Magazine Jul/Aug 2016
PRE-4 TH OF JULY
AMERICAN CLUB S INGAPORE
Join us for an all-American delicious treat! Pg 19
Bukit Merah POOL OPENING & Summer Camp Farewell Party Pg 35 a OPENIN & Summer Camp Farewell Party P
ISSUE 143 • JUL / AUG 2016
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Visit Stamford Register at www.sais.edu.sg
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THE AMERICAN CLUB JUL / AUG 2016
Laying the foundation for lifelong learning FROM 2 YEARS OLD AT STAMFORD AMERICAN EARLY YEARS SPECIALIST EDUCATION
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impact of skills required to help ensure they excel in the classroom. This begins with SMART Steps at age 2, a highly respected program designed to enhance key movement patterns essential for successful body and brain development. Progression to the Perceptual Motor Program at age 3 further develops fundamental skills essential to classroom success.
1st and only school to offer Mandarin or Spanish, with Daily and Bilingual Programs from age 2 We believe that being multilingual is a key element of global citizenship. It fosters cultural appreciation and enhances communication skills, not only amongst peers here at Stamford American but through life across education, work and travel. That is why two of the most widely spoken languages globally - Mandarin and Spanish - are part of our core curriculum from age 2, with a choice of daily and bilingual options. 1st and only school to offer Suzuki Violin from age 3 Music not only helps to develop a child’s senses and self- expression, it has a development, intelligence and memory. Playing the violin is introduced at age 3 and is proven to improve concentration, and combined with the Suzuki philosophy of encouragement, listening and learning with others, Stamford American children foster emotional awareness and creative development. direct link to mental 1st and only school to offer Smart Steps and Perceptual Motor Program from age 2 Our innovative programs exploit the strong link between the development of children’s gross motor skills and the physical
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To find out more about Stamford American, visit www.sais.edu.sg or call +65 6653 7907
THE AMERICAN CLUB S INGAPORE ISSUE 143 • JUL / AUG 2016 www.amclub.org.sg
PRINTER: NAILI PRINTING INDUSTRY MCI (P) 004/08/2015 0210/1948RAC
CLUB'S MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President Scott Weber president@amclub.org.sg
General Manager Martin Rudden generalmanager@amclub.org.sg
Vice President Kristen Graff vicepresident@amclub.org.sg
Assistant General Manager Patricia Au
Senior Director of People Development Tan Lee Lee
Treasurer William Scarborough treasurer@amclub.org.sg
Senior Director of Facilities & Security Tang Teck Wah
Secretary Kenneth Fagan secretary@amclub.org.sg
Director of Club Services Su-Ann Khor
Director of Food & Beverage Malik Riley
GENERAL COMMITTEE
Assistant Director of Finance Carryn Koh
Aaron Kim
Executive Sous Chef Paul Ng
Ashok K. Lalwani
Duty Managers Anthony, Palani & Ronald
Beng Bak Low
MAGAZINE
Bill Bowman
Marketing & Communications Manager / Data Protection Officer Jacklyn Ong jacklyno@amclub.org.sg Marketing & Communications Executive Justin Chan justinc@amclub.org.sg Graphic Designer / Magazine Designer Geraldine Soh geraldines@amclub.org.sg
Diane Knox
Fred Koch
Ngiam Siew Wei
Phua Swee Leng
Richard Hartung
American Association Representative Stephanie Nash
Senior Graphic Designer Sabrina Fong
American Embassy Representative Lt Col Carrie Howe
Graphic Designer Sarah Lau
American Women’s Association Representative Cyndy O’Connor
Advertising Tel: (65) 6739-4388 / Fax: (65) 6737-2963
Canadian Association Representative Sandra Johnson
01 FROM THE PRESIDENT 03 FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER CONTENTS ISSUE 143 • JUL / AUG 2016
HIGHLIGHTS
05 NEWS Mother's Day Easter Egg Contest Club Closure - Staff Fun Day & Annual Dinner & Dance Annual Report - Electronic Copy E-Magazine
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Niche Group Lucky Draw 2016 Redevelopment Project Update 13 COMMITTEE FEATURE Membership Committee 15 LIBRARY Young Adult Fiction 17 TRAVEL Six Senses Qing Cheng Resort 19 EVENTS
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Pre-4 th of July Celebration National Day Celebration Movie Nights Canada Day Buffet Dinner Mid-Autumn Festival @ The Club Summer Welcome Back Weekend Specials 25 STAFF FEATURE Alvin Gho, Beverage Director & Sommelier Shetty V Rama, Principle Indian Cuisine Chef
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27 MEMBER FEATURE A Singapore Love Story 29 SPA July & August Promotions invati by Aveda 33 YOUTH Superhero Party Youth Open House Party-in-a-Box Bowling Dance Recital & Music Recital Bukit Merah Pool Opening & Summer Camp Farewell Party Summer Camp 2016 37 TENNIS Adults Doubles Championship Team Tennis Mini Tennis Tournament Singles Junior Championships Holiday Program FY2016 Term 1 Tennis Calendar 2016 41 GYM Neck, Shoulder & Lower Back Tension Squash Personal Training at The Club 47 AQUATICS Shooting Stars 15/16 Season
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Starfish Swim School Fall Program 2016 Indian Ocean All Star Challenge 2016 47 th Singapore National Age Group Championships 51 ESSENTIALS
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Strategic Partners:
Floor Area. From here, the design process will continue to allocate square footage to areas and begin devising each space effectively. We hope that you will continue to be involved in this process. I suspect that you, as most of us, will have questions about certain aspects or concepts of the master plan that you’ll want to clarify sooner than later. To this end, I will hold a second conversational session at the Union Bar on Wednesday, July 6 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. to speak with you in a casual setting. This will NOT be a formal meeting or presentation, etc. Indeed, I plan to just “hang out” in the space with Martin and Jonathan Mobbs, our Project Manager, to take questions as they come up. Please, therefore, feel free to stop by to ask any questions, throw any darts or offer any support you’d like at that time, or, as always, you can do so via e-mail at president@amclub.org.sg and I will get back to you. Hopefully this, as well as all the other avenues we’re providing, will allow us to keep the lines of communication open to ensure you have the information you need to know how redevelopment is progressing. I hope you are having a wonderful summer break, and we are looking forward to welcoming you back to The Club once you’re back in Singapore.
