Hattiesburg Courses

           

Spring 2023 Courses

ARTS—HATTIESBURG

Religion has inspired some of the world's great art and music. Our class will consider instances in which music was used to enhance worship and other cases where religious music was used as a point of departure to achieve results that strayed far from a composer's original intention. Dr. Ed Hafer holds a BA in music history and literature from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and the MM and PhD in historical musicology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He teaches music history at USM.

are now retired. She spends most days knitting and helping others with their knitting problems as well as making hats, gloves and scarves for the homeless.

Acrylics are fun! They are fast-drying, easy-mixing and if you mess up, just let it dry and paint over it! (Yay!) Supply List: Surface for paint (watercolor paper, cardboard, mat board, wooden board, etc.), acrylic paints (a variety of colors), acrylic brushes (three sizes), design to paint, transfer paper and pencil. Marty Turnbo is a retired art and drama teacher from Oak Grove and is a longtime member of the South Mississippi Art Association.

The history of Americana music mixes folk, rock, blues, bluegrass and country in deeply eclectic form that brings artist and audience together with a familiarity that feels like family. Socially conscious and rooted in love, it grows with every concert, festival and living room show. Paul Davis is a retired attorney and amateur musician who has relocated to South Mississippi so he will never have to use a snow shovel again.

Join Penny to learn the art of turning paper, such as advertisements and comic strips, into beads to use to make bracelets for gifting. Supply List: Scissors, Elmer's White Glue (Extra Strong Formula) and a few brightly-colored advertisements. Penny Kochtitzky is a past president of OLLI, former educator who studied at USM.

Glassblowing experiences with Jeremy Thomley at Mohawk Glass do not disappoint. Through the years of dedication and commitment, Thomley has built quite a following for his work. Come along and see what it’s all about and blow your own item! Jeremy Thomley earned a bachelor's degree in speech communication from USM and served a two-year mission as part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He always wanted to be a teacher and a great storyteller. His experiences made him trade his cubicle for a workshop.

The Bible for Illiterates was the name given to many of the visuals used by the Early Church in educating the people who made up the congregations of the early Christians. We will look at some of those visuals and the meanings behind their use, then and now. Dana Stratton is a retired art and art history teacher and practicing artist.

Let's draw! It is easy to learn—you will learn how on day one. You will then learn shading, perspective, enlarging and drawing faces. Supply List: #2 pencil, mechanical pencil (optional), eraser, colored pencils, Sharpie with two tips (fine and medium), small drawing pad and 10-12 sheets copy paper. Marty Turnbo is a retired art and drama teacher from Oak Grove and is a long-time member of the South Mississippi Art Association.

This course uses interesting topics in nature science to create artwork. The course uses hands-on activities to augment the topics and bring a greater understanding of nature science. Some of the activities are leaf stamping, a gourd project and watercolor instruction. We will even paint with veggies. This is a course for everyone, not just science nerds. Supply List: Watercolor paint set, watercolor pad (at least 140# stock), a round and a flat brush. Evelyn Timidaiski is a retired biology teacher with thirty-three years of teaching experience. She is a five-time published author. She has painted in watercolor for over twenty years and enjoys combining her love of art and nature with her science background.

Never learned how to paint? Let's do watercolor! Learn tricks and techniques. Watercolor is cheap and fun! Supply List: Watercolors, round watercolor brushes (assorted sizes, S - L), watercolor paper (9X12 or so), painter`s tape, resist medium such as crayons, pastels and masking fluid. Bring anything else that looks like fun! Marty Turnbo is a retired art and drama teacher from Oak Grove and is a longtime member of the South Mississippi Art Association.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

This class is open to all participants of the 2020-2021 Zoom class or with permission of the instructor. Participants must be familiar with Dr. Lam's Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention (40 Sun forms) and Tai Chi for Beginners (first 6 forms of the 24 Yang style Forms). Emphasis will be placed on advancing the practice and learning new forms. Susan Nodurft is a retired biology teacher. After retirement she began the study and practice of Qigong/Tai Chi. She has been certified through the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi and the Tai Chi for Health Institute.

