Magazine Sep/Oct 2018

THE AMERICAN CLUB S INGAPORE ISSUE 156 • SEP / OCT 2018 www.amclub.org.sg

PRINTER: NAILI PRINT MEDIA MCI (P) 004/08/2017 0210/1948RAC

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CLUB'S MANAGEMENT

General Manager Devin Otto Kimble Assistant General Manager Patricia Au

President Kristen Graff president@amclub.org.sg

Assistant General Manager Vijayakumar Raj (Vijay) Senior Director of People Development Tan Lee Lee Senior Director of Facilities & Security Tang Teck Wah Senior Director of Club Services Su-Ann Khor Director of Food & Beverage Malik Riley Director of Fitness & Leisure Randy Simon Director of Finance Angie Ng Head of Marketing & Communications Sara Madera

Vice President Kenneth Fagan vicepresident@amclub.org.sg

Secretary Neil Goldwax secretary@amclub.org.sg

Treasurer Rahul Arora treasurer@amclub.org.sg

GENERAL COMMITTEE Aaron Kim Amitava Guharoy Ashok K. Lalwani Beng Bak Low

Assistant Director of IT VP Chai Executive Sous Chef Paul Ng

Dana Hvide Lindsay Fipp Ngiam Siew Wei Peter Proft Phua Swee Leng Richard Hartung

Duty Managers Anthony, Palani & Ronald

MAGAZINE

Marketing & Communications Manager / Data Protection Officer Jacklyn Ong jacklyno@amclub.org.sg Marketing & Communications Executive Constance Yeo constancey@amclub.org.sg Senior Graphic Designer / Magazine Designer Geraldine Soh geraldines@amclub.org.sg

American Association Representative Stephanie Nash

American Embassy Representative Lt Col Howard Eyth

American Women’s Association Representative Susan Studebaker-Rutledge

Senior Graphic Designer Sarah Lau

Canadian Association Representative Sandra Johnson

Advertising Tel: (65) 6739-4388 / Fax: (65) 6737-2963 / info@amclub.org.sg

C ontents ISSUE 156 • SEP / OCT 2018

01 FROM THE PRESIDENT 02 FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER 03 CLUB HISTORY We are 70! 09 A BOLD NEW US 11 NEW OUTLETS: Galbraith Ballroom & Tradewinds Back to School - Parents Edition Annual General Meeting 2018 A Warm Welcome to Our Newest Club Members Safety at The Club Innovation for Efficiency Rant & Rave Redevelopment Updates 29 LIBRARY Book Club Business Services at Thinkspace Kids' Activities Kids' Story Time 31 13 NEWS Niche Group Lucky Draw Staff Nite 2018 TAC Superstars Happy Birthday Singapore

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MEMBERSHIP The Royal Glenora Club

Devonshire Club Reciprocal Clubs 33 ART SCENE The Beauty of Nature 35 TRAVEL Country Holidays is One with Scott Dunn

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39 EVENTS Enjoy Fabulous F&B deals during our Birthday Week!

Mid-Autumn Festival Oktoberfest Specials Pre-Canadian Thanksgiving Brunch Halloween at The Club 44 COMMITTEE FEATURE Sustainability Working Group 45 SPA Full Spectrum Demi+ TM September & October Promotions sên Loyalty Package 51 YOUTH A Bright Mid-Autumn's Night Celebrating You(th) Halloween Horror Nights 8 The Crazy Carnival Funtastic Fridays Drop-Off Weekends Planning a Party? Sleepover Camps 55 TENNIS 57 GYM Good Habits for Life 59 FITNESS & LEISURE

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Memorializing Kyoto Photography Workshop 2018 Ambassador's Cup Golf Tournament 61 AQUATICS 65 ESSENTIALS

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I was especially reminded of this when I attended the Staff Dinner & Dance in July. As I looked over the crowd, so many familiar faces smiled back – Janice from the Front Desk, who always welcomes us warmly; Richard from Grillhouse who serves my boys milk when they try to order Sprite; Justin from The 2 nd Floor who introduces me to the latest wines...then there’s the back-of-house team whose faces are not as well-known, but who help ensure The Club continues to run smoothly and efficiently – from our chefs who prepare the delicious food, the HR team that continues to find the perfect hires for our community, and our housekeeping team that keeps our spaces tidy and clean. We recognized many long-service staff at the D&D this year, but I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge these wonderful team members who have served our Club family for over 30 years: • A special thanks to Betty Koh, who has been with us for an incredible 50 years and now serves at Essentials, our convenience store. Betty remembers many of our Members as children and has watched them grow up and bring their own children to The Club. Betty, you are an inspiration! • Chef Tan Gee Say, our Executive Sous Chef, has been an integral part of the family for 47 years and has trained several of our chefs. • Ho Wah Jin has proudly served for 44 years and is now our Senior Housekeeping Steward. • A big thank you to Khng Joo Suan and Sa’at Masuki, both Assistant Service Directors at The 2nd Floor, with 40 and 39 years of service respectively. Both are always so welcoming. • Naresh Kumar, our Service Director at Union Bar, has been with us for 33 years; I’m guessing he knows many of you by name. • Our fitness enthusiasts know Mavis Julian, who welcomes you with a smile to the gym; she’s also been with us for 33 years. • Yvonne Retnam has been graciously and delightfully working with Members at The Club for 33 years and is currently a Catering Sales Executive. Thank you all for the years of dedication and for making The Club what it is – a welcoming community and family. The next time you see these team members in the clubhouse, please say congratulations and thank them for their service. I am looking forward to a fantastic year together. A year of new outlet openings, a year of coming together again in our completed clubhouse, and a year of celebrating our 70th anniversary!

