September 25, 2026
Professional Development
There’s Still Time to Register for the Mid-Management Conference
There’s less than a month to go until the 2026 Mid-Management Conference (MMC) in St. Louis, MO. Join CMAA October 18-21 for education designed especially for those who are not serving in the general manager/chief operating officer role.
This year, attendees will hear from speaker Dan Irvin on the Three Habits of Consciously Intentional Leaders.
In this interactive workshop, attendees will explore the three core habits of consciously intentional leadership: leading yourself first, showing up with fulfilled focus, and modeling the standard. Through storytelling, reflection, and group discussion, participants will examine how intentional leadership behaviors directly shape team culture, communication, accountability, and performance within clubs.
It’s All About Members at the Membership & Marketing Symposium
Get your club’s most pressing engagement, recruitment, retention, and waitlist management questions answered at CMAA’s Membership & Marketing Symposium.
Slated for November 1-3, in Washington, DC, the Symposium will feature sessions addressing:
- Building an engaging member experience;
- Maximizing potential member recruitment and the sales process;
- Managing your club’s waitlist and expectations; and
- Breaking through the stereotypes of shifting demographics.
Gain insight, best practices, and real-life solutions, while visiting several iconic clubs, including Columbia Country Club, Cosmos Club, the Metropolitan Club, and the Sulgrave Club.
Learn more and register now
Educate Your Board of Directors Virtually This November
Invite your Board Members to attend the next CMAA Governance & Leadership Symposium and prepare your club’s elected leadership for success. Available virtually on November 19, this one-day symposium features cooperative education for the GM and the club’s elected leaders. Attendees will leave this symposium more informed and equipped with key takeaways for improving club governance. Attend from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Explore important strategic governance topics built on the principles of:
- Informed Leadership
- Strategic Stewardship
- Empowered Management and Staff
- Building a Compelling Member Experience
Additionally, sessions will feature best practices, impactful trends, and insights into the latest legislation and regulation impacting club operations.
These highly rated Symposiums are presented in partnership with KOPPLIN KUEBLER & WALLACE, a CMAA Executive Partner.
Registration closes on November 17.
Membership and Member Benefits
President & CEO’s Perspective: Driving Toward Our Future
As CMAA prepares to celebrate its Centennial, it’s time to hear what’s ahead. In his mid-year State of the Association address from the 2026 Leadership/Legislative Conference, President & CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, shares an inside look at CMAA’s momentum from financial strength and membership growth to expanding professional development opportunities, 2026 priorities, and insights from the latest Member Needs Assessment. He also offers important perspective on the next steps in the strategic planning process and how member involvement will shape CMAA’s future. Watch now.
Students: Broaden Your Horizons at the National Student Education Conference
Join CMAA at the 2026 National Student Education Conference, taking place in the vibrant city of Atlanta, GA, November 7-9! This event is designed exclusively for student members like you to enhance your CMAA experience and set the stage for a successful future in the club industry.
Why Attend?
- Curated Education: Dive into a curriculum tailored specifically for students, featuring sessions that teach valuable life skills and industry-specific tips and tricks. Gain insights from experts and leaders in the field and take your knowledge to the next level.
- Hands-On Learning: Engage in sessions designed toprovide real-world insight. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, learn about the latest industry trends, or network with peers and professionals, there's something for everyone.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow students, professionals, and industry leaders. Build relationships that will last throughout your career and open doors to exciting opportunities.
This year, attendees will hear from Keynote speaker Dan Irvin on the Three Habits of Consciously Intentional Leaders.
NSEC is made possible thanks to the support of The Club Foundation, the Chairman’s Fund, and CMAA’s Partnership Network.
Don’t Miss these October Scholarship Deadlines
There is still time to apply for the upcoming four Club Foundation scholarship application deadlines, all due on October 1. Each of these four scholarships support club professionals who intersect with our industry in various ways. These scholarships support emerging and established professionals who intersect our industry in a variety of ways. Which ones are you eligible for? Read below to learn more and for an in-depth overview, please visit the Club Foundation apply page.
Here are the scholarships with October deadlines:
- DeLozier Family Scholarship: Established in 2025 to support emerging leaders who are underrepresented in the club industry. Deadline is October 1.
- John and Andrea Dorman Scholarship: Established in 2025 to support emerging leaders working toward their Certified Club Manager (CCM) credential. Deadline is October 1.
- Sharon and Jay DiPietro Scholarship: Established in 2026 to support emerging leaders working toward their Certified Club Manager (CCM) credential. Deadline is October 1.
