Louisville Boat Club December 2023 Newsletter

The Anchor VOL. 3 ISSUE 12 • DECEMBER 2023

Official Newsletter of the Louisville Boat Club

THE ANCHOR | LOUISVILLE BOAT CLUB

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Introducing the New GM

Saying Farewell

Dear Louisville Boat Club Members, I am delighted to step into the role of General Manager at the Louisville Boat Club, bringing not only a wealth of professional experience but also a personal commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community within our esteemed club. Beyond my dedication to transforming hospitality and member services, I'm a wife to Derek Russell, celebrating nearly a decade of partnership, and a proud parent to Sloane, our adventurous and spirited fiveyear-old daughter. Family holds a special place in my heart, anchoring me in values of commitment, teamwork, and the joy of shared experiences.

My journey into club management was shaped by my upbringing, where tennis became more than a sport—it was a cornerstone of discipline and perseverance. Graduating from Sacred Heart Academy laid the foundation for my academic and professional endeavors, steering me toward a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kentucky. Professionally, my path led me through pivotal roles at Woodhaven Country Club, where I helmed initiatives that propelled the club's growth and success.

Orchestrating a remarkable 20% surge in food & beverage profits within my initial tenure marked a pivotal achievement, setting the stage for Woodhaven's evolution into a thriving enterprise.

My tenure expanded to encompass diverse responsibilities, from food and beverage management to membership growth, member events, and beyond. This multifaceted role allowed me to foster meaningful connections with members, fueled by my unwavering dedication to excellence and a commitment to continual improvement. I believe in resilience, hard work, and a relentless determination to surpass expectations. At the Louisville Boat Club, I am enthusiastic about applying my extensive experience in enhancing member satisfaction, driving membership growth, and contributing to budgetary targets. With a proven track record in financial efficiency, particularly within the food and beverage sector, I am poised to lead the club toward unparalleled quality and fiscal success.

My professional journey is underscored by a relentless pursuit of excellence, a commitment to member-centric services, and a profound understanding of what makes a club thrive. I am eager to collaborate with each of you, leveraging my skills in strategic leadership, exceptional member service, membership growth strategies, and crisis management to elevate the Louisville Boat Club experience.

Please feel free to reach out; I'm here to listen, engage, and work together to propel our club to new heights.

Dear Members and Friends: This, my final message, is “bittersweet, as by the time you read this, I will already be on my way home to sunny Palm Springs, CA. Eventually to play golf, once my arm has healed. However, that process will probably take several more months so it will be spring, so my surgeon tells me, before I can swing a club.

In retrospect, the last, almost 12 years have been very rewarding with the friendships I have made and the growth I have been involved in at LBC. We have a great Membership and an excellent and loyal Management Team and Staff, that have made my job easier. We have accomplished a lot together and I believe that I will be leaving the Club in a better place than when I originally took the helm in 2009!

I think that we have made a good choice in hiring Sarah Russell to be the new GM and I wish her all success in her new position. She comes highly recommended from her position as AGM at Woodhaven Country Club. I sincerely hope that you will support Sarah as you have supported me.

I must thank the Management Team, the Officers and Directors, with whom I have worked over the years and the “Line Staff” for their hard work and support. I wish the new Board of Directors and my successor, Sarah Russell, the best for this next year.

Warm regards, Sarah Russell General Manager

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As somebody said, “The Legend has retired.”

Sincerely, David Drury

Welcome Sarah Russell THE ANCHOR | LOUISVILLE BOAT CLUB

RACQUET REPORT New Director Happy December to all you racketeers and paddlers!

Tis the season to be playing racquet and paddle sports. I hope everyone is ready for a spectacular December, full of tennis, pickleball, and platform tennis. We hope to bring the holidays in correctly one ace, dink, and smash at a time.

First, let's have a quick recap of November’s 1st annual Turkey Burner Pickleball Tournament. It was an incredibly successful day featuring lots of fun and competitive Pickleball play. Congratulations to our 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams: 1st place: Alex Menzel and Wendy Menzel 2nd place: Kenna McDonald and Michael McDonald 3rd place: Julie O’Bryan and Pat Dwyer Congratulations to all the competitors that played in the 1st Annual Turkey Burner Pickleball Tournament and a huge thank you for making it a wildly successful event.

