2012 National Club Conference Presentations

Economic Outlook for 2012 and Beyond
Paul Robertson, AllianceBernstein Global Wealth Management
The future outlook for the club industry is intrinsically tied to the financial health of the economy. This program presented an assessment of the current state of the U.S. economy and the future economic outlook.

Strategic Issues for Private Club Leaders Presentation Notes
Henry B. DeLozier, Global Golf Advisors
As private clubs evolve with the changing times, societal and cultural shifts create new paradigms for club leaders. This presentation showed how to plan for your club’s future by understanding the strategic factors that contribute to your club’s success. This program highlights major challenges and opportunities you should consider during your club’s strategic planning process and steps you can take to exceed member expectations and keep ahead of the curve.

Membership Development Strategies: What Works, What to Avoid, Tools and Tips
Frank Vain, The McMahon Group (moderator); Jeffrey McFadden, Union League of Philadelphia; Stephen Ready, VCT; and John M. Schultz, Carmel Country Club
Though there are signs of economic improvement within the club industry, many clubs are still challenged to grow or maintain their membership. Private clubs are in the dues business and must continue to develop programs and services that respond to changing member needs. This program highlighted marketing success stories about new strategies and innovative ways to bolster your club’s results and effective ways to leverage marketing communications and increase member satisfaction.

Luncheon Speaker
Congressman Michael G. Grimm (R-NY)
This presentation brought attendees an insider’s perspective on the actions of the 112th Congress and the major congressional issues in 2012, as well as valuable insights on the outlook for the 2012 congressional elections.

Recreational and Sports Trends for Clubs: The Key to Your Club’s Own Fitness
Bradley Sullivan, Senior Director of Member Programs, PGA of America; Joan Carter, Vice Chairman, Cybex; Dr. Paul M. Juris, Cybex Institute for Exercise Science
Leisure and recreational activities are the backbone of the private club industry and can help drive membership growth, engage your club members and create value-added benefits that promote health and wellness. This program detailed an exciting new PGA initiative to encourage player development, which can help bring new members to your club. It also highlighted trends in fitness programming, to help your club achieve the highest levels of member satisfaction and support healthy, active lifestyles for your members.

2012 Legislative & Regulatory Outlook: Changes to Expect for the Private Club Community
Brad D. Steele, National Club Association
As the voice of private clubs, NCA actively promotes the interests of the private club community in Washington, D.C., and in the nation’s statehouses. This presentation provided an insider’s guide to what’s going on in Congress, the federal regulatory agencies and the states that could have a direct impact on your club’s operations and governance in the years ahead. It will also cover the potential effects of the 2012 elections and how club leaders can affect the process and protect their interests.

Best Practices for Club Leaders: 50 Ways to Improve Your Board
Daniel M. Denehy, Club Thinking Partners (moderator); Tammy Tassitano, McGladrey; Robyn Nordin Stowell, Stinson Morison Hecker LLP; Robert C. James, Westchester Country Club; Timothy Sullivan, Thompson Coburn, LLP
Discussions about club governance often focus on what makes an ideal board and effective club leadership. A panel of experts discussed key topics related to governance and leadership development for private clubs, including how to focus boards on policy and strategy, making board dialogue engaging and effective, ensuring effective board-staff relationships and the role of leadership in strategic planning and financial oversight.