This membership entitles you to enroll in any class or activity during the Summer Term. There are three 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. 

GLI Full Year Annual Membership

This membership is valid for a full twelve months and replaces the need to sign up for membership each term.  It may be renewed during the next GLI Summer Term registration period.

Membership in Gold LEAF or another Maine senior college is required to participate in Gold LEAF classes. Membership in Gold LEAF also allows you to take courses in any other Maine senior college.

June 1, 2023 – June 1, 2024

Cost:  $34

In-Person

This course is an extension of the winter class Beth taught, and can also be taken as a stand-alone series. We will cover how plant-based food is a powerful preventative for overweight, obesity, Alzheimer's Disease, and growing a strong gut microbiome. We'll discuss how to "eat your way to a healthy weight," how best to feed your brain to avoid dementia, and which foods are best at feeding the "good guys" in your gut while starving out the "bad guys." Your gut microbiome is the gateway to your immune system, so this is an extremely important topic in light of our global experience over the last few years. Classes will include discussion, short video segments, cooking demonstrations with heavy sampling, and a documentary screening.

$10 per attendee to cover recipe ingredients for the 4 classes that include cooking demos and heavy sampling. 

11 am-1 pm

June 14, 21, 28, 2023

July 5, 2023

Education Center Center 114

Beth ate everything until she experienced serious health issues. She read everything she could get her hands on and successfully reversed her painful conditions in a matter of months by switching to a plant-based diet over 12 years ago. Beth was amazed at how rapidly "food as medicine" worked and became passionate about sharing this information with others. She collected numerous certifications from various experts in the field: Certified in Plant-Based Nutrition (Dr. T. Colin Campbell's course through e-Cornell), Food For Life certification (through Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine), Food Over Medicine and Diet & Lifestyle Intervention certifications (through Pam Popper's Wellness Forum Health), Starch Solution instructor certification (through Dr. John McDougall's program), plus numerous live and online courses and conferences across the country. The plant-based community is everywhere and quite generous in sharing what works. It's the food!

In-Person

As most of us know, Western Maine has a lot to offer outdoor enthusiasts in all four seasons. This Gold LEAF opportunity joins the paddling trips, light hikes, walks, and snowshoes of past offerings into one package geared to take advantage of local resources. We are organizing an activity each month of each term based on seasonal conditions. For this term, we will focus on water with paddling opportunities in Western Maine for beginner to moderate paddling abilities. Participants should have access to canoes or kayaks, paddles, and personal floatation devices (although equipment can be rented through UMF’s Mainely Outdoors Program). We will be keeping a close eye on the weather before each event and keep participants posted about changes and “Plan-B’s” Our goal is to be safe, have fun, and get outside!

Summer paddles* are tentatively set for: 10 am-12 pm

June 22 -  Taylor Pond/Hopkins Stream

July 20 -   Parker Pond (with lunch?)

Aug 24 -   Flying Pond

Sept. 21 - Belgrade Lakes Mystery Destination (with lunch?)

*All paddles are subject to change or postponement due to weather. 

Barb Toner will alert participants to the meeting place.

Barbara Toner and Sarah Carlson are mostly retired teachers who simply enjoy being outside and staying active. They choose hikes or paddles they think everyone will enjoy in order to explore different recreational sites around Franklin and neighboring counties.

In-Person & Online

Humor is one of the most essential qualities of human life. In this presentation, Humor Educator and Tremoring Trickster, Deb Bomaster will enlighten you with L.A.U.G.H.T.E.R ., increase your Happy Hormones and Vitamin H. Laughter therapy is a noninvasive and non-pharmacological alternative treatment for stress and depression. Come get your dopamine fix! James Bond's famous catchphrase "shaken, not stirred" may have stemmed from his inability to stir his drinks due to an alcohol-induced tremor affecting his hands. (Alcohol is not Deb's cause)

June 30, 2023

1 pm - 2:30 pm

North Dining Hall, East End.

Deb Bomaster, Humor Educator (Tremoring Trickster) founded her own company in 1995, PlayWorks to help businesses, groups, and individuals Lighten UP and Laugh! Deb wrote her graduate thesis titled, "Can Play Work?" Retired from the work world, relocated back to Central Maine, and determined to redesign her progressive neurological disease. Come get your dopamine Fix!

In-person

Participants will meet about 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 at 11:30

July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5

Patricia Overall has been a member of Gold LEAF 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 working as a bartender. She has lived in 18 states and obviously enjoys eating out.

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 prior to each meeting, and topics to discuss are selected by the group at the beginning of each meeting.

Paul Mullin is the facilitator for this discussion group.

July 7, 21

August 4, 18

September 1, 15

October 6 

ONLINE

Please join us for a monthly Zoom get-together for coffee, conversation, and crafts.  Settle in with your favorite craft, bring your coffee, tea, or beverage, and visit with Gold LEAF friends.  Crafts are not essential, and guys are welcome! The goal is to get together and spend an hour or more talking with friends.

2nd Monday of the month, 10 a.m.

July 10, 2023

August 14, 2023

September 11, 2023

October 9, 2023