PRESIDENT FROM THE
I know many of you are enjoying summer break back in the States or in your home country now and hope you’re having a great time. Rest assured that while you’re away, we are keeping busy with construction and our continuing work on the redevelopment of The Club. Construction on our permanent Level 3 facilities began in early June and is well underway. One aspect of this space that I am excited about is how it will address the way our Members’ lives are evolving. Indeed, over the last few years we have seen more and more Members working from The Club and using the spaces here for both formal and informal meetings. More Junior Members use the Linkway for studying; an increasing number of Members conduct larger-scale projects in the Business Center; and more Corporate Members are hosting events and seminars in the premises. In light of this the new space at Level 3 will be focused on the needs of all these groups, as well as others too. Be sure to take a look at page 11 to see some renderings of what this new space will look like once it’s completed (please note however, that furnishings and finishes may vary due to availability and continued refinement). Construction in this space will continue until September. I look forward to hearing your feedback once you get the opportunity to utilize it thereafter. In addition to the Level 3 construction, we’re busy at B1 implementing our temporary Youth facilities, admin space, and community partner offices. We are also hard at work on the master plan. The General Committee recently voted on and approved the overall layout of the new facility; it is in fact now on display at The Club. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see it yet, I encourage you to stop by and take a look. The master plan locks down the location of the various outlets and facilities within The Club, enabling us to discern how each space will relate to the others. This plan has been through many iterations to produce a final version that addresses Member feedback, creates operational efficiencies, and maximizes our use of Gross
Scott Weber President
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THE AMERICAN CLUB
TURNING 68 & LAUNCHING NEW FACILITIES*
Between July 1 and September 30, 2016, the first 68 Ordinary or Service membership applicants will receive $5,000 in Club credits. Please contact the Membership Office at 6737-3411 or email membership@amclub.org.sg to enquire about membership criteria.
Terms & conditions apply.
* Unveiling Phase 1 of our exciting Clubhouse redevelopment plans this September!
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GENERAL MANAGER FROM THE
The Club then...
Our thriving community is about to experience the most significant change since the late 80’s when the Claymore Building was added to the total Clubhouse offering. With work already begun shifting services out of the Scotts Road building, shutting down the Pool and Poolside restaurant, and redeploying staff throughout the operation, a significant amount of communications would already be evident; thank you for taking the time to keep yourself and your families informed of all these operational shifts. While the recent transformation process has become apparent, I thought I’d take this opportunity to highlight the fact that operationally, there have been significant advancements and new business trends in place for many years. Although these changes have been periodically shared with the membership, it seems appropriate to revisit a few of these key factors with the objective of underlining the fact that our club business is very different today than what it was just 10 years ago; in fact, you could benchmark these developments against an even shorter period of time. Membership continues to be the lifeblood of our business, and joining fees as well as monthly dues contribute significantly to The Club’s reserves and cash flow. However, many are now aware (and have personally experienced) that the “Expat Package” is on a steady decline, and the communities and facilities offered by condominiums and schools are becoming strong alternatives. Other clubs are providing enticing cost-efficient membership options. In FY05-06 we had 463 new memberships compared to just 364 at the end of FY14-15. Though it may not seem like a significant difference, this shortfall translates to a gap of millions of dollars in joining fees, monthly dues and Member spending each month. As just mentioned, the market now provides substantial alternatives, but has also become increasingly competitive – in every facet of our business. When I first arrived in Singapore in 1999, I can remember a single gym brand dominating Orchard Road. Now, there are a multitude of fitness and wellness organizations with studios and gyms island-wide catering to every segment of the market. The food and beverage industry has grown incredibly vibrant, as have children’s summer camps and birthday party venues, health and beauty service options – the list
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AND now...