Chairobics combines fun and fitness while moving to music. This class is designed to increase muscle strength and range of movement as well as improve cardiovascular health. Small hand weights and elastic bands are used for toning. A chair is used for seated exercises and standing support. No on-the-floor exercises. Valerie Webber is a Southern Miss graduate with a BSBA and MBA. She is a life member of the USM Alumni Association and has worked in the accounting and finance industry and in IT.

This course will show how to apply five regenerative principles on a farm and the health benefits from the food raised. Learn how Nature's Gourmet Farm got started with regenerative farming and the obstacles faced along the way. This course will also discuss information on current operations and future plans. Ben Simmons is a graduate of USM with a business degree in purchasing management where he was in the first classes taught by Dr. Alvin Williams. His career led him to complete his Certified Purchasing Manager training which opened doors of opportunity across various manufacturing jobs in multiple southeast states. In 2009, he left the corporate world and returned to the farm and started Nature's Gourmet Farm, a regenerative farm that raises beef, pork, chicken with direct sales to the public. 

This class will introduce yoga concepts of meditation, breath control and basic asanas (poses or positions). Our goal is to evaluate and improve participant strength, flexibility and balance. The emphasis is on the functional practice of yoga, not the perfect pose. Whether you are new to yoga or experienced, come join us. "It's your mat and it's your yoga." Serina Carpenter earned a 200-hour yoga teaching training in 2017 and a 300-hour teacher training in 2019.  She has taught multiple classes at the Yoga Room and The Family YMCA in Petal. 

This class will introduce yoga concepts of meditation, breath control and basic asanas (poses or positions). Our goal is to evaluate and improve participant strength, flexibility and balance. The emphasis is on the functional practice of yoga, not the perfect pose. Whether you are new to yoga or experienced, come join us. "It's your mat and it's your yoga." Serina Carpenter earned a 200-hour yoga teaching training in 2017 and a 300-hour teacher training in 2019.  She has taught multiple classes at the Yoga Room and The Family YMCA in Petal. 

This class is designed for beginners and individuals who have had some previous Tai Chi experience. During the first term, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of the practice and learn an easy Tai Chi set emphasizing slow movement and balance. The second term will build on the fundamentals and introduce new forms and sets. Susan Nodurft is a retired biology teacher. After retirement she began the study and practice of Qigong/Tai Chi. She has been certified through the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi and the Tai Chi for Health Institute.

Sign up for a thirty-minute or one-hour relaxing massage designed to meet one's individual needs. Serina Carpenter is a retired nurse and current yoga instructor. She completed massage therapy training at PRCC as a member of their first graduating class of massage therapists. She has completed all requirements of the Mississippi Board of Massage Therapy to practice as a Licensed Massage Therapist in the state of Mississippi. In addition to meeting minimum state requirements, Serina has also passed the national Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination. 

HUMANITIES

This 1,100-square-foot traveling exhibition is based on the exhibition that opened in April 2018 at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. The Americans and the Holocaust traveling exhibition addresses important themes in American history, including Americans' responses to refugees, war and genocide in the 1930s and '40s. This exhibition will challenge the commonly held assumptions that Americans knew little and did nothing about the Nazi persecution and murder of Jews as the Holocaust unfolded. Drawing on a remarkable collection of primary sources from the 1930s and '40s, the exhibition focuses on the stories of individuals and groups of Americans who acted in response to Nazism. It will challenge visitors to consider the responsibilities and obstacles faced by individuals-from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to ordinary Americans who made difficult choices, sought to effect change, and, in a few cases, took significant risks to help victims of Nazism even as rescue never became a government priority. The exhibit hopes to challenge people to not only ask "what would I have done?" but also, "what will I do?" Join Sean Farrell, former library director, and fellow OLLI members for a guided tour. Following the tour, the group will meet to reflect on the themes and ideas the exhibit presents. Sean Farrell received his MLIS and MA in history from USM. He worked at the Library of Hattiesburg for thirty-two years. He attended the US Holocaust Memorial Museum training for the Americans and the Holocaust exhibit.

