Book Club

[TWP]

Jerry, RE Skype, it conflicts with my server configuration, so I do not install it.   This a known problem where Skype is concerned and I don't expect them to change... We also have a bandwidth limitation (cost for more Gigabytes...) when our wireless is up, so another negative for VOIP.

I'm fine with email text, my email client alerts me to messages.  I have several message clients, but have never used them, I with David in that respect, I prefer face-to-face for voice.

[Jerry D Young]

Okay. Nix on the Skype. Face to face it is. Just have to find a day and time. Weekends seem to be out.

Glenda, do you think you could get Round Table Pizza room on, say, the fourth Tuesday of the month, 6pm - 8pm, if that would work for everyone?

Or, Rob, perhaps Prep & Save one evening a month?

TWP, what is a good location and time frame for you?

Jerry

[TWP]

We are generally available any day (night is a travel problem on bikes).  Time of DAY is also flexible.

The present meeting location is up on Mayberry, right?  That is the other problem with bikes (hills are a PITA...).

Could we find a location down here in the flatlands?  What is central to most of the attendees?  We're located near the Peppermill Casino.  We can handle up to two miles in any direction except up...

There is an India Food restaurant on Virginia that has a room suitable for meetings.  I've never been there and I don't know if they expect a meal purchase, but I do see that other groups (like the old Meetup.com groups) were using it.

Glenda, you're opinion on this matters... What would you like to do?

[David-Audrey]

If there are not a lot of people involved in the book club we can have it at our home. Damonte Ranch. We could accommodate about 10 to 12 people. We also like Jerrys' various suggestions of places to hold it.

[Jerry D Young]

I am good for Audrey and David's place. A simple pot luck (no elaborate dishes) would work, order in take out, or pitch in for catering.

Or how about the Café Milano (formerly the coffee shop) in the Peppermill? They have some large tables, and I doubt we need to book anything. As long as everyone orders at least an iced tea or soda I think we would be good there, especially if we do it fairly early, like 6pm. Not sure about staying 2 hours though.

There is the Black Bear on Virginia, too.

Even the Food Court in Meadowood mall?

Does the county library at Virginia and Peckham have a room? And would it be open that late? There is a Round Table Pizza there, too, I think. Do not know about a meeting room.

I am running out of ideas.

Jerry

[Glenda KG7MZO]

Oh boy.  My thoughts. 

Daytime Monday through Friday will not work for me.  Those are my work hours. Saturdays or Sundays would be fine and me even be better, especially since I can work around Jasmine's schedule better.  I drag her around to so many things and I also CERT commitments which tend to always be on weeknights. 

I am leaning more towards a Sunday late morning or early afternoon.  As far as location, budget is super tight.  There is also Rounds Bakery on Moana.  Coffee and a donut or bagel.  They also serve sandwiches.  It's close to the Peppermill.  They are only open until 2pm on Sundays.  Here's a link to their website: http://roundsbakery.com/menu-category/menu/

While I love David and Audrey so much, Damonte Ranch is a quite the trek for me coming from the North Valleys and sounds out of range for TWP. 

I'm still open to meeting in a park while the weather is still nice and then we can decide on a place for the winter.  Maybe Virginia Lake Park just to get things started, then we can work the details at our first get together.

[David-Audrey]

We will go most anywhere, however weekends are a near impossibility for us. We work during the day as most of us do and unfortunately we generally have family obligations on the weekends.

[Jerry D Young]

Looks like this just is not going to happen.

Though we cannot do Skype, there is the possibility of group e-mails back and forth some weekday evening. Perhaps that fourth Tuesday of the month I mentioned. Not quite live, but close.

I do have one last suggestion that I am sure will work, but might not be acceptable to a bunch of people.

Split the second Tuesday of the month into one hour of Conflicted and one hour of Book Club.

Perhaps start at 5:30 pm and/or go to 8:30 pm if Glenda can get the room for the extended hours. Some of us eat during the game, and others hang around later, while some come late, and others leave early, anyway.

I say if this is not acceptable, we do not worry about a group book club and just discuss various books among ourselves as the opportunities present themselves.

Jerry

[TWP]

It does look like a live meeting has too many schedule and location conflicts.

Email is probably good for most, and while it is not real-time discussion, it does let anyone contribute.  Discussion could be spread over days, rather than a single time period.  More like how this forum works.

RE using this forum for such discussion, I'd rather not use up the server space, since these forum messages are archived.

Re the library in the Sierra View mall. They do have a meeting room, reservable, but I found it to be very cold, the air conditioning works too well there.

The Pizza shop in Sierra View does not have a meeting room, to my knowledge.

There are picnic tables at Virginia Lake, big enough for about eight close friends, weather permitting.  It could work for a discussion meeting on where to move the meeting...

[Glenda KG7MZO]

I think that a book club meeting would be best in a face to face setting for open conversation.  But given everyone's input so far, it seems that the individual schedules are conflicting.

Jerry, I am hesitant to piggy back a book discussion with the Conflicted Card Game.  I would prefer stand alone events.  Given everyone's input so far, I leaning towards tabling this idea until we can find a solution that works for those that are interested in participating.

Another idea that have is to create a book club discussion forum here.  We could have a recommended reading list and sort the discussions threads by for each book.  The discussions can be ongoing and perhaps it could generate some interest from others.  This could get something started until schedules work out and we can put together a live meeting.

[TWP]

Glenda, Jerry and Overseer

What is the opinion of the leadership team?  Could we use this forum for a book discussion?

My only concern is the amount of data storage and bandwidth required for this.  Otherwise I think it a good idea.

[Ken K7KBJ]

I helped Overseer set up the forum and I know how busy she is so I'll help out here.
Realistically, we have unlimited space so data storage is not an issue.
Also, our service provider has stated our bandwidth is not limited.
With the number of people in our group, I'm sure we won't be hitting any bandwidth usage limits.


If we are going to do book discussions on the forum, I can create a category like "Book Club" or whatever is agreed upon.
Then, we have a container to keep those discussions apart from the rest.
Inside the Book Club category can be separate book discussions just like we have inside our NNPG Radio Net category.

[Jerry D Young]

The forum idea works for me. That will allow people a chance to read it and comment as they get a chance. We can have several discussions going at a time on different books. After Ken gets the forum set up, with One Second After as the first book to discuss, and Alas Babylon as the second, we each then pick another book to add to the list for discussion with our thoughts on it. That will give people a chance to see what books people are reading and want to discuss. I have copies of both books that I do not mind loaning out as long as I get them back. One Second After is on loan, but I have Alas Babylon available. I think Prep & Save has One Second After.

And if anyone wants to read any of my stories for discussion, just e-mail me at jerrydyoung@outlook.com with your e-mail address and I will send over a .pdf copy.

Does this sound like it will work?

Jerry

[Glenda KG7MZO]

Excellent! I believe we have a consensus. Let's move forward with the discussion forum for the time being.

Ken, I agree with your idea. Let's create either a Book Club forum or a Reading Discussion forum. We can start with a thread for One Second After and Alas, Babylon as well as a recommended reading list.

Thank you to everyone for your input. I'm glad we were able to come up with a solution.  Looking forward to some lively discussions!

[Jerry D Young]

Good decision. I am definitely in.

Jerry