Media focusing on tragedies at private clubs

Sept. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- For a private club in south suburban Denver in the summer of 2010, 40 years of quiet operation were shattered in a single moment when a popular youth athlete died at the club.  Reporters were drawn to the scene. The club had no media policy, no contingency plan, no experience with this type of situation on the staff or the Board. An unprecedented and difficult situation became nearly impossible to manage.

Cole & Scott, leading private club industry operational experts, now partner with the communications professionals who successfully led that organization through and out of its darkest hour.

“Being unprepared in a crisis can damage a club’s reputation,” said Nelson Scott, strategic consultant for the private club industry. “Club managers, executives and staff need to have clear roles, messages and steps to follow. They’ll need to show the community that they are in control, communicating openly and can manage a crisis effectively.”

A one-day seminar, "When the Unthinkable Occurs: Crisis Communications for Private Clubs," prepares club managers on:
•   What to expect from the media, the police and other interested parties;
•   How to work with the media rather than against them;
•   Fundamental elements of effective media policy and crisis communications;
•   Operational risk areas to prioritize and address immediately;
•   And more.

Presenters, each of whom brings over 20 years experience in his area, are:
•   Nelson A. Scott, CCM, Principal, Cole and Scott, LLC, Adjunct Professor at Johnson & Wales University and former President of the Mile High Chapter of the Club Manager’s Association of America (CMAA),
•   Tom Schippert, MSM Communications, Public Relations and Crisis Communications expert;
•   Mike Hanbery, MBA, media strategist and spokesperson and Adjunct Faculty at the University of Denver.

The full day seminar, conducted on the site of the host club, includes materials and interactive exercises to aid comprehension, expedite implementation and illuminate multiple perspectives. The cost for the seminar is $250.00 per person (30 attendee minimum), and is worth 6 CMI credits.

Host clubs who contract with Cole & Scott, LLC, for services within twelve months of the seminar may be eligible to apply the seminar fee against the consulting agreement. Restrictions apply.

For more information or to schedule a seminar, contact Cole & Scott, LLC, (303) 785-6063 or send and Email with subject line “Crisis Communications Seminar” to info@coleandscott.com.

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About Cole & Scott: Cole & Scott, LLC, counts some of the most prestigious clubs in the country among its clientele, including Castle Pines, Black Bull, Glenwilde and Green Gables. Based in Aurora, Colorado, since March of 2009, principals Clayton Cole, 2003 Colorado Golf Hall of Fame Inductee and certified Main Event Management Model-Netics Instructor; and Nelson Scott, CCM, Adjunct Professor at Johnson & Wales and former General Manager at Columbine and Fox Hill Country Clubs; count over 60 collective years of private club experience between them.