ADMINISTRATIVE PRESIDENT’s column
A President David Horstkotte Vice President Doug Dawley Treasurer Robert Nunn Secretary Scott Sakamoto
Trustees
Linda Higgons Janice Marquis Scott Stevens Mike Wells Todd Husband Laura Martin Marlis Miller Robert Radler Committee Chairs 20s/30s Elizabeth Mitsky Athletic Lorne Dauenhauer Balladeers Jay Maxwell Basketball Doug Post Budget and Finance Robert Nunn Culture & Style Linda Iverson Cycling Chuck DeVoe Dance/Group Exercise Victoria DuVal and Ann Gerson Decathlon Mark Bussey Diversity Admissions Irma Valdez Early Birds Susan Hale Exercise & Conditioning Joe Murphy Family Events Tony Cirino and Amy Lindgren Golf Debbie Bensching Gymnastics Lee Rumaner Handball Andy Kangas Holiday Decorating Jean Malnati House Tim Gillette Junior Events Ella Howe and Estella Pecoraro Junior Programs & Facilities Robin Becic Karate Don Dominguez MelloMacs Scott Schaffer Member Events Carol Robertson Membership Tom Sidley MerryMacs Dinda Mills Outdoor Activities Program John Patridge Pilates Marybeth Stiner Polar Bears Don Morris Property Grant Yoshihara Racquetball Kurt Lender Ski Brandon Hayes-Lattin Social Activities Alex Page Squash Amy Gaddis Strategic Planning Kim Sisul Swimming Nancy Hinnen Synchro Rebecca Kaponoske Tennis Julia Hall Triathlon & Running Ben Cornett Volleyball Lee Whitaker Walking & Hiking Jim Van Lente Yoga Meris Gebhardt www.theMAC.com
s the school year wrapped up, it was time for OSAA high school spring championships. I was fortunate to catch the 6A tennis finals, held in Beaverton, where both the boys and girls matches featured MAC athHorstkotte letes representing David president their individual high schools. Dylan King lost in three sets to a Grant teammate, and Jesuit junior Bess Waldram defeated Lake Oswego’s Katie Day in straight sets to claim the girl’s championship. All three grew up learning to play tennis at the club, and have represented MAC across the country. Dylan has verbally committed to Yale, and Bess has verbally committed to Notre Dame, where they’ll each play tennis when they graduate next spring. Not too shabby.
Dance at Newmark A sunny June Sunday found The Newmark Theater packed with MAC families gathered for the annual club dance recital. More than 150 performers, representing both recreational classes, and the MAC Company Dancers entertained the crowd of 700-plus for a full afternoon. Dancers ages 6 through 18 performed 33 numbers featuring ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, hip hop and even boys break dancing. The tightly choreographed event is a credit to Dance Manager and Head Coach Laura Haney, Assistant Dance Coach Erin Zintek, and their talented staff. The highlight for many, including the dance program alums, was the showcasing of the graduating high school seniors who’ve spent over a decade in the program. Lizzie Allcock, Anna Dickson, Sydney Mesher, Courtney Sprouse and Ava Vossoughi are headed for college to further pursue their interests in dance and the arts. Best of luck to them all.
Fox’s legacy lives on Clear back in 1967, the club hired Mel Fox as its new athletic director, a position he capably held for 16 years. During his tenure, Mel expanded and greatly improved youth athletic programs throughout the club. Mel was an outstanding athlete and all-state football player at Franklin High School, and returned to Cleveland as a teacher and head football coach before joining MAC. He firmly believed that through youth athletics, an individual’s self-esteem could be greatly boosted,
benefiting the school, club and community in which he or she lived and competed. Mel was promoted to general manager of the club in 1983, a position that, sadly, he held for less than a year before his untimely death. In Mel’s memory, the club awards a $1,500 scholarship each year to a graduating Franklin High School senior. It was my privilege once again to address the entire school with all of the seniors in cap and gown, and present the Mel Fox Scholarship to Advanced Placement student and Concordia University-bound baseball player Fisher Dodd.
Rose Festival spirit Just the night before, the club hosted nearly 150 U.S. Navy, Coast Guard and Canadian sailors at a convivial reception in the Reading Lounge overlooking Providence Park. Many of the group took a quick tour, and all were invited back to use the basketball, volleyball and batting facilities the following day, free of charge. Prompted by club member Tom Stevenson, local council president of the Navy League, the club first held this event last year, and I hope that this opportunity to show off our club and contribute to the Rose Festival spirit becomes an ongoing tradition. The Mel Fox Scholarship and the Rose Festival Navy League reception are just two of the many examples of the club’s community outreach, which too often goes unnoticed in the local media and the community at large. Now, you know.
Family friendly Finally, I want to relay a recent conversation with a young family who relocated to Portland from the East Coast and joined MAC in the 2011 lottery. Soon after their arrival, a new acquaintance and lifelong club member told them that they absolutely had to join the club. They were somewhat hesitant, as the husband’s employer provided extensive workout facilities, but went ahead and took the plunge. They are so very happy that they did. Their co-workers often ask, “Why would you want to join a stuffy club like that?” Their response is, “We’re not sure how we could live without it!” Both the children and their parents stay busy with myriad club offerings, and they couldn’t be happier. This family’s enthusiasm caught me a bit by surprise, and reminded me that for many of us, it’s easy to take MAC and our dedicated staff for granted. It truly is an amazing club that’s often misconstrued in the community. Take the opportunity this summer to introduce a new family to the club and help spread the word. WM July 2015
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