Life will always throw you curve balls. Choose your battles carefully. Be sure taking a stand is worth the frustration and energy needed to see it through. Avoid toxic people, and if you must deal with them, keep your contact at a minimum. They drain your energy. There are so many positive, energy-giving people just waiting to meet you. It’s never too late to make new friends, and friends and family are our most valuable asset. And if there’s something that you’ve always wanted to do…what are you waiting for? Travel? Move? Write a book? Get a tattoo? Use the good china? It’s time to start checking off your Bucket List. The clock is ticking, and there’s so much living to do! Wishing you a happy and contented 2013. —Susan Morrow, Assistant Director for Program OLLI Movers and Shakers: Kali Lightfoot When Kali Lightfoot took the reins as director of the Senior College at USM in October 2000, she brought with her 21 years of experience in Elderhostel program management. A native of Michigan, Kali has a B.A. from Western Michigan University and an M.S. in Physical Education and Outdoor Education from the University of Washington. Her early career included teaching and coaching positions in Washington and Michigan. But un- doubtedly her most interesting experience was as a wilderness ranger for the U.S. Forest Service in the Mt. Adams Wilderness Area in Washington State. For three seasons she walked the mountain terrain for five and sometimes ten days at a time, generally keeping an eye on any human activity that might endanger the pristine nature of the wilderness. In January 1979, Kali was hired as New England Regional Director of Elderhostel. In seven years the region grew from 27 summer-only Elderhostel sites to 115 sites offering programs year-round for 14,000 participants. She moved on to other jobs either within, or somehow associated with, Elderhos- tel. Her favorite job was Director of Elder Programs for World Learning, where she worked with Ex- periment in International Living sites offering Elderhostel programs in a number of foreign countries. In 2000 she was selected as half-time director of Senior College at USM. The other half was to be spent developing other senior colleges in Maine. In 2001, USM’s Senior College became the first Osher Lifelong Learning Institute because of a generous endowment from the Osher family. The OLLI name was adopted by the Senior College Board at the time, chaired by Wally Nutting. In 2004, the Osher Foundation chose USM to house the National Resource Center (NRC) for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes with Kali as its first Executive Director. Continued on page 3 January 2013 Page 3

ADVISORY BOARD OLLI Advisory Board Dick Sturgeon, Chairman Pat Muzzy, Vice Chair The winter season is upon us — I hope you all are well pre- Joy Larrabee, Secretary pared for it! Some may be hoping for an open winter similar to Joan Aldrich, Education Chair last year’s, and others who don’t mind the white stuff may be Tim Baehr, Communications Chair hoping for snow. In either case, I want to thank those who have Bob Bahm, SAGE Chair Claire Knox, Nominating Chair chosen to enroll in one or more of our winter term classes. I Henry Warren, Resource Develop- expect you will find them stimulating and enlightening. mentChair Kathleen Sutherland, Community At the invitation of the Osher Foundation, I was able to repre- Chair sent our OLLI at the National OLLI Conference in Colorado Tim Byrne last month. There were 250 people at the conference represent- Lenore Fleming Susan Gesing ing 117 OLLI programs in the USA. It was a stimulating expe- Judith Harris rience. Stephen Jenks Paula Johnson I learned that we are one of the largest and most successful Jack Lynch OLLI programs in the country, as we provide to our members a Rich Machlin number of opportunities and courses that others do not. By the Denney Morton same token I learned that many other OLLI programs have more diverse course schedules and course offerings than we do. OLLI members are invited to attend Advisory Board meetings, which usu- This is an area the Advisory Board is planning to address. If ally take place on the second Friday of you have thoughts about this please contact me or a member of the month. Check with the OLLI of- the Education Committee. fice for time and place. Please contact —Dick Sturgeon, Chair the chair if you wish to address the Board. [email protected]; 773-3174

WEB SITES Lightfoot (cont’d from page 2) Maine Senior College Network www.maineseniorcollege.org Kali emphasizes that her office helps to connect the 115 OLLIs OLLI National Resource Center in all 50 states to share ideas and experiences. Each operates inde- www.osher.net pendently and is structured differently: the Foundation wanted to OLLI at USM fund a wide variety of program models. But all keep in touch www.usm.maine.edu/olli through a monthly newsletter, national conferences, and a website OLLI NEWSLETTER (www.osher.net) — “stealing,” she says, “great ideas from one OLLI Office: another all the time.” Wishcamper Center 210 P. O. Box 9300 Even in difficult university times, OLLI membership is growing Portland, ME 04104-9300 10 to 15 percent a year nationally, currently at 112,000. Growth is Phone: 207 780-4406 or aided by the fact that we are a transient nation. “OLLI is important 1-800-800-4876 not only for its excellent educational programs, but also as a net- TTY 1-207-780-5646 work for newcomers to a community to make new friends.” Fax: 207 780-4317 E-mail: Kali pays high tribute to the “amazing support” that the San [email protected] Francisco-based Osher Foundation provides for the NRC at USM. Don King, Editor The USM-based NRC works closely with them as “Osherland Jo Morris, Layout Editor East.” Tim Baehr, Managing Editor In addition to her duties as Resource Center Director, Kali and Please send newsletter material to the OLLI Office, via our e-mail. Dead- the NRC staff coordinate the Maine Senior College Network line for submission is the 15th of (www.maineseniorcollege.org). OLLI at USM is a valued mem- the month before the newsletter is ber of both the statewide and national networks. published. January 2013 Page 4

Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 Snow date: Feb. 28

American Nations: Colin Woodard Program Schedule Why have Americans struggled so long to 8:30 a.m. Check-in and morning coffee/tea, define the right relationship between indi- 102 Wishcamper. Kindly arrive promptly vidual liberty and the public good? Why are there increasingly contentious debates 9 a.m. Keynote Address: Colin Woodard over which political party is defending American values and which is undermining 10 a.m. Concurrent Sessions them? How can immigrants be encouraged  Abraham Lincoln, the Salvation of to join our national culture—or does one the Union and the Death of Slavery culture, one nation even exist? (Draper Hunt) The fascinating book we will be reading  Newcomers to the American Na- and exploring for this year’s One Book/One tions (John Sutherland) Community event, American Nations: A  Political Implications of Woodard’s History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cul- Thesis (Richard Barron Parker) tures of North America, reveals the deep  We Were There, Too: Women’s roots of our current political and cultural Place in the American Nations behavior. It traces the unique ethnographic (Sherrie Chapman, Joy Larrabee, characteristics that came along with each Kathleen Sutherland) of the first waves of immigration and settle- 11 a.m. Repeat of 10 a.m. concurrent ses- ment, and how they were implemented sions (see above) across the land to create competitive and often mistrustful regions that know no state Noon Wrap-up session followed by lunch, 102 or international boundaries. Wishcamper The book’s award-winning author, journal- ist Colin Woodard, leads us on a journey through the history of our fractured conti- you have the opportunity to participate in two nent, offering a fresh, insightful look at workshops. America’s myriad identities. He will show Then we gather together for a wrap-up ses- us how the recent elections—like all those sion including all panelists, followed by lunch. before—bear out, on a county-by-county All Colin Woodard books will be available for basis, the conflicting ideals that go beyond sale that day (in paperback, but including red states and blue states and will shape signed copies of the hardbound version of our future. American Nations) but you should read our se- Our One Book/One Community event is lected book before February 26. It is widely privileged to open in the morning with a available in paperback; list price is $16. keynote address in Wishcamper 102 by The registration fee of $25 includes the ad- Colin Woodard, to be followed at 10:00 by dress by Colin Woodard, two workshops, morn- four related breakout sessions led by OLLI ing refreshments, and lunch. Pre-registration is instructors and running concurrently. Each required. Please sign up today. Space is lim- of the sessions is repeated at 11:00 , so ited, and you won’t want to be left out! January 2013 Page 5

