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NEWS
Announcing LLAIC'S Annual Meeting: Tuesday, June 2
Want to Lead a Course This Fall?
SPECIAL EVENTS
LUNCH@LLAIC: Tuesdays, 4/28 until end of semester
Regis LLARC: Lunch, Listen and Learn Series - last session 4/30
Let's Go: Davis Museum, Wellesley - Sunday, May 3
LLAIC Loves Art: Phoenix Art Museum - Wednesday, May 13
Dinner Theater: Eureka Day - Sunday, June 14
Judy Collins at Tanglewood - Sunday, 8/30
AFFINITY GROUPS
Spanish Conversation Group (La Tertulia): Monday, 4/20
French Conversation Group: Monday, 4/27
Current Events: Friday, 5/1
LLAIC Lit-Lovers: Friday, 5/8
Movie Mavens: Friday, 5/15
Not a member yet? Click here to join LLAIC.
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ANNOUNCING LLAIC'S ANNUAL MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 2 @ 11:00
TEMPLE SHALOM, NEWTON
According to our by-laws, each year LLAIC schedules an annual meeting to which the entire community is invited. This year’s meeting will be on Tuesday June 2 at 11:00am at Temple Shalom. We will report on the state of LLAIC and celebrate the successful completion of our twelfth year. A portion of the meeting will be set aside for members to offer feedback on what you like, what you don’t, and what you would like to see added to the program.
A key agenda item is the election of new members to the LLAIC Board of Directors. Since LLAIC is an all-volunteer collaborative organization, it is essential that all Board members be prepared to assist with any situation or responsibility as it arises.
The Board has appointed Pat Cole to fill the unexpired term of our late dear friend and Board member Eric Sawitz. Pat will serve on the Board through the 2026-2027 year to complete what would have been Eric’s term, after which she will be voted on by the membership at our next annual meeting for a three-year term. Pat’s bio is attached.
We invite you all to bring lunch (or order pizza from Jen) and join us after the meeting for socializing and schmoozing!
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WANT TO LEAD A COURSE THIS FALL?
Although we're more than three quarters through April, winter hasn't totally let go—we’ve had late snow and cool temps, but the forsythia and some daffodils are blooming, so real spring must be on its way. Courses in the second half of the semester are well underway, and that means the Curriculum Committee is thinking of fall and fall courses.
Teaching a course is a wonderful opportunity to share a topic that interests you with other like-minded people! Courses can range from more traditional topics such as history, math, science, and literature to current events to classes looking at music and film—and even topics related to food and animals! The Curriculum Committee can help with developing your idea into a course—generally running from five to ten weeks, although there is some flexibility for six- to eight-week courses.
We will continue offering classes in person at Temple Shalom in Newton. It’s a lovely facility, with plenty of space—just waiting to be the location for special programs and before- or after-class lunches. You can choose to lead in-person classes there, or Zoom classes. There’s full tech support for all virtual courses, with a dedicated person managing Zoom so the course leader can focus on teaching. There’s also training as needed on A/V equipment for in-person classes and on Zoom for virtual ones.
While course leaders teach on a volunteer basis, they receive a free annual membership and may register early, tuition-free, for up to two courses in the semester they are teaching or in the following semester. So think about what you’d like to explore, and download the fall course proposal form from the LLAIC website! And if you know anyone who might be interested in teaching, let them know about us!
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SPECIAL EVENTS
Free to LLAIC Members
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LUNCH@LLAIC
TUESDAYS AT TEMPLE SHALOM
175 TEMPLE STREET, WEST NEWTON
4/28 UNTIL THE END OF THE SEMESTER
LUNCH STARTS AT 1, PROGRAM AT 1:30
Join us at Temple Shalom on all your Tuesday afternoons from April 14 through the end of the semester for lunch and a delightful program! Drop in before class, after class, or just for the program.
LUNCH@LLAIC is open to guests and no RSVP is necessary, so bring a friend! Bring your own lunch (we provide designer water and hot beverages) or email Jennifer Young if you want to order pizza ($3 for one slice or $5 for two). The remaining programs are as follows:
- 4/28 Alice Freedman – Reinventing English: The Troubled Future of Reading, Writing, and Thinking
When you hear your adult children or grandchildren saying: “nepo baby,” “brolgarchy,” “agentic,” “lewk,” or “rizz,” you might not know what they are talking about. These are real words that have entered the dictionary in 2025. The English language is changing at a faster rate than almost ever before. Not only are new words and new expressions becoming popular, but the language is more evocative and idiomatic. Digital technologies have altered the way we write and read. In this presentation/video, you will learn about the history of the English language and how its evolution reflects contemporary culture, technology, and social dynamics.
