Summertime is the perfect time to learn about the workings of all things Osher. Come meet staff and volunteers who work hard to create our very special program dedicated to lifetime learners ages 50 and better. Try one of our FREE Osher Behind the Scenes classes or discover volunteer opportunities to help make this wonderful program even better by adding your own special touch. Learn about the importance of volunteering to our health—and indeed to the health of our democracy—at our Join or Die Film Screening and Discussion with new Osher Assistant Director Anne Terry. The world needs community right now and we are building it here at Osher, one class, one instructor, one event, one special project, and one volunteer at a time. Read below for a variety of opportunities to join in the fun and support us!
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Call for Submissions – Osher Reflections
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Attention Osher Members! We are excited to announce that the 2nd Edition of Osher Reflections, our new literary and art publication, is now in the planning stage, to be available by December 2026. We are inviting Osher members to submit their stories and poetry for this edition. The selection of these stories/poetry will be done by a juried panel of five Osher members including Holly Webster, the editor. Guidelines for writing these submissions can be obtained by email: hollyfw@gmail.com .
The deadline to submit is Friday June 19.
We know there are many people in our Osher community with intriguing stories, and we look forward to reading them! We are hopeful for very modest donations to help publish this project, but it is not obligatory for submission of your writing. Donations to support this worthy project can be made through the Osher website.
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Artwork: Song Bird by Marjorie Ann McClure
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This course is for both new and continuing Osher instructors who would like to provide class members with digital learning resources, including syllabi, handouts, slides, and videos. Learn how to make these resources more accessible for all learners in just a few clicks! Come away understanding how to ensure your course materials comply with new federal legislation regarding Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which all courses will need to follow by April 2027.
If possible, bring your own laptop or tablet to familiarize yourself with the resources available on your device, or follow along with provided examples. Thank you for helping us provide the Osher experience to more of our community!
Wednesday June 10 or June 17 at 11:30 am
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In this Emmy-nominated feature documentary, follow the half-century story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam, whose groundbreaking Bowling Alone research into America's decades-long decline in community connections could hold the answers to our democracy's present crisis. Engage with fellow Osher members as we watch this fascinating film in two parts, with a guided discussion at the end of each session.
Wednesday June 10 at 3:30 pm
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The Marriott Library is more than just a place for undergraduates to study; it's a high-powered toolkit for academic research. Learn how to navigate the library, access premium resources, and utilize specialized University of Utah services designed for all U students, including Osher members. From database shortcuts to personalized librarian support, we'll show you how to make the library work for you!
Friday June 19 at 10:00 am
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Since February 2022, a large wave of emigrants left Russia, most of them for political reasons. Yet, this is far from being the first wave of emigration from Russia. In the last 200 years, millions of emigres left Russia on account of their political views, professional careers, and personal circumstances and settled in Paris and Istanbul, London and Shanghai, New York and San Francisco, and beyond. Among them were scientists and engineers, writers and artists, singers and musicians, chess masters and linguists, ballet dancers and figure skaters. Several Russian emigres were awarded Nobel prizes for their achievements.
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In this course, we'll explore the extraordinary lives of several Russian emigres of international renown, among them: Elie Metchnikoff, a Nobel prize laureate who popularized yogurt; Sofia Kovalevskaya, a woman who couldn't pursue her chosen profession in Russia; Vladimir Zvorykin, a man whose invention completely changed the world we live in; and many others. We will examine what factors forced them to leave their homeland and what contributions they made to the world. We'll also consider how their lives enfolded in immigration, and perhaps even conjecture what might have happened to them had they decided to stay.
Meet Asya teaching in person this term!
Wednesday June 24 at 3:30 pm
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Try Out Our Beautiful Sandy Center This Summer!
