Rotary Club

🌌Ever look up and marvel with insatiable curiosity at both the beauty and wonder of the **universe?** That wild sobering thought that somewhere in the chaos of creation - the emergence of life - the universe became **conscious** enough to look back and ask the existential questions; How it all started, our evolution and place in it, and where else in the cosmos other complex life might exist (we know almost every star you see has planets orbiting with up to **20 billion habitable exoplanets** easily in our galaxy alone!)? 🪐🌟🌟🌟 🌍Then RSVP to view the potential life harbouring moons of **Jupiter**, comets, the famous **Orion Nebula** where stars like our sun were born, the majestic rings of **Saturn**, the international space station, well known star fields, remnants of **supernova** witnessed by our early ancestors, multi-star solar systems (think the double sun in Starwars), the Tau Ceti star with **2 Earth like planets** orbiting in the habitable zone, plus a range of other fascinating celestial wonderments (comets, galaxies) over drinks and engaging chats and banter this Jan fully hosted by a passionate amateur astronomer and former global Journalist covering big picture stories including cutting edge science related ones. 🚀In between observing - we'll have **drinks and engaging chats** on all astronomy related topics for those inclined - space exploration, Fermi Paradox, Astrobiology, Cosmology, paleontology, SETI/Drake Equation (I have my own augmented version giving more realistic estimates of likely alien civilisations!), exoplanetology etc as well as non space chatter and banter too. No doubt we'll hear the usual jokes we've all heard before! If those don't make you laugh, my impersonation of Los Angeles ET will! 👽 And to help set the mood and make the night feel even extra galactic, I’ll put my DJ hat to play some space‑themed tunes and songs about the stars! **======= Joining Astronomers Group & Telescopes =======** I'm able to take a limited number of people (please only RSVP if you can make it) to join my friendly informal relaxed London amateur astronomers' club that have been for over a decade with their regulars made up of up to about 150 people. As there will be people attending from this private Astronomers group as well as others from one of my other groups - the total attendees will be far higher than rsvps here and the public liability insurance only covers a max number of people - hence I need to impose strict limits on attendance. Over the years we have enjoyed numerous social evenings of stargazing and thought provoking chatter with people of all ages and varying levels of astronomy knowledge - so complete beginners that are genuinely curious about the universe are very welcome. If you are just looking to meet generic randoms then there are others groups that will better cater for that. The world renowed **BBC Television Sky at Night** also attended our events pre covid and interviewed some of us for it's show that aired on BBC1 in Feb 2019. BBC **Radio London** (94.9 FM / digital) were there Aug 2023 to cover our meteor shower event broadcasting live to millions of Londoners for 3 hours You don't need a telescope as you will be able to view through scopes belonging to me and other club members (as long as you behave responsibly and don't temper with expensive equipment). If you have your own telescope/binoculars feel free to bring along and I can help you setting it up if you're a newbie **==== Food & Drinks With Seating From Warm Indoor Cafe ====** Alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, cider only), hot drinks and food/snacks will be available to purchase from an indoor cafe at the observation point which Regent's park keep open exclusively for the astronomers group so please don't bring your own drinks **==== ITINERARY =====** We will meet outside Camden Station. After a short wait for anyone delayed, I will escort everyone to our observation point in the local park 15 minutes walk away and brief you in terms of what to expect, observing etiquette, tips, equipment handling and take any questions you have - weather general or astronomy/cosmology related. **After Drinks:** Unless I have a very important 9AM Thursday deadline for a client presentation or something that I'm still gonna be writing 2 mins before start - most of us usually head our way back to Camden for another drink. If so - I will annouce the pub when we leave the park **==== What Can You Expect To See (this time of year)? ====** * Orion Nebula * Jupiter and 4 moons * Meteors * Andromedia Galaxy * Saturn, rings & moon * Star clusters such as the Pleiades & Owl Cluster etc * International Space station fly by * Venus & Mercury * Binary & tripple star systems (think planet *Tatooine in* Starwars!), * Neptune * Uranuus * Mars * Our moon * A look towards the galactic centre where that supermassive £22b Labour black hole sits (Sagittarius A) More here from Jodrell Bank Observatory/Astrophysics Centre: [http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/](http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/) Guide to viewing the cosmos for beginners: [https://phys.org/news/2018-05-universe-distant-starstips-cosmology-backyard.html#jCp](https://phys.org/news/2018-05-universe-distant-starstips-cosmology-backyard.html#jCp) **===Weather Dependent=====** The event is subject to clear skies forecasts on the night so if on the actual afternoon of the event the weather forecasts looks unsuitable beyond doubt then I will postpone so please check the event status on the day of the event . If this event is still listed here at 5PM on the day, it will be going ahead at the designated day and time! Happy Stargazing Lucas Skywalker - The Singin, Dancin, DJ-in Astronomer

