I heard that the club’s tax-exemption is at risk because it permits nonmember events (such as a wedding or golf outing) to be held at the club. Why didn’t your firm tell us? The club’s tax-exemption is not at risk provided that the club acted
Congratulations—your nominating committee provided a great slate of candidates for the club board and now you have a new group of directors to bring up to speed. Hopefully, the candidates were provided sufficient information about the time commitment and expertise required to be a successful
No matter the size or type of club, boards play a critical role in the success of the organization as a whole. One of the ways in which a board can, and should, monitor how much it is achieving is through frequent performance assessments. This
Q How important are separation of duties and strong internal controls in a club environment that does not handle cash and runs on a limited budget? A Occasionally you may hear about fraud at another club. You may even hear a remark that fraud can- not happen
Board culture is one of those tenuous areas where it can be challenging to get everyone on the same page. Individual board members have their own specific ideas about how the club should be run, and often these ideas can come into conflict with each
There are lots of reasons to conduct a board performance assessment: regular and honest self-appraisal by board members can help to identify beneficial structural and procedural changes, develop new policies and modify existing ones, and foster “an atmosphere of freshness and openness” that leads to
Being a club member and being a member of a club’s board of directors are two entirely different things. When bringing a new member onto the board, a club can benefit from strong introductory and orientation programs to make the adjustment easier and to aid
Many clubs organize an extensive one-to-two day board retreat as a way of strengthening relationships among their leaders. The club should encourage all board members to attend the retreat. In addition, senior management, as well as members of important club committees, typically participates. A successful
A sudden and unexpected resignation of a key board member at a private club in Michigan recently revealed a missing component of the club’s bylaws: How to fill a board vacancy mid-term. Do your club bylaws address this issue? Does your club have a ready
In every private club, members play an active and influential role in how the club is governed. The by-laws and departmental rules in place establish parameters for acceptable club behavior, and traditions are then established. Members have joined the club with immense pride and may