measures, to enable our staff to be more productive, against a backdrop of declining Foreign Worker ratios and a tightening of the hospitality workforce due to the growth spurt in hotels, restaurants and other entertainment venues. Of course, the competitive employment market has driven up payroll costs considerably. Annual payroll has grown by almost $5M in 10 years. The levies for ‘Work’ and ‘S’ passes for foreign staff have grown to $656K per annum compared to $280K back in FY05-06. Other related expenses such as insurance premiums, dental charges and employee CPF contributions, to name a few, have seen periodic to steady increases. Singapore is now the leader in terms of being the “most expensive city in the world”. While payroll has been keeping in line with inflation, the costs of many of the products used in our extensive menus have aggressively increased too. Even though we do 6-monthly tenders for our fresh food items, the upward price adjustments to some produce is amazing. As an example, Red Snapper cost The Club $18/kg a mere 2 years ago. Today, the same item costs $23/kg, a 22.3% increase. In the same time period, garlic we procure has seen a whopping 102.4% price jump from $3/kg to $6.07/kg. This steady hike has affected almost every food item we source in the past years. As much as some Members feel that our prices are expensive compared to other alternatives, I keep referencing our Classic American Burger at the Eagle’s Nest as a great example of the strong value upheld at The Club. Priced at $14.95 (inclusive of the 7% goods and services tax, and with no 10% service charge), based on market comparison and in consideration of the quality of the product, it represents excellent value. This price has been unchanged for the last 5 years. The breakeven mandate for The Club (+/- $500K) has remained intact throughout this time. You can see that while cost pressures have been immense, prices have little elasticity. Adding to this pressure is the fact that over 30% of our membership, who qualify as niche group members, enjoy privileges and discounts at The Club monthly, shrinking an already tight profit margin. In recent times, I’ve frequently had discussions with long- term Members who reminisce about The Club in the good old days and wish it still offered the same or similar experiences they enjoyed back then. I simply remind them that Singapore has seen massive changes and improvements in a very short period of time, and The Club is no exception. Although there is a real commitment to retain the strength and character of this community, the challenges are increasing. The need for innovation, coupled with that of staying relevant in our Members’ lives, will continue to drive our business model in the years to come. It’s all about looking forward…
goes on. With our discerning membership and time-pressured lifestyles, it’s natural for Members to want to explore new offerings. In April 2016 our Club’s usage rate was 81.6%, compared to 84.8% in April 2006. The slight decrease may appear insignificant, and though overall the usage rate is a very high figure compared to other private social clubs, the decline still represents a considerable loss, thousands in fact, of transactions in The Club each month. Our number one Gross Operating Profit (GOP) contributor 10 years ago was the Jackpot Room, netting over $800K. 10 years later, at present day, this outlet has fallen out of our top 10 contributors, with last year’s contribution being a mere $40K. Our decision to close this service was a very heavy- hearted one as it represents a significant part of The Club’s history, but the decline in usage and revenue is significant – and so is the lost opportunity of this valuable space. Today our top GOP outlet is sên Spa. Again, the spa service was not in our top 5 earners 10 years ago, and wine, retail and dry cleaning have continued to grow to support operations and cover the gap left by the decline in Jackpot profits. In FY05-06 we had over 360 full-time staff delivering an income (excluding Jackpot and Membership) of $17.2M. At the end of the last fiscal year we had reduced staff count almost 20% to just over 300, delivering a total income of $24.1M. There has been a concentrated effort over the years to adopt efficiency
Martin Rudden General Manager
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NEWS
Mother’s Day It was a heartwarming day at The Club on May 8 as generations of mothers and their families gathered to celebrate Mother's Day. On top of the scrumptious buffet offerings at Eagle’s Nest and The 2 nd Floor, each mom was made to feel special with complimentary bubbly, strawberries and sweet treats as well as a fun photobooth. Kudos to Chef Yeni and her pastry team for setting up the magnificent and beautiful cosmetic display at the Lobby for all to enjoy!
A special thanks to Stamford American International School for their support in making this event a resounding success.
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EASTER EGG CONTEST
Congratulations to Leslie Sadayasu for winning our 'Guess the Number of Easter Eggs' contest! She won the entire jar of chocolate Easter eggs. In case you were wondering, there were 386 eggs and Leslie’s guess of 383 came the closest!
Club Closure Staff Fun Day & Annual Dinner & Dance Please note that The Club will be closed on Monday, July 11 for its Annual Staff Fun Day. This yearly event, organized in recognition of our team members' contributions and hard work, is the one time of year when all 350 of our full-time, part-time and contract staff can get together for a day of fun, food and cross- departmental bonding. The Club will also close at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, August 1 for its Annual Staff Dinner & Dance. Last orders and activities will take place at 2:00 p.m. The Club will resume operations as usual on the following day. We thank you for allowing our Team to enjoy this special evening, which has been organized in acknowledgement of their continual efforts in making this Club the best it can be for you.
Thank you in advance for your generosity and understanding. Your support means the world to us and we really appreciate it!
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Annual Report ELECTRONIC COPY
At The Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 11, 2015, changes to Article 20(f) of The Constitution were presented and approved, and subsequently endorsed by the Registry of Societies.
In line with the new Article 20(f): • The Club will no longer be sending printed copies of the Annual Report to each Member via post. • An electronic version of the Annual Report shall be sent to each principal Member (other than Members on absent status) via electronic mail no less than 40 days before each AGM. • The Annual Report will also be available on The Club’s website via a Member log-in account. • Limited printed copies of the Annual Report will be made available at the Concierge. Membership Office and Library upon request.
The above changes were sought to align The Club with standard market practice, save printing and postage costs and facilitate our on-going efforts to go green.
The electronic Annual Report (e-report) will be sent to the Principal email address currently linked to your membership account in our records. To ensure successful delivery of the e-report, you are reminded to housekeep your e-mail account regularly.
If you would like to receive the e-report via an alternate email address, we urge you to update the latter with us as soon possible, by contacting Vanessa at vanessal@amclub.org.sg.
You may also update your email address via The Club’s website. Simply log in to your account (or register for one if you have not already done so) and click on the Profile Update tab. You may then enter your latest contact details including your preferred email address.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Sandra Chua at sandarac@amclub.org.sg.
