Learning in Retirement
January 2010 Winter Break Calendar
Click on title of event to link to description
Be sure to register here for programs with asterisk (*)
| Tues. Jan. 5 9:00 –12:30. | * "Computer Basics” Computer Workshop | Smith College, 212 Seelye Hall |
| Wed. Jan. 6 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 | * “Better Presentations” Computer Workshop | Smith College, 212 Seelye Hal |
| Thurs. Jan 7 10:00 – noon (Snow Date: Jan. 8) |
Memorial Service | Alumni House, Amherst College |
| Mon. Jan 11 1:30 p.m (Snow Date: Jan. 20) |
Book Discussion "People of the Book" | Call Bobbie Reitt 584-8979 |
| Wed. Jan. 13 10:00 a.m. – noon (Snow Date: Jan. 27) |
* Smith Coll. Archives, Alumnae Gymnasium | Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College |
| Fri. Jan. 15 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Critical Issues Forum | Field House, Smith College |
| Sun. Jan. 17 2:00 p.m. | * Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat |
Bowker Auditorium, Univ. of Mass |
| Tues. Jan. 19 10:00 a.m. – noon | * Sunset Farm: From Seed to Market | Field House, Smith College |
| Fri. Jan 22 10:00 a.m. to noon | * Hunger in the Valley: Emergency Food Services | Field House, Smith College |
| Tues. Jan. 26 10:00 a.m. – noon | * Museum of Natural History | Science Museum, Amherst College |
| Thurs. Jan 28 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 | * Ford Hall Tour, Smith College | Ford Hall, Green St., Northampton |
| .Thurs. Feb. 4 12:30 p.m. – 4 pm | Zeffirelli’s Tosca | Mt. Tom Room, Easthampton Lathrop |
Be sure to register here for programs with asterisk (*)
TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOPS
Tuesday, January 5, 2010 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Seelye Hall 212, Smith College
This hands-on workshop is designed for those who have a computer but feel a bit lost when they try to use it for letters, email etc. Among other things we will learn how to use Windows Explorer to manage files, use the Control Panel to change computer settings, discuss how to do email and attachments and talk about the basics of computer security. There will also be time to deal with participant questions and concerns.
Using the Internet to Produce Better Presentations
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Seelye Hall 212, Smith College
Many LIR members feel intimidated by the need to do a presentation in a seminar. This workshop is intended for those who want to improve their presentation skills and use a laptop to show pictures or other material using PowerPoint. We will discuss the characteristics of a good presentation and offer tips to make yours better. We will use hands-on time to teach the basics of PowerPoint.
Please register on the attached sign-up sheet.
Contact person for both workshops: Jim Harvey, 259-4404
LAST CHANCE !
People of the Book DISCUSSION
Monday, January 11 at 1:30 pm
Snow Date: Wednesday, January 20 at 1:30 pm
The last chance to discuss Geraldine Brooks' wonderful novel, "PEOPLE OF THE BOOK" will be a group hosted by Bobbie Reitt on Monday, January 11, at 1:30 PM (snow date: Wednesday, January 20, same time) at her house, 591 Coles Meadow Road, Northampton.
Please call Bobbie Reitt (584-8779) to sign up and get directions.
People of the Book is a brilliant piece of historical fiction spun around the real history of a single book: the "Sarajevo Haggadah," a 15th-century illustrated version of the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, created in Spain and later emerging in Venice, Vienna and, finally, Sarajevo.
Chosen by the 5CLIR Community Read Committee, the book has been the
subject of a number of prior 5CLIR discussion groups. There is still time to read and talk about this novel.
This group replaces the one originally scheduled for December 8.
Do not register on the attached sign-up sheet. Call Bobbie Reitt (584-8779)
TOUR OF SMITH COLLEGE ARCHIVES AND SOPHIA SMITH COLLECTION
Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Snow Date: January 27
Level A, Alumnae Gymnasium, Smith College
The Sophia Smith Collection is an internationally recognized repository of archives, manuscripts, photographs, and periodicals in women’s history. It was founded in 1942 to be the college library’s distinctive contribution to Smith’s mission of educating women. The Collection today consists of over 10,000 linear feet of material documenting the historical experience of women in the United States and abroad from the colonial era to the present. You may learn more about the Sophia Smith Collection by going to the Web site http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/ssc/.
The Smith College Archives documents the life of the college by collecting materials produced by undergraduates, faculty, staff, administrators, and friends of the College. The history of the College comes alive from an early diary of Sophia Smith; letters, scrapbooks and photograph albums of students; faculty research and teaching materials; to publications, audio-tapes and more. For further information please see its website at:
http://www.smith.edu/libraries/libs/archives/.
Sherrill Redmon, Director of the Collection, will present a talk and a 20- minute film, Creating Women’s History. We will also have a presentation by College Archivist Nanci Young, who will explain the riches to be found in the Smith College Archives.
Attendees will then be free to delve into any materials of particular interest.
The Smith College Archives and Sophia Smith Collection reading room are on Level A of Alumnae Gymnasium. The wheelchair-accessible entrance is through Neilson Library. There is also an entrance near Green Street.
There is no charge for this visit
Parking: You may park in the Parking Lot on the edge of campus adjacent to Green Street, on Green Street, or in the nearby parking garage.
Please register on the attached sign-up sheet.
Contact person: Ginny Christenson at 584-2583 or vachristenson@comcast.net
CRITICAL ISSUES FACING MASSACHUSETTS IN 2010
** A Public Forum **
Friday, January 15, 2010, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Field House, Smith College (Accessible)
State Representative Peter Kocot
State Representative John Scibak
State Representative Ellen Story
Our State Representatives will address a number of critical issues with emphasis on the state's fiscal outlook in light of the nation's economic situation. We will focus on health care, the environment, education, and housing. Here is an opportunity to learn more about these issues and to participate in the discussion and the question and answer session.
