Institute for Learning In Retirement

Welcome to the Institute for Learning in Retirement

Our goal is simple: create opportunities for retired professionals to share their knowledge and skills. Learning is lifelong, and we offer active learning and connections with like-minded peers.

An opportunity to enjoy active learning while meeting wonderful new people of similar
age and with varied interests.
No long-term commitments; study groups meet once a week during the
day, for either four or eight weeks.
Lectures – presented by experts with various backgrounds.

Additional benefits: attendance at college events, special tours and workshops.

Seasonal Events & Day Trips

Retired Professional Auditing

Daily Meditations: Wisdom in Stillness

A Morning Journey to Gratitude & Clarity

Join us Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:45 AM to 9:00 AM as we embark on a journey towards greater well-being.

Mental Clarity: sharpens focus and cognitive function.
Stress Reduction: promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety.
Emotional Wellness: fosters emotional resilience.
Physical Health: improved sleep, lower blood pressure, and enhanced immune function.

Learn how to Register Here!

Annual Yearly Membership

Registration Procedure: Registration for Study Groups and Lectures is on a first-come, first-served basis. All ILR activities are open to members only unless otherwise noted and are subjected to availability and change.

Fascinating Study Groups led by knowledgeable facilitators where you can explore various subjects and delve into meaningful discussions with fellow members.
Inspiring Guest Lectures by esteemed experts from diverse fields, providing insights and perspectives on a wide range of topics.
Organized Day Trips to local attractions, museums, and cultural events, giving you the chance to expand your horizons and enjoy the company of fellow learners.
Engaging On-Campus Events that foster connections, friendships, and an environment of continuous growth and intellectual stimulation.

Click Here to Pay Annual Membership

Seasonal Hikes

Fall Community Hikes

Experience a moderately easy hike through a local state park, featuring landscapes and a refreshing lunch break. Enjoy nature, connect with fellow hikers, and finish strong on this invigorating outdoor adventure.

Leader: Brenda Yudin
2024 Sessions Fees: Free
Location: Local State Park
Time: TBD

Please complete registration by clicking this link

Sessions/Dates: Thursday, 9/26 & Tuesday, 10/15

This event is complimentary, but we kindly request registration to ensure an accurate attendee count. Please be advised that all trips are undertaken at your own leisure. Farmingdale state college assumes no responsibility for any incidents or accidents that may occur on these trips. It is important to note that for certain destinations, a waiver may be required to be signed by participants. Your safety and well-being are paramount, so please exercise caution and adhere to any guidelines or requirements provided by the college and the visited locations.

Workshops

Watercolor

Watercolor Painting workshop designed for artists of all levels. This is an open space for artists to paint freely without the structure of a guided class. This session encourages artistic freedom, allowing you to explore your own unique style and ideas at your own pace. Connect with fellow members, share techniques, and collaborate in a relaxed environment. Participants are encouraged to bring their own supplies for this session. Each week as a group you will decide on a topic are create your own watercolor art!

Leader: Shirley Ruby
2024 Sessions Fees: $25 for 4 sessions

Dates: 9/4, 9/11, 9/18 & 9/25
Location: Gleeson L108
Time: 9 AM - 11 AM

Please Complete Registration by Clicking this Link

Study Groups

ON CAMPUS

MONDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

FRIDAYS

FALL 2024

History

Contemporary Literature

Current Issues Forum

FALL 2024

Business of Sports

Introduction to Spanish

Movie Review

Mondays:

History

Explore the lives of three influential figures in New York's history: Herkimer, Lincoln and La Guardia. This course delves into their biographies, uncovering the remarkable contributions and legacies they left behind. Discover the stories of these heroes in depth and gain a richer understanding of their impact on New York and beyond!

Leader: Dr. Daniel Marrone
2024 Sessions Fees: $25 for 4 weeks

Fall Session 1: 9/30, 10/7, 10/21, 10/28

Location: TBD
Time: Mondays 10 AM - 12 PM

Sessions/Dates:

Fall: Session 1 Topics:

Each session of 4 sessions will cover two chapters of the book, New York Heroes: Herkimer, Lincoln, TR, & La Guardia (Halo Publishing International, 2014). Note: This 2014 book was mentioned, but not used in his fall 2023 course. The proposed fall 2024 course will cover in-depth eight biographies as follows:

History of "Herkimer/Greene, Lincoln/TR, Barringer/La Guardia, and Dewey/Koch."

