To me your club was always a place of charm and colour and conviviality. For a rather inexperienced journalist, it was a smoke-filled seminar room. You could exchange views about political and other news, but you could also observe the characters and the conversations around you, not to mention the poker games and the bet book. If journalism is associated with human interest and curiosity, your club had plenty to stimulate both. In a press club, the bar is just the anchor for a larger enterprise.
Journalism is a special profession, sometimes hard for other people to understand.
But if you drop into the club, then you're among your own. You can relax, and talk shop, and learn something. Also in this club, you could pick up background information almost by osmosis. I'm impressed that your club has reinforced the learning process, not only for your members but for others. You sponsor the Insight talks by newsmakers, and the Byline talks by media people.