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THE AMERICAN CLUB
MAR / APR 2017
Scott Weber
President
I’d also like to take some time to recognize a few mentors.
Ron Stride provided an outstanding example of dignified,
thoughtful leadership. Jim Gribbon, Sally Greene, Kirk
Hulse, Kathleen Urquhart…what can I say other than
thank you for allowing me to work with you and to learn –
especially to persevere and productively manage during
challenging times – from you.
And then of course there’s my wife Sondra; thank you
for putting up with the countless hours of meetings and
for being such a fantastic sounding board for ideas and
patient listener when I need to vent my frustrations. You
never cease to amaze me.
Finally, I’d like to thank you, the Members, for the trust
you’ve put in the team as a whole. Redevelopment, no
doubt, is a daunting affair. Your interest in our messages,
participation in what seemed at the time were never-
ending meetings and committees, and feedback (good
and bad), have made all the difference. Thank you for
proactively, and productively, raising your concerns
with courtesy. I hope you know that we’ve taken them
seriously and that you have, as we have, collectively
made a difference for the future of Singapore and the
larger community (and not just the American community)
within it.
I’d like to close out with four small requests:
1. Appreciate our security and be courteous to them (and
all the staff). Always show your membership card without
being asked to. Don’t grumble about it. They are, after all,
protecting YOU.
2. Say hello to the people who clean up after you; notice
them from time to time and say thanks. I’ve learned so
much from them – they are incredibly patient and have
a far better perspective on things than you might expect.
3. Always allow, and take time for, opposition and
constructive debate. Healthy tension, respectful in nature,
garners optimal results.
4. Be open to compromise and don’t insist on your own
way. It was hard for me to give up on the idea of putting
the gym on the south side of the building facing Scotts
Road, but this has never been about any one person’s
desires. It’s about a community of Members, staff and
others with diverse cultures, ideas, investments, concerns,
backgrounds, beliefs, and visions who collectively form
something of great value, something worth investing in.
That, for me, is The American Club.
So finally, in closing, please allow me to thank you once
again for enabling my participation in The Club’s past,
present and future. It’s been an honor for which I’m very
grateful. May God bless you all and The Club in the future.