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There are a lot of things happening here for a club in the midst of a pandemic surge, so pay attention and buckle up:

1. First and foremost, bowling is back, baby! Here are the details:

Following a survey of the captains on Sunday evening, the teams have overwhelmingly voted to resume the bowling season. The men’s bowling league will pick up NEXT Tuesday, January 25th, and we will be starting with the published schedule for the week of 1/25. This week’s position round will be eliminated-no harm, no foul. The week of January 4th will be bowled the week of March 8th, and the week of January 11th will be bowled the week of April 26th, both in lieu of position rounds. The season will still end at its scheduled time, barring any future interruptions.

Since our safety is of the utmost importance, we will be using a common sense approach to the health and safety protocols. The local numbers of cases are on the wane, but it only takes one numnut to shut the club down again, and no one wants that. Masks are not required but are strongly encouraged (especially if, well, you know), as are vaccinations, and we ask that if you’re not feeling 100% that you stay TF home. Let’s all stay safe out there!

2. On Saturday, there is a great volunteer opportunity to help out one of the core six groups that we support through our Community Action Initiative, Backpacks For Life.
Here are the deets: The Backpacks For Life team will be hosting a storage clean-up day and packing event to help us get our storage units in tip-top shape AND pack 75 backpacks for veterans in the Camden, NJ area.
Whether you can join us for a few hours or the whole day, every bit of help counts!

Where: Fairfield Self Storage, 226 Passaic Avenue, Fairfield, NJ 07004
Date: Saturday, January 22nd
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (The greatest area of need seems to be between 12-4)
What To Expect:
We’ll be organizing all recent donations received which will include ensuring toiletries and supplies are neatly put away in respective storage bins, breaking down boxes, sorting new merchandise, moving boxes and items around to make space for new backpacks arriving. Comfortable sneakers and clothing is best.

Let me know at jfxa@blackwatchproductions.com if you are interested in participating and for what time frame. I will submit one form on behalf of the club with everyone’s name on it.

As an added bonus, everyone who shows up will receive one of our brand new Commonwealth Club Cares t-shirts to wear as a representative of the Club.

This is a great organization and a great cause that benefits our veterans, so I hope that we’ll get a good turnout.

3. The first Mixed Bowling of the new year takes place this Saturday, January 22nd. (For the uninitiated and newer members, Mixed Bowling refers to couples bowling as a team; think of it as a $10 date night. Insane!)
We hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and are looking forward to a better 2022, despite living in a world filled with troubles that conspire to sink our spirits at every turn. There is, however, one great respite from our daily dread, and that, of course, is Mixed Bowling at the Commonwealth Club!
On Saturday, January 22nd, you can blow off steam by hurling heavy objects at defenseless pins that don’t even move! Sink our spirits, hell, drown our spirits, I say! That’s the spirit! We will gather at 7:15 at the Commonwealth Club and partake in an evening filled with laughter, food(we like folks to bring some snackage), drink (if you buy or bring it), two games of bowling and great music, all for the paltry sum of $10 per couple.
There is a sign up sheet down by the lanes, or you can email me at jfxa@blackwatchproductions that you want to bowl and I will add you to the list. You DO NOT need to be a bowling member of the club to participate in this event, in fact you don’t need to be a member at all-guests are always welcome, so bring your friends! We had a full house last time, so words to the wise and all that.

4. Endurance Tournament, Saturday, Feb. 5th
5. Super Bowl Tailgate Party, Sunday, Feb. 13th
More to come on these two events, so stay tuned.

Because we were closed over the holiday season, many of you probably don’t know that the club has lost two members, both too young and both unexpectedly. Jim Scancarella passed away over Christmas weekend and John Impenna passed away the other day. Both great guys, great members and both will be greatly missed.

For Jimmy, in lieu of flowers, donations/checks may be made to the Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, earmarked for the Jim Scancarella Memorial Fund, 186 Seven Farms Drive, Box 389, Daniel Island, SC 29492.

