OLLI Outlook
The Monthly Newsletter of OLLI @Berkeley
December 2012
Contents
Announcements
2012-13 Annual Fund
Fourth Age Salons
Faculty Profile: Richard Saiz
Volunteer Profile: Ann Peden and Lucille Poskanzer
Cuba Travel Program: Register by December 19
Welcome to the Incoming Program Coordinator
OLLI Faculty News and Events
The Lunch Bunch
In Memoriam
Member Benefits and Partner News
2012-13 Academic Calendar
Gift Certificates
Join Our Mailing List!
Links
Donate to OLLI

Find OLLI on Facebook


OLLI @Berkeley Staff
Director
Susan Hoffman

Program Coordinators
Aileen Kim (Outgoing)
Nicole Magnuson (Incoming)

Communications Coordinator
Satya Levine

Classroom and Events Coordinator
Gerard Alcantara

Research Assistant
Sandra von Doetinchem

Student Staff
Nika Allahverdi, Vickie Tran My Duong, Stephen Frianeza, Alex Lee, Sabrina Liu, BriAnne Lynn, Alexis Nya, Tina Savong, Julie Xiao, Wei Zhuo

OLLI @Berkeley
University of California
1925 Walnut St #1570
Berkeley, CA 94720-1570
tel. 510.642.9934
fax. 510.642.2202
[email protected]
http://olli.berkeley.edu

Registration and Brochures
Winter 2013 registration is in full swing, with three classes already filled and others close to capacity. If you're thinking of registering for the winter, we encourage you to register early to ensure your place. Complete course descriptions are posted on our website, and many courses also have syllabi available on their course pages.

The brochure is currently available in PDF version on our website. Download the brochure. For those on the mailing list, brochures will be arriving in the mail in the coming days. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, call 510.642.9934 or email [email protected].

We are recruiting volunteers for brochure distribution. If you are a member of a group, club, church, synagogue, etc., or frequent doctors' offices, libraries, or other locales where OLLI brochures could be put on display, please contact Satya ([email protected]) to arrange to pick up brochures from the office. Thank you!   

Announcements
OFFICE CLOSURE ~ Dec 24-Jan 1
The OLLI office will be closed from December 24,
2012-January 1, 2013. It will still be possible to register online for the Winter 2013 term during that period.
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WINTER 2013 OPEN HOUSE ~ Jan 8
Tuesday, January 8, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Doors open at 9:30 am
Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse
2020 Addison St, Berkeley
Free | Reserve a place
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LAFAYETTE INFO SESSION ~ Jan 17
Thursday, January 17, 1:30-3:00 pm
Lafayette Library and Learning Center
3491 Mount Diablo Blvd, Lafayette
Free | Reserve a place

2012-13 Annual Fund
Thanks to all those who have already donated to the OLLI 2012-13 Annual Fund--we have raised nearly $20,000 toward our goal of $70,000! If you have not yet donated, consider making your gift before the end of the year to qualify for a 2012 tax deduction.

Donations can be made online via secure server or by check (payable to "UC Regents"), mailed to 1925 Walnut St #1570, Berkeley 94720-1570.

Thank you to our 2012-13 donors!

Fourth Age Salons

Are you an OLLI member 80 years of age or older? The Fourth Age Salon is an opportunity for OLLI to better understand your learning needs and interests. All participants must be Annual members. If you haven't registered yet for the year, call 510.642.9934.

Monday, January 14, 3:00-4:30 pm
Room 41B University Hall (2199 Addison St) 

 

RSVP to Sandra von Doetinchem at 510.642.9407.

 

Faculty Profile: Richard Saiz 

By Craig Hammack 

 

Richard Saiz does not profess to being a film scholar, but he does have great enthusiasm for Latin American films. In his class "New Trends in Latin American Cinema," he will share his views and an array of films from Mexico, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Running Tuesdays, February 5 through March 12 from 1:00-3:30 pm at Freight and Salvage, the 2-1/2 hour sessions will allow viewing of complete films and leave time for discussion and analysis.

