Welcome to the Torch Club of Columbus, Ohio. Join us for intelligent and respectful discussion in challenging, even chaotic, times. Our club has people from many different professions and disciplines. They meet monthly in the spirit of good fellowship to share their knowledge and exchange points of view through the presentation and discussion of a Torch paper.
Meetings are at the OSU Faculty Club. (For directions, click on OSU Faculty Club Directions and enter your address as a starting point.)
Dues, which are payed annually, include a three course dinner, coffee and tea, and a subscription to The Torch, the magazine of the International Association of Torch Clubs. (See below)
For list of recent and upcoming programs, click here
Presentation by David A. Hammond on April 3
David Hammond
“Show Me The Money”
Like a banker determined to protect his customers’ deposits, David A. Hammond doesn’t want to reveal too much about his Torch paper, “Show Me The Money,” to be delivered on Thursday, April 3, at The Ohio State University Faculty Club.
Dave’s topic is money. “A look at its past, present and future,” he says. “Everyone who is in attendance will receive some real money to take home. So be ready to participate.”
Dave should know something about money. He is a retired senior executive with BankOne/JPMorgan Chase. During his 47-year career, he was part of the credit card implementation team that convinced Bank of America to franchise their credit card operation and was the branch manger where the first ATM machine was installed in the United States. During his career, he ran the branch network, treasury management and large corporate divisions. Prior to retirement, he joined the bank’s Private Bank Group, responsible for some of the bank’s most affluent clients and earned the “J. P. Morgan Director’s Award” as the top private banker in the five-state central region. He has since been inducted into the bank’s “Hall of Fame.”
A member of Torch since 1997, Dave was president of the club in 2011-12 and co-chaired with Dorothy Driskell the International Association of Torch Club’s convention in Columbus in 2016.
Dave has been active in his profession and community. He has been chairman or president of the Ohio Economic Development Council, Ohio Bankers Association Group V, Columbus Compact Development Corporation, First Community Village, Rotary Club of Upper Arlington, Upper Arlington Civic Association, and Homeless Family Foundation. For more than 50 years, he has been a member of First Community Church and Beta Theta Pi Fraternity.
Dave received his B.S. degree in finance from Ohio State and his master’s degree in banking from the Stonier Graduate School at Rutgers University. He has been married to Sandra for 59 years and has three daughters, seven grandchildren and a metal dog named Rusty.
Two ways to support the Columbus Torch Club and its members The Board of Directors asks you to consider two ways to contribute to your Torch Club and to keep our fellowship strong as we look forward to our club’s centennial in 2026.
1. You may contribute funds directly to support the club by writing a check to “Torch Club of Columbus, Ohio.” Mail the check to our club’s treasurer, David Lenz, 1926 Lake Shore Drive, Columbus, OH 43204. (Donations to the club do not qualify as a charitable tax deduction.)
2. You may pay for the crudités or other foods served during the cocktail hour that precedes the monthly meetings. Anonymous donors paid for the crudités served at the October and November meetings and for the December meeting. The cost for the crudités is about $430, but there also are less expensive options. For information on donating the crudités or other options for the February 2025 and future meetings, please contact the club’s treasurer, David Lenz, who works closely with the Faculty Club on the menu and costs of the monthly dinners. David is at d.e.lenz@att.net.
Torch Club’s monthly meeting agenda:
4:30-5:30 p.m. Board of Directors meeting
5:30-6:15 p.m. Cocktails and conversation
6:15-6:35 p.m. Business matters
6:35-7:30 p.m. Speaker
7:30-8:45 pm. Dinner and table discussion
Columbus Torch Club dues for 2024-25 Program Year
This year marks the 98th anniversary of the founding the Torch Club of Columbus. As members we have enjoyed the benefits of good fellowship, quality food/service, and very interesting presentations. A survey of our members completed last year showed that members enjoy the venue, the dinners and the programs that have been offered for the last decade. The OSU Faculty Club is a very desirable venue to hold our meetings. It is a very comfortable facility that has the physical space, quality food, and staff for a table service meal. The Faculty Club also has the amplifier system, projector, piano and support for a wide variety of programs.
Without doubt, the Torch Club has faced many challenges since its founding in 1926. The immediate challenge for the coming year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025) is to balance the budget. In recent years, the Club has had the luxury of a substantial bank balance that has enabled us to operate with a deficit without raising dues. During the COVID years our meetings were held via Zoom and the Torch Club had no dinner expenses. Dues accumulated in our bank account and served to keep our dues the same even though costs were rising. Last year, dues were increased by $60.00 per member because the Torch Club must move toward a balanced budget (income equals expenses) each year. Unfortunately, this last year the budget deficit was approximately $5,500. As in previous years, this deficit was covered by drawing on the bank account balance. That bank account balance is now down to about $3,000; the club no longer has cash reserves to cover future operating deficits.
The membership dues will need to be increased in order to have a balanced budget for 2024-2025. At the August 1, 2024 meeting, the Board approved unanimously a dues increase of $100 per member (less than $10.00 per month) in order to avoid a deficit at the end of next year. Member dues will be $460.00 for the year. Additionally, guest dinner fees will be increased to $ 45.00 except for the December meeting which will be $50.00.
Your Board did not arrive at this dues increase without considering other options. These options included holding one or more Zoom meetings, having a social hour and presentation without dinner at several meetings, and/ or continuing with what our members clearly prefer based on a recent survey. Dinner costs are by far the biggest item in the budget. A typical dinner cost for the Torch Club is over $2,200.00 (or greater) depending on attendance. Dinner costs are expected to increase for the next year. Meeting without a dinner would save a considerable amount of money but the loss of fellowship and a shared meal would probably reduce attendance and even membership. Going to a buffet dinner or a two-course meal would save very little money according to the OSU Faculty Club.
To pay your dues, make your check payable to: Torch Club of Columbus and send to our Treasurer, David Lenz, 1926 Lake Shore Dr., Columbus, OH 43204. Or bring your check to the first Torch Club meeting on October3 , 2024 at the OSU Faculty Club.
Options for club members not attending Torch due to COVID
Although most Torch Club members have attended the in-person monthly meetings that resumed in October 2021, there are a few members who have been reluctant to attend in person due to ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. These members or persons in their households may be at greater risk for the illness for a variety of reasons. As a result, the Torch Club at its March 3 meeting set aside an area of socially distanced seating for members particularly concerned about COVID-19. This will permit them to hear the Torch paper. In addition, the Faculty Club will prepare a take-home dinner for these members. If you require a takehome dinner, please indicate that in your RSVP to Thom Seelbach’s monthly Evite.