Behind the art of the Renaissance was a rich, turbulent world of intellectual brilliance, intrigue, war, plague and wealthy nobles as well as ordinary people focused on family and survival. Participants are asked to watch the Netflix series Medici, season 1), and the class itself will separate fact from fiction, look at themes such as power and war on the Italian Peninsula, the banking networks that fueled the Renaissance, poison and protection and plague and pandemic. We will take a virtual journey from the Vatican to the Venetian lagoons, Florentine piazzas to fortified hill towns, and universities to busy ports to show the grittiness and glamour of Renaissance Italy. Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) may be used to explore artwork and the rich material culture of the period. Donna Anderson is the director of OLLI at the University of Southern Maine in Portland. For over thirty years she worked in the museum field in New York and New Jersey, focused on exhibition development and collections management. She teaches OLLI courses on garden design, art interpretation, and museums in the contemporary world. This course will be offered separately at both USMs—in Mississippi and in Maine!

This course explores how different religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic) address the perennial and existential dilemmas of evil and suffering in the world. What is the cause of suffering? Why do people commit acts of atrocity? How should these situations be addressed? We'll explore how religious thinkers, from across the span of human cultures, have answered these perplexing questions. Dr. Amy Slagle is Associate Professor of Religion at The University of Southern Mississippi.

Some people believe the only way to live a righteous life is to follow the dictates contained in the sacred scriptures of their particular religious tradition. Others believe "revelation is not sealed" and that important lessons for living life in the best way possible can be gleaned from many sources, including popular culture. What lessons might we learn from looking at the "gospel" according to Dolly Parton, Winnie the Pooh, Peanuts, Lord of the Rings, The Simpsons and Ted Lasso? Rev. Melanie Morel-Ensminger has been a credentialed Unitarian Universalist minister for 30 years, serving Our Home Church in Ellisville, part-time since 2013. She has a graduate degree from Loyola Institute for ministry in New Orleans 1992 and has experience as a guest lecturer at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Bryan College-Dayton, Tennessee and Rowan University-Glassboro, NJ. Melanie has served 8 Unitarian Universalist congregations including Auckland, New Zealand and taught an OLLI class in Unitarian Universalist history a few years ago.

The Golden Age of Athens in the fifth century BCE saw the pinnacle of development of Greek science, the arts and philosophy. These are preserved in the monumental architecture of the acropolis and the literary records of its poets, playwriters, philosophers and historians. Consideration will be given to each of these elements which are classical Greece and some texts reviewed will include authors Homer, Stesichoros, Herodotos, Sophocles, Demosthenes, Aristophanes, Plato, Thucydides and Menander. Dr. Marvin Kendrick taught at Yale University in 1964. With a degree from Harvard Divinity School, he returned to Yale and earned an MFA in the School of Art in 1980. Retiring to Hattiesburg, he taught art history in the Art and Design Department at USM.

This presentation will discuss the last major trial of Abraham Lincoln prior to his ascension to the presidency. Jeff Rimes is a practicing attorney licensed in Mississippi. He has a B.A. from William Carey University, a M.Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law. He has received numerous honors for his work in the legal profession.

The death of Queen Elizabeth II has sparked renewed interest in the House of Windsor, the governing royal house of Great Britain and its commonwealth. This two-part seminar will examine the origins of the House of Windsor, which began after the reign of Queen Victoria and was so named in 1917 by King George V because there was so much anti-German feeling in Britain. Come learn about the reigns of George V, Edward VIII (Duke of Windsor), George VI, Elizabeth II and the beginning of the reign of Charles III. Rev. Jon Caridad is a retired Episcopal priest with extensive experience in education, ancient history and biblical studies.

