November 17, 2023
Professional Development
Make the Impossible Possible with 2024 World Conference Featured Speaker Ben Nemtin
What’s on your bucket list? Boost your leadership skills with inspiring speakers, including author and motivator Ben Nemtin. Ben Nemtin is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of What Do You Want to Do Before You Die?, co-founder of The Buried Life movement, and a star of MTV’s highest rated show ever on iTunes and Amazon called The Buried Life.
In his first year of university, Nemtin was unexpectedly hit with a depression that forced him to drop out. In an attempt to feel more alive, he created the world’s greatest bucket list with his three best friends. They borrowed a rickety old RV and crisscrossed North America, achieving the unthinkable.
Most importantly, every time they accomplished a dream, they helped a complete stranger cross something off their bucket list. From playing basketball with President Obama to having a beer with Prince Harry, from reuniting a father and son after seventeen years to surprising a young girl with a much-needed bionic arm—Nemtin’s bucket list quest has inspired millions to thrive personally and professionally.
Get inspired to thrive at the General Education Session on Monday, March 4, from 2:15-3:15 p.m.!
Learn more about the educational offerings at the 2024 World Conference and Club Business Expo. Early registration pricing ends December 20.
CMAA Updates Events Code of Conduct
The CMAA Board of Directors has approved an updated Events Code of Conduct Policy. CMAA is committed to fostering a welcoming environment that is safe, collaborative, and productive for supporting dialogue and discovery for all involved at CMAA national events. CMAA truly values the contributions of all attendees and participants at its meetings and events. This new policy complements our established Code of Ethics and Conduct and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement, and is applicable to both live events as well as any virtual gathering or event that is hosted by CMAA.
Please take time to review the updated policy before attending your next CMAA event.
Membership and Member Benefits
President and CEO’s Perspective: Get More Involved in CMAA in 2024
President and CEO Jeff Morgan, FASAE, CAE, highlights the 2024 volunteer opportunities and expresses gratitude for CMAA members who shared their time and talents in 2023!
Boris Gradina, MCM, CCE, Named 2023 Club Executive of the Year
Congratulations to Boris Gradina, MCM, CCE, named the Club Management magazine 2023 Club Executive of the Year. A 17-year CMAA member, Gradina currently serves as the General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Bel Air, MD.
Abigail Fry shared about his impact as a mentor “One of the most remarkable aspects of Boris’ leadership style is his commitment to foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture. He supports the well-being of employees, encourages professional growth, and prioritizes diversity and inclusion. Under his guidance, MGCC became a place where employees feel valued, motivated, and empowered to perform at their best.”
Joseph T. Bradley, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Maryland Golf and Country Clubs, Inc., explained his impact on the club culture, “For Boris—people and education are the foundational elements of progress. Boris’ enthusiasm for his team, the dedication to his craft, and his love for the industry is, quite simply, contagious.”
Gradina has been active in several CMAA Chapters. Most recently, he served the Greater Baltimore Chapter as Chapter President and Vice President from 2017 to 2021.
Annually, Club Management recognizes outstanding professionalism and club leadership with the Club Executive of the Year Award. This prestigious honor is presented to a club management professional who embodies professionalism within their club and community within the past one to three years—embracing mentoring, creating a supportive club culture, and impacting their local CMAA Chapter through sustained engagement. Nominations are accepted in early fall, and selections are made by a diverse committee of club management professionals.
Gradina is the 37th club management professional to be honored through this award. He will be featured in the January/February 2024 issue of Club Management magazine, profiled in a forthcoming edition of the Let’s Talk Club Management Podcast, and honored in person at the 2024 CMAA World Conference and Club Business Expo in Las Vegas, NV.
Showcase Your Club’s Most Successful Concepts in the Idea Fair
The CMAA Idea Fair, presented at the 2024 World Conference and Club Business Expo, gives you the opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas. With 22 categories, we are sure that you have something to enter. All information including categories and entry instructions are now available. Simply submit your entries electronically and CMAA will print them for you!
This year there will be three overall award winners: the “Most Innovative Idea Award,” the “Show Stopper Award,” and the “Chairman’s Award” that will be given out by the judging committee. Make sure your ideas stand out from the rest to be considered for these exciting awards!
Please contact Erica Benjamin with any questions. We look forward to seeing your ideas in Las Vegas, NV!
