PLATO Weekly Update 

August 1, 2023

 
CURRICULUM

PLATO depends on volunteer Course Coordinators to offer courses for our members. Curious about becoming a Course Coordinator? Learn more here. Not ready to host a course, but want to contribute to making PLATO classes successful? Learn More here.

FALL COURSES
MARK YOUR CALENDAR with these important dates:

· Tuesday, August 22: The Fall Course Schedule will be announced and registration opens.

· The Week of September 18: Fall Courses begin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Monday, September 11, 2023 – Join us in a visit to the beautiful house and grounds of Black Point Estate followed by lunch and exploration in Lake Geneva, WI. A late summer jaunt to one of Wisconsin's historic resort towns, favored by the rich and famous since the late 19th century. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST GATHERING
NEXT WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – We will meet at the Memorial Union Terrace on the UW campus from 10:30am – 12:30pm on August 11. Learn more and RSVP here. 

WALKS
PLEASE NOTE: Registration for walks is required. This allows us to communicate with you if postponements or cancellations occur.

Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – Enjoy a very special walk through Faville Grove Sanctuary near Lake Mills, WI. Registration will open on August 15th. Space is limited and if you are not registered you will not be allowed on the walk. Parking Instructions: We will meet at 8:45am sharp. We will consolidate cars and leave at 9am. Learn more here. 

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

COMING THIS FALL – The Agora, Volume 8! The Agora Editorial Team is pleased to announce that Volume 8 is in the final stages of production and copies will be mailed this Fall. Please note that members can choose to opt-out of receiving a print copy of The Agora, Volume 8 by visiting their PLATO member profile. If you previously opted-out, your preference will continue to be honored. Please email info@platomadison.org if you have questions about this.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for August 1 – 14, 2023

Dr. Lonnie Johnson ((born October 6, 1949), a NASA engineer and founder and president of Johnson Research and Development, invented the Super Soaker while working on spacecraft system designs at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “I was working on a new type of heat pump that would use water as a working fluid instead of freon and I was experimenting…and I machined these nozzles and, I’d hook them up to the sink in my bathroom, and I was looking at the stream of water coming out of a nozzle, and I turned and shot the stream across the bathroom, and I thought jeez it would be neat to have a really powerful toy water gun,” explained Dr. Johnson. 

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Dr. Johnson 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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

PLATO Weekly Update 

July 25, 2023

CURRICULUM

CANCELLATION
Film History: The Early Fifties, taught by Jim O’Brien, is cancelled for tomorrow, Wednesday, July 26.

FALL COURSES

· Tuesday, August 22: The Fall Course Schedule will be announced and registration opens.

· The Week of September 18: Fall Courses begin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

BREAKFAST GATHERING
THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday Breakfast – We will meet at the Rotunda Cafe in Lake Ridge Bank from 9:30am – 11:30pm. Note that Sally Porter and Sharon Scrattish will co-host this gathering – to RSVP please email Susan Scrattish by Wednesday, July 26. Learn more and RSVP here.

NEXT MONTH! Second Friday Breakfast – We will meet at the Memorial Union Terrace on the UW campus from 10:30am – 12:30pm on August 11. Learn more and RSVP here. 

FIELD TRIP
Monday, September 11, 2023 – Join us in a visit to the beautiful house and grounds of Black Point Estate followed by lunch and exploration in Lake Geneva, WI. A late summer jaunt to one of Wisconsin's historic resort towns, favored by the rich and famous since the late 19th century. Learn more and register here.

WALK
Tuesday, September 12, 2023 – Enjoy a very special walk through Faville Grove Sanctuary near Lake Mills, WI, with limited registration due to the Madison Audubon conservators' concern for impacting this restored landscape. A wait list will be maintained for possible late openings. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES
Beat the heat in the cool comfort of home with archived PLATO Lectures.

BIKE RIDES
Explore Madison with five self-guided bicycling routes around Madison.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCMENT
New PLATO Member-at-Large: Gail Bergman

PLATO's Board has unanimously voted to install Gail Bergman as a Member-at-Large for the remaining 2 years (2023-2025) of the open seat. This opening was created when MaryJo MacSwain became Chair of the Diversity Awareness Committee. Big thanks to Kathy Michaelis for her long commitment serving as Chair of the Diversity Awareness Committee, and a big welcome to Gail!