How does this ancient, ambiguous, and diverse book work for people who look to it today for spiritual guidance? When Israel conquered the city of Jericho have you ever wondered why the Bible says the Lord told Joshua to kill everything in the city including all the men, women, children and the animals with their swords? That sounds like war crimes. Peter Enns has a different take on that passage and many other passages in the Bible. We will use the book: How the Bible Actually Works, by Peter Enns. We will work through Peter Enns' book together with lots of opportunities for discussion. The book is available at Amazon. Bill Youngblood is a retired United Methodist pastor who graduated from the School of Theology at Emory University and who served churches in Florida and Louisiana. He retired from the LA Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2006. Team-teaching with Bill is Rev. Clint Gill who graduated from USM and Emory Seminary. He retired from the MS Conference after serving churches in MS including Parkway Heights in Hattiesburg. He is a returning OLLI instructor.

This seminar will help you organize your books and launch your own online catalog. Never again arrive home with a book you bought at an estate sale or from a sale bin in a shop, only to find you already had a copy. Use a smart device to view your own catalog while you are shopping. Using the LibraryThing platform and a free personal account, you will learn to easily list your books and organize them into collections that work for you. Does your community organization or church have a lending library? Those catalogs can be online, too (free for small libraries staffed only by volunteers). This seminar will cover the basics of organizing your own library and using LibraryThing to manage your book data. In addition, we will look at LibraryThing's partner platform, TinyCat, to operate a small lending library. Each participant should bring a laptop (or other device, but preferably not a phone) to the class. Linda Ginn is a retired librarian whose professional specialty was the organization and cataloging of materials in library collections. She worked for Spartanburg County Public Libraries in South Carolina before joining the faculty of USM in 2007 in University Libraries. Since retiring, she has reorganized her personal library, a small organization's library, and her church library, each with its own online catalog. 

This course will cover the history of the construction of the new state capitol, the different styles of architecture found inside and outside of the building, unique features and information. Steve Clyburn was a docent at the Mississippi State Capitol for two years. He led tours of the Capitol and included information not normally stated by other guides. He is a graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi majoring in political science and has a master's degree from William Carey University in secondary education. He is retired from the Active Army National Guard and as a public high school teacher. 

Why do we find  foreign consuls in all fifty US States? Why are some of them American citizens and others natives of other countries? Are they all just social butterflies or do they actually perform important professional duties in our communities? Through a slide presentation, Dr. Hofstadter will explore the history and modern status of these foreign officials while also showing the relevance of them to Mississippi. Cami Green Hofstadter, PhD, was born a member of the Swedish-speaking minority in post-war Helsinki, Finland. With two law degrees and a PhD (Ed. Leadership), she spent her academic career at the University of Miami and Florida International University, while nurturing her passion for research and writing. She's an award-winning author (her latest book, The Yellow Star that Wasn't: Scandinavia, Miami and Me, is on the Amazon Bestseller List). 

This two-part seminar explores the history of visionary (and not-so-visionary) efforts to use food to make a better world. Part one will explore food reform movements in the nineteenth century, from the quirky efforts of Sylvester Graham to tamp down sin with bland food to the no-less-quirky, but considerably more lucrative, efforts of John Harvey Kellogg to tamp down indigestion with bland food. Part two will explore food and reform in the 20th and 21st century. It will cover everything from yogurt faddists to green revolutionaries and end with the exciting efforts of contemporary chefs to address food deserts, food commercialization and food disasters. Dr. Andrew Haley is an associate professor of American History at Southern Miss. Haley studies culture, class, and cuisine in the United States from the Gilded Age through the 1970s. He is currently completing a book that explores how Mississippi community cookbooks tell stories about gender, race, and identity in the twentieth century.

