Special Interest Groups
OLLI’s special interest groups are member-organized groups that provide a great way to share common interests and meet other OLLI members. You must have an active OLLI membership to participate. Please contact the OLLI office at 919-515-5782 for more information (meeting times, locations, etc..) on our special interest groups.
Learn how to become a member and take advantage of our upcoming activities:
The Special Interest Groups for 2025-2026 include:
OLLI Book Group
Members interested in reading good books and having good discussions. The OLLI Book Group meets at Quail Ridge Books.
OLLI Epicureans
Members socialize and enjoy a meal at one of the area’s great restaurants (about 5 times per year).
OLLI Family History Group
Members gather once a month to hear a presentation or discuss a topic related to genealogy. We are all researching our own families with the goal of writing our ancestors’ life stories.
OLLI Family History Writing Group
*Group is currently full*
While researching our genealogy, members write the life stories of our ancestors. Stories, up to 5 pages, are shared before we meet. We read and comment on the stories before the meeting. At the meeting, we gently critique stories with the goal of improving the accuracy and readability. We encourage citing sources. This is research writing, not memoirs.
OLLI Family Writers Group
*Group is currently full*
Our families, especially our children, need to hear our stories, which are also theirs. Stories, up to 1,000 words, are read aloud to the group. Our criticism is gentle, and our encouragement is abundant. Creative nonfiction is encouraged, and flat-out family fiction is not beyond the pale!
OLLI Paddle-on Group
We are a group of kayakers who love paddling and water so you are welcome whether a novice or experienced. We paddle every Wednesday, April through October, and occasionally we go where folks can rent a kayak.
When we paddle, we plan to amble along, paddling slow and easy, and not try to get anywhere quickly, but just enjoy the water, the wildlife, the shoreline of a couple of coves, and friendship with others.
Email Fay Krapf, coordinator, at faykrapf@gmail.com to get onto the Paddle-on Group list. You will receive weekly emails with details of time and location, and whether rentals are available.
Let’s Talk About It Discussion Group
Discussions are drawn from TED.COM talks, everything from Art to Zin. A back-and-forth exchange of views deepens our understanding of living in a complex world.
OLLI Readers Theatre
*Group is currently full*
A wide variety of plays, skits, and monologues come alive through the words of the playwrights, the actors’ faces and bodies, and their tone, pitch, and emotion. Scripts are read, not memorized. We learn about acting by acting. We perform for each other and for audiences. This is a joint program between OLLI and Raleigh Parks and Rec. It is not a group for shy people!
OLLI Science Group
Meets monthly at different locations to discuss advanced topics in science. Participants are actively involved in giving presentations and offering topic suggestions.
OLLI Trailblazers
Members walk at different parks in the area, enjoying fresh air, exercise and meeting people.
OLLI Writers Group
Members share their writings of all kinds (short stories, essays, novels, poetry and nonfiction) and provide feedback to each other.
OLLI Mystery Readers
Members interested in reading good mystery novels in a variety of sub-genres.
OLLI Mah Jongg Group
Mah Jongg is a tile game that can be traced back to the end of the 19th Century. It is a game of skill but can be very exciting and fun to play. All levels of play are welcome. The first part of the session will be used to go over the basic principles of play. Some game tilesets and supplies are available but you are asked to provide your own game card which changes every April.