OCTOBER / NOVEMBER / DECEMBER
2019
CHRONICLE CITY AND COUNTRY
INSIDE YOUR CITY AND COUNTRY CHRONICLE 3
Letter From The Board President
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Event Recap
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All In The Family
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Master Plan Update
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Update From The Board
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From The Offices
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Marquette University Golf Practice Facility
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Around The Club
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Member Acknowledgements
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Upcoming Events
If you are interested in advertising in future issues of the City and Country Chronicle, please contact McKenna Carrigan: mcarrigan@uclubmke.com.
LETTER FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT Dear University Club Members, I hope you enjoy this season’s issue of the Chronicle. In addition to featuring some of the highlights of the summer and the events we have to look forward to this fall, we have also provided an update on the Facilities Master Plan. We will be hosting several Town Hall meetings to frame the recommendations of our consultants as well as the Member-lead Task Force. Both teams have framed the project priorities primarily on your voice and feedback through of the member survey and improved ROI. It shouldn’t surprise you the vision for what our Club facilities can become is truly inspirational! Please watch your e-mail for dates and times over the next several weeks to learn more about next steps in the Master Planning process. Another exciting initiative this fall is our engagement with Steve Graves, a private club membership consultant who has worked with hundreds of private clubs across the country to help them develop sustainable business models and adapt to the changing landscape of the industry. The Board is very impressed with his references and accomplishments and we are committed to partnering with his firm to strengthen our member retention and to have even greater success in attracting future members who will be aligned with the values and mission of The University Club, and will contribute to the vitality and camaraderie of our collective experience. Over the next several months, the Board will be working on diversifying our composition to optimally represent our members and your collective interests. We are reviewing Board and committee structures of successful private clubs across the country who have a full continuum of member offerings like ours, to learn from as we grow and change. The Nominating Committee, chaired by Julia Taylor, in partnership with our Immediate Past President, Dan Aiello, will be identifying leaders within The Club to join us on this journey. This is remarkable time for The University Club. We are poised to benefit from the positive momentum of our city and region and more than anything, from the commitment and care of our members and fantastic staff. Thank you for all you do to contribute to The Club’s vitality, and I look forward to seeing you here soon! See you at The Club,
Julie Tolan The University Club of Milwaukee Board President
C I V I C S P O R T F A M I L Y S O C I A L
THE UNIVERSITY CLUB OF MILWAUKEE
ENRICHMENT BREAKFAST with MANDELA BARNES The University Club had the privilege to welcome Lieutenant Governor, Mandela Barnes, to come speak at our Enrichment Breakfast. Members had an opportunity to ask Mr. Barnes about his views on policy and learn more about how to get involved and create change in our communities. Special thank you to Michael Hostad, Executive Director and Co-Founder of The Commons and Co-Founder of Light The Hoan for making this event possible!
FLICK AND FLOAT It’s not every day you get to watch a movie while floating in a pool! This summer we hosted two Flick and Float events to watch The Greatest Showman and Coco. Both events were a great success! Thank you to everyone who brought their floaties and lounged at the pool with us. We cannot wait until next year’s events!
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LADIES NIGHT While the men are away at the Men’s Invitational, the ladies will play at Ladies Night! We had a wonderful group of ladies spend the evening with us on Six as we had the opportunity to have a few drinks, enjoy good food, and of course amazing company. We look forward to hosting this event again soon!
MILWAUKEE SCULPTURE TOUR What started as a one tour turned into four tours over two days! Thanks to everyone’s interest in attending this year’s sculpture tour, we were able to open up this event to allow more members to attend. Special thank you to Club Fellow, Jeramey Jannene, President and Co-Founder of Urban Milwaukee, for helping organize this fun event, as well as our knowledgeable docents, Jonas Karvelis and Rhonda Pelk. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!
