Annual President’s Letter

Greetings Omniloreans - Hope you’re all enjoying your summer! 

 Welcome to a new year with Omnilore LIR, Inc. Although we have been in existence under a slightly different name for well over 30 years, we’ve just completed our fourth year as a nonprofit public benefit corporation, meeting together to learn, build connections, and make friends. 

 This is truly a unique organization where we get to explore a wide range of topics and teach each other through stimulating collegial conversations.

 Our new slate of Fall S/DGs will be out shortly and continuing enormous thanks to the many members who step up to review and help select course offerings, train coordinators, serve as coordinators and make sure everything runs smoothly - from those good folks on the tech team to our classmates who help create a welcoming space! 
 End of session surveys will be coming out soon, so please be on the lookout for them and do give us your feedback ASAP. We really do read everything you submit, so we can continue to do the best possible job long into the future. Of particular interest are identifying which presentations were especially memorable to you. 

 Also, enormous thanks to our members who help to plan and organize our Special Interest Groups and Affiliated Groups, Forum luncheons, and other special events like the annual picnic and Renaissance Faire. We had great fun this last year getting together for Movies With Friends, Behind the Kitchen Door, Field Trips and very recently, the new Omnilore Book Club. The Science, Technology and Society and Walking groups also provide excellent opportunities to connect.

 We plan to keep membership fees the same for the coming year, 2026–2027, at $250 per year for full membership, $125 per year for special interest group membership and $40 per year for those on leave of absence. There is an additional $40 charge on each of these if you are one who still wants postal service delivery. But really, you’ll get your news much more quickly and save yourself a few bucks by joining the majority who receive their Omnilore communications by email.

Renewal of your membership is now open, so please do renew your memberships early and online, rather than by mail. Trust me, if I can do this, anyone can!

 Now (drumroll, please) take time very soon to check out our shiny new Omnilore website at www.omnilore.org, a labor of love by another super Omnilore set of volunteers. Job well done! It’s truly beautiful to behold and so much easier to navigate than our old one – which served us well for a long time, but was well overdue for a facelift!

 What you will first see on the home page are what we call the PUBLIC PAGES, which anyone can browse through. Please tell your friends and family to take a look, and tell them to reach out to us by email or phone to get their questions answered.
 Personal referrals have always been the most effective way to spread the word about Omnilore. We really depend on new members to keep this organization going and look to all of you to help make that happen. Our dedicated volunteer team members promise to work hard to make it easy for new members to join.

 Now click on the MEMBER AREA in the navigation bar and use your member login password (love2learn). You’ll find several useful resources, including NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. With the help of yet another dedicated group of Omnilore website volunteers, we’re providing a space where you can easily see everything that’s happening in Omnilore – important meetings, events, deadlines, news, and special interest group activities. You’ll also find our membership database where you can look up members’ contact info, class rosters and course descriptions for the coming session. A suggestion: bookmark the member area pages so it’s easy for you to check in on news and announcements.

 Note please, that we are still completing work on the member pages so there may be some links that don’t take you anywhere as yet - they will eventually!
 As many of you are aware, we will be moving out of our space at Beach Cities sometime in the next few months. The building is being torn down so we have no choice! A dedicated team of volunteers are searching for alternative space as we speak. Send good thoughts their way! 

 Last, but not least, as with many nonprofits, we depend in part on your generous donations, so I’m asking you now to take a moment to consider a tax deductible donation to Omnilore Learning in Retirement, Inc. in any amount you’re comfortable with. You can do this easily online at our new website anytime, or when you renew your membership. If you prefer mailing your renewal and your donation by postal delivery, that works as well.

 I’m confident that when you reflect on what you’ve learned, the things you’ve been able to participate in, and the community and friends that have come to you through Omnilore, you’ll agree that an investment in the future of this unique organization as well worth it.
 Thank you to everyone for all  you do for Omnilore. I look forward to seeing all of you soon, somewhere down the road!

Leslie Criswell
President, 
Omnilore Learning in Retirement Inc.