Working Together

Maine's senior colleges are a result of countless volunteer hours spent developing courses, taking registration, securing technology and venues, and basically making it all happen. But, thankfully, we don't have to do it alone.

As I put together this month's newsletter I noticed a theme cropping up in many of our announcements: partners. Our senior colleges partner with the community and local businesses to enhance our offerings and provide the best experiences, activities, and learning opportunities possible. Lewiston-Auburn's partnership with the Public Theatre, SAGE's work with the Sargent Family Community Center, Belfast's connection with community reading organizations – these are just a few of the many partnerships our members enjoy.

Our colleges partner with these organizations, with each other, and with you – our members and community. We are so grateful to be able to tap into the rich culture across Maine.

Here's to our current partners, and new ones on the way!

Best wishes,

Joyce

Joyce Doyle

Communications Coordinator

Maine Senior College Network

In this issue

Scroll down the page to see each article.

MEA-R Conference

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Hello from SAGE at UMaine Presque Isle

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What's new at our colleges

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Take a class near you

Stay up to date!

Visit our website to find out What's Happening and to discover a Senior College near you!

Visit our website

Questions? Contact your local senior college linked below.

How the senior colleges work

Become a member of your local college so you can join in classes for a small fee. Most memberships cost between $25-$40.

Your membership is good across the network!

Love to Learn sign written on a giant pencil

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Retired Maine Educators: See You Soon!

MSCN will be at the Maine Education Association - Retired annual conference on April 30 at the Augusta Civic Center. Visit with representatives from multiple senior colleges to chat about their courses and workshops.

Stop by our table and spin the wheel to find out what you should do next: learn to dance, converse in a new language, paint or draw, study history, discover AI, and so much more. Senior colleges offer it all!

Be sure to say hi!

Hello from...

SAGE at the University of Maine Presque Isle
(Aroostook County)

SAGE members sit around a table with mahjongg tiles on it

The Mahjongg Club at Sargent Family Community Center

Membership: $25

Classes: $5-10

Seniors Achieving Greater Education (SAGE) was started in 1998 as a program of Conferences and Special Programs of the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

The director and her staff began by recruiting community members to put together the basic mission and practices for this new organization and we began to offer it to the community of seniors in the central part of Aroostook County. We are still a program of Conferences and Special Programs, and this relationship is very important to us and to the university.

Read about SAGE

SAGe members and guests sit around a long table and eat dinner

SAGE members and guests out to eat

SAGE members walk into the Francis Malcom Science Center building.

The Francis Malcom Science Center, a great program partner

Visit the SAGE website

What's New at Our Colleges

Belfast SC / Author Talk: From Refugee to Neighbor / April 10

On Friday, April 10 at 4 p.m., author Abdi Nor Iftin will present "From Refugee to Neighbor: Rethinking What it Means to be American." Iftin's 2026 book Call Me American is a memoir describing his heroic survival in war-ravaged Somalia and his incredible journey to becoming an American in Maine. This event at the Belfast Free Library is free and open to all; registration is appreciated. It will also be offered on Zoom. This event is a partnership between Literacy Volunteers of Waldo County, Waldo Reads Together, Belfast Free Library and Belfast Senior College, sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank.

Visit the Belfast Senior College website to learn more and register

Gold LEAF / Summer Kickoff / June 10

Join Gold LEAF Institute Wednesday, June 10, 2 – 5 p.m., for the Summer Kickoff and Annual Meeting. Open to the public. Enjoy snacks and refreshments, attend the annual meeting, and listen to details of the upcoming classes with guest GLI class presenters. At St. Joseph Parish Hall, 130 Quebec Street, Farmington.

Visit the Gold LEAF Institute website

Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk, a play by Catherine Bush May 8-17

Lewiston Auburn SC / Senior College in the Community / April – May

Spring offerings at LASC highlight community partnerships with "Senior College in the Community" events. LASC joins Auburn Public Library with free public presentations on topics like Maine history, a new food co-op in Lewiston, Chinese traditional medicine, and environmental issues with former NewsCenter Maine meteorologist Keith Carson, now with Maine Conservation Voters. Plus a new partnership with Lewiston's Public Theatre where students can go "behind the scenes" of their production of Grandma Gatewood Took a Walk. Spring classes run from the first week of April through May.

Visit the Lewiston Auburn website

South Coast SC / Buddhism in the U.S. & Beginning Watercolors / Start April 6 & 7

The South Coast spring session is nearly underway. Here are a couple highlights:

Buddhism in the U.S.: America is an angry nation. Much of the practice of Buddhism seeks to foster tranquility. Since mid-20th century, Buddhism has come bigly to our shores. Why? What is American Buddhism? What might it become? Look in depth at two American Theravada Buddhist demographics: one comprised of largely immigrants from Thailand, Theravada Buddhist by birth, and the other composed of mainly American-born converts. Each, at once, both American and Buddhist.
Beginning Watercolors: Have you ever wanted to try watercolor painting but didn’t know where to begin? This course is designed to get you started. Discuss choosing the right materials and learn a number of basic watercolor techniques, then practice on a variety of landscapes, seascapes, and florals. These classes are designed for beginners; no previous art experience is required.

Registration, details, and so many more options are on their website – check it out today.

Visit the South Coast Senior College website

Find more highlighted events in our What's Happening blog

OUR EXTENDED NETWORK: AARP

The Scamdemic Up Close

AARP Maine invites you to a free, educational event with nationally recognized speaker Erin West, former prosecutor and founder of Operation Shamrock, a leading initiative combatting global scam networks. Erin will share how international crime rings are targeting everyday people – especially older adults, why these scams are rapidly on the rise, and the practical, empowering steps you can take to keep yourself and loved ones safe. Erin's keynote will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Maine's Attorney General, Aaron Frey.

This event is both in person at USM in Portland or you can join via Zoom on Thursday, April 23, 8:30 – 11:45 a.m. All are welcome; registration is required. Light refreshments will be provided for in‑person attendees. Questions? Send an email to jmargesson@aarp.org.

Take a Class Near You... or from Afar!

Did you know Maine is the only state with a Senior College Network? Our college courses are open to anyone age 50 and above. We offer multi-session classes, one-time workshops, local and international travel, and so much more. Members can take classes at any college. Discover what membership can do for you!

Visit a Maine Senior College for upcoming in-person and online class offerings.