Name:  Annette Gregori

Club:  Hermitage Country Club

Description:  Board of Governors Day – where finance and golf collide!  This day takes the club’s budget process to an entire new level.  It also enhances board and staff member relations.

Implementation:  The service team generated this idea in a monthly team meeting.  It has been ver well received by each of the directors.

Name:  Paul M.G. Astbury

Club:  Ocean Reef Club

Description:  The TEAM 2006 Strategic Planning initiative has provided an opportunity for members to take the review of Club operations and planning of the Club’s future into their own hands.  The process has helped to identify opportunities for improvement throughout the Club, and has encouraged active member participation.  Consequently, the club is now in possession of a structured 10 year plan with the ultimate goal of maintaining and increasing member satisfaction.

Implementation:  Directors of the club and members of senior staff joined almost 100 member in the planning exercise, which spanned a period of almost 10 months.  Nine sub-groups were formed to tackle the following issue areas:  values and traditions, activities and services, communications and external affairs, facilities and infrastructure, finance, governance, membership, staffing and club comparators.  No subject was off limits and every conceivable issue was put on the table for discussion.  After dozens of meetings, a booklet was produced which summarized all major issues and recommended to the board for inclusion in the final strategic plan document.  Members were eager for the chance to participate, voice their opinions and take part in planning the club’s future.

Name:  Ted Bartlett

Club:  Hermitage Country Club

Description:  Effective communication by the President has tremendously impacted the club’s operations and overall member satisfaction with critical and significant decisions.

Implementation:  Management impacted the nominating process so that key leaders would also be good communicators.  The reaction is very positive and member moral remains at an all time high!

Name:  Mary Elizabeth Sullivan

Club:  Granite Club

Description:  Survivor Granite, a cooking challenge modeled after the popular television show, Survivor, was a fun and unconventional experience for members of the board.  This event was held to strengthen the relationship between board members and staff, and facilitate a fun and enjoyable team building exercise.

Implementation:  Prior to the actual Survivor night, the Board of Directors received a visit from Jeff Probst (the club’s Executive Chef) at their Christmas dinner to receive their team buff and Chef uniform.

Name:  Ted Bartlett

Club:  Hermitage Country Club

Description:  By preparing a detailed calendar for the Board of Directors, they are fully informed of critical dates and deadlines that the club faces.

Implementation:  The General Manager and Director of Membership implemented this idea and the Board was very pleased.

Name:  J. Brent Tartamella

Club:  the Westmoor Club

Description:  Although we are a season club with only a small team of 6 year round managers, we have implemented weekly training/brainstorming sessions to help improve our overall management team.  By focusing on topics such as defining the ideal employee, identifying different management styles and breaking down our membership into their wants, need, and expectations we hope to improve operations and member services in our 3rd season.

Implementation:  An outside consultant leads our weekly meetings and provides assignments for follow up discussion at the next meeting.  The open dialogue helps bring new and creative ideas to the table and we learn from each others difficulties in each area of the club.  By understanding each other, our members and the needs of our staff we hope to create a cohesive management team to lead our seasonal managers, supervisors and staff in providing stellar membership service.