Rotary Club

[Grosvenor Square Speakers](https://grosvenorsquarespeakers.co.uk/) provides a welcoming and supportive learning environment to increase your confidence in public speaking and develop your communication and leadership skills. Members practice impromptu speaking and prepared speeches both in person and virtually in an authentic setting in front of an audience, with feedback provided by qualified evaluators. This is a hybrid event with option to join via Zoom. All guests are always welcome to visit free of charge and won’t be asked to speak unless they wish to. Fulfill and maximize your potential by practicing and learning from seasoned speakers alongside newcomers. Established over 40 years ago, Grosvenor Square Speakers is London’s oldest [Toastmasters International club](https://www.toastmasters.org/), a global non-profit educational organization that promotes communication, public speaking and leadership.

This isn’t a typical book club. It’s a space to explore real questions about life, meaning, and the Bible—together. Bring your questions, your doubts, or just your curiosity. You don’t need to believe anything to belong here. Make up your own mind. Most people have thoughts about the Bible… But rarely get the chance to explore it honestly. Here, you can ask: • What do I actually believe? • Does any of this still matter today? • Is there more to this than I thought? What to expect: We meet for two hours at a time. Our reading list includes books from the Bible — as well as some of the books that didn’t make it into most Bibles. The Bible has shaped culture, law, art and ethics for centuries, yet many people are personally unfamiliar with it. Each evening is structured but informal. The group chooses the book or books to read, and discussion takes place in small groups. No lectures. No pressure. No need to prepare anything in advance. The aim is thoughtful, respectful conversation. Plenty of people feel they know quite a bit about the Bible, yet struggle to read it. This is a space to explore it thoughtfully and honestly — in good company. This club is for: • Curious thinkers • Skeptics • Christians with questions • Anyone who wants to make up their own mind Our only rules? Be curious. Be honest. Be kind. And enjoy yourself. It’s also a chance to find a bit of community along the way. Photos may be taken during the evening to share on the Meetup page or social media to help others see what the group is like. If you prefer not to appear in photos, just let the organiser know at any time. We meet in a private room on the second floor of the Duke of Sussex pub. When you arrive, get yourself a drink, ask for The Book Club, and come on up.

A gripping, heart-wrenching, and wholly remarkable coming-of-age tale in a South poisoned by virulent prejudice, it views a world of great beauty and savage iniquities through the eyes of a young girl, as her father — a crusading local lawyer — risks everything to defend a black man unjustly accused of a terrible crime.

Let's go with the flow and do this amazing 10 mile walk in the stunning Hampshire countryside ! Things to bring : packed lunch, water, snacks etc and waterproof jacket and walking shoes/boots/trainers. We shall buy group train tickets at 10am for the 10.30am train that arrives at Haslemere at 11.21am. Train ticket: Return to Haslemere Or you may decide to drive. Lunch stop will be by a pub in Fernhurst. You should have adequate and appropriate insurance for this type of activity and be able to walk 2.5 miles per hour. We shall have a drink at the end of the walk. Likely train back from Haslemere at 5pm that arrives in London at around 6pm. Please only post photos of others with their consent. My no is 07714250849.

This month we will be reading/discussing ***[The Measure - Nikki Erlick](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58884736-the-measure?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_11)***. If you have not read the book, you are more than welcome to join. Be aware, there will be spoilers! 18:30 - 18:45 - Meet, get drinks, get settled (at the back and upstairs) 18:45 - 19:45 - Discuss the book 19:45 onwards - pick book for next meet and socialize **The Venue: [Shinner and Sudtone](https://shinnerandsudtone.co.uk/)**[ ](https://shinnerandsudtone.co.uk/) A lovely little pub with a variety of craft beer. Usually quiet on a Monday and we get the upstairs area. They serve food and dogs are most welcome. **The Book:** ***[The Measure - Nikki Erlick](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58884736-the-measure?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_11)*** Eight ordinary people. One extraordinary choice. It seems like any other day. You wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and head out. But today, when you open your front door, waiting for you is a small wooden box. The contents of this mysterious box tells you the exact number of years you will live. From suburban doorsteps to desert tents, every person on every continent receives the same box. In an instant, the world is thrust into a collective frenzy. Where did these boxes come from? What do they mean? Is there truth to what they promise? As society comes together and pulls apart, everyone faces the same shocking choice: Do they wish to know how long they’ll live? And, if so, what will they do with that knowledge? The Measure charts the dawn of this new world through an unforgettable cast of characters whose decisions and fates interweave with one another: best friends whose dreams are forever entwined, pen pals finding refuge in the unknown, a couple who thought they didn’t have to rush, a doctor who cannot save himself, and a politician whose box becomes the powder keg that ultimately changes everything.

