Yes, it’s finally here! I just arrived (after moving from Ann Arbor, MI, to State College, PA, a week ago, and yes, that was crazy), so I was especially grateful to drive into the green oasis of the grounds, sit on the porch, and begin to focus on the exciting summer to come.
High on my list is our first chance to see the clay version of the bust of Kate Kimball that will be made into a bronze sculpture next summer and placed in the Grove.
And honoring Ida Tarbell, we are proud to be able to offer a performance of Ida by Lamplight, in coordination with the Chautauqua Opera Company. Reserve your spot on our lawn. Scroll down for more details.
Meanwhile, we have breaking news about the GALA!The price of the tickets is now $65.00. Several alums have mentioned to us that they don’t attend the Gala due to the $100.00 ticket price. Looking at the prices other community groups charged for their events, we realized that they were charging only for the food and covering the rest of the costs. So, in hopes that we could make it possible for more people to attend, we are following suit.
Buy your tickets online now at on our website or - once the season begins - in Alumni Hall. Join us on August 6th for a fun evening—our theme this year is PICNIC so the dress is casual!
OPEN HOUSES - ALUMNI & PIONEER HALLS
Sunday - 1:00 - 3:00 Tuesday - 2:00 - 3:00
Illustration by Jane Nelson
DOCENT TOURS - PIONEER & ALUMNI HALLS
Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 1:15 PM - 2:15 PM Gather in the lobby of Alumni Hall
The All Alumni Meet & Greet will be held on the first floor of Alumni Hall on Tuesday night, June 30 rom 5:00 - 6:00. Alumni may attend free, but if you'd like to bring a guest, we ask for a $5 donation at the door. This is a great kick-off to the season. Light refreshments will be served. We hope you'll drop in and say hello! Reservations are appreciated for this event and can be made by emailing us at aaclscchq@gmail.com.
AACLSC Book Discussion
Thursday, July 2 12:15 Porch of Alumni Hall
MJ Johnston presents The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discover at the Down of AI by Dr. Fei-Fei Li. MJ's discussions of AI are intriguing and lively conversation is guaranteed. Bring your packed lunch and come join us on the porch!
Coming in Week 2!
AACLSC's Silent Auction
and Sale
July 7-10 and July 12
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Our annual Silent Auction and Sale is back!
This year, we are featuring some wonderful needlework projects completed by the late Steve Piper. Steve was the Messenger of the Golden Gate on Recognition Day for over 25 years and we are honored that his family chose to donate some of his finest works to our auction. Come see them - they're amazing!
This Year's CLSC Selections Announced
All 2026-2027 CLSC Selections can be found on the CLSC's pageon Chautauqua Institution's website.
July 19: The Great American Picnic
This takes place the Sunday of Week 4. We hope you'll come and eat and enjoy the afternoon. We offer children's games and prizes as well as face-painting. The menu is a la carte, so you may purchase only what you'd like to eat - including dessert! Summer sunshine, grilled Smith hotdogs, and cold drinks!
If you'd like to volunteer to help, please let us know! We're always looking for willing hands and talented artists for face-painting!
Proceeds benefit the Alumni Association's programming and operating costs.
Many alumni have asked about shirts over the years and we now have them available for purchase.
Shirts with the AACLSC logo on them will be available in 3 styles (long-sleeved t-shirts, short-sleeved t-shirts, and short-sleeved polo shirts) and a number of colors and sizes.
Guild of Seven Seals shirts are available in 2 styles (long-sleeved and short-sleeved t-shirts), also in a number of colors and sizes.
Shirts are not available for on-site purchase. You may order them on-line only and they will be shipped to an address of your preference.
On August 18, 2024, the AACLSC launched the Kate Kimball Challenge in honor of the 150th anniversary of the CLSC which will take place in 2028. Since then, a number of alumni have taken up the challenge and over 50 of you have completed it.
If you submit your Kate Kimball Challenge booklist to us, please be sure the CLSC is also receiving that list if you desire to move up in the Guild.
Some of you have purchased older books for this challenge and are willing to pass them on. We have a spot in Alumni Hall for these circulating books. If you have books you'd like to share with others, bring them in and we'll find a place for them. We would also like to remind you that the Class of 2006 maintains a Little Free Library outside the backdoor of Alumni Hall. They are collecting more current CLSC selections and you may donate to their Little Free Library by placing your donations in the plastic bin under the Little Free Library.
You can learn more about this challenge at clscalumni.com.