All Roads to MAC Membership Lead to a Stronger Club N
othing screams, “Eat here,” like a line out the door of a restaurant. Few forms of advertising speak so visually to an eatery’s in-demand nature. Especially here in Portland, where waiting in line verges on a competitive sport, restaurateurs seem to encourage the practice as a turbocharged substitute for a sandwich board. The Multnomah Athletic Club might not have a line running out the front door, but membership is even more highly coveted than a reservation at Lang Baan. While the wait can surpass six months for a seating at southeast Portland’s tiny Thai food jewel, that seems quaint compared to the years it can take to secure a spot at MAC. While the lottery, which takes place every few years, is the most widely known of the club’s avenues to membership, there are a number of other ways to gain access to one of the city’s most-coveted social and athletic hubs. Athletic members and member coaches, for instance, may apply for senior member status after three years of service to MAC. They have to be recommended by their sport committee and approved by the Athletic Committee. Then, their application is processed through the Membership Committee and subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. If that sounds like a lot of steps, it’s in keeping with the club’s commitment to ensuring that new members fit MAC’s culture of excellence. All members, regardless of their path to admission, pay the same initiation fee and membership dues. Other avenues to membership, which also sidestep the lottery, include: Spouses, Partners and Legacy; Scholar Athletes; and the Diversity Admissions Program. For more on the first two, skip ahead to the next page. For more on Diversity Admissions, keep reading.
Building a More Inclusive Club The Diversity Admissions Program (DAP) is perhaps the club’s most progressive membership endeavor, seeking to make MAC’s population more representative of the greater metropolitan area that houses and shapes it. One of the most notable MAC members to join the club via DAP is current Board of Trustees president Grant Yoshihara. Member Maryam Zare first came to MAC through DAP, and now acts as chair of the Diversity Admissions Committee (DAC), the group that oversees the program. For her, MAC’s mission to shake up its make up is both personal and in the best interests of the club as a whole. “What I see is that we are bringing in some amazing people through this program,” she says. “These are individuals who are highly, highly accomplished; highly, highly educated; and highly, highly connected. “Most importantly, they are highly respected in the community and bring diverse experiences and viewpoints to MAC that benefit the entire community. They also become our biggest advocates externally and help put MAC on the radar of Portland’s growingly diverse community.”
JOSEPH PALAZZO
By Jake Ten Pas
Maryam Zare
Zare’s family is a microcosm of diversity. She was born in Iran, and has lived in Portland longer than her hometown. She considers the U.S. her home and takes her role a citizen seriously. Her husband is from India, and their two sons consider themselves Portlanders. While one of the selling points of DAP for potential members is the ability to skip the lottery and associated waiting, it’s important to recognize that the screening process is just as rigorous. Diversity Admissions candidates must meet program criteria, such as that they contribute to the club’s racial diversity; are socially and morally compatible with MAC values; believe in being good citizens and working to better the community; and demonstrate a commitment to voluntary or professional activities that foster local connections. Members admitted through this process also meet with the DAC for in-person interviews, and, as always, the Board of Trustees has to approve those recommended. Continued on page 38 SEPTEMBER 2018
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