One executive distributes plastic containers in key places in the club, with a sign that states "recyclable." Once a week, a rotating designated employee collects the cans. The accumulated total is sold once a month and the funds placed in reserved for the employee Christmas party. It is normal to have all the hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and a disc jockey paid solely through the sale of recyclable. This better allows the club to kick in money for door prizes and dinner . . . . . . and on one occasion, paid for a full band and floor show.
Personnel and management gimmicks. Purchase shopping carts for use on outdoor function. Saves a lot of running back and forth for set up equipment and supplies. Always look for "down time" of your employees. Most clubs have car parkers for large events and once the guests have arrive, they sit around doing nothing. Swing them to the kitchen to help in the serving line for the sit down dinner. Your Party Coordinator or other departmental heads invariably have slow times. Put them to work checking on the cleanliness of the ladies locker room, making a list of the furniture that needs repair, etc. Always look for double functions that can be accomplished by your employees. The night telephone operator can stuff your mailers . . . the golf starter can take dinner reservations as the golfers come off the last hole, etc. Need coat checkers during the winter luncheons? Don’t hire them . . . . swing up the locker room men that are sitting around waiting for the small number of "red ball" golfers to come in.
Every get tired of "rewarding" employees with sick pay; and taking advantage of those loyal individuals that are never sick? Establish a year end bonus for those loyal individuals that were not sick. The year end bonus is paid only to those who did not take sick days during the previous 12 months. It cuts down on absenteeism and saves a lot of replacement labor cost. To say nothing of increasing your service by not having to use inexperienced part time employees to step in for the missing sick ones.
Cooperation among area clubs can save lots of money. Joint purchasing can cut food costs. Negotiating for a big touring band to come for three nights (three clubs) can cut the band per night cost. Taking turns closing down for vacations and repair can work wonders in savings. One club closes, the members can play golf on the open club course, then they switch. Really reduces duplicate vacation labor and allows each club to do a lot of repair work that requires close down of all areas.