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We finally have the rain that Taipei desperately needed, which has had a slight impact on business. Fortunately, we have been very lucky that it has not significantly impacted any of our major events. With stormy weather all the way to the day before Easter, the weather cleared just enough for us to have a beautiful morning for our traditional Easter Egg Hunt and carnival atmosphere while another full house of children and their parents came to celebrate Easter at the Club.
As Spring is an exceptionally busy time of the year for the Club. we had numerous other activities going on in April. We had the finale of our Squash Championship where Ken Chen retained his claim as the Club Overall Champion, we aired the College Basketball Championships in Rendezvous, and our April Swimming Challenge attracted another large group to demonstrate their commitment and endurance. If you are a wine lover, we had plenty to offer this month with a Phelps wine dinner on the 12th, a South African wine tasting on the 15th and an Italian wine tasting on the 26th. We also had the good fortune to have Cultural expert, Greg Bissky conduct a training session with our staff and a seminar on more effective service under the challenges of cultural differences. Then we finished the month with the product launch for Chase Vodka with our “Brilliantly British Bash” to allow Members to enjoy everything British at an exceptionally good value for money thanks to the sponsorship of De Vere Fine Wine and Spirits.
Our ACC Golf Society is continuing to grow with more and more active golfers to participate in this monthly event. For April, our group went to Pa Li International Golf Course with beautiful weather for a relaxing day of golf among friends. Please dont miss our next golf outing on 25 May where we will be playing at Yung Han Golf Club.
This will mark a full year since we achieved “FULL MEMBERSHIP” in May 2012 and we have a current “WAITING LIST” to join of 50 Members. The Board is committed to not exceed the capacity of Club with too many Members which would invariable diminish your ability to enjoy and utilize the Club due to compaction. But with the waiting list, the Club has also had to re-look at the existing business model as the waiting list also represents a significant decrease in the amount of joining fee revenue which offsets operating expenses. One area the Board looked at is the joining fees, which are still considerably below the joining fees of the other Private Clubs in Taipei. Over the past 7 years, the Club has invested a substantial amount back into the Club to bring it to a standard that is expected of a better Private Clubs within the Asia Pacific region. This was done with only one dues increase in the last 10 years. Under these considerations, the Board has approved to increase the joining fees for Members effective 1 May.
The Board also recognizes the constitutional “Mission” of the Club which is to serve the American and international communities and endeavor to enhance a cultural exchange with the R.O.C.. Recognizing the typical Expatriate Member is stationed in Taipei for a duration less than 3 years, the Board has now introduced a 1 and 2 year term Membership to appeal to prospective Members who will only be in Taipei for a fixed duration. We expect that both changes will help to maintain a vibrant and healthy Club while being able to keep dues at competitive levels.
Another change that we expect to significantly improve business levels within the Club, is the Japanese Restaurant which, is well on its way. Renovation commences on May 1st and we will eagerly await its opening at around the 1st August. You are welcome to review the designer perspectives and floor plan that has been placed in the lobby. The theme of the outlet is “Japanese Fishing Village” and the designer has done a fabulous job of combining the rustic feel of a fishing village with a contemporary flair to fit in nicely with the rest of the Club. The only thing we need now is a name. And to help us with that, you will find on page 4 of the Accent, a contest where we invite Members and Staff to participate in providing possible names for this new component of ACC. We look forward to the Members creativity and knowledge to find the perfect name.
Please go through this months Accent to find all the various activities and events offered at the Club for the month of May. Plan early for our upcoming Summer Camp; although we have further expanded capacity above last years record high limits, we expect FULL capacity and waiting lists again this year due to the popularity of last year and with the introduction of two new activities (Taekwondo and Table Tennis). Please sign up early to avoid the disappointed of having to queue on the waiting list.
We are committed to finding ways to keeping the Club active and healthy while maintaining exceptional value of money to our Members. Always feel free to provide us with your ideas and feedback on improving the “ACC Experience” and maintain our journey toward “continuous improvement”. I look forward to seeing you at the Club and making ACC the “GO TO” place to be this summer.
Always the Best,
Todd Bretzlaff
General Manager |
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