President’s Column

As fall weather moves in and the leaves start changing, there is much to look forward to here at the Missouri Athletic Club. I am thrilled to be a Member of the MAC as we celebrate the 119th anniversary of our incorporation date. It is quite impressive that our Club has withstood the test of time. In 1903, Charles Henry Genslinger, Zack W. Tinker and Frank R. Tate organized the Missouri Athletic Club. While the Club was renamed the Missouri Athletic Association in 1914 (still visible on our Downtown Clubhouse), our original title returned to the Club in 1939. Despite the changes over the years, the MAC’s spirit of excellence, service and tradition has endured for over a century. It’s remarkable to think that this idea, formed due to the World’s Fair coming to St. Louis, has been a staple in the heart of our city for 119 years – incredible!

With many Club events upcoming this fall, I want to draw attention to several events dedicated to our female Membership. The Women of Distinction Luncheon on Oct. 7 is a yearly event held to honor six local women each year, along with one Rising Star. Honorees are women who stand out in a variety of fields due to their excellence in business, civic engagement, philanthropic programs and mentorship. This year’s honorees include Lilian Doan Davis (Shareholder, Polsinelli), Laurna Godwin (Owner and President, Vector Communications), Dr. Christine Jacobs (Dean and Vice President for Medical Affairs, St. Louis University School of Medicine), Tamara Keefe (Founder and CEO, Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Ice Cream), Nancy Meyer (Vice President of Human Resources, Dierbergs Markets, Inc.), Carol Rogers (Managing Director and Partner, Hightower Wealth Advisors) and Dr. Margaret Reynolds as the Rising Star (Pediatric Ophthalmology, St. Louis Children’s Hospital). I encourage all of you to attend this luncheon, as I am certain we will be inspired by these women who are positively impacting our community daily.

In addition to the Women of Distinction Luncheon, the Women’s Initiative Group and the Women Business Owners Roundtable have been very hard at work organizing new opportunities to engage our female Members at the Club. They host a variety of events and initiatives throughout the year, which can be explored further on our website at mac-stl.org/Women.

If you haven’t done so already, I highly encourage all of you to make a reservation for lunch or dinner in our newly remodeled 1903 Dining Room at the West Clubhouse. The space turned out absolutely beautiful. The photos both inside and outside the space depicting some of our Club’s rich history are compelling and a wonderful addition. The Dining Room is the perfect complement to the very popular 1903 Bar, and it is receiving rave reviews from our Members. Chef Charles and his team have created a new and innovative menu and are supplementing it with some very compelling and delicious daily specials. I can’t wait to see what he has in store in the coming weeks and months.

Considering how quickly time seems to pass once autumn arrives, the holiday season will be here before we know it. As we plan for the colder months ahead, I encourage our Members to consider contributing to our Employee Holiday Fund. MAC employees are truly a step above the rest, and it goes a long way for us as Members to show our appreciation to the staff. Each day, they go above and beyond their expected duties for our sake, and it is important to recognize their hard work. I also encourage you to show your appreciation to the staff by expressing your gratitude in person. It is incredible how meaningful the simple act of sharing a few kind words can be to a person.

Speaking of our exceptional staff members, I would like to recognize a recipient of the distinguished employee award. This individual works diligently to engage our youngest Members at the West Clubhouse.

Liz Hamilton Title: Youth Programs Coordinator Start Date: 10/14/2019 What do you like most about the Club? “I love the camaraderie between employees and Members!”

Thank you for your service, Liz! Your passion for enriching experiences for our Members’ children greatly benefits our Youth Programs and Club life for us all.

Members, I look forward to seeing you at the Club!

Brent Beumer, President Missouri Athletic Club