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We would like to invite you to share your CLIR experience with us. Have we met your expectations? What do you enjoy most about your association with CLIR? What would you like to see more or less of?
With your input we can ensure an even better Lifelong Learning experience.
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Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope to see you all at the Holiday Gala on Friday 12/2/11
Dine and Discuss Nov 10 at Wexler’s. The CLIR-gang did manage to do both, but the noise-level meant discussion was limited to those right around each of us. The pie crust was delicious!
Friday night 11-11-11: Wings at Sky Walker Ranch: two carloads of CLIRers saw a great [silent] film and shared delicious pizza served to all the guests. Again thanks Tania for extending the opportunity to CLIR members!
After the wonderful photos and background George and Tom presented about their trip to Croatia, Slovenia, and Trieste at Vicarious Traveler Friday I’m ready to see these delights in-person. Thanks George and Tom!
Kudos to Tom Rothgiesser and Barbara Farrenkopf for their skills thus saving the trip and the day. When a 56 passenger bus pulled up to CLIR, although numerous confirmation had been given for the 27 passenger bus, Tom and Barbara cooly negotiated for the immediate availability of the smallest bus possible. At 9:30 we pulled out beginning what proved to be trip full of beauty and learning.
The ride to Byington Vineyard & Winery even with the challenges of driving through the beautiful heavily forested extremely curvy, narrow, route was smooth. Sol Silverman gifted the group with a private tour & tasting led by a personable, knowledgable guide. She began by relating the historical development of Byington as we gathered at the bocci court overlooking the stunning vineyard and enjoyed the first sample. She then led us through the winery explaining the process and pouring. There were champions among us for each of the five different Byington’s wines we experienced.
Which proved just the base for amazing two hour meal we were served at the Mint Leaf in charming Saratoga. After enjoying either a delicious soup or salad, although between us we had nearly a dozen different entrees, each of us were confident that we’d made best choice. Then there was the amazing tempura banana with chocolate ice cream. Fortunately there was time for a stroll through charming downtown Saratoga before we boarded our 40 passenger bus for the swift return to 50 First St; chatting away as we completed a day full of wonder thanks to Tom, Barbara, Marianne, Joy and Sol!
Great weather, delicious -and mostly healthy- food, beautiful post dining walk = enjoyable CLIR Annual Picnic for 2011. And much thanks to Vicki and Barbara for all your set-up efforts!
Thanks to Annette’s efforts CLIR had two wonderful Loge sections [B & C] at Friday evening’s SFS gala. The musicians were a joy to hear. We all had a delightful time, thanks Annette!
Wednesday a delightful docent from the San Francisco Fine Arts Museums presented at CLIR a comprehensive and illustrated tour of the Dutch and Flemish Masterworks in exhibition at the Palace of the Legion of Honor through the end of this month. She tied the special exhibit’s works with some on permanent display at the Legion and provided specific information on where to find them in that building. Even those audience members who’ve already seen the current exhibit were enthused as a result of slide show and narrative.
Joy lead the CLIR gang when we visited Fremont Tuesday. We strolled the entire Lake Elizabeth shore-line and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Great way to present the monthly CLIR walk!
August started on a ringing note for the 45 CLIR members who had tickets to the Merola Opera’s production of The Barber of Seville. Merola’s performers hit all the right notes in this delightfully mad-cap opera. The production even brought in current facets such as the “end of days” prediction broadcast by a local “bible interpreter.” Thanks Phyllis for arranging this free event enjoyed by so many!
CLIR on July 27 had another of its Day-Adventure this one was a trip to Marin County starting off at the Zen Center – Green Gulch Farm. We had a short introduction to the Center’s history and practices and then we wandered through the many gardens and to the farm’s fields.
Though there was real reluctance to leave, we next were off to nearby Marin Beach and the delightful Pelican Inn for a typical British lunch. The trip’s final destination -the Marine Mammal Rescue Center. We enjoyed tours of the facility led by two knowledgable and enthralled members of the Center’s staff.
