Abraham Lincoln said, “I don’t think much of a man [or woman] who is not wiser today that he was yesterday.”

I said, “When I retire, I would love to be a student for the rest of my life.” Learning has always been on my top-10 list of fun activities. Now that I have semi-retired, I can place another check by that one on my list because I’m joining The Institute for Learning in Retirement at Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

What is the Institute for Learning in Retirement? It is a group of retired and semi-retired individuals who have a zest for life and strongly believe in life-long learning. As we age, we realize that we don’t feel or act old, so we try to find ways to stay mentally, emotionally and physically healthy and young. ILR provides that outlet in Natchez.

Life-long learners tend to be self-motivated and pursue knowledge for the pure pleasure of it. ILR members fit that description, but they also have a lot of wisdom and knowledge to impart. They plan their own curriculums, organize day-long or overnight trips, and teach each other in a classroom setting. They invite guest speakers for their monthly lunches, take Tai Chi classes together, organize discussion groups and much, much more.

This fall, they have four trips planned: three are day or evening trips; one is a four-day trip to the Shiloh Battlefield and to Helen Keller’s home. At this point, they have eight classes planned for the fall, but others will be added.

Guest speakers will discuss topics such as the national health-care plan in a global perspective, mind exercises, H1N1 or swine flu and Shakespeare’s impact on the British economy.

Each third Wednesday of the month, the IRL group meets in the Activity Room on the Co-Lin Natchez campus to hear a luncheon speaker. They bring their lunch or buy one from the cafeteria and join in dialog on a broad range of topics.

At 1:30 p.m. Wednesday a reception and registration for ILR will be held in the Tom Reed Academic Building, Activity Room, on the Co-Lin Natchez Campus. ILR members are 50 and above and the membership fee for one year is $50 for singles and $75 for couples.

Come through the front doors of the Tom Reed Building, which can be reached by turning at the first right, first parking lot, and someone will direct you to the ILR reception/registration. Come on out and find out more about the organization and meet interesting and interested people.

For more information, contact me at 601-446-1237 or e-mail at judy.wiggins@colin.edu.

Judy Wiggins is a retired Co-Lin instructor.