Ajijic Book Club: 2017
Meetings in early 2017 continued to revolve around locally written books. Meeting announcements were published in the Guadalajara Reporter and the mailing list continued to grow. A small group of committed core members began to emerge. Planning for a special event had begun in 2016 and continued. A challenge for the club was finding an appropriate meeting room and various venues were utilized.
January 31, 2017
Book selection - Sitala Mata: Eradicating Smallpox in India by Cornelia (Connie) E. Davis MD MPH
February 28, 2017
Book selection - Yes, Men Do Cry: A Journal by Gary Fish
March 28, 2017
Book selection - Shanghai Loved and Lost by Elizabeth Shaen
In January, John Stokdijk met with three other members who together formulated a simple process for future book selections.
Any member may take responsibility for book selection for a particular month. That member will then suggest three books. All members will then vote for their preference and the book with the most votes becomes the selection. At the monthly meeting, the member who has assumed responsibility will lead a discussion on the book selection.
April 25, 2017
Program Leader - Joelle Bertolet
Book selection - Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain
June 27,2017
Program Leader - Allison Quattrocchi
Book selection - Thank You for Being Late by Thomas Friedman
July 25, 2017
Program Leader - Paula Whittingham
Book selection - Al Franken, Giant of the Senate by Al Franken
August 29, 2017
Program Leader - Toni Rahman
Book selection - Being in My Body by Toni Rahman
September 26, 2017
Program Leader - Karl Homann
Book selection - The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede
Special Event (There is more content below but it is slow to load.)
At the September 20, 2016 meeting, Jack Prins heard John Stokdijk express his vision of inviting authors of note to Lakeside for public presentations. "I know someone who will come," Jack said and indeed he did. The Ajijic Book Club partnered with Democrats Abroad Mexico - Lake Chapala Chapter and after a year of planning and hard work, the event was finally held on October 10th. Nomi Prins, renowned American author of All the Presidents' Bankers and daughter of Jack, shared her insights from the heart of Washington on global economic and other matters.
About 150 local residents attended and event expenses were almost completely covered by donations by attendees. Jack covered the biggest expense item, airfare for his daughter, which made the event a realistic objective. Below is a link to a video of the presentation.
October 31, 2017
Program Leader - Jean Mockler
Book selection - Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman
November 28, 2017
Program Leader - Wendy Carrel
Book selection - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi