​​​​​​​​About Us 


Frederick Torch Members


The Frederick Torch Club in MD is an engaged diverse  group of men and women in our community with a variety of life and work-related experiences, and broad personal interests. This interesting mixture of people offers lively dinner conversations, open exchanges of ideas, and captivating presentations during each of our well-attended monthly meetings.


Members pay annual dues and receive "The Torch", a journal of outstanding papers presented at club meetings. Monthly meetings include a social hour, buffet dinner and an after-dinner presentation by club member or invited guest.

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To join, please go to the Membership Application Page.  

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Founded by a group including current members Rev. Ted Haas and Dr. Lucy Denison, the Torch Club of Frederick is a convivial, multi-disciplinary group of about 75 individuals.  Our members value lifelong learning, companionable inquiry, and expression. 

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William Bullock, who founded the first Torch Club in June 1924, envisioned an association of clubs across the country, the purpose of which would be to broaden the intellectual and cultural horizons of its members. That vision came to pass and now all local Torch Clubs in the United States and Canada are affiliated with the International Association of Torch Clubs, Inc. (IATC). Our club is the largest of all the IATC member groups. 


The IATC is a nonprofit organization with a  neutral forum: Torch Clubs are devoted solely to the intellectual exchange of ideas. There is no mandate to get involved with causes or fund-raising, nor promote any political ideology, social causes, or civic projects. 


There are seventy clubs in the U.S. and Canada. The IATC provides services to local clubs, sponsors an annual convention, and publishes "The Torch", a journal of selected exemplary papers presented by its members.  The publication is mailed three times a year by the IATC.