FROM THE President

Dear Members,

Happy Birthday American Club! We are celebrating our 70th anniversary this month, and it’s amazing how far we’ve come in the past seven decades. From our humble beginnings at the Cathay Building in 1948, we’ve grown from 146 to over 3,300 Members today, and we’re happy to count you as part of our Club family. We’ll be celebrating our platinum jubilee all year long – watch out for fun events and surprises! As part of this special occasion, we are unveiling a new Club logo later this month. Our Branding Committee – made up of Members, management and our brand consultant – has been working on this new design since March 2017. The committee put much thought and effort into creating a logo that represents where we’ve come from, and what we strive to achieve in the future. We hope you like the outcome. You’ll start to see this new logo being used on Club collateral and merchandise soon. Along with our 70th anniversary, we’re also preparing for new outlets to open later this year. I know this is welcome news for many of us, as it’s been a challenging few months of construction. The good news is, as of this writing, the Union Bar and new banquet room are nearing completion, with wall treatments and flooring being installed. As with all our new spaces, there will be a period of adjustment as we assess what works and what needs further tweaking. This process takes time and is considerable work for our management and operations team. We appreciate your patience as we strive to get these areas up and running in the coming months. With all the change that is happening at The Club, one thing has remained reliably consistent – our fantastic staff. I’m reminded of how wonderful our team is each time I’m at The Club. Hundreds of Members use The Club on any given day, and our staff is responsible for dozens of magic moments, thoughtful gestures and exceptional occasions of service. I’m sure you can think of a time when one of our team members made your day. They are the magic ingredient in our Club experience and truly make this place feel like a home away from home.

As always thank you for your support.

Kristen

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• Decoration/Mural on the poolside wall • Awnings/Temporary rain coverage • Pool furniture repair/replacement • Additional frosting on shower doors • Hairdryers

With the support of the General Committee, we’re pleased to share that we recently removed several of the large planters from the pool area. These planters were not structurally built into the deck, and their removal has allowed for the layout of pool furniture to be altered. This has resulted in larger walkways, more space between tables and a visually lighter look on the deck. We know that opening up this space was a key Member callout, and we hope that this change enhances your poolside experience. The second half of our pool platform shipment arrived from Germany, and has been assembled in the pool for use by our Aquatics team. The new platform will be connected to the old platform, both of which combine to enlarge the shallow area of our 25-m pool to approximately 10m x 6m, addressing another key callout from Members. We will press on with the list of enhancements in the coming months. We’re committed to creating a community space that we are happy with and enjoy using, and our work continues. We will keep you informed via the redevelopment e-blast as further enhancements are rolled out. The Club’s financial year ended on June 30, and the results were better than the original financial model projection. As at the end of June, our membership level is 3,325 (+32% to the financial model) and our reserves stand at $54m (+24% to the financial model). In other positive news, despite the disruption caused by the redevelopment, our total Club usage shows only a slight drop of 10%, comparing figures for the first week back at school for SAS in 2017 and 2018. For the 4 F&B outlets that were open during both weeks – The 2nd Floor, HOME, Central/Thyme Café and the Union Bar – as well as the Spa and Essentials, our convenience store, The Club received 5,457 covers in 2017 and 6,181 covers in 2018, a growth of 13%. Thank you for your continued support during this transition period. We are working hard with our appointed consultants to open more new outlets in Q4 this year. As these spaces come online, there will be a period of adjustment and refinement. We welcome your feedback during each phase of the project.

FROM THE General Manager

Dear Members,

Thank you for your support as our redevelopment project continues. For those who were here during the summer months, we appreciate your patience as we went through the demolition at the front entry of The Club. We know how disruptive this work was, and we are pleased to say we are making progress. You can have a bird’s eye view of the Claymore entrance from the windows in Thinkspace. We will continue to share videos and photos of the spaces that are currently under construction, so you can have a clearer understanding of how these areas are taking shape. We recently shared detailed e-blasts on The Quad and Union Bar, which we hope you found informative. We’ll be sending out dedicated e-blasts on the lobby and all-day dining outlet (previously Eagle’s Nest) in the coming weeks. Based on feedback received, we know that the pool area was of particular concern to some Members. The Pool Area Working Group (PAWG) was formed by the General Committee in May and will report to the House Committee, a standing Committee that will be re-constituted under The Club’s Committee Structure. PAWG has been meeting and will identify, evaluate and recommend potential improvements to the pool area, with respect to space allocation, shade and shelter, pool depth and usability, changing room capacity and functionality, as well as overall aesthetics. We will provide further updates as the work of the PAWG progresses. Taking on feedback from PAWG and our Members, management prioritized a list of 10 items to address in the next few months, some of which have been completed over summer:

• Water drainage (completed) • Planter boxes removal (completed) • Pool platforms (installed) • Cooling fans • Additional greenery

Devin

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The American Club turns

in September 2018!

Built upon the values of inclusive diversity, The American Club has strived to enrich the lives and experiences of Americans, their families, and the greater expat-local community in Singapore through the cultivation of a vibrant, positive and close-knit social community.

