19017 - Free OLLI Member Events

The purpose of estate planning is to develop a strategy that will maintain financial security during your lifetime and ensure the transfer of your assets when you pass away. However, estate planning must also take into consideration the unique circumstances of your family. In this class, you will learn the key elements of an effective estate plan, the costs associated, and why each is important. You will also hear about ways you can include charitable gifts in your estate plan. There are actions you can take today that will give you greater peace of mind and ensure your beneficiaries, including your chosen charities, receive what you intend.

Please note the time of this event is 1:00pm - 2:30pm.

Presenters:

Elizabeth Harcombe, CFRE, Director of Development/Planned Giving, UNM Foundation

Elizabeth Harcombe’s nonprofit career began in 2005 after spending 10 years as a classical pianist and teacher at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. Since entering the nonprofit sector, she has held roles in operations, programs, events planning, fundraising, and executive management, and served as an executive director for eight years. In 2020, she accepted the position of Director of Development of Planned Giving, at the University of New Mexico Foundation where she works with donors who desire to leave a legacy through an estate gift to the University. She serves as trustee of the Santa Fe Pro Musica Endowment Foundation and is a member of the Events Committee of Habitat for Humanity Santa Fe. Elizabeth is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and recently completed her Certificate in Fundraising Management through Indiana University’s School of Philanthropy. Her home is in Santa Fe, NM where she lives with her husband, a scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and their cat Pico and dog Pablo.

Lisa Y. W. Cosper, JD, Sutin, Thayer & Browne

Lisa Y. W. Cosper is a member of Sutin, Thayer & Browne’s commercial group, where she focuses her practice on Estate Planning, Probate, and Trusts. She also works on Corporate Law matters as well as Liquor Licensing. Her practice involves helping clients protect their legacies by creating and implementing individualized estate plans. Additionally, she provides guidance to business owners in establishing and maintaining appropriate business structures.

Lisa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Law from Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business in 2014. Immediately following her undergraduate degree, Lisa went to earn her Juris Doctorate in 2017 from Arizona Summit Law School where she graduated magna cum laude. While in law school, Lisa provided pro bono services including Community Legal Assistance and Wills for Heroes.

Before joining Sutin, Thayer & Browne’s commercial group, Lisa worked as a paralegal at an Arizona-based law firm in 2014, focusing on estate planning and administration while pursuing her law degree full-time.

Through her experience in estate planning and administration, Lisa developed a strong foundation in writing, drafting, and managing trusts and estates. After becoming a licensed attorney, she expanded her practice in estate planning and took on leadership responsibilities in the estate administration department, where she guided fellow attorneys on best practices and supervised the department’s paralegals. Lisa has been a highly sought after speaker for Estate and Probate conventions and festivals since 2019 and she has won several awards for her work including Top Corporate Attorney, Albuquerque Journal Readers’ Choice Awards, 2023.

Lisa is a huge animal lover and always has a home for her rescue dogs!

“This is the Christmas a war-weary world has prayed for …” When Truman uttered those words on Christmas Eve, 1945, World War II had been over for four months, but military actions were still operating full force. Only this time the military was running Operation Magic Carpet and Operation Santa to return thousands of troops to their homes, resulting in the largest traffic jam the United States had known. After years of blackouts and rationing, the national Christmas tree would once again shine and families would gather around a Christmas table. Churches filled as a grateful nation gave thanks. We all know World War II changed much of American life, but have you ever considered how the war changed Christmas in the United States? Join us for a holiday trip to an epic December.

We’ll be viewing the 2008 BBC version of Sense and Sensibility with Popcorn, cake and Austen inspired goodies. Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th birthday… and the holidays with your OLLI friends.

Sugar is not often thought of as defining the economy, culture, and settlement patterns of society, but sugar has had impacts similar to those of petroleum in determining wealth, power, and position. We'll begin with a discussion of the origins of sugar, its journey through the Mediterranean to Africa and Madeira, and subsequently to Brazil and the West Indies. We will discuss how sugar cultivation led to slavery and to power politics in the Caribbean. Included in the presentation will be the significance of alternative sweeteners and conclude with the contemporary world of sugar production and consumption.

Why do we feel better when we eat better? Discover how the foods you eat can strengthen your body’s natural defenses. We’ll explore the science behind nutrition and immunity, learn which vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants play key roles, and discuss practical ways to build a balanced, immune-boosting meal plan. Students will leave with easy strategies for incorporating more whole, nutrient-rich foods into daily life, plus recipes and tips to help maintain energy, resilience, and overall well-being throughout the year.

Our climate is melting down. Energy from the sun and wind is suddenly the cheapest power on the planet and growing faster than any energy source in history―if we can keep accelerating the pace, we have a chance. This 3-week discussion session will explore the background of climate change and talk about its effects on our lives in New Mexico. We will use the book, Here Comes the Sun (2025), by Bill McKibben, available in hardback and Kindle editions as the basis for our discussions.

Third Act Educators, a national non-profit advocacy group for participants over 60 years of age, is partnering with OLLI programs across the country to provide these study and discussion groups about climate change. All will take place in the first semester of 2026. There is no charge for these sessions, but participants will need to have their own copies of the Bill McKibben book, Here Comes the Sun.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how we live, work, and learn, but what exactly is it? Discover the basics of AI and how Chat GPT and other AI engines work. Discuss real-world examples of AI in action, from voice assistants to its many creative tools, and gain insight into both the opportunities and challenges this technology presents. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of AI’s role today and what it might mean for the future.

Discover the world of craft chocolate in this interactive and flavorful lecture. Together we’ll explore how craft chocolate differs from its mass-market cousins, from the sourcing of cacao to the artistry of small-batch production and local resources for high quality product. Through guided discussion, you’ll learn to recognize the subtle nuances of cacao and what distinguishes craft chocolate from the ordinary. Best of all, you’ll put your new knowledge to the test with a hands-on chocolate tasting that engages your senses and sparks conversation.

How did a small peninsula country in Europe come to dominate two continents in the Western Hemisphere? We’ll watch a short documentary and explore a dramatic case study of Spanish conquest in the New World. Then, dive into an engaging discussion on how those conquests shaped the later settlement of the New Mexico colony. You’ll uncover the strategies, motivations, and lasting impacts of Spanish expansion, and gain a deeper understanding of how conquest reshaped cultures, borders and history.

Did your grandmother have folk sayings about the power of fire, water, or the moon? She’d be welcome here! Fortunate we are, that folklore and superstitions remain fixed over many generations. This is definitely true of the Irish. Come along as we find the origin of wishing wells, the behavior of Banshees, and the secrets of healing herbs imparted to humans by the Faeries. What would you write as the next line of this limerick? “There was a young lady named Molly…”

The purpose of estate planning is to develop a strategy that will maintain financial security during your lifetime and ensure the transfer of your assets when you pass away. However, estate planning must also take into consideration the unique circumstances of your family. In this class, you will learn the key elements of an effective estate plan, the costs associated, and why each is important. You will also hear about ways you can include charitable gifts in your estate plan. There are actions you can take today that will give you greater peace of mind and ensure your beneficiaries, including your chosen charities, receive what you intend.

Curious about your family history? Discover how to access free resources and assistance through the Public Library and the Albuquerque Genealogical Society.  Whether you're new to genealogy or looking to build on what you’ve already found, this program will provide practical tips and tools available to support your journey.  From a Genealogy Center filled with resources from all fifty states and many countries, databases accessible from all branch libraries and home, educational programs, and amazing volunteers to help you with your research -- let us connect you with the resources you need to uncover your family’s unique and fascinating history.