2023 Osher Institutes National Conference
Breakout Session Descriptions
Tuesday, October 17, 8:15 – 9:30am
The Big Brainstorm: Marketing
Energize yourself with an invigorating workshop brainstorming marketing ideas. Facilitators will present and lead activities in three areas: branding, value of membership, and marketing strategies. The workshop will seek to answer questions such as: How does an OLLI effectively brand in line with university guidelines? How can branding and marketing resources reach more potential members? How can membership benefits be used as marketing tools? And what are the physical and digital strategies to effectively market Osher programming? This is a collaborative session, allowing ample time for participants to create and discuss ideas.
Presenters
Daniel Banyai, Director, OLLI @ California State University Channel Islands
Chris McLeod, Director, OLLI @ Duke University
Jennifer Disano, Executive Director, OLLI @ George Mason University
Hot Topics in Curriculum
Innovator and author Tom Peters once said, “Swipe from the best, then adapt.” This session will make it easy to swipe from some great OLLI programming as multiple Institute leaders share their most creative courses, along with inspiring ideas on innovative presentation models. The “Hot Topics” format will call for six rapid-fire presentations, followed by lively questions and answers from all session participants to engage, adapt, and refine these creative ideas for other OLLIs. Help pay the ultimate compliment of using these clever presenters’ ideas.
Presenters
Patricia Berlowe, Director, OLLI @ Yavapai College
Diane Donnelly, Volunteer Leader, OLLI @ Montana State University
Bette Felton, Volunteer Leader, OLLI @ California State University, East Bay
Jared Swerzenski, Director, OLLI @ Arizona State University
Fawn Supernaw, Director, OLLI @ California State University, Dominguez Hills
Josh Raney, Director, OLLI @ University of Arkansas
Osher Institute Collaborations
Collaboration in all its forms has become a key component of success for Osher Institutes. Although a wide-ranging topic, OLLI collaborations can be divided into three main types: host university collaborations; community, other colleges, or local business collaborations; and collaborations between multiple OLLIs. This workshop will delve into collaborative events, curriculum and courses, instruction, intergenerational activities, and partnerships. It will also focus on how to foster the key relationships that lead to success for all sides of a collaborative alliance.
Presenters
Cristen Ruth Newman, Director, OLLI @ California State University, East Bay
Kate Schaefers, Director, OLLI @ University of Minnesota
Robbin Davis, Director, OLLI @ Oklahoma State University
Successful Membership Recovery
Membership growth remains a top priority for those Institutes recovering from pandemic losses. In this workshop, discussions will revolve around four key elements of membership recovery. These elements include methods for regaining members, finding balance in self-sustainment, membership engagement and tracking, as well as how to return to or surpass pre-pandemic numbers.
Moderator
Kelly Jane Rosenblatt, Program Director, The Bernard Osher Foundation
Presenters
Cate O’Hara, Director, OLLI @ University of Cincinnati
Phyllis Brown, Director, OLLI @ Ringling College of Art and Design
Breanne Delligatti, Program Director, OLLI @ Stony Brook University
The Role of the Donor
Why do donors donate? In this session, participants will learn from the perspectives of a donor sharing their motivation for continued contribution to their local Institute, as well as from an OLLI director and advancement professional on how to engage potential or current donors in a meaningful way. Participants will then explore how these donors can be utilized to engage other members and discover what is meaningful to donors in the forms of fundraising campaigns, legacy giving, and general communication.
Presenters
Michelle Riggio, Executive Director, Continuing Education and Professional Development, OLLI @ Bradley University
Hart Roussel, Senior Director, Planned Giving, California State University, Fullerton
Mark Nadel, Volunteer/Board Chair, OLLI @ American University
Tuesday, October 17, 2:15 – 3pm
The Dos and Don'ts of a Multiformat Classroom
Multiformat (hybrid) courses are gaining popularity in Osher Institutes as they rebound and rebuild from the pandemic. While many members are excited to get back to in-person sessions, others have come to expect and appreciate the comfort, safety, and convenience of Zooming. In this session, participants will learn effective practices for a multiformat classroom, what situations are best avoided, and the roles and expectations of the instructor, participants, facilitator, and Zoom hosts. Presenters will include discussion of technology, pedagogy, and customer service.
Presenters
Bob Michl, Director, OLLI @ University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Dolores Ward Cox, Executive Director, OLLI @ University of Nevada, Reno
The Cultural Shift
Many factors and methods are involved in managing the culture of an OLLI. How do OLLI leaders approach shifting demographics, perspectives, and behaviors of OLLI members, volunteers, and staff? How do they approach new structure systems, changes within the university, and overall administration? The culture within an OLLI is ever evolving, especially in the past three years, and leadership must evolve and adapt with it. This session will explore the various aspects of these shifts, how to approach the management of these groups, and how to evolve with your OLLI into the future.
Presenters
Ann Nikolai, Director, OLLI @ California State University, Chico
Edward Abeyta, Associate Dean, University of California, San Diego
Kelly Jordan, Advisory Committee Chair, OLLI at Washington University in St. Louis
Trips and Travel: EduTourism
From day trips to international travel, education-based tourism (EduTourism) is a popular supplement to many OLLIs programming. The educational value, member interest, and marketing benefits make EduTourism an attractive addition to an Osher Institute’s offerings. In recent years, numerous OLLIs paused their travel programs but are now looking to restart or revive this area of programming. In this session, presenters will explore planning and execution, working with travel companies (local and beyond), and tying travel into courses and curriculum.
