PLATO Weekly Update

March 16, 2021

CURRICULUM

Could you be a course coordinator? Read all about coordinating courses and see if this is a way you can share your interests! 

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

THIS WEEK! MARCH 18: Life's A Daring Adventure and You're Not Done Yet! Mary Helen Conroy, an inspirational speaker, reinvention life coach and author of The Amazing Itty Bitty Retirement Book, will examine the good, the bad and the ugly, the scary and sad, and the awesomeness of building our lives after we end our career. 

APRIL 6: Hidden in Plain Sight: Native American Cultural Landscape Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator, UW-Madison Office of the Provost/School of Education, talks about the Native American cultural landscape that is present all around us.

Did you serve in the Peace Corps?  If so, we would like your help in putting together a fall PLATO lecture honoring the 60^th anniversary of the Peace Corps.  If you are interested in being part of a planning group, please contact Tim Otis:  tierneyotis@gmail.com 

THEATER

In the mood to watch a theater performance? Explore PLATO's Virtual Theater Trips listings for some applause-worthy options!

When Will PLATO Events Re-open?

The PLATO Board, in consultation with its COVID workgroup, will continue to monitor State and County guidance and recommendations on safely gathering to determine when it is safe to re-open our events.

The first step in re-opening will be Walks in Dane County sponsored by the Special Events Committee.  These walks are tentatively scheduled to begin in May, based on current health information. 

Registration information for the walks will include safety guidelines and will be subject to change based on health metrics at the time.

Watch here, in the Tuesday Weekly Update for dates and details.

PLATO SATISFACTION SURVEY SENT TO YOU TOMORROW

Tomorrow, March17, you will receive a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO, particularly during this past year when in-person programs were suspended. Your feedback will help the PLATO board and committee volunteers prepare for future programming when it becomes safe for PLATO to resume in-person activities.

You will receive the survey in an email from "noreply @alchemer.com" with the subject line "PLATO Members' Satisfaction Survey".  When you receive the survey please take a few minutes to let PLATO know how best to address your interests and preferences.  Thank you for your involvement and support of PLATO!

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. This week, experience the serenity of a Morning on Toddy Pond through the eyes and brush of painter Jim Albright. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

THIS FRIDAY: The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast will be this Friday, March 19, 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

Select from a range of topics and formats for your late winter/early spring reading, viewing, or listening, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

PLATO Weekly Update

March 9, 2021

CURRICULUM

We are beginning to plan for Summer courses! All summer courses will be online the year.  If you are interested in coordinating a course for summer please view the Propose A Course topic link from the Courses Page (left-hand column).

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

MARCH 18: Life's A Daring Adventure and You're Not Done Yet! Mary Helen Conroy, an inspirational speaker, reinvention life coach and author of The Amazing Itty Bitty Retirement Book, will examine the good, the bad and the ugly, the scary and sad, and the awesomeness of building our lives after we end our career. 

APRIL 6: Hidden in Plain Sight: Native American Cultural Landscape Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator, UW-Madison Office of the Provost/School of Education, talks about the Native American cultural landscape that is present all around us.

THEATER

There is still time to watch Tony DeSare and Capathia Jenkins sing Frank Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald on March 20 and 27.  The performances are part of A Virtual Season of Tributes from The Cabaret Project of St Louis, included on PLATO's Virtual Theater Trips page.

Last Chance to Submit to Volume 7 of The Agora!

The Agora Editorial Board is accepting submissions of:  fiction, non-fiction(including essays), poetry, and visual arts for publication in the upcoming Volume 7 of The Agora, PLATO’s magazine for arts and ideas. 

Submission Deadline is Monday, MARCH 15, 2021.
Click below for complete information. 

PLATO SATISFACTION SURVEY IS COMING

Next week, Wednesday, March 17^th you will be asked to participate in a brief satisfaction survey regarding your experiences with PLATO, particularly during this past year when in-person programs were suspended.  Your feedback will help the PLATO board and committee volunteers prepare for future programming when it becomes safe for PLATO to resume in-person activities.

You will receive the survey in an email from "noreply@alchemer.com" with the subject line "PLATO Members' Satisfaction Survey".  When you receive the survey please take a few minutes to let PLATO know how best to address your interests and preferences.  Thank you for your involvement and support of PLATO!

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. This week we highlight Rite of Passage along with a glimpse at the poem's inspiration from author Tom Schlicht. 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

PLATO Virtual Breakfast Continues through May: The next gathering will be Friday, March 19, 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

Select from a range of topics and formats for your late winter reading, viewing, or listening, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.

PLATO Weekly Update

March 2, 2021

CURRICULUM

SPRING 2021 COURSES ARE NOW UNDERWAY!

• Spring courses are all online.  
• Check with Course Coordinators to confirm if seats are still available.

2021 Course Dates
Planning your calendar for 2021? Registration and course start dates for this Summer and Fall are all listed on our COURSES page (scroll down in the right-hand column).

LECTURES & THEATER

LECTURES 

MARCH 18: Life's A Daring Adventure and You're Not Done Yet! Mary Helen Conroy, an inspirational speaker, reinvention life coach and author of The Amazing Itty Bitty Retirement Book, will examine the good, the bad and the ugly, the scary and sad, and the awesomeness of building our lives after we end our career. 

APRIL 6: Hidden in Plain Sight: Native American Cultural Landscape Omar Poler, Indigenous Education Coordinator, UW-Madison Office of the Provost/School of Education, talks about the Native American cultural landscape that is present all around us.

THEATER

A Virtual Season of Tributes from The Cabaret Project of St Louis will be showcasing Tony DeSare and Capathia Jenkins singing Frank Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald on March 20 and 27, 7:30 pm.  Check out this and other performance offerings included on PLATO's Virtual Theater Trips listings.

Reprieve! 
Original Submission Deadline Extended

The Agora Editorial Board is currently accepting submissions of:  fiction, non-fiction (including essays), poetry, and visual arts for publication in the upcoming Volume 7 of The Agora, PLATO’s magazine for arts and ideas. 

Submission Deadline has been extended to March 15, 2021.
Click below for complete information. 

FEATURED AGORA WORKS

Each week, we offer for your enjoyment, a featured piece from contributors to PLATO's Agora arts and ideas journal. This week we highlight Fay Ferington's work, Branches.

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

THIS FRIDAY: The next PLATO Virtual Breakfast is this Friday, March 5, 9:30 to 10:30 am. Meet new friends and connect with other PLATO members.  Click below for more information and the link to join the online gathering. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE EVENTS & READINGS
Suggested readings, films, activities, and podcasts.

Select from a range of topics and formats for your late winter reading, viewing, or listening, curated by PLATO's Diversity Awareness Committee.