We live in a world where change is inevitable and continuous. Through the many articles and education programs NCA offers, we strive to keep you apprised of the changes that are most likely to impact private clubs, to help you in your planning and preparation for what lies ahead.
One area of change we frequently monitor is technology, which is ever evolving and influences our lives in many ways. This issue of Club Director helps guide clubs in evaluating how and when to take steps to adopt new technologies and develop best practices that successfully align with club culture. In our cover feature, we discover that not all clubs desire to be on the cutting edge of IT, but most will agree that using technology in ways that are consistent with the club’s mission and culture—and provide benefits to members—are worth considering.
Another change—unfortunate but true—is the increased number of security breaches by hackers. In “The Cyber Battlefield,” we learn how to protect a club’s data and reduce the risks of cyber attacks. To help you prepare for the future, we also include an updated article on disaster planning, which addresses basic emergency planning as well as IT preparation and medical emergency response.
The topic of succession planning is another area of change that is surfacing more frequently these days in organizations and businesses nationwide. Our Governance Notebook addresses leadership succession planning for private clubs, with advice for either a planned or unexpected change in executive leadership.
NCA, too, has been in the process of addressing a few transitions in leadership. This past May, NCA’s board elected our new chairman, Phil Kiester, general manager at The Country Club of Virginia. In his “Point of View” column, Kiester asks us to take a look back as he examines why our constitutional freedom to associate with one another is so important to both our nation’s and industry’s narratives.
And, as I write this final letter to you as NCA’s President & CEO, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you with whom I have worked over the past 22 years for the many friendships and the wonderful experiences we have shared. During this time there have been many changes that have affected private clubs, the club industry and NCA itself, but in the end the results have been positive and I am confident they will continue to be so into the future. Thank you for your ongoing support of NCA and the NCA Foundation—I wish you and your club the very best of success in years to come.