Having been an active volunteer at the George H. W. Bush Library and Museum since 2016, Don will present some behind-the-scenes stories and insights into George and the Bush family. Don Hagan was in the entourage that met President Bush's body upon arrival at his burial site in College Station and is a retired geo-scientist with Chevron. He spent 20 years working overseas. He is an avid Southern Miss supporter. He has a passion for presidential history and has made it a mission to have completed in-person visits to all the presidential libraries.

The last bare-knuckled world heavy weight boxing match occurred on July 8, 1888, here in Hattiesburg, MS. The two combatants were John L. Sullivan, the current champion, and Jake Kilrain. The bout was originally scheduled to take place in New Orleans, but local regulations prohibited it, so it was moved. The bout went 75 rounds in the blazing hot Mississippi sun. If you want to know the interesting back story of the bout and who won, you will just have to sign up for the seminar. Dr. Ralph Bisland retired from university teaching after 37 years of service at the rank of professor of computer science with specialty areas of software engineering, database management, and the Internet. He has been an OLLI instructor since 2007, teaching mainly computer-related courses.

In this course, we will discuss several Roman emperors, their actions and legacies and how the populace responded to them. Dawne Kennedy is a foreign language and history teacher who studied at USM.

Meet OLLI members for a guided tour of the WWII 442nd Unit and the Museum.

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Join the instructor for a discussion of writing and writers' goals. This course will highlight basic elements of storytelling in fiction (particularly for—but not limited to—fantasy and youth). Participants will be introduced to various exercises and prompts which are intended to encourage creative vision. All writers face problems and distractions which can make it difficult to approach a new project or to regain momentum with an old one. All bring unique ideas to a group. This is a great opportunity to discover new ideas. Egos should be left outside. All writers are learners. Supply List: Paper and pencil. David Walker is a retired public school teacher who was recently awarded the 2022 Mississippi Author Award for Youth by the MLA (Mississippi Library Association). He is a long-standing member of the SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - he is both) and participates in the Mississippi/Louisiana region. He has written in other genres and has been published in THEMA literary magazine. 

PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

This course is for players wanting to play above beginning Bridge. Content will include hand evaluation, bidding and responding, overcalls and responses, defense and doubles. Dr. Vivien Carver, former OLLI Board President, is professor emeritus in public health at USM and has taught bridge courses for several years, many of those at OLLI.

This seminar is designed to educate investors on how fixed income investments, such as bonds, can help them to reach their financial goals. Participants will learn bond characteristics and features, relationship between interest rates and bond prices, tax advantages of municipal bonds and how bonds may help investors weather fluctuating markets. Courtney Payton is an Edward Jones Financial Advisor and has served the Hattiesburg area since 2020. She is an eleven-year finance professional with experience across both private and public sectors. She is a graduate of William Carey University and holds a master's degree in public administration from Belhaven University. She is a faithful servant at her local church, where she teaches Sunday School and serves on the Coordinating Committee.

During this mini-seminar, we will be reviewing what assisted living is and the steps you can take to be successful in planning for your future. Torie Smith is the Sales Manager at Brookdale Assisted Living in Hattiesburg. She studied Integrated Marketing Communications at The University of Mississippi. Gabby Hill is the Marketing Coordinator at Brookdale Assisted Living in Hattiesburg. She studied health care administration at Belhaven University.

This presentation will provide basic information about wills and other documents everyone needs to have in place, particularly as we age. We will learn the meaning of probate terms, discuss who actually needs a Will (everyone!) and talk about other steps to take regarding assets. The floor will be open for discussion and questions. Nancy Steen is a graduate of Southern Miss in speech communication and the University of Mississippi School of Law. She has practiced law in Hattiesburg for more than 30 years, currently with Michael Adelman as Adelman and Steen, Attorneys. Nancy practices mostly in the chancery court system which oversees family law cases, equity issues, and probate and estate matters. She is a speaker and facilitator at local divorce recovery and parent/co-parent support groups.