**London PLAY READING CLUB** Like a book club, but for plays. **Book your space here:** **[https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/london-playreading-club/](https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/london-playreading-club/)** The Play Reading Club hosted at Greenwich Theatre is for anyone who loves plays and a good conversation. Each month we explore a play. We'll rotate between something old and something new, from Aphra Behn to Winsome Pinnock, from Shakespeare to Luke Norris. For less than the price of a glass of wine, you’ll spend an evening with like-minded theatre lovers and get into the nitty-gritty of what makes a play great. ***How it works:*** Each session is hosted by actor and playwright Alfrun Rose. You'll receive the choice of play about a month in advance. At the meeting, we might read a few scenes aloud and chat about everything from big themes and plot twists to fatal flaws and dialogue choices. First play will be Ibsen's *Hedda Gabler*; you will need to source your own. Note: The play is translated so there are different versions but it shouldn't be a problem; just make sure it's a translation, not an adaptation. Free text at: [https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4093/4093-h/4093-h.htm](https://www.gutenberg.org/files/4093/4093-h/4093-h.htm) Version Alfrun will use: [https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/hedda-gabler-drama-classics](https://www.nickhernbooks.co.uk/hedda-gabler-drama-classics) If you fancy it, you can watch the National Theatre at Home: [https://www.ntathome.com/hedda-gabler](https://www.ntathome.com/hedda-gabler) Get your tickets now! Limited Space. “I think a Play the best divertisement that wise men have.” Aphra Behn Psst... Let's support our future playwrights by staying for [See New Next Tuesday.](https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/snnt/)

Dear Members, As the **early evening from 5pm** [https://luma.com/he99iszf](https://luma.com/he99iszf) unfolds toward sunset, the tone deepens. Conversations shift from introductions to alignment: * Capital meets narrative * Ideas meet execution * Ambition meets backing * Complimentary nibbles & drinks What to expect: Guests arrive at Flex @ Tide, stepping off the street into a space that feels deliberately curated—minimal, elegant, quietly confident. **630-730pm There will be 5 Roundtables** \- Investment\, Tech & Ai\, Film & Music\, Scaleups & GovTech\. If you would like to head a table for discussion please reach out \(Zee Whatsapp 07588812528\)\. **Thank you to Flex @ Tide, The Master Collective**, **YouYaa**, and the **Future Crowd.** Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the river like a living artwork. There’s a subtle soundtrack—low, ambient, almost cinematic—punctuated by the clink of glasses and the first bursts of laughter from early connections forming. Feel free to bring friends and colleagues. If you are looking for future collaborations please let us know. **8pm Carriages** With warm regards, Zee & Team NB For Partnerships or Sponsors zee@picnicbank.com & [zm@mastercollective.xyz](mailto:zm@mastercollective.xyz)

London's Friendly Book Club's pick for March is **Project Hail Mary** by **Andy Weir**. A lone astronaut. An impossible mission. An ally he never imagined. Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission - and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it's up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery-and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he's got to do it all alone. Or does he? Please only RSVP if you think you'll be able to make this event. **We host three sessions per book, you only need to attend one.** Everyone is welcome! Grab your copy and join us for a relaxed and engaging discussion.

Have you ever wanted to be immersed within either the city or nature in the form of a walk and socialise at the same time? If so, this may be the right walk for you. Welcome to another one of the WALK events where you have the opportunity to explore all the scenic routes I’ll execute whether there’s nature within, whether we get immersed within the city and feel great about yourself. 