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ROCK AND ROLL SYNCHRONIZED SWIM SHOW Who loves rock and roll? Our synchronized swim team! The girls did an incredible job on their routines. Not even a short rain intermission could stop all the fun! Thank you to Jubilee Hou and the Synchronized Swim Team coaches for all their hard work in putting this much anticipated event together. We look forward to another rockin’ show next year!
ADULT TRIVIA BY THE POOL We had an amazing turnout as our members put their heads together for a fun night of trivia by the pool! From clever team names, to our emcee, Lawrence Kreiner’s knock-out jokes, everyone had an amazing time. Be on the look out for more information about our upcoming Trivia League!
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AD #1
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THE UNIVERSITY CLUB OF MILWAUKEE
ALL IN THE FAMILY Working together with your family might not be your cup of tea, however, for the Bermema family, it is the perfect brew. The University Club of Milwaukee is fortunate to have four generations of the Bermema family working side-by-side to serve our members.
Written by: McKenna Carrigan
to anyone who crosses his path. In keeping with the family tradition, Gezim’s daughters, Vera and Nevi, also came to work at The Club. Nevi began working at The Club in 1997 as a server before being promoted to Dining and Banquet Manager. Vera came to The Club shortly
It all began when Haki Gaba immigrated to The United States from Tirana, Albania in the 1950s. After working at a local foundry in Milwaukee,
Haki arrived at the doorsteps of The University Club of Milwaukee in the early 1990s. Working at the coat check and as a doorman, Haki greeted and welcomed members and guests. Gezim Bermema, Haki’s son-inlaw, then started working at The Club and is proudly approaching his 25th year. At 77 years-old, Gezim works diligently as a Houseman where he sets up rooms for events, maintains the flowers outside, and more. His cheerful smile and positive attitude are a welcome greeting 8
she was two years-old where she lived for 12 years before coming to America. Recently, she graduated from Alverno College where she studied Media Design. Together, this family has helped create a legacy of providing a warm, welcoming environment for our members and guests, giving a new meaning to the term, “Family Club”.
after her sister in 1998 where she helped serve members in the dining room.
“It feels like a family business without actually owning The Club! Everyone is so welcoming and supportive,” said Tici. “The beauty of The Club are the members who have been here from the start until now. There is so much history and sentiment here that makes it unique.”
Today, Vera and Nevi’s niece, Patricia, or as many affectionately call her, Tici, has worked at The Club for three years in various roles as The Club’s communications intern and as a server. Originally from Albania, Tici moved to Italy when
The University Club of Milwaukee has been fortunate to have the Bermema family working to serve our members. Their dedication and work ethic has been unsurpassed and we look forward to continuing this long lasting relationship.
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THE UNIVERSITY CLUB OF MILWAUKEE
MASTER PLAN UPDATE The University Club Master Plan Committee, made up of dedicated club members with high usage of our facilities, has been meeting since mid-March to create a compelling facilities vision for both locations. This important work has been supported by BSB Club Design, a national architecture and design firm, Looney & Associates, an interior design firm based in Chicago, and Profitable Food Facilities, which reviewed our Club’s food and beverage operations and is working with the Club to help maximize our offerings and service. As this work progresses, we wanted to answer some of the more commonly asked member questions about the Master Plan process and path forward. We look forward to sharing more information at two Town Hall meetings planned for October, as well (stay tuned for times and dates). What is a Master Plan? A Master Plan will serve as a guide to support the longevity and relevancy of our Club for decades to come. Like a strategic business plan, a Master Plan confirms the near and long-term facilities strategy for The Club, along with the tactical plan, timeline, and budget to achieve that strategy. 10
Written by: Ashley Evans and Greg Dick
Why do we need a Master Plan? Over time, boards and committees change, members come and go, and club executives change. While change can be healthy, a Master Plan serves to provide a consistent and united vision for our Club. Importantly, a Master Plan keeps us focused and helps eliminate “in the moment” or “pet projects” that don’t necessarily drive longterm growth or viability
What information is driving this process? More than 400 Club members shared detailed feedback about their experiences and priorities in early spring through the member survey. This feedback has been thoroughly analyzed by the Committee and our consultants. In addition, our consultants conducted over 40 interviews with members and staff and spent over 20 hours observing club operations. And of course, the best practices and learnings from other projects led
by our consultants (e.g., master plans for The University Club of Chicago, Union League Club in Chicago and Medinah Country Club) and our own experiences with creating 1898 and implementing the golf course Master Plan have been insightful Why do we need a Master Plan now? The promise of the merger has taken hold as evidenced by our improved financial stability, increased member usage, and operational efficiencies. With this solid footing, now is the right time to develop a strategic plan to guide our continued growth and success.