**Welcome back to LCC's Trail Running Club!** For this instalment, we're taking on another one of the great parks of central London (for everyone's ease and convenience): the Regent's Park, situated just a few minutes' walk from Euston station or Great Portland Street and right on its own Bakerloo line station, also called Regent's Park. **We'll be looking at a roughly 30-40 minute run, covering around 3 kilometres (2 miles) on flat surfaces, suitable for beginners and experienced runners alike. The terrain will be about half paved, half compacted dirt trail.** The Regent's Park, much like our other regular route at Hyde Park, doesn't get much love from London locals. With the rest of central-central London it's more or less consigned to the hell of tourism, shopping and offices. It's not hard to see why: Regents' is home to the London zoo and even the US Ambassadors' residence. Tourism and commercialism are practically in its geographic DNA. But nothing can stop us LCC runners: we'll enjoy the space and reclaim it for the people, one step at a time. Our route will take us from our meeting-point at Great Portland Street station, over to the park (\~2-3 mins), up the Broad Walk trail for about 1km, westward past the Zoo to the "Monkey Gate", down past Winfield House (the US ambassador's residence), over Hanover Island (where toilets are available) and around the boating lake to finish back where we started. Take care and see you on the trails! Our standard bit of info about our running group and why it's good is provided below: \-\-\-\-\- Humans evolved to run and sprint; no wonder then that when we do it regularly (within moderation and with plenty of rest days), our brains as well as bodies thank us. Running has recently been shown to [improve neuroplasticity,](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6148340/) heal [brain damage](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6148340/) in affected individuals, and foster [better mental health](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-truth-behind-runners-high-and-other-mental-benefits-of-running) including elevated mood at rest and enhanced task-switching ability. Doing all this in nature, as opposed to busy London roads dodging commuters and street cleaners, also helps deliver the well-known [benefits](https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/mental-health/the-mental-health-benefits-of-nature-spending-time-outdoors-to-refresh-your-mind/) of time spent in nature to mood, anxiety levels, cognition and memory. All these things matter a great deal in an age where burnout and exhaustion are a constant presence either in our own lives or those of the people we care about [who you should totally invite along]. It matters especially for people trying to eke out a percentage of their time and mental capacity for transformative social and political organising: the better we feel, the more we'll be able to do. In a nutshell, running is great for you and you should do it. Trail running is even better. Best of all is doing all this with a supportive group of comrades, especially one which includes knowledgeable folks who can provide some structure to what can be a puzzling sport to get started with if building up to something, like a 10k or half marathon, is your goal. Part of our running group's programming will be building a series of events aimed at building people up, slowly but surely, towards specific goals, using progressive programmes similar to the [NHS's Couch to 5k](https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/) system. \-\-\-\-\- Take care and see you on the trails!

For the first meeting in February, we will discuss Rachel Joyce's 2012 novel, *The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry*. The book quickly became a best-seller and has since been adapted into a film and a stage musical. 'One of the sweetest, most delicately-written stories I've read in a long time. One man's walk along the length of England to save the life of a dying woman... Philosophical, intriguing, and profoundly moving.' (Foyles) 'Joyce's uplifting bestseller about an ordinary man's extraordinary odyssey from one end of the country to the other has been taken to the nation's hearts.' -Waterstones https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13227454-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry We will hold the meeting at Barbie Green near the Barbican. Some come along for some tasty brunch food as we delve into this heartwarming story. N.B. We will be charging an event fee of £3, non-refundable, to discourage no-shows and contribute to the running costs of the group. Please only sign up if you intend to come along as space is limited to make for an effective discussion!

