Osher

===Important Update: At the LLL General Meeting held on October 18, 2009, the membership voted to approve becoming an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. We have been advised that our application has been approved. A formal announcement will be made early in 2010.=== = = = = = = =About the Osher Proposal=

UCSC Lifelong Learners has been invited to apply for funding from the Bernard Osher Foundation.  If we go forward with this application, Osher would give us up to $150,000 in grants over three years, followed by an endowment of one million dollars for our use; we would have to change our name to Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and grow our membership to 500 dues-paying members. This is an important decision for us. A vote of the membership will be held at the October meeting deciding whether to go forward with this proposal.  Becoming an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute would:
 * Enable us to pay for the staff and administrative support services that we currently receive from the University, thus ensuring continuity in these difficult times;
 * Allow us to increase substantially the money we have available for scholarships; and,
 * Enhance our stature and visibility in the community.

Vote on Osher Proposal
In order to qualify for Osher funding we must amend our by-laws to change our name to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and add as one of our purposes, “To offer non-credit courses and educational opportunities for mature adults.” A vote will be taken on these changes at the October meeting.

The vote on these by-law amendments will determine whether we apply for Osher funding or not. Notice of this vote will be mailed to all paid up members on September 28th. If you do not receive a copy in a reasonable time, and think you should have, please contact the President, Robert Franson, rfranson@cruzio.com as soon as possible. A proxy form will be included in the mailing. Please be sure to vote, whether at the meeting or by proxy.

The UCSC Lifelong Learners Board of Directors has voted unanimously to recommend that you vote in favor of these amendments, and thus in favor of seeking Osher funding. However, this is not a 'done deal'. It depends entirely on your vote.

Learning More
 To learn more about the Osher proposal, please read the article entitled, //The Osher Proposal//, which was published in our September Newsletter. [ [|Newsletter article - Osher Proposal.pdf] ]

A sheet will be enclosed in the mailed notice of the vote setting the arguments in favor and against the Osher Proposal. Click here to view the Pro & Con Statement. [ [|Osher - pro and con.pdf] ]

You may also consult the that was given at the September meeting, but of course you will only be able to do that if you have MS PowerPoint on your computer. [ [|Osher Proposal.ppt] ] However, the handouts that were given out provide copies of all the slides. [|[osher proposal Handout.pdf] ] The questions and answers session following the presentation was transcribed and is available here.


 A blog has also been created where you can ask questions and offer your own comments. How to use it is explained **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">here. **

Notice of proposed By-Law amendments
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">To find the wording of the proposed by-law amendments, click here.

Proxy Form
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">You may download the proxy form for the vote. [ [|proxy form.pdf] ]

The National Network of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Finally, if we receive funding from the Osher Foundation we become a member of the National Network of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes. You may read more about it at this location: <span class="wiki_link_ext"> []