“A Continuing LearningExperience” Dec 2013 - Jan 2014 Volume XXXV Number 4 President’s Message Spring Semester Preview Thoughts on the eve Saturday, January 18, 10:00 am to Noon of our 35th CSUF Campus, Ruby Gerontology Center OPEN to the PUBLIC anniversary year Would you like to take classes with a vital group We start the new year off of active adults aged 50 and better? Join us for an with a bang beginning with informative presentation. See our Osher Lifelong the Volunteer Opportunities Learning Institute classrooms and computer labs. Workshop and free pizza No exams or grades at OLLI – just fascinating fun lunch on Wednesday, Jan. 15, classes and activities. the Spring Semester Preview * Free light lunch refreshments program on Saturday, Jan. 18, the start of spring * Overview of 140 classes and activities semester classes on Tuesday, Jan. 21 and the third * Opportunities to register OLLI Retirement Boot Camp on Saturday, Jan. 25. * Free parking with shuttle service from State Please add these dates to your schedule. College Parking Structure (enter on Gym Drive, Our “Organizational DNA” off of State College Boulevard) At its initial meeting, the Anniversary History OLLI’s Spring Preview – Open House is Team heard from Trustee Phil Barnhard regarding an opportunity for members to invite family and his perspectives on our origins based on his detailed friends to visit our facilities in the R G C. Visitors review of our historical files. OLLI’s successes will be provided with information on the new and today, he said, can be traced to the foundations laid continuing programs for the coming year. The Open by the organizers of the CSUF Continuing Learning House is a good time for new members to learn Experience—our predecessor organization. CLE about OLLI’s diversified and interesting programs. leaders and members established a tradition of “community,” volunteerism, instructional excellence, close bonds with campus leaders and audacious ambitions. OLLI Scholarship Application Deadline Betty Robertson’s untimely passing in November Friday, January 3, 2014 was a great loss. I worked with Betty on several OLLI members who wish to apply for a projects and valued her friendship and insights. Scholarship for the Spring Semester must return Her contributions to the start of lifelong learning the completed form to the OLLI office no later than at CSUF was underscored by noon on Friday, January 3, according to Suzanne Leo Shapiro who called Betty Mills, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee. the “Godmother of CLE.” Application forms for OLLI Scholarships may be As we celebrate our 35th picked up at the office between 8:30 am and 3:30 anniversary throughout 2014, -pm any weekday. we should—and will— applaud the legacy of our CLE founders including Betty President’s...Continued on page 3 2014 - OLLI’s 35th Anniversary Year The Leo Shapiro Connection President . Mike Stover In 1979 OLLI began as Vice President Administration . Barry Escoe CLE (Continuing Learning Vice President Programs . Jim Monroe Experience). Throughout Vice President Communication . Gary Bates 2014 we will be celebrating Vice President Membership . Jane Brubaker Vice President External Relations . Bill Mills our organization’s 35th Vice President Facilities . .Tony Package anniversary, and through a Vice President Hospitality . Linda Lockwood series of articles, etc. we Vice President Technology . Don Lake will shine a light on the Treasurer . Ellie Monroe history that lead to today’s Secretary . Sandy. Potter OLLI. Lorraine Gerni, Editor; Chris Shaw, Associate Editor; In 1978 David Walkington and Betty Robertson Jerry Pollack, Assistant Editor; Juanita Driskell, Alice of the California State University Fullerton (CSUF) Gresto, and Elaine Mitchell, Staff Writers . Extended Education Department proposed the Desktop Publishing: Celia Reynolds establishment of an outreach program for senior Photos: Ken Kamber, Will Cornell and Kirt Spradlin citizens to access lifelong learning. Betty Robertson recruited Leo Shapiro, and the three of them New Classes and Series for Spring 2014 recruited community leaders and CSUF faculty members, who became the founding committee, Following is an overview of the excellent comprised of Florence Arnold, Russell Ball, programs prepared by coordinators, instructors and Ernest Lake, Lucien Miner, E. Ray Nichols, and lecturers, along with the Curriculum Committee, for Charles Ruby, along with David Walkington, Betty the 35th anniversary year at OLLI - CSUF. Robertson, and Leo Shapiro. One of the featured programs of the 35th My focus in this article is Leo Shapiro, who anniversary year is Tales of a Great University, became the first president of CLE, and who my coordinated by Mike Stover. Also kicking off this father referred to as CLE’s founding father. Betty year, is the return of the Retirement Boot Camp, told Leo about a program called The Institute of Turbo-charging Your Retirement. This program on Continued Learning at the