March 5-April 27
Registration Opens February 13!
The spring semester includes more than 60 courses on a wide variety of topics. It also features a lecture on Edward Stratemeyer, one of the most prolific writers in the world; “Connections,” a documentary film series; and a “Lecture and Lunch” about Catania, the second largest city in Sicily.
(Sarasota-Manatee) “Gemstones of the World.” “How Smart Is Your Android Smartphone?” “The Films of Martin Scorsese.” “Understanding Dementia.” This is only a sampling of the more than 60 in-depth courses offered this spring by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College (formerly Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy). Classes, lectures, Academy Talks, Einstein’s Circle series and special events are held at OLLI at Ringling College’s interim headquarters at Temple Beth Sholom, 1050 S. Tuttle Ave., Building #1, Sarasota. Classes are also offered at State College of Florida in Lakewood Ranch, The Center of Anna Maria Island, Westminster Point Pleasant (formerly Westminster Towers & Shores) in Bradenton, and at The Paradise Center on Longboat Key. Weekly classes run two to eight weeks. No refunds on lectures, workshops, or special events; registration is transferrable. To register, visit www.rclla.org or call 941-309-5111.
OLLI at Ringling College’s spring documentary film series, “Connections: Exploring Today’s Global Issues,” is an opportunity for students to connect to many of today’s pressing global issues via the penetrating perspectives of contemporary documentary films. The moderator of the series is Julie Cotton, a member of the Advisory Council’s Strategic Program Committee, executive coach and aficionado of documentary films. The spring term features three films. Students may register for the entire series or for individual films. The films are shown on Tuesdays, 2:30-4:30 p.m., March 6, 27, and April 17, at Temple Beth Sholom. The three-film fee series is $36 general admission; $32 for members of OLLI. Fees for individual films are $12 general admission; $11 for members of OLLI.
One of the spring semester’s Einstein’s Circles is “Can a Cake Shop Refuse to Make a Cake for a Same Sex Wedding?” Five years ago, a same sex couple entered a bakery and asked for a cake to for their upcoming wedding. On the basis of his Christian beliefs, the baker refused the request. The case eventually ended up in the Supreme Court. This Einstein’s Circle is in honor of former attorney, civil rights exponent and a beloved instructor in constitutional law at OLLI, Paul Rosen, who recently died. Participants will have the opportunity to listen to the arguments of experts, consider the merits of our justice system and discover why the decision is not as easy as one might think. Robert A. Levy, an attorney and chairman of the Cato Institute, and director of the Institute for Justice, the Foundation for Government Accountability and the Forum Club of Southwest Florida, will present support of the baker’s rights. William H. Goodman, a civil rights attorney and former director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, will represent the rights of the same sex couple. Barry Waldman, an attorney with practice in personal injury, labor law and alternative dispute resolution, will moderate. March 14, 3-4:30 p.m., at Temple Beth Sholom. Sponsored by Friends of Paul Rosen. Free and open to the public. Pre-registration suggested.
The spring semester also includes “The Stratemeyer Syndicate: How the Hardy Boys Became a Billion Dollar Industry” with Don Bruns. Edward Stratemeyer is a name almost no one has ever heard of, yet it’s a given that every adult over 40 has read one of his books. Author of the “Hardy Boys,” “Nancy Drew,” “Tom Swift,” “The Bobbsey Twins,” and many more young adult books, he is a legend in publishing. Don Bruns, a USA Today best-selling author of 16 novels, will present a fun, informative look at the life of one of the most prolific writers in the world. March 15, 3-4:30 p.m. at Temple Beth Sholom. $15 general admission; free to OLLI members.
The spring semester also includes a Lecture and Lunch: “Catania: The Phoenix of Sicily.” Italian travel specialist and epicurean entertainer Robert Gaglio presents this lecture and lunch session on Sicily’s second largest city, Catania. The event includes a Sicilian-themed lunch prepared by Mattison’s Forty-One and live performances of classic Italian songs. March 23, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Mattison’s 41, 7275 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The fee is $64 and includes the presentation and lunch. Pre-registration is encouraged.
The spring semester’s Academy Adventure features a docent-led tour of the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art in Winter Park. The museum houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, along with American art pottery, late 19th- and early 20th-century American paintings, graphics, and decorative art. April 6, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The fee is $75 per person and includes transportation, gallery admission, a docent-led tour, and gratuities. The fee does not include lunch.
Janna Overstreet is Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College’s executive director. Lifelong learning is both her passion and profession. “Studies show that lifelong learning helps create a positive aging experience, boosting health and longevity and increasing the overall sense of joie de vivre,” she says. “We provide people with that vital intellectual and cultural stimulation in an informal, supportive atmosphere. Our students experience lively discussions promoting personal growth and social engagement. It’s a true meeting of the minds.”
About Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College, or OLLI at Ringling College (formerly Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy), offers educational opportunities for adults to pursue new interests, expand intellectual horizons and enrich their lives. Courses cover a wide range of stimulating topics and are taught by scholars, retired faculty members, and professional practitioners in an engaging, collaborative manner. Visit www.rclla.org.
About Ringling College of Art and Design
For 86 years, Ringling College of Art and Design has cultivated the creative spirit in students from around the globe. The private, not-for-profit fully accredited college offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 11 disciplines and the Bachelor of Arts in two. The College’s rigorous curriculum employs the studio model of teaching and immediately engages students through a comprehensive, first-year program that is both specific to the major of study and focused on the liberal arts. The Ringling College teaching model ultimately shapes students into highly employable and globally aware artists and designers. www.ringling.edu.