To all of you who participated in NCA’s 2014 National Club Conference—thanks for joining us for what was a tremendous success. Each year this event brings together many of the club industry’s finest to share their thoughts and ideas with leaders of private clubs from around the nation. Every session provided insightful takeaways for even the most seasoned managers and the quality of the programs presented was exceptional, with 95 percent of attendees rating the programs “very valuable” or “extremely valuable.” We enjoyed the hospitality of the finest private clubs in San Francisco and especially want to thank Tom Gaston and the Pacific Union Club, Ron Banaszak and the St, Francis Yacht Club and Glen Smickley at the California Golf Club for their memorable hospitality. We also enjoyed getting the brightest minds in private “clubdom” together and sharing wisdom for all to benefit.
These kinds of events provide valuable resources to club leadership and are important to the overall well-being of the club industry. The takeaways offered at this year’s national conference will help clubs stay ahead of the curve and keep them strong. Not to rest on our laurels, the Board intends to commission an ad hoc committee to raise awareness of and participation in our annual National Club Conference. We want to attract more NCA clubs and their leadership to attend the National Club Conference. Those who participate will see more benefits of NCA for themselves and their clubs. NCA and I would like to thank all of those who participated in the conference and we look forward to your attendance at next year’s event in Washington, D.C.
I would also like to extend my sincerest thanks to the retiring NCA Directors for their invaluable years of service—Samuel Bell, John (Jack) Zook, Bernard (Robin) Baker III and Robert Markionni. In particular, I want to recognize Sam and Jack for their unwavering leadership stretching over three terms. Sam ably served as NCA Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair since 2005 guiding NCA through some challenging times and Jack rose through the officer chairs culminating his prolific 11-year tenure as NCA Chairman. We are grateful for their diligence, dedication and leadership.
Our Mission
In all that we do, NCA continues to pursue its mission to defend, protect and advance the interests of private, social and recreational clubs. Why is our continued focus on protecting privacy rights so important? Because the private status of our clubs is the essence of what makes them private clubs. Members pay dues to belong to a club because that private status differentiates the club from a public dining or recreational facility. Private status is at the core of their identity and their first amendment rights to freedom of association, so they maintain the right to determine their own internal policies for membership admissions and access to facilities. In addition, clubs that are not deemed private risk losing their tax-exempt status and their limited immunity from certain federal laws, which can cause a club to incur significant legal expense and exposure.
NCA is the only organization that actively advocates with Congress on behalf of the private club industry. It is critical that our voice is heard—and that your voice is heard—when Congress and the federal regulatory agencies are making decisions that can have a significant impact on how your club operates and what it costs to do so.
Going beyond advocating, NCA advises club industry members, offering thoughtful insight through numerous publications and resources. NCA’s years of experience allows the organization to provide precision messaging to membership. Our members are the top echelon of clubs and professional leaders. We should be the first choice for answers and solutions to your governance, legislative and regulatory questions. Time and again, the best advice or solution paths come from our NCA staff. NCA has a unique ability to tap into the real driving forces of a successful club, proper governance leadership policy and the constant dynamic of change and place these resources at your disposal.
Expanding NCA’s Influence
How do we ensure that our voice is heard? By encouraging other clubs and the leadership of our network to help energize professionals to defend their industry. An enthusiastic and passionate workforce is vital to keeping private clubs strong. Also, even more emphasis must be put on energizing our lobbying efforts. Though we have accomplished so much already, the road ahead reminds us that our fight to preserve clubs’ rights is never over.
This means we must become more relevant and influential on Capitol Hill—having more voices speaking to our members of Congress and utilizing the many resources we have at hand to communicate our goals effectively, to keep moving forward with all hands on deck. Our constituent power lies with you—our membership. And constituent communications with members of Congress, state legislators and local officials drive the decisions made by lawmakers. When our members are educated about legislative issues and are prepared to communicate their support or opposition to a given issue, legislators are inclined to listen. The “folks back home” are those who will re-elect the lawmaker. Moreover, when you become part of the political process, you help to set the agenda for issues and positions that reflect your interests and your concerns.
We seek to increase ClubPAC funding and support of our NCA Foundation. Both are greatly important. Both Kevin Vitale and Robyn Stowell will be spearheading this important task. For ClubPAC, we must first get your permission to solicit you before we may ask you to contribute. So, be on the lookout for that Permission to Solicit form from ClubPAC. It is through ClubPAC that NCA supports those federal lawmakers who support our industry and it helps us carry our messages into the offices of those who formulate public policy.
The Road Ahead
When should we start? Now. Not since the 1960s have there been so many challenges to clubs. NCA was founded to protect the club industry, and the current threats are greater than ever. A growing body of legislation and regulation—much of it in the area of health care—is imposing more and more costs on the way we operate our clubs, forcing many of us to make tough budgetary decisions. And though a number of clubs are seeing a more positive economic outlook for the future, others find themselves still recovering from the economic downturn.
Clubs also must find fresh and innovative ways to recruit and retain talent as staff and perspective employees seek new opportunities. Though the legislative process for immigration reform has been drawn out, NCA is still fighting for appropriate reform to help our industry. We recognize the importance of addressing needs for staffing at a reasonable cost and are working with our officials to ensure private clubs remain fully staffed and operational.
The Affordable Care Act, the recession, immigration reform, finding new ways to retain and recruit employees and other matters will continue to prove arduous, but given how our industry has responded, I am confident we will overcome these challenges.
So far in 2014, NCA has already matched its 2013 new membership totals. We welcome all new members and believe this is a positive sign for the future of NCA and the private club community.
Advocating for and advising the private club community are at the cornerstone of what NCA is all about. As we move ahead, we will further ensure that clubs retain their private status and all the rights that it implies, providing the best services for their valued members and communities.
In keeping with NCA’s history as a driving educational force within the private club community, we continue to seek new and innovative ways to serve as a guidepost for clubs in the upcoming years, while also shaping a positive outlook for the future with effective advocacy. Looking back on the last five decades, there is no doubt that NCA has fulfilled its mission in pursuing these goals. I look forward to the future of private clubs and in helping protect and secure our industry’s future.
Kirk Reese, CCM, is general manager and COO of the Los Angeles Country Club and serves as chairman of NCA and co-chair of NCA’s membership committee.