5clir reporter

5CLIR REPORTER September 2013 Volume XXVI, Number 6

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER

Mon 2 - LIR office will be closed. Happy Labor Day!

Wed 4 - Executive Committee meeting, 1:15-2:00 p.m., Mason Hall, Smith College.

Wed 4 - Curriculum Committee meeting, 2:15-4:15 p.m., Lilly Hall, Smith College.

Thur 5 - Special Program: Viewpoints with Hy Edelstein, 12:30-2:00 p.m., Highland Valley Elder

Services, 320 Riverside Drive, Florence. Contact: Hy Edelstein 584-3060, [email protected].

No need to register!

Fri 6, 13, 20 & 27 - Special Program: French conversation, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Applewood at Amherst.

Contact: Judith Pool, 586-2190, [email protected].

Thur 12 - Council meeting, 2:15-4:15 p.m., Lathrop Community, 1 Shallowbrook Lane,

Northampton.

Tue 17 - All-LIR potluck picnic, noon-2:00 p.m., John and Gail Gaustad’s backyard, 20 Ward

Avenue, Northampton. (Rain date, Wed 18). Contacts: Gail Gaustad 584-9255,

[email protected] and Candy Carlisle 584-2298, [email protected].

Thur 19 - Special Program: Finding Family Interest, 1:45-3:45 p.m., Dewey Hall, Smith College.

Contact: Bobbie Reitt, 584-8779, [email protected].

Thur 19 - Special Program: Science Roundtable, 2:00-3:30 p.m., Lathrop Community, 1

Shallowbrook Lane, Northampton. Contacts: John Armstrong 549-9171,

[email protected] and Dottie Rosenthal 230-3195, [email protected].

Mon 23 - First Day of Fall Seminars.

Thur 26 - Special Programs Committee meeting, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Conference Room, Florence

Savings Bank, 355 Russell Street, Hadley.

Fri 27 – Special Program: Conversational Italian, 1:30 p.m., the Poli home, 74 Wildflower Drive,

Amherst. Contacts: Zina Tillona, 256-6991, [email protected] and Dean Poli, 253-3845,

[email protected].

mailto:[email protected]









5CLIR Reporter September 2013

[2]

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT, CAROL JOLLY

I am honored to become the newest member in the long line of presidents

who have served LIR so well over the past 24 years. I hope to continue

to strengthen and enhance the organization with the help of our terrific

Council, officers, and all of you. Please feel free to call or e-mail me any

time in the coming year if you have thoughts or suggestions about

making LIR work more effectively or be more satisfying.

I want to begin by expressing my sympathy to the family of our late member, Peter Ferber, whose death

was a great loss to LIR as well as to his family and friends. Peter’s work in leading the Great Decisions

Program, in serving on Council and committees, and in moderating and participating in seminars was a

tremendous asset that will be greatly missed. I also want to let you know that Paul Berman has been

appointed to Peter’s seat on the Council in accordance with our bylaws.

I also want to take this chance to welcome our new Office Manager, Liz Tiley, who has been hard at

work since late June. If you haven’t yet had a chance to meet her, please plan to stop by the office (after

calling to verify she’s in) or come to our Potluck Lunch (see below).

As we approach the start of the academic year, I think it’s appropriate to express our appreciation and

admiration for the exceptional work of the Winter/Summer Committee over the past 4 months. The

Committee, chaired by Honoré David and Ruth Kosiorek, offered us a marvelous array of activities this

summer. With the help of members Rachel Black, Marybeth Bridegam, Candy Carlisle, Kate Collins,

Arnold Friedmann, Helene Lambert, Flora Majumder, Ellen Peck and Sandy Young, we had over 250

registrations (with some by the same people) for a wide array of programs: the Arcadia Fern Walks,

Let’s Play!, a tour of Amherst College’s Japanese Garden, New Century Theatre, and trips to the Yale

Art Museum, Chester Theatre and Tanglewood, as well as the Spring trip to the gardens and museums of

Pennsylvania. These social activities are a significant reason why members join and remain with LIR,

and we need to recognize the extensive work that goes into organizing and conducting them. I hope that

more of you will be motivated to contact Ruth or Honoré and volunteer to help with future programs.

