The world has, in many ways, become a place I enjoy less than I used to. Every day, it seems, there is yet another tragedy, another example of hate, another shooting. It’s increasingly difficult to escape from the news of the day, but maybe not so difficult to find comfort.
 
As a Jew, I was particularly hard-hit by the shooting at the Synagogue in Pittsburgh. That anti-Semitism still lurked in our country was no great surprise, but for it to show itself in such a blatant and ugly way was a shock.
 
Coming to the City Club in the days following the shooting provided a respite. I could immerse myself in whatever committee or project I was involved in that day. More than that, though, I found comfort in a community, very largely not Jewish, that understood how this event would affect me personally.
 
One friend said she wasn’t sure if she should say anything, not wanting to stir up my emotions, but she wanted me to know how she felt, how horrible she thought it was, and how deeply sorry she was for how I must be feeling. I could see the tears welling up in her eyes, as they were in mine, as they are even as I write this. So we hugged, and I felt such comfort knowing that this kind of compassion and caring still exists.
 
As others expressed similar sentiments, I realized that, as I am not affiliated with a Synagogue, I was holding in a lot of what I felt. It was wonderful to know that I have a place where I can open up, share, and be understood. In these days of turmoil, it means so very much to have this kind of loving community.
 
Thank you, all!
 
Barbara Kramer
Member since 2013
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I work full time, and like everyone else, I am pressed for time with friends. One way I find time for friendship and fun is volunteering at the annual Flea Market at the Ann Arbor City Club. I usually try to work the cashier station with my friend Stephanie. She is in my City Club poetry group, and I love hanging out with her. In between customer crunches we have a little quiet time to catch up.
 
Another cool thing is that I also get to see some of the great finds at the flea market. I will have looked over the several rooms filled with donated goods more than once, but it is overwhelming, and I’m never able to notice everything. Then a customer will come to my cashier station with something so special that I cannot believe I overlooked it. Usually I am just jealous as they make their purchases and leave. But one time a customer changed her mind and decided against a lovely ceramic candle holder made by a well-known local artist. Of course I snapped it up and immediately. It was a great buy.
 
The City Club Flea Market is the biggest annual fund raiser for this community-based organization. In 2017, the two-day event will be held on Saturday March 4, 9am to 4pm, and Sunday March 5, 12 to 4pm (everything half priced on Sunday). Many treasure are to be found: jewelry, linens, antiques/collectibles, household items, books, toys, art, picture frames and more. A number of years ago, my mother bought me six Japanese wood block prints that I had framed to hang in my dining room. You really never know what you will find at this event.
 
Hey, maybe Stephanie and I will see you at the Flea Market this year. We’ll be the ones chatting nonstop at the cashiers table.
 
About the author of today's post: Kathleen Fitzgerald has been a member of the Ann Arbor City Club since 1999. She is a portfolio manager with a global financial services firm. Kathleen and her husband, Martin Tata, make their home at Liberty Lofts in the city of Ann Arbor.

When I retired 15 years ago, I no longer had the friends that I worked with for the 25 years I spent at my work place.  One dear friend, Kathy K., and I were pretty much in the same boat as she retired a few years after I did and we were trying to think of what we could do together.  Having different interests, this was not an easy thing to do.
 
After a couple of years searching for an organization to join, I received an invitation from Mary W. to come to an open house at what was then called the Ann Arbor Women’s City Club.  I mentioned it to Kathy and said “I’ve always wondered what they do in that building on Washtenaw Avenue.”  We decided to attend the open house.
 
Several members of the Club immediately greeted us.  They told us about the Club and then introduced us to other members.  We took the time to go around the ballroom to see what the Club could do for us. Tables were set up introducing various Club interest groups, programs and classes. I was very interested in the Travel Group for day trips (my husband was and is still working) and Kathy was interested in checking out the Art Group.  I was also very interested in the annual craft show that the Club offered to the public.  I was very involved with the Pioneer High School Craft Show for many years and thought I would enjoy being involved with the Club’s Craft Show.  Involved I got!  I have chaired and have enjoyed every minute of my involvement with the Show.  I have met wonderful exhibitors over the years, some of which return to our event every year.
 