**Honouring the earth** Part 2 of the book club 'Cherishing the Earth' led by Alison Bybee and David Carter. Join us for insightful discussions over tea and cake, as we explore a book that celebrates and reflects on our planet, searching for a spiritual response to the ecological crisis that confronts us all. We will meet on the 3rd Sunday of every month for four months. The book, *Cherishing the Earth – Nourishing the Spirit*, edited by Maria Curtis, presents a range of Unitarian responses to the global environmental crisis. Contributors include ministers, lay people, and children, writing from diverse theological and ethical perspectives, exploring what it might mean to live in right relationship with the Earth. Their insights range from the prophetic and political to the practical and intensely personal, but all share a sense of gratitude for the sacred gift of life. Maria Curtis asks what changes we need to make in ourselves and in our society if we are to work towards healing the Earth and restoring balance to the global ecosystem: *“We need to re-imagine what a healthy relationship between humanity and the natural world might look like, one conducive to the flourishing of all beings onEarth.”* Rev. Dr Maria Curtis is a Unitarian minister with a background in education and psychology. Our four book club sessions: **18th January: Prophetic Voices** **15th February: Honouring the Earth** **15th March: Changing Hearts and Minds** **19th April: Active Hope and Young Voices** Each session will be standalone so that you can attend all, several or just one. We encourage participants to buy or borrow the book and to have read the sections if possible beforehand. **Buy the book: email *[alonghurst@unitarian.org.uk](mailto:alonghurst@unitarian.org.uk)* (£12 plus £3.50 P&P) Subsidised books available by request for those in financial need, just contact: [ministryteam@rosslynhillchapel.org.uk](mailto:ministryteam@rosslynhillchapel.org.uk)** Suggested donation: £10, for those who can afford to make a contribution. We are a registered charity - please give what you can.

**Sunday 15 February** Valentine’s Day is over… whether you loved it, hated it, or successfully ignored it 😄 So come and **walk it off** with us. This is a **free Sunday walk** focused on **movement, fresh air, and good company** — no romance required, no awkward hand-holding, and absolutely no pressure to discuss your love life. ### 🥾 The Walk * **Meeting Point:** Outside Finsbury Park Station (main exit - station place (East side)) at 10:15am (walk starts at 10:30 sharp) and finish by 2pm. * **Distance:** Approx. 12–15 km * **Pace & Difficulty:** Steady and purposeful with some elevation of approx., 250m. * **Terrain:** Well-maintained paths, suitable for winter * **Breaks:** Brief catch-up stops only * This is a **pre-lunch walk**, and we’ll aim to **finish before 2:00 pm**, so please be comfortable maintaining the pace. **About the walk** \- This route is a **varied and scenic North London loop**, with a mix of **urban green corridors, woodland paths, and elevated viewpoints**. A steady climb rewarded with some of the best panoramic views over London, and peaceful woodland stretches of Highgate Wood. ### ❤️ **Why join?** * Walk off the Valentine’s chocolate, cake, wine… or all three 🍫🍷, or * Clear your head of bad cards, bad dates, or bad TV * Walk with like-minded people who chose fresh air over brunch * Be done, dusted, and virtuous before 2 pm ### ⚠️ Important * Please arrive **on time** * Stay within sight of the group * This walk suits those happy with **continuous walking at a decent pace** Whether you’re **single, coupled, complicated, or gloriously unbothered** — you’re welcome. *** ### **After-Walk** We’ll finish near **Finsbury Park** **Station** at **Finsbury Park** with packed picnic style lunch and then go to pub nearby for a warm drink/pint and/or to unwind. *** ### ⚠️ Important Notes * Please stay with or behind the hike leader. This helps to manage group pace and cohesion. * Participation is free, but you are responsible for your own safety and well-being. No risk/liability is inferred or accepted by the organiser. * Please be mindful of others, respect the countryside, and keep the group spirit positive. * Read the **About Us** section before joining: 👉 [About Us](https://www.meetup.com/free-hiking-outdoor-fitness-and-social-activities/) 📲 **Contact:** If you’re running late, lost, or need to reach me on the day, message/WhatsApp me at **07830 374 629**.

