YUWO Activities
To inquire about any of our activities or suggestions for new activities, contact our Activities Chair here.
Bridge Group
The YUWO bridge group meets weekly. Members share hosting duties. We usually have one table, but we have had two tables. We play social bridge using the Modern American Bridge (Yellow card) conventions. We have nine active members and would welcome more!
Climate Action Network: Local Action for a Sustainable Future
The YUWO Climate Action Network invites discussion and develops “Helpful Hints” to be published in the YUWO Newsletter to inform and enlighten members regarding issues impacting the environment. Members will identify speakers and/or venues to visit and learn about projects and programs in the area that work toward sustainability and developing solutions to environmental problems
Climate Action Network Tips
BUILDING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: Online or In Person Presentations
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DECREASE AIR POLLUTION BY DECREASING IDLING
What perceptions do we hold that keep us from turning off our engines instead of idling?
Misperception #1 – Letting my car warm up is good for its engine.
Fact: Car manufacturers agree that even on the coldest days, a car’s catalytic converter is optimal “at work” versus standing.
Film Group
The Film Group meets once a month to discuss a film that we’ve watched independently. The group decides on the films for the coming year in December with members making suggestions and the group voting on them. The films usually include several international films, newer films and older films – classics and little-known gems. Each month a film group member will provide the group with questions and facilitate the discussion.
Meets the last Monday of each month, 10 am; approximately an hour and a half. The group meets at the home of one of our members in New Haven.
Films We Have Watched
“Lore”
“The Sea Inside”
“The Dead Poets Society”
“The Sweet Hereafter”
“Jane”
“Bride Flight”
French Conversation
We converse in French, discussing articles, poetry, books, travels and more. Members read, write and speak French. Anyone with at least an intermediate level of understanding is welcome.
First Tuesday of the month, 1:30pm in New Haven
Gourmet Lunch Group
The Gourmet Lunch group plans and prepares varying menus of interesting and sometimes challenging food. A small group of members plans and prepares each menu. The recipes are discussed following the luncheon.
There are six meetings per year hosted in members’ homes and one outing to a restaurant or culinary activity.
Hikers/Walkers
YUWO Hikers/Walkers is a group of enthusiastic members who love to explore the scenic villages along the Shoreline, discover city gardens and parks, and also stretch our limits with an adventurous hike. We will also share the degree of difficulty for a hike. All members, along with partners/beloved dogs, etc., are welcome.
Meets twice a month during the academic year; 1.5 – 2 hour walk
Italian Conversation Group
To participate in the Italian conversation group one must be at least at intermediate level if not fluent. It is not a class, it is truly a “conversation” in another language.
The 3rd Wednesday of the month at a members’ house. All communications are in Italian.
Newcomers
True to its historic mission of welcoming newcomers to the Yale-New Haven Community, each year activities are planned with a special invitation to our new members. Thanks to the generosity of the Daisy Chapman Fund, these gatherings provide new members the opportunity to meet each other and YUWO members. Events are typically gratis for newcomers and have included tours, museum visits, wine tastings, and luncheons.
Second Tuesday Book Group
This book group meets on zoom on the second Tuesday of every month. Books are chosen a few months in advance and are a mix of fiction and non-fiction.
Books We Have Read
The Wager
Dinners with Ruth
Kindred
Trust
The Power and the Glory
Special Activities
Every year opens with a September Welcome Reception. In addition to a social setting with light refreshment, Activity Chairs describe YUWO activities and help members register for those of interest.
- In December YUWO hosts a festive Annual Holiday Party for members and their guests.
- YUWO’s May Annual Meeting and Scholarship Awards Luncheon combines pleasure and business. Members elect new officers, approve organizational changes in a brief business meeting; introduce scholarship recipients; and enjoy a topical speaker. In recent years, members have heard from Yale Law Professor Professor Stephen Carter, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Kimberly Goff-Crews, Secretary and Vice President for University Life.
Third Monday Book Group
The Third Monday Book Group decides on the books for the coming year each December with members making suggestions and the group voting on them. The books include both fiction and non-fiction, some current and some older books. Each month a book group member will provide the group with questions and facilitate the discussion.
Meets at 2 PM on the third Monday of the month at local libraries and members’ homes.
Current Book List
Death Comes for the Archbishop
by Willa Cather
This is Happiness
By Niall Williams
Demon Copperhead
By Barbara Kingsolver
Crow Lake
By Mary Lawson
Brave the Wild River
By Melissa Sevigny
The Wager
By David Graham
Thursday Morning Book Group
We read eleven books per year. The books are chosen by election. At the December meeting each member is asked to present a small blurb on a fiction and non-fiction book for the members to read. Following the presentations each member votes yes or no on each book and the eleven books with the highest votes are the books we read in the order of the vote tally – the book with the most votes is read in January etc. Surprisingly we have always had a five/six split of fiction and non-fiction choices.
This book group meets monthly on the 2nd Thursday morning at the home of a member or in a nearby library. Coffee plus is provided by the volunteer hostess.
Current Book List
Monsters
This Other Eden
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
New England Bound
Caste, The Origins of our Discontents