BY ANDY LEE WHITE | FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Auburn University recently announced the winter 2024 Brown Bag Series speaker lineup.
Presentations are held on Wednesdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pebble Hill, located at 101 S. Debardeleben St. in Auburn.
The following events are free and open to the public.
Jan. 17: White and Black and Rode All Over: Revelations and Rewards from a Journey into Family History —Bob Stewart will discuss how an inherited antebellum photographic portrait inspired the exploration of an American family’s history. This presentation will demonstrate that family history research can be a rewarding extension to the genealogical work of compiling one’s family tree.
Stewart served as executive director of the Alabama Humanities Foundation (now Alabama Humanities Alliance) from 1987 until retirement in 2012. His collaboration with scholars, archivists, editors and technical specialists at Auburn University led to development of the online Encyclopedia of Alabama. Stewart’s talk is offered under the auspices of the Alabama Historical Association.
Jan. 24: Cover Crops for the Home Garden: Making Your Dirt Happy — Carole Borowski, retired educator and Certified Master Gardener, will provide a brief introduction to the Master Gardener program, focusing on using plants in place of fertilizer, mulch, weed control or any other soil additives to successfully grow anything you need or desire for a home garden.
Jan. 31: How Voting Procedures Have Changed since 2020: For Good or Ill? — David Nordness and Larry Gerber will present a summary of voting laws in the various states and how they changed before and after the 2020 election and present their contrasting views on the wisdom of those changes.
Feb. 7: Dramatic Monologues of Fannie Lou Hamer — Roz Thomas, an educator and storyteller who performs monologues as Fannie Lou Hamer, an American voting and women’s rights activist, community organizer and leader in the civil rights movement.
Feb. 14: Love, Lust and Loneliness: Valentine Verse by OLLI Poets (Accompanied by Chocolate) — Celebrate Valentine’s Day at Pebble Hill with this program, led by Ken Autrey, that will feature a series of original poems by OLLI poets appropriate to Valentine’s Day. Also on the menu will be a variety of chocolate confections.
Feb. 21: Pandemics: What are they and when will we see another? — Dr. Joseph Giambrone, professor emeritus in poultry science and pathobiology, will discuss pandemics, their complex behavior and how their occurrence depends on numerous factors.
Feb. 28: Live Life Loud — The fifth through ninth grade “stickmasters” of Huntsville Community Drumline (HCDL) will provide an entertaining presentation.
ABOUT OLLI:
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Auburn University offers non-credit classes in a variety of subjects. OLLI is a program of Auburn University Outreach, Office of the Vice President for University Outreach and is supported in part by The Bernard Osher Foundation.
OLLI at Auburn provides social interaction and volunteer opportunities for adults 50 and over, though all adults are welcome. Membership benefits include: academic courses, workshops, field trips and social events, travel opportunities, community discounts, access to Auburn University libraries, Tiger Transit and course auditing. There are no requirements for membership in OLLI at Auburn and activities are designed to promote participation of all members. Annual membership dues are only $50.
For more information about the numerous activities, classes and lectures offered by Auburn’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) visit auburn.edu/olli or call 334-844-3146.