PLATO Weekly Update

June 10, 2025

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
The summer course term is underway! Some of the 14 in-person and virtual courses still have space, and some have yet to begin, so there is still time to register. Find the Summer Course Schedule on the Courses webpage and contact the course coordinator to register.

SPECIAL EVENTS

THEATER TRIP

The registration deadline is this Friday, June 13 for The Church Basement Ladies in The Last (Potluck) Supper on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at The Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson. Note that PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity so pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips. Learn more and register here.

FIELD TRIPS

NEW! Join us on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 on the Celebrating American Design field trip to tour Still Bend, Frank Lloyd Wright’s visionary “Dream House” brought to life! Afterward, experience the sights, sounds, and stories of American graphic design and printing like never before at The Hamilton Wood Type & Printing Museum – the country's biggest typographical museum. The registration deadline is Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Learn more and register here.

EXCITING NEWS! There are a handful of additional open seats for the popular Milwaukee History in the Making tour on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Architecture enthusiasts will be awed by the beauty of St. Josaphat's Basilica – Milwaukee's largest church – followed by lunch and a riverboat tour of Milwaukee's sites from the unique perspective along the river and harbor of Lake Michigan. PLATO is partnering with the Verona Senior Center and UW Retirement Association on this travel opportunity so pick-up locations are different from PLATO's usual trips. These seats are sure to go quickly so register today! Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST GATHERINGS
These social events offer members and their guests opportunities to share conversation over coffee and breakfast or breakfast snacks.

THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – June 13, 10:00am-12:00pm at the Memorial Union Terrace – note the time change and new summertime location. Learn more and RSVP here.

Fourth Friday Coffee – June 27, 9:30-11:30am at Rotunda Café. Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Explore a wide variety of past recordings of PLATO Lectures offered by PLATO members and local, national, and international speakers.

BIKE RIDES
Get out and about with self-guided bicycling routes in the greater Madison area!

THE AGORA

The Agora, PLATO’s literary and arts journal, 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

NEW! The jury review and selection process is now complete and contributors to The Agora, Volume 9 have been notified. The Agora Board extends heartfelt thanks to all who submitted work for consideration – there were many high quality submissions! Work is now underway to produce The Agora, Volume 9, which PLATO members can look forward to receiving this fall.

View highlights from the past season on the The Agora Features webpage.

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Select from a range of topics and formats for your spring viewing or listening pleasure, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee. 

DID YOU KNOW? for June 2 – 16, 2025

Bessie Coleman (January 26, 1892 – April 30, 1926) was the first American woman to obtain an international pilot's license. Because Coleman was born in Texas during the discriminatory Jim Crow era and was of African American and Native American descent, she had to go to France to attend aviation school. Coleman returned to the United States after completing her studies and became a stunt pilot. Tragically, she was killed in 1926 during an aerial show rehearsal. 

Visit the Social Justice page to read more about Bessie Coleman, and past DID YOU KNOW? Features.

DID YOU KNOW? – spotlighting notable historic events and contributions made by non-mainstream individuals and organizations you might not have learned or read about. Suggestions for inclusions are welcome (send to Kathy at: ksmichaelis@gmail.com).