-SUMMER MEMBER BENEFIT OFFERINGS   

JJ Towler has found beauty, adventure, and peace in the south African country of Botswana and she would like to share her experiences with you. See an overview of the camps where she stayed in her four visits to this beautiful land. Hear some of the fascinating stories she’s learned from the camp employees, who are local people, about their tribes and customs. Take a visit to elephant havens that rescue orphan baby elephants. And, of course, in pictures and videos you will learn about a vast array of wildlife, including elephants, lions, zebras, leopards, impalas, and many beautiful birds.

Come senators, congressmen, Please heed the call Don’t stand in the doorway Don’t block up the hall...

The lyrics of Bob Dylan’s iconic 1964 recording sum up the state of college football in 2025. The times, they are indeed changing! For the first time, players will be legally paid. Continued revenue from Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and the collectives, the wild-west transfer portal, legislation, and court rulings have forever changed the game. Conference realignments and the 12-team playoff further underscore the change – some might say chaos. But the pageantry and the sport’s competitive spirit have not changed. If anything, they’re stronger and more intense than ever. So much to talk about! And that’s what we’ll do again this year in this fun OLLI at UVA Discussion Group. We’ll discuss which teams can best navigate the changing landscape, and we’ll have some special guests join us. Can a loaded Ohio State team repeat as the national champion? Could Penn State surprise with a Big 10 trophy? What about Georgia, Texas, the rest of the SEC, and Notre Dame? Is Texas Tech this year’s sleeper? Is Clemson again the cream of the ACC, or is it Louisville, Miami, or SMU? Can Florida State rebound from last year’s disastrous 2-10 record? And this year, we’ll take a peek at the Ivy League where eight elite academic institutions still cling to an “amateur model” even as it is increasingly abandoned by the rest of the college landscape. With a more manageable schedule, can UVA carve out a winning record, earn a bowl game, and take some heat off Tony Elliott? Same story for Virginia Tech and head coach Brent Pry. It’s a lot to unpack.

Susan will speak about the intersection of history, horses, and storytelling. Her talk “Marguerite Henry, Misty and Wild, Swimming Ponies” appeals to readers, educators, and animal lovers of all ages. In July 2025, Susan will be a featured speaker at the Museum of Chincoteague Island during the historic 100th annual Chincoteague Pony Swim. Over 50,000 visitors are expected to witness this legendary event, where wild ponies—believed to be descendants of Spanish shipwreck survivors—swim across the Assateague Channel before the foals are auctioned to support the local fire company and maintain the herd.

OLLI invites you to a two-day stationary pedal biking vacation to turn on your anti-aging genes and engage your grandchildren. Your trip will take you through two national parks, around the sunrise and sunset over five oceans and across Mars. We will pause from time to time to discuss the health benefits of nature.