What are some of the findings from the committee/consultants? Most important and encouraging is we have an amazing footprint from which to work. The historic City Club and the idyllic Country Club both offer distinct competitive advantages. Yet together, they are one of our region’s most compelling private club offerings. The committee is working to finalize their
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recommendations for several near and longer-term areas for improvement, which will be presented to the Board of Directors shortly. These recommendations will be based on membership feedback, anticipated cost and revenue potential.
Will I be able to provide my input into the plan? Yes! The committee will be holding Town Hall meetings in October to review where we are with the Master Plan and gather additional membership input/ feedback.
At The University Club of Milwaukee, we share an unwavering commitment to honoring the histories of our legacy clubs while creating a lasting value proposition for future generations. Through our membership and usage, we are building and protecting the future of The Club for our children and our grandchildren, as well as our colleagues who are the emerging leaders of Milwaukee. Through the development and implementation of the Master Plan we now can make an even greater impact on The Club’s lasting success.
Master Plan Committee Members: Ashley Evans, Committee Chair Paul Handle Susie Fondrie Michael Hostad Steve Ryan Jenny Prendergast Kristine Lueders Pat Marget Lauren Remsik Steve Sewart Carl Schmidt
University Club Management: Greg Dick, General Manager Matt Bluethman, Executive Director, City Club Jennifer Uttke, Director of Member Engagement
Consultants: BSB Club Design Looney & Associates Profitable Food Facilities Worldwide (PFF)
How much will this cost? A critical component to the plan is budgeting. The final budget will be determined once the near-term priorities are defined and thoroughly scoped out. Priority will be given to projects that can be funded through cash flow.
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Dear Fellow Members, This is an exciting time for The University Club of Milwaukee. Your Club leadership is taking a very proactive approach to foster a strong and vibrant membership base, which will provide the financial success needed for the continued advancement and long-term viability of our extraordinary Club. As Members of The University Club of Milwaukee, it is our privilege and our responsibility to actively participate in the membership referral process. Simply put, as members we have the opportunity and obligation to solidify the future of our Club. To emphasize that message we have named our marketing initiative...“Our Club. Our Future.” The Membership Committee and Board of Directors have approved a membership development plan that is designed to achieve our goals of financial strength and membership stability at The University Club of Milwaukee. We have invested in a comprehensive facility master plan that provides us with a road map to improve and elevate our member experiences. This can only be realized through the growth and quality engagement of our membership. The Board understands we cannot simply raise dues or impose assessments for every strategic undertaking, so we are committed to changing our membership recruitment paradigm. We have created a message, a mission, and the tools necessary for each of our members to participate in the membership growth and financial success of The Club. But we fully appreciate that for many, the actual member solicitation process may be awkward or uncomfortable. To that end, we would like to share with you an impressive approach that eliminates that awkward moment and still ensures that our members are engaged and invested in determining who we invite to join this special organization. We believe the plan will both significantly increase the number of members at The University Club of Milwaukee and drive quality member engagement. To enhance the dissemination of this exciting information, we are hosting a reception at our City Club location! We would like to invite all members (and spouses, if applicable) out to the City Club on Wednesday, October 16 for complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. An informative presentation will begin promptly at 6:00 p.m. where we will describe and explain in detail The Club’s dynamic membership strategies. Your attendance is highly encouraged and will be greatly appreciated for this important and informative membership gathering. Thank you for agreeing to join us to learn more! Respectfully, Board of Directors The University Club of Milwaukee P.S. Each member attending our membership presentation will receive a $25 food and beverage certificate to be used while entertaining a prospective member prospect (one certificate per membership). So that we may properly plan for this event, please R.S.V.P. online or by calling the front desk at (414) 271-2222. Please contact Greg Dick if you have any questions at (414) 271-2222, ext 302. 13
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FROM THE KITCHENS
City Club Chef Jeff-Executive Chef, City Club
It has been a privilege getting to know all of you at The University Club so far this year and I’m looking forward to my first fall and holiday season! My team and I take great pride in using only the finest ingredients and changing up our menus seasonally for all of you. If you have not yet joined us at The City Club, we hope to have you soon!
