Interest Groups
Interest groups are one of the many benefits of AAUW Vero Beach membership. Post-COVID pandemic, these member-only groups are being revived and/or proposed in 2022-2023.
They offer opportunities to meet other members while pursuing your interests.
For more information about a group or joining a group, contact Kathy Martin at 772-617-2606 or aauwvb.kmartin@gmail.com.
Creative Writing Group
Calling All Writers! We are looking to revive this group in 2022-2023, so if you have an interest in writing, let us know! In previous years, our writers met monthly at a restaurant or home to share and discuss their writing. Past groups periodically published collections of their writings and all AAUW members were encouraged to submit their poetry or short stories. The last collection was published in 2017 and entitled “WOMEN’S WORDS A Collection: Poems and Short Stories.”
Cultured Pearls
This is an idea whose time we think has come around again! Our Vero Beach/Indian River County area offers so many opportunities to explore the arts. About six years ago, our branch had a member group called the “Cultured Pearls” whose members would visit a museum, art gallery, or other cultural event and then often eat at a nearby restaurant afterwards. We hope to have enough member interest to start this group up again in 2022-2023. The scope could expand to include lectures, outdoor events, readings, etc. as determined by participating members.
International Relations Group
This is a current events/foreign policy discussion group that examines topics provided by the Foreign Policy Association, a non-profit organization founded in 1918 and dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. Each meeting focuses on a selected topic and includes review of both reading material and a video followed by discussion. It is a lively group with about a dozen members.
Lunch Bunch
This group meets strictly for fellowship and good food! It’s a great opportunity for new and current members to join in and get acquainted in an informal social atmosphere. A different restaurant or outdoor setting is chosen each month, which provides new dining experiences, too.
A small donation is collected for contribution toward scholarship funding. Frequency and dates will be determined. Past groups have met on the last Friday of each month from October – May, except November.
International Relations Group
This is a current events/foreign policy discussion group that examines topics on world affairs provided by the Foreign Policy Association, a non-profit organization founded in 1918 and dedicated to inspiring the American public to learn more about the world. Prior to each meeting, members read an article on a selected topic in the FPA’s Great Decisions Briefing book. The meeting includes a review of the reading material and watching a companion video, followed by discussion. The discussions are informative, lively, and enriching.
Mah Jong Group
Love to play the engaging game of Mah Jong? Consider joining this new group that we’re proposing to start up in 2022-2023. It will initially be for those members who have experience playing the game. The members will decide when and where to play and will use their own Mah Jong sets.
Reading Groups
We currently have 2 reading groups, after a few disbanded during the pandemic. We anticipate starting one or more groups in 2022-2023, given that the current groups already having their optimum number of members. Each group’s members select their own books and schedule their own meeting times and locations, often at members’ homes, and sometimes on Zoom if needed. To create a new group, we’ll need a group leader (or co-leaders) to help get it going.
