February 6, 2026
Professional Development
Help Plant the Seeds of Growth: Volunteer at World Conference
This year's World Conference & Club Business Expo features over sixty engaging education sessions with 50% new speakers. Each session will be introduced by volunteers, a role crucial to our program's success. And that’s where we need you!
Interested in volunteering? It's simple! Visit our Volunteer Page, browse the sessions you plan to attend, and click on the "Click Here to Reserve" link next to your chosen session. You'll receive a confirmation email with the session details: date, time, and room location. Please consider introducing one or more sessions.
When on site, visit the Member Services Pavilion in the Grand Ballroom at the Anaheim Marriott 15 minutes before your session. Our Education Department team will provide you with a brief script. A team member will also be available near the session room to assist you.
If you have any questions, signed up by mistake, or need to cancel, please contact Michelle Carrington.
Membership and Member Benefits
Do You Need to Transfer Chapters?
Have you recently moved to a new club within a new Chapter boundary and need to transfer Chapters? If so, we have some good news for you! The Chapter Transfer process is all online! Simply fill out the online form and when you submit it, it will go to the correct Chapter and National contacts who will begin processing your transfer.
Celebrating The Club Foundation at World Conference
There are so many meaningful ways to show your support for The Club Foundation, and there’s no better time than during the CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo. As the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of CMAA, The Club Foundation is proud to champion the professional journeys of our members, because investing in people is at the heart of everything we do.
Thanks to the generosity of members like you, we’re able to open doors through scholarships and grants that help club professionals learn, grow, and thrive at every stage of their careers.
Thursday, February 19: ClubLove 5K
One of the most beloved conference traditions is the annual 5K run-walk. Lace up your sneakers and walk or run through the streets of Anaheim, soaking in the early-morning California sunshine and community spirit. If you’re not a walker or runner, come cheer on your colleagues and feel the energy.
Registration is still open. Access your Conference registration confirmation email to sign up today. This email was sent from the address, CMAA Events <confreg@cmaa.org>. Select the Manage Your Registration link. You will find this just above your confirmation number and before the Order Details section. If you have any questions, please contact the Conference Registration Team.
Friday, February 20: CMAA Awards Breakfast
Presented in partnership with Club Car, the CMAA Awards Breakfast is a highlight of the week. Sponsored in part by The Club Foundation, this inspiring morning celebrates scholarship recipients and grant awardees, including Chapter education grants. It’s a powerful showcase of the programs made possible through Foundation support and there’s still time to add the breakfast to your conference registration.
All Week Long: Give Back During the Conference
Every scholarship, every grant, every opportunity begins with generosity. Throughout the week, we invite you to give back and help shape the future of our profession. Donations can be made anytime on our website or by simply texting CLUBS to 41444.
World Conference Is Almost Here—Spotlight on Student Chapter Innovation
The countdown is on for the 2026 CMAA World Conference & Club Business Expo, taking place February 17–21 in Anaheim, CA. As the conference quickly approaches, professionals are encouraged to check out two impactful student-focused experiences that highlight the innovation, leadership, and future talent shaping the club management profession.
Student Chapter Showcase
New in 2026, the Student Chapter Showcase will be held on Friday, February 20, from 11:00 a.m.- 12: 30 p.m. The Showcase creates an interactive environment where CMAA Student Chapters connect directly with club management professionals, faculty, and alumni to share their work, ideas, and impact.
Designed to foster conversation and mentorship, the Showcase features engaging displays and chapter storytelling that bring student initiatives to life. Many Student Chapters will be highlighting ideas submitted to the Student Chapter & Faculty Idea Fair or Shark Tank, offering professionals a unique opportunity to see student creativity in action and provide real-world insight.
Professionals can expect to see Student Chapters highlighting:
- Fundraising & Partnership Initiatives: Successful projects and industry collaborations
- Career Connection Opportunities: Résumé discussions, mentorship conversations, and career pathways
- Future Engagement Opportunities: Guest speaking, club visits, and ongoing chapter partnerships
- Chapter Storytelling: Visual displays that showcase student leadership and engagement
Each booth offers professionals the chance to engage with motivated students, share expertise, and help strengthen the next generation of CMAA leaders.
Features
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Featured Discussion: Supervised Children |
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Featured Jobs: |
Resources
Biometrics: What It Is and Why It Matters
Club operations increasingly utilize biometric technology in systems such as employee timekeeping, access control, security tools, and identity verification platforms. In many cases, these technologies are provided by third-party vendors, and clubs may not always realize when biometric data is being collected or stored.
In a recent CMAA webinar, Mark Trapp and Darius Rohani-Shukla of Conn Maciel Carey LLP explained what biometrics are, and their emergence as a legal and operational issue for clubs and club managers. The webinar examined the current legal landscape and explained how common workplace technologies used in clubs could potentially create compliance obligations or risk if not properly managed.
Members can access the archived webinar presentation on CMAA University. Once you are signed in to CMAA University, find the recording under the CMAA Member Education carousel, Archived Webinars, External & Governmental Influences Webinars.
Learn about this emerging trend and avoid joining the “biometric litigation club!”
Private Club Governance Handbook: Seeking Your Sample Documents
The Private Club Governance: A Handbook of Principles and Best Practices was created to help club leaders bridge the gap between governance theory and practical application. Since its release, it has been downloaded more than 4,000 times, becoming one of the most valuable and widely used governance resources in the private club industry. Its success is a direct result of the feedback, examples, and insights shared by club professionals.
To continue that spirit of collaboration, the NCA/CMAA Joint Governance Committee is now inviting submissions of governance-related documents and templates to be considered for inclusion in the appendix of the updated Governance Handbook. These samples will help turn best practices into actionable tools for all clubs.
Culinary Training Courses Available on CMAA’s Club Resource Center
CMAA’s Club Resource Center (CRC) course line-up now includes 23 Auguste Escoffier culinary training courses for your staff. They include:
- Culinary Essentials
- Baking and Pastry courses
- Cooking for Holistic Wellness
- Plant-based courses
- Introduction to the Kitchen
- Many more
The CRC subscription brings you a broad scope of online interactive training courses for all your club’s staff. Contact Bob Gould for a full CRC course list or more information.
Trends and News
CMAA and Allies Provide Input on the Waters of the US Definition
The US Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers have proposed a new update to the Waters of the United States rule to clarify which waterways and connected wetlands fall under federal oversight. CMAA joined industry partners in submitting public comments, urging clearer, practical guidance especially around the new “wet season” definition to determine “relatively permanent” bodies of surface water and tools used to determine coverage. The Agencies are reviewing comments now, with a final rule and implementation expected later this year.