Membership Surveys Build Consensus On Most Difficult Club Issues
Clubs are one of the most democratic beasts on earth. A typical club can easily have 1,000 member/spouses each vying for attention to have many things done their own way. Every member is equal, so the one who shouts the loudest tries to get things his or her way.
Pity the unfortunate board or manager who has to govern or manage in such an atmosphere. But there is a tried and true way to make sense out of conflicting opinions and viewpoints, and that is to survey your members.
Clubs are faced with countless controversial issues, from dress codes, to dining quality, to facility improvements; they all need resolution. It is in this light the use of the right membership survey is invaluable. Surveys help boards make decisions.
Facility improvement programs are most likely approved when following a survey.
Boards and managers should view surveys as good opportunities to learn what members want and don’t want. But many times some board members want to do something their own way with no concern for the members. Some managers know they have operating problems, but they hope the issues will just go away. But they won’t. Ignoring problems don’t solve them. So whenever a major club issue needs resolution, look to a good survey to bring consensus not only to the board, but also to the membership itself.
About Christian Clerc, AIA
Christian has been in the construction, architecture, and planning fields for over 20 years and has been involved in all aspects of McMahon services during his 10 years with the firm. He has drafted Master Plans, written strategic plans, and presented improvement projects to memberships. In addition to training and supporting new staff across several departments, Christian works closely with Club planners and leadership to develop innovative services that help clients in a rapidly changing world. He developed the survey benchmark by analyzing years of membership surveys, which now serve as a backbone to McMahon’s membership analysis and industry-wide assessments.
A respected industry voice, Christian is a featured speaker for the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA) and the National Club Association (NCA), as well as a featured author in industry publications. He holds AIA membership and LEED AP BD+C credentials, further demonstrating his commitment to sustainable and innovative design practices.
Christian graduated with honors from the University of Dallas in Texas with a bachelor’s degree in physics, where he served as treasurer and social chairman of the men’s rugby club. He participated in undergraduate astronomy research in Wooster Ohio, Pitkin Colorado and at MIT’s Haystack observatory. After working in construction, he returned to school and graduated with honors from Washington University in St. Louis, earning two graduate degrees in Architecture and Urban Design. As Graduate Architecture Council treasurer, he established the first funding mechanism for the annual Year End Show (YES), showcasing recent graduates’ work. He presented façade research on phase change materials in Hong Kong China and façade adaptive reuse in Delft Netherlands. He is a registered architect in several states, most proudly in his home ‘Show-Me’ state of Missouri.
Christian’s professional achievements are rooted in his core values. His faith, wife Lauren, and their five children are at the heart of his life, fueling his pursuit of excellence in all spheres. This foundation drives his passion to create positive change at home and in the wider world. Christian and Lauren contribute to their church’s Marriage Enrichment ministry, and he has served on parish councils. His community engagement has extended to various professional organizations.