This year (2023) we are excited to move in person and on zoom (your choice) to a new location: Montague’s one and only Book Nook Java Shop at 8744 Ferry St., Montague, MI 49437. In the private back room, they have a large screen where our “zoomers” who come in from a distance can participate, being seen and heard by all of the in-person attendees!
Starting the last week of January, we will meet in hybrid mode on Thursday nights from 6-7:30. Our first session, Jan. 26, is a shorter organizational session to set up a schedule for Feb.-March, discussion leaders choose weeks to lead the discussion, and we exchange email addresses of participants.

Currently we have 6 committed members (3 zoom, 3 in person), but we’re aiming for 10-20 total in the group, though nobody has to commit to attend every week Feb.-March. I’ll keep a list of names who have committed to our Th night sessions and communicate updates to you each week.

An added bonus: The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan will be hosting lectures on Great Decisions topics by outstanding specialists on Monday nights in February and March, broadcast from Grand Rapids Community College. We will be able to see a recording each Tuesday from 12:00-1:15 at the Book Nook, just a drop-in basis, with option to buy drinks and/or lunch. Come just before noon. See other attachment.

My goal is for the Thur. discussion group to follow the World Affairs Council sequence rather than the book sequence, with open drop-ins on Tues. for lecture and lunch, then following that two days later on Th with Book Nook dinner/snacks for our closed discussion group, building on the Tues. lecture. But we may decide to hold the discussion before the lecture on the topic, if people Jan. 26 say they prefer that.

*************What can you do to decide whether to participate?*************************
1. Go to https://www.fpa.org/great_decisions/ , read about the topics, decide whether you want to order a booklet for the Thursday discussions (8-10 pp. reading per week). $35 plus $5.99 postage and handling. I called in, gave credit card, and my book arrived a few days ago!

2. Email me with the subject heading “Great Decisions 2023” to tell me if you want to join the Thursday discussion group. If you have a preference of which topic and date to lead, please include that as well.

3. Come to or zoom into our Jan 26 organizational meeting to get acquainted and decide who will lead which week of discussions (if weather does not cooperate, we have an extra Th Feb. 2 to reschedule the organizational meeting). The choice of weeks will be each Thursday, 3 of them in Feb. and 5 in March, starting after the Feb. 7 Tues. lecture, with a Feb. 9 discussion. We might also decide to discuss first, Th BEFORE Tues. lecture,

I am very grateful to Andrew and Bryan at the Book Nook Java Shop for agreeing to host us in the back room on Tues. and Thursdays, a wonderful way to make it through the winter with an eye on the larger world!

Margot Haynes 989-430-4804