### 📍**CheckedIn London — Speed Networking for Real Connections** CheckedIn London is built for one thing: **helping you meet the right people faster—in real life.** We get you out from behind the screen and into the room, where real conversations happen. We show up at tech mixers, networking events, and industry gatherings across Leeds and use the **CheckedIn app** to turn quick introductions into meaningful connections—*on the spot*. ### 🚀 How Speed Networking Works with CheckedIn At each event, the CheckedIn app helps you: * Instantly connect with people you meet—no business cards required * Follow up later without awkward LinkedIn requests * Remember who you met, what you talked about, and why it mattered * Turn short conversations into real collaborations, fast Think of CheckedIn as the **spiritual successor to LinkedIn**— but built for **in-person moments**, not endless scrolling. No cold DMs. No forgetting names. Just tap, connect, and keep the conversation going after the event. Whether you’re a founder, operator, creative, or curious professional, this is a space for conversations that actually go somewhere. Come solo or bring a colleague. No pressure. No pitches. Just good people, efficient introductions, and momentum. *** ## 🌍 Help Us Grow CheckedIn CheckedIn is expanding, and we’re actively looking for **chapter organizers** to help run and grow chapters in cities around the world. If you enjoy: * Bringing people together * Hosting great events * Building real community We’d love to hear from you. 👉 Apply here: **[www.checkedIn.site/organizer-apply](http://www.checkedIn.site/organizer-apply)** *** ## 🌍 About This Chapter CheckedIn is a **chapter-based, community-driven network**. The Londonchapter is part of the wider CheckedIn community. On some occasions, the primary organizer may not be in attendance. These meetups are designed to be **self-led, welcoming, and participatory**—members take ownership of starting conversations, making introductions, and helping others connect. If you show up, you belong. If you tap in, connections start immediately. **Join us. Check in. Connect faster.** **CheckedIn — open the app and tap.**

Discover the World at International Cafe! We are a group of Christian volunteers set out to create a friendly community that welcomes everyone! Come and practice speaking English with our English speaking volunteers. You will learn more about British culture and discuss life with NEW topics each week. We also include a Bible story at the end of our sessions. At International Cafe, we start our meet up with refreshments, snacks and continue in engaging conversations. Each week, we'll look at NEW topics about British culture and history, so you can learn and socialize. Best of all, it's a free event and open to everyone! So mark your calendars: 🕕 Time: **Sunday at 2:30 PM** 📍 Address: ECIR OEA, Inspire at St James Questions? Text Organiser at 07708228436.

**\-\-\- ALL TICKETS ARE SOLD \-\-\-** Participation in group travel is optional. You may attend the hike using your own transport. The hike itself is free of charge. **Note:** Anyone who has signed up but hasn’t paid will be removed from the event as we get closer to purchasing tickets, to allow others who are ready to pay to take their place. **£13 payments must be sent to the organiser by noon Tuesday 10 Feb** **GROUPS CONFIRMED - TICKET PURCHASED:** 01 AdrianB - Paid 02 Esra - Paid 03 Eve - Paid 04 snehamuthuvel - Paid \-\-\- 05 Adam B - Paid 06 Emily B - Paid 07 Stavros - Paid 08 Angela - Paid \-\-\- 09 Zyerak - Paid 10 Ana N - Paid 11 Ranji - Paid 12 Sophie - Paid \-\-\- **🥾 EVENT:** Seven Sisters Grand Coastal [**[LINK](https://www.meetup.com/freehiketogether/events/312946951/)**] **📅 DATE:** 15 Feb 2026 **📍 LONDON MEETING POINT - GROUP TRAVEL** The event host **[AdrianB](https://www.meetup.com/members/287692462/)** will be at the meeting point as a focal point for group travel. 08:30 - Meet at **[London Bridge](https://w3w.co/cubes.flags.famed)** station main ticket office 08:35 - Leave the meeting point and proceed to the platform 08:49 - Train departs London Bridge 09:52 - Arrive at Lewes and change trains, walk to Platform 2 10:08 - Board the train from Lewes to Seaford 10:27 - Arrive in **[Seaford](https://w3w.co/microfilm.boxing.curiosity)** ❗ **IMPORTANT:** Please ensure you are at the meeting point on time. If you are not there when we leave to board the train, we will go through the barrier without you. **✅ THIS OFFER APPLIES TO YOU IF** * You want to pay a £13 total travel cost for the entire day * You are happy to travel in groups of four people * You understand that individual tickets cannot be issued * You will be travelling from **London Bridge** to **Seaford** and back to **London Bridge** from **Eastbourne** **⚙️ HOW IT WORKS** You can pay the organiser £13 in advance. The organiser will purchase group tickets only once a full group of four people has been confirmed. If a group of four is not confirmed, your payment will be fully refunded, and you will need to arrange your own travel. **💳 PAYMENT** Closed 📱 **WhatsApp:** AdrianB: +44 (0) 7438 812 663 **🔁 REFUNDS** If a group of four is not confirmed, your payment will be fully refunded, and you will need to arrange your own travel. After tickets have been pre-purchased from National Rail, a refund is not possible. **❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS** **Q: What if I want to travel on my own?** A: You cannot. This arrangement requires all participants to travel in groups of four. **Q: What if I want to leave the group and travel on my own later?** A: You cannot. You must remain with your group of four for the entire journey. **Q: Will the organiser give me an individual ticket?** A: No. The ticket issued is a group ticket and is valid only for four people travelling together. **Q: Will the organiser give a group of four people a ticket?** A: Yes. A group ticket will be provided as long as all four people stay together and travel together. **Q: Who holds the group tickets, and how do we get through the barriers?** A: The organiser will hold and present the tickets to the train guard. We will go through the barriers together as one group. 📝 **NOTE:** If you with to arrange your own group travel you can buy the tickets from **[HERE](https://ticket.southernrailway.com/daysave/2026-02-15/VIC/4/)**