From modest beginnings in rented quarters and an initial membership of 146, The Club has grown steadily – and is now a place that more than 10,000 Members from multiple nationalities call their home away from home.

Our growth can be attributed to the collective efforts of dedicated, public-spirited and forward-thinking individuals who all shared in our vision. As we celebrate our 70th anniversary this September, we would like to thank our Members, staff and partners for their support and confidence as we continue to journey forward in our mission; and for making us the successful, thriving community that we are today.

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A Look Back at the History of Our Club

1939 The German community in Singapore had nearly completed building a club at the junction of Adam and Dunearn Roads when it was seized by the Enemy Property Custodian during the outbreak of World War II. The American Association submitted a bid of $25,000 for the property to form a club, but it was turned over to the British Army and eventually destroyed during the war.

1932 The idea of forming a social club for Americans was first mooted in 1932 by the American Association of Malaya. As the total of 56 Americans residing in Singapore was insufficient to support the proposed club, the plan was shelved indefinitely.

1951 Cathay Organization wanted to repossess the space rented to The Club to develop it as part of the new Cathay Hotel. The Club was pressed to find an alternate site in the two years that followed.

First Club premises at Cathay Building

1948 – The American Club was established • Interest in forming a club “aimed at organizing social activities and fostering closer ties among local Americans” was renewed. • On September 10, an unprecedented General Meeting of resident Americans was held for the purpose of organizing the new American Club, and the motion was approved. Appointment of the first officers and General Committee members followed. • Membership was opened to other nationalities, although there was a need to maintain a majority of American members for The Club to retain its identity. • On September 14, 1948, The Club officially opened with 146 Members, on a rented balcony on the fifth floor of one of Singapore’s first skyscrapers – the Cathay Building at Sophia Road. It consisted of a bar and two second-hand slot machines, and was manned by a total of 5 employees. • Entertainment in the early days consisted of Saturday afternoon cartoon films for children, weekly bingo nights, bridge tournaments, and square dances. These were supplemented by annual parties, huge social events which enjoyed immense participation and sponsorship – some of which continue till this day.

New Club location at 21 Scotts Road

1954 Aided by a donation of $25,000 by Loke Wan Tho (owner of Cathay) towards the acquisition of new premises, and combined with Club surpluses of $50,000 and financing from the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation of approximately $150,000, The Club secured the Cycle House at 21 Scotts Road for its new premises, which it still occupies today. The old house that stood on the land was torn down and the land was mortgaged, while construction of a 67,000 square foot California-style clubhouse began.

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1955 The new clubhouse officially opened in June, featuring a bar, a dining room, an office, two toilets, and Singapore’s first bowling alley. Back then, there was no air- conditioning in the bowling alley and “pin-boys” had to manually reset the pins after each set as automatic pin-setters had yet to be invented!

1970 The Presidential Room – formed of a rooftop garden room and serving as a cocktail lounge and multi-purpose room – was built. The Eagle’s Nest was opened to answer the long-standing need of Members for a casual dining facility accessible from all activity areas. It featured light meals, snacks, and a relaxed dress code. Addition of the Presidential Room/ Garden terrace on uppermost level

1963 The Club’s first swimming pool was officiallyopened. Thekidney-shaped pool was a long-anticipated facility, and its completion was seen as a significant move towards making The Club more family-oriented.

Scotts Road facade in 1955

Eagle's Nest

1958 A $30,000 renovation program saw the creation of theManhattan Room and lounge. The room was thus named for an elegant mural of the Manhattan skyline adorning the entirety of one of its walls. The Club once again became a popular dining and meeting place for the community.

1978 The Club purchased one acre of land on Claymore Hill at $2.29 million for the construction of the Car Park and Sports Complex, featuring 3 squash courts, 2 air- conditioned racquetball courts, 4 tennis courts, and an 88-car parking lot.

1966 In what was regarded as “one of the most significant improvements of The Club’s amenities in its 19- year history”, a new Bowling Alley Complex was built, housing an 8-lane bowling alley, an air- conditioned cocktail lounge, a library, a card room, conference rooms, and offices for the American community organizations.

Famous backdrop of Manhattan skyline

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1990 The Scotts Complex is remodeled to maximize floor space. Construction of the new Library, Jackpot Room, Teen Room and staff locker room begins.

1983 Due to its state of disrepair, a proposed major development plan was mooted – with the option to either renovate or demolish and rebuild the clubhouse. As membership had already exceeded The Club’s capacity by this time, architects were engaged to draw up a design for a new clubhouse.

2000’s In the last 2 decades, The Club added a gamut of facilities like Thyme Café; The 2 nd Floor restaurant offering East meets West cuisine; the Youth Zone catering to Junior Members; HOME, our wine retail outlet; the Business Center, a one-stop work area for adults; sên Spa, featuring a comprehensive range of wellness treatments; and Essentials, a retail convenience store. In addition, The Club’s Fitness & Leisure department expanded its offerings with more fitness options, including more Aquatics, adult recreational and gym/fitness classes. The Club has evolved to become a true home away from home for all Members.

2015 To meet the growing needs of the membership and in planning for the future, The Club embarked on a $65 million redevelopment project, which will replace the Scotts Road building and pool, and upgrade the Claymore Hill building and Sports Complex. The redevelopment will allow for enhanced usage of space within The Club, increase staff efficiencies, and ultimately elevate Member satisfaction.

