The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at USF (OLLI-USF) is part of a network of 124 lifelong learning programs at colleges and universities in all fifty states and the District of Columbia developed and sponsored by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Each program shares the common thread of providing intellectually stimulating, non-credit learning opportunities specifically for “seasoned adults” age 50 and better, where member-volunteers contribute significantly to program operations.
OLLI Connects is OLLI-USF’s monthly Web magazine, and we are delighted that you’re exploring this issue. Some of you have been enjoying the posts in OLLI Connects for a long time now. You’ve seen short stories, personal reminiscences, humor, poetry, photography, and personal insights into travel, science, and history. And occasionally, just occasionally, you’ve thought “I could write something like that!” Don’t be coy. We know you have.
Well, it turns out that now is an excellent time for you to turn that thought into action. Creative action. Or visual action. Or explanatory and analytical action. Whatever sends that pleasant surge of electricity through your brain cells. We’re always looking for interesting articles, engaging stories, and thoughtful poetry. And we can now offer a space for your book reviews (or film or TV reviews), political and social commentary, and letters to the editor.
OLLI Connects is written for you and by you. It’s about OLLI-USF members sharing our stories and building connections with one another. You’ve got talent, folks. You just need to work up the courage to share it. If there are some rough spots in your work, we’ll smooth them out, so you don’t have to be perfect. To get an “article” to us, attach it to an email sent to us at connectsolli25@gmail.com.
So, now that you know the What and the Why, fire up those creative brain cells that you’ve let languish for too long. Let that pleasant electricity flow. And if you bump into writer’s block, remember the advice of the renowned 18th Century essayist, Gustave Gutenscriber, “Write drunk; edit sober!”
