The F & M Community Bank Summit Club was first started over 20 years ago by bank employee Carol Bond and has been going strong ever since. When Bond retired three years ago, Brenda Reicks and Allison Whalen took over running the club for her. They’ve enjoyed building on what Bond started, but are also making it their own. “We put our own spin on it,” Reicks said.
Being in charge of the Summit Club is a big responsibility that Reicks and Whalen don’t take lightly. “It’s a pretty big undertaking. It consumes a lot of our time,” Reicks commented. Despite the time it takes to run the club and put together events, Reicks and Whalen find the work rewarding and enjoy coming up with new activities.
The Summit Club is an exclusive club open to F & M Community Bank customers aged 55 and over. “It’s a social and travel club,” Whalen explained. She and Reicks try to plan an event at least every other month and have been working to add some longer trips than the usual short day trips to the schedule.
Reicks and Whalen also make sure to plan trips that include family members of the Summit Club. “We definitely welcome guests on our trips,” Whalen explained. Each year, a visit to a Twins game is scheduled that is open to the public.
Most of the trips that the Summit Club take are day trips for which a motor coach is chartered. “Chanhassen is an annual favorite,” Reicks noted. Another popular trip is the mystery trip that takes place in the fall. “Those are always fun,” Whalen laughed, explaining that those who register for it have no idea what they’re signing up for until they get to their destination.
They also have activities that take place at the bank, such as movie day where Summit Club members bring an item to donate to the food shelf as admission.
The Summit Club includes members from all F & M Community Bank branches.
The buses stop at each branch as well as in Fountain to pick up members for trips.
There are around 250 members of the Summit Club, and trips average about 45-50 in attendance. Reicks and Whalen strive to keep the costs for the trips affordable at about $89 for each one, although the fees can vary based on the cost of the bus rental, meals, and activities.
The Summit Club is free to join with some deposit requirements to be considered for membership. Anyone interested in joining can email summitclub@fmcommunity.com or find more information at fmcommunity.com.
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