Thursday evening a dozen CLIR members gathered in San Francisco at Alborz, an authentic Persian venue, for a delightful dinner. As usual, the event was organized by Karla Jones. We sampled a wide variety of Persian dishes from typical pre-meal treats, soup, fish, beef and lamb through rose-water based deserts.
The food and conversation flowed and we soon realized that once again we’d been together for more than two hours enjoying companionship in a pleasurable setting. Karla’s ability to discover such great opportunities for sharing our membership once again deserves a hearty Thank You!
Members jumped at the marvelous unique opportunity offered to members by Tania Yates at July’s General Meeting. She has a connection to that wonderful local center of movie-making 21st century technology, SkyWalker Ranch, and announced that members merely need ask her and get the dates & proper entry instructions to participate in SkyWalker Ranch’s special 7:15pm showings at the Ranch, of all the Harry Potter films to date, as well as the Lord of the Rings saga.
Upon accepting Tania’s kind invitation, the initial treat is the drive to secluded SkyWalker Ranch in Marin county. It offers California countryside in all its glory; little vehicle traffic, gentle rolling hills, curving woodlands and fields almost devoid of “civilization.”
The movie theater is within a lovely, inviting structure which also houses some of SkyWalker Ranch’s production facilities; which in no way interfere in “attending a show.” In fact the theater is itself a show: full-size screen similar to those of the classic movie-palaces of the ’30s which the decor of the space tastefully replicates. And the seats – wide, comfortable and loads of ‘leg room.’ Then there’s the amazing sound system …!
CLIR members who accepted Tania’s kind invitation only regret is that these series of film-retrospectives was completed by August 2. We’re looking forward to whatever may eventually be available!
CLIR members partaking in this year’s Ashland OR adventure appreciated that their Plaza Suites Hotel provided a snack daily around 5pm. Quite welcome after a day filled with play-related activities. First night in Ashland they saw a new play “American Night”- about the dreams that an immigrant from Mexico had before he took his citizenship examination. It was done almost like a video game.
The following morning Marc Ratner presented a lecture on “American Night”, and the plays CLIRers would see that day – “Pride and Prejudice” and the musical, “She Loves Me”. Thursday, Marc Ratner prepared the group for “Throne of Blood” and the version of “Hamlet” that we would be seeing. ”Throne of Blood” is taken from the film of that name done by Kurasawa; a Japanese vision of “Macbeth”.
On the bus back to San Francisco, the gang stopped to see the sundail bridge. Going, coming, Ashland -enjoyment all around!
Richard conducted a very thorough training of CLIR’s AV equipment Friday. Had a workshop of ten participants and a visitor from Manhattan who’s thinking of moving to our area. We all told her we thought it’d be a good move. Especially now that she’s trained on using CLIR’s AV offerings!
I joined CLIR in 2003 and can’t imagine being without it.
I attend classes and/or activities 3 or 4 days each week.
Important among them have been Current Affairs, Art Workshop, Walk for Health, Dining & Discussion, Memoir Writing, Zany San Francisco History, Vicarious Traveler, and I could go on and on.
Where else can you learn in the company of fun, interesting people while contributing your own personal or professional skills in the mix? It’s the fact that our members run the programs that makes CLIR so attractive to Bay Area retirees.
CLIR offers to me an unusual broad & balanced program, covering many things that I have been curious about. allowing me to stumble on the answers with no effort, in the most enjoyable way, with the best of company! Lecturers that really talk to me, making a remote topic absolutely fascinating, then motivating me to see plays, concerts,unique art galleries, movies & dine outs in the delightful copy of other members. Best of all I enjoy sharing our perception of the news today. Somehow it is my selected extended family… I kinda care about everyone! Once you try it, then you will understand!
CLIR has met my expectations by providing many diverse activities and events to attend. I actually enjoy going to meetings and serving on the Council. I would like to see more Republicans and less Democrats in Current Affairs! I would like to have bridge and exercise added to the Curriculum.