CHAMBERSBURG – The Institute for Retired Persons, Inc., known as IRP, will kick off its Fall 2025 semester on Monday, Sept. 8, offering a six-week lineup of 35 lectures aimed at continued learning and entertainment for retirees.
The program, running through Oct. 16, covers topics ranging from American history and Civil War stories to nuclear energy, health updates and cultural legacies. Enrollment costs $25 for one person or $40 for a couple per semester, but Menno Haven residents and those participating only via Zoom face no charge.
Mondays and Wednesdays feature one Zoom lecture each at 9 a.m., while Tuesdays and Thursdays include two in-person sessions at 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at the Menno Haven Life Center, 300 Ridgeview, Chambersburg. In-person meetings will not occur if Chambersburg Area School District schools are closed or delayed due to bad weather or emergencies; participants should check the district’s website at www.casdonline.org for updates.
A notable exception in the schedule: The second Zoom lecture in Week 5 will take place on Friday, Oct. 10, at 9 a.m., instead of Wednesday.
Highlights from the program brochure include a variety of speakers and subjects. Week 1 opens with a Zoom talk on Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park by park superintendent Craig Pyles, followed by in-person sessions on Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater and the lead-up to the American Revolution. Other notable presentations include “U.S. Nuclear Energy” in two parts by Vern Hodge and John Ricca, a discussion of President James A. Garfield’s assassination by Library of Congress specialist Michelle A. Krowl, and “The Life and Legacy of Pearl S. Buck” by curator Samantha Freise.
Health-focused talks feature WellSpan Health updates for Franklin County by Niki Hinckle, end-of-life care by retired U.S. Navy nurse Pat McCulloh, and lung cancer insights by oncologist Pooja Sahni. History buffs can look forward to sessions on the Second Seminole War, Dolley Madison’s legacy and Chinese immigration by Princeton University professor Beth Lew-Williams.
IRP emphasizes its privacy policy, stating it does not share personal information with other organizations. The group communicates mainly through its website, www.IRP-online.org, where additional details are available.
To enroll, complete the provided form and mail it with a check payable to IRP to IRP, Menno Haven Life Center, 300 Ridgeview, Chambersburg, PA 17201. In-person enrollment is also available at any lecture. Cash should not be sent through the mail, and fees for optional trips or special events are collected separately.
For more information, contact IRP information coordinator John Ricca at [email protected] or 717-352-8996.
The nonprofit IRP, focused on retirees, encourages interest in presenting lectures, suggesting topics or helping with committees such as lecture planning, publicity or audio-visual support. New members can indicate how they learned about the group, with options including friends, brochures, the IRP website, newspapers, Menno Haven or Penn National.
