President’s Column

Iam honored and privileged to serve as the 107th President of the Missouri Athletic Club. The MAC is a treasured institution in the St. Louis community with a remarkable history. Some of the brightest business, professional and civic-minded individuals in our community have served as President of the MAC. It is humbling to be included on that list. My wife, Ashley, our two sons, Henry and George, and I have been richly rewarded by our membership in the Club for the past twenty-plus years. This coming year, I welcome the opportunity to work with my fellow Governors, committee Members and exemplary staff towards executing our VISION to be the foremost private club in St. Louis known for attracting exceptional people, enriching lives for generations and fulfilling our MISSION of creating extraordinary experiences in all aspects of Club life in the spirit of excellence, service and tradition. I thank my HISTORIC predecessor, Angie Minges, for her selfless and dedicated leadership this past year. Being the “first” at anything is never an easy task - being the first female president in the 119-year history of the Club was, to say the least, daunting. Angie more than rose to the occasion! Her positive attitude, dogged determination and strategic thinking have set an outstanding example for the future leaders of our Club. On a personal level, I cannot thank Angie enough for her time and patience in preparing me for this role. I also extend sincere appreciation to the outgoing officers: First Vice President, Aaron Pawlitz; Second Vice President, Julie Ahrling; Secretary, Duke Niedringhaus and Treasurer, Matt Gross. Your class embraced the challenge of helping lead the Club through unprecedented obstacles presented by COVID-19. In your final year on the Board, your work on important matters such as branding strategy, succession planning, and civic engagement have made a significant impact and will serve as a springboard for the Club’s future success. The 2022/23 Board of Governors is an outstanding group of innovative and dedicated men and women who are poised to take the reins. My fellow officers (First Vice President, Tracey Beckette; Second Vice President, Justin Fowler; Secretary, Chris Swank and Treasurer, Steve Albart) and the junior class Governors (Carter Alexander, Mark McClanahan, Cheri McLaughlin, Mark Niemeyer, and Neal Perryman) join me in welcoming the newest class of Governors: Tom Dankenbring, Tim Maynard, Jodi Peterson, Gary Sextro and Jeff Wehmer. Thank you in advance for your commitment and willingness to serve. I look forward to using this space to provide updates on key Club initiatives and proactive communication about both the Club’s achievements and challenges that we encounter. In that vein, here are a few items that are on the Board’s immediate horizon: F ENGAGEMENT. In the past year, more than 380 new Members have joined the Club. It is imperative that we work with the Membership Committee and our outstanding staff to make sure that all Members feel welcome, understand the history and traditions of the Club and avail themselves of the Club’s outstanding amenities and programs. F FACILITIES ENHANCEMENTS. On the heels of the successful completion of the Jack Buck Grille renovation (save for some “supply chain constrained” new furniture), I am pleased to report that the renovation of the 1903 dining room out West has started.

We look forward to re-opening this space this coming fall.

The 1903 bar space is extremely popular with our

Members. I have no doubt that the renovated 1903 dining room will be equally well received. The Planning and

Finance Committees and the Board will continue to analyze, prioritize and appropriately budget for future improvements to both Clubhouses. F BRANDING STRATEGY. The Board will collaborate with

Club staff to effectively communicate the aforementioned new mission and vision statements to our existing

Members and those looking to join the Club. We will prioritize the development and deployment of an overall branding campaign that will highlight the exceptional image of the MAC. F CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. The Club has made significant inroads with a diverse and compelling group of community partners, including the Urban League of

Metropolitan St. Louis, the Hispanic Chamber of

Commerce and the Chaifetz Business School at

Saint Louis University. By continuing to focus on civic engagement, we will enhance Member recruitment and engagement and cultivate the Club’s community presence. The Club’s goal is to have a “seat at the table” when important decisions affecting our community are being discussed and determined. F STAFF RECOGNITION. Our Club is blessed to have an outstanding and dedicated group of employees who strive to make the Members’ day-to-day experiences extraordinary.

Space in upcoming issues of the Cherry Diamond will be dedicated to recognizing some of these amazing individuals.

I encourage each of you to say a special “thank you” to an employee who has made your Club experience extraordinary. I will take the lead by thanking Gena Willis.

Gena’s official title is Executive Assistant to our CEO, Wally

Smith. However, she is also the liaison from the Board to the

Club staff. She facilitates all Board of Governors and

Committee meetings, makes sure that all agendas and minutes are sent out to the appropriate recipients, coordinates IT logistics for our meetings and serves as our

“recording” secretary. In short, we could not function without her assistance. Gena, a sincere thank you for all that you do! I pledge to be a “Members First” President who works with my fellow Governors to set an agenda and achieve goals that are reflective of our Members’ priorities. When you see me or my fellow Governors, please do not hesitate to stop and engage us in a conversation or ask a question. I cannot promise that you will always get your desired answer or outcome, but I assure you that your voice will be heard, your opinions will be respected and our conversations will be honest, transparent, and productive. I look forward to seeing you around the Club and thank you for your support. It is going to be a great year. Very truly yours,

Brent Beumer, President Missouri Athletic Club