Saiz's life's work is writing, directing, and producing documentary films at KQED and other organizations. Most recently, he oversaw Open Call, a program of Independent Television Services which funded documentary film projects. He has won many awards for his films, including the DuPont-Columbia Silver Baton and Best Television Documentary from the San Francisco International Film Festival.

Saiz watched films of all sorts as a youth. As a second generation Mexican-American, he had great interest in films with a Latin American point of view.  In his 35-year career in film, he has traveled to many countries to work with writers and directors who share their unique visions through their work.

"I was very involved in the Chicano Student movement and was editor for a student newspaper. I became very interested in the point of view of Latin Americans," Saiz recalled in a recent interview. "I think one of the first documentaries that came out from the political turmoil in Latin America was a three-part film  by Patricio Guzman titled 'The Battle of Chile', a three-part documentary on the political turmoil that came about when the Allende government was overthrown by the Pinochet coup," he added. 

For his initial teaching stint with OLLI, Saiz has chosen films that present a distinctive Latin American perspective.

"In six weeks, it is not possible to give a full overview of Latin American Cinema, so the real task is to pick five contemporary films, made within the past seven years, that I can show in their entirety and still have time to discuss and analyze them," Saiz explains. "I want students to be able to analyze these films when they've been presented a true picture of the Latin American perspective."

Saiz will begin the course with an overview of Latin American films from the 1960s and 1970s that came to be known as "Third Cinema." These films reflected great changes in the social and political systems of Latin America, including the Cuban Revolution, and upheavals in Chile, Argentina, and Mexico.

The five complete films that Saiz will present focus on political and social changes specific to contemporary Latin America. Within this framework, viewers will note the use of such themes as violence (within family dynamics or the greater society), anti-imperialism, and the underclass and how it is treated. Films include "Muchuca" (Chile), "Milk of Sorrow" (Peru), "The Swamp" (Argentina), and "El Violin" (Mexico). The final film will be from Brazil.               

Volunteer Profile: Ann Peden and Lucille Poskanzer
Ann Peden ANN PEDEN
I was born in Lodi, California, and moved to Menlo Park at age 15. I've been an OLLI @Berkeley member for five years and before that was at OLLI at SF State when Susan Hoffman was the director there. I am currently the co-chair of the Curriculum Committee. My favorite courses are anything taught by David Presti. Besides taking advantage of the exceptional courses we are so privileged to have in our backyard, I spend my time singing in a rock and roll choir--Vox Populi, educating people as a Master Gardener, and creating mixed media art.

Lucille Poskanzer LUCILLE POSKANZER

Where were you born? I was born in New York City, educated in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Berkeley. We came to Berkeley in 1966.
How long have you been a member of OLLI @Berkeley? I was a member of the first iteration of OLLI in 2003, and helped to establish the "new and improved" OLLI in 2007.
What are your hobbies? Exploring restaurants, reading, film going, theater, travel, museums, cooking, and the care and feeding of my husband.
What was the last OLLI course you took, or your favorite one? I tend to take courses in politics and history, but have always loved Michael Fox's documentary film classes. Linda Rugg's "Murder on Ice" course was a revelation.
What roles have you had as an OLLI volunteer? I am currently co-chair of the Curriculum Committee and am also on the Membership Committee. I have always helped out at the OLLI Open House, and wherever else I am needed.
What do you like most about being an OLLI volunteer? There's a tremendous satisfaction in being part of a great organization--working with terrific, intelligent, and knowledgeable people, keeping my brain active and challenged--and it is lots of fun.

Cuba Travel Program: Register by December 19

There's still time to register for the Cuba Travel Program, "The Cuban Art Revolution: Meeting the Artists and People of Cuba," a 9-day/8-night program offered in collaboration with Road Scholar.

