PRESIDENT’S NOTE

I am privileged to be a member of Scioto Country Club and enjoy its facilities, services, and camaraderie. The engaging relationships formed with fellow members and staff make for a compelling member experience. I am honored to contribute, as many have selflessly in the past, to our Board of Trustees; especially as it pertains to serving as president for the coming months. What is the origin of the word club? The primary definition, and first usage of the word according to The Oxford English Dictionary (O.E.D.), is a heavy stick or staff for use as a weapon. It is not until the fifteenth entry, the O.E.D. describes a different club; an association of persons, (admittance into which is usually guarded by ballot) formed mainly for social purposes, and having a building appropriated to the exclusive use of the members and always open to them as a place of resort. Clubs, in this sense, were a prominent feature of English life in the 17th and 18th century. In fact, the “Best Club in London” was the jocular name for the House of Commons. Later, near the end of the 19th century, the term country club appeared and connoted an establishment with extensive grounds, often including a golf course. It was usually in a suburban area providing a wealthy or leisured lifestyle. By definition, Scioto is not a cudgel or an instrument to aid malevolence. It is clearly an association of persons (i.e., a club) and more specifically it is a country club with extensive grounds for athletic and social engagement. While the O.E.D. is instructive and authoritative according to linguists, a dictionary is uninformative about patterns of behavior or the social mores of a group of people. Those practices create an atmosphere, an ethos, a culture. Previous leaders of Scioto Country Club have codified an aspirational club culture characterized by mutual respect for all. As an extension the board of trustees have established a traditions committee to maintain our heritage and improve the appreciation of our staff and fellow members. The committee has begun a studied, careful effort to enumerate a conducive code of conduct which will guide and help the membership understand the club’s expectations. We are extremely fortunate to have an exceptional staff at Scioto Country Club. They go above and beyond for the holiday season. The staff provides a warm, hospitable venue for the celebrations of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. I would encourage you to thank them for their tireless efforts. Please come and enjoy the décor and the festivity of the season. I hope to see you all there. Happy Holidays!

Robert R. Bahnson President