To really be part of the BCLIR community, you can participate in many volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in any of the opportunities listed below, please contact us at bclir@yahoo.com.

Learn, discover, enjoy. Peer-led, peer developed, collaborative learning is the BCLIR experience.

Whether you are a participant in a course, present an idea for future courses, lead or co-lead a course as a coordinator, volunteer on one of our many committees, BCLIR members are enriched by learning, sharing, expanding.

The standing committees of the BCLIR Executive Committee are always looking for new ideas. If you feel that you can contribute to Community, Curriculum, Finance and Administration, Governance, Marketing, Membership, Planning and Development, please let us know.

Speakers’ Bureau
To best get the word out about BCLIR and our lifelong learning community, we are developing a group to speak to organizations, soon-to-be-retired at companies, church and synagogue groups, etc.  You will be trained prior to your first engagement. Our products are our unmatched approach to learning and our well-developed courses.  The BCLIR experience also encompasses learning and sharing with well-informed peers. We hope to bring our message to future participants.

Coordinators for Classes
The very essence of BCLIR is the excellent academic program we offer.  As coordinator, or co-coordinator, you expand your class participation by suggesting a topic, planning a syllabus and encouraging the participation of class members.  The Curriculum Committee is always there to assist.  To find out more about becoming a coordinator, contact Frankie Raben (frankie74@cox.net), Chair, Curriculum Committee.

BCLIR/JWU Classes Enriched by Staff Interest
The coordinator’s role in course development has been greatly enhanced by an offer from Angela Renaud, Dean of Arts and Sciences at Johnson & Wales University.  As planning progressed for BCLIR Fridays at JWU, Dean Renaud spoke to her department chairs about our life long learning program and the collaborative model. Several on her staff were very enthusiastic about our courses, and impressed with the volunteer nature of our curriculum development.

When JWU English Department Chair Donna Thomsen heard that we were considering a literature course on South Asia, she immediately told us of Dr. Saiyeda Khatun, whose doctoral thesis was on this subject.  Coordinators Bette Ann Fessel and Roberta Segal met with Dr. Khatun, a native of Bangladesh, and discussed their plans early in the process of developing their curriculum.  Dr. Khatun’s knowledge of the area as well as literature and films available in English was a valuable resource.  And she was a guest speaker in “Exploring South Asia through Literature and Film.”

In “The Many Faces of Wine,” internationally acclaimed wine expert Ed Korry, Department Chair Food and Beverage at JWU, held a three hour lecture on the history of wine and a wine tasting at JWU’s Harborside campus.  The class was a memorable experience, and broadened our thinking and our knowledge.

As we plan for future courses, we have met with Maureen Farrell, Chair of the Humanities Department which encompasses history, philosophy, foreign language and literature; and David Newman, Chair of the Social Science Department, which covers sociology, psychology, political science and leadership, to explore areas of expertise that might further enrich the BCLIR experience.

In the Social Sciences David mentioned courses such as Political Science, Political Ideologies, Society and Food, Culture in Food, Cultures of Africa and one that crossed a few disciplines, Science & Civilization.

In Humanities, Maureen mentioned a new course, Food, Film and Literature, Multi-Culture History, Visual Literacy, American Government, Customs of other Countries (3rd world). She also said her master thesis was on Heroines in 19th century British Lit and she would be very willing to speak on that.  She also mentioned that one of the professors gives a course in history pertaining to 'roads' or possibly infrastructure from an historical perspective.

For those who might want to coordinate a course for BCLIR, but are hesitant about taking the step, the expertise of academics in a variety of areas is available.  If there is a subject that interests you, you might consider reviewing your concept with an expert in the field. This opens doors for resources and relationships, guest speakers and bibliography.  The coordinator develops and leads the course; the academic input is an invaluable bonus.

Mentoring
BCLIR members are invited to participate in the Friendship Families program serving the international students at Johnson and Wales University.  Volunteers partner with students to help with cultural adjustments and respond to students’ observations and questions about US culture. There is a 3-6 month commitment and meetings could include local outings or holidays as well as informal visits.  If you are interested, you can contact Lindsay Valdivia, JWU coordinator of the program at 401-598-1855.

BCLIR Community Volunteers
A large number of BCLIR members volunteer their time to our community. A sampling of organizations who are the recipients are…

• FISH (Friends in the Service of Humanity), driving those without transportation to doctor’s appointments. There is a mileage reimbursement.

• Meals on Wheels, delivering hot meals to housebound seniors

• Heating Assistance Program, needs volunteers for filing and mailing

• HOSPICE, assisting in end of life situations

• Soup Kitchens, food service for the poor or the homeless

• RI Parent Information Network, peer education/empowerment/support for parents raising children with complex special needs

• Literacy Volunteers, one-on-one tutoring or small class instruction for adult basic literacy, non-English speakers, GED preparation, citizenship preparation, etc.

• Insight, reading for the blind

• Docent at the RISD Museum, at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, etc.

• Olalady2, volunteer guardians for elderly nursing home residents who have no family

• VIPS (Volunteers in Providence Schools)

• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for Family Court

If you are interested in being part of a BCLIR group that volunteers occasionally for this type of community service, please e-mail your interest to bclir@yahoo.com with “Attention: Community Committee” in the subject field.  And those without e-mail can drop a note to BCLIR, P.O. Box 603126, Providence, RI 02906.