The Briar Club 2022 Q4 Newsletter

Briar

Hours of Operation

FRONT DESK

Monday

9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday - Friday

8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Saturday

9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sunday

9:00 am - 3:00 pm

TENNIS

Tennis Courts

Monday - Friday

5:00 am - 9:00 pm

Saturday 6:00 am - 8:00 pm

Sunday 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

The Briar Shop

Monday - Thursday

8:00 am - 7:00 pm

Friday - Saturday

8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Sunday

10:00 am - 3:00 pm

DINING

Lounge Bar

Lunch

TuesdaySaturday

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Sunday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Dinner TuesdayThursday 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday - Saturday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Lounge Dining

Lunch

Tuesday - Friday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Sunday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Dinner Tuesday - Thurs day 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday - Saturday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Family Grill & Terrace

Lunch

Tuesday - Friday

11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Dinner

Tuesday - Thursday

5:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday - Saturday

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Barracuda Café & Breezes Sports Bar

October 2 - 23

Monday-Friday Closed Saturday - Sunday

11:00 am - 7:00 pm

The last day of the pool season will be Sunday, October 23.

YOUTH

Hideout

Ages 6 & Up

Monday Closed

TuesdayThursday

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Friday

4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sunday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Kids Club

Ages 1 - 5

Monday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

TuesdayThursday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

FridaySaturday 8:00 am - 9:00 pm

Sunday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Nursery

6 weeks - 1 year Sunday-Monday

8:30 am - 12:00 pm

TuesdayThursday

8:30 am - 12:00 pm

4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

FridaySaturday

8:30 am - 12:00 pm

4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

AQUATICS

Family Resort Pool

October 2 - 23

Monday-Friday

Closed

Saturday - Sunday

11:00 am - 7:00 pm

The last day of the pool season will be Sunday, October 24.

Competition & Adult Lap Pool

Monday - Friday

5:00 am - 9:00 pm

Saturday 6:00 am - 8:00 pm

Sunday

7:00 am - 8:00 pm

FITNESS

Fitness Center

Monday - Friday

5:00 am - 8:00 pm

Saturday 6:00 am - 8:00 pm

Sunday

7:00 am - 8:00 pm

THE General Manager

DANIEL A. MORENO, GENERAL MANAGER/COO daniel.moreno@thebriarclub.com

B riar Club Family,

What a year it’s been! As we close out our fiscal year, the Club continues to perform well operationally. The desire to become a member of the Briar Club continues to be well represented

by our strong waitlist. Congrats to our Barracudas for another undefeated year! Our Club is definitely one to be proud of. I am extremely proud of the team we have here at the Club. Many go above and beyond or the extra mile to make sure your second home feels like home. Thank you to those that continually show appreciation to the staff here at the Club, it means a ton to me and I know it means a ton to them.

Many have commented on recent chilling improvements to the adult lap pool. Our new chiller has been tested by the hot summer August and September days and has had no issue with keeping our adult lap pool at the correct temperature. This unit is also much quieter than our old unit. Jon continues to do an excellent job maintaining our aquatics facilities. The pickleball courts are still a work in progress and I expect us to go back to permitting very soon, once we solve some structural items handed our way.

Committee signup for 2023 is right around the corner. If you are interested in serving on a committee this is your chance to provide helpful input to the Board and to our department directors regarding programming, facilities and much more. If you aren’t sure which committee to apply for, stop a department director or visit with other committee members to see what committee might be a good fit for you and the Club. Member spouses are also able to serve on committees. Thank you to the nominating committee for your time and dedication in order to have a strong slate of candidates for the three vacant Board positions coming our way. Thank you to outgoing board members Jay Hellums and Racheal Goydan for your service to the Club.

We are planning on a “Cocktails with the GM” event in October, however if you cannot make the date and have any concerns or questions regarding club operations, I am always available to meet in the office, over coffee or over lunch.

Enjoy your summer vacations as we look forward to an incredible fall!