Colin Woodard, a native of Maine, has re- Registration Form for One Book/One Community ported from more than 50 countries and is a Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013, 8:30 am - 1:30 p.m. longtime foreign correspondent for Christian Science Monitor, contributing editor at Down Pre-registration is required. You may copy or print out this East magazine, and State and National Af- form and mail it to OLLI at USM, PO Box 9300, Portland, ME fairs Writer at the / 04104. Or you may enroll in person at OLLI or by phone (207) Maine Sunday Telegram. His work has ap- 780-4406 using a credit card. You must be a current OLLI mem- peared in The Economist, The Washington ber to participate. If we reach capacity, you may choose to be Post, San Francisco Chronicle, on a waiting list. If a personal emergency arises, you must can- .com, and numerous other publi- cel by Friday, Feb. 22, to receive a refund. cations. Name ______His books include The Lobster Coast; Ocean’s End; The Republic of Pirates; and Address ______American Nations, which was named one of the Best Books of 2011 by The New Repub- City ______State ____ Zip ______lic and The Globalist and which received the 2012 Maine Literary Award for nonfiction. Home Telephone # ______He frequently appears on TV, radio, and new media across the country; is a sought-after E-mail ______featured speaker; and has received many fellowships and awards. My choices for the concurrent sessions. Number your choices to indicate your preference. 10:00 a.m. ___ Abraham Lincoln, the Salvation of the OLLI Presenters Union and the Death of Slavery Sherrie Chapman has Master’s degrees in ___ Newcomers to the American Nations history and public administration from the ___ Political Implications of Woodard’s Thesis University of New Hampshire. She also ___ We Were There, Too: Women’s Place in completed three years of post-graduate the American Nations study in American history and museum studies at the University of Delaware. She 11:00 a.m. ___ Abraham Lincoln, the Salvation of the has taught several history courses at OLLI. Union and the Death of Slavery ___ Newcomers to the American Nations Draper Hunt, Professor Emeritus of History, ___ Political Implications of Woodard’s Thesis USM, has taught OLLI courses regularly ___ We Were There, Too: Women’s Place in since 1998. His books include Hannibal the American Nations Hamlin of Maine: Lincoln’s First Vice- President and Brother Against Brother: Un- Please indicate payment method derstanding the Civil War Era. Joy Larrabee has a B.S. in Nursing and an □ Enclosed is a check for $25 payable to OLLI M.A. in Women’s Studies from The Ohio □ Charge $25 to my □ VISA □MasterCard □ Discover Card State University. She has taught at Ohio State, Otterbein College, and the University Name ______of New England, as well as at OLLI, where (as it appears on the card) she was a presenter at the 2012 Wrinkle in Time. Credit Card Number ______Richard Barron Parker, Professor Emeri- tus, Hiroshima Shudo University, taught Expiration Date ______VSE Code ______American Law and Politics in Japan for (3 digit code on the back of the card) more than 20 years. He has a Ph.D. in Phi- losophy from the and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. sor Emeritus of Political Science and Women’s Studies, Bowling Green State University in Ohio. She has been teaching courses on the Middle John Sutherland is Professor of History East and Women’s Studies at OLLI since 2005. Emeritus, Manchester Community College in Connecticut. He has taught at OLLI for Weather Closings: If USM is closed, the event will move to Thursday, nine years. Feb. 28. USM closings are announced on the Storm Cancellation Kathleen Sutherland is Associate Profes- line at 780-4800.

Please remember to wear your OLLI name badge January 2013 Page 6 Bardack (cont’d from page 1) in Freeport after finding a Announcements small home at the edge of the woods that boasted a little gar- Did it! Gardening has been one of den. Sunbury Press has released Barbara’s longtime avocations. Barbara quickly immersed Her home in Cincinnati had a author Susan Dahlgren herself in Freeport activities, Daigneault’s biography of her garden that featured shaped especially community theater, plants and was recognized by father, Lt. Edward C. Dahlgren, both acting and doing produc- a highly decorated WWII veter- the Federated Garden Clubs of tion work. Since she liked to America. That led her to take an and lifelong Maine resident. cook, she became a volunteer Dahlgren, “Maine’s Sergeant horticultural courses offered by chef at the Freeport Commu- The Ohio State University that York”, was a recipient of the nity Center. Helping to pre- Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Sil- encouraged nonprofits to build pare meals for 60 people gardens in the inner cities. ver Star, and the Congressional monthly undoubtedly pre- Medal of Honor, our nation’s She carried this “green pared her for the opportunity highest military award for cour- thumb” expertise with her when to become OLLI Night Out age above and beyond the call she moved to Maine. Barbara coordinator. of duty. was certified as a Master Gar- “I was attracted to OLLI by The book, In the Shadow of a dener after completing a course a friend who told me about the offered the University of Maine Mountain: A Soldier’s Struggle Senior Readers Theater, and I with PTSD, is about the price of Cooperative Extension Service. had a wonderful time. “ She Subsequently, she worked as a war paid by Susan’s father and enjoys taking courses on plays his family during the years after Garden Angel for the disabled and films. and designed and planted the the war. In the Shadow of a garden at Seventy-Five State When Terry Foster sought a Mountain is available through Street, a Portland retirement successor to the OLLI Night Amazon.com and also in Nook home. Out coordinator, Barbara said, and Kindle versions. “It was a natural for me. I like While Barbara does no such to entertain, I don’t have to OLLI Night Out: physical labor now, she writes have to buy the groceries, and Out to lunch! for a Web newsletter and blog I don’t have to clean up after- To celebrate the New Year out of Saco aimed at seniors, wards.” and she contributes to the and to honor many requests, Maine Garden Journal, current- Barbara’s goal is to seek res- this month we are going out to ly in bookstores. taurants around the Portland lunch downtown on Commer- area (so members won’t have cial Street — when no tourists Deciding on settling in the to travel far) that offer moder- are around. Portland area took a while. “We ate prices and are ethnically DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant looked up and down the East diverse. Since most restau- at 154 Commercial Street will Coast from Chapel Hill, North rants have websites, she can be our noontime destination on Carolina, and as far north as look them up, check out their Tuesday, Jan. 29. Jaffrey, New Hampshire. We menus and prices, and then wanted to be near the ocean and find out if they are willing to Save the date! Be sure to let near cultural activities. Actual- host OLLI diners. Only one us know by Jan. 25 if you plan ly, Portland wasn’t on the agen- condition: the restaurant has to join us. da until we saw an article in to issue separate checks. “One Down East, I believe. Then we person keeping track of 24 Call Barbara Bardack at 865- visited, toured the city, and orders is too much,” she adds. 2009 or e-mail her at went out to eat. We decided that [email protected]. this was it.” The couple settled —Don King January 2013 Page 7