In just a few weeks, the same committee, in conjunction with the Member Services Committee, will be

holding our always-popular Potluck Picnic. You’ll find all the information about this enjoyable event

inside. We hope you can be there and take the opportunity to meet Liz, get acquainted with new

members and visit with long-time LIR friends.

Wishing all of you a great start to the Fall Semester,

~ Carol


[3]

Peter Ferber (1932 – 2013) at Great Decisions

Photo Contributed by Joan Cenedella

Please help the office....

I would greatly appreciate it if you would let me know news of anyone in LIR (or a past member) who

passes away. We would like to remember them at our memorial program in January.

Thank you.


[4]

ALL LIR GET RE-ACQUAINTED POTLUCK PICNIC LUNCH

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, NOON - 2 P.M. Rain date, September 18, same time

JOHN AND GAIL GAUSTAD’S BACKYARD

20 WARD AVENUE, NORTHAMPTON (Washington Avenue off Route 9 becomes Ward Avenue)

At the end of the summer it’s time to catch up with old friends and meet new ones.

Mark your calendars for a lovely day in a beautiful setting!

WHAT TO BRING TO POTLUCK

Last Name A – L: dessert or fruit.

Last Name M – Z: main dish (serves 10 – 12), bread, salad, vegetable, or hors d’oeuvres.

(Please cut food at home and bring by noon to serve by 12:30.)

Utensils and beverages will be provided.

Bringing your own cup or mug will cut down on paper waste.

Contact: Gail Gaustad 584-9255, [email protected] or

Candy Carlisle 584-2298, [email protected]

If in doubt about the weather, call Gail or Candy or check your email.

If you have not registered yet, do not worry -

Just come to the picnic!




[5]

LIR NEEDS YOU… TO MODERATE A SEMINAR

Do you have a hobby that you’d like to talk about with others?

Do you have a special interest that you’d like to share with other LIR members?

Do you have an academic specialty that would enable you to lead discussions with LIR members with

similar interests?

Have you long wanted to gather a group of like-minded LIR members to learn about a topic that has

always appealed to you?

The Curriculum Committee needs you to tell us about a seminar you want to lead. We’ll give you help,

if you’ve never moderated a seminar before.

Go to our marvelous new 5CLIR website, click on the FORMS category, find the form titled Online

Seminar Proposal (if you want to send it in online) or Paper Seminar Proposal (if you want to print it

out and mail it) and fill it in with your ideas, then hit SUBMIT or mail it to Liz in the office (Mason

Hall, Room 9, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063).

If you have questions, do contact Marybeth Bridegam ( [email protected]; 413-253-9562) or Betsy

Siersma ([email protected]; 413-584-7053), Co-Chairs of the Curriculum Committee.

http://5clir.org/seminar-proposal-2/

http://5clir.org/seminar-proposal-2/

https://5clir.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/seminar-proposal-form.pdf




[6]

1ST MEETING OF THE YEAR FOR THE FINDING FAMILY INTEREST GROUP

The Finding Family Interest Group will meet for the first time this year on Thursday, September 19 at

1:45 p.m. in the Common Room on the first floor of Dewey Hall, Smith campus. We will be firming up

our plans for the year and describing to each other our own recent progress (or lack of it) in our family

research.

Old hands in the group will know what this entails; newcomers (always welcome) will be reassured to

know that our discussions are informal and that our intent is to help one another. We have found that the

old show-and-tell approach works well. For example, in describing what we’ve found and where and

how we found it, we provide crucial information - and inspiration - for others.

Our program this year begins in October with an overview of key genealogical resources and includes

workshop sessions on getting relatives involved, immigration history and resources, major Web sites

like Ancestry and Family Search, repositories for family researchers, and finally, what our findings have

taught us about history generally.

Anyone wishing more information should call or email the moderator, Bobbie Reitt, at 584-8779 or

[email protected].

