Commemorative Newspaper Page

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

Club newsletters are often designed and printed with extensive lead time, preventing last-minute additions or a timely way to communicate an historic event. The summer of 2017 was a little out of the ordinary for The Country Club of Virginia – a roof fire led to a closure of the clubhouse. Emails and the Club website were used to communicate details of the fire and changes in operations to the membership, but it was also important to commemorate such an historical event in the Club newsletter.

A page of the Club newsletter was turned into a mock newspaper, a creative way to formally document the event in print. It allowed us to tell the story of an historic event in a new way with fun facts and interesting stories, including how much equipment was brought in for remediation, how an employee made sure staff paychecks weren’t ruined, and how junior members were entertained by first responders after the “all-clear.”

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

While digital methods are the most convenient method of communication in the middle of an emergency, there is a need to incorporate historic events in print publications, even if there is a delay due to print deadlines. A commemorative newspaper page in the Club newsletter can provide membership with another way to remember the event, tell the behind-the-scenes stories many members might not have known, and add a positive spin to a tough event.