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AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE
E-Magazine The Club’s bi-monthly magazine has been a wonderful source of information for thousands of Members and their families for years. While the look has continued to evolve, old favorites such as the latest Club news, event and program highlights, upcoming activities and the focus on Member photos have all remained timeless. We hope you enjoy and benefit from this publication. In our continuing efforts to go green and reduce paper wastage, we are planning to introduce a digitized version of The Club magazine. This new digitized magazine will be different from the PDF softcopies currently available on The Club’s website, and will be more interactive and intuitive. The e-magazine will be accessible from all smart phones, tablets and desktops, and will be made available to all Members via an email link as well as on our Club website. We would appreciate greatly if you could let us know your preference as to how you’d like to receive the magazine. Please write in to info@amclub.org.sg if you’d like to opt out of receiving printed hardcopies of The Club’s magazine once the e-magazine is launched.
Stay tuned for the launch date!
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Niche Group Lucky Draw 2016
We would like to thank all Niche Group Members for their overwhelming response to our Niche Group lucky draw promotion, held from January to April 2016!
Our warmest congratulations also goes to our four lucky winners, who walked away with some splendid prizes.
Thank you for your incredible support!
January $1,100 worth of Aveda products Jane Kyoungmin Lee
February $1,000 Cash + $400 worth of Spa Ritual products Gi Youn Park
March 3 Nights' Stay in Anantara Tangalle, Sri Lanka + Return Airport Transfers & a guided tour of Galle Fort worth $2,500 per couple Thean Lip Ping
April F1 Exercise Bike worth $2,800 Shirley Chen Sin Lee
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s’regdeH & bulC naciremA ehT
CarpetAuction
yrellaG tepraC s’regdeH ta
Saturday, September 3 Hedger’s Carpet Gallery (15 Dempsey Road, #01-09) Viewing starts at 5:30 p.m. | Auction starts at 7:30 p.m.
Be the to register to receive and stand to win great prizes in our 6 Lucky Draws!
Come join us for a drink and bites as we auction off 80 beautiful carpets from Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan & India.
To sign up, please drop by the Concierge Desk, email concierge@amclub.org.sg or call 6737-3411.
15 Dempsey Road #01-09 Singapore 249675 Email: hedgerscarpets@singnet.com.sg | Telephone: 6462-0028 Website: www.hedgerscarpetgallery.com.sg | Open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
THE AMERICAN CLUB REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT
PHASE 1 OF CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN! Phase 1 construction of The Club’s redevelopment began on June 6 at Level 3 and in the B1 carpark.
Partitioning has been installed in the B1 carpark as well as on the landing near The 2 nd Floor to enclose the construction area and to ensure Member safety. We ask that Members and children respect the partitions for health and safety reasons, and not attempt to look into the construction areas or go beyond the partitions. If you notice anything around the construction sites that causes you concern, please contact the Front Desk to report it. We are working hard to minimize disruption and appreciate your patience as we improve The Club for everyone’s enjoyment.
A LOOK AT LEVEL 3 Level 3 construction is underway and the team is working hard to bring you this exciting new concept, which will include the Business Center and Libraries. This space will be ideal for those looking to work quietly, read a book, have a quiet conversation, conduct a meeting, or do some research. The images below are renderings of the space created by the Architect. These images give a fairly comprehensive idea of what the space will look like upon completion, however, please note that furniture and finishings may differ slightly due to availability. We look forward to welcoming you to the new Level 3 in September!
01 Common area with casual seating
02 Common area with casual seating and a small F&B area
03 Business Center to left, Meeting Rooms to right
04 View into the Library
05 Business Center and seating area
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F&B THEME VOTING RESULTS Thank you for taking part in our F&B concept voting exercise in April! We had nearly 1,000 Members across all membership categories* submit their votes for their favorite concept/s.
As a quick refresher, the design team created two unique, holistic F&B themes based on Member feedback. “The American Summer” was the lighter, brighter theme, while “The Neighborhood” was the clubbier, cozier theme.
And the results are… The American Summer
The Neighborhood
Casual all-day dining (currently Eagle’s Nest)
Thyme
Poolside dining
HOME The 2 nd Floor Bar
As for the Union Bar, Members unequivocally opined that the outlet should retain its current look and feel. There was also resounding feedback not to have booths in the design. Both these points have been passed on to EDG, our F&B consultants, to be incorporated into the final design. *Who voted? Take a look at the breakdown
of membership types! TOTAL VOTES: 960 QF Ordinary Family OS Ordinary Single SF Service Family SS Service Single TP Term Family TQ Term Single AP Associate Family AQ Associate Single
: 561 (58%) : 15 (2%) : 47 (5%) : 2 (0%) : 80 (8%) : 3 (0%) : 44 (5%) : 9 (1%) : 25 (3%) : 32 (3%) : 1 (0%) : 13 (1%) : 1 (0%) : 3 (0%) : 122 (13%)
CP Corporate Family Non-Voting CF Corporate Family Voting CQ Corporate Single Non-Voting
AL Trans Associate Family AM Trans Associate Single OL Trans Ordinary Family
QF OS SF SS TP TQ AP AQ CP CF CQ AL AM OL OE
OE 6-Month Restricted Ordinary Family
It is important that all Members, across all membership types, get and stay involved in the redevelopment project. This will help ensure that the designs incorporate as much Member feedback as possible so that The Club ends up being a transformative and user-driven space. BUKIT MERAH POOL UPDATE We’ve heard you! Thanks for all your constructive feedback. We are pleased to announce the following updates on the Bukit Merah Pool. When The Club’s Pool closes (date TBC), Members will be able to use the Bukit Merah Pool for lessons, swim squad practice, lap swimming and play time. Prior to launching these facilities, we are working closely with the Bukit Merah Pool management to undertake the following renovations: • Property-wide spring cleaning • Installation of water heaters and additional lockers • Installation of a lightning alarm • A separate entry path for Club Members with our own towel counter and pool towels The Club will also co-review all of Bukit Merah’s pool checks to make sure the pool is up to our rigorous standards. Additionally, because we know how important food is, we have also met with the operators of both the Kampong Café (local) and Café Seventy (Western) restaurants to review their menus in detail and add items that are currently popular with Members at Poolside: burgers, wraps, Buffalo wings, smoothies, ice cream and popcorn, among others. Café Seventy will also apply for an alcohol license so that they can serve Tiger beer and house pour wines. Our IT team will also be installing The Club’s F&B point-of-sale system at the premises so that Members can put F&B charges on their Club accounts for added convenience.
