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/Walking Group

If you enjoy walking and hiking consider joining other Omniloreans in the monthly outing sponsored by our Special Interest Group dedicated to outdoor perambulation. We start at 10:00 a.m. on the third Friday of the month from various locations. Nonmembers are welcome to join the group. The walks or hikes take less than two hours and most participants stay for a group BYO lunch. Most trips are not difficult and we advise about those that involve moderate climbing

Come join us! For information about the Hiking/Walking Group, please contact Steve Miller to be put on the distribution list for specific details about each month's outing.

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 is 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 interest 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?