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

COMING THIS FALL – The Agora, Volume 8! The Agora Editorial Team is pleased to announce that Volume 8 is in the final stages of production and copies will be mailed this Fall. Please note that members can choose to opt-out of receiving a print copy of The Agora, Volume 8 by visiting their PLATO member profile. If you previously opted-out, your preference will continue to be honored. Please email info@platomadison.org if you have questions about this.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for July 10 – 31, 2023   

Cecilia Payne (May 10, 1900 ­ – December 7, 1979) was the first person to earn a Ph.D. in astronomy from Radcliffe College, with what Otto Strauve called “the most brilliant Ph.D. thesis ever written in astronomy.” And in 1950’s, Payne became the first female professor and chair of the Astronomy Department at Harvard. Payne’s work is foundational to the modern study of variable stars. She was also awarded the Henry Norris Russell Prize from the American Astronomical Society.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Payne 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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

PLATO Weekly Update 

July 18, 2023

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Questions about Summer Courses? Find answers on the Courses webpage.

FALL COURSES

· Tuesday, August 22: The Fall Course Schedule will be announced and registration opens.

· The Week of September 18: Fall Courses begin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

SUMMER WALK
NEXT WEEK – only seven spaces left! Join us on Tuesday, July 25 from 9 –11:30am for a three-mile walk along Koshkonong Creek in the beautiful Camrock Park. We’ll start at Westside Park in Cambridge where we hope to see a remnant sculpture from the Midwest Fire Festival. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST GATHERING
NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday Breakfast – new venue! On July 28 at 9:30am we will meet at our new location: Rotunda Cafe in Lake Ridge Bank (formerly Monona Bank) at 1965 Atwood Avenue. Note that Sally Porter and Sharon Scrattish will co-host this gathering – to RSVP please email Susan Scrattish by Wednesday, July 26. View photos, learn about parking options, and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Archived PLATO Lectures offer an educational (and sometimes entertaining!) way to spend a hot summer day.

BIKE RIDES
Seize the day with five self-guided bicycling routes around Madison.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCMENT
New PLATO Member-at-Large: Gail Bergman

PLATO's Board has unanimously voted to install Gail Bergman as a Member-at-Large for the remaining 2 years (2023-2025) of the open seat. This opening was created when MaryJo MacSwain became Chair of the Diversity Awareness Committee. Big thanks to Kathy Michaelis for her long commitment serving as Chair of the Diversity Awareness Committee, and a big welcome to Gail!

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

COMING THIS FALL – The Agora, Volume 8! The Agora Editorial Team is pleased to announce that Volume 8 is in the final stages of production and copies will be mailed this Fall. Please note that members can choose to opt-out of receiving a print copy of The Agora, Volume 8 by visiting their PLATO member profile. If you previously opted-out, your preference will continue to be honored. Please email info@platomadison.org if you have questions about this.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for July 10 – 24, 2023   

Cecilia Payne (May 10, 1900 ­ – December 7, 1979) was the first person to earn a Ph.D. in astronomy from Radcliffe College, with what Otto Strauve called “the most brilliant Ph.D. thesis ever written in astronomy.” And in 1950’s, Payne became the first female professor and chair of the Astronomy Department at Harvard. Payne’s work is foundational to the modern study of variable stars. She was also awarded the Henry Norris Russell Prize from the American Astronomical Society.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Payne 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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

PLATO Weekly Update 

July 11, 2023

 CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Questions about Summer Courses? Find answers on the Courses webpage.

FALL COURSES

· Tuesday, August 22: The Fall Course Schedule will be announced and registration opens.

· The Week of September 18: Fall Courses begin.

SPECIAL EVENTS

BREAKFAST GATHERING
THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – note new venue and time! We will meet at the Memorial Union Terrace on the UW campus from 10:30am – 12:30pm on July 14 and August 11. Learn more and RSVP here.

SUMMER WALK
THIS MONTH! Save the date – Tuesday, July 25 from 9 – 11:30am. Stroll along the beautiful Koshkonong Creek during a three mile walk through Camrock Park. We’ll start at Westside Park in Cambridge where we hope to see a remnant sculpture from the Midwest Fire Festival. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES
Check out archived PLATO Lectures on many interesting subjects.

BIKE RIDES
Discover new things in Madison with five self-guided bicycling routes.

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for July 10 – 24, 2023   

Cecilia Payne (May 10, 1900 ­ – December 7, 1979) was the first person to earn a Ph.D. in astronomy from Radcliffe College, with what Otto Strauve called “the most brilliant Ph.D. thesis ever written in astronomy.” And in 1950’s, Payne became the first female professor and chair of the Astronomy Department at Harvard. Payne’s work is foundational to the modern study of variable stars. She was also awarded the Henry Norris Russell Prize from the American Astronomical Society.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Payne 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

PLATO Weekly Update

July 4, 2023

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Questions about Summer Courses? Find answers on the Courses webpage.