Daniel Moreno General Manager/C.O.O.

president

JEFF WOOD, 2022 PRESIDENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

This is my last letter before turning over the reins to the next president. It has been quite an experience. The clay courts are now in service, and hopefully the new pavilion adjacent to court 8 will be in place by the end of the year. The other big projects, the renovation of the competition pool and the construction of the pickleball complex on the top floor of the parking garage,

are moving more slowly than anticipated due to delays in obtaining permits from the city. It’s no surprise that the temperature turns up a bit during times of change at the club. This board has made a number of difficult decisions about how to allocate the Club’s limited resources – in terms of dollars and even more so in terms of space – and that means not everyone gets exactly what they want. I’ve had a few members ask about the process by which that gets done. The Briar Club is governed by a board of elected representatives. The board makes decisions with input from the advisory committees and by soliciting input from members in other ways. Decisions are not made by a majority vote of the members, in part because that is difficult to implement and an inefficient way to run a business, and in part because we do not want a slim majority controlling all the resources of the club.

In fact, the rationale behind many of the board’s decisions over the past couple of years has been to ensure the Club’s resources area allocated in a manner that reflects demand across different constituencies. Our research showed that one-third of the tennis community wanted an option for clay courts, so we ended up compromising by converting 22% of the tennis courts (2 of the 9) to clay. The majority who prefer hard courts have a majority of the resources but do not get to control 100% of them. It was a similar line of thinking around the length of the competition pool. The board received significant input from groups of members favoring 25 meters and favoring 25 yards. We currently have two 25-meter pools. We have two distinct member groups that have a difference in preference, and after a great deal of deliberation and input, the board determined that it was more equitable to divide those resources so that both groups would have the option to swim at their preferred length.

I want to thank my fellow board members for their dedication and service to the Club. It hasn’t been easy, but I am proud of the work we’ve done to make this a better place – one that serves the needs of the current membership and looks forward to make it more attractive to prospective members. I also want to thank the many members who have sent notes or stopped me around the club to offer their support and encouragement. Thankfully they far outnumber the negative commentary.

Finally, let’s all remember that we are fellow members and owners of a country club. A difference of opinion on how to allocate resources is not a personal attack and does not mean there is a conspiracy afoot to rob you of some amenity to which you think you’re entitled. So, let’s just ratchet down the crazy by a notch or two and enjoy this remarkable place.

I look forward to seeing you around our ever-evolving campus,

Jeff Wood

2022 President, Board of Directors

un Around

Father & Daughter Dance

Summer Swim Team

4th of July

Ninja Warrior

the lubC

Cooking with Chef tennis

Summer Camp

marvel bingo

Membership

LINDA BENSON, DIRECTOR

linda@thebriarclub.com

Welcome to the club!

Cherie and John Lindley

Walter Eeds

Kevin Richardson and Teresa Cabello Katherine Cancelmo

Ian and Claire Virga Virginia Clark

Gregory and Veronica Galimberti Robert and Heather Safi John and Jacqueline Furlow Robert and Karen Cunningham Cameron and Jessica Donnell Shannon and Cooper Kinney Stephanie and Gabriel Zamora Nolan and Jamie Moulle

Amelia and Rudolph Tomjanovich Edward and Kelly Scoggins Robert and Katy James Paul Burke

Introducing the newest and cutest members of the Briar Club! We are so excited to celebrate with the Siegfried, Kennedy, and Sparrow families! Meet:

Winn Harvey Siegfried

Virginia SparrowKian Kennedy

If you would like your little one featured in the next newsletter, please send their name, birth date and a photo to communications@thebriarclub.com!

In memoriam

We are saddened by the passing of Joseph Santamaria, who served on the Briar Club Board and was a member since 1979. Joe you will be missed!

in welcoming

to the

League Winners

Tuesday Night Men’s: Curtis Klement & Patrick Sermas

Thursday Night Men’s: Garrison Ziff & Sean Daichman

Wednesday Night Ladies’: Natalie Synnott & Anna Claire Hankamer

Singles Ladder Men’s: Sean Daichman

Singles Ladder Ladies’: Jennifer Warren Pickleball

Summer League Winners

Highest Total Points: John Ohrt

Highest Average Points:

Jorge Toranzo

Tennis

Brett Emerson, DIRECTOR tennisdirector@thebriarclub.com

Feeling Competitve? Join a League!

