Patriot Club receives a modern make-over

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carrie Peasinger
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  In order to keep up with a rapidly changing and modernized society, the Patriot Club is undergoing renovations.

The Patriot Club's primary goal is to increase customer satisfaction and usage while maintaining a financially solvent activity. In spirit of this goal, the theme of the renovation project is, "renew, reuse and recycle," said Colleen Cleek, the club manager.

Focusing on this theme, the club will make the best mix of old and new, said Cleek. This includes adding new carpet and paint for a more modern look but utilizing the chandeliers and fixtures already in place.

"The largest change is going to be the new buffets," Cleek said. "They are more energy efficient and labor friendly and will help save on heating and cooling."

"With the previous buffets, hot and cold items could not be placed next to each other and had to be placed on separate buffet stations; however, the new buffets will allow cold items to be next to hot items," Cleek continued. "For example, if we do a down-home cooking day with chicken, potatoes and coleslaw, we can have everything next to each other. We will also have more chef-manned stations, like when we have our Tuesday pasta bar."

In addition to the buffets, they will have new banquet wares, including new plates, wine glasses and up to 500 piece silverware set for use at official functions and weddings.

The ball room and global lounge will get new dance floors and the paneling will be touched up. These changes will help make us more competitive with similar facilities downtown that may have newer buildings, said Renee Strange, the operations assistant.

Last year, the dance floor bowed from the humidity, therefore another change will be fixing the air conditioning, said Strange.

The club has been very budget conscious and customer driven in making decisions on the renovations. The improvements will be made using a combination of the 55th Civil Engineering Squadron and self help of several employees from the club.

"We are using the local economy by getting a lot of bids from local suppliers and contractors for the equipment we are purchasing," said Cleek. "When work or products are bought locally, you have a person to call and not an agency."

Currently some of the events the club holds are weddings, member events, Burn Your Own Steak Nights, official events, Football Frenzy with the NFL ticket, Air Combat Command family nights and outdoor events in the spring.

After renovations are complete they plan on adding more services and events, including more catering services and a member's only event called, "Forks and Corks." This event will be held once a month and will feature four- to- five course bistro dinners themed to a country around the world.

The Patriot Club will open Super Bowl weekend, starting with a chili cook- off Feb. 4.

A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony will be scheduled soon, with more information to follow.