How many private club boards include executive sessions as part of their board meetings? Not enough in our view. Although executive sessions can play an important role in a board’s relationship with the general manager* and their staff, too few boards have a policy relating to
There is no way to make every member happy. No matter what a club does, someone will always be unhappy. Some members will never be satisfied. These are all common sentiments in the club industry, as member satisfaction is a complex topic, even on the
When our children were young, they had an endless stream of questions, often beginning with the words “how” and “why.” One day, we bought them a book entitled, “How Things Work.” It was a hit with its basic diagrams and simple explanations, and it great-
During the Hundred Years War, the English army laid siege on Harfluer, France, and blew a hole in its fortification. After King Henry’s troops tried and failed in an initial attempt to take advantage of the opening, he spurred them to try again with the
IN “GOOD TO GREAT and the Social Sectors,” author James Collins defined a different view of the authority and accountability for volunteer organization board presidents than that of presidents (CEOs) of traditional businesses. According to Collins, presidents of volun- teer organizations lead with legislative (authority)
Board member surveys frequently reveal they would like shorter, more efficiently run meetings. Upon investigation, we learn that these clubs are not using basic practices that can reduce the duration of meetings without compromising their content or the interaction among board members. Club boards should
More than two decades ago there was a push for private clubs to adopt the chief operating officer model of governance, whereby club boards were encouraged to clearly delineate their role of governing at a strategic level and the general manager’s role as managing club
The past couple of decades have witnessed substantial improvements in club governance. More and more clubs are adopting governance models built on proven principles and best practices. Boards of directors are documenting policies that clarify how they will use the authority given them in the