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• Contemporary Gender Roles SIG

  • Start
    Wednesday, May 14, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Wednesday, November 19, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    7 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  Register

  
  

  This OLLI Contemporary Gender Roles Shared Interest Group was started by Deborah Caine to study and 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 exemplified in the growth of the LGBTQ+ communities; changes not always easily understood by many.

  
  The group has grown over the last several years from three members to two dozen women and men who enjoy the lively monthly discussions on topics of urgent and current interest.

  
  Members volunteer to lead a discussion on a topic of their choice and/or invite an outside speaker and circulate articles from major newspapers, magazines and journals that are relevant to group interests.  

  
  The Contemporary Gender Roles group sponsored an OLLI course on the Equal Rights Amendment in 2018 which was well attended.

  
  We meet on Zoom at 2 pm on the third Wednesday of the month. 

  
  Check out the Contemporary Gender Roles SIG Padlet, for articles, videos, and pictures here!

  
  For more information about this SIG, please contact Ellen Croibier.
  

  
  

  Topics for 2024 Contemporary Gender Roles SIG

  Helen Hailes: “Gaslighting in Intimate Partner Violence” on January 17

  Leyn Burrows on self-defense for women vs. men on February 21

  Michael Wilcox: Topic TBD on March 20

  Berkshire Pride and the Elizabeth Freeman Center on April 17

  Chris Canning Wilson on the role of women in the Middle East on May 15

  Mal Wasserman with book review: Undaunted and/or The Exceptions on June 19

  Farrah Cukor, literary rep at United Talent Agency on July 17

  Linda Baxter will give a talk on midwifery on August 21

  Mary Hunt, PhD on feminist theology on September 18

  Chief Deanna Strout on women in criminal justice on October 16

  Farah Cherif D’Ouezzan on women in Morocco on November 20

  December 18 TBD

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• Gotta Reads: New York Times Best Seller Book Club

  • Start
    Thursday, May 15, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, November 20, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    7 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  
  

  The Gotta Reads - NYT Best Sellers Book Club reads books from the NYT Best Seller List of the last couple of years. We look for books that are "discussion-worthy" and thought provoking.

  This group meets on the third Thursday of each month at 4pm.

  Please click here to contact group leader Sheila McKenna for additional information & to join the email list.

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• Happy Needlers & Hookers: A Needlework Shared Interest Group

  • Start
    Monday, May 19, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Monday, November 17, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    13 sessions
  • Location
    Lenox, MA

  
  

  Happy Needlers & Hookers:
  A Needlework Shared Interest Group

  Shared Interest Groups are free and exclusively for current OLLI at BCC members.

  The Happy Needlers & Hookers Needlework Group is a Shared Interest Group for people that like to knit, needlepoint, cross-stitch, crochet or enjoy any other needle-based craft.

  You can work on any project you wish. The camaraderie and time we spend together is what we find so enjoyable!
  

  All levels are welcome, from beginner to advanced. Meets in-person in Lenox.

  Please contact Sharon Walker for information on days and times and to join the group.

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• Foreign Language Films Shared Interest Group

  • Start
    Tuesday, May 20, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Tuesday, June 17, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Online

  Register

  OLLI at BCC annual members are invited to join OLLI's

  Foreign Language Films

  Shared Interest Group

  Free and open exclusively to OLLI at BCC members

  We will meet on Zoom at 5 p.m. Eastern

  Upcoming Films:

  • February 18 - The Four Daughters - Tunisian, with special host facilitator - Richard Eason
  • March 18 - Pan's Labyrinth - Spanish
  • April 15 - Purple Moon - French
  • May 20 - Bicycle Thieves - Italian
  • June 17 - TBD from suggestion list

  Discussion on Zoom, watch the movie on your own device.
  

  Welcome to the Foreign Language Film SIG. 

  • The group will meet at 5:00 on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
  • Karen Curlee, our group leader, will post notes and video comments to the Foreign Language Film SIG Padlet the Tuesday before we meet on Zoom.
  • Members will watch the film on their own time... we only gather to discuss what we watched. 

  Movies can be borrowed from your local library or streamed online.

  Pre-registration is required. Register online or call 413.236.2190 (M-F 9 a.m.-4 p.m.) to register by phone.
  

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• The 2025 Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture: Chris Whipple

  • When
    Saturday, May 24, 2025
  •  
    5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
  • Location
    The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, 14 Castle Street, Great Barrington MA 01230
  • Spaces left
    147

  2025 Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture
  featuring
  

  Chris Whipple
  Saturday, May 24, 5:00 p.m. Eastern 

  at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center 

  
  

  Tickets are available at the Mahaiwe Box office.
  Mahaiwe Box Office: 413-528-0100

  OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, is honored to present Chris Whipple as our 2025 Mona Sherman Memorial lecturer.
  

  Whipple will discuss his new book Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History
  

  The New York Times bestselling author of The Gatekeepers and The Spymasters now turns his sharp eye towards the historic 2024 presidential race, providing the definitive, insider account of the most dramatic and significant political showdown in modern American history.

