Welcome to the new website of the Torch Club of Frederick, MD
We have released it to the public on August 3, 2026. This website is not yet fully complete but should be functional. It looks good on computers, but we still need to adjust it to look good on phones.
Open, inclusive, and affirmative, the Torch Club of Frederick is a congenial, multidisciplinary group interested in lifelong learning, companionable inquiry, and exploration of interesting topics. We meet on the fourth Monday of the month for a buffet lunch at Dutch’s Daughter and listen to a stimulating presentation by a fellow Torch member or a guest speaker from the Frederick community.
Next Meeting
Presenter: Mayor Michael O’Connor
Topic: The State of the City
Date: Monday, September 28, 2026
Time: Noon—2:00 p.m.
Location: Dutch’s Daughter
Cost: $30 per person
Contact: reservations@fredtorch.org
Reservations are required
Mayor O’Connor was first elected in 2017, following 8 years as a member of the Board of Aldermen. He has a professional background rooted in service and stewardship, working for 20 years as an active journalist and 10 years as a nonprofit manager. Michael has served on numerous community partner boards and as the liaison to various City and County commissions during his time in public office and prior, as a resident of Frederick County. He lives in Frederick with his wife of 33 years, Tammy. They are the proud parents to two adult daughters.
2026 – 2027 Presentations
September 28 – Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor on “The State of the City”
October 26 – Nancy Whitmore on “Ghosts and Legends of Frederick”
November 23 – Ed McMahon on “Frederick Growth by Fault or Design”
December 14 – Ed Seidewitz on “Edwin Albert Seidewitz (1866–1918): A Family Legacy in Maryland”
January 25 – John Gardner on “Peaceful Beekeeping: 50 Years with Honeybees”
February 22 – Dorothy Bonnett on “Circles of Women: A Discussion of Chinese Women’s Lives”
March 22 – Karl Bickel on “The Feasibility of a County Police Department”
April 26 – Peter Michael on “Other Humans: The Revelations of Ancient DNA”
May 24 – Lois Jarman on “Art and the Brain”
June 28 – Annual Frederick Torch Picnic