Osher Institute announces fall schedule for Topeka, N.E. Kansas

Thu, 09/05/2013

Jim Peters

LAWRENCE — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Kansas will offer eight courses at four sites in Topeka, including Brewster Place Retirement Community, Washburn University, McCrite Plaza Retirement Community and its new partner, Aldersgate Village.

In addition, the Institute has inaugurated a new discount for members of the alumni associations of KU, Washburn University, Kansas State University, Ottawa University, Hutchinson Community College and Hesston College. Members are eligible for a $10 discount on the first course fee of $40.

The fall schedule in Topeka includes:

“The Faith of Our Founders,” Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 18 and 25, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., McCrite Plaza, 1608 SW 37^th St. The instructor will be Barry Crawford, professor of religious studies at Washburn University.
“German Settlements and Culture in Kansas,” Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 18 and 25, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Henderson Learning Center, Room 21, Washburn University, 1700 SW College Ave. The instructor will be William Keel, professor of German at KU.
“Native American Art: How It Speaks to Us,” Tuesdays, Sept. 17, 24 and Oct. 1, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Brewster Place, 1205 SW 29^th St. The instructor will be Gil Nichols, retired instructor of Native American cultures at William Jewell College and University of Missouri-Kansas City.
“Exploring Regional Geographies of Europe,” Tuesdays, Oct. 1, 8 and 15, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Henderson Learning Center, Room 21, Washburn University. The instructor will be Tom Schmiedeler, professor of geography at Washburn University.
“Understanding Your Rights: The Supreme Court in American History,” Thursdays, Oct. 10, 17 and 24, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Aldersgate Village, 7220 SW Asbury Drive. The instructor will be John Mack, who has a doctorate in theology from the Philadelphia Theological Seminary and a doctorate in American history from KU.
“The Golden Age of Television,” Tuesdays, Oct. 8, 15 and 22, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Brewster Place. The instructor will be David Wilson, who spent more than 40 years in public television before he became the director of the Osher Institute. He is now retired.
“Behind the Rainbow: Judy Garland & the MGM Musical,” Wednesdays, Oct. 30, Nov. 6 and 13, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Aldersgate Village. The instructor will be Cynthia Haines, a retired professor of film studies at the University of Texas-El Paso and member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association. She reviews films for KCUR, the NPR affiliate in Kansas City.
“The Civil War in Kansas,” Tuesdays, Nov. 5, 12 and 19, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Brewster Place. The instructor will be Debra Goodrich Bisel, who is the author of “The Civil War in Kansas: Ten Years of Turmoil” and “Kansas Forts and Bases: Sentinels on the Prairie.”

The Osher Institute is offering 37 additional courses and 12 special events in Lawrence, Ottawa and the Greater Kansas City Area. Topics range from the West African slave trade to the Vietnam War, from Abraham Lincoln to Winston Churchill, and from Kansas cowboys, Indians and homesteaders to Herman Melville and Walt Whitman.

“This fall our theme is ‘Learning Is an Ageless Adventure,’” said Jim Peters, the Institute’s director. “And to insure that, we have placed the broadest, boldest and best lineup of courses and events within reach of every person in Northeast Kansas and Greater Kansas City, including at our newest partner in Topeka, Aldersgate Village.”

A unit of KU Continuing Education, the Osher Institute develops enrichment programs focusing on those 50 and over but welcomes lifelong learners of all ages. The Bernard Osher Foundation of San Francisco selected KU in 2004 as a site for this nationally acclaimed program the shares the rich resources of the University of Kansas with the general public. The institute now has more than 2,700 members.

Course titles, instructors, start dates and locations are listed below. For more information or to enroll, visit www.osher.ku.edu or call toll free (877) 404-5823 or (785) 864-5823.

Topeka

“The Faith of Our Founders,” Barry Crawford, Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., McCrite Plaza
“German Settlements and Culture in Kansas,” Bill Keel, Wednesdays, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Washburn University
“Native American Art: How It Speaks to Us,” Gil Nichols, Tuesdays, Sept. 17, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Brewster Place
“Exploring Regional Geographies of Europe,” Tom Schmiedeler, Tuesdays, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Washburn University
“Understanding Your Rights: The Supreme Court in American History,” John Mack, Thursdays, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Aldersgate Village
“The Golden Age of Television,” David Wilson, Tuesdays, Oct. 8, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Brewster Place
“Behind the Rainbow: Judy Garland & the MGM Musical,” Cynthia Haines, Wednesdays, Oct. 30, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Aldersgate Village
“The Civil War in Kansas,” Debra Bisel, Tuesdays, Nov. 5, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Brewster Place