We’re also pleased to announce the return of our annual Candlelight Dinner on Wednesday, December 18! Enjoy a holiday prix fixe menu with wine pairings, all set to a dazzling candlelit sixth floor and elegant harp music. Look for a menu announcement in the coming weeks!
• The first Saturday of every month is now Prime Rib Night at the City Club! 16 oz for $39 or 10 oz $29, with Au Jus and Yorkshire Pudding, and potato and vegetable du jour. • Wednesdays on Six has been fantastic through the summer, and as a result, we will continue through the winter! We like to offer a bit of the past with featured club standards and traditional comfort food. Look for our weekly e-mails with specials. • 1898 Traditions: please remember you can still join us every Tuesday for Fried Chicken and every Friday for Fish Fry! • Pie of the Day – available daily in 1898, daily creations include Bourbon Pecan, Spiced Pumpkin, Chocolate Cream, Coconut Cream, and more!
Country Club Chef Ross-Executive Chef, Country Club The holiday season is upon us! Between the hustle and bustle of shopping, holiday parties, family visiting, Club events, and more, why add “cook a Thanksgiving meal” to your to-do list? Let The University Club of Milwaukee take it off your plate! Submit your order form for Turkey On The Go (included in this issue of The Chronicle) and leave the cooking to our very own skilled Chef Ross. Enjoy a full Thanksgiving dinner for 10 or order from our delicious a la carte menu for your hungry family. Everything is made inhouse by our incredible culinary team. From bourbon maple sweet potato hash to homemade salted caramel apple pie, there is something for everyone! Order your Thanksgiving dinner from us by Thursday, November 21 to keep your kitchen looking spotless and guests asking for more. 14
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FROM THE TENNIS OFFICE with JON CALVILLO
FROM THE AQUATICS OFFICE with JUBILEE HOU
Congratulations to all juniors who participated on one of The University Club junior team tennis squads. The University Club finished first in the 8 & under, 10 & under orange, and 10 & under green divisions, with a 2nd place in the 12 & under yellow ball division.
It was a whirlwind summer season! Our member events such as the Independence Day Celebration on June 30 and the Synchro Show on July 26 brought countless members and their guests to the pool. Our swimming specific events, such as our Home Swim, Synchro, and Dive Meets, allowed the kids a chance at some friendly competition with other clubs in our area.
