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ESCOM Clubs are designed by and for older adults, but everyone is welcome! Free to ESCOM members, our clubs bring people together around shared interests for intellectual, creative and spiritual engagement.

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CLUB LISTINGS:

Printable Club List
Artificial Intelligence Club (Kentfield/Online)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CLUB

1st Tuesday 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Kentfield ESCOM Center & Online Hybrid

Learn AI concepts and practice online with ChatGPT. Members use own laptops or share ESCOM PCs.

For more information & Zoom link, contact:

Arlene Stark Philosophy of Science Club (Online)

ARLENE STARK PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE CLUB

1st, 3rd & 5th Monday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Online/ZOOM

This club is named in honor of its late founder, Arlene Stark. Discussions and programs focus on Science and Philosophy.

The club is presently engaged in the Great Courses “Law School for Everyone”, a 48 lecture series. All lectures are, of course, connected, but can be absorbed at any time, since each is a stand-alone exposition of one aspect of legal practice.

For more information & Zoom link, contact:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22The_School_of_Athens%22_by_Raffaello_Sanzio_da_Urbino.jpg
Astronomy Club (Novato)

ASTRONOMY CLUB

2nd Monday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center

The ESCOM Astronomy Club is devoted to a non-technical approach to the current understanding of the Universe, its structure and its many components. This includes learning about our Sun and the planets in our solar system, comets, the nature of stars and star clusters and the types of galaxies.  We also spend time learning about the ongoing scientific explorations into such topics as black holes, dark matter and dark energy, the expansion of the Universe and the search for extraterrestrial life. In addition, we try to follow the contemporary discoveries of both earth and space-based telescopes.

An important part of each month’s meeting is to inform ourselves of what’s up in the night sky of that particular month: the planets, stars, constellations and other telescopic objects (star clusters and nebulae).  Periodically we will plan night outings to observe the night sky at a dark location, using binoculars and small telescopes.

The typical format of our meetings will be a combination of formal presentation along with some hands-on activities and discussion.  Occasionally we will use professionally-made videos to illuminate a particular topic and follow those with discussion.  In addition, there are a few of our members who have personal expertise in astronomical topics who will make presentations.

We welcome participation by anyone who has an interest in astronomy, regardless of personal experience or expertise.

For more information, contact:

Book Forum Club (Novato)

BOOK FORUM CLUB

4th Monday 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center

Recent books read & discussed have included: ‘How the Light Gets In’ by Joyce Maynard, ‘There Are Rivers in the Sky’ by Elif Shafak, and ‘Look for Me There’ by Luke Russert. Contact Shirley to learn about current and upcoming books.

For information, contact:

StockCake-Cozy Library Gathering_1752287882.jpeg
Caregivers Club (Online)

CAREGIVERS CLUB

Online/Zoom
2nd Wednesday 1:00 – 3:00 pm

We share what has worked, how we stay on an even keel, and tricks for keeping our sense of humor. We discuss sharing tasks, experiences with family, and sources of help. We can also just bitch, moan and laugh at what our lives have become. The main idea is that sharing a load makes it easier to bear burdens, support our loved ones, and live meaningfully.

For information, contact:

Chess Club (Kentfield)

CHESS CLUB

Every Friday 2:00 pm
Kentfield ESCOM Center

We welcome anyone who knows how to move chess pieces and understands the basic principles. If you haven’t played in a long time, we recommend playing 10 to 20 games as a beginner on chess.com or on lichess.org as a refresher. Getting better is a slow process that takes a fair amount of studying, playing puzzles, playing games, and getting used to losing.

Usually, but not always, we play with a clock. For instance, we play “Rapid” games of 25 minutes with a 15 second increment for each player. (Here is a link with an explanation of increments: Time Controls.)

Some club members play only for enjoyment and aren’t bothered if they lose a lot; others enjoy the game but are also quite competitive.

For more information, contact:

https://pixabay.com/photos/chess-pieces-chess-chess-game-343919/
Current Events and Issues Club (Online)

CURRENT EVENTS & ISSUES CLUB

2nd & 4th Thursday 10:00 am – noon
Online/ZOOM
Zoom Link

Before the meeting begins each month, we each have time to turn to our morning news source of choice for a nugget of news or concern we can present for the consideration of our assembled fellows. We welcome all fresh, new, informed opinions, civilly presented and argued.

For more information, contact: 

https://pixabay.com/photos/newspaper-paper-newsprint-943004/
Digital Camera Club (Novato and Outdoors)

DIGITAL CAMERA CLUB

1st & 3rd Mondays

NOTE: Meeting days can vary. Check schedule below to confirm.

