A book club can have several goals at once, including the social aspect of getting together with others in a relaxed setting and the focused activity of discussing various elements of a particular book that everyone in the group has (mostly) read. A recent survey by BookBrowse of over 5,500 individuals engaged in book clubs across the country reported that survey responders highlighted both the value of discussion focused on the chosen book AND the social nature of the group. In this second session of our yearlong CHWB Book Club, you’ll join Dr. Annette Kelly, an avid reader, and the board president of Neighbors Network, who aims to help you do both!

About this Session’s Featured Book:

Jane Goodall, renowned English primatologist and anthropologist and the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, says of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s collection of essays, “… it’s the way she captures beauty that I love the most — images of giant cedars and wild strawberries, a forest in the rain, and a meadow of fragrant sweetgrass…”   In “Braiding Sweetgrass,” Robin Wall Kimmerer’s stories are both scientific (she is a scientist and Distinguished Teaching Professor of Environmental Biology) and mythical (she is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation), showing us how the facts of science can be enriched by the ancient knowledge of indigenous people. Author Elizabeth Gilbert calls this book “a hymn of love to the world.” Read it and then join us to share and discover new insights into the natural world around us.

Special Note: Participants are asked to purchase the paperback of the featured book prior to the program’s start date. “Braiding Sweet Grass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, was published in 2013 by Milkweed Editions, a non-profit publishing company, and it is available on Kindle, Audible as well as new and used from various vendors. Book clubs work well when participants have read the book, but this is not a requirement. Being open to the opinions and reflections of others is important, as is staying on topic. Other elements of a “good” discussion: making room for everyone who wishes to speak, being attentive when others are speaking, not interrupting, or arguing, and encouraging less talkative members to join in.

Mark Your Calendars and Stay Tuned: The CHWB Book Club will meet on the following dates in 2022: June 16, August 18, October 20 and December 15. Book selection details and registration options to come! This program is presented by Dr. Annette Kelly and hosted by the Winter Park Health Foundation.

Cancelling Your Reservation: If you are unable to attend a program, cancelling your reservation gives us an accurate count of how many to expect; for sold-out programs, cancelling your reservation also allows someone on the waitlist to attend in your place. Canceling your reservation for this program is especially important as most of our programs have limited capacities. Cancelling can be done in two easy ways: by calling 407.644.2492 and selecting Option 1, then Option 3 to speak to a representative or by using the online ticket cancellation option in your original confirmation email from Eventbrite.

By participating in this program, you agree to CHWB’s Gracious Space policy.

About the Program Presenter

Annette Kelly currently volunteers as the board president of Neighbors Network, a local non-profit, whose mission is the independence, engagement, and connectedness of older adults in our community. She is also a retired nurse practitioner and nursing professor with experience locally as the former CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. She was the former assistant professor of Nursing at Florida Southern College. Kelly is an avid reader who has been married 58 years and enjoys spending time with her four children and four grandchildren.