- 5/5 Dr. Edmon Davidson – Experiences as a physician in Iran
(Note change of presenter).
- 5/12 Joanne Fisher – Fashion Future: What’s Right and Wrong with the Industry
Did you know that after fossil fuels, the fashion industry is the most polluting industry on the planet? Brands are now labeling themselves as sustainable options. How will this designation change the future of one of the largest industries in the world? In this presentation/video, you will learn about the future of fashion: the ways brands are introducing science, technology, and engineering into textiles to keep up with sustainability demands while balancing the need for technology and “smart textiles.” Can the industry survive, and what will happen to all the waste it creates while seeking more profit?
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THE DAVIS MUSEUM
WELLESLEY COLLEGE, WELLESLEY
SUNDAY, MAY 3 @ 10:30 A.M.
Please join us on Sunday, May 3, at 11:00 at Zaftigs Restaurant at 1298 Worcester Street, Route 9, Sherwood Plaza, Natick for BRUNCH.
From there we will go to the Davis Museum on the campus of Wellesley College, 106 Central St in Wellesley for a FREE guided tour. The Davis Museum is one of the oldest and most acclaimed college art museums, with a collection of 13,000 objects, including an Asian collection, and an outstanding photography collection.
Parking is available at the garage (the Davis Parking Facility) on the Wellesley College campus, near the route 135 entrance. The Davis Museum is a 5-10 minute walk from the garage.
Please fill out the attached registration form and mail or email it to Danielle Bick at one of the addresses on the form.
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LLAIC LOVES ART:
SCIENCE AND ART INTERSECT
A PRESENTATION AND CONVERSATION WITH
PHOENIX ART MUSEUM DOCENT
KATHLEEN McGOVERN
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 @ 1:15 P.M.
In our lifetimes we have experienced so many advances in science. We have heart transplants, self-driving cars, and the internet, just to name a few. Science has also had an impact on art. Join us as we explore pieces from the Phoenix Art Museum collection and discover how science, technology, and math have inspired artists, both past and present, to explore new ideas and new materials, and to solve problems.
Kathleen McGovern received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Valparaiso University in Indiana. She first became a docent with Phoenix Art Museum in 1989 and was often asked if she was a teacher. These questions sent her back to school for a masters' degree in education. Once she retired from teaching she returned to Phoenix Art Museum where she runs tours for school and adult groups and is involved in the docent training program.
Click here before noon on Tuesday, May 12, to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day.
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NEW DINNER THEATER EVENT: EUREKA DAY
SUNDAY, JUNE 14 @ 1:00 P.M.
HUNTINGTON THEATER, BOSTON
We are excited to be holding a limited number of excellent seats for Eureka Day at the Huntington on Sunday, June 14. Eureka Day won a 2025 Tony Award for best revival and the reviews have been fabulous: “A shiny, insightful, and damn funny little gem” - Deadline. From The Guardian: “An impeccably polished satire” and from New York Magazine “Gaspingly funny!” Sounds like just what we all need these days!
Please complete the attached registration form and mail it with your check for $20/per ticket to Ileen Conn at 6 Barclay Rd, West Roxbury 02132. Even better, send an email to Ileen or Shelly if you want us to hold a seat for you while you are filling out the registration form!
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JUDY COLLINS IS COMING TO TANGLEWOOD!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 @ 2:30 P.M.
On Sunday, August 30, Judy Collins will appear at Tanglewood as part of the Popular Artist’s Series co-starring Mary Chapin Carpenter and Rosanne Cash with special guest Amanda Shire. Cost: $59 in the shed.
Tickets are extremely limited!
To guarantee your place, kindly email Leslie Tannenwald, LLAIC Theater Committee member, to indicate your interest or mail a $59 check to her at 280 Boylston St., Unit 605, Chestnut Hill 02467. Please indicate whether you are willing to drive and how many people you can accommodate in your vehicle.