1st Monday:
Field Outing (check schedule below for info)
3rd Monday 10:30 am- 12:30 pm:
Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center

Open to anyone who would like to expand their photographic capabilities by learning from others on how to capture images. Join our group on the first Monday of each month to discover unique and unexpected locations, capture amazing photographs; then share your experiences during our 3rd Monday meetings at the IVC ESCOM Center!

 During our meetings we showcase photos on a shared monthly shooting theme, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. We’d love to have you with us! 

Digital Photography Club Schedule

For more information contact:

Ecoutearth Club (Novato and Outdoors)

ECOUTEARTH CLUB

2nd Sunday (usually) 3:00 – 5:00 pm
Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center & elsewhere

Email Karina for updates on dates/locations.

Next meeting: Sunday May 17.

Ecoutearth is a practice of mindfulness, ecotherapy, and expressive arts.

When we add ecopsychology to mindfulness it becomes a practice of noticing our own experience as well as the experience of the environment around us. When we add expressive arts it brings in a new way of relating by studying and becoming present through experiential action.

Ecoutearth is about spending time in nature and taking time to listen with all of your senses to what is around you. Listen with your heart, your ears, your eyes, your toes and feet, your nose. Listen with your whole being. In this way we invite you to join in slowing down and listening to the earth, to ourselves in the earth, on the earth and with the earth.

We give the instructions, and let people go out and explore. Then we come together to share our expressions.

For more information contact:

  • Karina Colliat
    • email: spiritedpaintbrush@gmail.com
Fun with Games Club (Novato)

FUN WITH GAMES CLUB

2nd & 4th Wednesdays 1:00 – 3:00 pm 
Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center

Games such as Scrabble, RummiKube, Mexican Train (Dominoes), and card games! 

We encourage fun and participation. Game rules are followed, but there may be some ’wiggle-room’ (so keep your rule-books at home)!

For more information, contact:

Great Courses Club (Online)

GREAT COURSES CLUB

Every Thursday 1:30 – 3:00 pm 
Online/ZOOM

Our meetings are fun and filled with lively discussions. You can ‘drop in’ and join us for these sessions.

We are currently watching a wonderful video series: ‘Museum Masterpieces–The Louvre”.

For more information & Zoom link contact:

NOTE:

Mah Jong Club (Novato)

MAH JONG CLUB

2nd & 4th Tuesday 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center

This club was formed to teach people how to play Mah Jong and to offer a venue for experienced players to meet.

This is not a club where you can ‘drop in’ with the expectation that you can join a game. Please be sure to contact the club leaders, so they can plan on the number of people, including who needs lessons and who just wants to play.

To arrange attendance and get more information, contact:

Marin County Book Club (Online)

MARIN COUNTY BOOK CLUB

4th Tuesday 2:00 – 3:30 pm
Online/ZOOM

We focus on fairly short pieces of fiction, often well-known, sometimes classical books, plays, essays, poems, etc.

  • APRIL 28- JEAN-BAPTISTE RACINE play, “PHAEDRA”, available online via Gutenberg Project.
  • MAY 26- T.S. ELIOT, poem, “THE WASTE LAND”, available online (e.g. Poetry Foundation).

For more information & Zoom link contact: 

Mindfulness Meditation Club (Novato/Online and Kentfield)

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION CLUB

NOTE: We meet every Tuesday, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, alternating between Novato/Online and Kentfield, per the schedule below.

1st, 3rd & 5th Tuesday

Hybrid in-person/online:

Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center
Online/ZOOM (Zoom Link)
2nd & 4th Tuesday
Kentfield ESCOM Center

This club brings folks together to learn and practice mindfulness. Whether we’re just beginning or have meditated for years, we practice to settle more fully into our bodies and our lives. We build capacity to remain balanced during negative experiences and stay fully present for positive ones, while embracing the impermanence of both.

Sessions begin with optional check-in around our practice of mindfulness in daily life, often with emphasis on the challenges of aging. We then take a mindful movement break with gentle instruction. A half-hour or so of mindfulness meditation follows, usually with verbal guidance. We close with a brief group discussion.

For more information, contact:

Opera and Beyond Club (Online)

OPERA & BEYOND CLUB

2nd Tuesday, 1:00- 4:00 pm
Online/ZOOM

We view complete opera videos, shown with English Subtitles. Recent operas have included:
Die Fledermaus, by Johann Strauss II; La Boheme, by Giacomo Puccini; Rigoletto, by Giuseppe Verdi.

