After the Hartford (Conn.) Courant editorialized against a $100,000 grant for the business club from the state’s Department of Economic and Community Development as “a poor decision and tone-deaf to the state’s fiscal and social realities,” National Club Association President/CEO Henry Wallmeyer charged the newspaper with relying on “clichéd and obsolete characterizations” and ignoring private clubs’ contributions and important roles.
15,000 Additional H-2B Visas Issued by Trump Administration
The extra temporary, seasonal work visas represent a 45% bump in the number normally issued for the second half of the fiscal year. In order to qualify for the additional visas, clubs must attest that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm without employing H-2B workers, and must undergo additional mandatory recruitment steps to identify…
National Club Association Announces New Board, Officers
New directors elected to the NCA board for three-year terms are Tom Bennison, ClubCorp USA, Inc.; Luke O’Boyle, CCM, CCE, Chevy Chase (Md.) Club; Nick Sidorakis, CCM, Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Okla.; and Robert L. Smith, II, Venable, LLP, Washington, D.C.
Survey Finds 74% of Private Clubs Pursue Sustainability
The Environmental Behaviors & Practices survey, conducted by the McMahon Group, found that 85% of private clubs use environmentally safe products on their golf courses, 78% have reduced the amount of water they use on all golf property, and 75% use more recycled materials than in the past.
Executive Order Allows Revision of WOTUS Rule
On February 28, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled: Restoring the Rule of Law, Federalism, and Economic Growth by Reviewing the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) Rule. The order will provide the Environmental Protection Agency with the ability to rewrite the rule, which requires clubs to first secure permits before using chemicals and fertilizers that might run off into brooks, ponds or streams.
NCA Cites “Potential Breakthrough” in Immigration Debate
A new bill proposed by Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona “could revolutionize the way clubs fill their employment needs,” the National Club Association reports, through a 10-year pilot program that would create a new guest-worker visa for lower-skills jobs. The bill could be passed and signed into law in 2017, the NCA says, regardless of the results of this November’s elections.
ClubCorp Sees Decline in Shares, Joins NCA
Shares of the Dallas-based club owner and operator fell 9.2% on April 7 following an attack by a short seller, but analysts polled by Bloomberg have 11 buy ratings, one hold and no sell recommendations on the company. ClubCorp is also now a member of the National Club Association, which actively lobbies for the private club industry.
MembersFirst, Jonas Join NCA as Legacy Alliance Partners
The two club industry technology providers will serve a lead role in forming a Technology Advisory Group that will help guide the National Club Association in content development for various projects and surveys, and provide educational presentations at regional and national conferences.
National Club Conference Set for Chicago, May 19-21
The National Club Association’s 13th annual conference, to be held at The Union League Club of Chicago, will build its programming around three themes: Strategic Issues for Private Club Governance; The Club Industry Outlook and Trends for the Future; and Legislative, Regulatory, and Legal Issues for Clubs. The conference will end in time for participants to also attend the National Restaurant Show.
NCA Details “Key Victories” in Omnibus Bill
The spending bill, which President Obama signed into law on December 18, made changes to the H-2B visa program, and suspended the Cadillac tax and medical device tax associated with the Affordable Care Act for two years.
H-2B Provisions in Omnibus Appropriations Bill Expected to Pass
The bill, which is expected to pass the House and Senate and be signed into law by President Barack Obama, will exempt H-2B returning workers from the 66,000 annual cap, address H-2B wages and allow the use of private wage surveys, and clearly define “seasonal work” as ten months as opposed to nine.
Sous Chef Sues Club Over Overtime Dispute
In a recent National Club Association newsletter, a former employee in South Florida is suing an unidentified club for not paying overtime wages, which hinges on whether the plaintiff was a nonexempt employee.
NCA Spotlights Overtime Wages, Club Privacy Status
Two stories from the National Club Association’s newsletter focus on lawsuits clubs are facing. In South Florida, a former employee is suing an unidentified club for not paying overtime wages, which hinges on whether the plaintiff was a nonexempt employee. In Auburndale, Mass., a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by a non-member will hinge on whether the club is a truly private facility or a public accommodation.
Florida Clubs’ Comeback Efforts Featured by New York Times
The newspaper’s commercial real estate section devoted extensive coverage to a post-recession update on the state of South Florida’s club and course properties, including Boca West CC’s $50 million renovation and Woodmont CC’s expansion beyond golf.
National Club Association Names New President, CEO
Henry Wallmeyer will begin his new role in the Washington, D.C.-based trade association on September 29, succeeding Susanne Wegrzyn, who announced her retirement last November. Wallmeyer previously served roles within the National Association of Manufacturers, International Parking Insitute, and Club Managers Association of America.