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.