Defending grad party decision

In a published letter (BDN, April 11), the senior class adviser for Orono High School was very critical of Penobscot Valley Country Club’s decision not to host this year’s Project Graduation party at the club’s new facilities. The letter suggested the rationale behind the decision was not made clear or justified to her in any way.

Being in a new facility has dictated that policies of the past may need to be changed going forward for the benefit of the dues-paying membership of PVCC. We have formulated a policy that serves the needs of both the members as well as the many guests that do get an opportunity to enjoy the new facilities. Rest assured that all requests that come to the club to use the facilities, for nonmember functions, are carefully considered on their individual merit. Many, in fact, are accepted, but there are also many that we choose not to accommodate for any number of reasons. The reasons or justifications for these decisions need not be discussed in this forum and in fact, are at the sole discretion of this club and its membership.

The request by OHS was considered with the same care and consideration, as are all requests to the club. Unfortunately, our decision was not well received by the organizers of the events and several attempts were made through contacts with current members to alter our decision. To go to these lengths as well as to put such a negative spin on our decision does not depict the club’s long-standing traditions in a very accurate light.

I have served as the golf professional at this club for the past 12 years and have also served as the general manager for the past five. During this time, PVCC has always strived to meet or exceed what we feel is our civic responsibility to the Orono community. We are always first in line when donations are to be made for any of a number of causes benefiting OHS as well as the University of Maine, on several occasions each year.

I have served as a volunteer coach for the OHS golf team for the past five years and have worked with more than 50 young men and women during this time. The team has enjoyed the use of this club’s facilities each year with wholehearted support from our membership. They have been provided by myself and my staff with lessons, practice time as well as equipment at my own personal expense. We have also made a concerted effort to employ as many OHS students as possible during the past several years, many of whom are still on our staff.

One of our primary goals at PVCC in teaching these young men and women on the golf course has nothing to do with winning or losing but more importantly about handling success as well as dealing with adversity, disappointment and failure. Their involvement in golf at this club teaches lifelong lessons in responsibility, honor and integrity as well as accepting failures and disappointments gracefully, to be treated as just another part of one’s daily life. I am extremely proud of the efforts that we have made in this area and have enjoyed immensely the opportunity to watch these students develop maturity in dealing with difficulties that will serve them well for a lifetime.

It is very unfortunate that we have been put in the unenviable position of ending a long-standing tradition at OHS that in fact has included many of our current members. We have made a thoughtful, well principled decision and will stand by that decision in the best interest of this club and its members. What does trouble me however, is the message that the organizers of this annual affair are sending the young men and women in the senior class about dealing with life’s disappointments.

The decision was made with good intent and should be accepted in that light, favorable to their cause or otherwise. To take the actions chosen to express displeasure with our decision sends a troubling message to the senior class at OHS about handling some of life’s disappointments that would be better left unsaid.

We sincerely wish the senior class at OHS the very best with Project Graduation and wish them much success in their future endeavors.

Colin Gillies is a PGA Professional and the general manager of the Penobscot Valley Country Club.