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,
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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.
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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!
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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.
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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
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.
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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).
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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.
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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.
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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Bryn Athyn Cathedral by Donald David
Bryn Athyn Inside by Donald David
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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Chanticleer Entrance Wall by Donald David
Chanticleer Tennis Garden by Donald David
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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Chanticleer Wisteria Arbor and Flowering Rapeseed by Donald David
Winterthur Azalea Gardens by Donald David
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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Winterthur Japanese Maple by Donald David
Winterthur Stairs by Donald David
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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
14 Council meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ
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
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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
13 Council 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
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
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 Curriculum Committee meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ
1 Last day of spring semester seminars (last snow date: 9 May)
8 Council meeting, 2:15–4:15 p.m., Five Colleges, Inc. HQ
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
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
5CLIR Reporter September 2013
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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