*📣 Meetup RSVPs do not reflect actual attendance! We usually have around 20-30 people at every single event. 📣* **[🎟️ Sign up here to grab your ticket 🎟️](https://luma.com/london2ftst)** 🎫 **RSVP ≠ ticket. A paid ticket is required to attend.** 🔗 On your phone and can’t click? Click the link in the comments :) F\*ck the Small Talk has travelled the world across Berlin, Mexico City, Melbourne, Lisbon, Medellin, Vienna, and now back to London for its 3rd year in a row! 😎 **📦 WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?** FTST is a **one-of-a-kind social experience** where strangers come together for an afternoon of meaningful, fun, and deep conversation. It’s also a different & cool way of meeting new people by getting a bit out of your comfort zone and skipping the small talk! Join us for **games**, **talks**, and **connections** with **friends you haven’t met yet**. Join if you get annoyed after being asked what you do, where you are from, and how long you've been in London every single time you meet someone. If you feel that there are better questions in life, this is the place for you. 🙌 **📓 HOW DOES IT WORK?** We start with a short & sweet intro talk followed by a few light-hearted group games to warm up. After that, we split you up into small groups and start with the conversation rounds (with 3-4 people). We'll have awesome question cards that will guide the flow of the conversation. You’ll never have to speak in public if you don’t want to. **📣 NOTE**: We won't validate your payment unless you've been accepted! (which you most likely will ❤️) **🕹 HOW TO JOIN?** **[Take 1 minute to sign up 👈](https://luma.com/london2ftst)** 🔗 On your phone and can’t click? Click the link in the comments :) Our events are **limited to 30 handpicked guests** to ensure a cozy atmosphere. We aim to curate events with similar age and gender groups *wherever possible.* If you're invited you'll receive a confirmation within 48 hours via Luma (our ticketing platform) **🧧 HOW MUCH IS IT?** The cost to attend is **13-15£** and includes the following: ⏰ 3 hours of facilitated and curated activities 🍎 Light snacks to keep the energy going (only if outdoors) 👥 A space to meet new people in the least boring way possible 💛 Supporting our mission to spread human connection events around the world *(🎫 also includes those annoying ticket fees!)* We're also happy to give out student discounts! 🙂 **🌳 WHERE IS IT?** We host our events in awesome pubs & parks across the city! We will reveal the exact location to ticket holders 24 hours before the event. This edition will take place in a nice pub near **Waterloo**. **💛 WHAT THEY SAY** 🗣 “This is the kind of activity humanity needs every weekend. Thank you for all.” - Sonya 🗣 “F\*ck the Small Talk changes the narrative from "Where are you from?" to "When was the last time you laughed uncontrollably?" and I think that's beautiful.” - Monika 🗣 “I loved F\*ck the small talk, I was a little bit nervous at first but they are pros at making you feel comfortable with the rest of the group, the activities are really fun and I enjoyed every second (consider that the one who's saying this is very, very shy). Give it a try!” - Brenda 🗣 “Lively, interesting, introspective, completely open, and no judgment. Everyone that joined was ready for great conversation and helped with different perspectives. So much fun! I can't wait for the next one! “ - Yaz Check out our other [reviews on Google here](https://goo.gl/maps/TpZy77bfPFkGoikn7) 🫶 🤓 FAQ **• Can I come alone?** Of course, in fact, we encourage it! **• Can I be late?** Please don't! "Doors" open at 11:45am and we start at exactly 12:00pm! Late arrivals will disrupt the floooooooow. **• I signed up but never got an invite. Why?** We usually get a high volume of sign-ups yet we like to keep it cozy & only invite around 25 people. We believe this is a good number to ensure an awesome experience, and we’ve learned that it’s easier to build connections with smaller groups! Please try again next time if do not receive an invite - no hard feelings 💛 **• Why do you charge?** We value our time and put a lot of love, planning, and effort into creating & designing these experiences. 💛 This is our project/business and what we give to the world and we think everything should be a fair exchange! 🎈 However, money should never be the reason for people not to attend. If you can’t afford it simply get in touch with us :) **• I'm digging this! Can I get involved somehow?** Sure thing, send us a message! **• Can I bring my pet (llama)?** 100% yes (depends on the venue, ask us!) -- 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙. ✨ * Age guide 22 - 40ish\* (only a reference, never a limit 💃) * Only 30 spots available * Location is only revealed to ticket holders! 🙅‍♀️📱This event is a no-phone experience. Keep them tucked in your pocket 🙅‍♀️📱 We started in Berlin back in 2019 and there are now chapters in Mexico City, Lisbon, Medellin, and Vancouver! 🌏 **Stay in touch 👇** [Website](https://epicllama.com/fuckthesmalltalk) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/epic.llama/)