Adult Tennis:

Men’s Tuesday Night League: (3.5 & under) 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Ladies Wednesday Night League: All levels 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Men’s Thursday Night League: (3.5 & up) 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Junior Development Program:

Ages 9 & under Monday – Thursday 4:00-5:00 pm

Ages 10 & over Monday – Thursday 5:00 - 6:30 pm High School (JV&V) Mondays & Wednesdays 5:00 – 6:30 pm

Red & Orange Ball Competitive Groups: Fridays 5:00 - 6:00 pm

Green & Yellow Ball Competitive Groups: Saturdays 11:00 – 12:30 pm

If you are interested in participating in the competitive groups please email: headtennispro@thebriarclub.com.

Pickleball

Fall League: Interested in competitve match play for pickleball?

Join us:

Tuesdays from 7:00 – 8:30 pm

Clay Courts are complete! Check out pictures from the construction process above.

Visit the the Briar Shop

Look to the Briar Shop for all your racquet sports needs including lesson requests and changes, programming information, court bookings, and general inquiries. The Briar Shop also offers a wide range of tennis and pickleball equipment & services ranging from custom TBC apparel, special ized merchandise requests, stringing and racquet services. Our co-branded merchandise and apparel includes products from Peter Millar, Lululemon, Yonex, Selkirk Pickleball, Wilson, Babolat, Lacoste, Nike, Uomo Sport, and Yeti to name a few. You can also custom order and monogram shirts. The Briar Shop is your one-stop-shop for all things tennis & pickleball!

To contact the Briar Shop, please call 713-552-2121 or email briarshop@thebriarclub.com.

2022 Men’s & Ladies Pro-Am

Saturday, November 12

Join your fellow members and be paired with HTX professional level players in TBC’s annual Pro-AM tennis event. This event offers a fantastic opportunity to compete with (and against) some of Houston’s best tennis players in a fun-filled event that is open to all players from intermediate (3.0-3.5) to advanced (4.0+) levels. We have limited spots available so be sure to sign-up asap to ensure you don’t miss out.

Men’s Competition: 1 pm - 6 pm

Ladies Competition: 8 am - 1 pm

Looking for more Tennis and Pickleball? Flip to pages 19-21 to view the Club Calandar and save your dates today.

Fitness

RJ PRATT, DIRECTOR rjpratt@thebriarclub.com

October Fitness Challenge

Saturday, October 1

The October Fitness Challenge begins October 1st! We will be competing against Houston Racquet Club and River Oaks Country Club for the title of “Houston’s healthiest club”! Track your hours spent working out at the club and join in on the fun with your fellow members.

Spooky Spin Monday, October 31 @ 7:45 am

Join us for Spooky Spin Class as we get into the holiday fun! You can sign up on the Briar Club app.

November Triathlon

Saturday, November 12 @ 7:00 am

Join us in challenging River Oaks Country Club again in the BC/ROCC Triathlon. This year we will be hosted by ROCC in their new pool complex and given the chance to beat them on their own turf! The Triathlon will consist of a 300-meter swim, 10-mile bike (on a stationary cycle), a 5k run through the River Oaks neighborhood and all participants will be timed electronically with timing chips. All members are welcome and encouraged to participate in this fun event. The fee for the Triathlon will be $20 and includes registration, a team T-shirt, and brunch at ROCC! Sign up on the Briar Club calendar.

Huff and Puff Classes

Friday, November 25

Huff and Puff After You Stuff classes! Join us for some after-Thanksgiving fun and don’t let the turkey bring you down! More details to follow.

December

Jingle Bell Jam

Saturday, December 24

Get ready for-- Jingle Bell Jam! --special classes to get you into the Christmas spirit! Let’s be merry and bright as we work off those Christmas cookies, celebrate the magic of the holidays, and come together during the most wonderful time of the year.