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The melodies often had only three chords, and the lyrics were not always the most socially uplifting, but the music just grabbed you from the first moment you heard it. It was rhythmic, clean, and totally fun to dance to. Growing up with this music was pure joy. We all love the tunes that were popular when we were young, when we first danced with our 7th grade sweetheart, when we went to our first boy-girl party, when we first turned out in pink and black. That music and the stories behind it are forever young.
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The instructor hopes you find in the Birth of Rock 'n Roll a small portion of the pleasure he found and when the musical art form was taking its first steps.
Tuesday June 16 at 10:00 am
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This class will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the printing of the "Pentagon Papers" in the New York Times and the Washington Post. The US government had previously filed a lawsuit to prevent the publication of the papers claiming that the publication would cause 'irreparable injury' to the United States. However, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of the Press to print the papers based on the public's 'right to know' the truth about government deception regarding the Vietnam War.
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Much of this story is revealed in an excellent 2017 movie by Steven Spielberg, called "The Post" starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. After class, those who wish can join Scott for lunch at the soup and salad buffet "Dollies" which is nearby the Sandy Center.
Tuesday June 30 at 11:00 am
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John Mortimer's Rumpole of the Bailey is part barrister, part detective, and part wit, and his combination of high intelligence and low foolery help him and his collection of oddball colleagues create solutions to crimes few others can fathom. Renowned as the comic, courageous, and corpulent "great defender of muddled and sinful humanity," Horace Rumpole, a true Dickensian character, and as great a detective as Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, shines and generates laughter in one short story after another.
Thursday June 4 at 1:30 pm
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The Great Salt Lake is one of the most misunderstood and remarkable landscapes in North America; it's vast, shifting, and deeply tied to Utah's natural and cultural story. In this three-week online course, we'll explore the lake's current health and challenges, understand its distinct regions and ecosystems, and discover the most compelling places to visit around its shorelines.
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Learners will gain practical travel insight into scenic routes, wildlife areas, historic sites, and hidden gems that make the lake worth experiencing firsthand. Through storytelling, visuals, and place-based context, this class blends science with soulful exploration making it ideal for curious travelers, nature lovers, and lifelong learners.
Tuesday June 16 at 1:30 pm
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When you think of rock & roll, do you think of that classic era of the Fifties, Sixties, and Seventies? The music was incredible. Just hearing it made you glad to be alive. But they were tumultuous times, too. Demonstrations over civil rights, the Viet Nam War, political assassinations - sometimes it seemed like the world was coming apart. The music helped us get through it. This is a memoir of those days of wonder and rage.
Monday June 29 at 1:30 pm
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Run by the National Resource Center (NRC) at Northwestern University, this special program allows members from various Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes to participate in shared online courses, thanks to the generosity of Bernard Osher Foundation. These courses are not meant to replace our locally offered in-person or online courses but rather to supplement our own local offerings. The very high-quality courses feature popular instructors from some of the 124 Osher Institutes across the country. Osher Online allows Osher members from different states and institutions to learn with and connect to each other while maintaining membership at their own local Institutes. We hope you will enjoy being a part of the fun!
Registration Deadline: June 17th
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Join the Osher Booker Book Group for our June meeting as we discuss May's book selection, Oscar and Lucinda (1988) by Peter Carey--a love story set in 19th-century England between a priest and a young heiress. We meet monthly at the Osher Building to discuss the previous month's book selection. Everyone is welcome. Perhaps we are "novel" in that we actually discuss the book! Next meeting (August), we will discuss The Luminaries (2013) by Eleanor Catton.
Please note: Registration is required for each month's meeting you plan to attend
Friday June 5 at 1:00 pm
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Inspired by The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff, this intimate gathering invites you to slow down, sip tea, and explore the wisdom of simplicity, presence, and playfulness in the beautiful setting of Lila Studio in Sugar House. Together, we'll share thoughtful conversation and meaningful connection while reflecting on how gentleness, ease, and community can nourish us in everyday life. This is not a lecture or workshop, but a relaxed and welcoming space for reflection, laughter, and authentic conversation. Space is limited to 10 participants to keep the experience intimate and conversational.
