This membership entitles you to enroll in any class or activity during the Spring Term only. 

There are 3 GLI terms: Summer (June-October), Fall/Winter (October-February), and Spring (February-June).

Membership in GLI or another Maine Senior College is required for registration in any Gold LEAF program offering. 

Online 

This is a discussion group held on the first and third Fridays of each month covering local, national, and world news. The discussion provides an opportunity to share your observations and opinions on the news and to learn from other participants.

Articles of interest are distributed among the group by email in the week before each meeting, and topics to discuss are selected by the group at the beginning of each meeting.

February 21, 2025

March 7, 21, 2025

April 4, 18, 2025

May 2, 16, 2025

June 6, 2025

10 am - 11:30 am

Paul Mullin is the facilitator for this discussion group.

In-Person

4 Sessions

This course is a 4-part series. We will begin with defining the modern digital environment. We will touch on areas such as the swift rise of artificial intelligence in our daily lives, how online services and devices compete for our attention and use, and technology in the workplace. We will end with a discussion on how to better implement our devices and online presence and use patterns in our daily lives.

This course will incorporate many of the points and research done by author and Georgetown professor Cal Newport, as well as others. With a specific focus on his three books, A World Without Email, Slow Productivity, and Digital Minimalism, we will apply Newport's findings and insights to our own smart devices and our digital footprint(s).

Part 1: The Modern Digital Environment. This section will provide an overview/group discussion about the many aspects of our modern digital environment. We will examine where these components show up in our lives, the effects that they can have, and what steps we can take to better understand them.

Part 2: AI Rising. This section will focus primarily on AI's role in the attention economy. We will break down how AI influences ad placement, media feeds, online recommendations, etc. We will also review the ethical questions/concerns surrounding AI, the positive aspects of its use, and how we can choose to best engage with it.

Part 3: Knowledge Work & Pseudo Productivity. In this section, we will examine how the modern digital environment exists within the workplace. We will review the benefits of automation of work tasks, consider the cons of constant connectivity/interaction with colleagues and coworkers, and give specific focus to the "hyperactive hive mind" approach to modern knowledge work concerning digital devices and tools.

Part 4: Digital Minimalism - New Approach. The final part of this course will focus on ways to move forward, adjust, or adapt to our growing digital environments. Using Newport's specific methodologies, we will begin to incorporate healthier, effective ways of both utilizing and disconnecting from our devices and the digital world. Techniques that will be discussed include: 30-day digital decluttering, high-quality leisure activities, consolidating our social/media consumption/use, etc.

Each section of this course is designed to build upon the previous section. Students are encouraged to bring materials for note-taking, ask questions, and participate in large-group discussions.

Part 1: March 4, 2025 

Part 2: March 18, 2025

Part 3: April 15, 2025 

Part 4: April 29, 2025 

10 am -12 pm

Location:  The Landing, Olsen Student Center

Tyler Provencher is the Program Coordinator for Greater Franklin (GF) County Digital Literacy. GF Digital Literacy is a county-wide, grant-funded program providing free digital support, instruction, and guidance to the community. Through partnerships with Spruce Mountain Adult Education and Franklin County Adult Education, as well as collaboration with community agencies (local libraries, Franklin Memorial Hospital, the Healthy Community Coalition, etc.), GF Digital Literacy works to decrease the digital divide between individuals and their devices.

In-person

Participants will meet once a month for lunch at various restaurants in the Farmington area. Reservations will need to be firm one week prior to the date. Participants will order from the standard menu and receive separate checks.

First Thursday of the month

March 6, 2025

April 3, 2025

May 1, 2025

June 5, 2025

11:30 am.

Location: TBD

Patricia Overall has been a member of GLI for three years.  She is a retired high school mathematics teacher, who later worked in hotel management and other occupations, including NACA, now NASA, and as a bartender. She has lived in 18 states and obviously enjoys eating out.

Online 

The Book Discussion Group continues a long Gold LEAF tradition and will meet four times during the Spring Term to discuss works of fiction and non-fiction. Our sessions are open and casual, but also stimulating and informative - we learn from each other. This term, each book has been chosen and will be facilitated by a member of the group.

The group meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

March 11: The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier

April 8: The Weir: A Novel of the Maine Coast by Ruth Moore

May 13: The Mothers by Brit Bennett

June 10: The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

10 am 

Each of the facilitators has participated in this book group previously. Both newcomers and past participants are encouraged to join us for this Spring Term.

In-Person

Each session will involve a walk/hike at one of the several meadows, woodlands, or mountains near Farmington. In general, we will travel between 20 to 30 minutes to the selected spot, ramble a trail for 45 to 90 minutes, and return to start. We will attempt to avoid difficult terrain.

A make-up date will be explored if we encounter inclement weather. Individual emails will note the selected site, a brief description of what to expect, and suggestions of items to bring along.

4 sessions

March 27, 2025,

April 17, 2025,

May 22, 2025,

June 26, 2025

9 am -12 pm

Location:  TBD

Ray has conducted similar trips in past sessions and is an avid hiker & outdoorsman.

In-Person

Twice Sold Tales in Farmington, ME is opening its doors for an open-mic poetry reading that features Gold LEAF members.  Here's a chance to read your own poetry or to bring poems from your favorite poet.  Each reader will be given approximately ten minutes.  Please join us!

May 6, 2025

10:30 am - 12 pm

Location: Twice Sold Tales,  155 Main St, Farmington, ME 04938

Doug Rawlings taught at UMF for 27 years and is a co-founder of Veterans For Peace. Much of his poetry is political in nature and much of it comes from his experience as a soldier and veteran.

In-Person

Loss is entwined with the human condition. We will come together with artifacts of our loved ones and create a keepsake with them. Your creations may be practical or abstract, hand-sewn or glued, so no sewing is needed.

Some artifact examples: Textiles - shirts, hats, ties. Ephemera - photos, letters, papers.Suggested Possibilities: Functional - eyeglass case, fabric belt or scarf, bookmark, toss pillow cover. Non-functional - collage, wall hanging, shadow box. These are suggestions, your ideas are welcome.

Come to class with your artifacts and/or ephemera. In the first session we will discuss options and plan for materials you will need to bring to the remaining sessions for working on your keepsake.

May 14, 21, 28, June 4. 10 am -12 pm

Education Center, room 112

Ann works with textiles to create abstract collages, a love she discovered in recent years after retiring from teaching, both in class and online. She has also dipped into the surprisingly magical art form of watercolor painting.