2025-26 Schedule of Speakers
Oct 9, 2025
Carol Chester
“Walking May Be Hazardous: Exercises to Improve Your Balance”
Nov 13, 2025
Rachel Keyo
“Whirlwind: A Film Documentary on the Life and History of Major Taylor”
Dec 11, 2025
Trish Appert
“On the Nonprofit: Friendly House”
Jan 8, 2026
David Chester
“The O.J. Trial”
Feb 12, 2026
Frank Callahan
“History of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Part 1”
Mar 12, 2026
Frank Callahan
“History of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Part 2”
Apr 9, 2026
Donna McClure
“On Time!”
May 14, 2026
Cynthia Turncliff
“My trip to India”
2024-25 Schedule of Speakers
October 10, 2024
Hank Rose
“The Challenger Disaster”
November 14, 2024
Frank Callahan
“Part II – The Crowleys and Polar Beverages”
December 12, 2024
Ken Kerber
“Communication and Change: Lessons from Organizational Psychology”
January 9, 2025
David Fields
“AIDS: The Early Years: a personal reflection from the Bronx, 1985”
February 13, 2025
Trish Appert
“Immigration Insights”
March 13, 2025
Steve McClure
“Weston the Pedestrian”
April 10, 2025
Chuck Picht
“Advances in Neurotechnology”
May 8, 2025
Brian Keyo
“Jamaica’s Greatest Band: The Skatalites”
2023-24 Schedule of Speakers
October 12, 2023
Steve McClure
“Chip Wars”
November 9, 2023
Rev. Aaron R. Payson
“Why Critical Race Theory Matters”
December 14, 2023
Bob Armstrong
“Custom Cut vs. Commercial Puzzles”
January 11, 2024
Tom Pierce
“Who Do You Trust?”
February 8, 2024
Margos Stone
“General Grant”
March 14, 2024
Guest Speaker: Dr. Gerald Stulc
“The Relationship Between the Art and Anatomy of the Human Body Through History”
April 11, 2024
Guest Speaker: Virginia Swain
“Grace Akallo: ‘Unknown Terrorist’ Asylum Seeker”
May 9, 2024
Guest Speaker: Royce Singleton
“The Battle of Leyte Gulf”
2022-23 Schedule of Speakers
October 13, 2022
Frank Callahan
“The Community Preservation Act”
November 10, 2022
Aaron Payson
“Grief, Loss and Resilience in a Time of COVID”
December 8, 2022
Guest Speaker: Sari Bittricks
“Christmas Carols”
January 12, 2023
Cynthia Turncliffe & Thomas Pierce
“Int’l Association of Torch Clubs”
February 9, 2023
Guest Speaker: David Horn
“Invasive Insect Species in Worcester”
March 9, 2023
Guest Speaker: Dr. Ruth Smith
“Philosophical Aspects of Language and Society”
April 13, 2023
Mike Peckar
“The Midstate Trail”
May 11, 2023
Hank Rose
“The The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire”
2021-22 Schedule of Speakers
In December, 2021, the Club moved back to holding in-person meetings at the Worcester Club. In all of the 2020-2021 season, talks were given via Zoom.
October 21, 2021
Mike Peckar
“Open Discussion via Zoom”
November 18, 2021
Donna McClure
“Perspectives on Recycling”
December 9, 2021
Joseph Preston Baratta
“Reduction Materialism”
January 13, 2022
Cancelled.
February 9, 2022
Tom Pierce
“Switzerland in August”
March 10, 2022
Cancelled.
April 14, 2022
Mark Mancevice
“Charles V & Family in the Worcester Art Museum”
May 11, 2022
Dr. Gerald Stulc
“Explaining Covid: The Biology, Treatment, and Trends”
2020-21 Schedule of Speakers
October, 2020
Cancelled due to Covid 19
November, 2020
Cancelled due to Covid 19
December 10, 2021
Guest Speaker: Rev. David J. Miller
“What Your Teachers Won’t Tell You about the Founding Fathers”
January 14, 2021
Rev. Aaron Payson
“Epidemic Obstructions: Death, Dying & Grief in the Era of COVID-19”
February 11, 2021
None
“Open discussion on your favorite torch talk and other topics”
March 11, 2021
Mark Mancevice
“Ravenna – a city of Mosaics”
April 8, 2021
Mike Peckar
“From Russia with Love”
May 13, 2021
Guest Speaker: Cynthia Henshaw
“Community conservation efforts of the East Quabbin Land Trust”
Past Presentations
Thursday, March 9th, 2023 Dr, Ruth Smith — Philosophical Aspects of Language and Society
Thursday, Dec 9th, 2022 Dr. Joseph Baratta — Reductionist Materialism
Reductionist Materialism (PDF, 5Mb)
Thursday, Apr 8, 2021, Mike Peckar — From Russia with Love
Thursday, Mar 11, 2021. Mark Mancevice — Ravenna – a city of Mosaics