THE BOOSTERS

The Engineers' Club BOOSTERS meet every Monday at 12 Noon for lunch in the Main Dining Room of the Racquet Club of Philadelphia. Every Club member is a "Booster", so come and enjoy the food and fellowship.

Just One of Many Boosters' Stories

It was Monday morning and I was still thinking about the board meeting last Wednesday. I had been working on a mission statement for the Club's web page for the last few months and I had written a long statement that summarized the mission of the club. I presented it at the last board meeting and collected e-mail comments. It was ready to go on the web. All I needed was final board approval. The club liked the statement, they just didn't like the words mission statement. The board felt that mission statements should be short, just a sentence or two. Before I knew it, the mission statement was turned into objectives and the meeting adjourned. Reluctantly, I put Club Objectives on the club's web page. It didn't look right. The club should have a mission. If only I had thought of the word mission instead of the mission statement, maybe the board would have gone for it. The club needed a mission statement, and I needed to find it. I read the bylaws. I read the old charter and read some of the original minutes of club meetings, but the word mission was not to be found. I thought maybe the Boosters could help me. The Boosters is a meeting of club members that meet at noon on Mondays to discuss the problems of the day. It was going to be 94 degrees, and my wife was telling me to wear shorts. I didn't think I needed a tie, but I didn't know about the shorts. So, I called the club. At the Boosters you must ware a jacket and tie. They have relaxed the dress code somewhat, but a jacket and tie are still required. After a short trip to the closet, I made my way to the club. With marble steps, oriental rugs and a grand stair case, the Club could have been used for the set of Around the World in Eighty Days. The Boosters meet in the main dinning room. As I walked through the large French doors, there was a large table with a fine linen tablecloth that was set with real silverware. Large old paintings adorned the walls and a grandfather's clock on the east wall stood guard over the 19^th century. A waiter stood ready to take our lunch orders. There were many great lunch choices. We all chose snapper soup for starters. As we passed around the sherry, the conversation began. It seemed the problems of the world were easy, but the problems of the club were far too difficult be be solved at just one meeting. But even though the club faced difficult technological problems, we could get other members involved and tackle the problem. The grandfather's clock struck two, and it was time to go. Time must have passed more quickly in the 19^th century. As I was getting up from the table, I glanced at my notes. There it was in the minutes of the first meeting of the club “Its object shall be the professional improvement of its members, the encouragement of social intercourse among men of practical science and the advancement of engineering in its several branches..”. Suddenly these words from the 19^th century made so much sense. It was what we had just been doing. There was an object to the club. The club had a goal, a vision for the future that would carry it into the 21^st century..Objective was the right word after all. As I left the dinning room, I could almost hear the ghostly echo of the first president, Professor Haupt, saying good job gentlemen, good job. Ahead of us down the hall was the 21^st century. And as I glanced down the hall, I saw a young professional in gym shorts! Well, this is the Racquet Club. But down the hall was the future and chat rooms in cyber space, and things yet to be imagined. I knew that in the 22^nd century, the object of the club would be just fine.

Gentlemen, a jacket and a tie are required for the Boosters. Ladies, I think long dresses are no longer required, but you should call the club to make sure.

See you at the Boosters.

To view Club Objectives click here

For Reservations call 215-985-5701

The Engineers' Club Home Page click here