FLOATING PUMPKIN PATCH

Sunday, October 23, 2:00 pm

Celebrate the end of pool season with a floating pumpkin patch! Pick out a kidsized pumpkin to decorate poolside. Please reserve your spot by registering on the Club Calendar.

Registration closes Saturday, October 22.

Aquatics

Jon Diller, DIRECTOR poolmanager@thebriarclub.com

THE UNDEFEATED BARRACUDAS!

We would like to congratulate the 2022 Briar Club Barracuda swim team for their 9th straight undefeated season and league championship! We had a total of 225 amazing swimmers on our team this year. Below are our meet scores:

HOUSTON COUNTRY CLUB: 473-370 WIN

LAKESIDE COUNTRY CLUB: 536-300 WIN

THE FOREST CLUB: 541-431 WIN

HOUSTON RACQUET CLUB: 473-390 WIN HOUSTONIAN: 496-364 WIN

POLAR BEAR 2022

-

The Club will be hosting

winter!

is

be

Titus- 216,000

February

annual Polar Bear Swimming Competition again

race where swimmers will log their total

A running tally will be kept and awards

swimmer in each age group.

Last Year’s Winners:

McCooey- 159,000

O’Reilly- 175,250 m (61-75)

McCourt- 11,000 m (76+)

FALL FEST

Sunday, October 16

Join us for our adult only fall festival, featuring food, wine tastings, live music, and so much more!

Note: the pool will close at 5:00 pm on this date.

Time: 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Pricing: $135 per person

Location: Briar Lawn

C

lub

MONSTER SPLASH

Saturday, October 22

PERUS WINE DINNER

Friday, October 21

Enjoy a five course wine dinner featuring the PerUs Winery.

Cocktail Hour beings at 6:30 pm.

Dinner served at 7:15 pm.

Time: 6:30 pm

Pricing: $195 per person

Location: Azalea Room

CANDY CRAWL

Sunday, October 30

We’re bringing back a Club favorite: trick or treat in an immersive experience throughout the Club. You’ll knock on doors and be surprised at what’s in store! Meet some of your favorite characters, take photos and collect candy. Don’t forget your costumethis is trick-or-treating, after all!

Time: 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Pricing: $40 per person

Location: 2nd floor

FALL CENTERPIECE CLASS

Wednesday, November 2

Grab your girls and join us for a floral arrangement lesson with Allison from Frankie & Flora! You’ll make a beautiful fall arrangement to take home with you. Expect light bites, fall treats, and a special fall cocktail.

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Pricing: $85 per person

Location: Azalea Room

Join us in the pool to watch “Hotel Transylvania 3” and enjoy a spooky Halloween themed buffet!

Buffet opens at 6:00 pm. Movie starts at 7:00 pm.

Time: 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Pricing: Adults $32, Teens $24, Kids $20, 2 & Under $6

Location: Family Resort Pool

HARVEST GARDEN GATHER LUNCH

Thursday, November 10

Briar Club ladies are invited to gather in the garden for this fall affair. This lunch on the Veranda will feature festive food and drinks, as well as good times catching up with friends!

Time: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Pricing: more details to come!

Location: Veranda and Briar Lawn

TRIVIA NIGHT

Thursday, November 17

You asked, and we listened! Trivia night is finally here. Join us for trivia, drinks, and appetizers as you and your team go head to head for the grand prize.

Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Pricing: $40 a team

Location: Veranda

VentsE

THANKSGIVING BRUNCH

Thursday, November 24

Come together with friends and family over a Thanksgiving meal, featuring all your favorites prepared by Chef Michael Powell and the Briar Club culinary team.

To-Go Pickup is available from 9 am to 12 pm on Thanksgiving Day.

Seating Times: starting at 11 am

Pricing: Adults $54, Teens (Ages 1317) $36, Ages 10 & Under $28

Location: Magnolia Ballroom

FAMILY DINNER AND MAGIC SHOW Saturday, November 26

Get ready for family night out! Come out to the Club for a buffet dinner and an magic show!

