February Park & Farms 2024

Great People make Favorite Places

Baltimore Country Club Staff Newsletter February 2024 1

CONTENTS

Membership Magazine February 2024

View the Lifestyle magazine to learn more about what’s happening around the Club, departmental updates, and upcoming events.

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#GPMFP

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BCC Cares

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Staff Sticker, Sweet Treats

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BCC YOUniversity

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Kudos Korner

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Chili Cook-Off

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A Legacy in Full Bloom

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Scholarship Winners

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Staff News

PARK & FARMS TEAM Madison Elena, Shantae Fauntleroy, Abby Michael, Jessica Noffsinger, Sydney O’Rourke, Vince Posterli, Brandi Rodriguez, Annett Zimmer

ON THE COVER: Longest tenured staff member Laura Michael working at Roland Park.

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GREENFOLDER STORIES

What sets Baltimore Country Club apart from other country clubs? Our people! Our staff members take every step to go above and beyond to accomplish our Simple Truth: Great People Make Favorite Places. Often, there are easy ways to make a positive impression on our members from saying happy birthday to congratulations on an award. However, not being afraid to make the big gestures is what distinguishes us.

We love sharing these stories of the Simple Truth! Submit your Simple Truth experience by filling out the Green Folder Stories form, located at the bottom of the Park & Farms email, in Park & Farms, the staff webpage, or scan the QR codes in the staff breakrooms. BCC encourages all members to submit their own or fellow staff members’ Green Folder Stories.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

NOVEMBER STAFF MEMBER OF THE MONTH Kyle Burke, Locker Room Attendant Kyle has been at the Club for almost two years and has never skipped a beat while simultaneously pursuing a degree in Communications at Towson University. Kyle is a talented and motivated individual that is constantly looking for things he can improve in the locker room. He is a positive and reliable staff member that you can count on day in and day out. His work ethic goes above and beyond and continues to surpass expectations daily. Kyle embodies our theme of “One Team”, always willing to step in where help is needed and doesn’t shy away from trying something new.

STAFF APPRECIATION PARTY RSVP BY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16!

Monday, February 26 | 6:00pm-9:00pm BC Brewery 10950 Gilroy Rd Suite F Hunt Valley, MD 21031

RSVP

Must be 21+ | No Walk-Ins Allowed | One Guest Allowed

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BCC CARES

A great place for the community TOY DRIVE During the month of December, the Helping Hands Foundation ran a Toy Drive for families that would otherwise not have as many presents under the tree. The acts of kindness from our team helped bring in over 40 toys, which led 12 families to having a very Merry Christmas.

The organization is funded through voluntary staff member contributions that are tax deductible through our 501c3 status. Contributions can be as low as $1 per pay period and can be adjusted at any time. This is a great way to help your coworkers that may find themselves in need of assistance.

If you would like to contribute, or are in need of assistance, please email helpinghand@bcc1898.com or contact any Helping Hands committee member.

CLOTHING DRIVE Last month, BCC partnered with St. Vincent DePaul of Baltimore to help contribute to clothing donations for those in need. This is a major contribution in more ways than one. St. Vincent DePaul helps thousands all across the Baltimore region in terms of homelessness, poverty, and hunger. With these donations, a parent is able to get dressed for work and provide for their children. None of this would be possible without contributors like you.

FOOD DRIVE For the month of February, we are partnering with Feed the Children, a powerful non-profit organization that has paved the path to hope for a plethora of families and children. Food insecurity is a larger problem than some may expect, there are 1 in 5 American children who don’t have enough food and don’t know where their next meal is coming from. To help represent all of BCC’s donations, we will have a meter capped at 100 pounds of non-perishable food. This month, let’s be joyous of what we can give, and in doing so, be a part of a cause that impacts millions.

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2024

HAVE YOU RECEIVED YOUR

2024 STAFF PARKING STICKER? Once received, place your 2024 Staff Parking sticker in the lower driver’s side windshield.

If you haven’t yet received your parking sticker, contact your supervisor or Lauren Kourtsounis at lkourtsounis@bcc1898.com.