For John, Here are his service details:
John had several charities which he was passionate about and donated to monthly. Contributions in his memory can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the Disabled American Veterans organization.
There will be a viewing held from 4-7pm on Thursday, January 20th at Caggiano Memorial Home in Montclair, New Jersey. The viewing will be followed by a repast at the Commonwealth Club of Montclair.

Condolences to their family and friends and may both rest in peace.

First of all, Happy New Year to one and all!

As the new year dawns, unfortunately we find ourselves smack in the middle of  the 3rd highest Covid case rate in the nation, and we have had to make some alterations to the upcoming event schedule as a result of this surge.

First and foremost, the men’s bowling league has instituted a pause for two weeks, starting with this evening.  We will reassess in two weeks and move ahead accordingly.  The goal is to keep the totality of the season as intact as possible, while keeping members safe at the same time.

The Italian Sunday Dinner, scheduled for January 16th, has been postponed, not canceled.  A new date is being sought.

Mixed Bowling is scheduled for the 22nd of January; that will be decided after the next ten days or so.

The Jess Dodd Endurance Tournament will be on Saturday, February 5th, the week before the Super Bowl.  Two man teams of league bowlers bowl 6 games in this event-details to follow.

Super Bowl Party is on Sunday, February 13th-still planning on holding our biggest party of the year, but we’re keeping a close eye on the variant situation.  Stay tuned.

The January board meeting is on Monday, January 17, and all members are welcome to attend.

The holiday coat drive was a tremendous success-thank you to all who donated!

That’s it for now-stay healthy and safe out there!

As the holiday season inexorably approaches (encroaches?), here are a number of events of note on the horizon:

The Club Christmas Party is on Saturday, December 18th from 7pm until midnight. It’s a casual affair for members and their other halves to drop by and have a drink and a nosh. We ask anyone who is coming to please bring an appetizer or dessert to share along with your good cheer, of course!

On Sunday, the 19th, Santa will make his long awaited return to the Club! He alights at 12pm and will stay until 1-ish if you want to bring the kinder and/or grandkinder to chat with the portly icon. Please RSVP by text to 973-746-2984 by December 15th or let Sandy know that you are coming.

Save the date for the Italian Sunday Dinner-always a big family fave, which will take place on Sunday, January 16th (the day preceding MLK B-day – which is a National holiday), additionally there are (3) NFL Wild-card games scheduled for Sunday. Great home cooked Italian fare and playoff football, what’s not to like?

Finally, we are continuing our annual holiday coat drive through the end of the year. If you have decent warm clothing, particularly coats, jackets, sweaters and footwear, please drop them off in the front of the game room. These will go to the Montclair Salvation Army to provide much needed warmth for those in our community who are in need, especially these days in particular. We have already delivered two large loads, let’s make one more big push before Christmas!

That’s it for now-check the website for all of this and more: www.commonwealthclub.net.

To make a donation or contribution to the Club’s capital fund, make a check out to Commonwealth Club or Venmo to: @Commonwealth-Club 1904

Lots of stuff happening at the Club as we head into the holiday season, so listen up:

There will be a meeting of the Community Action Committee at the club on Monday, the 8th at 7pm. If you’d like to join this committee and/or have ideas for how we can be more involved in our community, come on by!

Thirsty Thursday returns on Thursday, November 11th, with, shockingly, a Thanksgiving theme. That means a fresh fried turkey, courtesy of Lou Graham and bourbon cocktails and beer. Guests are welcome. $10 suggested donation to cover costs.

The really big upcoming event that we’re all excited about is the CC Comedy Circus on Saturday, November 20th; Multiple comedians, food, drink, all for $35! Get your tickets in advance here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-commonwealth-clubs-comedy-circus-an-evening-of-comedy-improv-tickets-203533061867?utm-campaign=social%2Cemail&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=checkoutwidget
This event could very well sell out, so you might want to get yours now-guests, of course, are very welcome!

The return of the Annual Turkey Shoot Tournament will be held on Tuesday, November 23rd. This is a single bowler tournament for current league bowlers and subs only., maximum 30 bowlers There will be an event notice on the Facebook page (which all of you should be a part of) as well as a sign up sheet down by the lanes.