1989 The Claymore Hill Complex sees its grand opening in May. It consisted of two levels of underground parking, the Liberty Lounge – an up-market cocktail lounge, the Union Bar – a casual sports bar, and a function room on the third floor.

Sources: “American Association of Singapore – 50th Anniversary”, published in 1967 by the American Association of Singapore, edited by Glenn A. Wood “The American Club Newsletter”, from 1982 “Singapore American”, from 1958, courtesy of the American Association of Singapore

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70 TH Birthday Bash The Club is turning 70 and we are celebrating with a bevy of promotions and events!

Starting September 3 • Fantastic F&B deals across all outlets • How well do you know The American Club? Take part in our quiz on Facebook on Sep 3!

September 7 & 8

• Tennis Exhibition & Tournament

Sunday, September 9

• Groove to sweet tunes with our on-site DJ • Cheer on Devin, Randy, Greg and Michell at our Swimathon • Dance the hop with our decades dancers • Local games for kids • Complimentary bu et & cake cutting ceremony • Live quiz at Poolside • Go back to 1948 with our photobooth. Submit a multi-generational photo to take part in our photo contest! We can’t wait to see you!

EAGLE Fund, short for Emergency Access Grant for Club Employees, is a Member-driven initiative to raise funds for sta who might be faced with some extraordinary need for additional funds (e.g. nancial aid for natural disasters, re, serious / sudden illness etc.). 70 cents from each F&B purchase and ALL proceeds from the Tennis Tournament and Swimathon will go to EAGLE Fund.

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C l ub ’s 70 th A n nive rsar y Ce le bration

The EAGLE Fund is a Member-driven initiative designed to support Club employees who might be faced with extraordinary need for additional funds during unexpected situations (e.g. flood, fire, death of immediate family member, sudden illness etc.)

$1/lap Sponsor these sporting staff to swim 70 laps each at the pool on Sunday, September 9! All proceeds go to EAGLE Fund. To donate, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/swimathon or drop by the Concierge for physical forms

After 70 years in operation and 20 years since our last logo change, we are unveiling an updated brand identity – which includes a new logo, colors, fonts and graphics. Our Club has made massive strides since its inception in 1948, and the new logo signifies our evolution and a revitalized direction for The Club as we transit the next milestone in our growth – our redevelopment. This new mark, which will be unveiled at the end of September, retains the eagle insignia to stay true to our core identity and to the American spirit and ideals. Its modernized and simplified design creates an emblem that: • Looks bold and confident • Looks accessible and welcoming • Looks relevant to the times • Lends itself more easily to myriad brand extensions • Better embodies our four attributes – Bold, Inclusive, Vibrant, and Positive Fromend September, you’ll start to see our new look on all communication channels within and external to The Club; and soon after, on all our products and merchandise too. By the end of this year, you can also expect a revamped and improved website that not only showcases a visual makeover, but will also see the addition of a range of digital services to augment your Club experience. A Bold New Us

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Unveiling the Logo…

Get ready for our New Logo Launch! Be the first to see our brand new look and join us in commemorating this occasion with a slew of celebratory activities and treats!

Friday, September 28

Disco Party at the Pool 7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Enjoy a special Disco Party poolside, dance to our DJ’s beats, and toast with complimentary champagne and canapés.

Saturday, September 29

Fashion Show 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Watch our models parade down the catwalk in new logo merchandise, which will be available for purchase at The Club soon! Complimentary cupcakes and ice- cream will be served. Kids’ Activities & Photobooth 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Let the kids have fun with craft activities at The Zone while you capture fun images at our new logo photobooth at Thinkspace.

Sunday, September 30

Be on the look out for new logo sightings around The Club!

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New outlets coming your way… A slew of revamped outlets are set to open at The Club from end 2018, and we’re pleased to unveil new and refreshed brand identities for these spaces. Read on to find out more about the inspiration behind each rebrand. TheGalbraithBallroom | Identity | Black

Celebrating a milestone occasion or throwing a commemorative get- together? We’d love to host your next special event! The Galbraith Ballroom , our new multi-function banquet space, is where we help our Members create memorable experiences for life’s special moments. From low-key, intimate gatherings with loved ones to full-out corporate galas, we’ll have you covered with great food and personalized service for any occasion, all year round. COPYRIGHT©DIA BRANDS

Named in honor of Francis Joseph Galbraith, the first US Ambassador to Singapore in 1966, The Galbraith Ballroom brings to life the rich shared history between Singapore and the USA; drawing a connection to America’s early contributions towards the development of Singapore. A career Foreign Service Officer and Southeast Asian specialist, Galbraith was a key participant in cementing strong American ties with Singapore in the latter’s formative years of independence, aiding the growth of flourishing US-Singapore relations we enjoy today. The Galbraith Ballroom logo is a specially crafted mark reflecting the style and sophistication of the ballroom. You can expect to see this new logo, along with uniforms, collateral and other brand applications with the launch of our new space later this year. Stay tuned to the next issue for more details on our new banquet space. 

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Casual, friendly and warmly inviting, our new all-day dining concept, Tradewinds , aims to be The Club’s go-to F&B destination for all ages, occasions, and settings. This is where our Members come to partake in a smorgasbord of delicious International cuisine.

