LTM (Last Tuesday of the Month) Reading Group

Cleveland, Ohio

About Us

Each diamond in our logo symbolizes one of the four original membersAbout the Cleveland, Ohio Chapter of the LTM Reading GroupThe original LTM (Last Tuesday of the Month) Reading Group began with four members, each symbolized by one of the diamonds in our logo. The group's creator (and the Moderator) and two of the original members are still active. The fourth chair (currently filled) has been occupied by numerous members who have come and gone.

The Group was formed in September 2002, in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then, the group has been actively meeting on the last Tuesday of every month, except December.

Sharing books and building friendshipsMembership Magic

In the past and for extended periods, our membership has exceeded four. Although we set no conscious limit on our membership size, for reasons unknown, our group seems to function at its best with only four members.

Perhaps the “magic” is not the number, but rather the personality mix! Our friendship bonds grow stronger with each book we read and share as a group.

How Our Reading Group Works (guidelines)

We make our guidelines (below) available to encourage and assist others considering starting their own local reading group. As each reading group is different, please feel free to modify them as you see fit.

(Complete guidelines included with printed page.)

Purpose of Group

  1. To read
  2. To share your thoughts and ideas
  3. To encourage the reading of material you may be unfamiliar with and books that fall outside your regular areas of interest
  4. To have fun as a group
  5. To help reduce stress

Making the Group a Success

  1. Make a commitment to yourself and the other group members
  2. Plan your schedule around reading and the meeting, rather than making the reading and meeting “fit” around your schedule
  3. Member Responsibilities:
    1. Commit to at least five meetings
    2. Find the selected book (in case an alternate is needed)
    3. Read the entire selection, even if you don’t particularly like it
    4. Come to the meeting prepared to discuss the selection
    5. Bring to the meeting:
      1. Paper
      2. Pen or pencils
      3. The selected book
      4. Notes or questions on the selection
  4. Contribute and share ideas, don’t debate them
  5. Be open-minded – remember there are no right (or wrong) ideas or opinions
  6. Discussing differences of opinion is one of the primary purposes of the group

How the Group Works

  1. There is a single Moderator, with the following responsibilities:
    1. Establish scheduling
    2. Keeping track of scheduling
    3. Keeping track of the book selections
    4. Reminders to members
    5. Notifying members of changes in scheduling or book swapping
  2. Meetings held the last Tuesday of each month
    1. January through November
    2. 7:30 to 9:00PM
  3. Book choices for the next month will be announced at the end of each meeting
  4. Each member will:
    1. Hostess one meeting (a preferred month) remembering members can swap months
    1. Have their book selection (and alternate) ready one month in advance of their hosted meeting

New Members

  1. Seeking new members is encouraged
  2. Any existing member can recommend a new member
  3. Prospective member must participate in at least one meeting
  4. Existing members vote anonymously to accept, or not accept, prospective member
    1. The Moderator distributes ballot
    2. Existing members do not discuss their opinion or decision
    3. Existing members select “YES” (accept) or “NO” (not accept)
    4. Ballots are folded in half and returned to the Moderator by end of meeting
  5. Acceptance requires simple majority. The Moderator’s vote counts twice in the event of a tie
  6. The Moderator notifies prospective member of group’s decision

Book Selections for the Group

  1. Consider the book’s availability to other members
    1. Best sellers may have a waiting list
    2. Obscure, or very old books, may be hard to find
  2. Evaluate book reviews provided by the library, newspapers and magazines
  3. Be daring – just choose something different
  4. Don’t wait – have the selection within one week of it being announced
  5. If you can’t find the book – call the Moderator and she will find it for you
  6. Alternate selection chosen when 50% (or more) of the members can’t find the primary selection
    1. Moderator will notify the members

Sources for Books

  1. Public Libraries
    1. Already paid for with tax dollars
    2. An ID is all that is required to obtain a library card
    3. Many branches are open every day of the week
  2. Discount and Used Book Stores
  3. New Book Stores
  4. The Internet

(Complete guidelines included with printed page.)

May blessings be upon the head of Cadmus, the Phoenicians, or whoever it was that invented books. ~ Thomas Carlyle