User:Wikipelli/Torch Club International

International Association of Torch Clubs

Abbreviation	IATC
Formation	1924 (1924)
Type	[[ ]]
Headquarters	Newport News, Virginia, United States
Location	United States and Canada
President	Norine Haas, Frederick, MD (2015–16)
Executive Secretary	James Coppinger, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Key people	William Bullock (Founder)
Main organ	[The Torch]
Website	torch.org

Torch Club International is an association of about 70 local clubs in North America, dedicated to broadening the intellectual and social horizons of professionals of all stripes. Its goal is to engage members and guests in cultural and educational discussions, usually based on presentations by members following a dinner or social gathering. Topics include history, culture, government, politics, and science, with controversial subjects welcomed. Unlike many membership organizations, it does not have community service as a goal.

The International Association of Torch Clubs, Inc., or IATC, was founded in 1924 by William Bullock in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Together with a diverse group of professionals, he helped establish additional clubs throughout the Midwest and beyond. Women were formally admitted as members beginning in the 1970s and now constitute almost half the membership. IATC provides support services to the local clubs, divided into ten geographic regions from Maine to Colorado, southern Canada to San Antonio, with more being chartered. It sponsors an annual convention hosted by one of the clubs.

Every Torch club welcomes people with intellectual curiosity, who enjoy discussion, and are willing to hear new ideas with an open mind. Torch presentations are typically 30-40 minutes in length. They are carefully researched and can be written as papers, which then are submitted for publication in the quarterly magazine, The Torch, which is now included in the EBSCO index and reference system (EBSCO.org). The Torch is mailed in print form to all Torch members, and can be read on-line (thetorchmagazine.org).