  • Trip #1: Tuesday, March 12, to Wednesday, March 20, 2013
    with UC Berkeley Professor Alex Saragoza
  • Trip #2: Tuesday, March 19, to Wednesday, March 27, 2013
    with OLLI instructor Richard Saiz and OLLI Director Susan Hoffman        
For more information, see http://olli.berkeley.edu/travel/cuba-2013.html. To reserve a place, contact Frania Monarski at [email protected] or toll free at 1.877.209.4634.
Travel Program: The Cuban Art Revolution: Meeting the Artists and People of Cuba (Alex Saragoza) 
Travel Program
The Cuban Art Revolution: Meeting the Artists and People of Cuba (Alex Saragoza)

 

Welcome to the Incoming Program Coordinator
Nicole Magnuson
Nicole Magnuson
In light of Aileen Kim's upcoming retirement, OLLI @Berkeley is pleased to welcome Nicole Magnuson as the new Program Coordinator. Nicole is already in the office, working alongside Aileen in preparation for the transition.

Nicole Magnuson has lived in Europe, Mexico, Canada, and on both US coasts, but always comes back to Berkeley. With two Cal degrees, she has managed environmental, arts, and educational nonprofit organizations, including campus appointments at UC Extension and the National Writing Project. She enjoys travel, food and cooking, and languages.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome!

OLLI Faculty News and Events
Theatre Bay Area profiled Philippa Kelly, OLLI Instructor and Cal Shakes Resident Dramaturg, in the article A Dramaturg's Secret Life: Philippa Kelly of Cal Shakes.

 

The Lunch Bunch

by Lucille Poskanzer

Razan's Organic Kitchen
2119 Kittredge St, between Oxford St and Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA
510.486.0449
 www.razansorganickitchen.com

This hole-in-the-wall, open all day, every day, is close enough to the OLLI classrooms to warrant a visit. In the small and crowded space there are a few outside and inside tables, but the food makes the inconvenience worth it. Featured are burritos, International wraps, and Mediterranean combo plates, as well as soups and salads, organic juices, and smoothies. Their motto states "Our food does not take drugs." Prices are moderate and portions generous. Recommended choices are the chicken burrito, the Jerusalem wrap and the Egyptian wrap. Plans are in progress to expand into the neighboring space that once housed Great China, which will bring welcome relief to the lunchtime crowds.

 

In Memoriam
OLLI @Berkeley remembers those who have left us in the past year: Nancy Blair and Jeff Lustig. May their families be comforted.

Member Benefits and Partner News

Berkeley City Commons Friday Lunch Talks

City Commons Club of Berkeley meets every Friday from 11:45 am to 1:30 pm at the Berkeley City Club (2315 Durant Ave, Berkeley) to promote the lively discussion of topics of interest to Bay Area residents. Come for lunch or just for the talk. For upcoming programs, visit: http://www.citycommonsclub.org/UpcomingPrograms.html 

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Berkeley Symphony offers $5 discount to OLLI members

OLLI members for the 2012-2013 year can receive a $5 discount on single advance purchase tickets at the Berkeley Symphony for advance tickets. Use the discount code olli2013. More info

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Berkeley Arts and Letters: 50% Discount

Berkeley Arts and Letters offers a 50% student discount to OLLI members on advance tickets purchased through their website. Visit http://berkeleyarts.org for more information.  

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Jazz Cafe: 10% Discount
Ongoing through the Spring term, show your OLLI student card and get 10% off on food and non-alcoholic beverages. The Jazz Cafe is located at 2087 Addison Street, just across the street from Freight and Salvage Coffeehouse.

 

2012-13 Academic Calendar

WINTER 2013
Open House: January 8
Term: January 28-March 11
Holiday: February 18

SPRING 2013
Open House: March 12
Term: April 1-May 10

SUMMER 2013
Courses: June 4-27

Term dates through the 2012-13 academic year are available at: http://olli.berkeley.edu/calendar/academicCalendar.html.

Gift Certificates
Share the sweetness of lifelong learning with a friend or loved one. Take a course together, or explore different interests and discuss what you've learned over lunch after class. Gift certificates are available for OLLI memberships, courses, and workshops. Download an order form or contact the OLLI office (510.642.9934) to purchase a gift certificate.