9/30/2024: American Revolutionary War generals, Nicholas Herkimer, who was the "Savior of the Mohawk Valley, New York;" and Rhode Islander Nathanael Greene, who was the "Savior of the South."

10/7/2024: Abraham Lincoln's speeches on 6/16/1858, 2/27/1860, 3/4/1861, 11/19/1863, and 3/4/1865; and Theodore Roosevelt and His Family on Long Island.

10/14/2024: Columbus Day, no class.

10/21/2024: Dr. Emily Dunning Barringer, 1st NYS Licensed Surgeon; and Fiorello H. La Guardia, "Highest Rated Big-City Mayor in History."

10/28/2024: Governor Thomas E. Dewey, who sacrificed the U.S. presidency to launch SUNY; and "How'm I doin'" NYC Mayor Edward I. Koch.

Please complete registration by clicking this link

Business of Sports

Explore the financial dynamics of professional sports, covering collective bargaining agreements, salary caps, WNBA salaries, sports gambling, and revenue streams. Understand how these elements shape team management and athlete compensation, and examine the industry's economic challenges and opportunities.

Leader: Dr. Ira Stolzenberg
2024 Sessions Fees: $25 for 4 weeks.
Location: Campus Center Meeting Room B
Time: Mondays 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Sessions/Dates:

Fall: 9/30, 10/7, 10/21 & 10/28

Please complete registration by clicking this link

Wednesdays:

Contemporary Literature

Join our monthly group to dive into engaging books together. Explore diverse genres, share insights, and enjoy lively discussions in a welcoming environment. Perfect for book lovers seeking connection and thoughtful conversation.

Leader: Susan Blaeser
2024 Sessions Fees: $25 for 5 weeks.
Location: Whitman Hall 111
Time: Wednesdays 12:15 PM - 2:30 PM

Sessions/Dates:

Fall: 9/11, 10/23, 11/13, 12/11 & 1/8

September 11 The Engineer's Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood

October 23 Hang the Moon by Jeanette Walls

November 13 The Bird Hotel by Joyce Maynard

December 11 The Twenty: One Woman's Trek Across Corsica on the GR20 Trail by Maryanne C. Bohr

January 8 The Tender Bar: A Memoir by J.R. Moehringer

Please complete registration by clicking this link

Introduction to Spanish

Leader: Profesora Shari O'Flanagan
2024 Sessions Fees: $55 for 10 weeks
Location: Lupton T101
Time: Wednesdays 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

¡Hola Estudiantes! This Spanish Culture and Conversation course is designed for beginning students who have studied Spanish and need an in depth review, and for those who want to learn Spanish before traveling to a Spanish-speaking country. Students will learn new vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, fun facts and basic verb conjugations in the present, past and future tenses. We will listen to Spanish songs, describe famous paintings, explore various places virtually and create simple, practical dialogue's all while covering a wide variety of topics and improving our communication skills in a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere. ¡Vámonos!

Sessions/Dates:

Fall: 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13 & 11/20

Winter: 12/4, 12/11, 12/18, 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5

Please complete registration by clicking this link

Fridays:

Current Issues Forum

Each week for the first hour the class we will set an agenda and exchange ideas concerning local, national, and global issues. During the second hour the focus is on one or more larger national issues; in an effort to identify problems, generate solutions, and hopefully, clarify your position.

Leader: Chet Gerstenbluth
2024 Sessions Fees: $55 for 10 weeks
Location: Gleeson Hall 129
Time: Fridays 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Sessions/Dates:

Fall: 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/8, 11/15, 11/22, 11/29

Winter: 12/6, 12/13, 12/20, 1/3, 1/10, 1/17, 1/24, 1/31, 2/7, 2/14, 2/21

Please complete registration by clicking this link

Discussion and participation are strictly voluntary. Members are encouraged to bring in most current news articles and current events are generally provided by Chet our Study Group Leader.

Movie Review

This fall we will be presenting 8 films and following each with a lively discussion. The movies are from a variety of genres and were released between 1944 to 2017.