  Chris Whipple is an acclaimed author, political commentator, documentary filmmaker, and speaker. He is the author of The Spymasters: How the CIA Directors Shape History and the Future, published by Scribner on September 15, 2020. The Spymasters has earned rave reviews; the New York Times called it "one of 15 books to watch for," and Forbes pronounced it "one of 10 important, insightful, and inspiring books" in 2020.

  A frequent guest on MSNBC and CNN, Whipple has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Politico, the Daily Beast, and many other publications. He is the chief executive officer of CCWHIP Productions, and executive producer of the Showtime film, 'The Spymasters: CIA in the Crosshairs.' Whipple was educated at Deerfield Academy and received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in history from Yale College. He lives in Clinton, CT with his wife Cary.

  We will be selling copies of Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History at the event.  Whipple will be signing books after the lecture.

  This lecture will be recorded and available on the OLLI at BCC YouTube channel in early June.

  Ticket information:

  Registration open to the public on Wednesday, April 30 at noon. General admission seating.

   _______________________________

  About Mona Sherman

  The annual Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture was established to honor the memory of the late Mona Sherman, a dynamic businesswoman and volunteer leader who played a transformative role in the growth and expansion of OLLI at BCC. The lecture series, established through the generosity of her family and friends, honors both her love of the Berkshires community and of lifelong learning.

  For over a decade, the Mona Sherman Memorial Lecture series has featured extraordinary nationally known writers and commentators: past speakers have included Congressman Jamie Raskin, Ari Melber, Cokie Roberts, Jim Acosta, Mika Brzezinski, Joe Klein, Katy Tur and others. The lectures have always been free and open to the public.

  OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College, provides diverse educational, social, and volunteer opportunities a year designed especially by and for people fifty years old and better. OLLI’s 1,500+ members organize courses, lectures, trips and special events online, throughout the Berkshires and beyond.

  _______________________________

  We are grateful to the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center for being our co-presenter, to Berkshire Gas for being our lead sponsor, and to the many friends and family of Mona Sherman for their continuing support.

  
  

  

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• Murder, Mystery & Mayhem: A Book Group

  • Start
    Monday, May 26, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Monday, December 22, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Online via Zoom

  
  

  OLLI at BCC members are invited to join OLLI's Shared Interest Group

  Murder, Mystery & Mayhem: A Book Group

  for an online discussion 

  The Fourth Monday of Every Month

  from 1:30 to 3:00 pm Eastern

  Free and open to all OLLI at BCC members 

  OLLI's Murder, Mystery & Mayhem: A Book Group meets once a month, typically on the 4^th Monday at 1:30 pm. Everyone is welcome. We typically meet for no more than 1.5 hours. Historically, the meetings were at someone’s house. Since the pandemic, however, the gatherings have been Zoom-based.
  

  Books are selected one year in advance… and are not your typically hot present-day offerings. At the meetings, we discuss the chosen book, of course, but often we talk about other books we are reading, movies we have seen, serials we’ve watched/are watching on TV, etc.

  Please contact Bruce Cohen for additional information and to receive the Zoom link. 

  2025 OLLI MM&M Book Selections
  

  Jan Magpie Murders Anthony Horowitz 

  Feb The Liar's Girl Catherine Ryan Howard

  Mar The Kill Artist Daniel Silva 

  Apr Five Decembers James Kestrel 

  May A Case of Need Jeffrey Hudson 

  Jun Disappearing Earth Julia Phillips 

  Jul The Cloisters Katy Hays 

  Aug Unseen Mari Jugstedt 

  Sep Imperial Woman Pearl Buck 

  Oct I Am Pilgrim   Terry Hayes

  Nov Hannibal Rising Thomas Harris 

  Dec Devil in the Blue Dress Walter Mosley

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• Climate Change Shared Interest Group

  • Start
    Wednesday, May 28, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Wednesday, December 24, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    8 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom

  Register

  

  OLLI at BCC members are invited to join OLLI's

  Climate Change 

  Shared Interest Group 

  Free and open exclusively to OLLI at BCC members

  This OLLI Shared Interest Group (SIG) will study the effects on the Planet Earth caused by fossil fuel emissions by following the science and media news daily. The horrific effects of climate change are now apparent every day and affect all humanity wherever we live. Just watch the daily news in any media. The effects on State and Federal budgets of hurricanes, floods, and extreme heat are now becoming clear to everyone.

  The SIG will utilize the work of national organizations such as Third Act (founded recently by Bill McKibben, the famous environmentalist) and Elders Climate Action (among others). Both of these organizations have monthly newsletters and free webinars.

  As activists the OLLI Climate Change SIG will write letters and postcards to the media and politicians - all who have power to effect changes in National and international behavior. 

  The group will meet on the fourth Wednesday of the month and share information about all local and national efforts to fight the global warming caused by the fossil fuel industry. It will also share information, by e-mail, gleaned from other environmental organizations in Massachusetts and nationally. 

  Please contact Deborah Caine for more information about this SIG.
  

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