Special Interest Groups

Hiking Group |  How to Form Groups

Sometimes a group of members decide they would like to dedicate some time to a specific interest on an ongoing manner, outside the structure of a study/discussion group, so they form a "Special Interest Group."

Currently, Omnilore has only one official Special Interest Group: The Hiking Group. Formerly, there was a Computers and Technology Special Interest Group, but they became so successful that they morphed into the current Computer Working Group that coordinates our monthly Computer Talks mini-workshops on all things computer-related. So the former Computer and Technology Special Interest Group is on its way to becoming an official and permanent Omnilore working group like the Website Working Group.

In the past, we've had a Travel Special Interest Group and a Science Special Interest Group.

Hiking Group

A healthy body contributes to a healthy mind. Some members enjoy meeting together informally to hike. On the third Friday of each month, members explore the various trails on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. After an hour-and-a-half hike, they share a picnic lunch at a local park. Once a year the group takes an urban hike and explores some part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

For information about the Hiking Group, please contact either John Taber or Nancy Shannon . The Group charges a $5.00 annual fee .

The picture at the top of this page was taken by Hal Simmons on the Group's May 2008 urban hike in Long Beach.

Forming a New Interest Group

The first step in proposing the formation of a new Omnilore Special Interest Group would be to discuss the matter with the Omnilore Board of Directors. If they approve of the idea, then you can create an advertisement for the Group for publication in the next Omnilore Newsletter. Subsequently, if enough members show interested in joining you, then your Group is formed! All you need to do after that is to get together with all those members who showed an interest, discuss what you all want to do with your group, and arrange when and how often to meet.

Be creative. From time to time, we hear members say that they wished there would be an Omnilore Special Interest Group on gardening or contemporary foreign policy. Others have suggested that it would be a great idea if Omnilore formed monthly book clubs—perhaps one on contemporary literature and another on contemporary world issues. Unfortunately, nobody has taken the initiative, stepped forward, and organized such groups. Are you the organizer that everyone has been looking for?