Dear GraetLIFE Members & Team Members,
Thanks for being a GreatLIFE Member! Thanks to you, this past December we celebrated our 11th anniversary. Another successful year behind us with new Members, Team Member development and expansion in fulfilling our Mission, “To enrich the lives of families and individuals through golf, fitness and healthy lifestyles” and be the best in Member satisfaction, value and convenience.
We have had a long history with Avera McKennan, with numerous projects and especially with our Los Cabos Children’s Foundation. Late Summer we were approached with the potential of partnering with Avera McKennan and their Fitness Center. Together, we structured a win/win relationship that allowed us to manage their Avera McKennan Fitness Center beginning this past December. We are grateful for Power Wellness for assisting in the transition in such a professional manner. The other big development was the expansion at our Harrisburg facility that was completed this Summer that our Members have really enjoyed.
We saw a record number of golf rounds both at Willow Run and Bakker Crossing even though we had rain throughout June. We saw our golf operation Teams respond admiralty to these challenges. Our Golf Academy at Willow Run had a record number of participants. We added a new fleet of golf carts at Bakker Crossing that were warmly welcomed by golfers and our Support Team there.
One of our highest priorities is Team Member development and we have invested in our people in growing them both professionally and personally. One program that I attended back in 2003 was a three-day leadership program called Rapport Leadership which was life-changing for me. We have invested in having all of our Leadership Team attend it as well as Rapport Leadership II with several of them becoming Master Graduates. We have even sponsored Teen Rapport Leadership in past years. We have an ongoing leadership program called Purpose Driven Leader that over 90 of our Team members are at some level of it. We know it is important to develop our Team Members in building relationships and making a difference in people’s lives.
Through our GeatLIFE Cares Foundation, we had our 5th Annual Challenge for Change Golf outing at Willow Run in support of the +20 charities, schools and civic organizations in creating awareness and financial support. We have invested over $200,000 with these programs in 2024. We look forward to growing these programs and doing even more to make our communities a better place for families and individuals to live.
Over the years, we have had many blessings, some of them were challenging but we have survived and prospered through them. I have put together my second version of “Lessons From A Great Life” that I hope you enjoy and can share if you wish to. So in closing, thanks for being a GreatLIFE Member or Team Member and best wishes in 2025!
Gratefully,
Tom Sr