Learning Programs
Stimulating Programming for College-Educated Women
In keeping with our strategic vision, Lake/Sumter AAUW offers members an array of learning programs, including General Meetings, Diversity Discussions, Book Club, Great Decisions, and Day Trips.
General Meetings
The branch holds General Meetings on the fourth Saturday of the month from September through May. We usually meet at the Allamanda Recreation Center (1515 St. Charles Place). However, October will be at Beacon College. Please check the location in the Events Tab.
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Doors open at 9:15 a.m., social time starts at 9:30 a.m., and the meeting starts at 10:00 a.m.
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Each meeting includes an educational program as well as a short business meeting.
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Recent programs have included presentations by Rosie the Riveter: Florida's Women in WWII, SISters in Seeking Insights for Solutions, and our own Tech Trek campers.
General Meetings are open to the public.
Embracing Community Programs [Formerly DEI]
This change preserves our intent to provide stimulating learning opportunities for our members around diversity, equity, and inclusion while also using somewhat more neutral terms to describe our focus. The new name also reflects the trajectory of our work over the last five years, from direct learning about racism and its impacts to learning how to address
our differences in positive and productive ways. Lake/Sumter AAUW's Embracing Community Committee supports our branch commitment to diversity and enhances members' awareness of diversity issues by providing programs for members and guests to learn about other racial, ethnic, and cultural groups.
2025-26 Embracing Community
Opportunities Clearinghouse: This program, new this year, will provide listings of upcoming online and in-person
learning events that members can pursue independently. Opportunities will be published in the newsletter each month.
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Braver Angels is bringing together questioners and supporters of public health to hear each other out with a goal of humanizing, understanding, and remembering that “everyone is worth listening to.” Listen to this episode here: https://tinyurl.com/5edmy7v3
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Great Reads: Each month's newsletter will highlight several reading selections.
Book Club
The Lake/Sumter AAUW Book Club meets at 10:30 on the third Wednesday of every month from September through May (location TBD), followed by lunch with whoever is available. The December meeting is devoted to a holiday lunch. At the end of each program year, members recommend and select books for the coming year.
Our September Book: How to Read A Book by Monica Wood
A contemporary novel about guilt, second chances, and the unexpected ways people help one another heal.
Our October Book: The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of our country, the group decided to read a few books that help us all remember our past with a look to the future. With this in mind we selected a nonfiction book by American journalist, historian, and presidential biographer Jon Meacham.
The summer gives us all time for a head start on reading not only Meacham’s work, but to select other books you have read that you would recommend for the group. We will meet in September to select books for our discussions for the upcoming months from the recommendations we receive from YOU.
Please send your recommendations by August 15th to BOTH: Kate Manion (kmanion52@gmail.com) and Katie Haviland (katiehaviland1@gmail.com). Include: the title, author and a brief description of each book you recommend. We will compile the suggestions with your brief descriptions and send them to you by September 1st for your consideration and vote.
Great Decisions
Our branch participates in the Foreign Policy Association's Great Decisions discussion group. The discussion is based on the Foreign Policy Association's briefing booklet, which contains eight articles relevant to our times. Topics for 2025-26 will be posted very soon.
This year we will have two groups both on Tuesdays for 8 weeks from Tuesday,
January 20th-March 10th. . You can choose between the group meeting from 9:30am – 11:00am or the group meeting 1:00-2:30.
Our meeting place will be The Sumter County Sheriff’s Annex Conference Room at 8033 East CR 466 near the corner of Morse Blvd.
Great Decisions 2026 Topics
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America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy
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Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy
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U.S.-China Relations
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Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
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Ukraine and the Future of European Security
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Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order
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U.S. Engagement in Africa
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The Future of Human Rights and International Law
We had a very active group last year and we would like to have even more participants
this year. Please encourage your friends and significant others both in and out of the
AAUW group to join us.
The Great Decisions discussion group is open to all members as well as non-members. Both pay for their briefing booklet; non-members also pay a nominal fee.
To plan for the course and order the books, I need to know who is planning to participate, which day you would like, and a check (made out to me, Christine Loken-Kim) by Oct. 25, 2025. The cost for the book will be $40. An extra participation charge of $20 will be charged for non-AAUW members who would like to join us.
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Please email me at: kurisu99@hotmail.com with your name, contact information, and your choice of 9:30 or 1:00 Tuesdays, along with your check, payable to Christine Loken-Kim, or give it to me at the AAUW general meetings. Christine Loken-Kim, 894 Barrymoore Loop, The Villages, FL 32162.
Contact our Great Decisions Coordinator for more information.
