The new year started with two excellent meetings in January and February.

January 28, 2020

Program Leader - Paula Whittingham

Book selection - Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth

February 25, 2020

Program Leader - Allison Quattrocchi

Book selection - Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China

In March the world was hit with the coronavirus crisis. Locally, numerous activities stopped and John Stokdijk accessed the rapidly changing situation. The March meeting was cancelled and meeting in the future via Zoom was investigated. The majority of ABC members rejected Zoom as an option but there was sufficient interest to proceed. Members expressed in interest in books with light content.

April 28, 2020

Program Leader - Lila Wells

Book selection - Slime: How Algae Created Us, Plague Us, and Just Might Save Us

The Newsletter about nonfiction books that John Stokdijk began in 2019 was discontinued in April, 2020. The coronavirus crisis was becoming The Great Pause. It seemed like a good time to stop activities that did not seem to have much traction.

In 2019 John Stokdijk heard a presentation by David Ellison at Open Circle. He became aware that Ellison had written a nonfiction book. The book was considered by ABC members and became the May selection.

May 26, 2020

Program Leader - David Ellison

Book selection - Santander: Rambling on Borrowed Time

June 30, 2020

Book selection - On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey

July 28, 2020
Book selection - The Yellow House

August 25, 2020

Book selection - Three Years in Ethiopia: How a Civil War and Epidemics Led Me to My Daughter

Program Leader - Connie Davies

The August ABC meeting was special for a couple of reasons. This was the second book written by ABC member Connie Davies. And her daughter, Romeme, who lives in Los Angeles and for whom the book was written, joined the meeting.

The August ABC meeting was special for a couple of reasons. This was the second book written by ABC member Connie Davies. And her daughter, Romeme, who lives in Los Angeles and for whom the book was written, joined the meeting.

September 29, 2020

Book selection - James Baldwin: The Last Interview: and other Conversations

Program Leaders - Allison Quattrocchi, Lila Wells & John Stokdijk

October 27, 2020

Book selection - Collective Presencing

Program Leader - John Stokdijk

The October meeting was held in the morning in order to facilitate the attendance of the book’s author, Ria Baeck, who lives in Belgium.

November 24, 2020

Book selection - A Woman of No Importance: The Untold Story of Virginia Hall, WWII’s Most Dangerous Spy

Program Leader - Allison Quattrocchi

For the first time in the history of ABC, John Stokdijk did not read the club’s book selection. He had decided that he would give priority to reading books of personal interest. This would have implications for ABC, a new challenge for the future.

Looking back on 2020, Zoom meetings were successful. Members quickly adjusted to the new format and attendance was in the five to eight range, sufficient for good discussion. By December, meeting in person by June, 2021 seemed realistic.