Hybrid

Intelligence for the Rest of Us: Hype, Hope, and the Future of AI will focus on and explain the current state of AI, address claims (true or otherwise) made by large tech companies, and how major media outlets report on the technology. We will also explore the reality of using AI technology every day and how it is actually shaping the general public.

Part One will provide an overview of the radical increase in large language model-based AI models, the marketing strategies applied to promote AI products and services, and the future-focused claims made by tech giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and other major players in the AI industry. Finally, we will examine how major news media outlets and platforms have skewed public perception of AI capability and define the current state of AI technology.

Part Two will detail ways in which users can be more aware of AI content, access resources and tools for cutting through the noise of AI news reporting, and garner clarity and reassurance on the probable trajectory of AI, its products, and its uses.

Please note: This presentation will include discussion surrounding political content and misinformation. These topics will only be discussed insofar as they apply to the AI industry.

Dates: August 14 and 28, 2026

Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Location: Education Center, room 112

Tyler Provencher is the Program Coordinator for Greater Franklin Digital Literacy - a free community tech support program across Franklin County. Tyler's background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Anthropology from the University of Maine at Farmington. He has hands-on experience with smartphones, laptops, tablets, and desktop computers, as well as participation in virtual software and hardware events and conferences.

Through his work at Greater Franklin Digital Literacy, Tyler aims to provide practical, actionable, and rational technology education to the broader Franklin County community.

Hybrid

2 sessions

Let’s meet and share tales about our mutual experiences in health care. At our ages, it seems like a prudent thing to do. I have stories to tell (the good, the bad, the amusing) that may also provide some education in how to navigate the health care system. 

Date and Time:

August 17, 1-2:30 pm

August 31, 2026, at 11 am-12:30 pm

Location: Ed Ctr, room 114

John Henkel is a nurse who has been lucky to ride the wave of the nursing revolution from the days of starched nursing caps to color-coded scrubs.

John is eternally grateful for his time as a nurse. He can’t imagine having done anything else. He has worked as a nurse in a variety of roles and locations before ending up in Wilton.  

In-Person

Franklin County Jail currently houses about 30 inmates.  It has several programs to help prevent recidivism and help inmates re-enter society.

Date: August 24, 2026

Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location: Franklin County Jail

Major Hart Daley is the jail administrator.

In-Person

Patagonia encompasses large portions of southern Argentina and Chile and is often identified as a prime location for outdoor enthusiasts.

Earlier this year, Mike Stillman, a Maine State Guide, traveled to Chile, and, while fishing was his primary reason, he planned some extra days to learn more about the area. In doing so, he explored the city of Buenos Aires and smaller communities, sampled foods in many establishments, and talked with many people who live and work there.

Then he went fishing for the next several days before an interesting return trip to Maine. So come, sit back, and enjoy photos and stories of his South American adventure.

Date: September 9, 2026

Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Location: Fusion Center, room 101

Mike began working in Maine at Baxter State Park between his junior and senior years of high school, returning for extended periods over the following years.

After graduating from college, he and his wife settled in Pennsylvania while she completed her education. During that time, they made the decision to move permanently to Maine.

Alongside his work, Mike learned the craft of building bamboo fly rods—a skill he continues to practice today. He also became a licensed Maine State Guide, a role he still holds, and he regularly travels throughout the United States, Canada, and beyond to pursue his passion for fishing.

In-Person

Free

Date: September 16, 2026

Time: 12-2 pm

Location: Kineowatha Park/Barn

A time to get together and socialize with fellow Gold LEAF members.  This will be a potluck lunch at Kineowatha Park in Wilton from 12 noon until 2 PM.  Donations welcomed.

In-person

Explore Mindfulness and Meditation in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh (Plum Village) and how they can help us deal with the challenges in our daily lives and in our world.

This will include how to stop, calm, rest, and heal before speaking or acting when upset - so that our actions can be more helpful in our struggling world.

We will listen to some of Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings and will explore ways to bring them into our daily lives, if that appeals to us.

4 sessions

Dates:

September 22, 29, 2026

October 20, 27, 2026

Time: 1 pm-2:30 pm

Location: Education Center, room 113

Martha (Marty) Soule discovered this practice in 1993 and brought it into her life. It helped support her as she raised her children, worked several jobs, and dealt with her mother's cancer, her father's Alzheimer's, and other challenges.

After Martha went to her first retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh in 2001, she began a community of practice (Peaceful Heart Sangha) which still meets every Monday evening and every Thursday morning. Martha was ordained as a member of the Order of Interbeing in 2009 and became a Dharma Teacher in 2022.