CLUB NEWS
Giving and Receiving Both Feel Great Employee Assistance Fund remains absolutely essential by Jake Ten Pas
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or people around the world, the old saying, “May you live in interesting times,” has never been more troublingly true than in 2020. Back in April, Multnomah Athletic Club made the difficult decision to lay off more than 600 employees, and last month, due to the state’s COVID freeze, a new round of furloughs were announced.
bank’s website not being set up to provide key information America’s Charities needed, after a week or so she was able to get it sorted.
Taking the best possible care of MAC’s community continues to be of paramount importance to not just the reduced crew of employees who remain, but a huge group of members, as well. What came out of that concern was the Emergency and Employee Assistance Fund (EEAF), a grant-based program — meaning it doesn’t affect unemployment benefits — administered by the nonprofit America’s Charities.
Jay Maxwell
Since the EEAF’s inception on May 1, 581 people have donated more than $270,000, resulting in grants of $500 or $1,000 going to 233 employees. To get beyond the numbers, and find out what this generosity has meant to the people who’ve given and received, The Winged M reached out to members and employees alike. What follows are their stories and motivations, and a small inkling of what it means to be part of the MAC community. One last note. Since these interviews were conducted, Carpenter and Gill both were furloughed following the club’s mandate to close for four weeks. Both agreed to keeping their stories in the piece as powerful examples of the fact that member generosity means more now than ever before.
Jen Carpenter The former Fourth Floor Entrance attendant officially moved to At Your Service in 2019, a position that allowed her to welcome and assist members in an even deeper capacity. However, when the club closed down, Carpenter and other key MAC faces found themselves without duties to perform. In a time when COVID was creating unprecedented uncertainty, she found herself without both her daily routine and income. At first, after hearing about the EEAF, Carpenter wasn’t sure it was for her. “I was embarrassed that I had to ask for help, but when I wasn’t getting my full weekly hours, and I couldn’t get unemployment either, I was really scared about making ends meet. I figured I’d give it a try, and am glad I did. I was being extremely frugal, trying to not eat my savings, but I needed extensive dental work. It was a huge relief when I got approved. In addition to funding a grueling, three-hour session in a dental chair, Carpenter says that she applied funds from her grant to help with rent. The process wasn’t without its hiccups, some caused by her
Now, she would advise fellow employees to take advantage of the program. “Being laid off was awful, and if they need help, I would definitely recommend it.”
The day that the call went out to Winged M readers asking for stories of those impacted by the EEAF, Jay Maxwell was the first person to respond. “When you have friends who work at your second home and greet you by name with a warm, genuine smile, and their jobs and families are threatened, you have to help,” his message said. When asked to expand upon this succinct response, Maxwell had no trouble whatsoever: “I have belonged to four very strong communities at MAC over my 50-plus years of membership: Handball, The Balladeers, the committee system, and restaurant and bar staff. “Many of my best friends are in the Handball community, and MAC is where I see, play and hang out with them. Club support staff, past and present, have become friends, especially Renee Ferguson, Pete Greer and Hank Marcus. “The Balladeers are much like handball players — welcoming, fun, social and loyal. Additionally, we make wonderful music together. Mandy Beasley Chase, who has gone on to other adventures, and Abby DenUyl always smile and say hello with genuine enthusiasm. “The committee system welcomed me to contribute to both athletics and social programs. Many members with whom I served have become lasting friends, as have employees who’ve facilitated those interactions. “Socializing at MAC is as important to me as exercising. Over the years, the restaurant and bar staff has made me feel welcome and at home with their friendly greetings and excellent service. With the restaurants closed, it was this group, Nellie, Carlos, Curt, Sasha, Jorge and others, and their families, that I worried about most. “Now that I am able, I get the same pleasure from giving to others as I got when I was young and was amazed when people were generous to me. I felt confident in the giving program MAC set up, and it was easy to participate. I feel good to have helped friends. It is my hope that there has been enough support that I will see my friends again soon at my second home.” Continued on page 17 DECEMBER 2020
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