Notes from the Nov 7 Update: Membership Registration Opens Nov 14th!!

General Election Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Contain those Germs

It is not just about COVID these days. The flu and cold viruses are back and striking with a vengeance. If you are feeling sick, please stay home. If you are not sure it is allergies or a virus, wear a mask and distance yourself from other OLLI members, instructors and other members of the Pitt community.

Looking Forward -- Spring Dates 

OLLI Spring Session 1: January 30, 2023 - March 3, 2023 

OLLI Spring Session 2: March 13, 2023 - April 14, 2023

Membership Registration (to purchase or renew your annual or term memberships) will begin November 14th. We will be releasing the course at-a-glance preview at the same time! (Tentative)

Keep an eye out for Osher emails this week. We will let you know if your membership is up for renewal.

Course Evaluations for Fall Session 2

The OMET (Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching) evaluations for session 2 will be emailed soon.  

Your OMET evaluation will come from this address:
TeachingSurvey@omet.pitt.edu

If you are experiencing any issues with the OMET, DO NOT CONTACT The Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching. Instead, email us at osher@pitt.edu.

Polishfest 2022

Polishfest from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Cathedral Commons Room is designed to give festival guests, families and students an opportunity to experience the living cultures of the Polish, Lithuanian and Carpatho-Rusyn peoples. The theme of the event — Unity In Diversity: We Are One But Many Different In The Same — reflects how these people throughout history were joined and separated and are now independently connected.

This family-oriented event is free and will include many activities such as Polish name writing; Lithuanian angel papercutting demonstration; pierogi / pirohy cooking demonstrations and samples; Carpatho-Rusyn spinning and lace making; and a pierogi toss. Entertainment will include Polish folk songs with a violinist; a Lithuanian choir with Bocjai folk songs; Polish Karazula folk songs and folk dancing by the “Lajkoniki” Ensemble; Polka dancing; and contemporary Polish music. 

Sponsors include the Polish Nationality Room Committee and community; the Lithuanian Nationality Room Committee and community; Carpatho-Rusyn Society Of America; Nationality Rooms and lntercultural Exchange Programs; Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies; Polish Falcons Of America and the Romanian Nationality Room Committee.

From an Fellow OLLI Member:


What To Do (and NOT Do) regarding Voter Intimidation at the Polls
Compiled by Janet Jai, MLA, vision-and-values.com

This list is condensed from information gathered from 866ourvote, aclu, advancement project, b-pep, brennan center, campaign legal, common cause, everytown law, Georgetown law, lwv, & Jai’s 20+ years of research and writing about voting issues.

If you see or experience voter intimidation at the polls:

1.  Call the Election Protection Hotline 1-866-OUR VOTE (866-687-8683) to get immediate help from a nonpartisan Election Protection volunteer. The Hotline is administered by the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.  (Spanish/Español, 888-VE-Y-VOTA. Asian, 888-API-VOTE. Arabic, 844-YALLA-US.  American Sign Language video, 301-818-VOTE. Or text OUR VOTE to 97779.) 

In your call, tell what is happening: when and where, who is involved, what they are doing that is intimidating or threatening, any clothing or signs they are carrying that might help identify them, and whether any voters are being deterred from voting.

There may also be Election Protection Volunteers at or near your polling place (sponsored by Common Cause nationwide plus B-PEP The Black Political Empowerment Project in Pittsburgh). The volunteers will be wearing jerseys that boldly say Election Protection and the Hotline number 1-866-OUR-VOTE. Call one of them over if you need voting help of any kind.

2.  Report voter intimidation to election officials (the Judge of Elections) in the polling place. Election officials are empowered to maintain order in (and usually near) their polling place. If they are unresponsive, you can contact county or state election officials or the state’s Attorney General.

3.  You can also call the U.S. Department of Justice Voting Rights Hotline 1-800-253-3931; TTY line 877-267-8971.

4.  Specific Situations

If your qualifications to vote are challenged: In many states you can give a sworn legal statement that you are qualified to vote and then cast a regular ballot (standing in line before 8pm on Election Day in PA). You can also do this if your Mail-In Ballot was denied, rejected or delayed for any reason!

If you are told you’re not on the list of registered voters:  Ask poll workers to check supplemental lists, and the county elections office or the statewide system if available. If they can’t find you, ask for a provisional ballot. All voters are entitled to a provisional ballot (which election officials will review after Election Day to see if you are qualified and registered).

If there is violence where your or another person’s health or safety is at risk, call 911. (But remember that the presence of law enforcement can be intimidating to some voters, and the goal is to have a nonthreatening atmosphere so that voters can simply and safely vote.)

Document and report but generally do NOT confront. If you feel safe, you can try to de-escalate a situation, but do NOT intervene if doing so would be dangerous for you or others or might escalate tensions. Instead document and report voter intimidation to all above and to the County District Attorney, who has the authority to prosecute.  

Do NOT photograph voters in or near the polls. This can be seen as Voter Intimidation. Even people you are trying to help may not want to be photographed. And photography inside or near the polling place may be illegal. 

Do NOT post what is happening on social media (or consider carefully before deciding).  Publicizing voter intimidation can cause alarm and make others afraid of going to the polls. This is what those who are trying to intimidate voters want to happen.

If you are nervous about voting, make a plan to go to the polls or drop off your mail-in ballot together with family, friends, your church group, or others.