Looking forward, Tennis this December at LBC will stay strong throughout the first half of the month, with team practices and clinics winding down closer to the holidays. The last week for junior clinics will be the week of December 11-17th. Fast feeds will continue up until December 22nd. We do plan to have a Holiday Round Robin event on Friday, December 15th. Please stay tuned for more details.

Pickleball in December will continue to stay active indoors with our league play and clinics continuing until the latter part of the month. We are happy to announce the date of our 2nd Annual Paddles Up Pickleball Invitational. Play will start on the evening of December 29th and conclude on the evening of December 30th. Get ready for an exciting weekend of Pickleball competition before you ring in the new year.

Finally, December will be sizzling with platform tennis play. We plan to start our platform tennis league play for men, women, and beginners. Get ready for some warm drinks next to the fire pit and some red hot paddle play in the cold evenings of December.

Whatever racquet or paddle you choose, see you on the courts!

All the best, Travis Curran

THE ANCHOR BULLETIN| |LOUISVILLE LOUISVILLEBOAT BOATCLUB CLUB

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FITNESS UPDATES

Please join one of our numerous Fitness Center fitness, yoga, or cycling classes.

Or, take a Peloton class on the Cycling Studio TV. Cherokee Park Hike Fun! Twenty two LBC members and guests hiked through Cherokee Park on November 18th and were guided by Olmsted Parks Conservancy leaders Layla George, daughter of new club members Paula and Stuart Jay, and Major Waltman.

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THE ANCHOR | LOUISVILLE BOAT CLUB

SQUASH UPDATE

THE ANCHOR BULLETIN| |LOUISVILLE LOUISVILLEBOAT BOATCLUB CLUB

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AROUND THE CLUB

New President: Michelle Black White Dear LBC Members,

It is my great honor to serve as your next Board President for the Louisville Boat Club. 2024 promises to be an exciting year as we welcome Sarah Russell as our new club General Manager along with our new Board members. I have had the pleasure of knowing Sarah for many years and am confident that we will be in good hands with her at the helm. Sarah’s first day will be Monday, December 11, and you can reach her at srussell@louisvilleboatclub.com.

Meet Michelle!

Please join me in thanking Tom Campbell, the Board of

Congrats to our Turkey Burner winners

Directors, David Drury, and our incredible staff for their service and dedication to our club. Under their leadership, LBC held one (if not THE) most successful and enjoyable City Meets to date, kept our membership numbers stable and our rackets programs are thriving. The club is in a great position to grow our membership and add more programming in the upcoming year.

I hope you will join me in making the club part of your holiday celebrations and traditions this season.

Happy Holidays!

Michelle Black White president@louisvilleboatclub.com

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THE ANCHOR | LOUISVILLE BOAT CLUB

AROUND THE CLUB

New Members Contact General Manager, Sarah Russell, for Membership Information.

Please welcome our new members and their families!

Mr. Braxton Turner Mrs. Paula and Mr. Stuart Jay Ms. Julie O’Bryan Ms. Emily Vessels and Mr. Christopher Wade Ms. Jan Scholtz

Board of Directors Club Staff Michelle Black White – President

General Manager - Sarah Russell ext. 116

Henry Kelsey – Vice President &

Assistant Manager, Director of Hospitality

Membership

& Banquets

Chris Schaefer – CFO & Finance

George Henry ext. 111

Wayne Wilson – Secretary

Director of Finance & Human Resources

Tom Campbell – Past President

Jennifer Kaiser ext. 114

Kate Huff – Director

Director of Squash - Lee Scott ext. 121

Marty McClelland – Director

Director of Paddle, Pickle & Tennis

Stockie Rhawn – Director

Travis Curran ext. 123

Tom Scovil – Director

Housekeeping Supervisor - Connie Bates ext. 122

Ginny Tyler – Director

Director of Facilities - Ken Goodlett

THE ANCHOR BULLETIN| |LOUISVILLE LOUISVILLEBOAT BOATCLUB CLUB

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PHONE 502-896-0375 | PRO SHOP 502-896-0424 | FAX 502-895-9531

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