THE SUMMER/WINTER COMMITTEE would like your suggestions for a summer 2014

overnight trip. Please remember that distance is important! Our two night visit to Philadelphia covered

255 miles each way. We are willing to consider a three night trip if you like. Let us know!

SPEAKING OF TRAVELING, please remember to come to the Travel Interest Group that will

have its next meeting October 24th

at 2:00 p.m. at Lathrop Northampton. AND, travelers please contact

Joan Wofford to schedule a presentation of your journey for one of the subsequent Thursday afternoon

meetings.



[7]

SCIENCE ROUNDTABLE TO FOCUS ON CAREERS IN SCIENCE The Science Roundtable will begin the fall semester with a look at the careers of four of its scientist

members. The session will be held from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Meeting House at the Lathrop

Community on Bridge Road in Northampton on September 19. Leading off will be John Gaustad, retired

professor and astronomy researcher; followed by Carol Jolly, specialist on water resource management;

Julius Menn, an expert on the toxicology of pesticides; and Fran Volkmann, researcher on the

neurobiology of vision. Each will have 15 minutes to discuss what got them interested in science, what

barriers, if any, they encountered, and to share high points of their careers. The last half hour will be

reserved for questions and open discussion.

The remaining sessions for the fall will take place on October 17, November 21, and December 19 at the

Meeting House. At the October meeting, Dottie Rosenthal will lead a discussion on “Epigenetics: The

Basics.” The November meeting will feature guest speaker Rod Grupen, director of the Laboratory for

Perceptual Robotics at the University of Massachusetts beginning at 3:00 p.m. On December 19, John

Gaustad will speak about “Exoplanets,” beginning at our usual time of 2:00 p.m.

The Science Roundtable is open to all members of Five College Learning in Retirement, scientists and

nonscientists, who are interested in discussing current science topics.

If the September session generates enough interest, there may be future sessions focusing on the science

careers of other members of 5CLIR. If you have had a career in science and would be willing to share

your experiences with the Science Roundtable, or if you have other questions, please contact either of

the co-leaders, John Armstrong ([email protected], 549-9171) or Dottie Rosenthal

([email protected]; 230-3195).




[8]

5CLIR - METROPOLITAN OPERA LIVE IN HD - 2013-2014 We meet on Fridays, at the Northampton Lathrop Community Room, 1:30–2:30 p.m. A series of HD

video productions of operas performed at the Metropolitan Opera will be shown at the Hadley Cinemark

Theater on Saturday afternoons. Tickets should be purchased by 5CLIR members in advance. In prepa-

ration for seeing (and hearing) them, Peg Bedell will offer an introduction to each opera on the preced-

ing Friday. Anyone interested may attend any session. For more information, contact Peg.

PREP DATE COMPOSER: OPERA LIVE DATE TIME ENCORE DATE TIME LENGTH

October 4 Tchaikovsky: EUGENE ONEGIN October 5 12:55 October 9 6:30 3:45

October 25 Shostakovich: THE NOSE October 26 12:55 October 30 6:30 2:00

November 8 Puccini: TOSCA November 9 12:55 November 13 6:30 3:15

December 13 Verdi: FALSTAFF December 14 12:55 December 18 6:30 3:00

February 7 Dvorak: RUSALKA February 8 12:55 February 12 6:30 3:50

February 28 Borodin: PRINCE IGOR March 1 12:00 March 5 6:30 3:00

March 14 Massenet: WERTHER March 15 12:55 March 19 6:30 3:00

April 4 Puccini: LA BOHEME April 5 12:55 April 9 6:30 3:05

April 25 Mozart: COSI FAN TUTTE April 26 12:55 April 30 6:30 3:45

May 9 Rossini: LA CENERENTOLA May 10 12:55 May 14 6:30 3:25

Prep: Peg Bedell, Fridays, Lathrop Community Meeting House, 1:30-2:30

Live in HD: Cinemark, Hadley, Saturdays at 12:55 with one exception, PRINCE IGOR, at 12:00

Encores: Cinemark, Hadley, Wednesdays at 6:30

NOTE: This year, there are shorter intervals between Live and Encore showings.

