'Hello, BOLLI!': A new term begins
August 16, 2022
Mt. Auburn Cemetery in the Fall│Photo credit: Chris Devers, Flickr
by Helen Abrams, Jack Curley, Megan Curtis, Carl Lazarus and Liz Lieberman
The start of a BOLLI term brings welcome opportunities for learning and friendship, which given the worries and isolation of the past two years are now both more important than ever. Many will recall Executive Director Avi Bernstein’s March 2020 message in which he announced that spring classes would be held remotely. Due to the remarkable efforts of staff and a dedicated group of members, BOLLI’s virtual platform soon became a reality. At the time of Avi’s announcement, few expected that the crisis would still be a part of our lives in 2022. Though it would be unreasonable to expect a Zoom screen to fully replace the intimacy and companionship of the in-person, face-to-face classroom learning so cherished by BOLLI members, most would agree that online programming has proven to be a welcome and enriching resource for our community.
The Banner recently paid a virtual visit to Senior Associate Director Megan Curtis to get her thoughts on where we’ve been and to learn more about what lies ahead. The conversation began with Megan noting that she and her team are working hard to upgrade and perfect current technology, while at the same time very much looking forward to a partial return to their Turner Street “home base” where, at least to some degree, “the gathering space will again buzz with BOLLI’s unique energy.” That said, she acknowledges there could well be bumps in the road ahead. Megan believes no one has summarized the present perspective of both members and staff quite as well as longtime member Liz Lieberman, who in a recent conversation remarked that, “It’s hard for me to describe how much I long for a return to the BOLLI of a few years ago, when at the same time I’m semi-cautious about the whole thing. Oy!!”
BOLLI program offerings have continued to enrich and expand throughout the pandemic, thanks in large part to the many hours of work undertaken by Curriculum Committee Co-Chairs Carl Lazarus and David Rattner, along with team members Sheila Brachfeld, Sarah Carter, Peggy Creese, Aaron Goldberg, Barbara Gordon, Peter Gordon, Roberta Kozinn, and Gail Mann. This fall’s lineup proves no exception, as there is an abundance of topics and forums from which to choose. The committee’s work needed to be completed well before the beginning of the July registration period in order to give BOLLI staff time to prepare the catalog and confirm it with all Study Group Leaders. Carl says that from the outset “Avi and the Curriculum Committee were in agreement that it would be essential to offer the safest and most inviting in-person environment we could.”
The epidemic greatly added to the committee’s workload, since many new factors had to be considered, including SGL willingness and ability to teach in either a virtual or in-person platform; the extent to which students would prefer one platform over another; and concern over the possible impact on classroom sessions should the incidence of COVID-19 or its variants increase during the term. Carl further notes that, “in addition to a large number of virtual classes, to the extent possible the committee wished to offer a number of in-person and hybrid classes at 60 Turner Street.” The committee’s success is evident in the result of their work, which led to formation of seven in-person courses, 65 online courses and three field courses. According to Avi, their efforts led to development of the “largest and most diverse curriculum ever offered in the history of our community.”
Given the success of last term’s field courses, which met both by Zoom and in-person at outdoor locations, Megan expects even more interest in them this time around. This term’s topics are "Meet a Marsh…Wetlands, Conservation in Our Backyards," and "Mount Auburn Cemetery in the Fall." SGL Helen Abrams says of the focus of her upcoming class, "Mount Auburn Cemetery in the Fall," that the site is a treat any time of year. “During the spring class, we toured the cemetery looking at flowering trees, plants, unusual landscapes and, of course, stopped by significant monuments to interesting people and learned about their lives. This fall, the cemetery will be different – yet still beautiful. Leaves will change color and as they drop, we will see the sculptural shapes of so many magnificent trees. It’s thrilling for me to again have an opportunity to share my knowledge of the people, history, and horticulture of this extraordinary place.”
BOLLI membership numbers have remained strong throughout the pandemic. Megan says that more than 155 new members have joined since the onset of COVID, many of whom will visit BOLLI for the first-time during tent gatherings in August and September, where they will have the opportunity to meet with veteran members and see the Turner Street classrooms. She also expects that a number of our new out-of-state members, who now comprise ten percent of membership, will stay on this fall to participate in online learning.
Fall registrations are in and classes and events have been scheduled for a Sept. 12 start. Can’t wait until then? Join fellow members at 60 Turner Street for the upcoming Class and Special Interest Group “Tent Meetups” and the Sept. 8 “Back to School Brunch.” New members will also have the opportunity to gather by Zoom or in-person on Aug. 24. To stay informed of these and other happenings, keep an eye on your inbox and be sure to watch for updates in the weekly BOLLI Bulletin.