For half a century, Senior Scholars has provided our members with opportunities to expand their knowledge, socialize with friends and meet new people. We are proud of our achievements and will celebrate our 50th Anniversary with special activities at selected weekly meetings throughout the year and a memorable spring luncheon. These activities will include drawings for gifts and a chance to share your humor by writing a limerick about Senior Scholars. Watch the weekly emails for more information.

On January 13, 2023, we will have our first in-person annual kickoff meeting since 2020. The inability to meet face to face was a major setback that our organization encountered during the worst of the COVID pandemic. But we were able to continue our weekly presentations online via Zoom thanks to the hard work of our volunteers, especially our Technical Team, and donations from our members to purchase the necessary equipment. We will continue to offer online meetings, but please plan to attend in person as often as you can, if you are comfortable doing so. You don’t want to miss the chance to enjoy the social aspects of Senior Scholars and the coffee is great!

In 2023, we will bring you excellent speakers on a variety of topics. The new year will start with Ms. Shelly Moore, CEO of the Humane Society of Charlotte. She will discuss the organization’s activities and give a virtual tour of the recently opened $15 million animal resource center catering to our “furry” friends. Other topics for the Spring semester include plans by the Charlotte Museum of History for restoration of a 1920’s black schoolhouse, Earthquakes in the Carolinas and three subjects from the popular Great Decisions series: Climate Migration, Latin American Debt and War Crimes.

The Lunch Bunch and Field Trips are back! Lunch Bunch is monthly and members meet in small groups that encourage one-on-one discussions. Field Trips offer a chance to get out and see our community with other members. Currently under consideration are trips to the new Humane Society facility, the Billy Graham Library and a tour of a historic Charlotte neighborhood guided by popular local historian Tom Hanchett. Watch the weekly emails for more information. Signup for both Lunch Bunch and Field Trips will be available at weekly meetings.

A major highlight of our Spring Semester is the Wildacres retreat in the mountains near Little Switzerland NC. It is three relaxing days of learning, fellowship, entertainment and hiking at a beautiful 1,400 wilderness preserve. This year’s event will take place April 24 – 27. Registration will begin January 20, 2023. See the website and weekly emails for more information.

During 2022 our Marketing Committee expanded our reach into new areas. During the year, we signed up two adult living facilities under licenses to zoom our weekly meetings to their residents. In November, we held a joint meeting with a senior group at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church to hear Tom Hanchett talk about the historic McCrorey Heights neighborhood.

I’ll leave you with two final thoughts as we begin 2023: renew/join and volunteer. If you haven’t done so already, please renew your membership ($25) or join as a new member today ($35 – includes nametag). It’s a bargain – 31 meetings with varied topics and excellent speakers, ability to attend in person or by Zoom, access to archives where missed presentations can be viewed, and discounts to selected events at Queens University.

Volunteers are critical to the operations of Senior Scholars and I want to thank all our current volunteers who keep us going week after week. Remember – we have no paid staff. Please volunteer today using the volunteer tab on our website or sending us an email. We need you whether you are a long-time member or just joined in 2022. Being a volunteer is an excellent way of meeting new people and providing a service to the senior community of Charlotte.

Please contact me if you have questions.

Len Norman, President
Senior Scholars at Queens
lennorman@ymail.com
Phone: 704 804 2329