OLLI at FSU, PC30A Classes Come to SoWal

Locals interested in expanding their creative horizons will be able to do so shortly with the expansion of the OLLI at FSU, PC30A class curriculum starting up right here in our SoWal community. OLLI (the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) has been in existence for a number of years, all over the country, and the scholarly program, tailored for folks who want to learn in a stress-free environment with no tests, no grades, and no homework, will get underway with registration beginning January 27, 2020.

“Participants will be able to take a free Grayton Beer Company Brewery tour followed by visitations to individual class stations to learn more about the courses,” explains OLLI at FSU, PC30A Advisory Board President Steve Howard. “We expect to have about 125 members to start with.”

All classes begin in February with registration set  to begin Jan. 27, 2020. Registration is straightforward and must be done online. Students can visit www.olli.fsu.edu and follow the prompts which will take them from establishing a Membership ($95/fiscal year) to then searching for PC30A classes for registration. Classes are priced very reasonably, starting from as little as $20 and most classes will be held at the Ohana Institute at 30Avenue, Seaside, or the St. Joe Campus in Watersound.

Once membership has been established, students can choose from numerous very cool classes, culture and arts activities, social activities, clubs and field trips.

A few of the classes being offered include Florida History: The Land and People Who Shaped Florida, taught by local Certified Florida Master Naturalist Brenda Rees; iPhone and iPads, Basic Apps and Web Searches, taught by Bruce and Gail Judd; The Life and Films of Cary Grant, taught by Gary Olsen, film expert and historian; Creative Writing: Fiction, taught by FSU English Instructor Milinda Jay Stephenson;  Culinary Creations-Italia taught by Nikhil Abuvala, Chef and Owner of Roux 30A’; and Entrepreneurship: Take Your Passion and Make  it Happen on 30A, taught by John  Breed, lecturer and Entrepreneur in Residence at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, FSU. These are just a few of the “out of the box” non-credit courses that will be offered with class sizes limited, so be sure to sign up soon to guarantee your slot.

OLLI membership entitles students to participate in the Lifelong Learning Through Travel offerings where “the world is your classroom when you travel.” This years’ Tallahassee Discover Croatia, Slovenia and Adriatic Coast study abroad program will be held Aug. 20-31, 2020.

Some of the Activities that can be signed up for include a Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition Walk, a Historic Pensacola Day Trip, and a Montgomery, Alabama Civil Rights Tour. Club selections include a 30A Walkers Club, a 30A Anglers Fishing Club, and a Sipping Club especially for OLLI members wishing to get together at pre-selected venues in SoWal. Fellow “Sippers” will embrace Scenic Hwy. 30A establishments, best kept secrets, and maybe a “dive” or two! These ventures, like the classes, are meant to be FUN and educational. Designed as a member-centered organization, OLLI allows for students to expand their intellectual horizons, engage in social activities, participate in volunteer opportunities, and hold key leadership positions within the organization.

The OLLI PC30A Advisory Board will continue to tap into SoWal’s resident base of artists, musicians, songwriters, politicians and business entrepreneurs to create something unique for the 30A site. Their mission includes working with other local 30A cultural and educational organizations including the Seaside REP, Seaside Institute, Escape to Create, Cultural Arts Association (CAA) Walton Outdoors and other like-minded groups.

For more information, please call 850-376-4627, 850-532-7841 or visit www.pc.fsu.edu/olli.