OLLI SHARED INTEREST GROUPS (SIGs)

Free to all OLLI at BCC members!

Another great OLLI member benefit! OLLI’s Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) are member-organized peer-led discussion and activity groups that are free and exclusively for OLLI at BCC members.

Interested in starting your own Shared Interest Group? Why don't you check out this handy SIG Guide and if you still have questions you can contact the OLLI Office at 413-236-2190 or OLLI@berkshirecc.edu.

CURRENT OLLI SHARED INTEREST GROUPS (SIGs)
Below is a summary list of our current SIGs. Click on a name to find more information about the group. Check out the OLLI Calendar of Events to see upcoming SIG meeting dates.

Changing the Culture of Ageism (temporarily on hold)

 Join a group of people who want to change the culture of aging. Contact Brian Harrison for more information.

Contemporary Gender Roles ONLINE

Explore cultural changes in the roles of men and women in the family and in the workplace and the multiple changes in gender presentation and identity.  Contact Ellen Croibier for more information.

Creative Nonfiction Writing ONLINE

Do you love to write and want to have a writers’ group to share and critique your work? If you do, consider joining our Creative Nonfiction SIG which meets monthly via Zoom. For more information about this SIG contact Lana Bennett. 

Cross Country Ski Group (seasonal) 
Get together with other OLLI Cross Country Skiers and find friends to ski with.  Contact Ann Krawet for additional information.

Downhill Ski Group (seasonal) 
Recreational skiing with others for fun and safety.  Contact Bruce Cohen for additional information.

Foreign Language Films 

Join OLLI Members for viewings of the world's greatest films, with animated discussion to follow. Contact Chris Guidette or Alex Nardacci for more information.

French Conversation ONLINE
Parlez-vous français? Would you like to practice your French with others in a relaxed setting? Meet up in informal settings on Zoom and/or in person, for French conversation with other OLLI members.  Contact Monica Sinclair or Philippe Jeanjean for more information.

Genealogy ONLINE

Collaborate with like-minded OLLI members to pursue research into you family history. Contact Lisa Swigart for more information.

Gotta Reads - NYT Best Sellers Book Club ONLINE

The Gotta Reads - New York Times Best Sellers Book Club reads books from the NYT Best Seller List of the last couple of years.  Let's read and talk about the best of these best sellers. Contact Sheila McKenna for additional information.

Happy Needlers & Hookers: A Needlework Group

Do you enjoy knitting, crocheting, embroidery or other forms of needlework in good company? Join this group just in time for a cozy winter. Contact Carolyn Vandervort  or Carol Sabot for more information!

NEW History of Music in The Berkshires - The Road House Era

Uncover the rich history of music in the Berkshires, particularly the Road House era.  The goal of this SIG is to bring this colorful history to life and create a widely distributed podcast that documents it.  Contact Mark Rosenman for more information.

Listening to Chamber Music

The Listening to Chamber Music SIG is for people who are interested in chamber music and who would enjoy learning about and listening to chamber music repertoire with other chamber music aficionados.   Contact Harriet Wetstone for more information.

Murder, Mystery & Mayhem: A Book Group ONLINE

If you love reading mystery novels, this group is for you. Monthly books are chosen for the upcoming year from award winning American and international novels, but are not typically present day publications. Meetings are held the fourth Monday of every month at 1:30pm online. Contact Bruce Cohen for additional information.

Painting ONLINE

A small, supportive group of painters who share their paintings in progress to get feedback from other artists and share useful techniques, materials etc. Contact Claudia Shuster for more information.

Paper Crafting ONLINE

Members of this group share expertise and ideas so that you can create cards and gift boxes using stamps and ink.

Contact Linda Goff for further information about the Paper Crafting SIG.

Play Reading ONLINE
Love theatre, reading plays together and enjoying the Berkshire theatre scene? Join us!

Contact Alice Roth, Barbara Waldinger or Karel Fisher or for more details or additional information about this SIG

Poetry Reading ONLINE

Due to its popularity, this SIG is currently not accepting NEW MEMBERS.

Join with other OLLI members to read and discuss great poems. Contact Susan Wurtzburg for more information.

Poetry Writing ONLINE

Due to its popularity, this SIG is currently not accepting NEW MEMBERS.

Share poetry you've written with other OLLI members.  Contact Susan Wurtzburg to get onto the waiting list.

NEW Tennis SIG

Do you enjoy playing recreational tennis? Are you looking for people to play with? Whether you enjoy just volleying the ball back and forth or a good competition, we would like to hear from you as we begin to establish a new Tennis Shared Interest Group. Contact Lynne Bishop for more information.

Understanding Soccer
Want to know more about soccer?  This group meets (on Zoom or in person) to discuss all aspects of the game.  Both the technical and social aspects are considered.  Contact Alan Rubin for more information.