Spring and summer are the seasons for exercising the body, but one group in Guelph says it’s a great time to exercise the mind, too.
A club for seniors and those interested in life-long learning, the Summer Lectures Club, will host its 2024 lecture season set to run from March to September.
“For the past four years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the club has met virtually over Zoom,” said club spokesperson, Graham Ford. “We are pleased that it is now safe to meet physically once more.”
Summer Lectures Club is a non-profit, independent organization, primarily for seniors, but all are welcome.
The organization has the goal to inspire and inform with lectures on a wide variety of topics given by expert speakers from all walks of life.
There are no educational requirements for those who attend, just a love of learning.
“We are now in our ninth season,” said Ford, who has been a Summer Lectures Club member since it first began.
“Our numbers fluctuate. Last year, we are at about 100 members. We did lose a few people with COVID-19, so of course, we are anxious to bring in new members.”
Lectures will still be live-streamed for those not able to attend in person.
Summer Lectures Club is a member of Third Age Network (TAN).
“Third Age (Network) has traditionally run in the fall and winter, and we have four sessions during that period. But we didn’t really have anything in the summer months. We do have a number of people who find it an interesting thing to do in the summer,” Ford said.
“And we look forward to some very interesting talks.”
During the heart of the pandemic, lectures were delivered online via Zoom webinars.
“In some respects the pandemic was very frustrating, but in others, it provided wonderful learning opportunities because we discovered that you don’t have to have people present to give a talk. We had one from Turkey and several from just about every province in Canada,” Ford said.
“We’ve even had a couple talks from the States as well as one lecturer from Scotland.”
Beginning March 18, the club will meet at Trinity United Church in Guelph for a series of 10 talks in person by University of Waterloo Geology Prof. Emeritus Alan Morgan.
Morgan will share highlights of his professional observations through an adventurous lifetime of geologically centred travels around the world.
This will be followed with a mini-series by international art historian Maria Chester in July and August, who will speak via Zoom from her home in Scotland.
In three lectures, Chester commemorates the life and work of Pablo Picasso 50 years after his death in 1973.
Chester will join the club a second time in September, to recognize the work and controversial career of Howard Carter, discoverer of Tutankhamen’s tomb, 100 years after his great find.
To see the full description of lectures and how to register, visit here. Those interested can also join by attending Trinity United Church between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. on March 18.
All lectures are planned for Monday mornings, with 9 a.m. time for social activity and to enjoy a cup of coffee before talks at 10a.m.
With lectures ranging over a wide variety of subjects, Summer Lectures Club strives to create interesting and stimulating learning experiences for all participants.
Ford said joining the club is a great way for retirees to find and develop new interests and make connections in a relaxed, friendly environment.
“Have a coffee and chat before a lecture. The whole idea is that this is a social event as well,” Ford said. “Anyone can just come out. They are most welcome.”