Your University Club tennis staff thanks you for such great participation this summer!! *The University Club would like to thank Jon for his commitment to the tennis program at The Club and look forward to another successful season next year!*
2019 Tennis Season Results 8 & Under Red: Ben Tautges Avery Nelsen 10 & Under Orange: Amelia O’Sullivan Sadie Kukuk Caroline Kanter Quinn Bailey 10 & Under Green: Matthew Kirk Abigail Kim 12 & Under Yellow: Joe Kanter Maddalena Magnasco Jolene Holsen 14 & Under Yellow: Burke Brown Grand slam award winner: Maddalena Magnasco
A few statistics/notes from this summer: • We had 111 total participants in our aquatics teams (Synchro, Swim Team, and Diving). • We had 68 students in our Swim Lessons program. • We hosted the 2019 “Big 7” Championship Swim Meet this year! This event brought all the country clubs in the area for a daytime swim meet. It was very successful and a lot of fun for everyone involved. I want to end with a thank you to everyone that spent some time at the pool this summer. It was wonderful seeing everyone down by the pool and enjoying everything our pool had to offer. Please save the date – the pool will re-open (after a brief winter hiatus) on Saturday, May 23, 2020. *The University Club would like to thank Jubilee for his dedication and passion over the years. While we are sad to see him leave The Club, we look forward to all he will accomplish after graduation!*
University Club excellence award: Burke Brown Janie Brown Sarah Kanter Anya Prendergast 15
THE UNIVERSITY CLUB OF MILWAUKEE
FROM THE GOLF OFFICE with DYLAN HILLS Fall is finally here, and it is one of the best months to play golf in Wisconsin. I hope all of you take advantage of this great time of year to get in some last rounds of the year. We have one yearly event left, The Diablo Cup on October 12 and don’t forget about the great event we have the day before thanksgiving, The Turkey Two Ball. August brought us the Club Championship for Men and Ladies. The Ladies Club Champion was, Cindy Gault, who outlasted Rocki Mort in the final match. This was Cindy’s third Club Championship, having won the last nearly 10 years ago. Congratulations! Successfully defending his Sr. Men’s Club Championship was John Wittkowske, who played great golf all weekend. John played the final match versus Charley Weber. These two have battled for the championship in 5 of the 6 years I have been here. Well done gentlemen! Please make sure to stop by the Golf Shop and see some of the fall merchandise that we have. We plan on having a few sales prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be some great opportunities to get some great quality merchandise for employees, co-workers and friends for prices below our cost. As always, if you would like any merchandise for your business or are heading south over the winter, we are always happy to be your one stop shop. *The University Club would like to thank the entire golf team for their hard work and exceptional service throughout the season and look forward to another successful year!*
2019 Golf Season Results Ladies Invitational Maggie Sewart Jennifer Tighe Susan Potter Senior Club Championship John Wittkowske Men’s Invitational Mike Mesirow Tom Mesirow Couples Club Championship Joe and Amy Cesarz Ladies Club Championship Cindy Gault Men’s Club Championship John Wittkowske Men’s Senior Invitational Charley Weber Bob Weber Revolta Cup Jordan Herbert John Barry Steven Provancher Steve Sewart Mark Zikeli Tom Harris Ryan Alwood Josh Kasun Greg Bugbee Mark Ellegard Ray Auth
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GOLF TRAINING FACILITY UPDATE Things are coming along very well on the new practice range. As most of you know we decided to keep it closed this fall to allow for more grow-in time and ensure that it will be in prime shape for the spring. Both Superintendent Terry Conway and Golf Course Architect Andy Staples are very pleased with the progress. The late summer and fall have provided great growing conditions. Terry has been fertilizing and over-seeding to insure the very best conditions for our early spring (no guarantee) in 2020. The training facility will be a great asset for our golf members. There are five new greens, five new sand bunkers, and acres of fairway and rough to hit from. In order to replicate course playing conditions, the greens were constructed just like what we have on the course and they will be maintained in the same way also. The bunkers match as well. We had our tour-grade sand shipped in from Ohio so it would match exactly what we have on the course. The new practice facility includes many areas that are flexible in nature and can be used for all different kinds of practice and instruction. You will be able to replicate any lie you might encounter on the course during your round, up-hill, side-hill, down-hill, and worse. There is a 4-hole short course that can be played with par 3 holes ranging from 60 to 150 yards in length. Whether you are a beginner, a junior, or a low-handicapper, this facility is going to help every one of our members improve their game!
