Osher Interest Groups

The Richmond Audubon Society and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute are pairing up to create a new Special Interest Group on birding for Osher members. Membership in the Richmond chapter or the National Audubon Society is not required to be a member of this Osher interest group (although there are nice benefits, if you choose to join).

Please contact Mary Elfner at melfner@gmail.com if you are interested in joining.

The social/duplicate bridge group meets on the first Friday of each month at 1pm (except in the summer months).

Please contact Ellen Hollands at efine98@aol.com or (804) 741-0221 if you are interested in joining. These are FUN groups. All levels are welcome!

Would you like to explore and learn more about planet Earth and the universe?

Maybe you’ve already read these:

• Origin Story: A Big History of Everything by David Christian (recommended by Bill Gates)
• A Brief History of Earth: Four Billion Years in Eight Chapters by Andrew Knoll
• Welcome to the Universe: An Astrophysical Tour by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Michael A. Strauss & J. Richard Gott

And, perhaps you go online and enjoy these web sites:

• NASA
• The Evolving Universe
• The James Webb Telescope

There are thousands of resources for exploring earth and the universe. Which ones have you tried?

If any of these books, web sites, and topics are of interest to you, please email Joel Gottlieb at joel.gottlieb@gmail.com to join this group.

The Photography Interest Group offers photographers with a range of experience and interest the opportunity to come together regularly to share, learn, and develop their skills. Tip sessions, photo outings, and presentations on such topics as composition, exposure, and editing software are offered.

To join or learn more, please email coordinator Peter Blankman at pblankman@gmail.com.

The purpose of this new group is to build confidence to say anything in French, and the setting would be completely informal. Osher members Allan and Eva Blum host an informal French Conversation social group. Eva’s native language is French, and Allan is fairly fluent in the language. This group does not require fluency in French, but only a wish to have some fun and improve whatever level French one has by casual French conversation.

Please email Allan and Eva at allan_blum@yahoo.com with your interest and desire to be a part of this group.

The Golf Special Interest Group has been created for Osher members who love to hit the links. We vary the days of the week, times, locations, and playing formats, with the hope of appealing to all interested golfers. We welcome all, regardless of handicap — this is just for fun and enjoyment!

If you are interested, please contact Thomas Cox at tcox.attorney@gmail.com.

Come with us and explore the wonders of nature: the breathtaking waterfalls, wildlife, various plants and vegetation, not to mention historic urban settings. Our hikes run from September through June and cover an array of venues from the Shenandoah National Park to urban hikes, and all points in between. Our hikes generally run between four and seven miles in length with varying degrees of difficulty and elevation change. We generally leave around 8 a.m. and return by 5 p.m. For more information, contact the group coordinator: Lex Bailey, alexander.neale.bailey@gmail.com.

All participants are required to sign a liability release form. Also, we strongly recommend that all participants complete and bring with them on the hike an Emergency Information Sheet. Upcoming hikes will be posted in the Osher Office and on the Osher website and announced to group members via email.

Fall 2023 Hike Schedule

At the discretion of the Planning Committee a second hike could be offered, based on participants’ interest and the availability of leaders, for most outings.

Following is the hiking schedule for the season:

Guidelines for Hikers

• You must be an Osher member or a guest of an Osher member to participate in a hike.
• We will meet and depart promptly at the times stated in the hike email.
• Please do not veer off or leave a hike without informing a member of the hiking committee.
• We try to pick hikes that appeal to a wide range of hikers, but due to difficulty and elevation, may not be possible for all hikers.
• For safety reasons and as a courtesy to the other hikers, everyone on the hike must be able to maintain a steady pace and stay with the group. All hikers will be required to sign release forms before departing for the hike.
• There is generally a waiting list for hikers so if you find you cannot go on a hike, please inform Lex Bailey at alexander.neale.bailey@gmail.com ASAP so another person can fill your slot.
• Be sure to dress appropriately for a day out of doors and wear comfortable shoes. A day pack and walking stick are recommended. Also, all hikers are strongly encouraged to carry a listing of emergency contact information.
• The hiking committee is always looking for new ideas and members. If you would be interested in having a voice on hiking issues, please email Lex.

Attention all travelers! Celeste Miller is spearheading this Osher special interest group for those who love to travel. The objectives of the group are to share information regarding trips taken and most importantly, to help coordinate future Osher travel.

If you have interest in helping to lead the development of future Osher trips, being the first to learn of the travel opportunities developed, learning from fellow travelers, or sharing your experiences, this is the special interest group for you! We plan to focus on day trips and overnight excursions, as well as domestic and international travel.

Osher travel opportunities require all travelers to be Osher members, including spouses and guests.

