Between semesters, FCLIR members can enjoy a range of short seminars and workshops as well as other programs and extracurricular activities.
Artist Trading Cards
Facilitators: Martha Cohen and Lorre Smith
Location: FCI Library Annex
Date: July 9 or August 7 1:00PM-4:00PM
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.
Ice Cream Social
Facilitator: Martha Cohen
Location: Atkins Farms Country Market, Amherst
Date: July 16 2:00PM-4:00PM
We’re inviting members to gather for a sweet and simple get-together—ice cream and good company! It’s a chance to cool off, catch up, and enjoy some light-hearted conversation over a scoop (or two) of your favorite flavor. No agenda—just a casual treat with fellow members. Look for the marked tables!
Out Loud: Sharing our favorite children’s picture books
Facilitator: Martha Cohen and Cat Batson
Location: FCI Library Annex
Date: July 21 1:00PM-3:00PM
We were read to as children, then we learned how to read and we read stories to our siblings and friends, our children and grandchildren. And we’re not done yet—this seminar will be adults reading one or two of your favorite children’s books to other adults. It can be a story, a poem, a section of a book, a song with or without rhyme. Pictures would be fun, but not required.
Pizza and Good Company
Facilitator: Nancy Clune and Suzie Metz
Location: Tree House Brewing Company, South Deerfield
Date: July 31 4:00PM-??
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
Facilitator: Jay Russell and Nina Wilder
Location: Hybrid – In person at FCI Library Annex and on Zoom
Date: August 5 and August 12 1:30PM-3:00PM
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.
Facilitated by Jay Russell and Nina Wilder, retired lawyers who closely follow the U.S. Supreme Court.
American Foreign Policy at a crossroads
a great decisions discussion
Facilitator: Ken Furst
Location: Applewood, Amherst
Date: August 14 2:00PM-3:30PM
FCLIR member, Ken Furst, has offered to facilitate a discussion on one of this year’s topics: American Foreign Policy at a Crossroads.
Members will be asked to read a brief article provided by the Foreign Policy Association in advance of the gathering. On August 14th, participants will watch a short video on the topic and Ken will facilitate a discussion with the group.
Space is limited and registration is required.
Slam the scammers!
Facilitator: Fred Bogin
Location: Lily Library, Florence
Date: August 18 1:00PM-3:00PM
We all get frequent opportunities to be taken-in by nasty scammers who feel that they are
entitled to steal money from vulnerable people. My goal is to arm ourselves with increased
awareness of scammer schemes and to learn how we can best avoid falling prey to these
people.
Ice Cream Social
Facilitator: Martha Cohen
Location: Flayvors of Cook Farm, Hadley
Date: August 27 2:00PM-4:00PM
We’re inviting members to gather for a final sweet and simple get-together—ice cream and good company before we all meet again in September seminars! Come and share your summer activities. No other agenda—just a casual treat with fellow members. Look for the marked tables!
