November 21, 2025
Professional Development
Featured World Conference Speaker: Get Gutsy with Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour
Fuel your growth with five days of energizing education, networking, and experiences, cultivated specifically for club management professionals at the 2026 World Conference & Club Business Expo, February 17-21, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, CA.
At the General Education Session on Tuesday, February 17, find out how you can get gutsy. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour has been tested her whole life. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of “firsts” including America’s first Black woman combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. After her military service, FlyGirl revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author of Zero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She helps individuals and organizations get gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals.
Armour is one of the six featured speakers offering relevant content and insights in Anaheim, CA, February 17-21, 2026.
Register by December 11 to qualify for Early Registration pricing!
Learn more, access the schedule, and review registration options
Extend Your World Conference Growing Season with a Pre- or At-Conference Workshop
World Conference Workshops offer extended, focused opportunities that enable attendees to dig deeper into specific topics and experiences—planting the seeds for lasting professional growth.
Explore multiple additional experiences, including multi-, full- and half-day options, including:
- New Offering! AI Without the Hype: Practical Tools for Club Managers, Monday, February 16
- The Bicycle Chautauqua: Riding, Reflecting, and Pursuing the CCM Mission, Saturday, February 14-Monday, February 16
- Yacht Club Symposium at the Balboa Yacht Club, Monday, February 16
- From Vision to Value: Executing Strategy with Data, Insight, and Impact with GGA Partners, Tuesday, February 17
- The Walking Chautauqua, Thursday, February 19
Access full descriptions and pricing
Don’t delay—spaces are limited to foster closer interaction with presenters and fellow attendees.
Invest in Your Club’s Governance in 2026
Great club governance doesn’t happen by accident—it’s driven by intentional action. It requires deliberate focus and consistent investment from the club executive and the Board of Directors. Your club’s efforts should begin with preparation and education.
CMAA’s Governance & Leadership Symposiums offer accessible, collaborative, virtual education for your Board of Directors and club executive.
2026 Symposiums
- January 7, 9:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET
- April 15, 9:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. PT, Designed for West Coast Attendees!
- July 22, 9:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET
- November 19, 9:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. ET
Attendees highly rate these Symposiums. Your Board Members will leave this symposium more informed and equipped with key takeaways for improving club governance.
These highly rated Summits are presented in partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, a CMAA Executive Partner.
Membership and Member Benefits
President & CEO’s Perspective: The Club Foundation and the Growing Need for Support
Did you know? Applications for The Club Foundation’s scholarships have increased more than 200 percent since 2021. Learn how the need for support is growing and how The Club Foundation meets the needs of club management professionals in all stages of their career. Hear more from CMAA’s and CF’s President & CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, in this month’s vlog.
Showcase Your Club’s Most Successful Concepts in the Idea Fair
The CMAA Idea Fair, presented at the 2026 World Conference and Club Business Expo, gives you the opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas. With 16 categories, we are sure that you have something to enter. All information, including categories and entry instructions, are now available. Simply submit your entries electronically and CMAA will print them for you!
In addition to category winners and [NEW!] honorable mention selections, the judging committee will also recognize four overall award winners:
- Most Innovative Idea—For the entry with the freshest, most creative solution
- Show Stopper Idea—For the idea with the biggest wow factor
- Chair’s Award—For an outstanding entry that exemplifies industry impact and vision
- [NEW!] Ripple Award—For the most transferable idea in the competition
Please contact Erica Benjamin with any questions. We look forward to seeing your ideas in Anaheim, CA!
Save the Date for Giving Tuesday 2025
On Giving Tuesday (December 2), join us in combining our efforts to make a difference—and see which Chapter will triumph in our annual Chapter Challenge! The Club Foundation tracks which Chapter raises the highest percentage of its goal to support essential scholarship and grant programming for club professionals.
- Small Chapters – goal of $500
- Medium Chapters – goal of $1,500
- Large Chapters – goal of $3,500
Last year, the winners were:
- First place: Georgia Chapter with 244.86% of goal.
- Second place: Florida Chapter with 241.34% of goal.
- Third place: Greater Michigan Chapter with 158.64% of goal.
To see results and all those who donated last year, please visit the Giving Tuesday page.
Your donations directly support the future success of the club industry. Come join the fun as we work as a team to gather funds into a powerful bundle to support CMAA members through scholarships and grants!
Get Involved
- Stay Informed: Text CFGIVING to 51555
- Donate Now: Text TUESDAY to 91999 or visit The Club Foundation's Giving Tuesday page.
Support Your Region
Find your chapter team on the Chapter Challenge page to ensure your contribution counts toward your Chapter's goal! Or text CFCHALLENGE to 71777 and choose your Chapter before you donate.
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Resources
Culinary Training Courses Now Available on CMAA’s Club Resource Center
CMAA’s Club Resource Center (CRC) course line-up now includes 23 new 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
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
IRS Announces 2025 Relief for Employers Regarding Tip & Overtime Income Reporting
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued notice providing relief for employers from penalties related to the recently enacted tip and overtime exemptions from federal taxation. These exemptions were enacted as part of the HR 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The exemptions for qualifying tip and overtime income are retroactive to the start of the 2025 tax year. The IRS previously announced that FY2025 Forms W-2 and 1099 will not be updated to account for the OBBBA-related changes. In this latest notice, the IRS announced that employers will not be penalized for failing to file correct informational returns or for failing to furnish correct payee statements for 2025 only.