FALL COURSES

• Tuesday, August 22: The Fall Course Schedule will be announced and registration opens.
  
• The Week of September 18: Fall Courses begin.
  

HYBRID DEMO FOR COURSE COORDINATORS
THIS FRIDAY! PLATO offers three types of courses: in-person, virtual, and hybrid. Although some coordinators have told us that their courses work best only as in-person or virtual, it's possible that some courses could work well as hybrid. Come and see if your course could work as a hybrid course at an information session and demonstration on Friday, July 7 at 2:00pm at Bethany United Methodist Church. Experienced coordinators will demo equipment configurations, discuss procedural issues, and share best practices. In true hybrid fashion, join us in person or online! Learn more by clicking the Courses Page button below.

SPECIAL EVENTS

BREAKFAST GATHERING
NEXT WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – note new venue and time! We will meet at the Memorial Union Terrace on the UW campus from 10:30am – 12:30pm on July 14 and August 11. Learn more and RSVP here.

SUMMER WALK
THIS MONTH! Save the date – Tuesday, July 25 from 9 – 11:30am. Stroll along the beautiful Koshkonong Creek during a three mile walk through Camrock Park. We’ll start at Westside Park in Cambridge where we hope to see a remnant sculpture from the Midwest Fire Festival. Learn more and register here.

LECTURES
This collection of PLATO Lectures is a treasure trove for lifelong learners!

BIKE RIDES
Get out and about with five self-guided bicycling routes around Madison.

|THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for June 26 – July 10, 2023 

Patricia Roberts Harris (May 31, 1924 – March 23, 1985) was the first Black woman to sit on the board of a large U.S. public company. With accolades including service as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, and as U.S. secretary of health and human services, Harris made history when she was elected to the board of IBM in 1971. The organization Black Women on Boards recently shed light on Harris’s history-making directorship and this remarkable achievement is now the subject of the documentary OnBoard.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Harris 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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

PLATO Weekly Update 

June 27, 2023

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Find what you need to know about Summer Courses on the Courses webpage.

HYBRID DEMO FOR COURSE COORDINATORS
PLATO offers three types of courses: in-person, virtual, and hybrid. Although some coordinators have told us that their courses work best only as in-person or virtual, it's possible that some courses could work well as hybrid. Come and see if your course could work as a hybrid course at an information session and demonstration on Friday, July 7 at 2:00pm at Bethany United Methodist Church. Experienced coordinators will demo equipment configurations, discuss procedural issues, and share best practices. In true hybrid fashion, join us in person or online! Learn more by clicking the Courses Page button below.

SPECIAL EVENTS

SUMMER WALK
NEXT MONTH! Save the date – Tuesday, July 25 from 9 – 11:30am. Stroll along the beautiful Koshkonong Creek during a three mile walk through Camrock Park. We’ll start at Westside Park in Cambridge where we hope to see a remnant sculpture from the Midwest Fire Festival. Learn more and register here.

BREAKFAST GATHERING
NEXT MONTH! Second Friday Breakfast – note new venue and time! We will meet at the Memorial Union Terrace on the UW campus from 10:30am – 12:30pm on July 14 and August 11. Learn more and RSVP here.

LECTURES
Explore a range of topics and ideas from the comfort of home with these recorded PLATO Lectures presented by members and their special guests.

BIKE RIDES
Check out five popular self-guided bicycling routes around Madison.

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for June 26 – July 10, 2023  

Patricia Roberts Harris (May 31, 1924 – March 23, 1985) was the first Black woman to sit on the board of a large U.S. public company. With accolades including service as U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, U.S. secretary of housing and urban development, and as U.S. secretary of health and human services, Harris made history when she was elected to the board of IBM in 1971. The organization Black Women on Boards recently shed light on Harris’s history-making directorship and this remarkable achievement is now the subject of the documentary OnBoard.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Harris 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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

PLATO Weekly Update

 June 20, 2023

 

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Have a question about a Summer course? Find answers on the Courses webpage.  

HYBRID DEMO FOR COURSE COORDINATORS
Many PLATO members would like to attend in-person courses but are limited to online offerings, while others favor interacting face-to-face. Could you accommodate both by providing access for in-person and online participants? Possibly! Explore hybrid options at an information session and demonstration on Friday, July 7 at 2:00pm at Bethany United Methodist Church. Experienced coordinators will demo equipment configurations, discuss procedural issues, and share best practices. In true hybrid fashion, join us in person or online! Learn more by clicking the Courses Page button below.

