The Osher Proposal We have been invited to apply for funding by the Bernard Osher Foundation

What is the Osher Foundation?  Founded in 1977 by Bernard Osher  Located in San Francisco, it seeks to improve the quality of life through education and the arts  Has a special interest in educational opportunities for mature adults  Funds Lifelong Learning Institutes at 115 colleges and universities

The Basis of the Bargain (three parties to the agreement)  Osher Provides Funding, including an endowment of $1,000,000  We become an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and grow to 500+ members  UCSC holds our funds and continues to provide basic support for our programs

Osher’s Commitments  To provide $50,000 for two years  To give a $1 million endowment if we reach 500 members  To provide a ‘bridge grant’ of $50,000 for the first year after the endowment  To provide support through its San Francisco office and through the national network of 115 OLLIs

Our Commitments  To change our name to “Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCSC”  To amend our by-laws to state the purpose of providing educational opportunities for mature adults  To grow our organization to 500+ dues- paying members in two years  To continue and expand our existing program

UCSC’s Commitments  To continue to provide program staffing and administrative support through STARS and University Relations  To continue to provide in-kind support for our program  To hold and manage our funds in trust for Lifelong Learners

Administrative support provided by UCSC - overview  Receives mail, processes membership applications  Answers enquiries from members and public  Maintains membership records  Holds and manages all funds for us  Issues purchase orders for all goods and services that we buy

Admin. Support – Full List  Answers enquiries from members and prospective members,  Sends out information packages,  Receives mail and processes membership applications,  Maintains membership database and records,  Prepares mailing labels,  Attends all general meetings, prepares meeting rooms for guest lecturers, provides support to ensure that general meetings run smoothly,  Negotiates for space, room reservations, and room contracts,  Orders food and media services,  Manages accounts, reconciles ledgers and petty cash account,  Initiates and approves invoices, honoraria payments, catering arrangements, and purchase orders,  Negotiates insurance coverage  Creates book award flyers and coordinates book awards; mails book awards,  Provides mailing services,  Produces annual reports.

In-kind support provided by USCS  STARS is our home on campus  The Event Center is made available for monthly meetings at a reduced rate  Lecture hall 150 is provided free for our lecturers  UCSC professors volunteer time for our courses  Lifelong Learners are invited to University social events

Benefits of Becoming an OLLI  Financial security  Able to pay for services that UCSC provides  Able to save more for scholarships  Support from nationwide network of OLLIs  We gain the Osher Foundation as an advocate

Money for Scholarships  We currently provide about $12,000 for scholarships  If we decline Osher’s offer, the money available for scholarships will decline to a sustainable $8,000 (maybe less)  If we become an OLLI and grow to 500 members, $26,000 would become available for scholarships

Costs of becoming an OLLI  More members will require more courses, more interest groups, and special series  General meetings will be larger  We may need to be more structured in our approach  It won’t be as easy to get to know everyone

Memorandum of Understanding with the University  UCSC undertakes to continue providing the services it currently provides  We undertake to do our best to obtain an Osher endowment  We also undertake to budget an amount yearly to pay UCSC for program staffing and administrative support  That amount would be $20,000 in the first year, which would be directed to STARS

LLL Board’s Powers Unchanged  “The existing Board of Directors and officers of Lifelong Learners shall become the officers and Board of Directors of the Institute, and their powers and responsibilities shall be the same as they had been as officers and directors of Lifelong Learners.”

LLL Board’s Powers Unchanged  “All funds provided for and raised by the Institute shall be used to support the Institute’s programs, including scholarships, as determined by the Board of Directors (it being understood, however, that Osher funds cannot be used for scholarships).”

The Choice  Maintain the friendly, informal organization we have now at the cost of diminished resources for scholarships; or  Accept a larger, possibly more formal organization with greater financial security and more resources for scholarships

Where We Go From Here  A vote will be taken at the October meeting requesting approval of the application for funding from Osher and of the needed bylaw changes.  The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the membership vote in favor of the proposal.

Further Information  A blog on the proposal at  Robert Franson with questions,  Description of the Osher Foundation at  The National Network of OLLIs at

Course Registrations  Courses  Religion40  Dreams44  Romanticism25  Bird Watching 111  Bird Watching 211  Total Course Reg.131

IG Registration  20 Interest Groups  One meets in 4 or 5 separate series  Several have two separate series  Total IG Registrations556  Total IG & Course Reg.685  Time Required for each one ~ 5 – 10 min  Total Time Requirements ~ 114 hours