With this particular walk, we will be walking down regents canal. Regents Canal is quite the unique shortcut from Angel to Mile End that offers the views of many houseboats, cafes and much more be it on the canal or beside it. After this walk, we’ll be heading to ‘Sweet’ for some desserts if you wish. They started in late 2015 which became a popular hotspot in 2017. They too specialise in some gorgeous desserts such as their cookie doughs, tall shakes, milk cakes and much more. To check out their menu, check the link at: https://www.sweetstepney.co.uk My fellow explorers, if you enjoyed the event, I’m more than happy to accept any donations which of course are optional but will go a long way to help me unlock and deliver even more exciting and engaging events and resources: https://www.paypal.me/calvinjoy 

Starting point: Angel Station
Ending point: Mile end
Walking length: 3.6 miles
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes +
Required clothing: Smart casual, comfortable shoes and a jacket in case it gets cold
Departure: 20 minutes after the meeting time. 

WHAT - Walk down Regents canal
WHERE - Regents canal
WHEN - 6:30pm - 9pm
MEETING POINT - Outside Angel station
NEAREST STATION - Angel station
REQUIREMENTS - Just your good behaviour is all and whatever is listed above for the walk.

 Disclaimers: Please be on your best behaviour and respect one another. This group doesn’t tolerate any misbehaviour and misconduct. Should such a thing take place, you will be removed. If you ask a question that either already has the answer to it or doesn’t relate to the event at all, I won’t respond. Whenever an event takes place, I will cut off contact 20 minutes after the event commences. If you message even 1 minute after the cut off time, I won’t be available as I’m conducting the event. There will be photography and videography by myself so if you are photo conscious and/or do not want to be in the video, do kindly inform me and I’ll try my utmost best to not involve you in the picture. Let’s all be responsible but please be aware you come at your own risk. Do be mindful of your possessions, belongings and most importantly, your safety. The ‘London society of explorers’ accept no risk of liability at this event.

**[Everything I Never Told You](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18693763-everything-i-never-told-you) by Celeste Ng (292 pages)** *Genre: Literary Fiction, Family Drama, Mystery* **Summary:** Lydia is the favorite child of the Lee family, and her parents are determined she will fulfill the dreams they could never reach. But when Lydia’s body is found in a nearby lake, the fragile balance of their family shatters. As the truth of her life and death slowly unfolds, each family member is forced to confront long-held secrets, unspoken expectations, and the weight of silence. Celeste Ng’s stunning debut is a moving exploration of identity, family pressures, and the invisible ties that bind us together. ***Trigger Warning:*** *This book contains themes of racism, sexism, parental pressure, and grief. Please take care while reading.* *** **Join Our Book Club Bingo! 📚💔** For our May pick, we’re diving into an intimate and heart-wrenching family story that blends mystery with emotional depth — with a side of Book Club Bingo, of course! **How It Works:** 🎲 Grab Your Bingo Card: We’ll give you a custom card with prompts and themes from the book. ✅ Mark Your Cards: Tick off squares during our discussion. 🎉 Shout “Bingo!”: First to complete 2 rows, columns, or diagonals wins. 🎁 Win a Book: Two lucky winners will go home with a new read! Expect a night of thoughtful discussion on family expectations, cultural identity, love, loss, and the things we leave unsaid. Come ready to share your reflections and reactions. 📍 *The Dog & Bull (in Surrey Street) in Croydon* 📅 *13th of May 2026 (Wednesday) at 7:00 PM* Are you ready to uncover *everything they never told you*? 🌊📖

🍻 **Join Us for Tech Startups in the Pub!** 🍻 Hey there! 🌟 We'd love for you to join us for our next edition of *Tech Startups in the Pub*. It's a relaxed evening at The Windmill, our go-to spot for tech chats and good vibes. We have been running for 3.5 years, and it's always a joy to see familiar faces and meet new folks. Whether you're a regular, a tech founder, an enthusiast, a budding entrepreneur, or simply curious about the tech scene, you'll fit right in. This isn't about panels or pitching, just good old-fashioned networking with like-minded people over a drink (and maybe some pizza) on a Friday evening. 📍 **Where:** The Windmill, 27 Tabernacle St, Shoreditch, London EC2A 4DE 🕕 **When:** From 6 PM on the 3rd Friday of every month! **House Rules:** * Find Oliver, Pedro, Rob, or the other Rob (or anyone in a burgundy T-shirt) to introduce yourself so we can welcome you properly. The pub isn't reserved exclusively for us, so we don't want you mingling with someone's birthday party by mistake! * No hard selling or heavy pitching. This is a chill, friendly after-work get-together. * Not drinking? No worries! You're more than welcome to come hang out and enjoy the conversation. Mark your calendar and come down for some fun tech talk. See you there!

