Magazine Jul-Aug 2018

Olympic medalist and member of the famous Australian Mean Machine swim relay team. Upstairs on The 2 nd Floor, we welcome Arjen, our new Restaurant Manager. A Dutch who has called Singapore home for the past 19 years, Arjen joins us from the Montreaux Jazz Club at the Pan Pacific Hotel. He is a seasoned restaurant manager and wine connoisseur with an eye for improving service and incorporating great new ideas for The 2 nd Floor. While many of you kick back and relax into the lazy days of summer, the Management, redevelopment committees and construction teams will be working hard to tackle some of the thornier issues that have surfaced during the redevelopment. We will be working to enhance the pool deck space – Management is currently reviewing alternative fabrics for the retractable awning to rain- proof the Grillhouse dining area. Once that is sorted, the removable planters can be moved. A solution has also been designed to tackle the rainwater drainage issues and the contractors are set to make those fixes. Our recently formed Pool Area Working Group will be meeting to brainstorm both short- and long-term solutions to further enhance the area. Know that the General Committee and I are fully committed to making this a Club you can be proud of. We will continue to work on the areas under construction, including the Lobby and all-day dining (previously Eagle’s Nest), the latter of which will emerge with a new look, concept and name later this year. We will be fine-tuning the Central and Grillhouse menus and operations until we reach the level of service that we at The American Club are known for. If you‘ve not had a meal at Grillhouse yet, I would highly encourage you to do so – the food is spectacular. Chefs Mailk, Paul and Michael and the Grillhouse kitchen team have truly outdone themselves. The smoked beef brisket, mean green protein salad, fish tacos and bite-size mac and cheese balls are already favorites with my family.

FROM THE President

Dear Members,

The moment I hit “send”, an e-version of this message will be disseminated to phones and desktops across the globe, where many of you are enjoying your holidays or home leave in the company of loved ones. Safe travels to all on hiatus from Singapore. For those of you who stayed behind, and are perhaps reading this in print, there’s also joy to be had. Tennis courts and dining reservations will be easier to book, and coffee lines will be pleasantly short. Summer is, indeed, a welcome respite for all. As I imagine the number of countries this message will travel to, I’m reminded of just how large and diverse we are as a club. I’m proud that The American Club has a dedicated and passionate membership that generates a groundswell of ideas and suggestions. We make an earnest attempt to hear all Members, listen to their suggestions and complaints, and take action where we can. Indeed, we acknowledge that the redevelopment has been a challenging period. As we open new facilities, Members have come up with ideas for modifications, and we are taking all input into consideration to ensure that The Club will meet everyone’s needs. The Club, of course, represents different things to different Members, and it’s important we acknowledge that by respecting everyone’s views. This is a core tenet of our club culture, and is also stressed in our by-laws – which calls for Members to “at all times (be) courteous and respectful of the rights of other members and families to enjoy The Club and (to be) respectful of the dignity of staff members.” We appreciate your patience and understanding during the redevelopment and ask that you continue to provide your inputs while respecting fellow Members and our staff. Speaking of the staff, our annual Staff Dinner and Dance will take place on July 30. The Club will be closing early to give our team members time to get ready for this special night of bonding. They deserve it. Many of them have spent the past months in different roles and learning new skills as outlets closed and new ones opened. Their willingness to learn, adapt and continue to serve all of us with a smile is admirable. Some of you may have noticed a few new faces around The Club. Please join me in welcoming Greg Fasala, our new Aquatics Manager & Head Coach, who brings a wealth of experience to the Aquatics program having coached for 35 years. A native Australian, Greg is a former

We’re working as hard as possible to make this a great club for everyone – Members, management and staff – and our commitment to that hasn’t wavered. We’re in this together, and we appreciate your support, ideas and commitment to positive change in the months ahead.

Have a great summer everyone!

Kristen

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THE AMERICAN CLUB JUL / AUG 2018