When is the last time you tried to live out the book you were reading?

That’s become a goal of sorts for the Second Thursday Book Club, a group of local women who meet to discuss books — when else? — on the second Thursday of each month. The women range in age from 30s to 70s and share a love of books, and, it turns out, a love of trying something new.

In each issue, we offer ways to have fun with friends and make new ones.

Fun idea
University Club welcomes families
The house at 945 N. Main St. is no longer a boys’ club.

The University Club has more than 400 members who gather weekly to eat, drink, meet, swim, play sports and socialize.

The club was founded in 1911, but it didn’t start accepting women until 2002.

In each issue, we share things to do with your friends or ways to make more.

A summer getaway with the girls is a great way to renew the spirit and reinforce friendships.

Each issue, we share serious and fun ideas for bonding with your friends.

Serious idea: March of Dimes fights for preemies

Each issue, we share serious and fun ideas for bonding with your friends.

Whether it's improving yourself or your community, here are ideas for ways you can make 2009 the best year yet.

Fun idea
You know a cookie exchange is serious when the participants have matching red aprons with their names stitched along the tops.

Serious idea
Why is it important to educate females in countries where girls and women are oppressed?

Rockford Woman asked that question of two local women who have the expertise to answer.

Have fun? Talk books? Solve the world’s problems? Get more ideas here ....