Osher memberships may be purchased for as little as $75/year.

To join or to learn more, please email OSHERtravel@gmail.com. Come join the fun and expand your experiences!

And if you’d like to see the existing Osher travel opportunities, be sure to visit the Special Travel Opportunities page!

The aim of our UR Women’s Basketball Special Interest Group (SIG) is to enjoy the UR women’s games together (home and some away games) and support the team. We have been assigned our own designated Osher section in the Robins Center.

Join us in attending special programs, presentations, and practices with the UR coaches and players. Most of us have season tickets, but that is not a requirement to join this group.

All are welcome! Please contact John Festa at johnfesta@comcast.net to join.

Contemporary Issues (CI) is an interest group devoted to consideration of important news topics of the day. Invited guest speakers and CI committee members facilitate exploration of focus topics, followed by open discussions of contemporary issues suggested by staff and members.

Recent focus topics include:

• The deteriorating relations between U.S. and China
• Implications of U.S. deficit and resulting debt
• Climate change: Fact or Fantasy?
• Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT

Fall 2023 sessions will be on September 22 and November 10.

To join, please contact Alan Corbett at alan.corbett@comcast.net or 804-651-0958.

As part of the group’s activities, the Historically Speaking Interest Group discusses both classic historical works and recent history books. We are for all those who love history and enjoy the fellowship of others who feel the same way. If you have questions or need more information, please contact Louis Cei at ceilb2@aol.com. Please join us!

There is no cost to attend, but you must be a current Osher member. Most of the books can be checked out of a local library, purchased on Amazon, or found on reserve at UR’s Boatwright Library under the name of Louis B. Cei at the Reference Desk. Also you don’t have to have read the book to attend, but it is encouraged. Dates, times and locations will be announced by email. All meetings will be held via Zoom.

2023-2024 Schedule of Readings

Raise your financial knowledge! Join with other members of the Osher Investment Interest Group (OIIG) when student classes are in session. Interact with senior students and other guest experts in the field of Investments and Personal Finance.

Our speakers include Robins School of Business students who manage part of the University of Richmond endowment fund as they learn to buy and sell equities in the Student Managed Investment Fund. We also invite a variety of financial professionals from the Richmond area, who are dedicated to financial education and who can provide help increasing our collective financial knowledge.

We meet from 10am–12pm in the Robins School of Business (building #102 on campus maps) during the fall and spring semesters only.

Our sessions are scheduled for the second Friday of the month. Adjustments may occur when the scheduled meeting conflicts with students’ ability to attend.

To be added to the meeting announcement email list, Osher members should email F. Brian McNeil at fbmcneil@gmail.com. 

Osher members are welcome to join this group founded in 2001 by dedicated School of Professional & Continuing Studies students. Readings range from academic non-fiction to literary fiction to popular fiction. To join, please contact Jerry Lutkenhaus (jervalaw@aol.com) and Ginnie Manuel (vmanuelva@gmail.com).

Unless otherwise specified, all meetings will be on the last Saturday of the month from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. in the University of Richmond’s Heilman Dining Center South Meeting Room (private glass dining room overlooking the lake).

For Newcomers: When you walk into the building, as you approach the entrance to the dining room you will see a glassed-in enclosure across the way and to the right. That’s us! As part of our room reservation agreement we are asked to go through the cafeteria, which also means that we are each charged just under $10 for an all-you-can-eat buffet of a wide variety of food. The food is VERY good, and includes breakfast as well as lunch fare.

Book Choices for 2023

Are you interested in writing your life story — in small chunks and with the help of like-minded others? We are a supportive group that meets at least monthly, sharing our writing and offering advice and feedback to one another. This is not a group that focuses on publication but on evoking memories and improving our writing.

Because of the necessity to create a small, intimate group, our first group, led by Lynn Blankman, is currently at capacity. Our second group, led by Karen Mizrach, is also full.

We are currently accepting members in a new, third group, led by Lisa Johnson: lajohnson978@gmail.com.

Are you a mystery reader? Come once a month to discuss mysteries old and new, from Agatha Christie to Louise Penny and from senior sleuths to international detectives.

When: Generally the last Monday of the months of September through November and January through May at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Location to be announced before the September 2023 meeting.

If you’d like to attend, please email Nancy Newins, group convener, at nnewins@verizon.net for more information.

A love for live theater is the only prerequisite for joining this interest group. This Osher interest group explores the Richmond theater scene by selecting and attending performances year round. Announcements for shows are sent to group members via email.

There is a wonderful social aspect to this group. When appropriate, we gather after a performance for discussion and a bite to eat.

We also hope there will be occasions to participate in talk-backs with the actors and production teams. To learn more and to join, please email oshertheater@gmail.com.