January Newsette 2012

Meridian Hills Country Club

Newsette www.meridianhillscc.org

IN THIS ISSUE 2012 Membership Partner Program

page 3

January 2012

Upcoming Events

page 5

Winter Activities page 4 Winter Golf Events

page 6

Meridian Hills Country Club - Indianapolis, Indiana

President’s Message Board of Directors Chris Seger President Dan Baker Secretary Bob Zoccola Vice President Jeff Cristee Haydon Hapak Todd Hillman Jim Litten William E. Smith III Ken Stella Jim Powers Treasurer Jim Zoccola Legal Counsel

Management Team L. Ray Kachel Interim General Manager Ludo Aaron Head Tennis Professional Jack Barber Head Golf Professional Rhonda Daly Assistant Banquet Manager Craig Gasaway Banquet Manager Ashley Goldman Communications Coordinator Jim Hess Golf Course Superintendent Kelly Letzler Catering Coordinator Joe Miller Executive Chef

Happy 2012!

December was an action packed month at Meridian Hills.

From the State Paddle Tournament to Santa showing up at the Family Christmas Party to the exquisite Candlelight Dinner plus the 52 banquets that we hosted, Meridian Hills once again was a magical place to be in December. We are fortunate to have a terrific team that works so hard to make Meridian Hills an exceptional place and they celebrated their hard work for the year at the Employee Christmas Party on the 19th.

It’s time for a quick rest! The Club will be closed January 2nd Chris Seger through the 18th which is a perfect time to let the staff relax Club President a little and to tackle several maintenance projects around the Club. We are going to turn up the energy with our social activities in 2012 so please be sure to attend the Welcome Back Party on January 28th which will rival our Summer Social last year.

You will continue to hear throughout the year that increasing our membership is a top goal for 2012. The Membership Committee is finalizing their 2012 Plan. Its cornerstone will include a call for action from you, our Members, to share your terrific Meridian Hills experiences with your friends. The most effective long term membership strategy is to offer the finest product and service in the market with an energized membership base. Stay tuned to learn how you can help.

We have found our new General Manager! I’m pleased to report that Steve Roper will be relocating from the Hilton Head area to Indianapolis to become our General Manager effective January 15th. Steve’s leadership over the past 20 years at some of the premier golf clubs in the U.S. combined with his team philosophy and positive energy are a great match for Meridian Hills. Look for the upcoming profile on Steve in the next few weeks. Special thanks to Ray Kachel who served as our Interim General Manager for the past 3 months. We can’t thank Ray enough for all his contributions and the help he will provide as Steve transitions into his new role.

As you work on your 2012 Resolutions please don’t forget Meridian Hills. Commit to sponsoring a new member, take up a new activity at the Club (golf, tennis, paddle, lift some weights in the fitness center, ice skating, bingo or a massage…), consider starting a new family tradition like Sunday brunch, Friday nights at the pool or cross country skiing. There truly is so much to do at Meridian Hills.

Here’s to an outstanding 2012!

Jan Pyritz Accounting Manager Meridian Hills Country Club 7099 Spring Mill Road Indianapolis, Indiana 46260 317.255.2496

2 January 2012

www.meridianhillscc.org

Membership Update Dear Members, For those of you who frequent the club in the summer, you may imagine that these cool gray months can be stagnant at Meridian Hills. I can assure you that the last several weeks have been anything but stagnant. We have some new faces around the club offering new ideas and a fresh perspective.

I would like to thank Ray Kachel, our Interim Manager, for the many improvements he has made in the short time he has been here. He has furnished the club with new holiday decorations, a sanitary ice machine for the pool, communications panels in the front entrance, an ice skating rink, and a plan for cross country skiing, just to name a few. He has also hired Rhonda Daly, as our new Assistant Banquet Manager, to facilitate customer dining experience and a massage therapist to relieve our holiday and everyday stress. Ray has shared a wealth of experience from his past clubs that has been tremendously helpful to the Membership Committee in our mission to grow our membership.

Erica Mobasser

Membership Committee Chairman

Given these exciting changes, it is a perfect time to think about potential members that you think will consider membership at Meridian Hills Country Club. In the next few weeks we will be sending each of your specific information on our 2012 Membership Partner Program designed to add 40 net new members over the next 6 months. This program will provide a one year dues reduction for any member who presents a prospective member who is approved for membership.

