Annual Christmas Luncheon and Meeting
On December 9th, members and guests of the Book Club of Detroit met at the historic Longacre House in Farmington Hills for our annual holiday luncheon and meeting. We celebrated our 65th anniversary in concert with the University of Michigan’s William L. Clements Library’s 100th anniversary. We were extremely honored to have Paul J. Erickson, the Randolph G. Adams Director of the Clements, as our guest speaker. Paul gave us a fascinating presentation on “The varieties of certain experience - buying books in the 19th century.” The catered meal was outstanding and our silent auction a financial success.
Book club members and guests enjoyed catching up and book chat.
The sumptuous lunch provided by Gourmet Express Catering included this beautiful dessert table, complements of BCD past president and treasurer, Joe Ajlouny.
The mood at this year’s event was especially celebratory, as BCD marked its 65th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan. Our special guests were our featured speaker, Clements Director Paul Erickson, and Angela Oonk, the library’s director of development.
We enjoyed Paul’s fascinating presentation on “Book Stores and Book Trade in the 19th Century.”
Viktoria, Olga Meyer’s young guest from the Ukraine, drew the winning raffle tickets. On the left is Maurice Barie, our long-time treasurer. Outgoing board member, Paul Schoch, once again performed admirably selling an abundance of 50-50 tickets.
Some of our door prize winners. Angela Oonk, Director of Development at the Clements Library brought several books compliments of the library. (Winners left to right) Patricia Allen, Don Dewhirst, and Rita Goss.
Outgoing President Charlene Kull was honored for three years of outstanding service to BCD with — of course! — a book as a token of the club’s gratitude. Charlene unwraps the gift as incoming President Marcia McBrien and Treasurer Maurice Barie look on. That’s Angela Oonk from the Clements in the foreground.
A high point of the meeting: We were delighted to learn that Ned Blackhawk, son of BCD member Evan Blackhawk, has won the 2023 National Book Award for Nonfiction for his book The Rediscovery of America: Native Peoples and the Unmaking of U.S. History. Ned Blackhawk is the Howard R. Lamar Professor of History and American Studies at Yale University.
Following the annual meeting, a brief board of directors meeting was held to elect BCD’s 2024 officers: President Marcia McBrien, Vice-President Hedger Breed, Treasurer Maurice Barie, and Secretary Jeff White. BCD looks forward to another active year, with three events already being planned, and to continuing our relationship with the Clements Library.
To read Marcia McBrien’s articles on our event that were published online by FABS on the blog “Booktalk” click on these titles:
Book Club of Detroit celebrates 65th anniversary at annual meeting and Christmas luncheon