Historically inspired yet modern, the name Tradewinds pays homage to the intimate history between America and Singapore, where flavors and cultures meet at a crossroad.

Trade winds, the prevailing surface winds circling the Earth near the equator, have been used for centuries by sailing ships to cross the world’s oceans, establishing trade routes across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. These winds enabled American clipper ships to ply their trade with Singapore and the rest of Asia, bringing together the vibrant eastern and western cultures of the world. In the same vein, our new all-day dining restaurant acts as a crossroads, a symbolic reflection of the US’ confluence with the world through Singapore. Tradewinds expresses and celebrates the diverse cultures of our Members and the vibrant variety of cuisines you can enjoy with family and friends.

Check out the next issue of our magazine for more of what you can expect from this new restaurant.

Tradewinds, the prevailing surface winds, blow predominantly from the northeast in the Northern Hemisphere and from the southeast in the Southern Hemisphere. For centuries, trade winds have been used by sailing ships to cross the world’s oceans, establishing trade routes across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Tradewinds at The American Club brings together the vibrant cultures of the east and west. Tradewinds brings out the intimacy of the history between America and Singapore, where flavours and cultures meet at a crossroad.

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NEWS

NICHE GROUP LUCKY DRAW Congratulations to all Niche Group lucky draw winners and our thanks to those who have taken part in our monthly draws! Keep your eyes peeled for more amazing prizes throughout the year.

June – Jasmine Foo 4D3N stay in Love Ocean View Room with daily breakfast + 90-minute massage at Mantra Samui worth $1,380

July – Louise Stefansson Apple iPad Pro 10.5" 256GB WiFi worth $1,188

STAFF NITE 2018 It was truly an affair to remember for 300 of our employees, who were treated to an appreciation night at Universal Studios Singapore on July 30. In a welcome twist to The Club’s annual Staff Dinner & Dance, teammembers got to enjoy attractions, rides, an impressive buffet, and even a show- stopping performance by Marilyn Monroe! 39 staff were also acknowledged for achieving milestone years of employment at The Club, with Betty (Essentials) given a special accolade for hitting her 50th year. Six outstanding individuals were then presented with recognition awards for their exceptional service this year. Read more about our awardees in the following pages!

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TAC Superstars

Excitement was rife at this year’s Annual Staff Dinner & Dance, which saw 300 of The Club’s employees gathering at Universal Studios on July 30 for a night of camo-themed fun, food, and Hollywood-style entertainment.

Organized in appreciation of the many staff who keep The Club running like clockwork and make it a home away from home for Members, the event centered around an awards ceremony, which recognized 45 staff in particular for extraordinary and/or milestone lengths of service. Here are the stars of our night:

TANG TECK WAH – PRESIDENT’S AWARD Winner of our inaugural President’s Award, Tang took on the mammoth task of being the management representative assisting the Project Control Group and consultants on The Club’s redevelopment journey since its inception in mid-2016. He juggles the enormous redevelopment portfolio on top of his daily responsibilities as Senior Director of Club Facilities & Security – always with a cool and calm demeanor. “Tang is a walking example of The Club’s core values of Safety, Integrity and Respect. He humbly works behind the scenes to insure that The Club is safe for Members and staff with operations running smoothly. He has been dedicated to The Club throughout the redevelopment project and despite many challenges, has consistently worked towards the successful handover of the new facilities and clubhouse.” – Kristen Graff, President

SOOK HAR – GENERAL MANAGER’S AWARD Sook Har started her journey at The Club as an F&B service intern 4 years ago, before joining full-time at Eagle’s Nest and The 2nd Floor. Her warm smile, sweet deposition and friendly nature helped her warm up to Members very quickly. Her dedication to her job shines in everything she does – even getting called back to work on her days off cannot dampen her spirits!

“Sook Har is a very forthcoming person – what you see is what you get. That, on top of her dependability, persistence and efficiency, makes her an all-round gem.” – Afieq Alauddien, Senior F&B Operations Manager

KEN LIM – EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR (TIER 2) Chef Ken took on an arduous task earlier this year, when Eagle’s Nest closed and The 2 nd Floor kitchen became The Club’s only functioning cook space. Not only did he ensure that the restaurant and kitchen continued to run smoothly during the transition, he also expertly managed the restaurant’s extended operating hours, addition of breakfast menu, as well as lunch and dinner orders from Union Bar.

“Even though the increased workload and construction affected staff morale, Chef Ken’s resilience and no-nonsense attitude during the transitional period really helped to keep the team bonded and motivated.” – Paul Ng, Executive Sous Chef

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LEI DONG – EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR (TIER 3) A common face at HOME, Lei Dong oversees the beverage lists and wine programs at three of The Club’s dining venues and gourmet shop, and is ever-eager to source the best wines at the best value for Members. The ambitious young man attained the highest honor in the French Wine Scholar certification last year, among other equally notable accolades.

“Lei Dong has extensive knowledge in food and wine pairings, takes his responsibilities seriously and is a great team player. Despite his achievements, he remains a hardworking and down-to-earth guy who strives to give his best to our Members.” – Malik Riley, F&B Director

ZARINA – EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR (TIER 4) Zarina’s exemplary people skills helped her form treasured personal relationships with numerous Members over the years, and made her the perfect fit for our Concierge duties. The go-getter also kick-started The Club’s Garage Sales, allowing Members to purchase nostalgic Club artefacts, furniture and knick-knacks at a steal.