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Pricing: more details to come!

Location: Magnolia Ballroom

WREATH DECORATING

Thursday, December 1

Enjoy a florist workshop where you create your own wreath to adorn your home for the holiday season! There will be light bites and seasonal drinks as well!

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Pricing: $85 per person

Location: Azalea Room

HOLIDAY BRUNCH

Sunday, December 18

Celebrate the season at this elegant brunch, featuring a full buffet with brunch favorites, holiday cocktails, live music, and more.

Seating Times At: 10:30 am | 11 am | 11:30 am | 12:30 pm | 1 pm | 1:30 pm

GINGERBREAD DECORATING

Wednesday, December 14

SATURDAY WITH SANTA

Saturday, December 10

Santa Claus is coming to the Club for some holiday fun! This outdoor, activity-focused event includes live music, games & activities, and roaming characters! Enjoy plenty of photo opportunities and breakfast foods on-the-go to help you capture every minute of the fun.

Three Sessions At: 8 am-9:30 am| 10 am-11:30 am | 12 pm-1:30 pm

Pricing: Adults $40, Kids $30

Location: Briar Lawn

Create the gingerbread house of your dreams at our decorating party!

Each family will receive one house included in their reservation, plus all decorating materials. Additional houses can be purchased for $40 each.

Parents, please note: this event is not a drop-off event. A parent or guardian must be present throughout the entire event.

Two Sessions At: 4 pm-5:30 pm| 6:30 pm-8 pm

Pricing: Adults $36, Ages 3-12 $24, 2 & Under $6

Location: Magnolia Ballroom

Pricing: Adults $54, Teens $36, $28 Ages 13-17, Ages 10 & Under Location: 1st Floor Dining

NEW YEAR'S EVE BINGO

Saturday, December 31

Get ready for a bingo and a new year! This family friendly New Year’s Eve party features bingo games, music, cocktails, a buffet dinner, and, of course - PRIZES! Finally, we’ll count down to “midnight” before the night is over!

Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Pricing: Adults $48, Ages 13-17 $38, Ages 3-12 $28, Ages 2 & Under $10

Location: Magnolia Ballroom

Special Events

Get Ready for Fall Fest!

One of our favorite Club events, Fall Fest is coming back this year better than ever.

From specialty curated small plates, wine tastings, seasonal cocktails, and more, Fall Fest last year was a hit, and we can’t wait for you to see what we have in store for this year.

We invite you to celebrate warm inviting flavors of fall, with cool weather, delicious food, live music, and great company.

Explore a tantalizing array of small plates including fresh shucked oysters, classic rissoto, paella, and more. Trust us, your taste buds will thank you later!

Time: 5:30 - 8:00 pm

Price: $135 per person

Location: Briar Lawn

Looking to host your own event?

From corporate gatherings, to holiday soirees, and everything in between, the Briar Club has your back for a stress-free holiday season.

Having trouble party planning? Need more ideas? Contact us and we would love to help you plan your whole party. From portion planning to accommodating everyone, we would love to help make sure your event runs smoothly.

Food & Beverage

From our Kitchen

Hello Briar Club Members,

As we lean into the busy holiday season fall flavors abound! Like many other people, we as chef’s absolutely love this time of year. Richer, warmer ingredients take center stage, the bounty of harvest inspires us to create deeply satisfying and celebratory dishes to share with all of our friends and family.

I want to encourage all of you to spend a little more time in your kitchens working together with your hands to share the love, sacrifice and joy of the season. Please remember The Briar Club kitchens are here at your service. Whether its hosting a holiday event at the club, dining with friends in one of our dining rooms or outdoor spaces or assisting you with preparations or complete meals to go, just let us know how we may assist you in entertaining this year. With gratitude in our hearts we sincerely thank you for the opportunity to serve this wonderful membership here at The Briar Club.

Cheers,

Cocktail Hour!

Seasonal Cocktails are here

Try our seasonal coktails now at the bar!