If this program is successful it will not only add to the vibrancy of our Club but will also restore our dues line back to what it was in 2008 putting us in a very strong cash position which as we have learned over the past few months is very rare in Club’s today. Once you receive the information regarding the Partner Program, I encourage all of you to begin thinking of a membership prospect(s) that you think will consider membership and uphold the outstanding tradition we have established here at Meridian Hills.

It is with mixed emotion that we say farewell to our Director of Membership, Lisa Strachota. Lisa has assisted our membership in bringing the club 375 members in the 8 years she has been with us. She has spent countless hours networking with our members and developing creative ways to expand our membership without compromising the integrity of our club. I am personally sorry to see her leave as I have relied heavily upon her guidance and expertise over the past few months. However, I cannot be anything but genuinely excited for her to devote more of her time and energy to her family.

For certain, Lisa will be missed.

The club has begun the search to fill this position. During this time, we ask you to contact the Communications Coordinator, Ashley Goldman, at ashleyg@mhcc-indy.com or (317) 860-1541, if you would like to recommend a candidate for membership.

Please watch the weekly update emails for fun activities this winter. I will be relentlessly encouraging anyone who crosses my path to join Jean-Pierre and me at the Welcome Back Party January 28th to celebrate the re-opening of the club after our annual closing for maintenance and repairs for much of that month.

I wish everyone a happy, healthy new year.

Erica Mobasser

Table of Contents

3 January 2012

Cover - Welcome Back Party

4-6 - Upcoming Events

2 - Presidents Message

7-8 - Calendars

3 - Membership Update

9 - Club Hours

www.meridianhillscc.org

Upcoming Winter Events

4 January 2012

www.meridianhillscc.org

Upcoming Events

5 January 2012

www.meridianhillscc.org

Upcoming Golf Events &News

Indoor Practice Facility Meridian Hills will have an indoor practice facility set-up in the ballroom starting Jan. 21st Practice Facility will include: • 2- 10 by 10 hitting nets • 2- 7 by 7 hitting mats • Balls will be available for all users • Open to all MHCC Members • Please make sure you have adequate room to swing • All club damage is responsible by the member.

MHCC is not responsible for any damage caused to the club or other individuals.

• The indoor practice facility will be closed Feb. 14th, 18th, & the 25th.

Instruction available upon request, please call on of your golf professional if you would like to set up a lesson this winter.

-Jack Barber (317) 319-6422 – cell phone

-Michael Bembenick (574) 274-0057 – cell phone

-Scott Nitowski (812) 325-0557 – cell phone

Golf Shop News

*The months of January and February, the Golf Shop will be CLOSED. We will re-open March 1, 2011. If you need anything please contact the Member Services Desk.

New in 2012 The Short Course at Meridian Hills To engage a large portion of our membership that doesn’t play golf the golf shop is proposing to put in 1 set of short tees on all 18 holes. These sets would range from 35 yards to 150 yards. These shorter distances will hopefully promote some of our non-golfing husbands or wives, and help promote our already healthy junior program. We have to come up with new and exciting ways to get more people playing golf and this is one way where we can hopefully get some new golfers addicted to the game.

We know that time restrains are becoming a major factor for our younger membership so a short course will hopefully allow couples and/or families with non regular golfing members to enjoy our wonderful golf course. *Scorecards will be available in the golf shop. *Tee Markers will be in each fairway Distances

-Par 3’s 25-40 yards

-Par 4’s 80-120 yards

-Par 5’s 140-160 yards 6 January 2012

www.meridianhillscc.org

January 2012 1

SUNDAY Clubhouse Closed

2

MONDAY

3

TUESDAY

Meridian Hills Country Club WEDNESDAY 4

THURSDAY 5

6

FRIDAY

SATURDAY 7

Club Closed, will re-open on Thursday, January 19th 8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Club Closed, will re-open on Thursday, January 19th

15

16

17

18

Club Closed, will re-open on Thursday, January 19th

22

Sunday Breakfast Buffet 10am - 2pm (no a la carte)

23

Clubhouse Closed

No Sunday Dinner Service 29

Sunday Breakfast Buffet 10am - 2pm (no a la carte) No Sunday Dinner Service

24

25

Pasta Night: Shrimp Diablo

19

We’re open!

