Frequently Asked Questions

Bellingham City Club provides non-partisan presentations for local citizens “to explore topics of interest and importance to us all” (or sometimes just to entertain). Programs feature subject matter experts with local and regional knowledge and sometimes speakers with broader national and international experience. Some meetings feature one speaker, and others feature a panel of presenters with diverse viewpoints on an issue. You may browse our Past Programs for more information.

• Bellingham City Club meets for a luncheon presentation on the fourth Wednesday of most months. We meet on the third Wednesday of October and November. We do not meet in December.
• The doors open at 11:30 m. and the buffet begins at 11:40 a.m. The presentation lasts from 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Presentations are followed by a Q&A session (during which members get priority). Speakers may linger after the presentation for informal discussion.
• A 15-minute annual meeting occurs every May prior to the presentation.
• We may offer the occasional special event.

Bellingham City Club presents stimulating programs to a vital and informed audience. Your membership supports our programs and gives you an opportunity to meet and converse with other members of the community who share an interest in current and critical issues.

All meetings are open to the public. This applies to members and non-members alike from Whatcom County and surrounding regions. Exceptions include the Annual Meeting in May with a short administrative meeting where only members can vote.

• Yes, reservations are made online. Those on our email list are emailed a link ahead of time. Reservations can also be made from the City Club home page.
• If unable to make an online reservation, email for assistance.
• Advance reservations are strongly encouraged. We close the online reservation period on the Sunday before the presentation at 6 p.m.
• A few tickets can be obtained at the door depending on whether our program is sold out or not.

• We reserve a table for our speakers and Program Committee members.
• We encourage members and non-members to sit together at tables.
• Program-only ticket holders are asked to use chairs provided for non-lunch guests rather than occupying seats at tables.

• Membership is open to all who support the Bellingham City Club mission. Please visit the Membership page for additional information.
• Whether a member or not, you may add your name to our contact list for three years by emailing us at . You will receive regular announcements of our meetings, and you are welcome to attend meetings by paying the guest rate.
• Click ‘Follow’ on the City Club Facebook or Instagram page.
• Membership dues are renewable on the anniversary of the date you joined. A renewal notice is sent by email before the expiration date. Members who do not renew their memberships are suspended after six months. Payment can be made online or at the next monthly meeting.

• Ticket costs do not fully cover the cost of meals. Memberships, sponsorships, grants, and donations fill this gap and help City Club pay for the room rental, sound engineering, videography, and speaker honorariums.
• The ticket price for program only tickets covers coffee, cookie, and costs associated with programming including the speaker honorariums.

Bellingham City Club has several levels of membership. Annual dues are $60 for an individual, $100 for a two-person household, and $10 for youth under 25. In addition to annual membership, which is renewable annually on the day the member joined, members and guests pay for their lunch for each meeting they attend. For those who want to support the City Club more generously, there are levels for Friends of City Club and for Sponsoring Members.

• Speakers are chosen by the Program Committee which looks for topics that are timely and of broad interest to our membership and relate to our mission. We seek speakers with proven presenter skills to address a chosen topic on which they have credible expertise. Program ideas come from various sources, including community and member input, and undergo lively debate and vetting. Member input and feedback on program topics is critical to the committee’s work. Speakers are often well known, sometimes elected officials or candidates for office, and sometimes people who work in a field related to the topic. Our programs may feature one speaker or a panel.
• In the fall during election season, we devote two or three meetings to local elections and initiatives often featuring a panel of presenters utilizing a Q&A approach.

• Attend our meetings and bring a friend.
• Share the program announcement with others and share a video.
• Include City Club in your year-end donations.
• Opt-in as a Friend of City Club.