Published: July 14, 2008 11:26 am      

Community fortunate to have private clubs

I am writing this letter in response to an article published in the Times- News on Wednesday, June 18. ("County liquor board to nonprofit clubs: Stop serving general public," Page 1A)

The article contained information about the Liquor Board ruling on Allegany County's local "Private" clubs, in specific the Cumberland Outdoor Club.

I don't really care about local Maryland politics. I live in Bedford County, Pa. I am retired from a local union hall in Cumberland and have made my living in and around Allegany County for over 22 years. For over 10 years I have been a member of and done work with several of these private clubs.

When I read this article, in the paper, I couldn't decide if the person writing the article was being influenced in some way or if they had just not done their job to research what has been an on going struggle between these organizations and a small group of local business men and politicians. I think if the reporter had looked further into the story, they would have realized it is bigger and still on going.

I would like to "fill in" some of the gaps in the earlier story. The reporter wrote that we are a "nonprofit" business and because of that we get breaks on certain taxes and fees. They didn't however say that these clubs contribute hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to local charities and special causes. This is one of the reasons we qualify for non-profit status.

They also wrote that two dozen local businesses were complaining of unfair advantages when it comes to pricing. There were actually 21 businesses in the county that were petitioning the liquor board, five or six local restaurants and bars were originally involved, they solicited others.

These local private clubs as a group pay thousands, if not millions of dollars every year in gaming taxes to the county. You see, we (the clubs) pay our bills and our employees with revenue from our gaming business. As private clubs or non- profit organizations, we have very strict rules and regulations concerning behavior and dress. This insures a safe environment for our members and guests.

Compliance with these rules is absolute. We also must, by law, comply with health and liquor regulations that all those for-profit businesses do. We can offer our members and guests reasonably priced food and drinks because we don't take profit from our businesses, not because of any kind of tax break.

As for an open door policy, all private clubs have a locked, key card or combination egress system required by the liquor board. However, we do allow guests in our facilities. We are within our legal rights to do this.

The article actually named the Outdoor Club and called them non-compliant, but if the writer had done his work he would have known that the Outdoor Club has been in meetings with this board for over a year. (There are minutes to all these meetings available to the public). The Outdoor Club was given specific things to do and they were done. These meetings were prompted by five or six local profit-taking bars and restaurants.

You see, since we have moved to Industrial Boulevard, the Outdoor Club has become a popular place. The economy has forced people to realize that to pay two or three times the price for food and drinks is not a smart way to go. Combine that with a safe clean atmosphere, the ODC is obviously a good choice.

The members of the Outdoor Club bought a decrepit, rat-infested eyesore of the community, remodeled it and turned it into a viable and revenue paying asset to the county. While these five or six local profit-taking businesses do what they have always done.

The article mentioned some of the local private clubs that are no longer open. These clubs had their own individual reasons for closing and were united with the Outdoor Club and its fellow private nonprofit businesses against this cartel of local money and politics. We at the Outdoor Club are fortunate to have such a safe, clean and economical place to gather and socialize responsibly.

I realize that financial times are tough, but I would call upon those local for-profit businesses to come up with creative ways to stimulate their businesses and not to manipulate or misinform the local public.

My personal opinion is that we, (the local community) are fortunate to have these private non-profit clubs in our community, not only because of what they give to the local charities and fund raising projects, but also because they provide a safe, clean and most important economical place for ourselves and our young adults to learn and to practice good socializing skills.

I would invite anyone in town to go to any of these organizations and be a guest if not a member and see what I mean.

Mark Carver
Bedford, Pa.