Today I would like to share some thoughts on my mind regarding sub clubs. The Club does not require that sub club members (referred to as guests in the policy) belong to the Men’s Club. With the number of guests members, one must wonder if we as sub club members, are doing all we can to spread the message of the Men’s Club and recruit these guests to join and participate in the Club’s activities? Along with members spreading the word, I encourage sub clubs to submit “box scores” and pictures of sub club activity for the newsletter on a regular basis to increase general membership awareness of the clubs. We cannot let the sub clubs become out of sight and out of mind.
Follow the Golf Sub Club’s lead and contact members who listed your activity as an interest on their application. This information is printed in newsletters as new members join and summarized in the current Directory. Once you have logged into the new password protected membership section on the website (see Web Page Committee, page 3) longer term members can update their interests, should they have changed since you joined. Contact Brendan Ross for technical help. For those of you with computer skills like mine, the Board is committed to continue printing the paper directory.
The printed Directory also includes a list of sub club members as the date of printing and primary contacts. Reach out if you are interested in a sub club.
Sub club members sometimes view the Men’s Club of Grosse Pointe and its sub clubs as two different entities. We all need to work together to change this perception as well as develop and recognize synergies to grow membership of the Men’s Club of Grosse Pointe and its sub clubs.
My journey to membership began with the Bridge Sub Club (with a short tour through a women’s bridge club.) My 90 something mother-in-law could not attend her group, and I subbed for her on a last-minute basis. I noted a group of men also playing at the Woods City Hall, gave them my name, was called on to substitute, and became a permanent player. I played with them for several months unaware that it was a sub club of SMC. I realized it was a sub club when one of the members brought a copy of the newsletter containing the bridge “box scores”. Feeling an obligation to join, coupled with the knowledge of the positive experience (30 years) my father-in-law had at SMC and its Golf Sub Club, made the decision to join easy for me.
Each Monday I look forward to the fun, festivities, and fellowship with some very fine gentlemen, who happen to also be great bridge players. Consider joining a sub club as an active member or a substitute. I guarantee it will enrich your life.
The Club is rich in traditions. We will continue to face challenges as opportunities, and respect traditions while surviving and flourishing.
Best regards,
Jim Hoekwater