Book Discussion Group 2026-2027

Meets on the  3rd Wednesday of the month at 4:30 pm 

Zoom Only

You must register for this program if you have not already done so

The books we discuss which are recommended by group members may be on any subject, whether fiction or non-fiction. The discussions, led by a group member, will focus on the theme, character development and quality of writing.

If you enjoy reading books of substance and discussing with peers, you will definitely enjoy this group.

April 15: The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly. Fiction. This is a recent book in the Lincoln Lawyer series. The protagonist is pursuing a case on behalf of a mother whose daughter was murdered by her ex-boyfriend at the behest of an AI companion. The book does a deep dive into the creation of algorithms and AI influencers and personalities.  Andy Radding to review.

May 20: The Wizard of the Kremlin by Guiliano da Empoli. A fictional representation of historical Russian thought up to the present. Expect an interesting but unsettling read. Steve Yussen to review.

June 17: Antisemitism: An American Tradition by Pamela Nudell. Reviews this topic's ebb and flow in America using examples since the European settlement in the 1600s. Mark Chodosh to review.

July 15: Strangers in Time by David Baldacci. Well known author. A novel set in London during the blitz.  Neil Stein to review.

August 19: Legacy of Lies by Lew Paper. A fiction book dealing with the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. The author presented this book at our Jewish Book Festival. Howard Gilbert will review.

September 16: Hotel Ukraine by Martin Cruz Smith. Again a well known author. Fiction. The last book in a series, the first of which was Gorky Park. Set in Russia and Ukraine during the current Ukraine war. Political Intrigue. Larry Goodman to review.

For more information contact Howard Gilbert

Current Issues Discussion Group

Led by Ron Mutchnik

Meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 1:00 PM

Zoom Only

You must register for this program if you have not already done so

NOTE: April 23 this month due to MCA lunch on the usual 3rd Thursday

Each month the group engages in an interesting, relevant and often controversial discussion.  A shared magazine article is used as a spur for the interaction.  If you enjoy stimulating conversations about current issues with a group of critical thinkers, please join us.

For additional information, contact Ron Mutchnik

Topic will be sent in the monthly reminder

Guided Naturalist Walk at Clam Pass

Dec 2026 Edition

Registration opens 10/14/26

Join Sid Freund, MCA member, Conservancy of Southwest Florida volunteer guide and certified Master Florida Naturalist, for a free guided walk on the boardwalk, beach, and back-bay areas of this beautiful Collier County park and learn about the secret lives of the flora and fauna of this captivating and biologically-rich area.

Clam Pass County Park offers a beautiful beach and a scenic boardwalk through a unique habitat. Learn about the special trees that dominate in this unusual environment and why they are important to all of us. See beautiful shore birds and maybe a surprise visitor or two, such as the not to be forgotten Pileated Woodpecker. Learn about our shells and see what shells and other treasures such as shark’s teeth, the Gulf may have delivered to the shore.

The walk is approximately 2 hours.

Meet at the gazebo at the end of the Clam Pass parking lot at 9 AM. Hat, water, and sunscreen are advised.

Parking is free with a beach sticker or subject to county fee for all day. Entrance to the park is adjacent to the Naples Grande Hotel at the end of Seagate Drive.

Additional walks are scheduled for 1/11/27 and 2/18/27

For additional information contact Sid Freund .

Registration Opens 11/5/26 

Talmud Study
Led by Sid Freund

Talmud Study Group will focus on ancient Jewish civil laws, many of which formed the foundation of our modern laws.

This coming season we will be studying Pirke Avot, loosely translated as the Ethics of the Fathers. The passages in Pirke Avot draw upon Jewish ethical tradition and teach us timeless life lessons. It is the earliest and most authentic version of Jewish practical wisdom. Some scholars consider Pirke Avot as the earliest manifesto of social justice in Western civilization. We will be studying the text through the lens of contemporary social justice and moral philosophy and the perspectives of classical commentators and contemporary thinkers. We will be using a text entitled Pirke Avot A Modern Commentary on Jewish Ethics, edited and translated by Leonard Kravitz and Kerry M. Olitzky.

Note: Prior year attendance is not a requirement. All classes and provided materials are in English.

Facilitator Sid Freund has been Superintendent of Schools in New York and Connecticut. He attended eight years of Yeshiva studies in New York City, and has had a longtime interest in Hebrew texts.

Questions? Email Sid Freund at sidfreund@gmail.com

Guided Naturalist Walk at Clam Pass

Jan 2027 Edition

Registration opens 11/11/26

Join Sid Freund, MCA member, Conservancy of Southwest Florida volunteer guide and certified Master Florida Naturalist, for a free guided walk on the boardwalk, beach, and back-bay areas of this beautiful Collier County park and learn about the secret lives of the flora and fauna of this captivating and biologically-rich area.

Clam Pass County Park offers a beautiful beach and a scenic boardwalk through a unique habitat. Learn about the special trees that dominate in this unusual environment and why they are important to all of us. See beautiful shore birds and maybe a surprise visitor or two, such as the not to be forgotten Pileated Woodpecker. Learn about our shells and see what shells and other treasures such as shark’s teeth, the Gulf may have delivered to the shore.

The walk is approximately 2 hours.

Meet at the gazebo at the end of the Clam Pass parking lot at 9 AM. Hat, water, and sunscreen are advised.

Parking is free with a beach sticker or subject to county fee for all day. Entrance to the park is adjacent to the Naples Grande Hotel at the end of Seagate Drive.

Additional walks are scheduled for 12/14/26 and 2/15/27

For additional information contact Sid Freund .

A Presentation on
Kimberley's Reef:
An Underwater Classroom

A coed event 

Registration opens 11/20/26

You and your guest are invited to hear about a unique classroom taking shape beneath the waves off Florida's coast. In the Gulf of Mexico, about seven and a half miles west of Bonita Beach and 30 feet below the surface, Kimberly's Reef is growing an artificial reef complex created by The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University.

WGCU Public Media produced a documentary about the project titled "Dispatches From Kimberly's Reef." Pam James, Executive Producer of Content, will discuss the film, the scientific insights it reveals, and its significance both regionally and around the world.

For questions contact Rob Brown

Guided Naturalist Walk at Clam Pass

Feb 2027 Edition

Registration opens 12/15/26

Join Sid Freund, MCA member, Conservancy of Southwest Florida volunteer guide and certified Master Florida Naturalist, for a free guided walk on the boardwalk, beach, and back-bay areas of this beautiful Collier County park and learn about the secret lives of the flora and fauna of this captivating and biologically-rich area.

Clam Pass County Park offers a beautiful beach and a scenic boardwalk through a unique habitat. Learn about the special trees that dominate in this unusual environment and why they are important to all of us. See beautiful shore birds and maybe a surprise visitor or two, such as the not to be forgotten Pileated Woodpecker. Learn about our shells and see what shells and other treasures such as shark’s teeth, the Gulf may have delivered to the shore.

The walk is approximately 2 hours.

Meet at the gazebo at the end of the Clam Pass parking lot at 9 AM. Hat, water, and sunscreen are advised.

Parking is free with a beach sticker or subject to county fee for all day. Entrance to the park is adjacent to the Naples Grande Hotel at the end of Seagate Drive.

Additional walks are scheduled for 12/14/26 and 1/11/27

For additional information contact Sid Freund .