Finally, based on Member feedback, the new swim term (starting in August) will be based on a monthly sign-up vs. a full term. The Club’s inflatable will also be set up so that children can splash around post-lessons and have more fun at the pool.
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COMMITTEE FEATURE
TheMember-owned structure of The American Club provides ample opportunities for Members to participate in Club life by serving on one of 19 Committees. These committees help chart the course for The Club by working closely with The Club’s Management to set policies and procedures that help to ensure The Club remains a successful, thriving and vibrant community. Membership Committee The Membership Committee (MC), consisting of no more than 12 Members, has oversight of all membership matters through the development of membership policies and procedures that are administered by Management. The MC plays a critical role in supporting The Club’s desired membership level and mix to ensure a vibrant and close- knit Club community. The MC acts as an advisor to the General Committee (GC) on Membership demographics, requests for membership transfers, new Corporate and Service membership applications, status of wait lists, etc. They also make recommendations to the GC on membership fees, dues, transfer fees and absent status policies. Additionally, the MC acts as liaison between
Members and the Membership Department for questions on membership fees, dues, payment plans, transfer fees, absentee requests and resignations. The MC meets on a monthly basis and works closely with Management to develop membership assumptions for the annual budget, as well as the annual membership marketing plan to achieve budgeted membership activity.
Members Dana Hvide (Vice Chair)
James Butler Kerry James Laya Sweeney Linda Eunson
Anne Duncan Arnaud Frade Gayle Haslett Harvey Glick
Mansoor Nakhooda
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer committee member to help shape the future of our Club, we invite you to visit the ‘Volunteers’ section of our website for more information.
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Try out The Amer ican Club 2 Week Sampler Membership * For a Taste of Home. An amazing experience awaits you!
Experience our wonderful community first hand and sample a wide range of activities that make The Club a Home Away from Home for so many Members.
This invitation is open to all that are eligible for the Full Ordinary, Service and Term membership categories. Upgrade to full membership after the trial and we’ll welcome you onboard with $300 worth of F&B vouchers.
For information on membership criteria, visit www.amclub.org.sg or call Anna Bryant at Tel: 6739-4386 or Mobile: 8569-7295.
*A nominal fee of $302.25 applies. Not valid with the Win/Win Membership Rewards Program. Terms & Conditions apply.
LIBRARY
Young Adult Fiction
Greetings from The Library Committee!
We are very excited about the future relocation of the Library to the renovated and beautifully redone third floor space. As preparations for the move get underway, we thought it would be helpful to share with the membership some information about the Library and how the Committee selects and maintains the collection of titles.
Spotlight on…YOUNG ADULT titles. An informal poll asking, “What is a Young Adult title?” would surely yield a wide array of responses. In fact, the Young Adult (YA) branch of the American Library Association only vaguely defines a Young Adult reader as someone between the ages of 12 and 18 – talk about a wide array! 12-year-olds are certainly at a different maturity level than 18-year-olds. It can be very gratifying to see that your tween or teen has the reading ability to conquer titles of great length and difficult vocabulary. However, these skills do not necessarily mean that your child is ready to tackle all of the topics in the YA section. Books on the YA shelves are varied! Titles in the section may touch upon sexuality, drug or alcohol abuse, family struggles, depression and identity. Some of these titles help emerging adults explore and experiment in a safe way, through reading, just as generations of readers have done before them (see Notable Books below). As your child matures as a reader, we would urge parents of younger readers to check the flap- copy of the titles your child would like to borrow. Publishers will sum up the key topics on the inside cover or back jacket. Please be sure you feel the content is appropriate for your reader. Just as you would be mindful of what your child sees at the movie theater, you will want to be aware of what he or she is choosing from the Library. The American Club Library contains a dynamic and exciting collection of books, magazines, audiobooks, and videos for children, young adults and adults. Many resources are utilized to determine if a book is a good fit for the Library collection. The American Library Association, The International Literacy Association, American and International bestseller lists, word-of-mouth, Member requests and Committee reads are just some of the ways titles are sourced. We are always interested to hear from the membership on what might be missing or what is new in any particular genre. As interests change and to best utilize the space, the collection is constantly being edited and titles that no longer serve The Club community are weeded out. The Library collection is an ever-changing assortment. Stop by and check out some of the new titles for young adults including: The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin Topic: Death of a former best friend; grieving; highs and lows of a middle-schooler; detailed information about jellyfish Age: Grades 4 to 7 • A 2015 National Book Award Finalist • A New York Times Bestseller
Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys Topic: Historical fiction; WWII refugees; tragic sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff Age: Grades 7 & up • A New York Times Bestseller Golden Son (Book 2 of The Red Rising Trilogy) by Pierce Brown Topic: Sci-Fi & Fantasy; Action & Adventure; Dystopian fiction Age: Grades 7 & up • A New York Times Bestseller • A Booklist Best Book of the Year (2015) • A National Public Radio Best Book of the Year (2015) • A BuzzFeed Best Book of the Year (2015) • An Amazon Best Book of the Month, January 2015 Notable YA Fiction through the Years
1950’s Catcher in the Rye; Chronicles of Narnia 1960’s To Kill a Mockingbird; The Outsiders 1970’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Go Ask Alice; The Chocolate War 1980’s The House on Mango Street; Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark 1990’s The Giver; Harry Potter; Holes; The Perks of Being a Wallflower 2000’s Harry Potter; Twilight; Hunger Games
We look forward to seeing you at the new Library space!
