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The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality PodcastAuthor: Michelle Pascoe
Welcome to The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast, where we explore the heart of the hospitality industry through conversations with leaders, experts, and innovators. Each episode brings you insights, practical advice, and inspiring stories that help you elevate guest experiences, enhance team performance, and stay ahead of industry trends. Whether you're an owner, manager, or passionate professional, this podcast will ignite your passion for hospitality. Tune in, learn, and grow with us! Language: en Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Why Your Club's Community Program Might Be Missing the Point
Episode 317
Tuesday, 21 April, 2026
Community engagement in registered clubs works when clubs go beyond writing cheques and build genuine relationships with the organisations they fund. In this episode, Michelle Pascoe, Certified Speaking Professional with 30+ years in the hospitality industry, sits down with Club Rivers community engagement leader Jenny Holt to explain why showing up in person — and connecting your community stakeholders with each other — is what transforms a club into the true heart of its community. Is your club writing cheques and waiting for acquittal reports — or are you actually getting in the door? Jenny Holt has worked in the registered clubs industry for more than 25 years and has led community engagement at Club Rivers for over a decade. Her team logs over 1,000 volunteer hours and 50+ community events every year — all in staff's own time. From sailing days with Sailability and sleeping rough for Georges River Lifecare, to climbing Mount Kosciuszko for the Autism Community Network and a Tough Mudder for Waterfall Rural Fire Service, Club Rivers has built a community model that goes far beyond the grant cycle. Community engagement works because it is relational, not transactional. As Jenny explains, the moment a club grant is approved, she is on the phone asking: "When can we come along and see your program?" That one step builds the rapport that makes future funding almost automatic — and gives the board the stories they need to approve the next round with confidence. Michelle and Jenny also explore how Club Rivers is now funding swimming lessons and school camp places for children in public schools that can no longer afford them, why their in-venue CRCTV screen keeps older members connected to the club's community story, and what tips Jenny would offer any club just starting its community engagement journey. Key Takeaways In this episode, Michelle Pascoe sits down with Jenny Holt, Community Engagement Leader at Club Rivers, to discuss: Community engagement in registered clubs is most effective when clubs attend the programs they fund, not just write the cheques — this single shift builds stronger board support, deepens relationships with grant recipients, and positions the club as a genuine community partner rather than a funder. Club Rivers logs over 1,000 volunteer hours and 50+ community events per year in staff's own time, including sailing days with Sailability, a Tough Mudder for Waterfall Rural Fire Service, sleeping rough for Georges River Lifecare, and climbing Mount Kosciuszko for the Autism Community Network. Supporting local schools with funding for swimming lessons and school camps has become a growing priority for Club Rivers, reflecting the reality that public schools can no longer afford these experiences for every child — and that every Australian child has the right to learn to swim. Connecting funded organisations with each other — using the club as the anchor — multiplies community impact well beyond what any single grant could achieve, as demonstrated when Lugarno Lions stepped in to support an ACN event at short notice. Clubs starting their community engagement journey should begin with existing grant recipients, tell their stories across every available channel, and build outward from a strong local foundation. Next Steps & Resources Subscribe to The Michelle Pascoe Hospitality Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify: michellepascoe.com/The-Michelle-Pascoe-Hospitality-Podcast Join Michelle's newsletter for leadership, culture, and service excellence: michellepascoe.com/blog Book customer service workshops and middle management programs tailored to clubs, hotels, and hospitality venues: michellepascoe.com/traininganddevelopmentprograms About Michelle Michelle Pascoe helps hospitality leaders build multigenerational teams, lift service standards, and embed values-led culture. A Certified Speaking Professional with over 30 years in the hospitality industry and Disney Institute Alumni credentials, Michelle delivers bespoke keynotes, workshops, and leadership programs for clubs, hotels, and hospitality venues across Australia and internationally. Book customer service workshops and middle management programs: michellepascoe.com/traininganddevelopmentprograms About Jenny Jenny Holt has worked in the registered clubs industry for over 25 years and has led community engagement at Club Rivers — located on the MacArthur railway line in Sydney's south-west — for more than a decade. Her community team logs 1,000+ volunteer hours and 50+ events per year, supporting local schools, disability organisations, youth programs, domestic violence services, and rural fire brigades. Jenny's philosophy: it's not about writing cheques. It's about getting in the door. Connect with Club Rivers: https://www.clubrivers.com.au/
