About Us

Welcome to Vistas & Byways

Vistas & Byways is a review of literature by members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University. Our contributors range in age from 50s to 90s. What we have in common is the urge to write, age being no barrier. In fact, aging can be a blessing to the creative muse. Past the need to make a living, raise a family or engage in the machinations of younger adulthood, we finally have the time to follow her lead.
 
We are an eclectic group at the V&B, some born in the Bay Area, others from far and wide in America and the world. Professionally, just a few of us actually worked as writers. Our careers spanned a wide variety of professions, from business owners to analysts, administrators and professors, to name a few, who bring their wealth of life experience to the writing we showcase.
 
​The V&B is an ongoing, ever-evolving publication. Our small volunteer staff handles all aspects of production, including editorial work, publication design and our website. We hope you enjoy it. We’d love to hear from you! 

Editorial and Publishing Team
Fall 2019

​Charlene Anderson
​ Executive Coordinator, Editorial Board Chair, “Freelance Editor,” Content Writer, Publicity Chair
Jane Bell Goldstein​
Online Publisher, Webmaster, Art Director, Content Writer, Photo Editor
​Don Plansky
Editorial Board, Fiction and Nonfiction Editor, Content Writer, Raconteur and All-Around Good Egg
Angie Minkin
Editorial Board, Poetry Editor, Content Writer
Mike Lambert
Contributor Page and Bio Sections Editor/Publisher, Content Writer
Mary Heldman
Editorial Board, Nonfiction and Fiction Editor, ​Content Writer
Joe Catalano
​Editorial Board, Poetry Editor, Content Writer
 Support Staff
Elsa Fernandez - Launch Party Chair
Carol Langbort - Proofreader
Vistas & Byways
​History and mission
On July 15, 2015, a dozen classmates in a summer writing class at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University met. Inspired by founding member, Mike Lambert, the group of long-lived, lifelong learners decided to embark on a new adventure to publish an online magazine. Our mission: to shine a light on the amazing literary work written by members of OLLI at SF State.
 
On October 15, 2015 the first issue of Vistas & Byways Review launched, featuring 43 pieces of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as background and accent photographs of San Francisco Bay Area landscapes taken by members of the V&B staff.
 
The following spring, Vistas & Byways expanded the second edition to include visual arts, adding four exhibits of photographic and fine art to the 50 literary works in the issue. Again, photographs of Bay Area vistas and byways, this time of waterways and shorelines, provided backgrounds and accents.
 
Vistas & Byways is published semi-annually, in early May and November. Our administrative, design, editorial, and technical staff is entirely volunteer. We receive some material support from OLLI at SF State.
 
With each new issue, the Vistas & Byways staff seeks to improve the quality of both content and our website venue, never losing sight of our original purpose to shine a light on the writing of the talented creative community of OLLI at SF State.
 
We welcome OLLI at SF State members to contribute work and volunteer on the V&B staff. We invite the rest of the world to read our magazine, and then let us know what you like and your ideas for how we might improve.
about
OLLI at sf state
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University (OLLI at SF State) is part of a national educational program targeted toward mature students, age 50 and older, who want to learn for the joy of learning without exams or grades.
 
In 2001, the Bernard Osher Foundation, based on models of lifelong learning already established at two universities, gave its first grant to the University of Southern Maine to establish a “Senior College” whose name was then changed to “Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.”
 
At present, the Osher Foundation supports 121 lifelong learning programs on university and college campuses across the country, with at least one grantee in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
 
As to their financial health, the Osher Foundation considers renewal of grants for two or more years to each lifelong learning institute, with a view to providing an endowment gift of no less than one million, if the institute is able to demonstrate potential for success and sustainability.
 
OLLI at SF State was founded in 2003. Aside from two paid positions, a Program Director and a half-time assistant, it is run by volunteers who decide on curriculum and staff committees.
 
Stimulating and provocative six-week courses are offered in five terms throughout the year. They are taught by SF State professors and other experts.
 
OLLI at SF State welcomes new members. All memberships are valid for one year from your membership start date.
 
Please contact Kathy Bruin, Program Director, at olli@sfsu.edu with inquiries.

​HELP WANTED

Looking for a creative project working with a fun group of fellow lifelong learners?

Join our all-volunteer staff. 
For more info, see:

JOIN US
​Vistas & Byways Review is the semiannual journal of fiction, nonfiction and poetry by members of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at San Francisco State University​.
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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State University​ (OLLI at SF State) provides communal and material support to the Vistas & Byways  volunteer staff.