This course will cover some of the easier conventions and special bids of bridge. Participants need to have taken at least two bridge courses or have played for at least a year. There will be plenty of time for lecture and play. Ellen Davies is a retired teacher and lawyer who started playing bridge as a teenager. She has taken and taught many bridge courses at OLLI.

Color analysis has changed since the ‘80s! Just like WE have! Learn in what ways it affects your looks, your home decor and how to pack for a trip using this fool-proof method. Join us for lots of fun, laughter and information! Fee includes a color-personalized product. Catherine Nowicki has been a certified color and image consultant since 1988. She was trained by Color Me Beautiful and has a private studio in Laurel. She has helped hundreds of women and men feel better about themselves through color and style. Her services include color analysis, personal shopping, closet cleaning, figure and style analysis and home interior styling using color.  

This tasting will look at the genetic link between various grapes. Come explore the family tree of Cabernet Sauvignon—who are the parent and sibling grapes and how did they come to be. Christen Raanes is a certified specialist of wine and a Level 3 wine professional with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. She is the owner of The Little Wine Shoppe in Hattiesburg's The District at Midtown. In her first year of business, Christen organized and helped lead over 100 wine tastings throughout Hattiesburg. Christen has a passion for sharing the history, geography, and subtle differences that distinguish one wine from the next.

This seminar will touch on a number of topics including selecting the right pet for your lifestyle, providing for your pet when you are gone and some of the benefits of pet therapy. It will also include demonstrations of obedience and nose work as well as information about dogs being used to detect cancer. A question-and-answer period will be provided with each topic. Patricia Lambert is a USM alumna and taught adjunct classes in the school of Human Performance Recreation. In the early ’80s, she and her mother taught dog obedience through continuing education at USM. She is the owner of Okatoma Kennel which boards pets in the community. She teaches dog obedience and volunteers by organizing a group to go to pet therapy at various nursing homes. Trish enjoys showing her dogs in nose work, FASTCAT, and conformation.

Have you ever wondered how Champagne differs from Prosecco or Cava? This tasting will explore the six different ways to produce sparkling wines and how that translates into the various wine styles found around the world. Christen Raanes is a certified specialist of wine and a Level 3 wine professional with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. She is the owner of The Little Wine Shoppe in Hattiesburg's The District at Midtown. In her first year of business, Christen organized and helped lead over 100 wine tastings throughout Hattiesburg and has a passion for sharing the history, geography and subtle differences that distinguish one wine from the next.

Have you always wanted to have a personal stylist advise you as you shop, but not pay the big bucks? Do you love to shop, or hate to shop, and find it makes you dizzy? Let Catherine guide and help you choose what to buy and what to stay away from...and why! Fee includes a personalized lip product.  Catherine Nowicki has been a certified color and image consultant since 1988. She was trained by Color Me Beautiful and has a private studio in Laurel. She has helped hundreds of women and men feel better about themselves through color and style. Her services include color analysis, personal shopping, closet cleaning, figure/style analysis and home interior styling using color.  

Learn new, exciting ways to decorate a cupcake using a few common decorating techniques and delicious buttercream! Course will include four cupcakes and Petit Joie's signature buttercream, as well as the decorator's tip and icing bags to take home to continue your decorating adventures! Food fee is included in course fee. Elizabeth Laird is the owner of the home bakery, Petit Joie Bakery, and is a self-taught baker and cake decorator.

This seminar will explore the similarities and differences between (neo)paganism, traditional witchcraft, and wicca. The intent will not be to convert anyone but to explore the subject and gather some insights for why neopaganism is the fastest growing religious demographic in the United States. Eric Wood is a mental health therapist and active Unitarian Universalist. He has a passion for mental health, genealogy, and world religions.

Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) represent the fastest growing equine industry in the world. Horses are being used to enrich the lives of individuals with special needs, heal the hearts of trauma survivors, ease the transition of soldiers returning from combat and allow individuals with mobility related disabilities the freedom of movement. We will discuss various horse assisted therapeutic applications, tour the facility and get some hands-on experience with horses (if participants want to!) Meet at 502 Sheeplo Loop, Petal. Jessie Mathias has been working in the therapeutic horsemanship industry since 2008. As the founder and director of Worthy Stables, she has brought a broad range of therapeutic and educational activities to the Pine Belt. Using primarily rescue horses, Worthy Stables enriches the lives of hundreds of deserving, underserved people every year. 

This course will be taught using the rules set by the National Mah Jongg League and the cards developed by the league. Each year a different card is sold. Should the student elect to participate with a group they will need to join the League and purchase a current card. During this class, cards from previous years will be used. The tiles are similar to domino tiles, but with the classic Mah Jongg symbols. We will provide tiles for the games. Mah Jongg is usually played with four individuals but can be played with as few as two. What fun and very interesting and challenging! Join us! While living in The Villages, Florida, Dr. Jeanne Phillips learned a game that has intrigued her for many years. Of course, she is referring to Mah Jongg. After joining the National Mah Jongg League, Jeanne played with many different groups. Upon moving to Hattiesburg, she found a group of interested people and taught this group, having a partner to help. Now 20 to 30 players regularly meet to play every week. Debra Topp is in charge of the game day at Parkway Heights. She plays Mah Jongg with many who come. Debra has been playing since Jeanne taught her several years ago.

Come along and relax during a guided forest therapy experience at Lake Thoreau in Hattiesburg. This gentle outing is about slowing down in nature, nurturing your well-being, and enhancing your connection to the natural world. The activities offered will enable you to unwind and calm your busy mind so you can best receive the medicine of the forest. Forest therapy arose from a practice developed in Japan called Shinrin-yoku, which roughly translates as "forest immersion." It is an easeful, de-stressing practice that offers many health benefits to mind, body and spirit. This inviting way of immersing our senses in the atmosphere of the forest is backed by significant medical and scientific research - and the plethora of health benefits are wide reaching. Forest Therapy is emerging worldwide as a publicly accessible means to reduce stress and a pathway to a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life. Nadine Phillips is a lifelong nature lover. She is most at home, and most herself, in the forest. Nadine has led Forest Therapy walks since 2018 and is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide, accredited by the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA). All her interests revolve around nature and promoting biodiversity to support the interconnected Web of Life. Nadine is also a longtime volunteer at The Crosby Arboretum.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

A general discussion of the various types of commodities that are currently able to be recycled including which commodities and programs are available in Mississippi that are economically sustainable. Gene Smith is the president of FV Recycling, the commercial paper and plastic recycling business headquartered in Hattiesburg but operating trucks and warehouse locations in 8 Southeastern States. 

Learn how to map, organize and customize your Apple device (settings, haptics and taps)! This course will provide problem-solving, creating and programming Apple apps for your lifestyle. We will also review practices for 2023 with Apple, password creation boot camp, responsibilities of a cohort and where do we go next. We will finish up with a last-chance problem rodeo and graduation! Please come to the first class with a list of problems to solve. Santha Walters is an Apple-trained instructional coach. She graduated from the Apple Learning Academy in Cupertino, California, in February of 2020. Now returning to the south from a life in the frigid north, Santha is excited to bring the ease of Apple tech and Apple learning to a new and exciting group at OLLI. She has also completed Apple Teacher for Swift Playgrounds (Apple's programming language) and is a certified Apple Teacher.

What is "petrification?" How does vegetation or wood become stone? This class will answer this question,  inform one where to find petrified wood and what causes the various colors we see in the wood. In anticipation of a field trip to Flora, we will learn how petrified wood ended up in MS. Hopefully, this will give basic information to those registered for the field trip. Jim Dryden grew up in Dayton, Ohio, earning a bachelor's degree in geology and environmental studies and spent six years on the archaeological research staff at the University of Alabama. He spent thirty-one years with the US Bureau of Land Management in six states and Washington, DC.

