The Ann Arbor Branch’s interest groups cover a wide range of topics and activities. Most of these groups meet monthly from fall to spring.
Members who would like more information about schedules, programs, and contacts can find it in our Connections Newsletter in the Members-only area here. If you have questions, please contact the President-Elect.
Click here to see a general calendar showing when all the interest groups meet.
Afternoon Book Review
1st Monday, Meet for lunch at 11:30 AM with discussion following
The Afternoon Book Review Interest Group will meet beginning this October at 11:30 AM at the Alpha Diner located at 4389 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor. After dining together, a member will review a book of her choice. Q & A follows. Changes may occur as the year progresses, so please read the monthly Interest Group Calendar and emails for updates.
Afternoon Bridge
2nd Monday, 1:00 PM, October – May
Afternoon Bridge meets on the 2nd Monday of each month. We have 8 regular members and a substitute list. Our meeting location rotates monthly, with each of our members hosting a month. We play 4-5 rounds and score party bridge.
Afternoon Mystery Readers
3rd Tuesday, 1:00 PM
An avid group of readers focusing on mysteries and their authors. We read and discuss mysteries ranging from those with a lighthearted twist to those that are downright puzzling. The host of the month will do a presentation on that month’s author, and members are encouraged to read any of the author’s titles. Meetings are held at the home of the host or at a location chosen by the host.
Americana
4th Monday, 1:30 PM, September – November and January – April
Americana examines who, how, and what happened this year in American history 100, 200, or more years ago. In 2024-2025 we will look at Slave Trade & the American Revolution, Gene Stratton-Porter—an American writer and naturalist, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Caroline Ingalls—her story, An Alaskan Dog Race, The Scopes Monkey Trial, and IBM and Jacquard. Members research and present topics either in person or via Zoom with lively discussion following each presentation. Join us to learn more!
Bibliomaniacs
4th Thursday (3rd Thursday in November, no December or June – August meetings) 10 AM unless otherwise announced.
This group is interested in any topic related to books: creating, reading, collecting, performing, housing, and selling. Our programs consist of both member and guest speaker presentations. 2024-2025 meetings will be either in-person or on Zoom, depending on speaker preference. Our Service Project is the branch-wide Mary Lou Unterburger New Calendar Collection, June – mid December, for delivery to the Veterans Memorial Hospital for the new year.
Book Exchanges—East & West
No meetings
Each member purchases a hardcover fiction or non-fiction book published during the last quarter of 2023 or anytime during 2024. Books are rotated according to a pre-arranged schedule by geographical locations, East and West. There are no Book Exchange meetings.
Classic Literature
4th Wednesdays, September – May, and July
Most meetings are held at the Ann Arbor City Club, where we have an optional 11:30 AM lunch followed by a 1:00-3:00 PM discussion. We, however, meet at a member’s home on the fourth Wednesday in July and one agreed upon date for our November/December meeting. We read stories from the “Norton Anthology of Short Fiction” 8th edition except for July, September and November/December when we might choose other works of literature. Members lead our discussions. As our Community Service Project, we join the AAUW History Book Discussion interest group to contribute new books to the Children’s Literacy Network of Ann Arbor.
Creative Arts
2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 1:30 PM
Members bring handwork of their choice to “sit and stitch.” Interests range from cross-stitch to beading, knitting, and needlepoint. We share techniques, patterns, and skills. We meet in members’ homes and sometimes visit yarn shops. Members must be vaccinated to attend.
Evening Book Discussion
3rd Monday, 7:00 PM, meets all year
Members discuss modern and sometimes classic fiction and recent non-fiction. Book selections are chosen by a vote of the group. We also read the book chosen annually by Washtenaw Reads. Requires a monthly RSVP. Meetings are usually in members’ homes but will take place via Zoom in winter months (November through March).
Friendship Circle
No meetings
The Friendship Circle Interest Group (FCIG) is a way to make friends among members. It is a way to connect with other AAUW members even if you have not joined an Interest Group. The word “Circle” shows that this Interest Group is cyclical, in that members give and receive friendly contacts. Members of the FCIG welcome notifications from any member regarding other members needing attention, such as get-well cards, phone calls, or even occasionally personal visits or dining out. As soon as a FCIG receives such a notification, the member will be contacted to confirm the need and to ascertain permission to make the need public to other AAUW members. The member receiving the encouragement can then join FCIG. That is where the circle comes in. Receiving and giving forms a circle.
Gardening
1st Wednesday, 7:30 PM, no meetings January, July, August
We are a relaxed, informal group welcoming anyone with an interest in gardens and horticulture. We share knowledge, tour gardens of interest in the area and elsewhere via pictures, and enjoy an annual herb potluck, craft evening, and plant exchanges, among other activities. Meetings may be held in person or virtually based on COVID safety measures for our membership.
Genealogy
2nd Friday, 1:00 PM, October – June
Share knowledge and resources to help research your family ancestry.
Golf Beginner
Every Tuesday, 10:00 AM, May – September (weather permitting)
We meet at Georgetown Country Club, Ann Arbor (a Par 3 course). We are a drop-in golf group, and do not have league requirements. All levels of golfers are welcome in our fun, and non-competitive group.
Gourmet Arts
1st Wednesday, 12:00 PM
Each member brings a dish of their choice to share with the group. The hostess provides beverages. Members are encouraged to host. Members must be vaccinated to attend.
Great Decisions
3rd Monday, 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Members discuss readings in the annual publication of the Foreign Policy Association, Great Decisions, January – May and September – November. We meet in members’ homes. A member reviews a chapter of her choice, Q&A to follow. We will be meeting in person. Zoom meetings may be scheduled if weather or COVID conditions require it.
History Book Discussion
2nd Wednesday, 10:00 AM October – May
Books are chosen and discussed which have an emphasis on history, and may relate to politics, science, literature, and other areas. Usually, two books are chosen about the United States, two about Europe, two from other regions of the world, and one or more biographies. We meet in person in the fall and spring, and schedule Zoom meetings during the winter months.
International Dining Out
2nd Wednesday, 6:00 PM
IDO members meet monthly at a local ethnic restaurant. In the past, two members would volunteer to choose an ethnicity and host the meeting. They would visit several restaurants of that type and arrange for a 4-5 course tasting menu for participants at a cost of around $25 per person. We haven’t gotten back to this since the pandemic, because we don’t have as many members as we did before. So, at this point we just meet at a restaurant, chosen by the leader based on suggestions from members and order off the menu. Whatever the format, this group provides a wonderful opportunity to meet new people and try new foods. We would love to have you join us!
Local Issues
1st Friday, 2:00 PM
This group traditionally meets in members’ homes with community leaders to learn about and discuss issues that directly affect our lives as Washtenaw County residents.
Mah-Jongg
1st Friday and 3rd Friday, 1:00 PM in members’ homes
Ancient Chinese parlor game played with tiles engraved with Chinese drawings and calligraphy. We meet in members’ homes or place hostess provides.
Moveable Feast (Formerly Evening Gourmet)
2nd Tuesday, 6:30 PM
We meet for dinner on the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 pm, usually at a member’s home. The hostess is responsible for designing the menu and usually provides the main dish and beverages; two or three other members of the group cook one dish each, using a recipe from the hostess. Often, but not always, there’s a theme (e.g., Moroccan, French, etc.). During Ann Arbor’s restaurant week in January, we meet at one of the participating restaurants. The number of people who attend each meeting varies, ranging from three to a dozen; members may invite guests to expose new people to the group. We have a great time together. There’s always good food, good wine, and great conversation! We would love to have you join us!