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PLATO Weekly Update
May 5, 2026
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CURRICULUM
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SUMMER COURSES
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NEXT WEEK! Please note these important Summer Courses dates and read the Curriculum Showcase article below about a new pilot registration process for select Summer Courses:
– Registration for Summer Courses will open on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
– Most Summer Courses will begin the week of June 8.
CURRICULUM SHOWCASE
Learn about the Curriculum Committee's efforts to automate PLATO's course registration process in this Curriculum Showcase article by Jayne Fischer. This new process is in response to member feedback and will be tested out in a pilot program this summer with select courses. Stay tuned next week for more resources so that you are up to speed when registration opens!
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SPECIAL EVENTS
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THEATER TRIPS
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NEW! Join us for Million Dollar Quartet on Friday, June 19, 2026, at The Fireside Dinner Theater in Fort Atkinson to witness an extraordinary twist of fate that brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley together for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions of all time! 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. The registration deadline is Monday, June 1. Learn more and register here.
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FIELD TRIPS
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NEXT MONTH! Join us for a repeat of this popular tour – a behind-the-scenes field trip to the Dane County Landfill on Tuesday, June 2 from 10:00-11:30am. This tour is free for PLATO members and their guests, and registration is required. Learn more and register here.
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BREAKFAST, LUNCH & COFFEE GATHERINGS
These social events offer members and their guests opportunities to share conversation over coffee or breakfast and lunch options.
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THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast Gathering at the Lakeside Street Coffee House on May 8 from 9:30-11:30am. To RSVP, send an email to Sharon Scrattish, the event coordinator, by the Thursday before the event. Learn more and find Sharon's email address here.
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LECTURES
PLATO Lectures will resume in early September! In the meantime, explore the Past Recordings section below to enjoy various lectures and course sessions on a wide array of important topics – all from the comfort and convenience of home.
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PAST RECORDINGS
Visit the Past Recordings webpage to enjoy:
Healthy Grown – Sustainable produce from Wisconsin! A recent PLATO Lecture featuring Dr. Deana Knuteson who presents the history and requirements of the Healthy Grown program, its acceptance by Wisconsin farmers, and how the purchase of Healthy Grown vegetables benefits the consumers.
Hearing Advice to Make You (and Your Ears) Smile! In this recent PLATO Lecture professional audiologist Juliette Sterkens highlights advances in hearing technology, hearing rehabilitation, and more!
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PLATO POP-UP EVENTS
Providing members with new opportunities to connect, learn, and grow!
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THIS WEEK! Drop in for the PLATO Writers' Workshop on Thursday, May 7, from 1:00 –3:00pm where Andy Millman will host a conversation with author Daniel Kenitz about the craft of writing. A successful short story writer, his story "A Hand to the Plow" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Use this link to join via Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/czs-naje-bua or Join by phone (US) +1 304-981-5413, PIN: 815 689 990#.
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THIS MONTH! PLATO member Donaby Henton will lead a repeat ChatGPT workshop, an artificial intelligence app, on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 1:00–3:00pm on Madison's East Side at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge. Please bring your own smartphone or tablet installed with the ChatGPT application (though assistance on installation will be available if needed.) This session is open to PLATO members only and registration is required by Wednesday, May 27. Learn more and register here.
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Submit your idea for a Pop-Up Event today!
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