Leader: Larry Blaeser
2024 Sessions Fees: $50 for 8 weeks
Location: Gleeson Hall 125
Time: Fridays 12:45 PM - 3:15 PM

Sessions/Dates:

Fall: 9/13, 9/20, 9/27, 10/18, 10/25, 11/1, 11/15, 11/22

9/13/2024 Days of Heaven (Rating PG) 1978, 1h 34m, Drama, Romance
A hot-tempered farm laborer convinces the woman he loves to marry their rich but dying boss so that they can have a claim to his fortune.

9/20/2024 Chinatown (Rating R) 1974, 2h 10m, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
A private detective hired to expose an adulterer in 1930s Los Angeles finds himself caught up in a web of deceit, corruption, and murder.

9/27/2024 American Fiction (Rating R) 2023, 1h 57m, Comedy, Drama
A novelist who's fed up with the establishment profiting from Black entertainment uses a pen name to write a book that propels him into the heart of the hypocrisy and madness he claims to disdain.

10/18/2024 12 Angry Men (Rating Approved) 1957 , 1h 36m, Crime, Drama
The jury in a New York City murder trial is frustrated by a single member whose skeptical caution forces them to more carefully consider the evidence before jumping to a hasty verdict.

10/25/2024 The Holdovers (Rating R) 2023, 2h 13m, Comedy, Drama
A cranky history teacher at a prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a grieving cook and a troubled student who has no place to go.

11/1/2024 The Maltese Falcon (Rating Approved) 1941, 1h 40m, Crime, Film-Noir, Mystery
San Francisco private detective Sam Spade takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statuette, with the stakes rising after his partner is murdered.

11/15/2024 Brooklyn (Rating PG-13) 2015, 1h 57m, Drama, Romance
An Irish immigrant lands in 1950s Brooklyn, where she quickly falls into a romance with a local. When her past catches up with her, however, she must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.

11/22/2024 Hannah and Her Sisters (Rating PG-13) 1986, 1h 47m, Comedy, Drama
Between two Thanksgivings two years apart, Hannah's husband falls in love with her sister Lee, while her hypochondriac ex-husband rekindles his relationship with her sister Holly.

Please complete registration by clicking this link

The Culinary Blueprint

Leaders: Jennifer Singh & Executive Chef Gregory J. Dalton
2024 Sessions Fees: $25 for 4 weeks
Location: TBD
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM

Ideal for culinary enthusiasts, the study group will offer a blend of creativity and practical knowledge. Embark on this flavorful journey with us. This series will emphasize:

Global Fall Cuisines: Cultural Lesson & Preparations
Comfort Food Classics: Chili and Soups Preparations & History
Thanksgiving Preparations: Tips & Recipes

Quick Nutritious Recipes: delicious and time efficient with seasonal ingredients

Sessions/Dates:

Fall: 11/22, 12/6, 12/13, 12/20

Please complete registration by clicking this link

Please note that additional fees may be incurred for materials, auditing, books, study groups, organized trips and lectures. The membership fee covers an annual access fee, granting you entry to all offerings available through Farmingdale State College and the Institute for Learning in Retirement.

For more details, be sure to check out our Events and Tours for the upcoming term.

In addition to classes, we offer exciting day trips, lectures, and more. If you're interested in contributing, consider becoming a volunteer study group leader for our fall 2023/24 semesters. Share your ideas via email! Join us at the Institute for Learning in Retirement Program at Farmingdale State College and embark on a journey of continued growth and enrichment. Join our emailing list today to learn more about this incredible opportunity for lifelong learners like you!

Volunteer Opportunities - Join Our Team!

ILR thrives on the enthusiasm and commitment of our members, and we are actively seeking volunteers to contribute their time and expertise to our vibrant community. If you have a passion for a particular subject and would like to lead a study group or contribute in any other capacity, we warmly encourage you to step forward and be part of our dedicated team.

Help Us Grow and Build Our Program

We are committed to enhancing the ILR experience and creating an inclusive, dynamic learning environment for all. As we embark on this journey together, your ideas, suggestions, and feedback are invaluable in shaping our program and ensuring its success. We welcome your input on new course ideas, potential guest speakers, and any other initiatives that could enrich the ILR community.

Together, we look forward to a remarkable semester of growth, knowledge-sharing, and meaningful connections.

Institute for Learning in Retirement Events

There are no upcoming Institute for Learning in Retirement events at this time. Check back soon for upcoming events.

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