Presenters
Beth Leconte, Executive Director, OLLI @ University of Rhode Island
Julie Vidotto, Director, OLLI @ Clemson University
Jennifer Juanitas, Program Director, OLLI @ University of the Pacific
Bring'em On In! The OLLI Open House
Whatever you call it, “OLLI Open House,” “An OLLI Sampler,” “A Taste of OLLI,” “An OLLI Showcase,” the goal is the same: entice current members to renew and promote the program to potential new members. Many OLLIs use these singular events as tools for marketing, retention, recognition, and community. In this session, presenters will discuss their varied events, what made them successful, and what you can do to improve your own open house events.
Presenters
Kat Bohr-Buresh, Coordinator, OLLI @ Casper College
Fiona de Merell, Director, OLLI @ University of Connecticut
Meredith Naughton, Director, OLLI @ Colorado State University
Fostering Volunteer and Staff Relationships
Osher Institute leaders know the imperative value of a strong and functional volunteer corps. Fostering productive volunteer and staff relationships is the key. But this is both an art and a developed skill on both sides of the relationship. Through the perspectives of two volunteer leaders and two Osher Institute directors, this panel will explore the sometimes-sensitive questions submitted by attendees. A pre-session survey where participants can submit questions will frame the perspectives of the attendees registered for the session as the moderator interviews the panel.
Moderator
Kevin Connaughton, Manager of Adult Learning, National Resource Center for Osher Institutes
Presenters
Nancy Kennedy, Director, OLLI @ Furman University
Mary Szaroleta, Director, OLLI @ Eckerd College
Jim Roselle, Volunteer Leader, OLLI @ Northwestern University
Dr. Alice Waagan, Volunteer/Council Chair, OLLI @ University of Richmond
Wednesday, October 18, 8 – 9:15am
Variety is the Spice of Life! Creating an Appealing Mix of Program Offerings
Creating a robust set of offerings for your OLLI can be a difficult task. How do you provide a variety of educationally balanced subject material that appeals to your members? How do you balance the modalities (online, in-person, hybrid) or juggle the times offered (days, evenings, weekends)? How do you reach multiple generations of learners, specifically attracting the incoming Gen X audience? In this session, participants will learn from presenters and then gather together in small groups to further explore these topics and share ideas.
Presenters
Janet Gillow, Director, OLLI @ Washington University in St. Louis
Tracy Jacobs, Director, OLLI @ Towson University
Jascenna Haislet, Director, OLLI @ West Virginia University
Promoting an Inclusive Culture: Topics in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)
Inclusiveness is foundational in addressing DEI related issues. How can an OLLI cultivate an inclusive culture? In this workshop, participants will collaborate on topics related to DEI through the lens of inclusiveness. The facilitators will hold short presentations and then moderate rotating breakout groups for discussions. Participants will come away from this workshop with a greater understanding as well as methods to promote inclusiveness at their Osher Institute.
Presenters
Angela Bingham, Director, OLLI @ University of Michigan
Megan Novak, Director, OLLI @ Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Jim Hermelbracht, Director, OLLI @ University of Massachusetts
Reinvigorating Volunteer Leadership
The past few years have been difficult for many, including Osher Institute volunteers. Experiencing lower volunteer numbers to volunteer burn-out, many OLLI leaders are needing to reinvigorate volunteers and reimagine volunteer roles at their Institutes. As a result, these leaders are employing new processes, activities, and techniques to achieve higher levels of volunteer engagement. Participants will explore using retreats, procedural changes, redefined roles, recognition, and other effective methods of engaging volunteers.
Presenters
Bobbi Geise, Director, OLLI @ Montana State University
Peggy Watson, Director, Osher Institute @ University of Richmond
Veronica Maxwell, Director, OLLI @ University of South Florida
Mindful Leadership
Mindful leadership is a leadership style in which managers learn how to consciously cultivate their ability to be present, open-minded, and compassionate when interacting with their team members – and they show this same care and consideration to themselves and their OLLI members. In this workshop, Cassandra Vieten, a presenter on mindful leadership from the Center for Mindfulness at the University of California San Diego, will lead discussion with the assistance of two Institute directors who put this style of leadership into practice in their local OLLIs.
Presenters
Lyn Provenzano, Executive Director, OLLI @ University of Texas, El Paso
Scott Bishop, Director, OLLI @ Auburn University
Cassandra Vieten, PhD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine
Director, Center for Mindfulness, Centers for Integrative Health
Director of Research and Development, Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human ImaginationClinical Psychology Director, Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative
University of California, San Diego
Instructor Training, Recruitment and Coaching for Hybrid Learning
Hybrid learning has evolved over the last few years. Through this evolution, the role of the instructor has changed. In this session, presenters will review the ins and outs of hybrid instruction. This includes identifying and recruiting the right instructors for hybrid course delivery, training instructors, facilitation and teaching tips, and evaluation and coaching. This session will present concepts on instructor issues along with interactive elements.
Presenters
Jeanette Toohey, Director, OLLI @ University of North Florida
Pat Walker, Director of Community and Professional Programs, OLLI @ Kennesaw State University
Amy Keith, Director, OLLI @ University of North Carolina Wilmington