Five College Learning In Retirement

Story Time
2025-05-15 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-06-19 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-07-17 15:30 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Zoom
We will meet once a month on zoom to discuss short stories that we have read prior to the meeting. Members of the group will take turns choosing stories and leading the discussion. In most cases stories selected will be found on the internet. Suggestions of interesting stories will be provided by the group leader.
Facilitator: Martha Cohen

Our Stories, Our Lives
2025-05-20 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-06-17 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-07-15 16:00 - 17:30 | Zoom
This is a group of women who meet monthly to discuss life experiences, focusing on such topics as the experience of aging and ageism, health issues, political concerns, using time wisely, gender roles, family ties, and friendship.
Facilitators: Finnegan Alford-Cooper and Bonnie Strickland

Special Meeting (All members)
2025-05-21 16:00 - 18:00 | Zoom
A special meeting where current FCLIR members will be asked to vote on the new proposed Governance structure.

Reading the Classics
2025-05-22 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-07-24 14:00 - 15:30 | Zoom
This is a book club focused on books considered to be classics of literature. Each month a new book is read, and discussed at the meeting.
Facilitator: Jeanne Kaiser

Curriculum Committee Meeting
2025-06-05 14:30 - 15:30, 2025-07-03 14:30 - 15:30, 2025-08-07 14:30 - 15:30

Communications Committee Meeting
2025-06-05 15:00 - 16:30, 2025-07-03 15:00 - 16:30, 2025-08-07 15:00 - 16:30

Reading Round Table
2025-06-06 12:30 - 14:00, 2025-07-04 12:30 - 14:00, 2025-08-01 12:30 - 14:00 | Zoom
Join other incurable FCLIR readers for an informal round table one afternoon a month. Whether you prefer literary fiction, biographies, nonfiction, science fiction, plays, detective series, or graphic novels, you’re welcome to join this eclectic group. We talk about what we’re currently reading (or listening to), where we get our recommendations, trends in publishing, and anything else that interests us. No prerequisite or homework!
Part of the FCLIR Café Society. Facilitated by Cat Batson and Martha Cohen. Please contact facilitators for the Zoom link.

Council Meeting
2025-06-12 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom

Contemporary Book Group
2025-06-13 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-07-11 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom
This group is for people interested in reading both fiction and non-fiction books published within the last five years. The aim of the group is to spread our wings a bit and enjoy a wide variety of books (historical fiction, humor, memoir, biography, mystery, thrillers, romance, current events, history, politics, natural science, etc.)
Each month participants will choose among 2-4 books recommended by the facilitator and group members. Group members will vote on books two months ahead of time so there is enough time to procure and read the books. Membership capped at 14. This group meets on the second Friday of each month.
Facilitators: Finnegan Alford-Cooper

Contemporary Book Group
2025-06-13 13:00 - 14:30 | Zoom
Facilitators: Finnegan Alford-Cooper and Sandy Padernacht
Day and Time: Second Friday of the month, October – June, 1:00-2:30 p.m.
This group is for people interested in reading both fiction and non-fiction books published within the last five years. The aim of the group is to spread our wings a bit and enjoy a wide variety of books (historical fiction, humor, memoir, biography, mystery, thrillers, romance, current events, history, politics, natural science, etc.)
Each month participants will choose among 2-4 books recommended by the facilitators and group members. Group members will vote on books two months ahead of time so there is enough time to procure and read the books. Membership capped at 14.

Photography Club
2025-06-13 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-07-11 14:00 - 15:30 | FCI Library Annex, 202 Plain Road, North Hatfield, MA, 01066, United States
The group explores various aspects of photography, from learning new techniques and equipment (macro photography, studio lighting, astrophotography, etc.) to developing our skills in wildlife, street, event, etc. photography. We explore post-processing and aspects of presenting our work for display.
Facilitator: Tom Clune

Viewpoints
2025-06-19 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-07-17 14:00 - 15:30
Hybrid meetings: in person at the Five College Library Annex Building in N. Hatfield and on Zoom.
Viewpoints is a monthly round-table discussion of current domestic and international events and issues (often, but not always, political), and other subjects not necessarily tied to the headlines of the day (such as culture wars, free speech restrictions in schools and colleges, and policing and firearms). Each month’s participants choose four topics for roughly 20-minute discussions.
Facilitator: Jay Russell

Pizza and Good Company
2025-07-31 16:00 - 21:00 | The Treehouse Brewery, 1 Community Place, South Deerfield, MA
Join fellow FCLIR members for a relaxed gathering at Treehouse Brewery in Deerfield! We’ll supply the pizza, you bring your thirst—your choice of beverage is on you. It’s a great chance to unwind, connect, and enjoy good food and conversation in a lively setting.

DECISIONS! DECISIONS! DECISIONS!: A survey of this term’s major Supreme Court opinions
2025-08-05 13:30 - 15:00 | FCI Library Annex, 202 Plain Road, North Hatfield, MA, 01066, United States
We will know by June 30 whether the Supreme Court has stepped up to defend our Constitution, democratic institutions, and civil liberties during the tumultuous months since the first Monday last October. In this program, we will give an overview of the Court’s 2024-2025 term and then highlight three or four of its most consequential decisions. There will be an opportunity for comments, questions and discussion after each presentation.
There will be two 90 minute (1:30-3:00) hybrid sessions on Zoom and in person at the Five College Library Annex on Tuesday August 5 and 12.
Facilitated by Jay Russell and Nina Wilder, retired lawyers who closely follow the U.S. Supreme Court.

Artist Trading Cards
2025-08-07 11:30 - 16:00 | FCI Library Annex, 202 Plain Road, North Hatfield, MA, 01066, United States
Join Martha Cohen and Lorre Smith as we play with some fun collage and drawing techniques and make artist trading card( ATCs), a small scale art form that is part of an international movement. The cards are the same size as familiar sports trading cards (3.5”. x 2.5”) and the small size makes it easy to experiment with a variety of art materials and discover our personal styles. Anyone is welcome to participate and no art background is required! As we play and create together, we will share a bit of history about ATCs and how they are traded and collected. We’ll also have the opportunity to trade the cards we make with each other! Please bring scissors to the program. All other materials will be provided.
