“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
– First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America
Our Founding Fathers, through the First Amendment, ensured all Americans the right to associate with whom we want and how we want. Over the centuries, this right is the basis of the privacy laws that allow us to operate our clubs in the manner in which our members prefer, and has been upheld by the courts over the years.
The First Amendment impacts private clubs in another important way: “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The opportunity to petition or lobby our decision makers and have the voices and concerns of the people heard by our nation’s leaders is a fundamental element in the operation of our democracy. Our industry exercises this very basic right through the support of the National Club Association, the industry’s trade association and voice in Washington, D.C.
Trade associations serve a very critical function in our country. Unlike professional associations and societies, which represent individual members, a trade association represents and speaks collectively for an industry. NCA is the private club industry’s voice in Washington, D.C., and often helps with state and local matters affecting private clubs as well. I consider membership in NCA equally as valuable to our club as my professional club management affiliations.
NCA was founded in 1961 by a dozen clubs who wanted to be heard by the government, to fight for the repeal of the 20-percent federal excise tax on club dues and initiation fees. The same tax had been reduced to 10 percent on other forms of entertainment in 1960, and club leaders felt the industry was being unfairly targeted.
Working almost entirely with private contributions, the founding NCA members garnered club industry support and lobbied Congress to air their concerns. By June of 1965, when Congress repealed the excise tax on club fees, the organization had grown to 50 member clubs. Over the years, NCA membership grew by hundreds of clubs as it educated the leaders of member and nonmember clubs about the necessity for industry unity and awareness.
Since its inception nearly 50 years ago, NCA has served as the industry’s voice as well as advocate for clubs in the judicial branch of government, fulfilling vital roles for the industry. It has been there to help the club industry proactively deal with issues that directly affect our operations, members and bottom line: taxation, public accommodation legislation, balancing the need for privacy with the realities of operating a business, and helping clubs find the answers to myriad issues that can affect their governance and operations.
I was introduced to NCA through mentors in the early part of my career. Gunter Weihe at the Wichita Club, Kim Saal at Congressional Country Club and Jim Brewer at The Los Angeles Country Club were active members of NCA and I quickly learned the benefits to me and my club of being a member of NCA. In my first role as General Manager, I made sure the club was a member of NCA. Two of the key reasons that I joined were for access to the government relations staff and for D&O insurance discounts, and these continue to be important benefits today.
Over the years, I have come to rely on NCA’s experts and research for the best information available to help me manage my clubs. The publications they produce, the experts on staff in the area of private club governance are second to none in the industry, and provide timely advice on club management. Why would I not want my club, my board and my staff to have access to the best possible information to help all of us do our jobs to the best of our abilities?
I have remained actively engaged in NCA throughout my career because I feel strongly about participating in the future direction of our industry, a direction that NCA is instrumental in crafting as our industry’s advocate. I believe the clubs that I manage have an obligation to be engaged in molding the future of the club industry.
Everyone in the private club industry today—managers, staff, and members—benefits from the foresight of our predecessors who formed an association to represent us in Washington. This is a necessity that many in the industry take for granted, and whether they are a member or active participant or not, NCA will continue to protect the industry. NCA’s members are extremely supportive of our mission, dedicating their time and effort to making ours a vibrant, stable industry.
What can you do as an NCA member? How can you and your club participate in the process and help NCA have an impact? Attend a regional conference in your area. Attend the National Club Conference in Chicago in May 2010. Use your expertise to contribute an article to this magazine or the newsletter, NCAConnect. Join NCA’s LinkedIn group and participate in the discussion. Volunteer for the Regional Council in your local area.
But, most importantly, you can help us recruit new clubs as members. Just as the founders did nearly 50 years ago, the most powerful voice in the industry is a collective one. The more we band together, the stronger our voices will be as an industry. Please call a manager or fellow board member at a club in your area and see if they are a member. If they are not, tell them why your club is a member and ask them to join. The value of a peer endorsement is immeasurable.
NCA belongs to all of us in the private club industry, and it is imperative that we all take responsibility for its growth and success. The dedicated staff that works tirelessly on our behalf can only do so much; we must provide our time and our support.
It is up to us, it is up to you. It is our responsibility, our obligation as leaders to protect the benefits clubs bring to their members and community, just as enlightened people have done for us. Otherwise, what will the industry look like when we pass it to future generations?
The National Club Association is always there for us, as they have been for a half century, and we have all benefited from their hard work. Right now, as we enter a new decade in the 21st century, the private club industry is at a crossroads. We are seeing signs of economic recovery, but growth remains slow. I understand that the state of the economy compels every club to carefully evaluate all expenditures and where possible, eliminate unnecessary expenses. But a club’s membership in NCA is not just another expense; it is an investment in the protection of the future for your club and your livelihood.
For nearly 50 years, the National Club Association has served as the voice of the private club industry in Washington. NCA is always there for us, and we have all benefited from their hard work. Now is the time for us to come together, not as individual clubs or managers, but as an industry. The more clubs NCA has as members, the louder our industry’s voice in Washington. Now is the time for action. Please get involved with NCA today.
Brian Kroh is general manager of John’s Island Club in Vero Beach, Fla., and Chairman of the National Club Association.