Chapter Book Club Night
Internal Recap and Attendance Record
Filed by: George E. Bjork
Concordant Administrative Lead, Programs and Member Enrichment
The inaugural Chapter Book Club Night was convened in the east reading room of the Chapter House at 18:30, as scheduled. Preparations were completed in full and without deviation. These included the printing of formal programs, the preparation of individual name badges, and the arrangement of seating in accordance with a pre-approved seating chart designed to support balanced discussion and respectful eye contact.
The selected text for the evening was The Gales of November by Dwight Boyer (ISBN-10: 006014910X; ISBN-13: 9780060149109), selected for its established relevance to Great Lakes maritime history, its restrained narrative tone, and its emphasis on documented loss over speculation.
Attendance at the scheduled start time consisted of one (1) organizer and zero (0) participants.
At 18:37, Emile Pierce arrived and was formally welcomed. Her name badge was retrieved from the envelope labeled “P–Z.” The remaining badge envelopes were not disturbed and remained visible throughout the evening.
A discussion followed regarding whether to wait “a few more minutes” for additional attendees. This discussion lasted approximately twelve minutes and included consideration of:
Shoreline weather conditions
The possibility of delayed arrivals
The optics of beginning discussion with only one participant
Whether beginning discussion at all implied a quorum
At 18:49, it was agreed that further waiting would not materially change attendance. George noted for the record that limited participation could be interpreted as an intentional format rather than a failure of outreach. Emile agreed, observing that the book itself frequently emphasizes isolation, small crews, and the consequences of proceeding with reduced margins. The phrase “the intimacy is intentional” was entered into the minutes without amendment.
Discussion of the text proceeded as printed. Both attendees referenced the same passages, occasionally simultaneously. Particular attention was given to Boyer’s refusal to dramatize beyond evidence and his reliance on primary accounts. One extended pause followed the discussion of Lake Michigan losses and was mutually respected.
Refreshments were then addressed.
Due to attendance levels, the quantity of remaining snacks exceeded what could reasonably be categorized as leftovers and entered into a state of moral ambiguity. A brief exchange followed regarding:
Whether taking items home constituted misappropriation
Whether leaving them constituted waste
Whether reserving them for a future session constituted optimism
A compromise was reached in which some items were consumed, some discreetly wrapped, and some left arranged neatly on the sideboard, suggesting continuity without commitment.
The event concluded at 19:42.
Despite attendance discrepancies, the Book Club Night was deemed successful in that:
The selected text was discussed
The program was followed precisely
The subject matter was treated with appropriate gravity
No procedures were violated
No embarrassment was expressed outwardly
It is recommended that Chapter Book Club Night continue on a recurring basis, with attendance framed less as a metric and more as a variable condition.
Filed respectfully.