The best part of my joining the Ann Arbor City Club is that I have made new lifetime friends whom I care about very much and they care about me!  I recently had to fly to Boston to care for my 98-year old mother and the number of caring phone calls and emails I received from my City Club friends was incredible.
 
 
About the author of today's post: Penny O'Malley has been a member of the City Club since 2005. Be sure to see all of her hard work at the Art and Craft Festival this year. 

Having heard good things about Ann Arbor City Club’s day trips, I finally decided to sign up for one – A Day Trip to Dearborn. Now I remember Dearborn from when I was a child, largely a community of Detroit auto workers, busy streets, Jacobson’s clothing store, and an old Italian Restaurant. Not so today. I expected to see changes and Arab influence, but was surprised by how much I learned about the Arab culture, history and the Islamic religion.
 
Our trip took us first to the Arab National Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate and the only museum in the US devoted to Arab American history and culture. Surprises abound. Stories of immigrant families depicted through photo displays, a typical Arab kitchen showing cuisine and the importance of Arab hospitality, and photos of famous Arab immigrant families. Who knew that racing legend Bobby Rahall’s family came from Lebanon or that Helen Thomas, famous White House journalist, had roots in Tripoli? I was reminded of the significant contributions of actor Danny Thomas and of Ralph Nader whose parents came from Lebanon. Our guide, a volunteer in the museum, detailed the history of immigration to Dearborn, gave us a glimpse of warm, Arab hospitality, and fielded our many questions.
 
If not for a scheduled visit to the Islamic Center of America, an active mosque since 1964, we could easily have spent a day at the museum. Well versed in the parallels in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, our Islamic Center guide talked about the Islamic religion and its beliefs and practices. While aware of the prayers 5 times a day, most of us were unaware of the cleansing process prior to prayer. Again, a very interesting experience.
 
Not to be missed, of course, is the Shatila Bakery for coffee and pastries. Having time to peruse the assortment of Arab pastries, we found little delicacies to enjoy with coffee and some to take home for later.
 
Before returning to Ann Arbor, we experienced a typical Arab dinner at Alameer with a sampling of appetizers, lamb and chicken dishes, a variety of vegetables, and dessert.
 
It was a worthwhile day in every respect – education, new perspectives, good food, and most enjoyable company. I look forward to a return trip to a rediscovered Dearborn, to the museum and to enjoy good Arabic food and hospitality. And I look forward to taking more of the City Club’s day trips.

About the author of today’s post: Marcia Knapp joined the City Club 2004. She is president of the City Club Board of Directors for 2016-17. 

Several years ago, one of my dear friends suggested that I join the Ann Arbor City Club. I grew up in Ann Arbor, and my perception of the Ann Arbor Women’s City Club (as it used to be in its gender exclusive days) was of wealthy older women playing bridge and having lunch. I don’t play bridge. What on earth would I do there?
 
So, my excuse to my friend was, “I have a full-time job. Maybe when I retire.” Once I did retire, she came at me again: “So, now’s the time the join the City Club” (which by that time had become gender inclusive). But then I fell into an interim job, so once more I had an excellent excuse not to join.
 
When that job ended, I was out of excuses. I agreed to meet my friend at an open house where I would be able to see what groups and classes were being offered. I arrived before my friend and stood around looking, I suppose, lost. A lovely woman came over to me, introduced herself and asked if she might buy me a glass of wine. Who says no to wine? We chatted a bit, and a couple of other people came over, and I thought, “What warm friendly people are here.”
 
When my friend arrived, we walked around the room to learn about the classes and activities. I spotted a genealogy group. I had been thinking about delving into my family’s history, so that piqued my interest. One of the things that struck me about the City Club was that—unlike at my job, where people were generally much younger than I—here were people closer to my age with shared history and experience. How lovely! I signed up as a member of the Club and joined the Genealogy group, thinking I would try it for a year and then see.
 
