A CLIR Opportunity For Fun And Lifelong Learning

If you’re age 50 or older and looking to participate in educational, social and cultural activities, the Center for Learning in Retirement (CLIR) could be your ticket.

Based in San Francisco, CLIR was founded in 1973 with support from the University of California. The center maintains an association with UC Berkeley Extension, and CLIR members may enroll at discounted rates in classes offered through UC Berkeley Extension.

The university's Continuing Education branch has multiple Bay Area locations, and UC Berkeley Extension offers hundreds of classes in a wide range of fields, from architecture and computer science to economics, history and literature.

CLIR was one of the first educational programs aimed at midlife and older students in the United States.

CLIR’s members can also participate in a variety of daytime peer-led classes in areas such as acting, painting, bridge, languages and computer literacy. There are also guest speakers and discussion groups that focus on areas current events, theatre, books, films and other topics of interest.

But the center is about more than classroom learning. CLIR members are invited to join an array of social events, from monthly cocktail parties and gallery visits to chartered bus tours and group walks around San Francisco. Annual events include a show of members’ art work, a holiday gala, an autumn picnic, a trip to Shakespeare at Santa Cruz and a weekend at Asilomar.

“CLIR is a very special organization,” said Roslyn Goldstein, a member of CLIR’s steering council. “It’s a place for people to go and meet other people at a similar stage in life. The opportunity to take UC Extension classes is what drew many of us to CLIR, but it’s the social aspects that have really kept us together.”

CLIR currently has about 100 members, and all members are encouraged to participate on at least one governing committee in areas such as membership, community outreach, fundraising and curriculum.

For its first 30 years, CLIR was headquartered at 55 Laguna Street, along with UC Berkeley Extension. CLIR moved along with UC Berkeley Extension to 425 Market Street in 2004.

It appears, however, that UC Berkeley Extension is now moving to sever its ties to CLIR. “They want us to become self-sufficient, and they are planning to do away with member discounts for UC Extension classes,” said Goldstein. “At this point, everything is up in the air. We’re looking for ways to keep [CLIR] afloat.”

CLIR membership is open twice a year, in January and August, to anyone age 50+. The annual membership fee is $220. Members can access free or reduced-price tickets to a variety of theatre, musical and dance productions by joining the Special Audiences program, for an additional $35.

For information about the Center for Learning in Retirement (CLIR), see http://www.clirsf.org. The center is located at 425 Market Street, 8th floor in San Francisco. The center’s phone number is (415) 543-3965. CLIR's office is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10am to 3:30 pm. Information about UC Berkeley Extension is available at http://www.unex.berkeley.edu.

(This article originally appeared in the Fall 2008 issue of Bay Area Summit)

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