Save Up to 45 Percent on Shipping this Holiday Season with FedEx
As the holidays quickly approach, so does peak shipping season. As you prepare for the hustle and bustle of the coming months, be sure to take advantage of the free FedEx discounts available to CMAA members to offset your peak costs. Members can save up to 45 percent on FedEx Express and 25 percent on FedEx Ground this holiday season! Additionally, it’s important to get the savings in place now as FedEx and UPS plan to bump up their rates by an average of 5.9 percent in 2024. Check out the complete report to discover how to navigate these changes and manage your costs effectively.
The Spirit of Giving: Join the Chapter Challenge!
Giving Tuesday is on November 28 this year. Each year, many Chapter leaders jump into the fun and push for donations as part of the Chapter Challenge. Your Chapter could win bragging rights and one of your members could win the drawing, all while making a difference in the lives of members through Scholarships and Grants from The Club Foundation!
Winning Chapters are determined by the greatest number of dollars raised relative to their Chapter goal. Come join the fun—you can donate any time starting NOW through Tuesday, November 28. Help your Chapter win the Challenge this year!
Donate now by visiting the Chapter Challenge page and check out last year’s winners and donors by visiting the Giving Tuesday page.
Features
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Featured Discussion: Poolside Lounge/Café Service |
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Resources
Listen: Let's Talk Club Management Ep. 104: Private Club Governance Handbook
In August, the National Club Association (NCA) and Club Management Association of America (CMAA) released Private Club Governance: A Handbook of Principles and Best Practices. Written by a joint committee of experts from both associations in a partnership structured to benefit the entire private club community, the new publication is a definitive guide to governance of private clubs, designed to be a framework of best practices for clubs at any place on the spectrum of effective governance. We are excited to welcome Tim Muessle, CCM, CCE, Chief Operating Officer at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, CA. Tim is a long-time CMAA member who currently serves as the Chair of the NCA Governance Committee.
CMAA Members can access the Handbook through the CMAA Connect Best Practices Exchange Library.
In September, NCA and CMAA hosted a three-hour symposium featured the authors of this recently released, definitive guide to the governance of private clubs, chapter by chapter. Access the recording and accompanying resources now!
Participate in Industry Research & Get the Data You Need
Data gathering for the 2023 Finance & Operations Survey is now underway, and we encourage you to support this important research through your club’s participation and get the data you need for informed decision making. CMAA recently announced a collaboration with Club Benchmarking, a CMAA Business Partner, to power CMAA’s annual surveys.
All CMAA members submitting complete 2022 fiscal-year-end data prior to the November 17 deadline will receive:
- A complimentary copy of the 2023 Finance & Operations Report for their club;
- A Universal Key Club Performance Indicators Report; and
- An invitation to schedule a Benchmark Review session with a Club Benchmarking analyst to review their club’s individual results.
Confidentiality of all data is guaranteed. Data will only be presented in an aggregated format.
If you have any questions, please contact Amilcar Davy, CMAA's Director of Research, at 703-739-9500.
Trends and News
CMAA Files Official Comments to Proposed DOL Overtime Rule
On Friday, November 3, CMAA submitted official comments to the Department of Labor (DOL) regarding the proposed update to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime rule. These comments focus specifically on the impact on our industry and club operations. In August, the DOL proposed changes to the rules governing which employees are eligible for overtime, focusing on increasing the qualifying exemption salary threshold and instituting automatic threshold updates every three years.
In CMAA’s comments, the Association requested further consideration from the DOL on multiple factors, including the flawed methodology for the initial update, the unintended consequences of automatic updates, and the need to increase the inclusion of nondiscretionary, bonuses, incentive payments, and commission.
DHS and DOL to Release 65,000 Additional FY2024 H-2B Visas
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in conjunction with the Department of Labor (DOL), announced its intention to release nearly 65,000 additional H-2B visas for FY2024.
In a move that mirrors its actions in FY2023, these visas will provide welcome relief for many employers as the first half Fiscal Year 2024 allocation was already exhausted as of October 11.
Meanwhile, DHS and DOL continue the efforts of the H-2B Worker Protection Taskforce in cooperation with the White House. The Taskforce has proposed policy options to address threats to the program’s integrity; vulnerabilities for H-2B workers; and the impermissible use of the program to avoid hiring US workers. In September, DHS announced a rulemaking proposal implementing program integrity measures impacting employers and increasing protections for H-2A and H-2B workers.
Additionally, DHS, in consultation with the Department of State, has announced the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in the next year. The only change for the H-2B program is the addition of Bolivia to the list of eligible.