The event is sponsored by Five College Learning in Retirement and is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Contact person: Bob First: 584-5190, bob.first@comcast.net
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Sunday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m. Bowker Auditorium in Stockbridge Hall, University of Massachusetts (accessible)
Cost: $15 for seniors and children
Parking is not restricted on weekends
Joseph and the Techrlicolor Dreamcoat is the second British musical theater show by the written by the team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible (Book of Genesis), this light-hem1ed show was first presented as a fifteen minute pop cantata at Colet Court School in London in 1968.
It was adapted as a musical film in 1999 starring Donny Osmond. Joseph is recognized as one of the few major British musicals with hardly any spoken dialogue, being sung-through almost completely.
The family-friendly storyline, universal themes, and catchy music have made Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat one of the most dependently profitable titles in musical theater.
This production is presented by the Amherst Leisure Service Community Theater. Bring your grandchildren and enjoy.
Please register on the attached sign-up sheet.
Contact person: Honore David at 413-253:-5896 or Honores@comcast.net
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BILL AND CONNIE GILLEN’S SUNSET FARM
FROM SEED TO MARKET: 1972–2008
January 19, 1:30–3:00 p.m.
Smith College Field House
Brooklyn-raised Connie and Bill Gillen will talk about how they have grown flowers, vegetables, fruits, grapes and chestnuts as a second job at their Sunset Farm in Amherst. We will hear of how they have marketed and managed the farm including “pick your own and wholesale.” They will share stories of buying and erecting a 900 square foot greenhouse, as well as farm help stories “from interns to old men.” We will also learn about the acquisition and usefulness of their equipment, including tractors, rototiller, wreath makers, refrigerators, a shallow well with distribution piping, mulch layers, mowers and vans. Friday nights have included picking and packing parties and Saturday morning, farmers’ markets.
There will be time for questions and discussion after Bill and Connie share their agricultural venture.
Please register on the attached sign-up sheet.
Contact person: Anne Lombard, 586-7509 or aslombard@comcast.net
HUNGER IN THE VALLEY
EMERGENCY FOOD SERVICES & MORE
Friday, January 22, 2009, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30
Field House, Smith College
Hear about “Hunger in the Valley: Emergency Food Services” from Cheryl Zoll and Heidi Nortonsmith, Executive Directors of the Amherst and Northampton Survival Centers. Learn about emergency food services offered to homeless people along with other hungry folks in our area.
Cheryl and Heidi will not only tell us about the many, varied services they offer at the Amherst and Northampton Survival Centers, but they will also tell us about food pantries, free meals and other types of food security available in our county. Bring your questions and enjoy an informative morning of discussion with them.
Please register on the attached sign-up sheet.
Contact person: Marybeth Bridegam, 253-9562 or bmarybeth@comcast.net
AMHERST COLLEGE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
Amherst College Science Museum (Accessible)
Steve Sauter, Education Director, will cover the history of the museum and its collections, the concept of extinction and its causes, fossils and their preservation, climate change and sea levels, speciation, evolution, natural selection. He’ll also discuss the geological forces at work on Pangaea 190 MYA, paleo-climate and environments, and the geologic evidence. He’ll tell the story of the discovery of the first dinosaur footprints discovered in North America and their later collection and study by Edward Hitchcock. He’ll spend some time on the changing interpretation of science.
This is a stunning collection to visit on this Darwin anniversary.
Please register on the attached sign-up sheet.
Contact person: Dorothy Gorra 584-8832
January 28, 2010 10:00 – 11:30 AM
We will meet in the foyer of Smith College's new Ford Hall (accessible) on Green St., Northampton
Smith College has quite literally broken new ground in building Ford Hall, the first engineering and molecular sciences ever built for women. Dr. Stylianos Scordilis, Professor of Biological Sciences, Director of the Center for Proteomics and Special Assistant to President Carol Christ for this new building, has kindly agreed to arrange a tour of this remarkable building on Thursday, January 28.
Ford Hall is truly state-of-the-art in both infrastructure and scientific equipment. It is impressive as a piece of architecture. Valley history is reflected in details, such as mill-style windows. Energy efficiency and sustainability is stressed throughout, with a roof garden that gathers “gray water” for use in the building. There are wet labs, and dry labs, gathering and meeting spaces everywhere. The whole “feel” of the building is openness, fostering collaboration, which is essential to good science and good research. There will be up to 3 tours, limited to 10 participants each.
Contact person: Laura Cranshaw 585-1073 cranshaw50@yahoo.com
Please register on the attached sign-up sheet.
February 3, 2010 12:30-4:00pm
Mount Tom Room, Easthampton Lathrop Community, 100 Bassett Brook Drive, Easthampton (accessible)
Our very own opera wizard, Peg Bedell, will be showing and commenting on her videotape of the 1985 Metropolitan Opera production of Puccini’s Tosca. It was produced by Franco Zeffirelli, features Placido Domingo in the “hero” role, and has long been recognized as the standard by which other productions were judged.
A new production, produced by Luc Bondy, was staged this season, and presented as a Met HD screening, which many of us saw in October. While the singing and acting drew rave reviews from the critics, the production did not. Whether you saw this version or not, the Zeffirelli is well worth watching. And Peg’s knowledgeable comments will add enormously to our understanding and appreciation. Up to 40 people can be accommodated.
Contact person: Laura Cranshaw 585-1073 cranshaw50@yahoo.com