Rod Zumbro is an OLLI ‘old-timer,’ having been a member since 1993 – the Institute’s third year of existence. In July 2013, Rod retired as editor of OLLI E-News, our first email newsletter, that he created in July 2005. He edited OLLI E-News almost every week for those eight years.
In 2003 Rod volunteered to take over as OLLI’s second webmaster. He completely redesigned our website, added much new content, and started the now-common practice of posting each term’s catalog online as soon as it is sent to the printer (usually weeks before members receive printed catalogs via postal mail). Rod left the webmaster job later that year but has continued to help maintain the website, including completing another redesign in 2005 to add easy navigation with dropdown menus – a design that continued to be effective for eight years. In 2013 he helped transition the website to a new modern design using the WordPress content management system, which has made it easier for non-technical members to post content.
In 2004, he created the original 13-minute “Story of OLLI” documentary movie and put it on DVD, videotape and the web so prospective members could easily learn about OLLI. In 2011, Rod updated the “Story of OLLI” to include some newer clips and reduced its length to a more-watchable eight minutes. He has created many other short, OLLI-related videos, including—in 2011—reflections of almost all OLLI former presidents, and posted these videos for easy, one-click access on the OLLI Video News page of our website.
Rod has instructed at OLLI and is a member of the E-News Committee.
Rod and his wife, OLLI member Susanne Zumbro, live in Springfield and enjoy art and music events, visiting their 12 grandchildren, and occasional travel. Rod is a retired Navy Supply Corps captain whose last position was commanding officer of the 90-person Navy central procurement office for large computer systems.
Rod is an enthusiastic supporter of our wonderful Institute. Since becoming an active volunteer in 2003, he attended almost every Board meeting for 10 years, and he served as a Board member for two terms, from June 2006 until June 2012. He has a strong interest in transparency of OLLI governance actions and in keeping the membership fully informed on a timely basis.