Timmons Cup

Pimm’s, Luxardo Maraschino Liqueur, Limoncello, Fresh Lemon Juice

JB Special

Dulce Vida Grapefruit Tequila.

Cointreau, Fresh Lime, Fresh Orange, Fresh Grapefruit

Sunflower Martini

Citadel Gin, Butterfly Absinthe, Cointreau, Fresh Lemon Juice, Luxardo Cherry

Apple Cider Martini

Tito’s Vodka, Cointreau, Lemon Juice, Apple Cider

JB Special Timmons Cup Apple Cider Martini Sunflower Martini

Chef Michael Powell

Youth

Makayla Florus, DIRECTOR mflorus@thebriarclub.com

October

mon oct 10

sat oct 15-16

BRIAR FUN DAY- COLUMBUS DAY

Let’s have fun spending the day at the club doing Halloween art and enjoying the outdoors!

FAMILY CAMP OUT

Family camp out on the lawn! There will be swimming, tents, and so much fun sleeping under the stars.

Time: 8:30 am - 2:15 pm Ages: 5 & Up Pricing: $75 per child Location: Drop off on 3rd floor garage

Time: 5:00 pm - 9:00 am Ages: 5 & Up Pricing: $150 per family Location: Family Pool / Briar Lawn

sat oct 22 Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am Ages: 2-4 Pricing: $20 per child Location: General Purpose Room

“SPOOKY” TODDLER PLAYDATE

Don’t worry, this not so spooky playdate is the perfect time to dress up and make Halloween masks!

november

mon nov 11

sun nov 13

sat nov 19

nov 21-23 & 25

S’MORES & MOVIE ON THE LAWN

Enjoy S’mores on the lawn! Feel like you’ve gone camping out in Montana without leaving the Club!

BRIAR ZOO

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears oh my! -- Just kidding!

Come to Briar Zoo for a petting zoo and lots of fun.

LIL’ TURKEY TODDLER PLAYDATE

Bring your lil turkeys to enjoy making lil arts and crafts turkeys.

THANKSGIVING BRIAR FUN DAYS

Drop off your kids for a fun day at The Briar club. We will be doing art & crafts and enjoy being with friends!

december

sat dec 3

sun dec 4

fri dec 9

dec 19-23 26-30

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS GIFT WORKSHOP

Shhh, what happens in this workshop is a secret! No peaking! Make gifts at the Club for Christmas!

ETIQUETTE CLASS

Come to the Club as we learn table etiquette in a fun and interactive way!

TEEN UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER BINGO

Bring your ugly sweaters and see if you can get 5 in a row!!

WINTER BRIAR FUN DAYS

Enjoy winter break at the club! We will have lots of winter activities and fun with friends.

Time: 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ages: 5 & Up Pricing: $35 per child

Location: Briar Lawn

Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Ages: All Ages Pricing: $30 per person Location: Briar Lawn

Time: 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Ages: 2-4 Pricing: $20 per child

Location: Briar Lawn

Time: 8:30 am - 2:15 pm Ages: 5 & Up Pricing: $75 per day Location: Drop off 3rd floor garage

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm & 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Ages: Group 1: 4-6 | Group 2: 7 & Up Pricing: $30 per child Location: General Purpose Room

Time: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm & 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Ages: Group 1: 5-7 | Group 2: 8 & Up Pricing: $85 per child Location: Azalea Room

Time: 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Ages: 11 & Up Pricing: $25 per child Location: Family Pool Deck

Time: 8:30 am - 2:15 pm Ages: 5 & Up Pricing: $75 per day Location: Drop off 3rd floor garage

Staff News

Leadership AWARD

SILVIA LEYVA Facility Supervisor Housekeeping and Laundry

“Silvia is dependable, and goes above and beyond to ensure the Club stays at peak cleanliness. She’s a great leader and is fair when it comes to workload and scheduling”

EMPLOYEES of the Month

May 2022 CESAR OLVERA Lead Banquet Cook

“Cesar is hardworking, and always has a great attitude.” “He is such a good guy to work with; he handles himself gracefully always, and covers so many positions.”

