Senior group celebrates 20 years

By Gregory Koteles Acorn Staff Writer

OASIS, the national education organization for older adults, founded by Marylen Mann and Margie Wolcott May of the May Co., celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday with an event at Pierce College in Woodland Hills.

About 75 people turned out to talk about the organization and its future and just to gather and socialize. For two years, OASIS, a private nonprofit group offering short classes and trips to the elderly, has worked in partnership with the ENCORE program, a state-funded program to provide free non-credit college courses without texts, tests or term papers.

They were brought together under the direction of Pierce President Rocky Young, and since "putting in roots" at the college have increased enrollment in the Valley by more than 3,000, according to Victoria Neal, the OASIS director for West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

"We have at least two generations attending classes here at Pierce," said Neal, noting that everyone from Baby Boomers to their parents is eligible to join and take classes.

Eileen Guliasi, 72, is the volunteer chairwoman at Pierce and teaches PACE (People with Arthritis Can Exercise) Tuesdays at the Tarzana Regional Medical Center.

"When I retired and became a widow, I looked for something to become involved with," said Guliasi. "At my first OASIS meeting, the person running it came up to me, handed me a pen and paper and said, ‘Would you please take the minutes?’

"I never volunteered for anything before." Despite being "volunteered," Guliasi enjoys her involvement with OASIS.

"We have no homework, no grades and if we’re absent, it’s okay," she said. "I enjoy OASIS because I can fulfill my time. I volunteer, but I get paid in thanks."

Claude Klein, the OASIS coordinator at Pierce, loves her new job.

"It’s a wonderful group of people," she said. "They’re supportive of each other. They’re enthusiastic. This population is valuable and has a lot share with the younger students at the college."

Klein, who used to work with Alzheimer’s patients for the L.A. Department of Aging, said, "It’s refreshing to work with people who are vital, active and full of life."

Ida Blaine, the director of ENCORE at Pierce, said her program’s partnership with OASIS was a natural fit since they serve the same population.

"We have 15-week classes that go with the college semester," said Blaine. "But anyone can sign up anytime during a semester because we recognize that they may have doctor appointments, visits with grandchildren and other obligations."

But just because the seniors in the ENCORE/OASIS program don’t fit the usual model of the typical college student doesn’t mean that Pierce’s administration doesn’t take them seriously. In fact, there’s a move to build 200 to 250 residential units on campus devoted specifically to adults 55 and older.

Construction of these life-long learning residences would be funded through bond money received by the college under Proposition A. About two dozen colleges nationwide already have similar programs, according to Jim Dawson, the Pierce professor helping to spearhead the drive for the on-campus residences.

If built, the residences would likely comprise of one- to three-bedroom units, with ancillary facilities including community and classrooms and an exercise and small pool facility. The residences would be leased at market rates to seniors taking or teaching classes at Pierce.

"It sounds like a dorm for adults," said Earl Hendy, who takes ENCORE/OASIS classes at Pierce. He liked the idea of living on campus and taking classes.

"It makes a lot of people feel younger," he said. "If you’re a lone senior, it gives you something to do with people who have the same interests."

With or without on-campus residences, ENCORE/OASIS is going strong at Pierce, with nearly 6,000 people enrolled in the program.

ENCORE/OASIS classes continue all year. Get a catalogue on campus or call ENCORE at (818) 710-2561 or OASIS at (818) 710-4163.