“Zarina is very popular among Members and is one of our Front Desk staff with the most positive feedback. Her sense of responsibility and initiative make her a valuable team player.” – Anthony Pabalan, Front Office Manager

JOANNE LEE – ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Joanne joined The Club in late 2016, armed with a wealth of F&B knowledge and experience from her previous stints with prominent institutions in Singapore. She assimilated quickly to the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of her job, and became an indispensable link between the frontline and back-of-house staff.

“Joanne generously shares her knowledge with the team and does so in a way that is not showy or prideful. She also makes sound decisions and is patient in dealing with difficult situations.” – Malik Riley, F&B Director

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LONG SERVICE AWARDS

50 YEARS Betty Koh – Essentials

40 YEARS Rich Khng – The 2nd Floor 30 YEARS Yvonne Retnam – Banquet

25 YEARS Satwant Singh – Grillhouse Kitchen 20 YEARS Jaya Nadarajah – Union Bar Pat Krishnan – The 2nd Floor Desmond Ng – IT Teo Yee Pur – Production Kitchen Michael Tan – Pastry

15 YEARS Serene Tan – Housekeeping Din – Housekeeping

Nathan Suppiah – Engineering Saroja Chelliah – Engineering Arul Susay – The 2nd Floor Kitchen Vincent Seow – Security Patricia Au – Assistant General Manager Sam Kam Seong – Engineering 10 YEARS Jasper Leong – Production Kitchen Bakar Bin Atong – Stewarding Alex Chan – The 2nd Floor Kitchen Lew Kar Choong – Pastry Li Xiaoming – Production Kitchen Tang Teck Wah – Senior Director, Facilities & Security Venice Hernandez – Youth Jesslyn Lim – Essentials Anita Rajoo – Housekeeping Eunice Ocampo – Fitness & Leisure Sun Jialei – Stewarding 5 YEARS Karen Thai – Store Mike Tan – Store Malik Riley – Director, Food & Beverage Lei Dong – HOME Eddy Su – Stewarding Nerang Bin Mohammad – Engineering

Michael Chia – Grillhouse Kitchen Zainab Binte Said – Housekeeping Ken Khong – The 2nd floor Kitchen Vicky Anandan – Concierge Afieq Alauddien – Grillhouse

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY Singapore! As Singapore turned 53 on August 9, Members commemorated the occasion in the only way we could think appropriate – partaking in Singapore’s favorite pastime! Families tucked into scrumptious local fare including laksa, samosa, spring rolls, satay and bandung, while a National Day kids’ party was thrown for the little ones.

BACK TO SCHOOL – PARENTS EDITION A first of its kind, our Back to School welcome back event for parents on August 17 provided a little well-deserved treat for parents – who enjoyed a complimentary breakfast spread and relaxing head-and-shoulder massage – while the kids return to school and routine sets back in.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018

The Club’s Annual General Meeting will take place in November, and is a platform for voting Members to elect six Members onto the General Committee for a two-year tenure, review The Club’s audited accounts for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018, as well as vote on and discuss any other business properly presented. All Mem- bers (voting and non-voting) are encouraged to attend.

Wednesday, November 14 The American Club Registration begins at 7:00 p.m. Meeting commences at 7:30 p.m. sharp Refreshments will be provided

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A WARM TO OUR NEWEST CLUB MEMBERS!

Khong Yew Cheong & Koh Geok Mui Sharon Li & James Lim Tay Yue Koon & Ng Jen Wei Sonam Uttamchandani & Nanwani Ramesh Stuart & Colombe Miller Sherry & Tareshdath Ramphal Kim Sam Yong Sang & Kim Julia Junghee Rajan Beri & Nisha Chakravarty Valerie & Joseph Kubizniak David & Kate Breslin Daniel & Andreina Casey Gianfranco & Bonnie Cuneo

Joshua & Erica Daitch Andrea & Simon Fiquet Dave Hoffman & Joya Margolin Glenn & Holly Johnson Jaeson Kim & Hyeseung Lee Jason & Jaclyn Muncy Ashwin Puri & Vani Pande Jared & Dana Pratt

Kasturi & Prachi Rangan Darren Slind & Kim Bilous Peter Succoso Tracy Stroh

Rob Schimek Lauren Ullman Lee Mun Liong Michelle Copeland Molly Fassbender Dana Houck Khoo Kah Xiang Justin Lim

Steven Stearns Bhakti Vithalani

Some Traditions NEVER FADE… It’s never too early to plan for the upcoming festivities. Say “Merry Christmas”, “Happy New Year”, “Happy Birthday” or even “I Love You” with a personalized greeting card*! Last orders for Christmas and New Year cards will be on December 7; please expect a turnaround time of 3 to 5 working days. Contact our design team at info@ amclub.org.sg or 6739-4489/12.

