A Legacy Worth Remembering

In 1962, The Commonwealth Club of Michigan was founded by a group of ex-pats from the UK. As of 2026, it is the oldest operating UK-based social club in the United States.

However, the lack of transparency by the board, along with many secretive and underhanded decisions, have left the Club in shambles. We no longer have a clubhouse. Meetings and gatherings are being conducted in various locations. The fish fry is gone, as are most of the events that made the Club fun and unique. Membership is being kept in the dark and are being fed lies, half-truths, and misinformation.

The position that the Club currently finds itself in was completely avoidable and gross negligence on the part of the board has all but ensured the untimely demise of our 64-year-old institution. Sadly, The Commonwealth Club has an uncertain future, and many of us feel that the Club we all knew, loved, and enjoyed is gone – gone, and replaced by a shell of its former self.

This site, created by the Friends of the Commonwealth Club, was developed to serve as a loving tribute to the Club we all remember. We want former members and those interested in our history to see the Club as it used to be. Here you will find archived copies of the newsletter, photos, a history of the club, and an overview of what has led us to this dire situation.

Who are the Friends of the Commonwealth Club?

We are a small group of current and former members of the Club, who take issue with the direction the club has gone under the tutelage of the current president and that president’s hand-picked board. Our goal is to preserve as much of the Club, its history, and its culture as we possibly can, while helping to bring awareness to the situation we are in and what led us to this point. If you wish to reach out to us with questions, comments, or want to be a part of who we are and what we are doing, please feel free to contact us using the Contact Us page.