• An Amazon Editor's Best Book of 2015 • A Booklist Top Ten First Novels of 2015 • A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2015
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MEMBERSHIP REWARDS PROGRAM
WHO SAYS YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO?
NOW EXTENDED TO OTHER CATEGORIES
Recommend your friends to join The American Club and you will each be rewarded with F&B dining vouchers!
Referred Membership Type Ordinary Membership Service Membership Term Membership
Rewards $500 F&B Dining Vouchers each $250 F&B Dining Vouchers each $150 F&B Dining Vouchers each
Three easy steps to claim your rewards: 1. Fill up this proposal form and hand it in to the Membership Office or the Concierge Desk. To qualify, proposal form must be received before your friend participates in any of The Club’s membership marketing initiatives that may be running throughout the year, and also before the new Membership Application Form is submitted. 2. The Membership Department will contact your referred friend to discuss Membership options. 3. Upon election of new Members following General Committee approval and full orientation, you and your referred friend will each receive F&B dining vouchers based on your friend’s Membership category type.
Notes: Each proposal form is valid for 6 months from the date of receipt. Vouchers will only be awarded if the above steps are followed. Terms and conditions are subject to change. Vouchers are not exchangeable for cash.
For more information, please call Elle at 6739-4335 or visit www.amclub.org.sg.
WIN/WIN REWARDS PROGRAM MEMBERSHIP PROPOSAL FORM
Name of Member: ____________________________________________ Membership Number: _______________________________ I wish to propose the following individual/family for Membership at The American Club. Name: _______________________________________________________ Citizenship: _________________________________________ Please print name and underline surname
Name of Company: ____________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________
Email: __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
Day-time Contact Number: _____________________________
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Date joined: ________________________________________________ New Membership Number: ___________________________
Date credited: ______________________________________________ Initial: _______________________________________________
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TRAVEL
For more information, visit www.countryholidays.com.sg, call 6735-1033 or email traveldesk@amclub.org.sg.
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AWAY FROM THE CROWDS AT
Qing Cheng Resort, Sichuan
Chengdu is well-known for its leisurely lifestyle, lovely pandas, beautiful old towns and numerous heritage sites. Embark on a trip that will immerse you in local culture with a 2-night break at the Six Senses Qing Cheng Resort. Nestled in the stunning gateway to the enchanting Qing Cheng Mountains, this luxurious abode is your perfect escape from the hustle of daily life. Soak in the magnificent views of the famous UNESCO World Heritage site Dujiangyan, visit the beautiful Taoist Pilgrimage destination “Front Mountain”, witness the largest Buddha statue in the world at Mount Leshan and get up close to adorable pandas in their natural environment. On top of that, you will also have the opportunity to indulge in Sichuan’s culture by visiting the back stage of Bian Lian or “face changing” opera, experiencing hands-on preparation of Sichuan cuisine, having a go at the traditional Chinese game of mah-jong and discovering the interesting local practices of cleaning ears, drinking bow tea and writing water calligraphy.
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EVENTS
SUNDAY BRUNCH Gather your family and friends and spread the patriotic cheer at The 2 nd Floor & Eagle’s Nest! Join us for an all-American delicious treat!
Sunday, July 3 Eagle’s Nest
Sunday, July 3 The 2 nd Floor
First Seating: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Second Seating: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Adult Member: $41.95 Adult Guest: $51.95 Child Member (under 12 years): $22.95 Child Guest (under 12 years): $28.95 Child (under 5 years): $9.95 Child (under 3 years): dines for free Buffet inclusive of coffee or tea Reservations required A 48-hour cancellation policy applies A la carte menu not available For reservations, please drop by the Concierge Desk, call 6737-3411 or email concierge@amclub.org.sg. POOLSIDE BBQ
First Seating: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Second Seating: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Adult Member: $69.95 Adult Guest: $79.95 Child Member (under 12 years): $34.95 Child Guest (under 12 years): $40.95 Child (under 5 years): $9.95 Child (under 3 years): dines for free Reservations required A 48-hour cancellation policy applies A la carte menu not available
For reservations, please call The 2 nd Floor at 6739-4329 or email 2ndfloor@amclub.org.sg.
It’s that time of year when flags are waved high and proud! Come join us for our Pre-American Independence Day themed barbecue at Poolside. There will be balloon twisting and face painting for the kids as well as photo-taking opportunities with Uncle Sam! Our live band will keep the entertainment quotient up while you enjoy the scrumptious buffet spread.
