OLLI-USF Salutes Hard-Working Volunteers!
— George Hyde
If OLLI-USF had an Army, these would be our “green Berets” — the cadre of teachers, writers, editors, photographers, and all-around helpers who augment our limited staff to provide our members top-notch educational and socialization opportunities! More than 100 members of this key group gathered at the Temple Terrace Country Club on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 for the annual Volunteer Recognition Breakfast, and the accolades were flying.
Pam Tyler, creator of the hugely-successful “Circles” member-engagement program (and OLLI’s new Advisory Board Chair), received OLLI’s “Above and Beyond” Award, while Karen Brown-Bloningen, a true OLLI legend, grabbed a well-deserved “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Congratulations also went to the tandem of Theresa Sokol and Al Carlson, winners of an “Exemplary Teamwork” Award for their efforts in establishing the “OLLI Connects” blog as a “must-read” element in our monthly news menu. A similar award went to the “Hablemos (Spanish Conversation SIG.”
Representing “Hablemos” on that morning were OLLI Director Emeritus Ara Rogers, Grizelle Aldea, and Michael Hayes.
Also honored were seven new inductees into the OLLI-USF Faculty Honor Roll recognizing successful completion of ten courses for OLLI students: Marilyn Carrasquillo, Fulvia Fiorani, Michael Hayes, John Hassell, Benjamin Mena, Jeff Swartz, and Davide Tanasi. Carolyn Clark received the Award of Excellence.
Congratulations to all and Thank You!
George Hyde MBA Brown University, is a veteran radio broadcaster who served as Executive VP, Radio Advertising Bureau; Vice Chairman, National Association of Broadcasters; and Florida Regional Vice President for a major radio group. George spent his career in radio, both on-air and behind the scenes. His passion for accurate information and critical thinking has led to the creation of many memorable OLLI courses.
Artificial Communication
— Peter Terzian
With degrees in communication, education, and administration you’d think I’d have quite the command of information exchange. The technology has changed quite a bit in my 50 years since college. For the most part I have kept up and established my own personal standards. Being retired allows me the time to sift through all the chaff to get to the whole grains of useful exchanges. I can only imagine what it would be like to be working and raising a family and still have time to do the sifting. Maybe that’s why A.I. is so attractive to so many people if it can reliably sort through all the forms of communication to help you stay in touch in a more effective and timely manner.
Let’s start with some standards
⩥ Most important or personal – phone call
⩥ Personal and prompt – texting
⩥ Useful, not urgent – eMail (to, cc, bcc)
⩥ Social personal – Facebook message
⩥ Social group – Facebook group
⩥ Large group repository – Web Pages
⩥ Mass AV infor -YouTube and Vimeo
⩥ New radio – Podcasts
⩥ Free mass media – TV and Radio
⩥ Mass subscription – print (newspapers/magazines)
We get various forms of information from all of these media. One friend likes to only talk on the phone, for up to an hour! That’s my least favorite means. Although getting a call from my sister is always a pleasant surprise.
I’ll text my closest friends. It’s the best way to keep in touch without being too intrusive. And speaking of intrusive, unwelcome emails from outside my personal circle have started to inundate my IN-box. I’ve found that if I move those to my junk folder it usually prevents them from getting into my IN-box if the STOP request doesn’t work.
So, I asked ChatGPT and Google how I might communicate across some of these platforms by just creating one message and sending it to several of them in one click. The only obvious reply was to use another app, WhatsApp, which had already been recommended by a H.I. (human intelligence) friend of mine. Another search turned up services like Zapier, Slack, MailChimp, Hub Spot, and Google Group Contacts.
Next, I stepped through a free USF course, Course Enhancement with Generative AI, to get a better idea of how to use AI. Just by viewing the Introduction and Module 1 videos I was able to get a clear understanding of how the process works. You could go through all 4 modules and complete the exercises to qualify for a certificate. I can see how this might elevate OLLI courses to the next level.
AI is everywhere! The Tampa Entrepreneur Collaboration Center recently offered an event for AI Advantage – Future Proofing Your Business. See HCFL.gov/eccevents. USF established the Bellini College of AI for Cybersecurity and Computing in 2024 to foster ethical, secure and responsible computing technologies. Even creativity is enjoying the effects of AI through images and movies (new!) through sites like OpenArt.ai.
In conclusion, according to ChatGPT…
“In conclusion, the evolution of communication technologies over the past few decades has undoubtedly reshaped the way we connect, exchange information, and manage our personal and professional lives. From traditional methods like phone calls and emails to newer, more efficient tools like AI-driven platforms and messaging apps, it’s clear that the sheer volume of information we face today requires thoughtful navigation.
“While AI presents an exciting opportunity to streamline communication, it also prompts us to reconsider our personal preferences and the standards by which we communicate. Whether through personal interactions with close friends or mass media consumption, understanding these evolving tools and finding what works best for us is crucial.
“As AI continues to advance and integrate into various facets of life, it offers both challenges and opportunities that, if harnessed effectively, can enhance our connectivity, productivity, and creativity in ways we may have never imagined. Ultimately, the key lies in striking the right balance between technological innovation and meaningful human connection.”
Peter Terzian began his career as a school media and technology teacher in 1980 and retired in 2017. He started brewing a few years ago as a hobby and is now OLLI-USF’s resident expert on turning natural ingredients into tasty beverages. He enjoys volunteering for arts, education, and technology projects. He teaches for OLLI and contributes to OLLI Connects and the OLLI-USF Facebook Group.
The Lighter Side
In 2017 Saturday Night Live ran a hilarious sketch about Seniors and AI Assistants. Although technology (and hopefully our ability to use it effectively) has advanced considerably since that time, this skit will still resonate and entertain.
Title: The Amazon Echo Silver is specifically designed for the greatest generation with Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Kyle Mooney, Aidy Bryant.
Cartoon Caption Challenge
Art’s 1964 cartoon needs a 2025 caption. Add yours in Comments. We have a prize for the best entry.
A Cartoon by Art Henrikson
Diane Henrikson Russell, Curator
You may remember that gigantic computers were housed in a separate room, like those featured in the 1957 film, Desk Set, starring Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. Tracy was an efficiency expert who replaced Reference Department librarians like Hepburn with large computers. The computers were fed data, yet the human librarians answered customers’ questions more accurately than the computer. Unlike the film, the computer in this cartoon has human needs and qualities. It is hard to fathom that 60 years later, we all carry small computers that answer our questions in seconds, link us to events throughout the world, and even serve as our companions. It’s magic!
Caption Hint: In the original cartoon Diane’s dad added the term “Raw Data” and had his big computer complain about how indigestible it was. What would make a computer–large or small–uncomfortable today? Put your idea in the Comment box below! It may win our, ahem, “fabulous” prize.
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