Interest Groups

 

ABOUT OUR INTEREST GROUPS
by Nancy Rayner

Our Branch offers a robust and wide variety of Interest Groups for members to enjoy, including Bridge, four different book clubs, Art Appreciation, Scrabble, Handicrafts, lunch groups, and several women’s discussion groups. Joining an Interest Group is a great way to meet other members, make new friends and enjoy the camaraderie that frequently develops.

Most groups are open and welcome new members. Because of meeting space limitations, some are unable to accept new members at this time, but will put interested parties on a waitlist until space is available. Groups that currently welcome new members include:

Art Appreciation
Bridgettes Sub List Cooks’ Corner
Night Books Contemporary Literature
First Friday Tea and Conversation
Coffee with Friends
Ruth Bloland Women Helping Women
Handicrafts
Fun at the Movies
Women in Transition (evening meetings)
Evening Scrabble

The Interest Group Calendar is included in each issue of Coastlines and provides meeting dates, topics, and contact information.

Some of our members are providing primary care for a family member or friend. Several have indicated an interest in participating in a ‘Caring for Caregivers’ group that would meet to share experiences and resources in a confidential, supportive environment.

Specific focus, meeting frequency, and other details would be discussed and determined by group consensus. If you might be interested in being part of such a group, please contact Nancy Rayner at nrayner777@gmail.com.

Our two lunch groups have proven to be very popular and Marilyn Brashear is interested in creating a third lunch group! If you would like to join, please contact Nancy Rayner at nrayner777@gmail.com or Marilyn Brashear at mbrashear3399@gmail.com.

All members are invited and encouraged to join and enjoy our wonderful interest groups!

Specific meeting dates, times, meeting topics, and contact person can be found in each issue of Coastlines newsletters or on this website. Click HERE to see the calendars for the interest groups.

Discussion Groups

  • Coffee with Friends – this group meets weekly (every Wednesday) to enjoy having morning coffee and conversation with friends.
  • First Friday Tea & Conversation Group – meets on the 1st Friday of each month for conversation and friendship.
  • Living Room Group – meets on the 4th Thursday of each month to discuss topics pre-defined by the group.
  • Women in Transition (WIT) – Members from PVP, Torrance and Beach Cities branches of AAUW meet on the 1st Wednesday of each month to discuss topics important to women.

Study Groups

  • Art Appreciation – Members view DVDs from Great Courses programs and take turns presenting additional information about the topics covered. How to Look at and Understand Great Art is currently being used for discussion.  Trips to local art venues are made when feasible.  This group meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month.

Book Clubs

  • Contemporary Literature – An informal, inquisitive group who aim to read the best in current fiction. Meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month.
  • Eclectic Readers – From classics to biographies, historical fiction to contemporary tales, the discussion is always informative and stimulating. This group meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month.
  • Fourth Monday Books – This group engages in lively discussions about contemporary fiction and non-fiction. Meetings are held on the 4th Monday of each month.
  • Night Books – Members enjoy reading contemporary literature and discussing themes, structure, character development and historical implications. For members who work during the day, this group’s evening meetings, held on the 2nd Monday of each month, are particularly appealing.

Games

  • Bridge-Ettes – Keep your skills sharp while enjoying the congenial competitiveness of friends. This is an eight-member social bridge group which meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month.
  • Daytime Scrabble – A group for members who like to have fun with words. Meetings are held on the 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month.
  • Evening Scrabble –For members who enjoy playing Scrabble in the evening, this group meets on the 4th Monday of each month.

Special Interests

  • Cooks’ Corner – Members enjoy virtual cooking demonstrations and share favorite recipes and cooking tips. Meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month.
  • Lunch Groups (2) – Members enjoy a variety of cuisines and lunch together at restaurants throughout the South Bay.  Members take turns choosing restaurants to be visited.  Two lunch groups are active – one meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month and the second meets on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
  • Women Helping Women – Members meet to discuss and take action on issues impacting women and girls today that will support the Mission of AAUW in our community. Activities range from group discussions to outside speakers to postcarding!  Meetings are held on the 1st Thursday of each month.
  • Handicrafts – Members bring needlework and other hobby supplies to monthly meetings, where they share their work, help each other, and just enjoy each other’s company.
  • Fun at the Movies – Members view a wide variety of movies at their leisure and then meet to discuss them. Meetings are held at on the 4th Thursday of each month.