June 2022

SERGIO MARTINEZ Host

“Sergio has a customer service and team player attitude.” “He is very dependable, respectful and hospitable with members, guests, and staff.”

July 2022 AURELIO CANTORAN Locker Attandant

“Members always comment on how attentive and active Aurelio is in the locker rooms.” “He’s a hard worker and always steps up for those who need it.”

Let’s Hear it from you!

We’re always looking to recognize our star employees! Is there a staff member who has really made an impact on your Club experience? If you notice an exceptional staff member, drop us a note in the Compliments & Comments section of our mobile app and we’ll help spread the word!

Samantha Van Veen, CCM Assistant General Manager samantha@thebriarclub.com

A commitment to excellence

Members,

Many of you have heard of recent workforce trends such as “The Great Resignation” and “Quiet Quitting.” If you have not, it’s reported that workers everywhere are feeling the aftereffects of the recent COVID-19 pandemic- burnout, lack of motivation, and generalized desire for change. Of course, we are not immune to external factors as an employer, but our power lies in an employee-first mentality present far before the pandemic.

There is an old adage in the hospitality industry- take care of your staff, and they will take care of your customers (or, in our case, Members.) So, while we remain committed to the Member experience- we remain equally committed to each and every team member here.

A few employees I would like to highlight:

Randy Douglas: Our Executive Sous Chef has just accepted the Executive Chef position at Sweetwater Country Club. Randy has been with us for 5 years. He earned his Certified Executive Chef Certification from the American Culinary Federation in 2019. While this news is bittersweet, we are proud of Randy for taking the next step in his career!

Ernesto Padilla: Ernesto has worked in the kitchen for the last 6 years as an expeditor. Most recently, Ernesto has moved into a new position as a server/bartender. While he may be a new face to Members, he has worked incredibly hard and is highly deserving of this new role!

While some team members stay with us for 20+ years, we know some can only join us for a season. Regardless, the influence is everlasting. We are confident the best is yet to come!

Sincerely, Samantha Van Veen, CCM

Employee Love

FROM OUR SUMMER EMPLOYEE PARTY!

W T

PICKLEBALL

S’MORES & MOVIE

HARVEST GARDEN

PICKLEBALL

ETIQUETTE

CLASSES

11:00 am - 4:00 pm

10:30 am -

WINTER BRIAR

DAYS

-

HOLIDAY JR TENNIS CAMP

SUNDAY MIXED DOUBLES CLINIC

pm - 5:00

GINGERBREAD DECORATING

pm - 8:00 pm

POLAR BEAR BEGINS

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Pool

WREATH DECORATING

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Room

PICKLEBALL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

PICKLEBALL CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS

am -

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS GIFT WORKSHOPS

1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Purpose Room

TEEN UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER BINGO

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Pool Deck

SATURDAY WITH SANTA

8:00 am - 1:30 pm

Club Lawn

CHRISTMAS LADIES’ MIXER

am -

WINTER BRIAR FUN DAYS

-

HOLIDAY JR TENNIS CAMP

am - 12:00

NYE BINGO

5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Ballroom

Meet Th

How well do you really kn

Daniel Moreno

What is your favorite TV show?

The Golden Girls.

What is something about you that people would be surprised to hear?

I raced cars for about 15 years!

Samantha Van Veen

What’s your favorite spot around the club?

The Library is my absolute favorite room in the Clubhouse! But did you know when we were building the new Clubhouse we put a safe under the grand staircase as a time capsule? A few Pokémon cards snuck in before being sealed with Briar Club history.

What’s your favorite holiday movie?

The Grinch! “Holiday who-be what-ee?”

Kari Foster

What was your best Halloween costume?

One year I was Darth Vader and no one knew it was me! It was great. hallmark movies- avoid at all costs or amazing?

I love the Hallmark Channel��!!

Brooke Beatty

What is your favorite book?

As an avid reader and library aficionado, it’s hard to decide! If I had to pick a book I could read over and over again, it would be “The Return of the King” by JRR Tolkien. What’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to?

