KU’s Osher Institute, Hutchinson Community College announce fall courses

LAWRENCE — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Kansas in partnership with Hutchinson Community College will offer four courses and two special events this fall and a special discount for alumni association members. Courses are held as three two-hour sessions, generally for three consecutive weeks.

The first course, “Blown Away: The Science of Kansas Weather,” takes place at Mennonite Friendship Communities in South Hutchinson, Wednesdays, Sept. 18, 25 and Oct. 2.

Weather — which by definition is the state of the atmosphere with regards to heat, cloudiness, dryness, sunshine, wind and precipitation — has become so unusual in Kansas that it has gone from a conversation topic to a spectator sport. The course explores what drives these weather processes and what, if anything, we can predict in this unpredictable state. The course will be taught by Brian Bird, who teaches physics, physical science, meteorology, geology and aviation classes at HCC.

“Kansas Pastimes: Entertainment in the 19^th Century” will be presented Wednesdays, Oct. 15, 22 and 29, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in the Justice Theater of the Shears Technology Center on the HCC campus.

This course explores what you might you have done to keep the doldrums away if you lived in the 1800s, before television and computers. The course looks at the possibilities from parlor games such as” Look-About Charades” or “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile” to foot races and county fairs. The course will be taught by Kent Sallee, Emergency Medical Services logistics coordinator at HCC whose special interests include archeology and Kansas history.

“Strokes of Genius: 20^th Century Spanish and French Impressionism” will be presented Tuesdays, Nov. 5, 12 and 19, 2 p.m.-4 p.m. in the Justice Theater of HCC’s Shears Technology Center.

This course looks at Impressionist artists, the radicals of their time who broke all the rules of academic painting. Participants will learn about the color, composition and culture of some of the greatest artwork of the 20^th century, ranging from Renoir to Monet and beyond. The course will be taught by Hesston College art professor Lois Misegadis.

In addition to the Hutchinson courses, HCC also sponsors courses at its McPherson Center. This fall, “Positive Aging” will take place Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., at the Hutchinson Community College McPherson Center, 2208 E. Kansas Ave., just off the Interstate 335 McPherson exit.

This course offers an in-depth look at normal aging, ageism (prejudice or discrimination against the aged), and tips and tricks on how to age in the best way possible. It will be taught by Irene Nielsen.

In addition to short courses, the Osher Institute and Hutchinson Community College will offer two special events. "A Day on the Flying W Ranch in the Flint Hills” on Oct. 10 will be the highlight of the season. Participants will depart from the HCC campus by coach, Thursday, Oct. 10, at 9 a.m. for the Flying W Ranch owned by the Hoy family, who have been ranchers for generations. The day includes a leisurely horse-drawn wagon ride across the Flint Hills to see the fall colors of the prairie, a chuck wagon lunch and cowboy tunes and folklore with author Jim Hoy.

A special event, “Tea Time Together: History, Etiquette and High Tea,” will take place Friday, Oct. 18, from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Hutchinson Community College Shears Technology Center.  Participants will learn the culture, tradition, history, terminology and etiquette of this proud British ritual, then experience the joy and tastes of afternoon tea. The event will be led by Irene Nielsen, who has written the book “Teatime Together.”

Six other courses and one special event are available in other locations in South Central Kansas—North Newton, Hesston and McPherson. Course topics range from Middle East current events to photography taught by Jim Griggs to “facts, fables and fiction” in American history. A special Osher lecture on Scotland’s archeology, history and politics, will kick off McPherson’s Scottish Festival in September.

“This fall our theme is ‘Learning Is an Ageless Adventure,’” said Jim Peters, the Institute’s director. “And to ensure that, we have placed the broadest, boldest and best lineup of courses and events within reach of every person in South Central Kansas as well as in Lawrence, Topeka, Manhattan and the Greater Kansas City area.”

Members of the alumni associations of KU, Hutchinson Community College, and Hesston College are eligible for a $10 discount on the first course fee of $35. Others partner institutions alumni associations across the state — KSU, Ottawa University and Washburn University — are also eligible for the discount.

A unit of KU Continuing Education, the Osher Institute develops enrichment programs focusing on those 50 and over but welcomes lifelong learners of all ages. The Bernard Osher Foundation of San Francisco selected KU in 2004 as a site for this nationally acclaimed program the shares the rich resources of the University of Kansas with the general public. Hutchinson Community College was the first Kansas regional institution to partner with KU, bringing Osher courses to the south central area in 2008.The institute now has more than 2,700 members, statewide.

Other South Central area course titles, instructors, dates and locations are listed below. For more information or to enroll, visit www.osher.ku.edu or call toll free (877) 404-5823.

Hesston

• “Fables, Fact and Fiction in Telling the American Story,” John Sharp, Sept. 12, 19 and 26, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., Hesston Wellness Center
• “Americana Song and Poetry,” Dwight Roth, Ken Rodgers and Tony Brown, Oct. 1, 3 and 8,  6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Hesston College
• “The Revenge of Geography: Understanding Our Past and Imagining Our Future,” Jim Mininger, Nov. 5, 12 and 19, 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

North Newton

• “Seeing the World, One Eye at a Time,” professional photographer Jim Griggs, Oct. 15, 22 and 29, Kidron Bethel Village

McPherson

• “Exploring Scotland: An Insider’s Look at Its Archeology, History and Politics,” Tom Schmiedeler, Sept. 27, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., one-time special event, The Cedars Conference Center
• “What’s Going On in the Middle East,” Dave Osborne, Oct. 16, 23 and 30, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., The Cedars Conference Center
• “Positive Aging,” Irene Nielsen, Nov. 6, 13 and 20, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., Hutchinson Community College McPherson Center.