Fast forward one year. I had a better understanding of how to do genealogical research, I had volunteered to price items for the annual City Club Flea Market, and I had joined a couple of other committees. Then I was asked to co-chair the Flea Market the next year. I had such a great time pricing items and working at the Flea Market, that I agreed. Now I am at the Club an average of 3-4 times per week, and my husband has joined. The wait staff in the dining room knows how I take my coffee.
 
So much for “What on earth would I do at the City Club?”
 
About the author of today's post: Barbara Kramer retired from U of M Hospital after 30 years, during which she also spent time as a theatrical stage manager. She has been a member of the City Club for three years.

Shortly after moving with my family to Ann Arbor in 1972 I was asked to sub in a bridge group. After subbing for a few months I was asked to become a permanent member of the group. Late in the year 2002 one of the women in the group, who was a particularly good friend, invited me to join the City Club and be her partner in one of the duplicate bridge groups. I came to the January 2003 Open House and joined at that time.
 
In July of that year I had a very serious bicycle accident. I spent three months in hospital and many months of recovery after that. My membership was coming up for renewal in May 2004 and I had to make a decision. Should I renew my membership or not, since by this time my friend was no longer a member? She had become involved in other activities and was no longer interested in playing bridge at the Club. One thing I knew for sure. If I renewed my membership and was not going to play bridge, I had to become involved in other things the Club had to offer.
 
While I was mulling all of this over, I received a call from a member asking if I would be interested in joining the House Committee at the Club. Since I had always been interested in decorating, it sounded like a good fit and I said “yes”. I’ve always been grateful for that call. There were some wonderful women on the committee, and for me, it was the beginning of some longtime friendships. I have chaired several other committees over the years as well as served on the Board of Directors as assistant secretary and secretary. My husband has since joined the Club and together we attend several of the special interest groups, enjoy lunches and dinners, parties, Lunch & Learn, decorating for the holidays and many other things the Club has to offer. It is truly a special place. 

About the author of today’s post: Bev Flynn joined the City Club in 2003. If you would like to learn more about membership, visit us here for more information: http://www.annarborcityclub.org/join-the-city-club.html​.

Some years ago, looking excitedly at retirement and already filling my head with things I wanted to do, I decided to take a bridge class at the Ann Arbor City Club. My bridge skills needed to be updated from Goren to more modern conventions, and I was ready for the challenge. One bridge class led to another and then another and another. In a short time, I ventured into playing duplicate bridge and getting master points.
 
For a while, taking the classes and playing bridge were the sum and substance of what I did at the City Club. I already had my groups of friends, volunteer work, active role as a grandmother, and classes that I sometimes audited. My life, I felt, was pretty complete.
 
Apparently there was room for more, because in time I found myself going to hear some of the City Club Lunch and Learn speakers and helping with physical plant tasks at the Club’s historic building. This put me in contact with interesting, intelligent, and caring members of the City Club outside of bridge.
 
Now I manage to fit in book discussions, attend monthly meetings of the Apple Lovers group, meet fellow members for lunch, and even participate in leadership roles. And in the past year, my husband and I have enjoyed entertaining our non-member friends at the Jazz Patio Party, the Lobster dinner, and the Motown dance party.
 
The list of diverse opportunities at the City Club grows every year, but some things remain the same – always outstanding speakers, great book discussions, day trips to various sites within lower Michigan, community volunteer opportunities, and yes, still good bridge classes and bridge play for all levels.
 
About the author of today’s post: Marcia Knapp joined the City Club 12. She is president of the City Club Board of Directors in 2016-17. 

Running any event, let alone a completely new and novel one for the City Club, was never something I yearned to do as a Club member. However some 8 years ago a friend, fellow Club member and now President Elect, Connie D’Amato, used a dose of her sweet persuasive talent to coax me into co-chairing a committee. That duty came paired with her innovative idea to try implementing something completely different at our Club. Thus it became the goal of this committee to establish a classic car show.

