GALVESTON, Texas - The 2009 fall semester of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston gets under way this month. The college-level courses are open to anyone 55 and older, regardless of previous education. Classes are offered in Galveston, League City and Houston.

There are no credits, exams or grades. Tuition is $25 for each course until Sept. 12 and $30 thereafter. Registrants must be members of OLLI. Annual membership in OLLI is $25 and runs through Aug. 31, 2010.

Call OLLI at 409-771-9008 to register. Payment can be made by credit card over the phone, by check or cash. Do not send credit card information via e-mail and do not mail cash. Make checks payable to UTMB with “OLLI” written on the memo line. Mail to: OLLI at UTMB, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0972. ZIP+4 must be used for timely delivery.

After registration, registrants will receive letters detailing course locations and other information. For more information, e-mail Michelle Sierpina, founding director, at msierpin@utmb.edu or Julia Barragan, coordinator, at jdbarrag@utmb.edu.

Here are course offerings for the fall semester:

Did a Whale Swallow Jonah? - And Other Famous Fish Tales — Tuesdays, 10-11:30 a.m., Oct. 6-Nov. 24. Instructor is Rabbi Jimmy Kessler. The Bible contains many interesting stories that have captured the imagination for a couple thousand years. They tend to raise two questions: Are the stories true? And, what’s their message and why were they put in the Bible? In this class, consideration will be given to the whale, Moses’ horns, God’s real name, what did Adam eat, did the Jews go through the Red Sea, how many camels can dance on a cob of corn, among others.

That’s Another Story — alternate Tuesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 8-Dec. 15. Instructor is Alison Barker. Scientific evidence demonstrates the importance of telling and sharing life stories. Participants at all levels of writing skill, including novices, will share their memories. Participants will explore those narratives when “another story” emerged from their work in previous writing groups. The course is open to all. Participants get a chance to develop and share their stories and give feedback on stories they hear.

“A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” - Fridays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Oct. 2-Nov. 20. Instructor is John Gorman. James Joyce, literary godfather of William Faulkner and Gabriel García Márquez, is always at or near the head of lists of the most influential novelists of the 20th century. “Portrait,” unlike “Ulysses” or “Finnegan’s Wake,” can be understood and enjoyed in eight meetings. If you do life writing, you’ll profit from the best account in English of growing from late infancy to full adulthood. Joyce did for Modernism in fiction what T.S. Eliot did for poetry. The class will read the Penguin Classics paperback edition.

History of Galveston County - Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 2-Nov. 20. This course will be offered in collaboration with the Moody Mansion and will be taught by Moody Mansion staff and staff from Galveston Historical Foundation, Galveston County Museum and the Galveston County Historical Commission. They will discuss the history of Galveston. Participants will gain new historical perspectives as these experts share their knowledge of the rich history of the Gulf Coast area.

“Othello” - Mondays and Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., Oct. 19-Nov. 11. Class meets twice a week for four weeks. Instructor is Richard Peake. Shakespeare liked to put old wine in new glasses. In “Othello,” he takes a stock stage villain and changes him into a tragic hero, and he transforms another stock figure to bring this tragic hero to his downfall. Find out why, despite its greatness, this play could not be performed in parts of the United States well into the 20th century and even today may provoke controversy. The class will use the Signet Classics version of “Othello.”

SuperHealth - Mondays, 10 a.m.-noon, Sept. 14-Nov. 2. Instructors are Drs. Julie McKee and Victor Sierpina and the “Green Team” from UTMB’s Family Medicine Department. Based on Dr. Steven Pratt’s book “SuperHealth,” this course provides a research-based guide to healthy living. UTMB physicians will share scientifically proven insights from the book on healthy eating (including recipes, menus and meal plans), how food and exercise can turn on “good genes,” which foods and nutrients keep the senses sharp and how to reduce the waistline and lower inflammation. The text will be provided for use during the course.

Truth and Consequences: Writing Creative Nonfiction - Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., in two segments: First segment, Sept. 3, 10 and 17; second segment, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, 12, 19 and Dec. 3. Instructor is Kathryn Eastburn. Participants will explore varieties of creative nonfiction, including memoir, personal essay, and narrative nonfiction or literary journalism through readings and discussion of prime examples, and through their own writing. Eastburn is a journalist and the author of “Simon Says: A True Story of Boys, Guns and Murder” and “A Sacred Feast: Reflections on Sacred Harp Singing and Dinner on the Ground.” She is a visiting professor at Colorado College in Colorado Springs and Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

A Gateway into the Wonderful World of Spanish for Non-Spanish Speakers - Mondays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 28-Nov. 16. Spanish instructor Jo Soske will introduce basic vocabulary and grammatical concepts including words naming family members, weather, seasons, time, clothing and body parts. Participants will practice casual conversations and use grammar including articles, pronouns, adjectives, and verbs. This course will help build a framework for greater skill in the future. No homework is required.

Landscape Design for Your Home - Mondays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 28-Nov. 16.  Master gardener Karen Lehr, whose background includes a master’s degree in landscape architecture, invites participants to learn the basics of site analysis, design principles and steps to follow in creating a personalized, home landscape design. The class will cover specific plants and other materials best suited for Galveston’s climate.