1898

• Multiple Years Shown • Placement Incorrect

• Current Year • Placed in Lower Driver’s Side Windshield

Sweet Treats Staff

Order your sweetheart (or yourself ) treats from the BCC Pastry Team! For a limited time and supply, the Pastry Team will be offering boxes of sweet treats for Valentine’s Day.

$12 each ORDER TODAY B

EACH BOX WILL INCLUDE:

b 2 chocolate covered strawberries b 2 cake pops

ORDER DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 5 BY 8:00PM Only 20 boxes available | Order Pick-up: Friday, February 9, in the Roland Park Business Office from 1:00pm-3:00pm | Payment due to the Accounting Team via check or cash before pick-up | Tax not included in price

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LAST CLASSES FOR 2023-2024!

THE ART OF MAPLE TAPPING

One of the favorites in the BCC YOU course catalog, The Art of Maple Tapping is an exciting opportunity to take a bit of a field trip on our own campus! Teaching this class will be Director of Horticulture Cathy Wagner and our new Horticulturist Irene Casarez. Using the maples at the Five Farms campus, they are going to elaborate on the process of tapping the trees and rendering 40 gallons of sap down into one gallon of syrup!

FEBRUARY 1 | 2:00PM |

.5 CREDIT

HEART HEALTHY CARDIO

Director of Fitness & Wellness Janine Rich is back at it again, and this time with heart healthy cardio! One of the biggest needs for us all is to be conscious of health and how our decisions directly impact our bodies; so what does it mean to be heart healthy? Of course, sneaking in leafy greens where you can, eating fish a couple times a week, and even a glass of red wine are all ways to help support and boost your heart health. Alongside lifestyle tips, Janine offers background knowledge on the types of exercise that are best for you to meet your personal heart goals!

WHAT IS BCC YOUNIVERSITY?

BCC YOUniversity is a continuing education program geared to promote personal and professional growth for all BCC staff.

STAFF REQUIREMENT

All year-round Full-time and Part-time staff are required to participate.

Seasonal staff are welcome to attend with

FEBRUARY 7 | 4:00PM |

ESTATE PLANNING & ADMINISTRATION FEBRUARY 7 | 4:00PM |

supervisor approval.

• Full-time staff are required to obtain a minimum of 4.5 credits within the fiscal year

1 CREDIT

1 CREDIT

COOKING 101: CHINESE NEW YEAR DUMPLINGS

(March 1-February 28) • Part-time staff will be required to obtain a minimum of 3 credits within the fiscal year (March 1-February 28) • All new staff are required to take one BCC Basic History course

REGISTER

PERSONAL

1 Credit

60min

MEMBER

.5 credit

30-45 min

BCC

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Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of the year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and this year it is on February 10.

There are often lots of red and other symbols of prosperity, longevity, and luck during this time. To help celebrate the year of the dragon at BCC, we have our Director of Events Caroline Pogust teaching us the art of making dumplings.

Caroline is half Chinese; her family hails from Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Growing up, her grandmother was the one who first taught her the craft.

She fondly remembers the big batches her grandmother would make, always reaching for a hot dumpling for a snack as opposed to a bag of chips. Now, she makes them with her family!

FEBRUARY 13 | 3:00PM |

CREDIT

BCC GOVERNANCE

BCC Governance is a highly informative and useful tool to carry in your back pocket, especially if you are new to BCC or haven’t taken the class before. It gives you insight as to how the Club is organized, why it’s organized in that way, and the impact you can make. What better person than the Director of Membership Casey Schell to teach the BCC Governance classes? Casey will walk you through the member proposal process, member policies, and sneak in a few good humor jokes as well.

FEBRUARY 14 | 2:00PM |

.5 CREDIT

CREATING & STICKING TO A BUDGET

Approaching financial situations can be often intimidating and feel overwhelming.

CFO and Controller Alex Grib will offer guidance, tools, and answer questions on how to create and manage a budget that fits your needs and income. This will include how to maximize the benefits offered by BCC, walk you through the signup process for a 401k plan, and how to borrow money. This class also helps to identify the tools that will allow you to track daily and monthly expenses, aiding in saving up for a future purchase and how to calculate a manageable price point for a mortgage or rent. This class will give you a great framework on how to invest in yourself and save for the future!