Passages tive disease that causes recur- Walking Club rent strokes. Polly's last stroke Dick LeFebvre, Pat robbed her of much of her plans ski outing at LeFebvre’s husband, died on ability to talk, read, and get Twin Brook Dec. 6, 2012. He was a long- around. Feeling that her quali- time OLLI student; Pat has vol- ty of life was unacceptable, unteered at OLLI since the for- she decided to hasten her mation of the Senior College death by stopping eating and fifteen years ago. drinking. Polly died peaceful- ly, pain-free, and on her own Here is an excerpt from the On Wednesday, Jan. 9, we terms; an ending she chose to notice in the Portland Press will try an outing at the Twin an intolerable situation. Herald: Brook Recreation Area on Tut- The obituary for Polly in tle Road in Cumberland. We Richard Louis LeFebvre Sr. the Portland Press Herald for skied here before, and direc- died on Dec. 6, 2012, at the Dec. 23, 2012, provides fur- tions will be e-mailed to you. If Barron Center in Portland ther details about Polly’s life. snow permits, we can cross- where he received loving and country ski — or if the snow is compassionate care. A gathering of remembrance unsuitable for skiing or isn’t for Polly will be held at 10:30 He was born on Oct. 23, 1934, there, we will snowshoe or a.m. on January 26 at the in Pittsfield, Mass…. walk with proper winter boots. Quaker Meeting House, 1837 No rentals here, so you will In 1953 he married Patricia Forest Ave., Portland. need to take care of skis or Condron, with whom he shared Polly was a longtime sup- snowshoes before the trip. his life for 59 years. Dick’s ca- porter of Planned Parenthood reer as a power plant construc- Bring your lunch and beverag- and would be honored if dona- tion supervisor took them and es, and we will find a place to tions were made to this organ- their four children to multiple eat together. We will meet to ization in her memory. areas in five different states. carpool at 10 a.m. at the Back Dick and Pat were happy to re- Cove parking lot across from tire in Maine, where he found Hannaford. fulfillment in working with Tuesday, Jan. 22, is our annu- Habitat for Humanity, the Tate al meeting at Wishcamper at 10 House as a Docent, various a.m. in a room to be deter- ministries at Saint Maximilian mined. If you have suggestions Kolbe Church, as well as a part- for places to walk, be sure to time employee of Conroy-Tully bring directions to them from Crawford Funeral Home. our usual parking area at Back Cove. Polly Keller, Bill Jose’s wife, Please call Rae Garcelon at died on December 13 with her 846-3304 if you have questions husband and daughter, Eliza- or want to be put on the e-mail beth, by her side. She will be list. remembered by her friends and fellow OLLI students for her Lost and Found kindness, courage, intelligence, A large, hand-crafted pin and sense of humor. with stones was found in Polly had been suffering from Wishcamper 211. Call 799- CADASIL, a genetic degenera- 2931 for more information. Osher Lifelong Learning Institute University Of Southern Maine P. O. Box 9300 Portland, Maine 04104-9300

Advisory Board Approves Sponsorship of Global Insights After- Hours Series of the World Affairs Council of Maine The Advisory Board approved sponsorship of a series of After- hours Programs of the World Affairs Council of Maine to be held in Wishcamper. The first program, on Nov. 26, featured Steve Wessler of the University of Southern Maine speaking on conflict resolution. The second program, on Dec. 6, was “Turkey: Tales of Travel and Culture,” which featured travel writer Tom Brosnahan and four Maine teachers who were spon- sored by the Turkish Cultural Foundation. The remaining pro- grams will feature a panel of retired diplomats speaking on their experiences at their foreign posts, Women’s Empowerment in the Muslim World, and possibly a program on South Africa. The World Affairs Council of Maine is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to provid- ing Maine people and businesses with programs and events to promote understanding of international affairs affecting us daily. The World Affairs Council has for many years provided the regular Great Decisions courses offered in the OLLI curriculum. Also, the World Affairs Council has been grateful for the space provided by OLLI for programs held from 2011 to the present, such as the programs on the Arab Spring, featuring prominent scholars on Libya and Syria. The World Affairs Council will acknowledge OLLI’s sponsorship by placing OLLI’s logo on its website.