26

20 Friday Night Prime Rib Buffet

21

27 Friday Night Prime Rib Buffet

28

Limited Dinner Menu Only 30

Clubhouse Closed

31

Limited Dinner Menu Only

Visit www.meridianhillscc.org for more information about these events

Welcome Back Party

February 2012 SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Meridian Hills Country Club WEDNESDAY 1 Pasta Night: Chicken Picatta

THURSDAY 2

3

FRIDAY Friday Night Prime Rib Buffet

SATURDAY 4

Couples Night Out 5

Sunday Breakfast Buffet 10am - 2pm (no a la carte)

6

Clubhouse Closed

Superbowl Tailgate Party

12

Sunday Breakfast Buffet 10am - 2pm (no a la carte)

Sunday Breakfast Buffet 10am - 2pm (no a la carte)

13

Clubhouse Closed

Sunday Breakfast Buffet 10am - 2pm (no a la carte) No Sunday Dinner Service

Pasta Night: Cheese Manicotti

14

20

Clubhouse Closed

21

15

Pasta Night: Shrimp Diablo

Clubhouse Closed

28

22

Pasta Night: Lasagna

11 Valentine’s Day Dinner Dance

16

17 Friday Night Prime Rib Buffet

18

23 Bingo Night

24 Friday Night Prime Rib Buffet

25

Couples Night Out 29

Pasta Night: Chicken Marsala *Leap Year*

Limited Dinner Menu Only

10 Friday Night Prime Rib Buffet

Couples Night Out

Limited Dinner Menu Only 27

9

Couples Night Out

Limited Dinner Menu Only

No Sunday Dinner Service 26

8

Limited Dinner Menu Only

No Sunday Dinner Service 19

7

*Couples Night Out* Childcare Provided from 6pm - 9pm

Visit www.meridianhillscc.org for more information about these events

Club Hours of Operation Member Services Desk 317.255.2496

Tuesday - Sunday 9:00am - 9:00pm

Golf Pro Shop

317.255.3369

Managers Office 317.255.2497

Tuesday - Sunday 9:00am - 6:00pm

Tennis Pro Shop

Kids Club

317.255.1319

L. Ray Kachel, Interim General Manager gm@mhcc-indy.com

Closed January & February

317.255.0605

Friday 5:00pm - 8:00pm

*with reservations*

Accounting Office 317.251.3636

Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm Jan Pyritz, Accounting Manager

Fitness Center

Monday - Sunday 6:00am - 9:30pm *Call Fitness by Design at 574-0782 to schedule your MHCC orientation for unlimited access.*

Dining Hours

Lunch

Tuesday - Saturday 11:30am - 2:00pm

Dinner

Tuesday - Saturday 5:30pm - 9:00pm

Breakfast Buffet

Sunday only 10:00am - 2:00pm

Sunday Dinner Closed

*Reservations can be made by calling 255.2496*

Membership 317.860.1541 Ashley Goldman, Communications Coordinator

Catering 317.860.1536 Kelly Letzler, Catering Coordinator

WINTER EVENTS Cross Country Skiing Dr. Sitra Tauscher doc_sitra@comcast.net Ice Skating Member Services Desk 317.255.2496 Winter Fitness Rob Hudson 317.506.3488

Massage Therapist Vicky Hensley 317.490.1025 vicky@vickyhensley.com

visit us on the web at www.meridianhillscc.org CLUB CLOSED

January 1st, 2012 - January 18th, 2012 As has been the case for several years, the Club will be closed for two and a half weeks in January for our annual Club maintenance projects. The Club will close beginning Sunday, January 1st and will reopen on Thursday, January 19th. All facilities will be closed except for the Fitness Center and Paddle Tennis courts. Dining reciprocity has been offered to our members at the Columbia Club, Woodland Country Club and Woodstock Club. Please call each Club for hours of operation and for reservations.

Dining Reciprocity: Columbia Club 767-1361 9 January 2012

Woodland Country Club 846-2588

www.meridianhillscc.org

Woodstock Club 926-3348