Italy! I studied abroad in Rome, Italy in College and can’t wait to go back. The historical significance of the city iteself, the artwork, and of course the food, make it impossible not to love.

Linda Benson

What is your favorite holiday movie?

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! It’s hilarious and a Christmas classic.

What is your favorite holiday? Thanksgiving. The food is always amazing and I love spending time with my Family and Friends.

Mauricio Yanes

Do you have a hidden talent?

I play the saxophone!

What’s your perfect Sunday??

Grilling at the pool with family and friends

e Team!

ow your Briar Club Team?

RJ Pratt

What is your favorite holiday?

I like Christmas! It’s the best time of the year.

Which type of pie belongs on the Thanksgiving table?

Pecan Pie for sure.

Brett Emerson

What is your favorite quote?

I have many as I collect quotes in my phone that resonate with me. Here are 2 I goback to frequently… “We are prisoners of the present, in perpetual transition from aninaccessible past to an unknowable future.” -Neil Degrasse Tyson. And, “You drownnot by falling into a river, but by staying submerged in it.” -Paulo Coelho.

What’s the best place to eat in Houston?

Uchi is my favorite, but there are many that are great, including Squable, Nancy’sHustle, and Bludorn. I also enjoy Tiny Champions, Hughies, Superica, and LaredoTaqueria. Give them a try!

MaKayla Florus

What’s your perfect Sunday?

Having a clean home and being on the couch with an ice cream Sunday.

Do you have a nickname?

MaK, MaK Attack, anything but Big Mac!!

Chef Michael Powell

What is your favorite holiday?

As a Chef, I have to say Thanksgiving. The best holiday for special dishes of all.

Which type of pie belongs on the Thanksgiving table?

You have to have Pecan Pie on the table.

Jesse Pizano

What’s your perfect Sunday?

Grilling in the backyard with a cold Brew watching the Texans win.

What is your favorite quote?

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” - Thomas Bertman Lance

Jon Diller

What is your favorite part of working at the Club?

My favorite part of working at The Briar Club is the relationships I’ve built with themembers over the 15 seasons I have worked at the club. Especially the kids who Itaught to swim when they were 4 or 5 years old, and watching them develop and growinto strong swimmers who then come back to coach for the swim team when they are teenagers.

Do you have a hidden talent?

I am an avid road cyclist and ride an average of 100+ miles a week, including theoccasional commute to the Briar Club from Katy! Last spring, I did my longest ride of156 miles which took me 9 hours to complete.

Amanda Hough

Which type of pie belongs on the Thanksgiving table?

Tried and true, pumpkin pie! Can’ beat a classic!

Matching Christmas PJ’s-Christmas must have or not?

ABSOLUTELY! Every year on Christmas Eve we all open one gift.. matchingChristmas jam jams!

2022 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jeff Wood

President,

Duy Nguyen

Properties

Vice President, Tennis

Marian Hilpert

Secretary, Youth

Jay Hellums

Treasurer, Finance

Dan Carter Ex-Officio

Rachael Goydan Membership

Amy Munger

Food & Beverage

Belle Petkas

Aquatics

Melissa Stryker

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Daniel A. Moreno

General Manager, COO daniel.moreno@thebriarclub.com

Samantha Van Veen, CCM Assistant General Manager samantha@thebriarclub.com

Kari Foster

Chief Financial Officer cfo@thebriarclub.com

Linda Benson

Director of Membership membership@thebriarclub.com

Michael Powell, CEC Executive Chef chef@thebriarclub.com

Amanda Hough

Director of Catering cateringdirector@thebriarclub.com

Brett Emerson Director of Tennis tennisdirector@thebriarclub.com

RJ Pratt Director of Fitness rjpratt@thebriarclub.com

MaKayla Florus Director of Youth mflorus@thebriarclub.com

Jon Diller

Director of Aquatics poolmanager@thebriarclub.com

Kim Wilson Fitness

Brooke Beatty Marketing & Communications communications@thebriarclub.com

Phaedra Harris

Member Billing billing@thebriarclub.com