Thursday June 18 at 1:30 pm
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Please join us for Part II of The Other Side program serving Utah. During this event, we will tour The Other Side Academy, share conversation with students at a luncheon prepared by The Other Side, and listen to stories about their journey to the "other side." The Other Side Academy is a training school where students learn pro-social, vocational, and life skills, helping them emerge with a healthy life on "the other side." This program is available as an alternative to those facing long-term incarceration, as well as those seeking a change from the life they've chosen in the past.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: June 12
Friday June 19 at 11:30 am
Thursday June 18 at 1:30 pm
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Join the Osher Booker Book Group for our August meeting as we discuss June/July's book selection, The Luminaries (2013) by Eleanor Catton. The novel examines the world of shipping, banking, and the gold rush in 1800's New Zealand. At 800 pages, we need two months to read it! We meet monthly at the Osher Building to discuss the previous month's book selection. Everyone is welcome. Perhaps we are "novel" in that we actually discuss the book! Next meeting (September), we will discuss The Life of Pi (2002) by Yann Martel.
Please note: Registration is required for each month's meeting you plan to attend.
Friday August 7 at 1:00 pm
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| Osher Special Events in 2026 are brought to you in part from funding from ZAP
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Enjoy a hands-on creative weaving experience with Jenny Ferguson of Bewitched by Alpacas located in Bluffdale; NO experience necessary. You'll learn a traditional fiber art and experience the quiet satisfaction of making something with your own hands, taking home a finished piece at the end of the 3-hour workshop. The looms are set up outdoors, surrounded by nature and curious alpacas who occasionally wander over to see what everyone is doing. Everything is designed so beginners can relax, experiment with color, and enjoy the creative process. All levels of weavers welcome!
Friday June 5 at 10:00 am or 4:00 pm
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Volunteer to Have More Fun at Osher!
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Do you love attending Osher Special Events each term? Are you curious about how we select and organize our many varied fun events and who is responsible for planning them? This single-session free class will give you a behind-the-scenes tour of how Osher staff and volunteers run this very special and unique aspect of our program. Volunteerism is the foundation of Osher and especially of Special Events. We've slowly been gearing up after Covid changed the way events were done in 2020. We're getting back to more in-person meetings at familiar venues and exploring new places too. Come learn how it's done and maybe even plan a new special event yourself for your fellow Osher members or share your ideas for fun places for Osher to visit!
Wednesday June 3 at 11:30 am
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New! Osher Special Events Club — Join the Conversation
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Osher members are invited to a new monthly gathering designed to spark ideas, build connections, and help shape future Osher special events. This informal gathering is an opportunity for members to come together, share ideas, and collaborate on creative possibilities for future Osher events. Following our discussion, we’ll take a leisurely stroll through Red Butte Garden together. Future meetings may rotate to other Osher partner locations and wonderful places that Osher members can enjoy through their membership benefits. Whether you love brainstorming, planning, or simply connecting with fellow lifelong learners, we’d love to have you join us. No registration needed, please just show up and have fun!
Our next Special Events Club meeting will take place:
Thursday, June 11 at 2:00 pm
Red Butte Garden Patio
For questions or more information, contact Sandi Greene: sandi@sandigreenecoaching.com
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Our previous newsletters and podcasts are saved in an archive on our main website, so you never have to worry about missing a thing.
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Stay Connected by Joining Us on Social Media |
The Osher Instagram and Facebook pages are a great way to stay connected. We highlight the accomplishments of Osher instructors and members. Special Events are updated, posted, and featured here too. Please like us to stay up to date and share with your friends who would enjoy all that Osher has to offer!
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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
801-581-6461 | osher@utah.edu
osher.utah.edu
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Continuing Education at the University of Utah | 540 Arapeen Dr Rm 210 | Salt Lake City, UT 84108 US
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540 Arapeen Drive | Salt Lake City, UT 84108 US
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