Joining one or more Interest Groups has been a popular choice for many FEA members and you have a variety of options.   

The Beer and Hard Cider Tasting Group recently attended the Oktoberfest at Stable Craft Brewery in Waynesboro.  It was a cool, damp evening, but that didn’t “dampen” the celebration.  For more information, contact Deane Geier singerg.123@gmail.com.  

The Book Club meets via Zoom on the 3rd Monday of every month.  The choice of books is eclectic and includes a balance of fiction and nonfiction. Contact Mary Atkins for more detail, maryatkins149@gmail.com.  

The Breakfast Group is organized by Jim Benedict, benedijo@jmu.edu.  A great opportunity to start your day with friends. 

The Bridge Group is led by Kay Knickrehm, knickrkm@jmu.edu and she reports that they play “party bridge.” Play involves concentration, memory and reason, but also allows for conversation, connection, and humor. The group rotates partners and skill levels vary. Everyone tries their best, but no one takes it seriously.  No one cares when their partner makes a mistake; no one is out to win at all costs; and everyone commiserates when someone happens to get bad cards the whole morning. We laugh a lot! 

The Dinner Group is currently without a leader. Are you interested in reactivating this group? Contact Martha Ross, rossmk@jmu.edu  

Emeriti Friends/Volunteers  helps other members of FEA as needed – transportation, food, visits, etc.  Violet Allain organizes this group – allainvl@jmu.edu  

The Lunch Bunch  Tom and Rosemary King are new to organizing the group. Contact them at kingtl@jmu.edu to learn about future events.  The group meets each month at local restaurants for good food and fellowship. 

The Movie and Theater Group is organized by Violet and Mike Allain.  Members  enjoy films or performances and usually food is involved before or after.  A recent event was to see “The Sheep Detectives” after Happy Hour at the Capitol Ale House. 

The River City Dukes are Emeriti members who live in or near Richmond, or are interested in activities in Richmond, such as food festivals, Flying Squirrels minor league baseball games, attending JMU athletic events in Richmond, meeting at museums, etc.  If you are interested, contact Mary Lou Wylie wylieml@jmu.edu.  

The Spanish Language Learners Group is composed of people who already have a background in Spanish and who want to improve their conversational skills.  The group meets on Zoom at 11am on Mondays. They often pick a topic for the week to allow members to organize their thoughts on the issue and share them with the group. For more information, contact Elizabeth Ihle at elizaihle@gmail.com 

The Whiskey Appreciation Group enjoys tasting and learning about various spirits, visiting distilleries and local settings.  Sadly, with the passing of Bob Golson, we need a new chair. 

The Wine Social Group Monthly gatherings are held in member’s homes.  Half the attendees bring a wine that they want you to try and the other half provides appetizers.  You will enjoy wonderful food and maybe find a new wine that you love.   

NEW: The Social Dance Club

Would you like to dance, meet new people, and have some fun? The new JMU Emeriti Social Dance Club welcomes everyone—whether you come with a partner or on your own, are a complete beginner, or already dance and would like to improve. We can explore waltz, foxtrot, swing, salsa, rhumba, cha cha, tango, line dancing, and more. 

One opportunity already available is the dance held by USA Dance (Shenandoah Chapter) on the second Saturday of each month at the Keezletown Ruritan Club. A beginner-friendly lesson featuring a different dance each month starts at 7 p.m., followed by general dancing from 8–10 p.m. Admission is $12, including the lesson.  The Keezletown Ruritan Club is just 3 miles east of the Valley Mall.  The dance floor is spacious and beautiful, and there are large tables and seating available.  No partner is needed!  Beginners and more experienced dancers are welcome.    

This is a great opportunity to get together each month for an evening of dance and socialization. If the group is interested, we could meet at a local restaurant for a quick meal before the lesson/dance. We can also explore additional possibilities for lessons and dancing, but this monthly opportunity is ready to go and only requires us to show up! 

Join the new Emeriti Social Dance Club by emailing JoAnne Brewster, brewstja@jmu.edu.  

Other Possibilities 

Several suggestions for additional Interest Groups have been made in the recent FEA survey.  To pursue any of these, we need to have a coordinator/leader.  Contact Martha Ross rossmk@jmu.edu, if you would be interested in coordinating the group. 

• Outdoor Group (hiking, biking, etc) 
• Investing Group  
• Support for Supporters(Carers) 
• Cooking Group  
• Annual Showcase Festival – sharing writing, research, art, etc. 

Written By: Martha Ross