By Greg Ellison

(Feb. 27, 2020) Defining its roles and purposes dominated the discussion at the Feb. 20 OPA Clubs Committee meeting because of concerns involving food and beverage operations.

Committee Chairman Gary Miller said his group wishes to be kept in the loop regarding promotions planned by food contractor Matt Ortt Companies at the OPA Yacht Club.

“We’ve been saying that for the last year and a half,” he said. “We used to be able to meet with the manager of the Yacht Club.”

Committee member Donna Hickey said there seems to be a disconnect in terms of the group providing feedback for food operations.

“We were told by previous board members they were concerned [that] instead of suggesting, we were basically giving demands to the board and Matt Ortt,” she said. “I think there’s this huge missing link and I really question our viability and function.”

Committee member Herb Roe said when the association previously oversaw amenity operations at the yacht club, the lines of communication were more open but have become strained since those roles were handed over to a private contractor.

“How do we communicate with Matt Ortt Companies?” he said. “We haven’t got any feedback from the board or anyone else without us pushing on it for a good two years.”

Dr. Colette Horn, substituting for board liaison Tom Janasek, asked if the consensus among committee members was that the group lacked a clearly defined role.

“It sounds like there may be a disconnect here … between what you view your function as and what you’re being empowered to do,” she said.

Miller said the clubs committee has a unique role among association advisory groups.

“We are the only committee that deals with an amenity as complex as this one,” he said. “Just being able to hear … from somebody at Matt Ortt to say, ‘Hey, this is something were looking at doing later this year. What do you think about it?’”

Horn said revisions are being formulated to resolution C01 that outlines general policies for advisory committees.

Horn is working with OPA President Doug Parks to assure committee recommendations receive timely feedback.

“There is a charging document that has not been used in many years,” she said. “That is a way for the board to give assignments to the advisory committees and a way of documenting requests or recommendations advisory committees are making to the board.”

Miller questioned the assertion that the committee was pushing an agenda or dictating demands.

“We understand that we can’t make demands,” he said. “We understand that we’re not supposed to overstep our bounds [as] we’re an advisory committee.”

Horn offered to communicate the concerns to Janasek and confer with General Manager John Viola about the committee’s situation. “We’ve been looking at is that something we need to put in place to facilitate this communication,” she said.

After highlighting the seeming lack of feedback, Horn said the role of the board liaisons and proper channels of communication needs to be discussed.

“I think you’re right in wondering what is the function of this committee in this environment in which there is a contractor that’s experienced, knowledgeable and has a track record of success,” she said. “It feels like it goes into a vacuum.”

After noting the board hesitates to meddle in food and beverage operations, Horn admitted the committee is facing a quandary.

“I think you do have kind of a crisis of identity here,” she said.

Miller reiterated the goal of working with Matt Ortt Company CEO

OPA Clubs Committee members, from left, Herb Roe and Gary Miller relate concerns over opening lines of communication with Matt Ortt Companies representatives while Director of Marketing and Public Relations Josh Davis and Director of Amenities and Operational Logistics Colby Phillips listen to their perspective.

to coordinate marketing efforts.

“Ralph is always promoting, ‘We’ve got this great idea, this is what’s coming next,’” he said. “If we know about that, we can help promote it.”