Meet fellow early birds. Get a big dose of nature: wild sky, abundant green space, and occasional wildlife. And then warm up in a nearby cafe. Conversations fuelled by early morning light and coffee tend to be good ones. **The plan:** * meet at 7AM at the top of **PRIMROSE HILL** * take in the view for a little while (depending on how cold it is) * walk to ROOTS, a friendly café on Regents Park Road * warm up with coffee (10% off) Become part of our community of regulars, or just drop by for a one off experience. We meet frequently - sometimes weekly, sometimes fortnightly - to create and sustain community. New people are always welcome :-) **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DPkYXvrP6IhFrSRDiQACLC)** to keep up to date **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thesunriseclubetc)** to see what these meetups look like **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/)** for the newsletter and occasional extras **[WEBSITE](http://www.alltogether.one/)** for all other groups We will be easy to find because we will be at the top of the hill with a big red flag that says 'THE SUNRISE CLUB' and a sign that says 7AM SUMMIT If you would like to further support these meetups, please [subscribe to the newsletter](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) and [follow us on instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thesunriseclubetc/) :-)

**Our May novel is: *The Quiet Librarian* by Allen Eskens** **This month’s book is set in the 20th century and mixes historical fiction with suspense and thriller elements. It also centers on women’s stories and relationships. The novel is 368 pages in print or 8 hours and 12 minutes on audiobook.** Hana Babic is a quiet, middle-aged librarian in Minnesota who wants nothing more than to be left alone. But when a detective arrives with the news that her best friend has been murdered, Hana knows that something evil has come for her, a dark remnant of the past she and her friend had shared. Thirty years before, Hana was someone else: Nura Divjak, a teenager growing up in the mountains of war-torn Bosnia—until Serbian soldiers arrived to slaughter her entire family before her eyes. The events of that day thrust Nura into the war, leading her to join a band of militia fighters, where she became not only a fierce warrior but a legend—the deadly Night Mora. But a shattering final act forced Nura to flee to the United States with a bounty on her head\*\*.\*\*

Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! We have a great little community of Movie Group friends so rather than see a movie this time, we’ll help “create a better world” by helping serve those in need. Here are complete details and our plan for this event: FAITH MISSION – GRANT KITCHEN: The Faith Mission kitchen and dining room serves residents 3 meals a day, every day of the year. For this event, our group will help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents in the dining room, wash dishes, and clean surfaces. PLAN: We will be preparing / serving / cleaning for BRUNCH from 10:30am to 12:30pm and have space for a total of 7 volunteers. Please arrive at 10:20am and wear closed-toe shoes and long pants. LOCATION: Faith Mission – Grant Kitchen is located at 245 N. Grant Ave. Enter the kitchen at Dock 1 (in the back of the building), indicated in the attached map. On-site parking in the adjacent lot and street parking is available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details: IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing all of the volunteers on this day so a firm RSVP count is essential. Please only sign up if you are certain you’ll be able to attend. If something unavoidable comes up, please try to update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With few exceptions, no shows or cancelations within 1 week of the event will not be eligible for future CMG Gives Back events. I appreciate your understanding as we try to ensure the agencies have the volunteers needed to provide the essential services they provide to the vulnerable population they serve. Our Partner Agency for this event is Lutheran Social Services! A huge THANK YOU to all of YOU for volunteering at this (and any of our previous) CMG Gives Back events! Should be another good/fun/meaningful time together, Dan

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

Bring your business cards and network in person with other business professionals! Gold Star Referral Clubs is one of the most established professional networking organizations in the country, with multiple groups in central Ohio. Join us!

We meet at lunch each week and each meeting follows a fairly organized agenda. First all participants pass their business cards around. Then each member and guest is invited to give a one-minute overview of their company and what is a perfect referral for the week. We always have a 10 minute presentation from one of the members about their business in more detail. And finally we pass referrals. You're welcome to visit. Nobody is ever put on the spot. Bring plenty of cards!