This Month's Book: The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen. Join us for discussion at the Granville Public Library from 6 to 7pm. Follow us on Instagram: @granvillepridebookclub

Join us as we get together to get together to help those in need at this CMG Gives Back event! For this event, we’ll help prepare food, serve meals, assist residents, wash dishes and clean surfaces at Fath Mission – Grant Kitchen. 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. 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 10:15am 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, indicated in the attached map. On-site and street parking are available in the surrounding area. Below are some links / attachments with additional info/details: \* LSS Volunteer Guidelines: Uploaded to photos. \* Parking Map Info: Uploaded to photos. \* LSS Faith Mission Orientation Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp46_6ay6iA \* Link with Additional Details / Info: https://lss.vomo.org/opportunity/faith-mission-grant-kitchen-2025 IMPORTANT REMINDER: Our group will be providing the 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 update your RSVP no later than one week prior to the event. With very 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. THANK YOU: This CMG Gives Back event provides an opportunity for YOU to get involved in helping others! Benefits go well beyond the help we give to others. Volunteering provides a wide range of personal benefits, including positive effects on mental and physical health, reduced stress/depression/anxiety, increased happiness and improved purpose, life-satisfaction and personal well-being! Plus, the opportunity to get involved, connect with others and help those in need. PARTNER AGENCY: This event is hosted by Lutheran Social Services (LSS), which serves thousands of people in need each day in 27 Ohio counties by addressing the four core societal issues of food, shelter, safety and healing. LSS offers food through the LSS Food Pantries, housing and supportive services through LSS Faith Mission and LSS Faith Mission of Fairfield County homeless shelters, domestic violence services through LSS CHOICES for Victims of Domestic Violence, senior living and health care, affordable housing communities, and other services that uplift families and strengthen communities. Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

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Welcome, readers! Our February read is **_1984 by George Orwell._** In 1984, George Orwell imagines a world where the government watches everyone, rewrites reality, and punishes even private thoughts. Winston Smith dares to question this system, believing that truth and love might still exist. His rebellion draws him into a chilling struggle against a power that knows him better than he knows himself. The novel leaves readers asking whether freedom is possible when reality itself can be controlled. 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! 📖

**I’m planning future book club meetups and would love your input. Please choose your top three from the list below—your picks will help decide what we read next!** **Book Options** *The Hong Kong Widow* – Kristen Loesch *American Spy* – Lauren Wilkinson *God of the Woods* – Liz Moore *Listen for the Lie* – Amy Tintera *The Swallows* – Lisa Lutz *The Drowning Kind* – Jennifer McMahon *The Eights* – Joanna Miller *The Quiet Librarian* – Allen Eskens Thanks so much for sharing your pick! Please **reply in the comments** with your top three. I can’t wait to see which books rise to the top and to discuss them together at our next meetups.