Sunday, July 3 Poolside
Reservations required A 48-hour cancellation policy applies Only takeaway orders are available during the event from 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Adult Member: $35.95 Adult Guest: $42.95
Child Member (under 12 years): $19.95 Child Guest (under 12 years): $21.95 Child (under 5 years): $9.95 Prices inclusive of buffet & 1 welcome drink (beer or wine)
For reservations, please drop by the Concierge Desk, call 6737-3411 or email concierge@amclub.org.sg.
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Sunday, August 7 Eagle’s Nest
First Seating: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Second Seating: 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Adult Member: $41.95 Adult Guest: $51.95 Child Member (under 12 years): $22.95 Child (under 5 years): $9.95 Child (under 3 years): dines for free Buffet is inclusive of coffee or tea Reservations required A 48-hour cancellation policy applies A la carte menu not available
For reservations, please call The 2 nd Floor at 6739-4329 or email 2ndfloor@amclub.org.sg.
For reservations, please drop by the Concierge Desk, call 6737-3411 or email concierge@amclub.org.sg.
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Saturdays Poolside Movie starts at 6:30 p.m. Complimentary
Recommended for 6-year-olds & above Complimentary popcorn will be served Walk-in only
Saturday, July 9 The Boxtrolls
A young orphaned boy raised by underground cave- dwelling trash collectors tries to save his friends from an evil exterminator. Based on the children's novel 'Here Be Monsters' by Alan Snow.
Saturday, July 23 Penguins of Madagascar
Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it.
For more information, please drop by the Concierge Desk, call 6737-3411 or email concierge@amclub.org.sg.
All event information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication.
Canada Day Buffet Dinner It’s Canada’s birthday! What better way to celebrate than to feast your heart out on Canada’s best loved dishes? On this special day, enjoy our awesome pancakes with 100% maple syrup at just $3.99 (available from 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.). We will also be preparing a special dinner buffet featuring all-time favorites such as Calgary-style Ginger Beef, Tourtière, Nanaimo bars and more!
Friday, July 1 Eagle’s Nest 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Adult Member / Guest: $29.95
Child Member / Guest (under 12 years): $13.95 Child Member / Guest (under 5 years): $8.95 Child (under 3 years): dines for free with every paying adult Buffet inclusive of coffee or tea
Walk-in only; no reservations required Limited a la carte menu will be available
For more information, please drop by the Concierge Desk, call 6739-3411 or email concierge@amclub.org.sg
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MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL @ THE 2 ND FLOOR Mid-Autumn Festival Special Set Menu Celebrate the mid-autumn festival with loved ones and relish hearty dishes with our Mid-Autumn Festival Special Set Menu, an enchantment of eight signature dishes comprised of only the finest ingredients. Start the meal with Chef Kelvin Yap’s Roasted Suckling Pig, followed by a comforting bowl of Fish Maw and Sea Cucumber in Thick Soup, and a medley of mouth-watering dishes including Roasted Lobster with Pumpkin Cream and house favorite Braised Abalone (6 Fresh Whole Heads) with Club-Made Nori Beancurd. The Mid-Autumn Festival Special Set Menu is available for both lunch and dinner at a promotional price of $698 (lunch) and $888 (dinner) for 8 persons. Receive a complimentary box of mooncakes with each Mid- Autumn Festival Special Set Menu ordered. Mid - Autumn Festival NEW THIS YEAR!
September 3,4,10 & 11 Saturdays & Sundays The 2 nd Floor Lunch & Dinner
Reservations required A 48-hour cancellation policy applies For reservations, please call The 2 nd Floor at 6739-4329 or email 2ndfloor@amclub.org.sg
THE AMERICAN CLUB MOONCAKES
This mid-autumn festival, indulge in our exquisitely crafted mooncakes with family and loved ones as we pay tribute to this lunar festivity.
Featuring our perennial favorite, traditional baked lotus paste with salted egg yolks, and a brand new coffee flavor for the coffee aficionados or those looking for a unique twist to a time-honored tradition. LOTUS PASTE WITH SALTED EGG YOLKS (DOUBLE YOLK) Traditionally-baked, the salted egg yolks couple perfectly with our smooth and subtly sweet lotus paste to create a scrumptious savory and sweet dynamic. Best enjoyed with a cup of Chinese tea, this well-loved favorite will always be a joy to savor.
TRADITIONAL-BAKED COFFEE FLAVORED PASTE MOONCAKE* Infused with aromatic hints of coffee, our newly created coffee- flavored paste mooncakes will be a hit with everyone – coffee lovers or not. Enjoy the fragrant taste of coffee in every bite of
the smooth and rich paste. *Available for a limited time only
Our mooncakes are available in gift sets of 4 pieces, perfect for gifting to friends and associates or for your personal enjoyment with loved ones. Available at Home, Thyme Cafe and The 2 nd Floor from August 11 – September 15 Early Bird Special: Enjoy 20% off when you purchase in boxes of 4* (valid till August 25) *Not valid in conjunction with other promotions
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Summer WELCOME BACK Weekend Specials
EAGLE’S NEST The “Nest” welcomes you back from summer break with our Buffet Dinner Madness!
