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SUMMARY:LIFT Book Club: 5/6/26 8:30am
DESCRIPTION:Leadership & Inspiration for Trailblazers (LIFT) is a women's networking group that focuses on the core values of Empowerment\, Education\, Connection\, Inspiration\, and Inclusion of our WNY community. We welcome you to engage with this group to find self discovery and contribution to your professional journey. The mission is to support professional women so they can succeed. Male Allies welcome.\n\n \n\nLIFT Book Club: Each session is limited to 10-12 seats\n\n\n\nJoin us for more than just a book club this is a space where women lift each other up\, share stories that spark courage\, and build meaningful connections within our Chamber community. Together\, we'll explore ideas that challenge and inspire\, creating an intimate experience that celebrates growth and empowerment.\n\n\n\nBook Choice:\n\n"The Edible Woman" by Margaret Atwood *FICTION*\n\nISBN 9780385491068 | Published on Mar 16\, 1998 | Published by Vintage | Pages 320\n\n\n\nParticipants would be required to borrow or purchase their own Book or eBook from any notable retailer.\n\nMost sessions are VIRTUAL on Wednesdays. The link will be emailed prior to session start.\n\nThe final session on Tuesday\, June 23rd\, will be in-person at the Amherst Chamber of Commerce at 12pm for ALL sessions to review and conclude the readings. Lunch will be served.\n\n\n\n8:30am Session Facilitator: Lauren Schellinger\, Impressia Bank\n\n Time: 8:30-9:15am\n Date: Bi Weekly Virtual Wednesdays\n \n 5/6/2026\n 5/20/2026\n 6/3/2026\n 6/17/2026\n 6/23/2026 *Tuesday Due to Small Business Awards on Wednesday\, 6/24/26*\n \n End Lunch Joint Session: In person at Amherst Chamber on Tuesday at 12:00pm on 6/23/2026\n \n \n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBook Description\n\nThe novel that put the bestselling author of The Handmaid's Tale and The Testaments on the literary map. The Booker Prize winner's first novel is both a scathingly funny satire of consumerism and a heady exploration of emotional cannibalism.\n\n\n\nMarian McAlpin is an "abnormally normal" young woman\, according to her friends. A recent university graduate\, she crafts consumer surveys for a market research firm\, maintains an uneasy truce between her flighty roommate and their prudish landlady\, and goes to parties with her solidly dependable boyfriend\, Peter. But after Peter proposes marriage\, things take a strange turn. Suddenly empathizing with the steak in a restaurant\, Marian finds she is unable to eat meat. As the days go by\, her feeling of solidarity extends to other categories of food\, until there is almost nothing left that she can bring herself to consume. Those around her fail to notice Marian's growing alienation until it culminates in an act of resistance that is as startling as it is imaginative. Marked by blazingly surreal humor and a colorful cast of eccentric characters\, The Edible Woman is a groundbreaking work of fiction.
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\nLeadership &\; Inspiration for Trailblazers (LIFT) \;is a women'\;s networking group that focuses on the core values of Empowerment\, Education\, Connection\, Inspiration\, and Inclusion of our WNY community. We welcome you to engage with this group to find self discovery and contribution to your professional journey. \;The mission is to support professional women so they can succeed. Male Allies welcome.
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\nLIFT Book Club: Each session is limited to 10-12 seats
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\nJoin us for more than just a book club&mdash\;this is a space where women lift each other up\, share stories that spark courage\, and build meaningful connections within our Chamber community. Together\, we&rsquo\;ll explore ideas that challenge and inspire\, creating an intimate experience that celebrates growth and empowerment.
\n
\nBook Choice:
\n"\;The Edible Woman"\; by Margaret Atwood *FICTION*
\nISBN \; \; \; \;9780385491068 \; | \; Published on Mar 16\, 1998 | \; Published by Vintage \; | \; Pages 320
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\nParticipants would be required to borrow or purchase their own Book or eBook from any notable retailer.
\nMost sessions are VIRTUAL on Wednesdays. The link will be emailed prior to session start.
\nThe final session on Tuesday\, June 23rd\, will be in-person at the Amherst Chamber of Commerce at 12pm for ALL sessions to review and conclude the readings. \;Lunch will be served.
\n
\n8:30am Session Facilitator: Lauren Schellinger\, Impressia Bank\n\n - Time: 8:30-9:15am
\n - Date: Bi Weekly Virtual Wednesdays\n
\n - 5/6/2026
\n - 5/20/2026
\n - 6/3/2026
\n - 6/17/2026
\n - \;6/23/2026 *Tuesday Due to Small Business Awards on Wednesday\, 6/24/26*\n
\n - End Lunch Joint Session: In person at Amherst Chamber on Tuesday at 12:00pm on 6/23/2026
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Book Description
\nThe \;novel that put the \;bestselling author of \;The Handmaid&rsquo\;s Tale \;and \;The Testaments \;on the literary map. \;The Booker Prize winner&rsquo\;s first novel is both a scathingly funny satire of consumerism and a heady exploration of emotional cannibalism.
\n
\nMarian McAlpin is an &ldquo\;abnormally normal&rdquo\; young woman\, according to her friends. A recent university graduate\, she crafts consumer surveys for a market research firm\, maintains an uneasy truce between her flighty roommate and their prudish landlady\, and goes to parties with her solidly dependable boyfriend\, Peter. But after Peter proposes marriage\, things take a strange turn. Suddenly empathizing with the steak in a restaurant\, Marian finds she is unable to eat meat. As the days go by\, her feeling of solidarity extends to other categories of food\, until there is almost nothing left that she can bring herself to consume. Those around her fail to notice Marian&rsquo\;s growing alienation&mdash\;until it culminates in an act of resistance that is as startling as it is imaginative. Marked by blazingly surreal humor and a colorful cast of eccentric characters\, \;The Edible Woman \;is a groundbreaking work of fiction.\n
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