- Sally Burns Rambo Scholarship: Established in 2013 to support both emerging and established female leaders. Deadline is October 1.
- Warren Arseneaux Honorary Scholarship: Established in 2007 to support Wine Society Members by covering the cost of attending the Wine and Food Business Management Institute experience. Deadline is October 6.
Each year, we are proud to fund a variety of awards, and many congratulations to all those who were announced during this year’s Leadership/Legislative Conference in Detroit, MI. These awards and scholarships would simply not be possible without your generosity and that of so many donors around the globe. If you haven’t renewed your membership yet, be sure to add a donation to your renewals. As a critical source of revenue for scholarships and grants, your participation is critical. We are deeply grateful to you for your support.
Interested in learning more about supporting the Foundation or more about scholarship and grants available through the Foundation? Contact Us.
The Club Foundation also supports a variety of legacy giving options, from charitable trusts, to bequests, to policy designations. If you’d like to learn more about these options, visit our giving webpage.
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Featured Discussion: 2027 Major Course Improvements Requiring Course Closure |
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Resources
Get the Financial and Operational Data You Need
Data gathering for the 2025 Finance & Operations Report is now underway, and we encourage you to support this important research through your club’s participation and get the data you need for informed decision making.
Club Benchmarking, a CMAA Executive Partner, powers CMAA’s annual surveys.
All CMAA members submitting complete 2025 fiscal-year-end data (year ending between July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026) prior to the October 16 deadline will receive:
- A complimentary copy of the 2025 Finance & Operations Report for their club
- An activation of a free Club Benchmarking Starter Account (for clubs not already subscribed to Club Benchmarking)
- An invitation to schedule a Benchmark Review session with a Club Benchmarking analyst to review your club’s individual results.
Confidentiality of all data is guaranteed. Data will only be presented in an aggregated format.
This invitation is being distributed to all CMAA members who are GM/CEO/COOs and CFO/Controllers. Please note: Only one submission is needed per club.
In addition to overseeing data gathering and analysis, the Club Benchmarking Data Management Team is committed to providing full support to assist you with your data submissions. You’ll find instructions at the link below.
Submit Your Data by October 16
If you have any questions, please contact Amilcar Davy, CMAA's Director of Research, or Bryan LaBlue, Club Benchmarking’s Senior Director of Research and Innovation.
Missed the Webinar the First Time? Catch the Replay on CMAA University!
Step inside The Breakfast Club of club communication and discover what may be happening behind the scenes when messages get lost, engagement lags, or departments aren’t quite on the same page. This webinar replay explores common communication gaps and offers practical strategies to improve clarity, consistency, and effectiveness, without adding more work to your team.
The Compliance Clause in Your Insurance Policy Nobody Reads
Did you know your insurer can cut your payout if you don’t have the proper policies in place?
Most GMs have never checked whether their club would actually pass that test.
Introducing Jonas Compliance, the club industry's first standalone compliance platform.
How It Works
Sign in with your existing Microsoft or Google account. Answer a short set of guided questions about your club: remote access, backups, staff, vendors. Jonas Compliance builds your policies, your assessment, and your action list around how your club runs today, without touching your POS, tee sheet, or accounting system.
What's Included
A policy builder, an AI assistant that answers from your own club's policies, graded annual assessments, vendor security reviews, and tabletop exercises that walk your team through a ransomware or data breach scenario.
What One Club Found When They Looked
Avalon Yacht Club's General Manager, Joe Mendez, CCM, CCE, ran his club's assessment and found real gaps he didn't expect, despite having a firewall and a managed IT provider in place. In his words:
"There is absolutely no reason not to work with Jonas Compliance. It is easy to use, very reasonably priced, and forces not just your organization but your outside service providers to become laser focused on information security to protect your members and staff."
—Joe Mendez, CCM, CCE, General Manager, Avalon Yacht Club
Start your club's free assessment
Assessments: 10 minutes, graded results, no commitment
Trends and News
EPA Publishes Supplemental Waters of the US Rule
In early September, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with the US Department of the Army issued a supplemental WOTUS proposal to further define which waters and wetlands fall under federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction. The proposal responds to stakeholder feedback by clarifying “perennial,” “relatively permanent,” and “continuous surface connection,” while replacing the prior “wet season” approach with the US Drought Monitor for drought-related exceptions. The rule would create a clearer compliance framework and could impact future permitting certainty and property management decisions. EPA is seeking public comment for 30 days, and CMAA plans to participate with golf industry allies in formal comments.