The Gift of Legacy Letters Workshop: Turning your Stories into Forever

Join six OLLIs from Iowa, Montana, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming to explore a summer session of thought-provoking historical topics and perspectives. Topics include: Native American boarding schools, women who served in WWII, our nation's energy resources, American baseball and pop culture, the history of Mariska Karasz's art, and mapping the Northern Plains. Enjoy your summer beverage of choice and new OLLI neighbors as we delve into these special Zoom offerings in July.

Please note: because this program is a collaboration with other OLLIs, we recommend joining the Zoom meetings 15-20 minutes before they begin. If you receive a message that the meeting is full, you will be able to enjoy the recording when it becomes available.

Creating the Plains, a Cartographic Exploration with Michael Mullin, July 12 (1:00-2:30 PM)
Cartographic decisions made by early French and English explorers in the 17th and 18th centuries continue to have ramifications today. By exploring maps from the 17th to late 19th centuries, one can better understand how the Northern Plains gradually emerged as a distinct region in the American patchwork. At the same time, the Northern Plains failed to register as an important part of either the Midwest’s or West’s Euromerican settlement story.
Sponsored by OLLI at the University of South Dakota

The Art of Mariska Karasz with India Hayford, July 13 (1:00-2:30 PM)
Hungarian-born clothing designer Mariska Karasz believed art belongs in everyday life, not solely in galleries and museums. When a studio fire at the end of World War II destroyed her life’s work, she turned her passionate creativity to embroidery. Learn about this remarkable woman and her art. Perhaps you will come away inspired to create your own.
Sponsored by OLLI at Casper College, Wyoming

There's No Crying in Baseball: The American Pastime in Pop Culture with Tom Rooney, July 19 (1:00-2:30 PM)
Baseball has been a part of American culture since the mid-1800s, when the first game was played. Baseball is featured in popular music, movies, Broadway musicals, television shows, books, advertisements, and even some food we eat. This session will explore baseball movies, particularly a couple of fictional films that are based on "some facts."
Sponsored by OLLI at the University of Minnesota

The Changing Environment of Nuclear Energy with Gerald Geise July 21 (9:00-1-:30 a.m.)
With today’s gasoline prices over $5.00 per gallon and increasing political and environmental concerns over fossil fuel consumption, new nuclear energy plant designs are surfacing. Does nuclear energy have a new and vibrant future? This lecture will explore the past and possible future of nuclear energy.
Sponsored by OLLI at Montana State University

Women Who Serve - The Alphabet Women of WWII: WACs, WAVES, WMCR & SPARS with Mary Lou Nosco Jul. 26 (1:00-2:30 PM)
In 1942, Congress passed laws allowing women to join as reservists or auxiliaries in every military branch. The Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard selected leaders, established training programs, procured uniforms, and recruited women to serve. This lecture will cover the organizations, history, and stories of the women who served in the military during WWII.
Sponsored by OLLI at Iowa State University

U.S. History of Native American Boarding Schools with Pat Pins Jul. 28 (1:00-2:30 PM)
Boarding Schools were set up by the U.S. government and run by religious communities to “Americanize” Native American children. The U.S. government hoped the children would abandon their traditional Indian customs and beliefs and adopt the white man’s way of life. We will cover the mistakes and abuses these children and their families endured.
Sponsored by OLLI at Bismarck State University in North Dakota