FEBRUARY 29 | 2:00PM |

1 CREDIT

BECOME A CLASS INSTRUCTOR! Do you ever find yourself wanting to bring your hobby to work? Let us help make that

happen for you! If you have an interest and information on certain subjects, we would love

to offer you a platform to speak on them. Teaching a class can be as, if not more enriching than attending as a student. Not only will your coworkers get to know you a bit more, you will be able to share unique insight and knowledge for them to keep. Subjects can range

from ‘Beginner’s Guide to Indian Masalas’, ‘Intro to Drawing’, all the way to ‘How to Care for a Rabbit’, really and truly anything! If you would like the opportunity to host a class, please contact Lauren Kourtsounis lkourtsounis@bcc1898.com and we can start planning your course!

All staff instructors will receive credit for conducting classes, but must still complete the required credit categories as a participant.

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Kudos Korner is composed of different compliments or ‘kudos’ heard around the halls and sent to Staff Engagement Coordinator Madison Elena melena@bcc1898.com. This is to make sure that even if you haven’t heard it from a coworker directly, they are thinking of you! Especially with the busy season coming to an end, there was a lot of gratitude to be spread. Thank you for all that you do!

To: Aidan Dougherty, Clubhouse Service Manager “He plays such an important role, I often think of him when it is busy, and I’m grateful.”

From: Human Resources To: Kayla Johns, Food & Beverage Manager “She is always very helpful and proactive for the team. This month (December) especially, there were countless times where she jumped in to support and assist our team/tables.”

From: Food & Beverage To: Justin Ritter, Valet “He has such a positive attitude, it’s nice to know that I can always depend on our pleasant conversations. I appreciate his position, especially during the cold season.”

From: Clubhouse Services To: Madie Vonnegut, Assistant Golf Professional “Her sense of humor is unique, it’s nice to be around someone that can make you laugh so candidly.”

From: Golf To: Jared Hedrick, Server “Even when Jared has tasks of his own, he always checks in with others to see what he can do to help. He just finds a way to make your day better.”

From: Food & Beverage To: Anupa Subedi, Staff Accountant “Anupa always made sure that we ate lunch, that we were still taking care of our minds and bodies while we worked. It’s important to have someone like that around.”

From: Accounting

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Valentine’s Day Chili Cook-Off..

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Winners

Wednesday, February 14 Five Farms Break Room 2:00pm-3:00pm

WATCH THE

PROMOTION TRAILER!

Culinary Department Acting as Judgement Table | Chili Champ Announced at 3:00pm All Staff Event—Come Score Some Chili for Yourself!

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By Cathy Wagner, CPH, Director of Horticulture

Horticulturist Laura Michel, BCC’s longest tenured staff member, retires after 44 years

F

ebruary 29, 2024, marks the end of an era for Baltimore Country Club’s celebrated Horticulturist and longest tenured staff member, Laura Michel, who will be retiring after 44 years of attentive care to the gardens and grounds of Roland Park. If you have seen Laura hard at work, you know she is a dedicated and self-motivated person, always putting forth her best effort to perfect the little details that make Roland Park a favorite place for our members. But if you have had the pleasure of getting to know Laura on a personal level, you know it is her consideration and compassion for her fellow staff, members, wildlife, and feline friends that makes her stand out as one of the great people of BCC.

Laura is a Baltimore native, growing up in Kingsville with two brothers, two sisters, and a heavy horticultural influence. Her grandfather owned a commercial greenhouse in Parkville. Her family lived on a 30-acre farm, where her father tended his extensive formal gardens, and the kids had many opportunities to work and play outdoors. The love of horticulture was passed down through generations, so naturally after Laura graduated from Perry Hall High School, she earned a full scholarship to study Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Maryland. She graduated in 1980.

After graduating, she was hired by Merrill Frank on May 29, 1980, to join the Grounds Team. Though she was first posted at Five Farms, the greater need was at the grounds of Roland Park, which had become somewhat overgrown since the golf course was sold in 1962. She took over in 1981, and has lovingly tended the grounds ever since.

