Around the Club

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: VALENTINE’S BALL

The Missouri Room was filled with dancing, dining and MAC camaraderie at the Valentine’s Ball on Saturday, Feb. 12. Cocktails and food stations throughout the ballroom were enjoyed by all. When taking a break from dancing to live music by Fat Pocket, Members and guests were found taking pictures in their beautiful gowns and tuxes at the decorated grass wall. F

THE BIRTH OF THE MAC UFO

The Missouri Athletic Club Under Forty Organization (UFO) was formed 47 years ago in order to get younger Members more involved in the Club. The group grew and became a very active club starting events such as the Father-Daughter dance, Breakfast with Santa, dances, new Member welcome committee, hosted marathon runs, lunch tables and more. The MAC is hosting a reunion for UFO members to get together for lunch in the Sportsman’s Club on April 26. Contact Jim Sheets at 314-353-8000 with any questions or to register. F

Egg-cellent Easter

Since the Club’s inception, MAC families have celebrated holidays at the Club. This Easter, treat your family to a memorable experience. The MAC is offering special events to commemorate the holiday with your friends and family. The Easter Egg Hunt will be at the West Clubhouse on Saturday, April 16. The egg hunt will include an appearance by the Easter Bunny, prizes and a breakfast buffet. The breakfast buffet will be served from 8 a.m.-9:45 a.m. and the Easter Egg Hunt will begin at 10 a.m. To register, visit the online events calendar. On Easter Sunday, April 17, the Downtown and West Clubhouses will offer its traditional Easter Brunch. The West Clubhouse Easter Brunch will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. To make a reservation, contact Lauren Berkowitz at (314)539-4444 ext. 7430 or lberkowitz@mac-stl.org. The Downtown Clubhouse Easter Brunch will feature an appearance by the Easter Bunny, candy and a petting zoo. Brunch will be served in the Missouri Room from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Members are encouraged to bring their cameras to take pictures of the Easter Bunny and the petting zoo from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. To make a reservation, contact Downtown Reservations at 314-539-4470 or downtownevents@macstl.org starting Monday, March 14. Reservations will not be online.

A Treasured Piece in the Downtown Clubhouse

Tucked away in a first-floor office of the Downtown Clubhouse hangs one of my favorite paintings in the Club’s Art Collection. It is not the subject matter that captured my attention, but rather, the bold, richly colored and almost jarring composition that I can’t take my eyes off of. It features a decorative scene of figures, objects and patterns, in a flattened space and piled upon one another as if the canvas is almost tilting forward ready to spill over the confines of the handcarved gilt frame. “The Art Students Bazaar” by Fred Green Carpenter reflects the artist’s most recognizable and highly decorative style. In 1900, Carpenter entered Washington University’s School of Fine Arts before following his teacher, artist Richard E. Miller, to study in Paris. In 1914, he returned to St. Louis, married Mildred Bailey and joined the faculty at his alma mater, where he remained until 1952. An active, awardwinning exhibitor, Carpenter was commissioned in 1921 to paint two lunettes for the Missouri State Capitol building, the same year he painted The Art Students Bazaar. After Carpenter’s death in 1965, one student wrote, “He was known for being a marvelous colorist. Today, I still see his influence on his student’s students. His color had a jewel-like quality. He thought every inch of a painting should be fascinating . . . and a painting should be as interesting close up as from a distance.” (from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 16 April 1967). No wonder I can’t stop looking. F

Kara Kelpe Membership Development Executive

Second Annual Cornhole Tournament

On Saturday, Jan. 29, the Mark Twain Society and Sports Foundation hosted their second annual Cornhole Tournament to help raise funds to benefit the Sports Foundation. Teams of two competed (with at least one MAC Member per team) against each other, while other attendees were treated to food stations, drinks, cigars and a raffle. They also broadcasted college basketball games on the big screens in the Missouri Room. In addition, MTS donated a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle 10 Year to raise funds for the foundation. The raffle winner was Governor Justin Fowler! At the end of the day, Brian Rodgers and his tournament partner Michael Wolfe took home the winning title of the second annual MAC Cornhole Tournament! F

TOP: CODY O’NEIL, NICK KUJAWA, AARON PONCHAS AND BEN GEARS; BRIAN RODGERS AND MICHAEL WOLFE. BOTTOM: JIM HEATER, ERIC QUINT, MATT GOUDY; ·ANN SCHWARTS, RICH EVEL, DIANE KENNY AND MICHELLE HAILEY

FATHER-SON BANQUET

Members and their sons gathered in the Missouri Room for the Father-Son Banquet on Wednesday, Feb. 16. Special guest Shawn Eric Williams inspired attendees with his notable career as a Marine and officer in the United States Marine Corps. Children who attended were given a limited logo hat to showcase their MAC spirit. This event was memorable for our MAC Members and their families.

MAC Members Come Together for MAC Charities

Due to unusual circumstances continuing from last year, charities are still recovering from the pandemic. However, the MAC’s Members rallied around our 2021 charities, coming through with enough to donate a little over $12,500 to each of our three charities: Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Inc., Caring for Kids, Inc. and Sweet Babies. This year, the Charitable Society for Children co-chair Jarid King and co-chair Nat Walsh presented the checks to these charities at the CSC Check Presentation on Saturday, Jan. 22. “Traditionally, the annual Check Presentation is the highlight of the year for the CSC. This year was no different,” said Walsh. The charities’ proposers were also invited to attend the presentation due to their help in connecting the Club with each of these special charities. King and Walsh presented the 2022 charities: Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Caring for Kids, and Sweet Babies. The event truly highlighted the “giving nature of the MAC Members and staff,” said Walsh.

SWEET BABIES SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE, INC.

CARING FOR KIDS, INC.

Connect Over Coffee with Ladies’ Lunch and Coffee Group

Looking to gather and discover, or re-discover, shared interests and connections through female Club Members? Whether a new Member has recently joined the Missouri Athletic Club or a Member that has been here for years, all women are invited to meet each month to strengthen their MAC spirit! The Ladies’ Lunch and Coffee group will catch up with coffee in the 1903 bar at the West Clubhouse on March 16 at 8:30 a.m. Members can RSVP to Kara Kelpe at kkelpe@mac-stl.org or 314-539-4408 or register online from the event calendar. F

A Packed House for the MAC SPEAKER SERIES

On Friday, Feb. 11 Members filled the room for the Missouri Athletic Club Speaker Series. The featured speaker was Karl Rove, author, Fox News contributor and former White House Sr. Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove to speak. Rove spoke on his professional career and politics today. Members submitted questions that were presented by emcee John Hancock. Thank you to our sponsors, Enterprise Bank & Trust and the Swank Family. F

TOP: GOV. STEVE ALBART, KARL ROVE AND KURT WITZEL. MIDDLE: KARL ROVE AND EMCEE JOHN HANCOCK; JAY LOCKHART, JOHN COMPTON, KAREN PARESELLI, JAY RYAN. BOTTOM: KARL ROVE SIGNS A COPY OF HIS BOOK; TIM KOHN AND MATTHEW BURKE; SHERRY, CHRISTY AND THOMAS TYREE

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