Page 27 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2017

and develops commercial real
estate. “When we started getting together on Fridays, I would pay one week and he’d pay the next week. The group grew and it became Dutch treat. People would tell us they would join us if they had ‘no better offer’ so we referred to it by that name. The club has evolved to include different professions and ages.”
“We let the members choose the restaurant and go back and forth with Gulfport and Biloxi,” Mattina said. “We go high and low and try them all.” The president — currently Peter Meleones — texts invitations every Friday morning to announce the meeting location.
Matt Daugherty, a new member who comes with his dad, David,
and brother, Clint, chose his favorite place, Jalapeno Grill, to meet one week. “I think they liked it. I had no complaints,” he said.
Barry and Linda Gollott of Biloxi met the group at Half Shell Oyster House in Gulfport on a cold, rainy night last month even though both are retired. “We enjoy it. It’s a good thing to get out on Friday night,” Barry said. “The week is winding down and we come if we — as the name suggests — have no better offer.”
Linda is a former flight attendant and says the group definitely needs more women attending. Barry owned Barry’s U Pull It in Gulfport. He and Mattina went to high school together.
Community Bank Vice President Harry Piascik likes the congeniality of the group. “It’s enjoyable and I’ve made some new friends,” he said.
engineer, said,
“It’s just a pleasant way to end the
work week, and it’s
a good way to try new restaurants.”
With tongue planted firmly
in cheek, Mattina, who’s been in
the insurance business 48 years, wrote the bylaws for the No Better Offer club. One of the rules states that members are requested to commit to attend via text and that punctuality is expected. However, a buffer of 20 to 30 minutes is allowed before dinner orders are made.
“The purpose of the club is business networking and camaraderie among friends who do not have a better offer for socializing on Friday after business hours,” he said. “There are no membership dues and dialogue consists of sharing common past, present and future interests and family and business activities.”
Now serving as vice president, Mattina added, “Participants
consist of members, their spouses, soul mates and family members to include young adults. We embrace and extend an open invitation for membership to any business-minded civilian or military person whether currently employed, unemployed or retired.”
JOSE DE LA FUENTE
The purpose
of the club
is business networking and camaraderie among friends who do not have a better offer
for socializing on Friday after business hours.
Roy Mattina,
Vice President of No Better Offer club
ROY MATTINA
Bill Knesal, a Gulfport consulting
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