Alpha Study Group’s first 2016 gathering was at the home of Patricia Clausen, January 12. President Joan Raum opened the meeting by reading an “Ode to January,” in which listeners are reminded that our luscious holiday feasting hangs around far into the first month of the New Year and requires strict coping skills. After roll call, the Secretary’s report was read and approved. No correspondence was received. The Treasurer’s report was approved, with no bills due. Joan thanked the Social and Program committees for our wonderful Christmas meeting. She also thanked those members who created Alpha’s beautifully creative Festival of Trees entry at the Gladbrook City Center. Joan reminded members that we have only one meeting in January and February. She then challenged us all to define “librocubicularist”: a person who reads in bed. Our next meeting on February 9 is at Shirley Swenson’s with Jean Livingston presenting her book review. The two March meeting hostesses have traded, so the March 8th meeting is at Ranae Fagan’s home and the March 22nd meeting is just across the street at Shirley Young’s home. Joan concluded the President’s remarks by sharing “12 Words That Have A Totally Different Meaning to Bookworms.” The Program committee presented Pauline Flamme who introduced “The Wright Brothers” by David McCullough, “a two-time[r] winner of the Pulitzer Prize.” He tells “the dramatic story of two courageous brothers who taught the world to fly.” The Wright brothers’ exceptional ability, determination, and intellectual interest/curiosity stemmed from their humble beginnings. “They grew up without electricity or indoor plumbing, but with books aplenty supplied by their preacher father. And they never stopped learning, nor did their high-spirited, devoted sister, Katherine, who played a far more important role in their endeavors than has been generally understood.” Wilbur, the older brother, was the genius, while Orville possessed the extraordinary mechanical ability. “Nothing stopped them in their ‘mission’ [to fly], not failures, not ridicule, not even the reality that every time they took off in one of their experimental contrivances, they stood a good chance of being killed.” This thrilling book resulted from McCullough’s skillful use of “the Wright Papers, including personal diaries, notebooks, and more than a thousand personal letters from private family correspondence…” Our hostess and two “helpers” served confetti-decorated Raspberry Pretzel Dessert, nuts, chocolate mints, assorted teas and coffee.