Reservations will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis.
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AFFINITY GROUP MEETINGS
Free to LLAIC Members
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FRENCH CONVERSATION GROUP
MONDAY, APRIL 27 @ 1:30-3:00 P.M.
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On April 13, 2026, we started reading short stories from the book French Stories/Contes Francais: A Dual-Language Book, edited by Wallace Fowlie. We’ve started with the first story, Micromégas, by Voltaire.
You can see a link to the Kindle version of the book on Amazon here. Once there, you can click a box on the right to order it in paperback. CAUTION: There are other similar DUAL LANGUAGE books edited by Wallace Fowlie. Be sure to buy the edition with “Ten Short Stories by Voltaire, Balzac, Gide, Camus …” et. al., available from Amazon for Kindle or in paperback.
The complete list of stories is included in the description. You can see the actual table contents by clicking on the “Read sample” link just below the picture of the book’s cover. It seems to take you to the FORWARD; if so, you must click the < arrow on the left side to move back through the table. You can also scan to the right, and read almost all the first story, Micromégas.
We meet for an hour and a half by ZOOM every other Monday at 1:30 p.m. We are intermediate to advanced French readers who read the French text out loud and discuss the stories in French. Please email Betty Salzberg if you would like to join us.
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CURRENT EVENTS
LED BY JERRY JACOBS
FRIDAY, MAY 1 @ 10:00 A.M.
Jerry says:
Looking forward to our May 1 CE session. We will continue our discussion about the ongoing wars in the Middle East. For our regulars, two of our more interesting ongoing discussion topics will continue, including the role of religion in politics and how best to criticize Republican and Democratic politicians without being offensive to the group. Stay tuned.
Newcomers are always welcome to this erudite and forceful group. Click here before noon on Thursday, April 30, to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day.
Planning ahead: Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 19 from 1 to 2:30 for an in-person current events session at Temple-Shalom. More info coming soon.
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SPANISH CONVERSATION GROUP
(LA TERTULIA)
MONDAY, MAY 4 @ 1:00 P.M.
Our format consists of reading and discussing articles from various Spanish language media sources of general high interest. There is no homework although everyone is invited to submit articles they might find for our agendas.
The hosts for the group are Miriam Grodberg and Larry Krakauer. Contact Miriam to request an invitation or with any
questions.
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LLAIC LIT-LOVERS:
THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN
BY MARJAN KAMALI
LED BY PHYLLIS COHEN
FRIDAY, MAY 8 @ 10:30
In 1950s Tehran, two young girls form a deep bond across social classes. Their bond faces challenges as they navigate Iran’s political turmoil and personal betrayals. A mesmerizing tale of love and courage and a sweeping exploration of how we are shaped by those we meet when we are young.
EXCITING NEWS! Marjan Kamali, the author, has accepted our invitation to join us on May 8 when we discuss the book. Hopefully, since Iran is so prominent in current news, she will share some of her insights on that as well.
Please join us any time after 10:15 for socializing. Click here to request a Zoom invitation. You'll receive it that day.
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June 12 - Table for Two by Amor Towles - Carole Levy
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MOVIE MAVENS
BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB (1999)
FRIDAY, MAY 15 @ 2 P.M. ON ZOOM
Travel back to 1990s Cuba and discover the legendary folk musicians of the Buena Vista Social Club, rescued from obscurity by American guitarist Ry Cooder. Walk the streets of Havana, feel the rhythm of daily life, and hear each musician tell their story under the direction of Wim Wenders (Paris, Texas; Perfect Days).
The music — rooted in Cuban traditions dating back to the 40s and 50s — earned them a Grammy, and you’ll watch it explode to life in concerts in Amsterdam and Carnegie Hall. This Oscar-nominated documentary captures not just the performances, but the sheer joy these musicians felt experiencing the world beyond Cuba for the first time. Watch it with a good sound system. You’ll feel like you’re in the room.
The Buena Vista Social Club can be watched on HBO Max, Criterion, or Plex, or rented on Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at home. Click here by noon on Thursday, May 14, for your Zoom invitation, which will be sent that day.
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Learn more about LLAIC at www.llaic.org
Call us: (508) 453-1205
Write us: info@llaic.org
Editor: Barbara Mende
Contributing Editor: Shelly Levine
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