Five College Learning In Retirement

Reading Round Table
2025-08-01 12:30 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

DECISIONS! DECISIONS! DECISIONS!: A survey of this term’s major Supreme Court opinions
2025-08-05 13:30 - 15:00, 2025-08-12 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.

Curriculum Committee Meeting
2025-08-07 14:30 - 15:30, 2025-09-04 14:30 - 15:30, 2025-10-02 14:30 - 15:30

Communications Committee Meeting
2025-08-07 15:00 - 16:30, 2025-09-04 15:00 - 16:30, 2025-10-02 15:00 - 16:30

Contemporary Book Group
2025-08-08 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-09-12 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

Photography Club
2025-08-08 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-09-12 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

Council Meeting
2025-08-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-09-11 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-10-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom

Our Stories, Our Lives
2025-08-19 16:00 - 17:30, 2025-09-16 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

Viewpoints
2025-08-21 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-09-18 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

Story Time
2025-08-21 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-09-18 15:30 - 17:00 | 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

FCLIR Fall Potluck Luncheon
2025-09-10 12:00 - 14:00 | Dow Pavilion, Look Park, Northampton, MA, United States
Firstly, let me apologize for breaking into your summer reverie, languid vacation, or the twisty ending of your latest book, but we want to make certain that you’re all aware of our new season kick-off with a FCLIR favorite: our annual Fall Pot Luck Luncheon! Come acquaint yourselves with your classmates at the Dow Pavilion at Look Park, on Wednesday, September 10th, from noon to 2 P.M, rain or shine. Here’s how it works: Each member will be responsible for bringing a dish to share, as follows:
Last names beginning with the letter A-M will bring a main dish; N-Z will bring a dessert.
All dishes can be store bought or homemade, and it is helpful to bring a card or label your dish in some way to provide information to those with dietary restraints. Also, please bring a serving spoon or fork, if necessary. We will provide plates, cups, bowls, silverware, and napkins. Water, cider, and coffee will also be available.
Suzie Metz, Social Events chair

Fall Seminars Begin
2025-09-15
2025 Fall seminars begin the week of September 15 unless otherwise noted. Please note the length of the seminar you are interested in as they vary. There are no seminar classes scheduled on Thursday, October 2 to honor Yom Kippur.

Reading the Classics
2025-09-25 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

Encore: Wizard of Oz
2025-10-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
We are all familiar with The Wizard of Oz from the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland. But there is much more to the original book, as well as stage and other screen productions (have you heard of the character, Imogene the Cow?) And, many believe what appears to have been a modern fairy tale for children, was actually a scathing political allegory.
An Encore! program from the Spring 2025 seminar Childrens’ Literature presented by Susan Baron.

Encore: "Polly, or how we came to have a Dog" and "My Father's House"
2025-10-03 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Some family struggles after the death of my father, dealing with his dog, and an old New England house full of family things.
An Encore! program from the Spring 2025 seminar Writing to Remember – Purple and presented by Suzette Jones.

Encore: Founding of Smith College
2025-10-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom
As Smith College celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2025, learn about Sophia Smith of Hatfield, MA and the unusual circumstances that led to the founding of Smith College in 1870 and its opening in 1875. This presentation includes a reading of the picture book Tea with an Old Dragon by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Monica Vachula.
An Encore! program from the Spring 2025 seminar History in the Pioneer Valley and presented by Martha Cohen.

Encore: Life Lessons from a Nursing Home
2025-10-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Irvin Yalom is a psychiatrist and author who once said, “the physicality of death destroys us, but the idea of death saves us”. The wisdom of this statement is reflected in the paradox of the fragility of the human body and resiliency and life-affirming energy of the human spirit, a paradox. I witnessed often over many years in my work as a social worker in nursing homes throughout Connecticut and The Berkshires.
An Encore! program from the Spring 2025 seminar Writing to Remember – Blue and presented by Andy Wnuk.
