FROGOLOGY – A History of the Frogs Club
The Frogs Club
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PARAGRAPH
The Frogs Club is one of the oldest organizations of its kind. Established 91 years ago in Chicago, it continues to serve as a leadership organization in the city’s African-American community. Today, the Frogs Club membership is comprised of successful African-American business and professional men. The club meets on a monthly basis, and is designed for networking, fraternization and bonding among black men in the Chicago community. Each meeting includes a guest speaker of note. This Frogs Club meeting and discussion format provides opportunities for the club to increase its knowledge of diverse and relevant subject matters, and to respond to various community issues and concerns on a collective or on an individual basis. The Frogs Club is proud to be one of the founding member organizations of the Coalition of African American Leaders (COAL).
ORGANIZATION
Founded in 1922, The Frogs Club is one of the oldest organizations of its kind in existence today. Seven bachelors established the club during a meeting at Mr. Charles Young’s home, located at 4523 S. South St. Lawrence, Chicago, Illinois. The idea was to form a social club through which members could explore mutual interests. Six additional single men were inducted into the club during its second meeting. Together, these thirteen men became the founders and chartered members of The Frogs Club. The original members were: Charles Young, Hobart Chatman, John Turner, Earl Hickman, Virgil Gant, S. L. Bowman, Louis Gans, Kenneth Baker, Howard Shaw, Harry Hines, Sam Carter, Leon Wilson and Harold Thompson.
Several years elapsed before The Frogs Club inducted seven more members, bringing the total membership to twenty. The club did not increase its membership for many years. Today the club’s bylaws permit a maximum of only fifty members.
NAMING THE CLUB
The chartered members selected “The Frogs” as the club’s name based upon a play titled “The Frogs,” written by the Greek playwright Aristophanes in 405 B.C. The play depicts frogs as noble and elegant creatures that symbolize high character and responsibility in their daily environment. The club’s founding members agreed that this play’s message was fitting to symbolize the club’s image.
PURPOSE
The purpose of The Frogs Club is to engender and promote social activities among the members as a group, and to encourage the members’ support, as individuals, of all worthy civic and cultural organizations and activities of our community. Members hosted many parties, dances, picnics and other social activities. As the chartered members married, each one was gifted a beautiful, silver water pitcher with the year of their wedding. Following the marriages of most of the founders, the club opened its membership to married men. Today, marital status is not a factor in determining membership. The social aspects of the club remain basically the same, albeit with an increased focus on fellowship and community service.
STRUCTURE
The Frogs Club has four officers, President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary, that serve one-year terms. However, each officer is expected to remain in office for two years if requested by the membership.
The Frogs Club meets the first Saturday of each month, except during the months of July and August. Each meeting is co-hosted by two active members, based upon an alphabetized pre-scheduled list. The locations of meetings are selected by the co-hosts who are also expected to select and secure guest speakers. Meetings usually include cocktails and dinner.
ACTIVITIES
Since its inception, The Frogs Club has hosted an Annual Black Tie Dinner Dance. In addition to regular attendance at club meetings, it is expected that each club member will purchase a table for his guests for the annual affair. The club does not sell tables to outsiders. Only members and their guests are permitted to attend this gala annual event.
EMERITUS STATUS
Emeritus status may be conferred on club members following years of exceptional and outstanding contributions and service to the organization as determined by the membership body. Emeritus status eliminates all future dues payments while entitling the emeritus member to all club privileges.