SPECIAL EVENTS

FIELD TRIP
TOMORROW! Wednesday, June 21 is our trip to Historic Dubuque, Iowa, and the Mississippi River Museum. Registration has closed. View photos and review trip details here.  

BREAKFAST GATHERING
THIS WEEK! Fourth Friday Breakfast – new venue! On June 23 at  9:30am we will meet in a new location: Rotunda Cafe in Lake Ridge Bank (formerly Monona Bank) at 1965 Atwood Avenue. View photos, learn about parking options, and RSVP here.

LECTURES
TODAY ONLY – PLATO members are invited to watch Nuclear Now, an Oliver Stone film, from the convenience of home today by clicking this link to register and using this case-sensitive passcode: roco323. This is the last day this film is available using this link and passcode. Email Richard Steeves if you have questions about registration or if you would like to participate in a group discussion of this important documentary via Zoom in the near future.

Enjoy recorded PLATO Lectures on a range of fascinating subjects.

BIKE RIDES
Celebrate Summer in Madison with these self-guided bicycling routes.

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for June 13 – 26, 2023 

Zitkala-Ša, Lakota for Red Bird, aka Gertrude Simmons Bonnin (February 22, 1876 – January 26, 1938) was a political activist who found work wearing many hats – as a Yankton Dakota writer, editor, translator, musician, and educator. Zitkala-Ša recounted her struggles with cultural identity, emphasizing the friction between the majority culture in which she was educated and the Dakota culture into which she was born and initially raised. Her work helped bring traditional Native stories to a mainstream audience and influenced Congress to pass the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Zitkala-Ša 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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

PLATO Weekly Update 

June 13, 2023

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
Summer courses are in full swing! You may still be able to register for some courses by contacting the course coordinator. Find the schedule for in-person, virtual, and hybrid courses on the Courses webpage.  

SPECIAL EVENTS

TOMORROW – we look forward to seeing pre-registered members and their guests at PLATO's Annual Meeting held at The Goodman Community Center's BRASS WORKS BUILDING. Note the address on the building is 214 Waubesa St – but if you use Google Maps it will say that it is located at 206 Waubesa St. Find venue and parking details here.

FIELD TRIP
NEXT WEEK! Wednesday, June 21 is our trip to Historic Dubuque, Iowa, and the Mississippi River Museum. Registration has closed. View photos and review trip details here.  

BREAKFAST GATHERING
NEXT WEEK! Fourth Friday Breakfast – new venue! On June 23 at  9:30am we will meet in a new location: Monona Bank's Rotunda Café located at 1965 Atwood Ave. View photos, learn about parking options, and RSVP here.

LECTURES
CANCELLED – group screening of Nuclear Now, on Friday, July 14, due to copyright complications. However, PLATO members are invited to watch this Oliver Stone film from the convenience of home at any time before June 20 by clicking this link to register and using this case-sensitive passcode: NNR-0623. Email Richard Steeves if you have questions about registration or if you would like to participate in a group discussion of this important documentary via Zoom in the near future.

Dive into new topics of interest through recorded PLATO Lectures.

BIKE RIDES
Discover new Madison neighborhoods through self-guided bicycling routes.

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for June 13 – 26, 2023 

Zitkala-Ša, Lakota for Red Bird, aka Gertrude Simmons Bonnin (February 22, 1876 – January 26, 1938) was a political activist who found work wearing many hats – as a Yankton Dakota writer, editor, translator, musician, and educator. Zitkala-Ša recounted her struggles with cultural identity, emphasizing the friction between the majority culture in which she was educated and the Dakota culture into which she was born and initially raised. Her work helped bring traditional Native stories to a mainstream audience and influenced Congress to pass the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Zitkala-Ša 
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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

PLATO Weekly Update

June 6, 2023

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
NEW! Summer courses begin this week! You may still be able to register for some courses by contacting the course coordinator. Find the schedule for in-person, virtual, and hybrid courses on the Courses webpage.  

SPECIAL EVENTS

Registration required by this Friday, June 9! This free, special event offers an opportunity to socialize, catch up on PLATO business and enjoy a Keynote presentation on “The Story of the Discovery, Recovery and Preservation of the Lake Mendota Canoes”. Register and learn more here.

BREAKFAST GATHERING
THIS WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – new venue and time! We will move outdoors this Summer to the Memorial Union Terrace on the UW campus and gather from 10:30am – 12:30pm on June 9, July 14 and August 11. RSVP and learn more here.

