Club Management - May/June 2008 - (Page 34)

PRODUCTS & SERVICES MARKETPLACE and most would scoff at the idea of making such a magniﬁcent donation. As our members were seated for this year’s dinner, a single glass of 1988 Dom Pérignon awaited. The vintage represented a pivotal year for the club, one ﬁlled with debate over its future. In 1988, a vote was taken to determine if the club would move to the top of a high-rise in downtown Seattle. The proposed move promised a beautiful facility overlooking the water, but it came with a price: Our little mansion would be destroyed, and the delicate culture of our club would have been diluted. Some thought it was time; others refused to turn that page. In the end, the motion went down, and our little club remains as it always has been. Individual presentations of the wine were made in groups to coincide with each course of the dinner, and then the participating members shared their wine with others. The members made their way through the room, sharing their bottles and occasionally stopping to spin a few words of wisdom about the year, the wine or an event in one’s life. New friendships were formed, old friendships reestablished and the culture of our club reinforced. With glassware in hand, attendees offered small portions to the other diners. Service was an unhurried affair. By the time the intermezzo arrived, 18 wines had been served. With each new taste came fresh glassware. Empty bottles collected on the tables as members prized their unique souvenirs. The clutter grew impressively. Twenty-four wines, all from Bordeaux, were decanted for serving with the entrée, a bone-in tenderloin. The oldest, a 1945 Château Latour à Pomerol, was presented to Langdon Simons, an Air Force pilot who told of escaping from the Germans and his travels with the Maquis in Haute-Savoie during the liberation of France. The wine cellars of Europe, hidden from the Germans, were being liberated. He enjoyed a continual supply of wine as he traveled with the French underground to join up with American forces. Glasses were raised as he proceeded to share his prize with his fellow club members. One could stand anywhere in the room and hear several conversations – introductions, merits of the wine or some story from the past. The evening, as planned, needed no further entertainment, as the event brought our club’s most fundamental values to the forefront. It was the ultimate cellar raid. Our members paid $1,000 each for the experience and some donated even though they were unable to attend, raising $45,000 for the Building and Endowment Fund. If one were to consider the value of our little club’s culture and how easily it can be taken for granted, the evening and the generosity of those involved really are priceless. ❚❘ THE CLASSIC October 6-10, 2008 | Los Cabos | Mexico Four Amateurs and Club Professional or General Manager Gross and Net Best Ball Tournament Headquarters Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort and Spa Ranked #1 golf hotel in Los Cabos by Condé Nast Traveler “Top 100 Golf Resorts Worldwide Guide” For details and registration call 1-888-327-9815 or visit www.natldesertclassic.com Have Your Club Looking its Best! OUTDOOR FABRIC SPECIALISTS More than 25 years serving the Club Industry. • Awning Cleaning • Can accommodate large fabrics for tents, sails • Umbrellas, Cushions • State-of-the-art cleaning • Repairs Cleaning outdoor fabrics is one part CHEMISTRY and one part ARTISTRY. America’s leading dirty outdoor fabric destination. (800) 542-3009 www.cleancanvas.com info@cleancanvas.com 34 • CLUB MANAGEMENT http://www.natldesertclassic.com http://www.cleancanvas.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Club Management - May/June 2008

Club Management - May/June 2008 Contents President’s Message Accounting & Financial Management Board Governance Wine Society Quenches Thirst for Knowledge, Camaraderie Building & Facilities Management Tennis Pro Education Increases Your Bottom Line Cover Story: BMI Golf Management Golf/Sports & Recreation Management Human & Professional Resources Relationship Building in the Internet Era The Ultimate Cellar Raid Products and Services Marketplace External & Government Influences HFTP Insight: HITEC 2008 Features Latest in Club Technology New Directions Global Outreach Advertiser Index/Advertisers.com Club Wrap

Club Management - May/June 2008

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