*printed or e-card design services available

Enjoy 20% off design services from now till October 31

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SAFETY AT THE CLUB Of our three core values, Safety takes overarching priority in The Club’s daily operations. A lot goes on behind the scenes when it comes to ensuring the safety of our Members, guests and staff. Besides routine checks, numerous safety measures and initiatives are also implemented to ensure team members stay up to date and knowledgeable about safety protocols. • FIRST AID & CPR The Club has 114 certified first aiders, the majority of whom are frontline, Member-facing staff. Of this group, 24 individuals are identified as First Responders. Assigned specific roles, First Responders provide immediate attention during emergencies and life-threatening situations. • FIRE DRILLS The Club conducts regular fire drills, both internally and in conjunction with the Singapore Civil Defence Force. These drills ensure that our staff are familiar with evacuation points, know how to react in cases of fires, bomb threats and other dangerous situations, and ensures the effectiveness of our Crisis Management Team in emergency response and incident management. • EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN SAFETY MEETINGS Routine Emergency Response Plan Safety Meetings are also organized for staff to enhance emergency response awareness and knowledge of procedures among team members. INNOVATION FOR EFFICIENCY In today’s fast-changing digital and technological landscape, innovation is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. With this in mind, The Club has embarked on several digital initiatives to improve the efficiency of services, streamline workflow across outlets, and more importantly, allow our staff to focus on the things that really matter – engaging with Members and providing a pleasant Member experience. Read on about some of our recent enhancements. • THINKSPACE DOOR SYSTEM A new digital door system was installed at the four meeting rooms and Boardroom in Thinkspace, eliminating the need for staff to manually check Members in. This upgrade has not only accorded more convenience to Members – who simply have to tap their cards to access the rooms, but also enabled our team to easily track bookings, freed up their time to provide other Member-facing services, as well as provides usage data – which helps us to plan better services. • GRILLHOUSE & CENTRAL ORDERING QUEUE SYSTEM While food and wait service take center-stage in a dine-in setting, what guests don’t often see is the flurry of activity happening behind the scenes during busy mealtimes. To ensure service remains swift, a new ordering queue system was set up at Grillhouse & Central, allowing our team a bird’s eye view of upcoming and current orders, reducing paper usage (with orders sent to the kitchen digitally), and streamlining the ordering process for a more efficient kitchen.

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Rant Rave &

We receive feedback from hundreds of our Members each month. Positive or constructive, your comments are important in helping us assess our services and offerings, and enable us to identify ways to better meet your needs.

Read on for a selection of our most recent Member feedback.

I was in Gym this morning when a Member had a medical emergency (convulsions) and the Gym team rushed into action. The trainers provided immediate assistance (mat, headrest). The receptionist called for the first-aid kit and aider from Central who arrived promptly. The area and surrounding obstructions were cleared to be ready for the ambulance gurney in advance of it arriving. The ambulance arrived via the Scotts Road entrance, which highlights the benefit of having a proper ramp at the entrance. Kudos to all involved who were well trained and knew exactly what to do! Thank you for your encouragement The Club takes safety, one of our core values, very seriously. We have robust procedures for both Members and staff in place to anticipate and pre-empt potentially dangerous or life-threatening situations, and conduct regular drills and meetings to ensure our team is familiar with these procedures. Back in July, our Company Emergency Response and Engineering teams organized a training exercise in conjunction with the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to familiarize the SCDF with our new Scotts Road building, for times of emergency.

I’ve only been in Singapore for 3 weeks and booked myself into the spa for my birthday. The girls (Elaine, Eileen, Rizel) at sên Spa heard it was my birthday and surprised me with a cheesecake and a birthday sign – it was so thoughtful! I don’t know anyone in Singapore and it was so nice to have such a kind gesture on my birthday. I had heard your staff was amazing and now I know it’s true!

We are so happy that our team was able to create a magic moment for you! The Club aspires to be a Home Away from Home for all our Members, not least for expatriates who might have moved a long way from home.

We want to hear from you! Email your feedback to info@amclub.org.sg. Your comments may be published in subsequent issues of our magazine.

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Youth Space Update

REDEVELOPMENT UPDATES

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN OUR RECENT YOUTH SPACE ALLOCATION SURVEY. WE ARE BUSY TABULATING THE RESULTS AND WILL SHARE THEM IN THE COMING WEEKS.

GENERAL YOUTH SPACE INFORMATION The Youth Space design and space allocation were created together with the input of the Youth focus groups, staff, Member volunteers, our Youth & Family Committee, management, the architects, and the interior design team. Based on the feedback received over many months, the following priorities were set for the new Youth Space. These priorities formed the basis of the Youth Space design.

STATUS

Variety of play areas Adjacency of youth spaces, to create "one space" Open, flexible play spaces Outdoor area / Basketball space YOUTH SPACE PRIORITIES

COMPARISON OF THE OLD AND NEW SPACE (including the bowling alley, but excluding external space)

OLD

NEW

1009.14 m 2

1015.13 m 2

v.s.

The outdoor area / basketball space is currently being used as a construction staging area by the contractors. This space will be finished and opened after the redevelopment project. It will be a mixed-use space for both adults and children. The solution of stacking all of the Youth Space on the Scotts Road side of the building met an important redevelopment design criteria: It created an area of the Club for children that is somewhat separate from the rest of the Club. The new youth space is one stacked space. Because of this, the space can be used more effectively and creatively. Although the square footage comparison is similar, we were able to incorporate several exciting features into the area including a playhouse with a slide for toddlers and a two-story wallhola climbing play area.

FINAL YOUTH SPACE DESIGN The following is the Youth Space design that was approved by the Project Control Group and the General Committee. This is the design that is being built.

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CONCEPT 2 - THE QUAD 52% (100 VOTES) NEITHER CONCEPTS 10% (19 VOTES) CONCEPT 1 - THE POD 38% (74 VOTES)

NEWNAME

The new Youth Space name and logo was put out for a Member vote earlier this year. The space will be called The Quad.