Shall We Dance? - Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 16-Nov. 4. Instructors are Bill and Judy Biggs. Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York found that those 75 and older who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities including ballroom dancing demonstrated a reduced risk of dementia. The Biggs’ will introduce the waltz, fox trot, swing and perhaps a few other steps. Novice and experienced dancers are welcomed. OLLI may be able to match those who don’t have a partner with someone.

Cultivating the Fine Arts of Relaxation, Concentration and Meditation - Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 17-Nov, 5. Instructor is Kathleen DiNatale. Learn to master stress, enhance your ability to concentrate and develop practical skills for relaxation and meditation. This course will explore dynamic relaxation techniques; concentration skills to harness and direct the power of the mind, and meditation practices to awaken insight and wisdom. DiNatale, founder of The Yoga Haven, will guide participants with humor, grace and compassion on this journey of self-discovery. The text “The Fine Arts of Relaxation, Concentration and Meditation,” by Joel and Michelle Levey, will be provided for use during the course.

Mah Jongg - Tuesdays morning session, 10 a.m.-noon, and afternoon session, 1-3 p.m., Sept. 8-Oct. 27. Instructor is Antoinette Swinnea. Participants may register for either the morning or the afternoon session but not both. Learn about current research demonstrating that this game requiring skill, strategy, intelligence, calculation and luck engages both hippocampi of the brain. Other research shows that cognitive activities such as Mah Jongg contribute to healthy aging. Mah Jongg is a fast-paced, traditional Chinese tile game.

Science and Strategy of Poker – Thursdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 10-Oct. 29. Instructor Stan Blazyk turns his scientific, inquiring mind to the topic of cognitive skill required to understand the math and probability theory necessary for success in the complex game of poker. This game of strategy and chance taxes the memory, increases observational skills, demands use of logic and decision-making while challenging interactional abilities. Both Harry Truman and Winston Churchill credited their success in life to the skills they acquired mastering the game.

Tai Chi - Wednesdays, 10-11 a.m., Sept. 16-Nov. 4. Join certified instructor Julia Barragan as she demonstrates the Yang style of tai chi. Sessions will concentrate on balance, flexibility, slow movement and breath control. Research has shown tai chi to increase balance and decrease likelihood of falls.

Gentle Yoga I - Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Sept. 17-Nov. 5.

Gentle Yoga II - Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-noon, Sept. 22-Nov. 10.

Join registered Hatha Yoga teacher Jim Turner as he explores the relationship between physical postures and the movement of the breath. Learn breath control techniques for deeper relaxation. This class involves mild to moderate physical exertion. Participants should be able to move without assistance from lying on the floor to standing. Participants may sign up for one or both sessions, but each requires a separate tuition fee. Each class teaches to the same level of experience and skill.

Advanced Writer’s Workshop - Second and fourth Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Aug. 26, Sept. 9, 23 and 30, Oct. 28, Nov. 11 and 25, and Dec. 9. Instructor is Michelle Sierpina, Ph.D. This course is open by permission of instructor to those who have participated in multiple OLLI lifestory writing groups. Only a limited number of spaces are available and participants are expected to attend a minimum of six of the eight sessions. Call for more information.

 

Courses in League City

The following OLLI courses are offered at the Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center, 450 W. Walker Road, in League City.

Lifestories as Legacy - Mondays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 28-Nov. 16. Instructor is Mary Lou Darst. Scientific evidence demonstrates the importance of telling and sharing life stories. This course explores the decades of life. Participants at all levels of writing skill, including novices, are welcomed.

Jewish Ethics - Thursdays, 10-11:45 a.m., Sept. 17-Nov. 5. Instructor is Rabbi Stuart Federow. Judaism, with its distinctive values, also holds to a set of distinctive ethics. Participants will examine ethical issues from a Jewish standpoint, including “The Jewish Law of Shopping at a Mall,” medical ethical Issues and Jewish business ethics. The class will be presented with various scenarios and various quotations from Jewish sources, and participants will come to understand how the distinctive values of Judaism responds to these scenarios.

Courses in Houston

The following courses are offered at Holly Hall, 2000 Holly Hall St. (across from Reliant Stadium).

Jewish Ethics - Wednesdays, 10-11:45 a.m., Sept. 16-Nov. 4. Instructor is Rabbi Stuart Federow. See description for course held in League City.

Bridge for Everyone - Thursdays, 10 a.m.-noon, Sept. 17-Nov. 5. Instructor is Iva Kemp. Considered by many the greatest card game of all and by many more the most challenging of card games, bridge can provide enjoyment and stimulation for a lifetime. Novices, as well as experienced players, are welcomed to attend.

That’s Another Story - First and third Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sept. 2-Dec. 16. Instructor is Michelle Sierpina. See description of course held in Galveston.

Retired Physicians Organization Lifestory Writing Group - first and third Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sept. 2-Dec. 16. Instructor is Michelle Sierpina. This specialized writing group has continued to meet for more than a decade writing and sharing life stories. Offered in collaboration with the Harris County Medical Society’s RPO, participants must be members of OLLI and the RPO. Contact the instructor for information about availability of space in the group.