EVENT RECAP:
43rd Annual Michigan Golf open – Wednesday, July 17, 2019
While many people make a beeline to the beach as the weather warms up, MIRA members are hitting the golf course at the association’s annual golf outing. This year, MIRA hosted the event at the Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center in Plymouth on July 17, 2019.
More than 300 MIRA members and supporters of the organization attended this year’s event.
“This is an annual event that our participants look forward to attending every year,” explained Kristine Zrinyi, MIRA event coordinator. “The MIRA golf outing has a rather exciting following and so that, coupled with the fact that Fox Hills is a beautiful golf course, creates a lot of anticipation for the golf outing.”
In addition to the Michigan golf outing at Fox Hills, MIRA reintroduced the event to their Ohio members. Just weeks before the Michigan event, the Ohio golf outing was hosted at Shale Creek Golf Course. It was the first time in approximately three years that the event was hosted in Ohio, said Jim Green, MIRA.
This event, say Green, is just another way the association is working to connect other retailers and supporters of MIRA.
“We’re looking to continue to develop the Ohio market with new members and supply partners,” he said. “We can connect suppliers and retailers. It also gives new members who participate in the outing the opportunity to talk to long term members to hear first-hand what MIRA can do for them.”
While the two events may have differed in some areas, they both found common ground in that they were both geared towards bringing members and supporters of the association together in a relaxed setting where they could interact, away from all the noise of their day to day responsibilities.
“Getting to know each other and just interacting with one another is so important,” said Isaac Abbo, US Ice. “Being together and getting to know what everyone else does is a part of being a member of this organization.”
“Communicating and meeting with people who are a part of the same association is important,” added Saad Abbo, US Ice. “We are all gaining something out of being here, one way or another, we are gaining as members of MIRA and being here. Every time I attend the golf outing, I end up meeting someone new.”
The association is made stronger through events like this, said Zrinyi.
“When the members and the vendors have a day where they can talk and mix and mingle with one another, it helps and allows MIRA and its members to develop and continue ongoing opportunities and relationships,” explained Zrinyi. “They really get to know each other at the golf outing and as a result develop more of a camaraderie while enjoying some friendly competition.”
From goodie bags and raffles to drink stations at almost every hole on the course, MIRA works to bring new elements to the golf outing each year.
“This year we had a bloody Mary bar in the parking lot so people could make their own bloody Marys. We have a lot of support from our vendors who give us a lot of goodies for goodie bags, so we always have great giveaways,” explained Zryini. “We have products, whether it’s liquor or other fun, non-alcoholic beverages at almost every hole.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the weather, the warm weather held, and the golf outings were a success.
“We were happy with the crowd, happy with the execution, and most importantly, the folks that played had a good time on the course,” said Auday Arabo, President and CEO. “That’s what all of this is about – making sure retailers and members of the industry get together and have a good time. Thank God the weather cooperated. This event would not be possible without all the companies and members in the industry coming together.”
