Some years ago the political scientist Robert Putnam wrote about the shift from valuing community toward emphasizing individualism. His metaphor and the title of his book was Bowling Alone, noting a significant shift occurred between the ‘50s and the ‘90s: Bowling leagues disappeared, replaced by individuals bowling “alone,” outside of organized groups.
Putnam argued that the Progressive era (1890-1920) was rich in the development of community associations, only to decline in the 1960s and 1970s when a radical individualism undercut social institutions. Putnam observed the founding dates of American membership organizations peaked in the Progressive era when a third of adult males belonged to a fraternal association like the Masons, Eagles, Knights of Columbus, B’nai B’rith, or Freemasonry. The same was true for service clubs like Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, Jaycees, and political action groups like the WCTU, PTAs, NAACP, and Urban League.
The membership declines began in the ’60s and continue today. Many membership organizations have lapsed and many continue to decline in membership. Local social clubs such as the Harbor Club and the College Club closed their doors or sold their downtown locations.
The Rainier Club, founded in 1888, grew out of its first clubhouse, and its second. In 1905 the northern section of the current clubhouse opened and the southern extension in 1929. With more than a thousand memberships at the turn of this century, the Club watched membership decline, bottoming out, post- COVID, at just over 400. While a cash infusion from the sale of development rights kept the club alive, the fate of the 136-year-old Rainier Club is not likely one of an optimistic prognosis.
Best to call it quits, too? I don’t think so, and the leadership of our club agrees with me.
When I think about The Rainier Club, I don’t just see the history-rich walls, or the beautiful
setting tucked away in downtown Seattle. I see the members past and present who
have walked through its doors, each bringing their own unique sparks to our community.
To me, a past president of the Club, The Rainier Club is about more than just the handsome building, the influential past and tradition. It harks back to Progressive Era values of community and connection. It remains a space where real conversations happen, where friendships are forged, and where we come together to push each other and Seattle forward.
When our founders established The Rainier Club in 1888, Seattle was still taking shape. Leaders such as Judge Thomas Burke and John Leary, men who were as practical as they were visionary, knew our young city needed more than buildings and streets; it needed a place for people to gather, to strategize, gain allies, and to grow something bigger than themselves.
These founders weren’t building a social club for the sake of elite leisure. They were setting the foundation for a community hub where the city’s challenges and opportunities could be constructively discussed among friends and neighbors. Today, we’re still honoring that original vision, each of us adding a little something to keep the place thriving.
What sets The Rainier Club apart isn’t just its history or its traditions, important as they are. It’s the unique ability of the Club to bring together people from all walks of life,
different backgrounds, fields, and viewpoints to sit down, talk, and debate. I can say from experience that it’s a place where you’ll hear ideas you’ve never considered before and be challenged to think beyond what you already know.
The Club has its committees — everything from Business Leadership to Arts to Global
Affairs — where members gather around shared interests, discussing everything from civic issues to the latest trends in art and technology. But it’s also about those moments in the lounge or at dinner, where you find yourself in a conversation that makes you see things differently. In a world where people are becoming more isolated in their perspectives, there’s something refreshing about a place that encourages us to listen, connect, and grow.
I appreciate deeply that The Rainier Club honors its commitment to the community
beyond our membership. Over the years, we’ve opened our doors to host local events, partnered with nonprofits, and supported civic causes. We don’t live in a bubble here; we’re as much a part of Seattle as any other institution, and we carry a sense of responsibility to contribute to its well-being. From charitable gatherings to cultural events, The Rainier Club plays a role in advancing causes that make our city a better place to live. An example: the partnership with the downtown YMCA’s program to support foster care transitions.
In recent years, our current President, Lauren Parris Watts, has brought new energy to the Club by championing a more inclusive and welcoming culture for all members. A Puget Sound Business Journal “40 Under 40” alum, Parris Watts is an African American woman and a leader as a lawyer and mother. As our current president, she created the DEI Advisory Group to help the Club become a place where every member, regardless of background, can feel at home.
Parris Watts has shown us that respecting our history and embracing change aren’t mutually exclusive. Under her guidance, we’re building on our legacy by ensuring it reflects the diversity of Seattle itself by attracting younger people and women. The last three years brought more than 250 new members to the club, more than reversing the COVID-years’ decline and revitalizing our clubhouse.
The author, long active in local politics, recently served as president of the Rainier Club.
Fred, Interesting article about an important civic institution. It should be mentioned, however, that the club was slow to admit women and long had a dress code for male members — requiring jackets and ties until almost the end of the 20th Century. So glad to see the Club now is a leader honoring diversity.