Speaking of returns, Mixed Bowling will make a triumphant reappearance on Saturday, December 4th. This is couples team bowling for fun and profit and guests are welcome! Details to follow.

Finally, in the wake of our fantastically successful Halloween Portrait food exchange, we are starting our annual holiday coat drive this weekend. If you have decent warm clothing, particularly coats, jackets, sweaters and footwear, please drop them off in the front of the game room. These will go to the Montclair Salvation Army to provide much needed warmth for those in our community who are in need, especially these days in particular.

As we set sail into a new bowling season, with a new president, new board members, new website and, most importantly, 25-plus new members, it’s time to make the case for Club Committees.  This club is run by a volunteer board of officers and trustees.  The real work, however, of keeping the club viable, relevant and fun to belong to happens in the various committees that handle different aspects of club life.  
Below you will find the names of each committee, what that committee does and the contact info for the its chairman. What we are looking for are guys who would like to step up and have a real say in the direction and functionality of what is, quite literally, your club. All it will take is a lot of interest, a little time, and a desire to make the club better in any number of ways.  Please read this through and contact the chairman if you are interested in joining one (or more) of the following groups:
Entertainment, Trip Dixon, chairman; 862-596-5162, tripperino@aol.com.
Responsible for the creation and running of all social events at the club, which include staples like the Open House; Cajun Night, Super Bowl Party, Sunday Family (Italian) Dinner, BBQ Competition, Thirsty Thursdays, Bowling Tournaments, Golf Outings, etc. The CC Comedy Circus on November 20th is an example of a new event we’re going to try out, and we are always open to new ideas for any event that will engage our membership. 
Membership, Peter Zaret, chairman; pzaret@comcast.net.
Responsible for the welcoming of new members to the club, including tours and orientations so that each new member has a good grasp of the club, its activities, rules and place in the community.
House, Rich McMahon, chairman; 973-951-7962; rfmcmahon@gmail.com.
The House committee strives to maintain the physical plant of the club house through the work of member craftsmen (or those who are handy and interested in helping out) and outside contractors.  It’s an old building and needs a lot of upkeep, so this is a critical committee to join and make a discernible difference.
Communications, John Anderson, chairman; 646-591-2008; jfxa@blackwatchproductions.com;
Responsible for getting the word out to the members and the community at large regarding all things Commonwealth; publicizing events, general information, maintaining and updating the website, Facebook pages and Instagram page.  Can always use some tech-savvy people with good ideas who want to help out.
Bowling, Keith McKune, chairman; 973-819-8082; kmckune2008@gmail.com
The bowling committee, i.e., Keith, runs all aspects of the bowling league, which is the lifeblood of the club; he records the weekly results, standings and averages for over 120 team bowlers and subs. Rumor has it that is is looking to groom a replacement after over 20 years on the job.
Community Action Initiative, John Anderson, chairman; jfxa@blackwatchproductions.com; 646-591-2008
This is a simple concept: create a mechanism, and, hopefully, a culture, within the club that allows and encourages our members to become more actively involved within our communities.  Now that our membership is on the upswing after the pandemic, it’s seems fitting, if not obligatory, that the Club becomes a beacon of social responsibility; where members represent the club in a positive light through their actions within their communities. To that end, we have formed a Community Action Initiative in order to help implement this activity. 
The idea is to help the membership to get involved by becoming an active resource for opportunities to volunteer, to participate in fundraisers, to help out various youth organizations, in short, to become more fully engaged in the fabric of where we all live.  We are looking for more folks to become a part of this committee. 
This initiative, if successful, is a win-win for the Club in terms of positive public relations, possible new members and rentals, and, most of all, for the difference we can make in our communities by getting involved and being engaged.  I hope that many, if not all, of you will join us in this endeavor.
One of the events that falls under this heading is the annual Costume Portraits for Groceries that will happen at the Club on this Halloween Sunday, October 31st. We normally get around 80 families who come by and exchange a bag of groceries for a professional portrait by our own Michael Stahl.  We could really use 5 or 6 volunteers between 1:30 and 6pm to help with crowd control and the collection and sorting of the groceries, which are going to Toni’s Kitchen and Human Needs Pantry.