TAC Magazine Jul/Aug 2019

MEMBER FEATURE

HOME is where the heart is

From hanging out at the Soda Shop in the 70s to chilling at Grillhouse now, Susan Studebaker-Rutledge has seen The Club through its major transformations. After spending so many wonderful years in Singapore, it’s no wonder Susan finds it incredibly difficult to bid goodbye to The Club this July. Read on for a snippet of her enriching Club life! Tell us about your Club journey I moved to Singapore in 1975 and joined the Singapore American School (SAS) as an 8th grader. Although my family was immersed in the American community, we were not Members immediately. However, my friends at SAS were at The Club all the time, so I tagged along! It was only in 1978 when my mother, Karen Studebaker, became a Member. My mother served as Secretary and Vice President of The Club in the 80s – in fact, she was the first female secretary that served on the board. My mother left Singapore for Hawaii after that, but I continued my journey at The Club when I joined as a Member in my own right. Fun fact – my husband was also a Member of The Club but we only got attached when we met in college in the States! What are some of your fondest memories at The Club? I loved the Soda Shop the most – it was the youth area for teenagers back in the 70s. The Soda Shop was modelled after shops in the states which sold milkshakes with a bar top. The space was exclusive to teenagers and was decorated with booths and tables in red and white. It was the place to be and where all the young people hung out. I miss the hamburgers and French dip at the Soda Shop the most. The Bowling Alley in the 70s (also the very first bowling alley in Singapore) was packed every night and was another place in The Club where everyone would congregate. We had lots of bowling socials, and families would gather there every weekend. What will you miss most about The Club? There’s so much I will miss – the food, our routines, all the memories I have here with my family and the friendly TAC staff who are like family to us. My husband and I, together with our daughter Asia (who’s currently in the States), attend Sunday brunch at the ballroom almost every weekend. It’s our family tradition. The Club has the best deal for Sunday brunches in town in terms of selection and value, and it’s always nice to bump into familiar faces and catch up with staff. Some of the long-time staff like Dahlan, Rich and Nicole have been close to my family for ages. Now that Asia is 18,

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