Sunday, August 30 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Adult Member / Guest: $25.50
Child Member / Guest (under 12 years): $13.95 Child Member / Guest (under 5 years): $8.95 Child Member / Guest (under 3 years): dines for free
Buffet Highlights •Blackened Catfish •Buttermilk Fried Chicken •Seafood Gumbo •BBQ Pork Ribs •Baked Mac & Cheese
You can also enjoy selected menu items at a special price of $12.95! •Nachos Supreme •California Salad •Fish & Chips
•Regular Burger (220g) •Chicken Quesadilla •Adobo-Rubbed Pork Sandwich •8” Chipotle Mushroom Pizza (12” at $15.95)
*Terms & conditions apply. Maximum of 6 paying adults per receipt per membership card.
Walk-in only; no reservations required Limited a la carte menu will be available
For more information, please call the Concierge at 6737-3411 or email concierge@amclub.org.sg.
Receive a $30 Food & Beverage voucher when you dine with 4 paying adults. (Terms & conditions apply)
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THE 2 ND FLOOR Our Fresh Maine Lobster promotion is back by popular demand! On this special weekend, enjoy the exquisite variety of lobster dishes our chefs will create specially for you!
Friday, August 26 – Sunday, August 28 Lunch & Dinner
Lobster Promotion – $38.95 (Choose one from the below selection)
Western • Flame Grilled Maine Lobster with Sautéed Button Mushrooms & Hollandaise Gratin • Creamed Maine Lobster with Grilled Portobello & Parmesan Lemon Foam • Whole Poached Maine Lobster Cocktail
Eastern • Baked Maine Lobster with Spicy Pumpkin Cream & Corn
• Braised Maine Lobster with Button Mushrooms & Black Pepper Sauce • Braised Maine Lobster with Superior Stock & Crispy Hong Kong Noodles • Singapore Style Chili Maine Lobster with “Mantou” • “Gong Bao” Style Braised Maine Lobster with Honshimeji Mushrooms • Braised Maine Lobster with Ginger & Spring Onions
THYME CAFE Friday, August 26 – Sunday, August 28 • Buy any 2 savory items and get the third one on us! • Add just $1 for every regular coffee or tea when you spend $15 and above in a single receipt.
HOME Our Welcome Back Linkway wine sale features an extensive selection of wines at exclusive prices! Friday, August 26 – Sunday, August 28
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STAFF FEATURE
We are pleased to welcome our new Beverage Director & Sommelier, Alvin Gho, on board the Club family.
In his role, Alvin oversees all beverage aspects of The Club, including liquor inventory, wines, spirits and cocktail menus, as well as staff training; ensuring a sensational wine and dining experience for Members and guests at all outlets. Unlike a typical industry professional, Alvin never expected his passion for wines to flourish into a full-time career. What started as a bartending internship in 1999 saw him eventually establishing his wine career 10 years later, with stints at Morton’s Steakhouse and Singapore’s famed Raffles Hotel. He has since had several successful postings in Shanghai and most recently at Daniel Boulud’s db Bistro Moderne at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
Besides being a wine connoisseur, Alvin brings a wealth of beverage experience, knowledge and credentials to the team. He was impressively the first, and is still the only Singaporean to be awarded the Advanced Sommelier certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers. He was also Champion of the 2013 Singapore Sommelier Competition and has represented Singapore in both the Best Sommelier of the World and Best Sommelier of Asia-Oceania competitions. Despite his remarkable achievements, Alvin aspires to further outdo himself – he is currently pursuing his WSET Diploma and Certified Wine Educator, aiming to be a Master Sommelier by 2020. Read on to find out more about his thoughts and aspirations in his new role and his tips for selecting the best wines! Who or what inspired you to get started in this line of work? There were many sources but I was chiefly inspired by my lecturers back in hotel school, who made the notion so abstract that I wanted to know more. What can Members look forward to from you at The Club? My role was created to elevate an already successful wine and beverage program to an even higher level. I want to transform The Club into a wine and cocktail- centric establishment that offers its Members beverages of equivalent or better quality and range than the ones outside, but with a value nowhere else to be found…simply put, a club that would be the envy of others. It’s also my hope to make Members excited about and fall in love with wines and cocktails. Tell us a bit about The Club’s beverage offerings. Right now we are in a bit of a transition as I work on evolving our beverage program. Some of the new directions include: A strong American culture, a strong philosophy of ‘value’ –
which does not mean cheap, but rather, providing the best quality at the best prices, and sustainably expanding our selections of spirits and craft beers. For wines, I have a huge passion for exciting, sustainable and wholesome producers and growers who care about what they put into their bottles, as well as smaller, unknown houses - many of which have yet to reach the shores of Singapore! What are some of the challenges of being a Beverage Director? Working in a Club is a little more challenging as I need time to understand Members’ preferences just to ensure I do not take anyone’s favorite beer or wine away from the menu. Having said that, one man’s meat is another man’s poison! A more practical challenge would be the sustainability of the beverage program. It’s very easy to buy every good wine available in the market. To be discerning and only choosing those providing the best taste and value takes a little more skill! Can you share some beverage tips with us? Always trust your bartender and sommelier! Be upfront and don’t forget tomention your preferred price points. Any good professional would help you to work within your budget. When choosing wines it’s always useful to know about the people who own the wineries for a better assessment of the passion behind the label. Lastly, cheap does not always equate to bad; in the same vein, expensive does not always equate to high quality. Any advice for aspiring sommeliers? The key is to always be humble. You will never know everything and the more you think that you do, the more you’ll find you actually don’t. It also helps to have a mentor, like a Chef to a cook. Lastly, the harder you work, the more you need to be able to let loose! Tell us something about yourself that not many people know. Contrary to what most people think, I generally do not drink a lot!
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