CONVERSATIONAL ITALIAN Our Conversational Italian program will begin on Friday Sept 27 at 1:30. We will not be using the

Newman Center this year. For the months of September and October we will be meeting at the Poli

house at 74 Wildflower Drive, Amherst. For more information, contact either Zina Tillona or Dean Poli.


[9]

NEWS FROM THE OFFICE

I’ve had a wonderful summer getting to know everyone who has had a chance to stop by. I’m looking

forward to meeting all of you at the September 17th potluck. I have also had the gratifying experience of

working with Janet Price and Jim Harvey on the new 5CLIR website. It is up and running so please, take

a peek and let us know what you think. I can’t wait to see what seminar season is like!

Callie still stops by the office regularly and I learn something new every time she visits. Below is one of

her beautiful handmade cards that she sent to all of her “LIR Friends”.

Thank you for the most wonderful party! It was such fun and beautifully organized – and the catering

was all too delicious. I’m looking forward to buying a new pair of shoes with my gift card. Of course I’m

going to miss everyone, but I will have a chance to get re-acquainted with my husband and my cat.

It’s been great and you all gave me a great send-off – thank you!

Until we meet again –

~ Callie


[10]

SUMMER RESEARCH

This summer, Jim and I went to visit Janice Dore, a fellow 5CLIR member, who spends her summers in

a wonderful old family farmhouse in Sangerville, Maine. I noticed that there were potato fields there,

and asked her about them, as my presentation topic for Bev von Kries and Janet Price's seminar on "No

Farms - No Food" will be on potato farming in Maine. Janice arranged for a local potato farmer and

friend, Bill Cleaves and his wife Jennifer, to come to speak to us about raising seed potatoes. So here

you have a picture of us combining a visit to Janice with field research!

I learned a LOT.

~ Nina Scott

From left to right: Bill Cleaves, Janice Dore, Nina Scott, Jennifer Cleaves


[11]

THE LIR SUMMER PROGRAMS HAVE NOW COME TO AN END There were many wonderful events that took place this year, and except for losing one battle to Mother

Nature, all were well-attended and very successful.

Our first event took place in May when 21 people went to Pennsylvania for an art, architecture and

gardens tour, created and escorted by Marybeth Bridegam. A great time was had by all, and we can

hardly wait to see what Marybeth comes up with for next year.

June 5th

featured Let’s Play, and although only 7 people attended, Kathryn Collins said that those who

did had fun and got to know other members of LIR through playing 2 non-competitive games.

Also on June 5th

, with an encore on June 6th

, LIR’s Anne Lombard conducted us on a fern walk at

Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. This program had 16 happy participants trekking through the upland forest

to the freshwater marsh.

Because the visit to the Japanese Gardens at Amherst College was so heavily over-subscribed, the

program was held on June 12th

and again on June 13th

. Our own Ray Moore and his friend Joel Upton

gave 32 people a wonderful and comprehensive tour of this small treasure in the heart of the busy

Amherst Campus.

June 16th

was the date for 35 people to go to the New Century Theater. Flora Majumder was in charge

of this event, featuring the zany comedy “Lend Me a Tenor”.

On June 19th

39 of us went to the Yale University Art Museum in New Haven. We had a docent led tour

of the exhibits and plenty of time to explore on our own, before heading out for a great lunch and then

boarding the bus for home.

But alas! Mother Nature flooded the Connecticut River with high river levels and dangerous debris, so

our CT River Cruise out of Northfield had to be cancelled. Sandy Young hated to disappoint 45 eager

LIR sailors, but we’re planning to try again next summer.

On July 18th

there were 36 people enrolled for the trip to the Chester Theater. Several of us had lunch

before the show at a restaurant some of us found very disappointing. But the show was great, and

Candy Carlisle has already found a new and much better restaurant for next year!

