Brogan: Learning for Fun and More!

Before I'd even turned 50, AARP had contacted me to remind me that one of the opportunities I could accept as I reached that milestone was membership. At the time I didn't really want to be reminded. However, I now seek out the many opportunities available to those of us who have reached a "certain age".

For the past eleven years, one of the big pluses for the over fifty set has been the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute or OLLI as it is more affectionately referred to by the more than one thousand members in New Hampshire. Their slogan is "Come for the Classes. Stay for the friends!" With more than 300 classes offered each year, you could make it an all-consuming part of your life if you chose to.

Classes are offered at campuses in Concord, Manchester, Portsmouth, Rochester and Conway. Membership is very affordable as are the classes and you don't need to be a member to take a class, although after taking one you may be asking, "Where do I sign up?"

Since I began my affiliation with OLLI nearly four years ago, I've taught nearly 2 dozen classes in front of nearly 700 enthusiastic members and attendees. I've made the rounds from Concord to Manchester and then to Portsmouth and this fall I'm venturing to Conway for the first time. While my classes have been mainly built around various film genres with the exception of the hugely popular "Growing Up Catholic" class that Peg Fargo and I devised, the topics of the 300 plus annual offerings run the gamut from history, music, travel, math, discussion groups and everything in-between.

You can visit the website at olli.granite.edu or just google "Olli at GSC" and you'll find out how to become a member as well as having the opportunity to peruse the seemingly endless listing of classes offered at every site.

It's always been my firm belief that you should never stop expanding your horizons and becoming a part of OLLI will certainly open portals of knowledge and entertainment to you that will enrich and heighten your enjoyment of life.