The children who searched for Easter eggs on the North Lawn when Laura was just learning the ropes are now bringing their own children to share in the outdoor tradition, and there’s Laura, carefully scheduling the planting of forced flower bulbs in outdoor flowerpots so their blooms are perfectly timed for the event. Though she will not appear in any wedding albums—it was her flower baskets, her manicured hedges, her gardens and grounds that have graced the photos of over 500 weddings since she started her career at Roland Park.

Laura has always treated Roland Park like it was her own and showed tremendous dedication to its upkeep over her 44 years. What does the future hold for Laura after BCC? She has not decided yet, but we wish Laura all the best as she transitions into the next stage of her life.

Though she has always shied away from the spotlight, on February 27, there will be an intimate retirement celebration in her honor for those who might like to bid her farewell and thank her for her service to the Club.

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Congratulations

TO OUR SPRING 2024 BCC SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!

Paige Etris, F&B Attending Towson University

Jeremy Wortman, Golf Attending Idaho State University

Harvee Bonadio, Staff Member’s Child Attending Towson University

Did you know the Club offers college scholarship?

BCC awards up to $20,000 in scholarship money annually!

Who’s eligible?

• • •

Staff Members or Family of Staff* Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher Must be enrolled in an accredited university or college full-time

How to do you apply?

• • • •

Complete the Scholarship Application Two letters of recommendation A Resume A written essay of no more than 1,000 words

*Family member is defined as: spouse, child, stepchild, or child through adoption (proof of family relationship must be provided)

Keep an eye on your email when applications are being accepted for the 2024-2025 school year!

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BIRTHDAYS 2

Anthony Manuel

Culinary

16

Max Scherr

Food & Beverage

4

Kayla Johns

Food & Beverage

17

Dory Bittle

Food & Beverage

7

Denise Jallet

Member Relations

17

Benjamin Henderson

Food & Beverage

12

Kevin Keller

Culinary

21

Gavin Leon

Racquets

14

Samuel Klein-Shofer

Clubhouse Services

21

Isak Swanepoel

Grounds

14

Thomas Kopania Jr

Grounds

22

Lainey Baer

Fitness

14

Kristian Orella

Food & Beverage

24

Jessica Taylorson

Fitness

15

Nandy Dhoska

Engineering

27

Jared Hedrick

Food & Beverage

16

Imani Brown

Culinary

28

Paige Etris

Food & Beverage

16

Caitlin Diiorio

Food & Beverage

29

Jessica Zaruba

Food & Beverage

16

Justin Gladhill

Grounds

ANNIVERSARIES

STAFF MILESTONES

Suzy Jewett

Grounds

19

Fahimeh Nabavi

Culinary

17

Mark Jones

Grounds

8

Kent Johnson

Administrative

6

Michael Wilkinson

Culinary

5

Tim Yalinkilincer

Golf

3

Geneva Braxton

Culinary

2

Rakel Diaz

Food & Beverage

1

Daniel Coker

Food & Beverage

1

Charles Cordell

Clubhouse Services

1

Garland Parvizi

Food & Beverage

1

Madeleine Vonnegut

Golf

1

Luke Young

Golf

1

Ed Senseney Granddaughter

KNOW OF ANY ACHIEVEMENTS? Help us celebrate our fellow Staff Members by letting us know of their achievements! Whether that’s buying a house, having a baby, earning a certificate, or earning a promotion — we want to help them celebrate!

SUBMIT A MILESTONE 12

JANUARY NEW HIRES

Thomas Austin-Baxton Storeroom Clerk

Peter Macdonald Host

Don McCabe

Head Golf Professional

Mia McGarvey Server Assistant

BCC Staff Referral Program You know BCC and the candidates who have the right character, competency, and chemistry to be successful here. For details on how you may benefit from our Staff Member Referral Program, contact Lauren Kourtsounis at lkourtsounis@bcc1898.com.

Alyssa Sollenberger Racquets Professional

VISIT THE

BCC STAFF PAGE!

• Current & past issues of the monthly staff newsletter, Park & Farms • Submit your Green Folder Story • Learn about the Staff Referral Program • Read through the Staff Handbook • Have access to the Club Safety Manual • Learn about the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Learn about the Helping Hands Foundation and how you can ask for help or contribute

BCC1898.com/staff-page Be sure to bookmark the link to your phone for easy access!

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