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Ever wondered how small groups at Asbury First decide what to tackle next? Spoiler alert: It involves spreadsheets, friendly debate, and the occasional book romance!
Picture this: It's May, and the Wednesday Morning Study Group is buzzing with anticipation. Not because summer's around the corner (though that's nice too), but because it's time for the annual "What Should We Read?" extravaganza!
The Nomination Station
Every May, our intrepid group members transform into literary talent scouts, submitting their book recommendations for the upcoming year. Think of it as the Academy Awards, but for page-turners instead of movies. This year's haul?
A whopping 21 nominations: 17 contenders for our main program year lineup
and 4 summer reads. For a complete list of this year's suggestions CLICK HERE.
Speed Dating... With Books
Once we've got our literary lineup, it's showtime! We dedicate an entire meeting to something akin to "Speed Dating," but with books. Armed with a detailed document featuring titles, authors, page counts, and tantalizing synopses, each book gets its moment in the spotlight.
The recommender becomes the book's enthusiastic matchmaker, sharing why they think the group would fall head-over-heels for their pick. Questions fly, eyebrows raise with intrigue, and occasionally someone audibly gasps, "Ooh, that sounds fascinating!"
The catch? Each book gets just a few minutes to make its case. With 21 books to cover, we keep things snappier than a good plot twist.
Democracy in Action (With Spreadsheets!)
Here's where Mike Mullin, our fearless leader, channels his inner data scientist. After the book showcase, voting begins! Members submit their "love to read" and "like to read" lists, and Mike works his spreadsheet magic.
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