ACTIVITIES BY FLOOR LEVEL The Youth Space will be located across the four levels of the new Scotts Road building. We have a great line up of play areas / equipment on each level:

B3 (currently the temporary gym area)

B2 new Bowling Alley

Our new bowling alley will be located here. It has four lanes and lighting for disco bowling. It will be open to both children and adults.

This level is home to our three youth studios, which will hold classes and youth events, as well as be a venue option for birthday parties. (Adult fitness classes will also be held here.) This area has a nice waiting area outside of the studios that is a perfect spot for parents / helpers to wait for children. This is where the Scotts Road entrance is located, which can be used by all Members.

B1 play area for children 6-14 (previously called The Zone)

This is our play area for children 6-14. This space can accommodate the following play areas / equipment, but the final offering is pending the outcome of the youth survey:

Marble machine--fun, educational, and interactive, this wall-mounted equipment allows children to direct a path of marbles through pegs, tracks, and bells. This is being designed in conjunction with the Singapore Science Centre. Evergreen games--foosball, air hockey, and table tennis. Wallhola--a large, 2-story play structure that allows children to climb around inside. Lego area--get your creative juices flowing. We're exploring hosting some robotics Lego classes in the Youth Space as well.

Arcade games--gather round and watch your friends play. Imagination block play area--large blocks ideal for big ideas.

Mini screening area / PS4 space--a small area for watching movies with friends and playing PS4. PC / Board Game area--an ideal space to play board games that can be checked out from the youth reception or a spot to jump on a PC to play. There are two cozy pods here to hang out in and play on your own too.

An image of the Wallhola play structure, usable by children 6 years old and above.

L1 play area for Toddlers (previously called poolside kid zone)

This is our play area for toddlers. This space will have the following play areas / equipment: Soft play area with age-appropriate toys. "Market" play area--this space can change theme every 6 months. Dress up wardrobe and dramatic play areas. Playhouse with slide (see image).

An image of the playhouse with slide.

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FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE BIG FANS OF THE UNION BAR, WE'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW ON WHERE WE ARE WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT FOR THIS SPACE. WE'VE ALSO INCLUDED A VIDEO ON OUR MICROSITE, SO THAT YOU CAN SEE HOW THE CONSTRUCTION IS PROGRESSING IN THE BAR. Union Bar UPDATeS The Union Bar design was created together with the input of the Union Bar and Food & Beverage focus groups, our Social and Dining Committee, staff, management, Member volunteers, EDG (our restaurant design consultants) the architects, and the interior design team. Based on the feedback received over many months, the following priorities were set for the new Union Bar. These priorities formed the basis for the Union Bar design. 1 GENERAL INFORMATION

*Furniture layout may be adjusted

The above is the Union Bar design that was reviewed by the Social and Dining Committee and was approved by the Project Control Group and the General Committee. This is the design that is being built. FINAL UNION BAR DESIGN

QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THE NEW UNION BAR

Who is EDG? EDG are our restaurant design consultants. They have restaurant, hotel, & resort design experience. Some of the restaurants they've worked on in Singapore include Neon Pigeon, the Fairmont, and Club Street Social. They came up with the design concepts for all our F&B outlets and the centralized kitchen concept that will help us streamline our service and increase efficiencies back of house. Why did the location of the bar move? The UB location was discussed at length by the Project Control Group, consultants, and management, in addition to getting feedback from Members. The membership wanted a larger Union Bar. EDG, the F&B consultants, felt strongly that a centralized kitchen concept would not only make service at The Club more efficient, but also make receiving, food prep, and kitchen work more effective too. In its current location, food had to be brought through the Lobby from the Eagle's Nest to serve in the Union Bar. After weighing several factors including: future proofing The Club for growth, kitchen connectivity and operational efficiencies including service and food quality, adjacencies to other adult spaces, creating a separate entrance/exit for UB users, and the fact that the UB is a destination in itself, the decision was made to move it to B2. I heard you are having liquor lockers. What are they? Yes, we will have liquor lockers. These are specially built, small cabinets that can hold up to 3 bottles of liquor (depending on the size of the bottles). Members will be able to use these lockers for a stipulated timeframe when they purchase bottles in the bar, after which time the lockers can be rented, so that they can store their bottles on site. Is there an area for bands / live music? Yes, this was a callout by Members. There is an area on the far left of the room where bands can set and up play.

Maintain the same look & feel as old Union Bar (wood paneling, pennants, Sports bar) Increase the size of the outlet Maintain the mix of high and low furniture Keep the large screen TVs KEY DESIGN PRIORITIES

STATUS

While some Members wanted us to keep the UB in its current location, this could not be accommodated together with an increase in the size of the outlet in its current location. The new bar will be larger than the existing bar. 2

COMPARISON OF THE OLD AND NEW SPACE SEATING CAPACITY

MEASUREMENTS (m 2 )

NEW OLD 157.18 238.46 v.s.

OLD 70

NEW 100

v.s.

The new Union Bar will be located on Level B2, across from the gym entrance and near the new banqueting room and the bowling alley. This location was a Member suggestion as it creates a dynamic adult area for events, drinks, and entertainment. Creating adult spaces was a significant callout as part of our focus group and feedback exercise prior to the design phase beginning. 3

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