Williamsburg Torch Club 

December 15, 2026 Presentation by Bill Geary on “Personality Types: Introversion and Extroversion”

Understanding how our worldview differs from others can enhance self-awareness, deepen relationships, strengthen teams, and facilitate conflict resolution. Personality theories offer insights. We will discuss a model favored by organizations, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. The goal is to reflect on your preferences and identify personality differences that impact your relationships.

November 17, 2026 Presentation by John Delano on “Triple-train Wreck on March 27, 1953: A Personal Account”

This is the story of the events that led up to a historic train wreck that occurred in western
Pennsylvania. As a 5-year boy traveling with his mother and younger brother on an eastbound New York Central passenger train (Southwest Limited), they experienced an accident that directly involved the largest number of trains (3) in a single wreck in the history of the United States. This presentation describes the unusual circumstances that led up to this tragic event and the personal recollections of being a passenger on one of those trains.

October 20, 2026 Presentation by Robert Spitzer on “Is the President’s War Power a Fiction?”

The Constitution vests the war power in Congress, yet modern presidents seem to exercise this power almost entirely on their own, with the rare exception of a full scale or so-called “perfect” war, last declared for World War II. What, exactly, does the Constitution say about the war power, and why?

September 15, 2026 Presentation by Pat Shutterly on “What is Money Laundering? And Why Should I Care?”

Pat is a member of the Torch Club of Richmond who will be visiting us to share her experiences in the banking industry. It is estimated that $800 billion to $2 trillion is laundered each year, representing approximately 2% to 5% of global GDP. In her presentation, Pat will discuss the specifics of this crime and explain how it impacts all of us.

May 19, 2026 Presentation by Denise Harrington on “Harry Byrd: Why His Influence Still Matters in Virginia Politics Today”

Now that we know about the activities of Harry Byrd during his lifetime, as noted at the April dinner presentation, it is worth looking at the long term impact of his policies. What still remains of the changes he made during his 40-year reign? This presentation will walk you through some of the events in the 60 years following the departure of this influential Virginia politician. You may be surprised.

April 21, 2026 Presentation by Steve Berke on “The Reign of Harry Byrd: Virginia Politics from 1925-1965”

For forty years, from 1925 until 1965, one man, Harry Flood Byrd, controlled politics in the Commonwealth of Virginia. What kind of person was he, and how did he and his organization maintain iron control of Virginia politics for that long a period?

March 17, 2026 Presentation by John Delano on “Window glass: The Rodney Dangerfield of Archaeological Artifacts”

Window glass is a common artifact found by archaeologists in Colonial Williamsburg, VA and Plymouth-Patuxet, MA. Except for the failed attempt to make glass in Jamestown (1608-1609), glass was imported to the colonies, principally from England. The chemical recipe for making glass changed over time as glass makers learned empirically how to improve the clarity, color, and durability of window glass. Those compositional changes of colonial-age glass are being measured and used for the first time in North America to infer the ages of archaeological sites and the social status of the colonists.

February 17, 2026 Presentation by Lynn Bernard on “A Cup of Joe by Any Other Name: The History of Coffee”

A legacy Torch member, Lynn has been a member since 2008, making Torch presentations at a handful of clubs and conventions, assisting in founding several clubs and serving as a Regional Director on the International Association of Torch Clubs Board. In 1983, Lynn received the IATC’s highest honor, the Gold Award. Her presentation on coffee is one of many fun presentations she has given over the years at various clubs.

January 20, 2026 Presentation by Dan Sherman on “Hamilton: Man and Musical”

Alexander Hamilton has always been known as a central player in America’s early history, but the smash Broadway musical Hamilton has focused renewed attention on this fascinating individual. Speaker Dan Sherman’s multimedia presentation combines Hamilton’s biography with excerpts from the show to demonstrate its richness and its place among Broadway musicals.

December 16, 2025 Presentation by Camilla Buchanan & Deb Hill on “Adventures Biking Around the World”

As a retirement “gift” Debra Hill signed them both up for an Adventure Cycling Association van-supported ride across America following the 1976 TransAmerica Trail from Yorktown to Florence Oregon. This was the first of 5 epic cycling tours that covered the entire circumference of our country. Join us on December 16th to hear about what they learned about the geography, history and culture of our soon to be 250-year-old USA.