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AROUND THE CLUB
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THE UNIVERSITY CLUB OF MILWAUKEE
Member Accomplishments
Welcome New Members
Counted among our membership are prominent CEOs, business executives, entrepreneurs, scientists, academics, philanthropists, community volunteers, and up-and-coming professionals. Every day, Club Members are making an indelible impact on the future of our city, state, and region. Here are some notable achievements of our Members:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• Emily Fons, attorney at Quarels & Brady, was named a top 100 legal influencer in the nation • Anne Dorn was named Best Assistant General Counsel by Milwaukee Business Journal • President of Wisconsin Policy Forum, Rob Henken, was named Person of the Year by Milwaukee Rotary • The Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee awarded George and Anna Clair Gaspar the 2019 Kiwanis Milwaukee Award • Jack Sagrillo won the American Junior Golf Association Tournament (AJGA) WinCraft McArthur Towel & Sports Future Legends Tournament at Merrill Hills Country Club • Jason Rae was recognized as one of the Philanthropic 5 by the United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County
Help us stay informed about the amazing accomplishments of our members! Please contact McKenna Carrigan at mcarrigan@uclubmke.com with your in the news update. 20
Craig and Erin Haan Lee and Michelle Clintsman Jr. Brian and Kia Bailey Jack Blair Peter and Sandra Maier Jasmine Johnson Sebastien and Sarah Imbert Kristin Langhoff Emily and Joe Vruwink Mary and Andrew Pape Kelly and Matt Belthasar John and Patty Weasler Drew and Emily Madelung Jodi and Matthew Arnold Kilby and Amy Williamson Terrance and Delanie Ortiz Dario and Jen Melendez Cheryl and Stuart Carron Nicole Kauss and Dr. Christopher Kolenda Dick and Nancy Berg Robin and Pamala Reily Derick and Jenna Mlaker
If any of our members, whether you are a newcomer or a long-time member, would like a tour of either Club location, please contact Greg Dick at gdick@uclubmke.com.
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Member Anniversaries 5-Year Anniversary • Alex and Erika Bantz • Megan and Josh Hakes • Aaron and Lara Hoffmans • Maria Lopez-Vento and Ryan Vento • Richard Neal • Jason Rae and Phillip Bailey 10-Year Anniversary • Jeff and Kelli Buchholz • Todd and Heidi Wilson 25- Year Anniversary • Richard and Ann Teerlink 60- Year Anniversary • Arthur and Nancy Laskin
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EVENTS TO ADD TO YOUR CALENDAR EVENT
DATE (2019) LOCATION
Milwaukee Film Festival Preview
October 8
City Club
Beer Dinner
October 10
Country Club
Heart Concert
October 12
Fiserv Forum
Town Hall Meeting
October 16
City Club
Kids’ Halloween Party
October 19
Country Club
D-Day Squadron Returns
October 22
City Club
Entrepreneur’s Club with Kelly Fitzsimmons
October 29
City Club
Learning with Leaders: Building Your Culture of Excellence
October 30
City Club
Sip and Be Merry
November 1
Country Club
Ladies’ Holiday Boutique
November 6
Country Club
Thanksgiving Buffet
November 28
City Club
Florentine Opera – Celebrating the Season in Song
December 3
City Club
Santa Brunch
December 8
Country Club
Gingerbread House Decorating Brunch
December 14
City Club
Member Appreciation Party
December 20
Country Club
Kids’ New Year’s Eve Party
December 31
Country Club
For event times, details, and registration, view the Club Calendar at www.uclubmke.com.
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The University Club of Milwaukee 924 E Wells St. Milwaukee, WI 53202
City Club 924 E Wells St. Milwaukee, WI 53202
Country Club 7401 N 43rd St. Milwaukee, WI 53209
(414) 271-2222 www.uclubmke.com
Having Fun at The Club? Having a great time on the golf course, enjoyed an amazing dinner, or learned about a new topic at one of our exciting programming events? Capture your experience and send in your photos! We are always looking for photos from our members showcasing their Club experience to highlight on social media and within The Chronicle. From pictures of your family, friends, children, or event speakers, we would love to hear from you! If you would like your photos shared, please send them to McKenna Carrigan at mcarrigan@uclubmke.com.