University of California Saturday Jan 25 is open to the public. San Diego, one of the few such programs at that Susan Hanna and Rick Hearn are leading the time. They went to San Diego to learn it, which What Science Knows About Cancer series on resulted in the committee deciding to emulate it for Thursday afternoons; Ken Luke is restarting U.S their program. Civil Aviation, Part 2, early on Thursday afternoons. The committee debated many names for their Bonnie Shirley is continuing her archaeology class new organization, and Continuing Learning on Tuesday afternoons. To help with members’ Experience won out. Then Leo’s wife pointed out use of computers, tablets, and smartphones, the that the acronym “CLE” is the word for “key” in Computer Education Committee has added a new the French language. So, in earlier logos for CLE, class on Google apps, Google Apps and Cloud including the ChroniCLE, you’ll see the image of a Computing – Okay, I’ve Got the Basics, Now key, representing the key to a fulfilling retirement. What?, designed for the more experienced user. In an interview for CSUF’s Oral History Program Another class, Social Media 101, was introduced in 1988, Leo stated that CLE obtained a written late in the fall semester and will continue in the agreement from the university that “as long as CLE spring. is a viable organization it will be operating on this From the CSUF College of Education, Jackie campus. New Classes ...Continued on page 5 Initially, the university granted CLE the use of OLLI is a program of the CSU Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation administered by University Extended Education, California State University, Fullerton 2 Mahr House (now Golleher Alumni House), but President’s ...Continued from page 1 their burgeoning membership soon outgrew the fire Robertson and Leo Shapiro. codes for that facility. Leo and other CLE leaders Instead of relying on paid instructors and decided that, rather than limiting membership, they paid staff, our founders chose the lesser traveled would request some land on the campus where they path of relying on CLE members to organize could build a new facility for CLE. There were lifelong learning and vast majority of support two turning points early on that gave that project activities. Their faith in what they and others could the momentum to succeed. First, Charles Ruby accomplish remains our inspiration and organizing and his wife, Rachael, told Leo they would pledge principle. $100,000 to the project. With that backing Leo Tales of a Great University convinced Dr. L. Donald Shields (then president of I am coordinating a new class that begins on our CSUF) that the CLE facility could also be used for a “opening day,” Tuesday, Jan. 21. The class, “Tales gerontology program, a first in Orange County, and of a Great University in a Period of Unprecedented only the second such program in all of California. Change” (10:00 a.m., Mackey Auditorium), is part The university granted CLE the use of 2.3 acres just of our outreach effort to enhance our interaction to the south of the Arboretum for the facility, where with CSUF leaders. the Ruby Gerontology Center (RGC) now sits. Each class will introduce one or more CSUF Shapiro and his project committee solicited leaders and the top brass of the University’s eight donations and grants from many individuals, colleges. President Garcia and her leadership team corporations, foundations, and municipalities. Leo will be invited to discuss University strategic plans was very proud of the fact that $700,000 of the and restraints.. money they raised was donated by CLE members. 35th Anniversary Despite this, it took a long, hard seven years to raise Members of our seven anniversary teams are the $2 million needed for the construction of RGC. busily planning for an active anniversary year. Leo used an office at Langsdorf Hall, where he Some examples: worked full time for over four years on the project. * The history team is developing a master Although no money came from the university or timeline covering all 35 years as well as anecdotes the state, Dr. Cobb (who succeeded Dr. Shields as that tells the lifelong learning story at CSUF from a CSUF president) helped Leo and his committee personal perspective. On March 25, the team will members with presentations to potential donors. An present the first of a series of Eclectics presentations Honor Board, listing the benefactors, hangs on the on our beginnings. A monthly series of lifelong wall of the Shapiro Wing of RGC. learning history articles in 2014 begin with this In 2005 OLLI threw a big 100th birthday edition of the ChroniCLE. celebration for Leo, commissioning his bust, which * The Hospitality Committee is preparing two is located in the hallway to the kitchen in the major anniversary themed events in 2014—a Shapiro Wing. It is reported that Leo, who was a bit kickoff lunch in the spring semester and a of a curmudgeon, took one look and announced that recognition banquet in the fall.