OLLI Spring 2026_pageturn - Flipbook - Page 15
Dead or Alive? The Battle over the
Meaning of the Constitution
Wednesdays, March 4 – 25
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Peoria Next Innovation Center
The U.S. Constitution is the source of the rights
and responsibilities of our government and
its citizens. Yet questions about what the
Constitution’s wording means and how it should
be applied have been foundational issues for our
country almost from its inception. Can—or even
should—the existing Constitution meet the needs
of the United States in a world vastly different
from that known by the Founders? How has the
Supreme Court addressed this issue throughout
our nation’s history? We’ll examine the different
theories of constitutional interpretation used
by the Court over time - originalism, textualism,
pragmatism, progressivism, the concept of a
“living document,” and others. We’ll also discuss
the strengths and weaknesses of each, and
evaluate how best to keep both the Constitution
and the Court relevant while maintaining
them as central pillars of the world’s premier
democratic society.
$45 – Facilitated by Timothy Bertschy, retired
attorney and previous OLLI facilitator.
Seats available: 20
Presidents at War: How World War II Shaped a
Generation of Presidents
Thursdays, March 5 – April 9
1:30 – 3:45 p.m.
Peoria Next Innovation Center
This group will focus on how World War II shaped
seven U.S. presidents, from Dwight D. Eisenhower
to George H. W. Bush. We will examine the
lessons these men took from World War II and
how they applied their experiences to Cold War
policies that transformed the United States,and
the world. The book Presidents at War: How
World War II Shaped a Generation of Presidents
explores the philosophies and legacies of these
seven remarkable leaders and suggests that the
lessons they learned in the postwar years continue
to shape the political landscape that presidents
navigate today. Be ready to discuss and reflect
the continuing legacies of World War II, examined
within the context of current U.S. and global
political perspectives.
$45 – Facilitated by Missy Salata, a Bradley alumna,
and active OLLI member and Rich Henz frequent
OLLI instructor and facilitator.
Seats available: 24
Table for Two: Stories by Amor Towles
Fridays, March 6 – 27 and April 10 (skip April 3)
10:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Peoria Main Library, 107 NE Monroe, Peoria
Table for Two is the newest book by bestselling
author Amor Towles. The Los Angeles Times said
of the book: "This may be Towles’ best book yet.
Each tale is as satisfying as a master chef’s main
course, filled with drama, wit, erudition and, most
of all, heart." You may recognize Towles from his
previous three novels, The Lincoln Highway, A
Gentleman in Moscow, and Rules of Civility. Join
us as we delve into these satisfying short stories
and novella during five discussion sessions.
$45 – Our fearless facilitators will include Jennifer
Bass, Becky Carlson, Barb & Michael Getz, Sheila
Hansen, Jane Hense, Bev Ketel, and Roberta
Koscielski.
Seats available: 20
Plant Intelligence – What a Tree Knows
Mondays, March 9 – April 13
9:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Peoria Next Innovation Center
When walking through a forest, do you ever
wonder what lies beneath your feet? Besides soil
and roots, there is a hidden world where trees and
plants are quietly communicating with each other
in ways we are only beginning to understand. For
the past 30 years, scientists have discovered that
plants and trees are part of a communication
system utilizing mycorrhizal fungi creating vast
networks that link the roots of trees and plants.
Through this underground system, trees can
send and receive signals, share nutrients, and
support each other in time of need. We’ll explore
the beginnings of this research and the newest
findings that detail how trees utilize their senses
to communicate with each other. Plan to obtain
and read the book What a Plant Knows by Daniel
Chamovitz, available online, through local libraries,
and booksellers.
$45 – Facilitated by Patricia Melaik, Peoria County
Master Gardener and Master Naturalist and
frequent OLLI facilitator.
Seats available: 18
STUDY GROUPS
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