What Does “Member-Owner” Mean?
You’ve probably noticed we refer to you as a “member-owner” rather than just a “member.” That’s not jargon — it reflects how this club actually works, and it’s worth taking a minute to explain.
WRAC is a 501(c)(7) — a nonprofit social and recreational club under the federal tax code.
Members do not own the club as private property or equity that they can sell for a profit, but they collectively control and use it on a mutual basis. In plain terms: nobody owns WRAC the way a shareholder owns a company, and nobody profits from it the way an investor would. There are no distributions, no dividends, no owner cashing out. Every dollar the club earns beyond its operating costs gets reinvested back into the club.
You can see that play out in real time. Our new indoor pickleball facility is a good example — dues, lesson income, and ancillary fees, reinvested into something a specific group of member-owners uses every day. Next it might be a wellness upgrade in the weight room, or a tennis court renovation. That’s how reinvestment works here: it takes turns across departments, but everyone ultimately benefits — a stronger program anywhere makes for a more vibrant club overall.
So if no one “owns” WRAC in the traditional sense, why “member-owner”? Because collectively, that’s exactly what you are. What you have a claim to isn’t equity — it’s the club itself: its condition, its culture, its long-term health. That’s exactly why reinvestment and good governance matter so much, and why your role in both is a real one, not a formality.
You elect a nine-member Board of Directors, accountable to you for governance, long-term vision, and fiduciary health. The Board hires an Executive Director, who leads a team responsible for day-to-day operations, executing the Board’s strategy, and keeping the club compliant with every legal and policy obligation that comes with running a place like this.
That structure means a few things in practice:
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Board elections are your direct lever. Voting for who sits on the Board is the clearest, most direct way member-owners shape the club’s direction — it’s worth taking seriously each time it comes around.
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Individual member-owners don’t set policy or direct day-to-day operations. That’s not a wall keeping you out — it’s how governance works in any organization with an elected Board. It keeps the club accountable to the whole membership, not just whoever’s loudest in the room on a given day.
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The Board and staff are accountable for outcomes. If something isn’t working, that’s on us to fix — not on you to manage around.
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Your voice still matters tremendously, and we value your feedback. The goal is real, regular input that advises the Board and staff — not a vote on every operational call, but a genuine, standing channel for what you’re seeing and experiencing. We’re working on ways we can better receive your input.
We’d rather over-explain how the club runs than leave it vague. Next month, we want to build on this and talk candidly about membership growth — why it matters more than ever to WRAC’s future, and what part you can play in it.
See you at the club.
Bryan Noyd
WRAC Executive Director
bryan@wrac.org
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