Lawrence

“WWI - The Great War: Myths and Reality,” Nicholas Murray, Mondays, Sept. 16, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“The Vietnam War and Its Legacy for America,” Tony Mullis, Tuesdays, Sept. 17. 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“The Portrayal of Lawyers in Popular Culture,” Mike Hoeflich, Wednesdays, Sept. 18. 2 p.m.-4 p.m., KUCE Building
“I Always Wanted to Learn How to Draw Portraits,” Barbara Solberg, Thursdays, Sept. 19, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“The Civil War in Kansas,” Debra Bisel, Mondays, Sept. 23, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Brandon Woods Smith Center
“Introduction to Digital Photography: Know Your Camera and Create Your Shot,” Mike Yoder, Mondays, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“Joyful Singing for Everyone,” Kelley Hunt, Tuesdays, Oct. 8, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., KUCE Building
“The Search for Serenity in Chinese and Japanese Architecture,” Nancy Hope, Thursdays, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“Destination West Africa: Searching for Roots and the Legacy of Slavery,” Kim Warren, Mondays, Oct. 14, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., KUCE Building
“Churchill and His Personal War on Behalf of the British Empire,” Jeremy Taylor, Tuesdays, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“Native American Art: How It Speaks to Us,” Gil Nichols, Wednesdays, Oct. 16, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Brandon Woods Smith Center
“Cowboys, Indians and Homesteaders: Tracing Kansas' Folk Icons,” Jim Hoy, Tuesdays, Nov. 5, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“The Lost Gospels of Early Christianity,” Barry Crawford, Wednesdays, Nov. 6, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., KUCE Building
“Kansas at the Crossroads: The Future of Energy and Water Resources,” Rex Buchanan, Wednesdays, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“Melville, Whitman and the Civil War,” Haskell Springer, Thursdays, Nov. 7, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., KUCE Building
“Politics vs. Policy: The Realities of Welfare, Education, and Healthcare Policy in the U.S.,” Chris Wiles, Mondays, Nov. 11, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KUCE Building
“Caravaggio: His Life, His Work, His World,” Ann Wiklund, Mondays, Nov. 25, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., KUCE Building

Ottawa

“Exploring the Northern Isles of Scotland,” Tom Schmiedeler, Mondays, Sept. 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Ottawa University
“The Custer Brothers in Kansas,” Roy Bird, Tuesdays, Oct. 8, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Ottawa University

Overland Park

“The Border Wars,” Tony Mullis, Thursdays, Sept. 12, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KU Edwards Campus
“Abraham Lincoln: Statesman or Tyrant?” Jennifer Weber, Mondays, Sept. 16, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., KU Edwards Campus
“Understanding Islam and the Roles of Muslim Women,” Beverly Mack, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Tallgrass Creek
“From Myths to Molecules: Changing Ways of Seeing Life,” Elizabeth Wenske-Mullinax & James Floyd, Tuesdays, Oct. 1, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KU Edwards Campus.
“Native American Art: How It Speaks to Us,” Gil Nichols, Thursdays, Oct. 10, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Tallgrass Creek
“Imagine Your Retirement: Its More Than Just Money,” Kathleen Ames-Oliver, Wednesdays, Oct. 23, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., KU Edwards Campus

Lenexa

“The Music of George Gershwin,” Paul Laird, Tuesdays, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Lakeview Village
“When the Fat Lady Sings: A Short History of Opera,” Don Dagenais, Wednesdays, Nov. 6, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Lakeview Village

Mission

“Understanding Your Rights: The Supreme Court in American History,” John Mack, Thursdays, Sept. 12, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Mission Square
“The Life and Times of Harry Truman,” Jim Peters, Thursdays, Nov. 7, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Mission Square

Olathe

“Famous Kansans of the 1920s and 1930s,” Valerie Mendoza, Tuesdays, Sept. 10, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Aberdeen Village
“Harp Music from Around the World,” Connie Wollenhaupt, Mondays, Oct. 14, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Aberdeen Village

Prairie Village

“The Road Less Traveled: A Virtual Tour of Ireland's Hidden Destinations,” Sorcha Hyland, Wednesdays, Sept. 18, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Claridge Court
“Secret Lives of Geniuses,” Norm Ledgin, Tuesdays, Oct. 15, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Claridge Court

Kansas City, Mo.

“Sculpture at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art: Outdoors, Indoors and In-Between,” Alan Lubert, Fridays, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Nelson-Atkins Museum

Clay County, Mo.

“The Golden Age of Television,” David Wilson, Mondays, Sept. 11, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Maple Woods Community College
“The Custer Brothers in Kansas,” Roy Bird, Thursdays, Oct. 3, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Maple Woods Community College
“Shakespeare's Sonnets,” Alan Lubert, Fridays. Nov. 1, 10 a.m.- noon, Maple Woods Community College.