Hmmm, run a car show? That surely was nothing I’d ever done before. However I took some wry comfort knowing that neither had any of the others on our nascent team. Still we persevered and with a zero budget, a meager amount of promotion plus a lot of hard work, our first show ended up attracting between 30 and 40 vehicles. WOW! Not bad. As a team we proved it could happen! What’s more, we actually had fun pulling this off. 

Some days after the show ended, our committee regrouped to review the event. Unabashedly I say that we passed around more than a few happy “atta boys and girls,” that evening. But then came the inevitable question; Well, do we dare do this again? Now here it is 8 years later and once again it is time for the annual Car Show. Yes, I said “annual.” So I suppose that question we asked each other 8 years ago was unnecessary because we all knew following the modest success of that first show, we’d be determined to try it again. With each passing year since it has gotten bigger and better for multiple reasons. Last year we hosted over 80 vehicles and this year we’re striving to top that record.

Perhaps it would seem boastful to say that this event is becoming institutionalized, both at our lovely Club but also within our community. But for sure it has been established as a fun event anticipated yearly by people of all ages, both City Club members and non-members alike. And it is a fine way to showcase our beautiful setting and facility. There is a good reason that this event has become dubbed “The Show Under the Shade!” due to the unique qualities of our primo location. That distinguishes us into a class of our own when compared to the other local car shows.

Okay, so if you haven’t attended previously then what are you waiting for? Come on out for a stroll, have a hot dog, sample some homemade ice cream as you enjoy the party. Meander around and gaze at the variety of fine and often rare vehicles on display. I’m sure you will quickly appreciate what a matchless blending of ingredients made this idea flourish from those embryonic roots planted years ago. You’ll discover, as have countless others, that you don’t need to be a passionate car person to get caught up in all the fun!

About the author of today's post: Dean DeGalan has been a member of the City Club since 2001. You can enjoy his hard work at this year's Car Show, Saturday, May 28, 12-4 p.m. 

My Story of When My Father-in-Law Moved In With Us
 
A few years ago, my father-in-law moved in with my husband and me. Now, it could’ve been a lot harder than it was. He is a kind, easy-going, quiet man, so he wasn’t particularly difficult to live with. And I don’t have children, so I wasn’t suddenly in the “sandwich” between parents and kids. But my husband and I do have a very small, 1930s Ann Arbor house, with only one bathroom, and we were suddenly faced with a lot of elder care that neither one of us was expecting. Plus, I work at home, so my work space and the solitude I need as a writer were compromised by my father-in-law’s full-time presence.
 
In other words, I wasn’t exactly a happy camper. And since I’m generally a pretty happy gal, this was a new experience for me.
 
I remember well when I started unloading on my friends at the Ann Arbor City Club. Because it seemed like every time I was at the City Club, I was unloading on somebody—the people in my poetry group, the women in my book club, the friends I met for lunch. For the six months it took to move my father-in-law into his own place, I needed somewhere to talk about what I was going through—what I was feeling, what I was learning, how things were going.
 
And you know what? My City Club friends were with me every step of the way. Not only did they give me good advice and lots of supportive hugs, but they encouraged me to unload on them, so I could go home in the right frame of mind for my family responsibilities. The City Club was the home-away-from-home I needed at a critical time. And the people I know there were just exactly the kind of experienced, encouraging, patient friends anyone could want during one of life’s tough transitions.
 
In the end, we found my father-in-law a great place to live, not far from us, with the services he needs. He made new friends at his new place, and he is happier than he’s ever been. And sometimes he even comes with us to the City Club for a dinner party.
 
This blog is about friendship at the Ann Arbor City Club. My story is just one of many stories of the transformative power of community. Check back here for more such stories. And check out the City Club website if you want to know more about this very special place.
 
About the author of today’s post: Stephanie Kadel Taras, Ph.D., has been a member of the Ann Arbor City Club for 14 years. She is a professional writer and personal biographer with her own company, TimePieces Personal Biographies.