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Post Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023 |
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119th Annual Meeting & Election Results |
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The University Club of Washington, DC held its 119th Annual General Membership Meeting on April 26, 2023. The Board of Governors, University Club Foundation secretary, and Club management shared an optimistic outlook with Club members on the state of affairs and progress the Club has made to recover from the pandemic. |
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Members gathered in University Hall and virtually via Zoom for the 119th Annual Meeting. |
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Treasurer Paul Centenari gave a report on the Club's financial status, highlighting its rebound from the pandemic. Some areas have already surpassed pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating the Club's resilience. The Club has not utilized other sources of cash for operations such as PPP, and it received another clean unqualified opinion from auditors, a testament to its commitment to transparency and financial stability. "We're on the right track," Mr. Centenari said. "We expect positive cash flow in 2023."
Secretary Preston A. (Tony) Englert, Jr., shared the University Club Foundation report, highlighting the foundation's generosity to the Club, Club employees and their families, and underserved children and low-income families in the local community. In 2022, the Foundation provided over $512K in financial support to these causes. The Foundation's Employee Assistance Program (EAP) continued to be available to Club employees experiencing hardship related to a variety of covered circumstances. Additionally, the Foundation provided approximately $68K in scholarship funding to seven Club employees and nine children of Club employees. "All these good things we do, we could never do without your help," Mr. Englert said.
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Secretary Preston A. (Tony) Englert, Jr., shared the University Club Foundation report. |
President Douglas G. Bonner and General Manager Brian P. Donohoe gave a comprehensive report highlighting the Club's challenges during the pandemic and resiliency. They emphasized the importance of fundraising to bridge the financial gap, restore operations and services, and rebuild the staff. Various solutions, including member recruitment and retention, growing overnight room usage, and holding more external events at the Club, were discussed, all geared towards promoting growth and development. "Even as we emerged from the pandemic, we're not back to normal," Mr. Bonner said. That said, "Our financial runway looks good to 2025."
Mr. Donohoe said, "The great message I have is that we're opening up for additional services." He highlighted operational improvements and expanded services to attract and retain members. Mr. Donohoe described the improvement in housing revenue and food and beverage options, adding that staff headcount is up to 72, with aggressive recruitment underway. "We're able to offer guaranteed hours and schedules. That is very attractive for hospitality employees," he said.
Board of Governors member Stephen P. Aubin, Ph.D., presented a summary of the 2023 Strategic Plan, which emphasized the Club's focus on improving the quality and consistency of service to enhance the member experience. This strategy aims to position the Club as a premium institution for professionals in Washington, D.C. "I learned a long time ago that hope is not a strategic plan," Dr. Aubin said. The strategy focuses on eight key areas: financial stability, membership growth, member experience and engagement, governance, facilities, staffing, communications, and the University Club Foundation. There are high-level action plans in place to implement each area of the strategic plan. "All of these strategic focus areas tie together," Dr. Aubin said.
The meeting also included a Q&A session, where members asked about growth plans, strategies to attract and retain new members, and more. |
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Below are the results of the Board of Governors' voting, with candidate names, number of votes, and percentage listed, and elected candidates indicated in bold font.
Mr. James ("Jim") B. Alley: 96 (12.66%) Mr. Donald R. Bramer: 65 (8.58%)
Mr. Christopher D'Arcy: 152 (20.05%) Ms. Kaitlyn J. Reilly (Incumbent): 100 (13.19%) Dr. Barbara Roberts (Incumbent): 108 (14.25%) Mr. William Preston ("Pete") West, Jr.: 131 (17.28%) Ms. Cynthia ("Cindy") Ziegler: 102 (13.46%) Mr. Jason Secrest: 1 (0.13%)
Mr. Mark Griffin: 1 (0.13%) Mr. Jim Landfield: 1 (0.13%) Mr. Nadim Salti: 1 (0.13%)
Below are the results of the Board of Admissions' voting, with candidate names, number of votes, and percentage listed, and elected candidates indicated in bold font.
Mr. Schuyler Cunningham (Incumbent): 179 (14.27%) Col. Denise K. Lew: 149 (11.88%) Ms. Aitza Maldonado-Martich (Incumbent): 155 (12.36%) Mr. Richard C. ("Chuck") Miller: 160 (12.76%) Mr. Nathaniel T. Oliver: 141 (11.24%) Ms. Melissa J. Russell (Incumbent): 150 (11.96%) Mr. Theodore ("Ted") Thomas, Jr. (Incumbent): 161 (12.84%) Ms. Mary Thoms (Incumbent): 158 (12.60%)
Mr. John Heckler: 1 (0.08%)
Membership voted in favor of the Mansion Preservation Fund. The Mansion Preservation Fund proposal met the required a majority vote from at least 50 voting members as stated in the Bylaws. Find the full results below.
In Favor: 155 (70.14%)
Against: 66 (29.86%) |
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2023-24 Board of Governors |
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Mr. Douglas G. Bonner President
Ms. Pamela J. Rypkema Treasurer
Mrs. Virginia A. Marentette Secretary
Dr. Stephen P. Aubin Chair of Executive Committee |
Dr. Barbara T. Roberts
Ms. Kristen Rockenbach |
| Mr. Erik Olstein Vice President
Mr. Christopher R. D'Arcy Assistant Treasurer
Mr. William Preston West Jr. Assistant Secretary
Ms. Joanne E. Dunne |
Mr. Matthew D. Teems
Ms. Cynthia Ziegler |
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2023-24 Board of Admissions |
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Ms. Tiffany Bennett Mr. Joseph J. Cattaneo Mr. Schuyler Cunningham Col. Denise K. Lew Ms. Aitza Y. Maldonado-Martich Mr. Richard C. Miller Mr. Nathaniel T. Oliver |
| Mr. William K. Rielly Ms. Melissa J. Russell Mrs. Laura D. Shepler Mr. Brad M. Strausbaugh Mr. Theodore Thomas, Jr. Ms. Mary Thoms Mr. Paul C. Vitrano |
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1135 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 T: (202) 862-8800 |
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