PLEASE NOTE – Fourth Friday Breakfasts will be moving to a new location on the east side of Madison. Details coming soon.

FIELD TRIP
THIS MONTH! Registration deadline extended to Monday, June 12 for our trip to Historic Dubuque, Iowa, and the Mississippi River Museum on Wednesday, June 21. One participant will bring her grandchild as a guest and suggests others might like to do the same. The downtown Dubuque funicular and the amazing Mississippi River Museum with live animal exhibits will fascinate any child, as well as you. View photos, learn more and register here.  

LECTURES
SAVE THE DATE! Join us for a virtual screening of Nuclear Now, on Friday, July 14 at 1pm. Written by Oliver Stone and Joshua S. Goldstein, this film makes a case that nuclear energy may be the key missing ingredient to addressing the crisis of climate change. Hailed as "the most informative film ever" by James Hansen, Columbia University's Director of Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, Nuclear Now is an Official Selection of the 2022 Venice International Film Festival. 

Check out recorded PLATO Lectures on a variety of timely topics.

BIKE RIDES
Explore Madison with these self-guided bicycling routes.

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment. 

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

DID YOU KNOW? for May 30 – June 12, 2023  

Alice Ball (July 24, 1892 – December 31, 1916) was a black chemist in Hawaii who at the age of 23 in 1915 discovered a way of treating leprosy before antibiotics. Unfortunately, others claimed credit for it. Scholar Paul Wermager explains, “Not only did Alice Ball overcome the racial and gender barriers of her time to become one of the very few African American women to earn a master’s degree in chemistry, [but she] also developed the first useful treatment for Hansen’s disease. Her amazing life was cut too short at the age of 24. Who knows what other marvelous work she could have accomplished had she lived.” 

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Alice Ball
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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

PLATO Weekly Update

May 30, 2023

CURRICULUM

SUMMER COURSES
NEXT WEEK – most Summer Courses begin! Find the schedule for in-person, virtual and hybrid options on the Courses webpage. Some courses still have room, so register today!

SPECIAL EVENTS

ANNUAL MEETING & REFRESHMENTS
TWO WEEKS AWAY! RSVP by Friday, June 9! Members and their guests are invited to socialize, catch up on PLATO business and enjoy Keynote Speaker Amy L. Rosebrough, Interim State Archeologist, present “The Story of the Discovery, Recovery and Preservation of the Lake Mendota Canoes”. This free, special event will take place on Wednesday, June 14 from 12:30 – 3pm at The Goodman Community Center's BRASSWORKS building. RSVP and learn more here.

FIELD TRIP
NEXT MONTH! Wait no longer – register by Tuesday, June 6 for our trip to Historic Dubuque, Iowa, and the Mississippi River Museum on Wednesday, June 21. One participant will bring her grandchild as a guest and suggests others might like to do the same. The downtown Dubuque funicular and the amazing Mississippi River Museum with live animal exhibits will fascinate any child, as well as you. View photos, learn more and register here.  

BREAKFAST GATHERING
NEXT WEEK! Second Friday Breakfast – new venue and time! We will move outdoors this Summer to the Memorial Union Terrace on the UW campus and gather from 10:30am – 12:30pm on June 9, July 14 and August 11. Learn more and RSVP here.

PLEASE NOTE – Fourth Friday Breakfasts will be moving to a new location on the east side of Madison. Details will follow.

BIKE RIDES
Check out new areas of Madison with these self-guided bicycling routes.

LECTURES
Expand your horizons with recorded PLATO Lectures offered by PLATO members and special guests who share their knowledge on many topics.

THE AGORA
A juried literary magazine published by PLATO 
celebrates members’ creativity and diversity of thought.

Visit The Agora Features webpage for highlights from this past season, created and curated by fellow PLATO members for your enjoyment.

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

DID YOU KNOW? for May 30 – June 12, 2023  

Alice Ball (July 24, 1892 – December 31, 1916) was a black chemist in Hawaii who at the age of 23 in 1915 discovered a way of treating leprosy before antibiotics. Unfortunately, others claimed credit for it. Scholar Paul Wermager explains, “Not only did Alice Ball overcome the racial and gender barriers of her time to become one of the very few African American women to earn a master’s degree in chemistry, [but she] also developed the first useful treatment for Hansen’s disease. Her amazing life was cut too short at the age of 24. Who knows what other marvelous work she could have accomplished had she lived.” 

Visit the Social Justice page for more about Alice Ball
or past DID YOU KNOW? features.

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