For more information and Zoom link, contact:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giovanni_Paolo_Pannini_-_Fête_musicale_-_1747.jpg
Silent Sitting Club (Novato)

SILENT SITTING CLUB

One Saturday/month, 10:00 am -12:00 pm
Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center
Check here or contact Will for upcoming meeting dates.
Next Meeting: Saturday May 2

This club offers a time to sit silently in community, for quiet meditation and contemplation. Each session includes a brief talk about options for meditation practice. We then sit in silence for two forty minute sessions, with a break and an optional gentle movement practice in between. We aim to cultivate a serene, supportive, communal environment.

For more information, contact:

Spanish Club (Online)

SPANISH CLUB

Every Friday 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Online/ZOOM

We practice intermediate level conversation in Spanish on various topics.

For more information, contact:

Spirituality of Aging Club (Novato/Online)

SPIRITUALITY OF AGING CLUB

2nd & 4th Thursday, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Hybrid in-person/online:

We meet for mutual support, as we contemplate the GIFTS of aging. For instance, how growing older encourages letting go, acceptance, strength of heart, a sense of humor, supporting younger generations, exploring new interests, finding meaning, making peace with mortality, etc, etc.

For more information & Zoom link, contact:

The Play Reading Club (Kentfield/Online)

THE PLAY READING CLUB

2nd Tuesday, 1:00 pm – 2:30 (or 3:00) pm

Hybrid in-person/online:

We read aloud and discuss short and full-length plays, both serious dramas and comedies.  Gary sends copies of the plays as attachments, and John assigns roles.  Plays enjoyed include works by Neil Simon, Lynn Nottage, Albee, Miller, Sarah Ruhl, and Tennessee Williams. 

For more information & Zoom link, contact:

The Ur Discussion Club (Online)

THE Ur DISCUSSION CLUB

2nd & 4th Friday, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Online/ZOOM (contact Jay for link)

Ur is a prefix, meaning primitive, original, earliest – as in Ur-text, Ur-language, or Pilsener Urquell, the source. It can also be an abbreviation for Ultimate Reality.

We are presently working our way through 24 Great Courses lectures on Frederick Neitzsche. The series can be joined at any time. 

Come see! Join us anytime!

For more information and Zoom link, contact:

Wednesday Detection Club (Online)

WEDNESDAY DETECTION CLUB

1st Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00 pm 
Online/ZOOM (contact Diana for link)

The Wednesday Detection Book Club usually picks books for the year in January–usually cozies but a few darker books also sneak in. The person who chooses the book also presents a bio of the author.

Upcoming books:

  • May 6th: “Naked Once More” by Elizabeth Peters presented by Dori
  • June 3rd: “What the Dead Leave Behind” by Rosemary Simpson presented by Rita
  • July 1st: “Curious Beginning” by  Deanna Raybourn presented by Barbara
  • Aug. 5th: “Nobody’s Perfect” by Douglas Clark presented by Jackie
  • Sept. 2nd: “Mrs. Pargeter’s Prejudices” by Simon Brett presented by Dori
  • Oct. 7th: “A Lover Too Many” by Roy Lewis presented by Diana
  • Nov. 4th: “Deception by Gaslight” by Kate Belli presented by Barbara
  • Dec. 2: “The Christmas Appeal” by Janice Holletts presented by Jackie
  • Jan. 6th: Book Selection Meeting for 2027

For more information and zoom link, contact:

https://www.wannapik.com/vectors/5501
Who Done It? Book Club (Online)

“WHO DONE IT?” BOOK CLUB

3rd Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Online/Zoom (contact Diana for link)

Club members receive an email notice the Thursday before and a Zoom invitation the day before each Meeting.

In the “Who Done It?” club we choose books in January.  We read anything from police procedurals to cozies with a few thrillers thrown in. The person who chooses the book also presents a bio of the author.

Upcoming books:

  • May 20th  “Vera Wang’s Unsolicited Advice For Murderers” Jesse Q. Sutanto presented by Gail 
  • June 17th  “”Under Lock And Skeleton Key” by Gigi Pandian presented by Jackie
  • July 15th  “The Last House Guest” by Megan Miranda presented by Lynne
  • Aug. 19th  “Heat Lightening” by John Stanford presented by Dori
  • Sept. 16th  “Special Circumstances” by Sheldon Siegel presented by Barbara
  • Oct. 21st  “The Frangipani Tree Murder” by Ovidia Yu presented by Diana
  • Nov. 18th  “Straight” by Dick Francis” presented by Joan
  • Dec. 16th  “A Murder of Crows” by Sarah Yarwood-Lovett presented by Marghie ….be aware there are several books with this title …..be sure of the author!!
  • Jan. 20th Book selection for 2027

For more information and Zoom link, contact:

https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=280217&picture=crime-scene