This seminar will cover bluebird mating, nesting and fledglings. Also included will be information about habitat, bluebird box placement and predators. John Lipscomb is a Master Naturalist residing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He has been involved with birding most of his life.

TRAVEL

In this class participants will learn how to prepare for overseas travel, packing tips, customs, travel in a COVID environment, places to eat and where to stay. It will also cover information on using travel companies. Steve Clyburn was a docent at the Mississippi State Capitol for two years. He led tours of the capitol and included information not normally stated by other guides. He is a graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi majoring in political science and has a master's degree from William Carey University in secondary education. He is retired from the Active Army National Guard and as a public high school teacher. 

Join OLLI friends and take a bus to Flora to the Petrified Forest. Come learn the history of the petrified forest, participate in the nature trail, visit the museum and gift shop and mine for gems. Afterwards, we will eat at Cock of the Walk.

Join the OLLI members who traveled on the 2022 Canyon Country trip to learn firsthand about their highlights of the adventure. From Phoenix to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon, Zion National Park, and Las Vegas ..... it was a grand adventure. They promise to share plenty of gorgeous pictures of this remarkable part of the country.

Join us for an overnight trip to Mississippi State University in Starkville to see the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library, the John Grisham Room at the Mitchell Library and the University-run cheese store (with more to buy than just cheese.) If we have time, we will visit Lincolniana, take a wine tour, see the Museum of archaeology and the Wade Clock Museum.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Prepare to laugh as "The Detectives Comedy Dinner Theatre" guides us through an interactive comedic event in which guests enjoy a 3-course meal that includes a murder mystery to solve. Part sitcom and part crime drama, dinner will be a unique experience. Is that your friend's new boyfriend or a serial killer? It is up to audience members to determine the guilty party, the motive and how the murder was done. With a little luck, good detective work and loads of laughs, your table could be the one to unlock the mystery and win some prizes. Join us—we are "Dying to Meet You!"

Join OLLI for a talk about new technology and advancements in hearing aids. There will be a discussion of the current technology available and how these advances can benefit those with hearing loss. Topics to be included are digital noise reduction, adaptive directional microphones, rechargeable battery options and Bluetooth technology. The discussion will be followed by an opportunity to ask questions. Dr. Jennifer Goshorn is a clinical instructor at the School of Speech and Hearing Sciences at The University of Southern Mississippi. Her area of interest is audiological rehabilitation and amplification for the adult population. She teaches students in the Doctor of Audiology Program and undergrad speech language pathology program at Southern Miss. She received her AuD from the University of Florida in 2017. 

On the coast? Register online, email your class list to Maryann.Herodes@usm.edu, or call 228.214.3277.

In Hattiesburg? Register online, email your class list to olli@usm.edu or call 601.266.6554. 

Ready to Register?

Call 601.266.6554 in Hattiesburg or 228.214.3277 in Long Beach if you have questions about joining or registering.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS (SIGs)

           GP Art (February - April)                                      1st Friday at 9:30 a.m.

           HB Art                                                                      1st Friday at 1:00 P.m.

           GP Coffee Chat (Resumes in February)           2nd Friday at 9:30 a.m.

           HB Knitting                                              1st and 3rd Friday at 2:00 p.m.

           HB Life Story and Poetry                                   3rd Friday at 10:30 a.m.

           HB MS Books and Authors                                4th Friday at 11:00 a.m. 

           GP OLLI Book Club (Zoom only)                         3rd Friday at 1:00 p.m. 

           HB OLLI Book Club                                           2nd Friday at 10:00 a.m.

           GP OLLI Outdoors in S. Mississippi                  3rd Friday at 9:30 a.m.

           Photography (Zoom)                           1st and 3rd Fridays at 2:30 p.m.

          GP Ukulele (Resumes in January)                      Tuesdays at 2:30 p.m.

          HB Ukulele                                                                Fridays at 2:00 p.m.