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ESCOM offers Clubs for older adults and everyone else, cultivating shared interests and lifelong learning.  With a broad range of topics and activities for seniors and others, they ease the isolation by connecting people in many stages of life, including retirees, students, and working adults.

Club FAQs

CLUB LISTINGS:

Printable Club List
Artificial Intelligence Club (Kentfield/Online)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CLUB

Kentfield ESCOM Center & Online Hybrid: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

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

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

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

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

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

The ESCOM Astronomy Club is engaged in learning and discussing about the (non-mathematical) current knowledge of the structure of the universe and its components. This includes the different kinds and lives of stars, planets and planetary systems, asteroids and comets, galaxies and galaxy clusters, to name a few.  

In addition, we follow the contemporary discoveries of numerous active spacecraft and earth based and space-based telescopes which use the range of the electro-magnetic spectrum.  We learn and discuss about the hunt for exo-planets and the conditions for and against the possibility of life existing elsewhere, black holes, white dwarfs, neutron stars, dark matter and dark energy, the expansion of the universe, the cycles of our Sun and how life on Earth might be affected.  

Our format is roughly an hour of discussion and presentations of book reviews, contemporary space exploration events, and what to look for in the current night sky.  This is followed by a lecture from the Great Courses Series titled “A Visual Guide to the Universe“, after which we discuss the material covered and any contemporary discoveries that provide insights to the lecture.

For more information, contact:

Chess Club (Kentfield)

CHESS CLUB

Kentfield ESCOM Center: Every Friday, 2:00 pm

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 & Issues Club (Online)

CURRENT EVENTS & ISSUES CLUB

Online/ZOOM: 2nd & 4th Thursday 10:00 am – noon
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 (Outdoors & Novato)

DIGITAL CAMERA CLUB

Field Outing: 1st Monday

Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center: 3rd Monday 10:30 am- 12:30 pm

NOTE: Occasionally dates differ from the above. Check Upcoming Schedule below.

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! 

Upcoming Schedule

For more information contact:

Forum Book Club (Novato)

FORUM BOOK CLUB

Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center: 4th Monday 2:00 – 3:30 pm (next meeting: November 24).
Note: In December we will meet on the 15th (the 3rd Monday) to avoid conflict with Holiday plans.

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:

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Great Courses Club (Online)

GREAT COURSES CLUB

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

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: ‘Books that Have Made History: Books that Can Change Your Life’, a course consisting of 36 thirty-minute lectures by Professor J. Rufus Fears, who was the David Ross Boyd Professor of Classics at the University of Oklahoma.

For more information & Zoom link contact:

Investment Club (Novato)

INVESTMENT CLUB

Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center & Online Hybrid: 1st & 3rd Wednesday, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm 

ESCOM Investment Club: Learn basic investment concepts and tools in a safe environment. Work with beginning and advanced on alternate days, build a virtual portfolios, try out strategies.

For more information & Zoom link contact:

Mah Jong Club (Novato)

MAH JONG CLUB

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

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:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mahjong_eg_USA_A.jpg
Marin County Book Club (Online)

MARIN COUNTY BOOK CLUB

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

Upcoming Books:

  • SEPTEMBER 23: “PASTORAL SYMPHONY”, Novella, by ANDRE GIDE. No decision yet re the publication Julio and I will use. There may be a few online versions available: e.g., Internet Archive.

For more information & Zoom link contact: 

Mindfulness Meditation Club (Novato/Online & 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:
Zoom Link
2nd & 4th Tuesday:

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 fully present for positive ones, while embracing the impermanence of both. Our emphasis is on mindfulness of the body, which many consider the most important form of practice.

Our time together includes guided and silent meditations, gentle movement, and group discussion to share skills and grow as a community.  We do our best to support one another in developing healthier habits, fostering compassionate acceptance of reality and meeting life with greater clarity, gratitude, generosity, and skill.

For more information, contact:

Opera & Beyond Club (Online)

OPERA & BEYOND CLUB

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

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/Online)

SILENT SITTING CLUB

Novato (IVC) ESCOM Center: 2nd Saturday, 10:00 am -12:00 pm

Next Meeting: Saturday November 8

A time to sit silently in community, for quiet meditation and contemplation. Each session will include a brief talk and some gentle movement to cultivate a serene, supportive environment.

For more information, contact:

Spanish Club (Online)

SPANISH CLUB

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

We practice intermediate level conversation in Spanish on various topics.

For more information, contact:

The Play Reading Club (Kentfield/Online)

THE PLAY READING CLUB

Kentfield ESCOM Center & Online Hybrid: 2nd Tuesday, 1:00 pm – 2:30 (or 3:00) pm

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

Online/ZOOM: 2nd & 4th Friday, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

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

Online/ZOOM: 1st Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00 pm 

Upcoming books:

Nov. 5th  “The Tumbling Girl” by Bridget Walsh presented by Barbara

Dec. 3rd  “She Came Back”  by Patricia Wentworth presented by Diana (Cheap at ABE Books)

Jan. 7th    Meeting to select books for 2026

For more information and zoom link, contact:

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

“WHO DONE IT?” BOOK CLUB

ONLINE/ZOOM: 3rd Wednesday, 1:00 – 3:00 pm

Upcoming books:

  • Nov. 19th   “In the Woods” by Tana French (presented by Deborah)

For more information and Zoom link, contact:

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