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