Annual Report of the Chair, Board of Governors And the General and Special Committees 2025
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
MR. M. DAVID SKILES, CHAIR As I conclude my fourth term, I am proud to present on the work that your Membership Committee has accomplished over the past year. Due to the work of many, I can report that our membership remains strong. The demand to join Army Navy Country Club remains high, which is a testament to the overall experience offered to our members. The most important component of a healthy club is a strong membership. To that end, Army Navy Country Club continues to meet and exceed that objective. Indeed, with our Resident Member count currently at the ‘SuperCap’ of 2,400, the demand in membership means that the Club has a sizeable waitlist of over 327 individuals which equates to approximately 34 to 36 months. Since my last Annual Meeting report in October 2024, the Membership Committee has advanced several policies which will have a long-term positive impact for the Club. A major focus of our efforts over the past year was a holistic review of the Club’s thirteen membership categories and initiation fee rates. Working collaboratively with the Military Initiation Fee Ad Hoc Subcommittee, which was led by Governor Eric Schnabel, there were several policies aimed at consolidating membership categories which were adopted by the Board of Governors. The consolidation of categories and review of initiation fees is critically important for the long-term health of the Club. Why? While a robust membership ensures a strong operational account, which is funded primarily through dues, our capital account is funded primarily through initiation fees. With the Club at max capacity, the slowdown in onboarding new members and capturing initiation fees invariably will have a negative impact on the Club’s capital account; a problem which is further exacerbated by reaching the maximum civilian membership of 735. As we look ahead to the coming year, the Membership Committee will continue to advance solutions aimed at addressing this dynamic. Beyond the much-needed review of the Club’s various membership categories, the Committee also spent the year developing a process for Absent Members to annually certify their residency status. As of the publication of this report, the Club has 3263 Absent Members. To be clear, the recommended policy changes are narrowly focused on ensuring that members who claim Absent status meet the eligibility requirements outlined in the Club By-Laws. While there is much positive news to be shared, the past year also saw a dramatic increase in disciplinary issues. As of the publication of this report, there were forty-seven separate incidents which required a full review. This number of complaints is the highest I’ve seen in my four years as Chair. To that end, I would remind members of the obligation to abide by the rules set forth in the Club’s governing documents. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the contributions made by so many over the past year. Starting with the members of the Membership Committee – LTC Greg Abide, USA, Judge Tamara Ashford, COL Jonathan Dunn, USA, MAJ Rich Hagner, USAR, Mr. Joseph Kornhoff, Mr. Ken Quinn, and Col D’Anne Spence, USAF, Ret. Each committee member has devoted countless hours to make our membership strong and vibrant. Our work, however, would not be possible without the support and guidance of our excellent staff. To that end, we all owe a thank you to Mr. Patrick King, Ms. Diana Wang, Ms. Kalyn Shoop, and Ms. Madison Lucchino.
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