Special Interest Groups   

Come do battle on the field of chess. All levels of capability may join in the melee, from novice to grandmaster.  Bring your chess board and game pieces, if you have them.
Membership required - no course fee.

Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. The program model involves reading the Great Decisions Briefing Book (short sections), watching the DVD and meeting in a Discussion Group to discuss the most critical global issues facing America today. Each year, a panel of experts chooses the topics. Members will need to purchase GREAT DECISIONS, 2025 EDITION, and read the topic of the week in preparation for discussion at the first meeting. The book will be about $35 and can be ordered at: https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/ or call 1 (800) 477-5836.

Great Decisions 2025 Topics

1. American Foreign Policy at a Crossroads
   This chapter will explore the contours of the U.S. foreign policy debate as it plays out in a world of multiple and escalating crises and domestic polarization. Author: G. John Ikenberry  
2. U.S. Changing Leadership of the World Economy
   Under President Biden, the U.S. has advanced new ideas about trade, technology, industrial policy, competition with China, and the organization of the world economy. For most of the postwar era, the U.S. has tied its global leadership to cooperative agendas aimed at creating a more open world trading system, but that has apparently come to an end. What are America’s options and opportunities as a leader of the world economy? How will America’s “foreign policy for the middle class” and strategic competition with China impact its leadership role? How can the postwar rules and institutions of the world economy be made safe for economic nationalism and great power competition? 
   Author: Daniel Drezner  
3. U.S.-China Relations
   Washington’s relations with Beijing have reached an ominous low ebb. Both American political parties have identified China as the country’s preeminent geopolitical challenger and, in the eyes of many, a systemic threat. What is driving this deterioration of Sino-American relations, and what are America’s strategic options in the face of Chinese power and ambition? Author: Thomas J. Christensen  
4. International Cooperation on Climate Change
   The 2015 Paris Agreement established a UN-sponsored framework for negotiations on climate change and global warming. In subsequent COP meetings, experts and political leaders have come together seeking common cause for this growing global crisis. What is the future of these efforts, and what have they yielded? What is the U.S. role in fostering cooperation on climate change? In a divided country, what are the possible futures for American policy leadership? Author: Josh Busby   
5. The Future of NATO and European Security
   European security is more uncertain than it has been for decades. Putin’s Russia has launched a war with Ukraine on its doorstep, and America’s uncertain role as leader of NATO and security provider has been called into question with the failure of Congress to pass supplemental military support for Ukraine. What are Europe’s options, and how might developments on both sides of Western Europe – in Ukraine and across the Atlantic – impact its choices? What are America’s stakes in NATO and Europe’s strategic dilemmas?
   Author: Kori Schake   
6. AI and American National Security
   The AI revolution is the leading edge of a larger high-tech revolution which promises to transform the world. Experts argue that international cooperation is needed to expand the opportunities these new technologies hold while protecting societies from their dangers. What are the key policy debates in this area, and what are the opportunities and limits on global AI rules of the road? How will the AI revolution impact American national security? What are its policy options to secure the benefits of AI and guard against its dangers? Author: Julie George  
7. India: Between China, the West, and the Global South
   India is an emerging major power in world affairs, occupying a pivotal position between China, the United States, and the Global South. Its population size, economy, and geopolitical location ensure that it will be an influential voice in debates and political struggles over global order. What are India’s choices and opportunities for regional and global leadership? How will it maneuver between China and the United States, and what is its role as a voice of the Global South? What opportunities exist for Washington to work with India? Author: Leslie Vinjamuri   
8. American Foreign Policy in the Middle East: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead
   The war in Gaza has brought the region to a crossroads. What are the possible outcomes of the war, and how might the United States use its influence to shape a long-term settlement that leaves both Israel and the Palestinians in a better position? How might Arab states in the wider region be brought into a settlement? What are America’s interests in the Middle East and how can it advance them? Author: Daniel Kurtzer

Come and play Classical Chinese Mahjong as codified by the British Mahjong Association. Some experience playing Mahjong would be beneficial, but not necessary. Bring your Mahjong set, if possible.
Membership required - no course fee.

Join us! Learn and play American Mahjong in a friendly, social setting with other Club OLLI members. Members meet and practice on a regular basis. All skill levels are welcome. No supplies needed.

Membership Required - No course fee

Monthly gathering to discuss books ranging from historical fiction to non-fiction and classics. Short presentation by a member of the group focusing on facts about author, historical setting or other interesting aspects of the book sets tone for discussion. Discussion is informal and participation is encouraged. Members will need to obtain their own books. Opening selection is "The Only Woman in the Room" by Marie Benedict. Full reading list will be provided at first meeting.

Monthly gathering to discuss books ranging from historical fiction to non-fiction and classics. Short presentation by a member of the group focusing on facts about author, historical setting or other interesting aspects of the book sets tone for discussion. Discussion is informal and participation is encouraged. Members will need to obtain their own books. Opening selection is "The Only Woman in the Room" by Marie Benedict. Full reading list will be provided at first meeting.