Welcome back to a new MCA season

By Jeff Margolis

To those Men’s Cultural Alliance members and their families who have returned to Greater Naples, welcome back! Members of MCA have been diligently working throughout the spring and summer months to plan exciting and engaging programs for the coming season.

With all of our hope for a “normal” season, caveats remain due to COVID- 19 and some programming will continue to be broadcast via Zoom. It is our great hope to be able to proceed with in-person programs. Stay tuned to MCA e-blasts for updates. That being said, here are some of the upcoming planned activities.

Ongoing activities

The very popular MCA travelogue series with Jim Sernovitz continues Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. The topic will be “Japan – Cherry Blossoms and Mt. Fuji.” Be sure to register via the MCA portal on Wild Apricot.

The Jewish Genealogy group continues its monthly program (via Zoom) on Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. To register and for more information, contact program chair, Arthur Sissman.

For members who would enjoy sightseeing via bicycle, you are invited to a cycling event on Sunday, Oct. 31. There are two routes — a coastal ride that leaves from Waterside Shops at 10:30 a.m. and the inland route, which departs from Logan Blvd. and Immokalee Road at 9 a.m. The rides are approximately 15 miles long. For more information, contact Michael Sobol for the coastal route, and Larry Israelite for the land route (larry.israelite@gmail.com).

MCA’s monthly book discussion selection for October is “The Septembers of Shiraz,” by Dalia Sofer. This work is a critically acclaimed historical novel that narrates the lives of a prosperous Jewish family who remained in Iran after the Islamic Revolution. The program will be via Zoom on Thursday, Oct. 14 at 2:30 p.m. For more information, contact program chair, Stan Farb, at stan4mignon@earthlink.net.

Tuesday morning breakfasts at Patio Cafe in Naples are continuing. No reservations are required.

Want to go out to lunch with fellow MCAers? Join ROMEOs (retired old men eating out). They meet for lunch every Wednesday, noon, at Jason’s Deli on Immokalee Road.

Upcoming major events

Documentary film guru Steve Brazina and his committee have put together a stellar program of thought-provoking films. The season begins on Tuesday, Nov. 2 with a showing of “Mendelsson, The Nazis, and Me.” All films are tentatively scheduled to be shown at Temple Shalom, subject to COVID guidelines.

Our highly popular monthly luncheon program is scheduled to resume in person on Nov. 11, 11:30 a.m. at the Audubon Country Club. Featured speaker, Michael Farr, will discuss “Climbing Walls of Worry – Economic Forecasting in the Post Pandemic World.” The cost of the luncheon is $35. Reservations are required and can be made through the MCA website and the Wild Apricot portal. Please refer to future e-blasts for any changes to this event.

Just a reminder

It’s time to renew your membership. MCA dues are $90 and include membership in Jewish Federation of Greater Naples. Please visit the website at www. MCAnaples.org. Click on the MCA membership form and complete it. You can pay by credit card or check.

MCA welcomes new members to join in the numerous events and activities planned for the coming season. For more information regarding MCA and its activities, or to suggest new ones, please contact MCA president, Les Nizin, at mcanaplespresident2021@gmail.com.