Magazine Jul-Aug 2018

FROM THE General Committee

Dear fellow Members,

Thank you for your continued support during our Club’s redevelopment. As we started moving into new facilities and giving up some beloved old ones, there has been much talk about what everyone likes, and what people feel could be better. After listening to Members’ feedback, we realize that the pool deck area has fallen short of some expectations. We are sorry for the frustration this has caused, and want you to know that we are committed to ensuring that The Club remains one that our Members are proud of and enjoy using. We are taking steps to address your concerns going forward, and would like to give you a high-level overview of where we are in the project. Part of The American Club’s philosophy is to be responsive to Member feedback. Although we have now entered the most challenging phase of the redevelopment, we stand by that commitment. That means listening to your suggestions and acting quickly where possible. Because we are in an active construction zone, we cannot trigger all changes immediately; however, we are listening in earnest and determining what can be done, when, and at what cost. To help us do this, we are re-forming the House Committee. This committee was dormant during the redevelopment period as other committees (initially the Design Review Committee and subsequently, the Project Stakeholder Group (PSG)) handled this committee’s functions as part of the redevelopment process. Now that our new spaces are opening, the House Committee will begin working with Members to identify and act on improvement ideas. While House focuses on the facilities that are operational, the Project Control Group (PCG) is charged with overseeing the remainder of construction. Feedback indicates that Members are particularly interested in improving the pool area. To facilitate this, the General Committee (GC) recently established the Pool Area Working Group (PAWG) which will work under the House committee. The PAWG will identify short- and mid- term opportunities to enhance the pool, the deck, and surrounding areas. Members have already participated in a brainstorming session, and the PAWG will take these ideas forward and scope the solutions. These solutions will be raised through the committee structure for action – we will keep you posted on progress and on opportunities to provide further input as the PAWG moves forward.

In the meantime, the GC and Management have taken inputs from the PAWG, PSG and PCG to plan some immediate short-term improvements. These include: • Removing some of the wooden planters on the pool deck to open up the space • Improving the deck awning to allow for more rain coverage and drainage • Enhancing Member experience around the clubhouse (e.g. pool movie nights and other events) To keep you up-to-date on these and other developments, we will increase communication and share floor plans, design features and videos of the construction site. Most recently, Members provided inputs on the gym design, and some changes have been made based on their feedback. Communication on the gym went out recently, and we will update you on The Union Bar and the Youth area in the coming weeks. Please keep in mind that we are an active construction site. The Club has made contractual agreements with multiple partners to complete this project, and our redevelopment budget is fully committed. We are in the final phase of the project and are not able to halt or delay the project now without incurring additional cost and loss of revenue. If Members and committees raise ideas that require additional investment, these will need to be brought to our membership for approval. Despite the challenges of redevelopment, as of April 2018, The Club has maintained a membership level of 3,318 (+28% compared to the original financial model) and reserves of $58M (+18% compared to the original financial model). Additionally, the open market price for a transferable membership is at a record high of $150,500. A lot will happen at The Club in the next 6 – 12 months. We will see multiple new outlets come on line, and we will be making enhancements to our new facilities. All redevelopment projects require a settling in period where modifications and refinements are made. We hope that you will provide input during this period and, where your schedule permits, volunteer time to be involved.

The American Club General Committee

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THE AMERICAN CLUB JUL / AUG 2018