The bus trip to Tanglewood is always popular, and this year 33 people were registered for the trip on

July 20th

. Ellen Peck has been leading this event for several years, and as usual, it was a huge success.

All together there were 264 paid registrations for our Summer Programs.


[12]

My sincere thanks go out to everyone who worked so hard to make these events such a success. We

greatly missed Honore David, our co-chair, but she has made a wonderful recovery and has come back

to us, ready to put together a great program for the winter.

If you have any ideas, thoughts, suggestions or comments, please contact me at [email protected]

and [email protected]. If you would like to be on our committee and help bring your ideas into the

Program, we’d really love to have you.

~ Ruthie Kosiorek

Chanticleer Foxglove by Donald David


mailto:[email protected].


[13]

Bryn Athyn Cathedral by Donald David

Bryn Athyn Inside by Donald David


[14]

Chanticleer Entrance Wall by Donald David

Chanticleer Tennis Garden by Donald David


[15]

Chanticleer Wisteria Arbor and Flowering Rapeseed by Donald David

Winterthur Azalea Gardens by Donald David


[16]

Winterthur Japanese Maple by Donald David

Winterthur Stairs by Donald David


[17]

5CLIR CALENDAR 2013-2014

2013

July No Curriculum Committee meeting

No Council meeting

August No Curriculum Committee meeting

No Executive Committee Meeting

8 Council meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

September 4 Executive Committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Smith College, Mason Hall

4 Curriculum Committee meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Smith College, Lilly 308

12 Council meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Northampton Lathrop Community

17 5CLIR Potluck Lunch Picnic @ Gaustad home, 12 – 2:00 p.m. (Tuesday)

18 Rain date for Potluck (same time, same place, on Wednesday)

23 First day of (most) fall seminars

October 3 Executive Committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

3 Curriculum Committee meeting, 2:15– 4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

10 Council meeting, 2:15 – 4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

25 Deadline for spring 2014 seminar proposals

November 7 Executive Committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

7 Curriculum Committee meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

8 Moderators’ Meeting, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 noon, Applewood, Dining Room


23 Spring Preview: Willits–Hallowell, Mt Holyoke College, 2:00–3:45 p.m.

December 5 Executive Committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

5 Curriculum Committee meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc, HQ

12 Council meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc., HQ

13 Close of registration for inclusion in any lottery for spring 2014 seminars

13 Last (snow) day of fall seminars

16 Lottery for oversubscribed spring seminars


[18]

2014

January 2 Memorial Program, Amherst College Alumni House, 10 a.m. – noon

3 Snow date for Memorial Program, same time and place

No Executive Committee meeting

No Curriculum Committee meeting

No Council meeting

February 6 Executive Committee Meeting, 1:30 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

6 Curriculum Committee Meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

13 Council Meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ

14 New Members Coffee, 10:00–12:00 noon, Northampton Lathrop

24 First day of spring semester seminars

March 6 Executive Committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc., HQ

6 Curriculum Committee meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc, HQ


21 Meeting for Potential Moderators: Location & time TBA

April 1 Deadline for proposals for fall semester 2014

3 Executive Committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ



20 Member Social Event (time and location(s) to be determined)

27 Fall Preview/Annual Meeting, Carroll Room, Smith College Campus Center,

2:00–3:45 p.m.

May 1 Executive committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ


1 Last day of spring semester seminars (last snow date: 9 May)


19 Close of registration for inclusion in any lottery for fall 2014 seminars

26 Lottery for oversubscribed fall seminars

June 5 Executive committee meeting, 1:30 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ




[19]

5CLIR OFFICERS 2013 - 2014

President: Carol Jolly

Vice-President: Michael Greenebaum

Past-President: Jim Harvey

Secretary: Ellen Peck

Treasurer: Betsy Loughran

Assistant Treasurer: Susan Beer

5CLIR REPORTER is published by

Five College Learning in Retirement

Room 9, Mason Hall, Smith College

Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: (413) 585-3756

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.5clir.org

Please submit articles and suggestions to:

Editor: Liz Tiley

http://www.5clir.org/

5clir reporter

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