Tokyo American Club- A Better Place For Our Members, A Members Forum
Some of the great benefits of the club are the classes. Boxing, golf, personal trainers… the list goes on.
One class that every mature member needs is the stretching class. Running every Thursday this is a must for those who recognize they need to stay flexible to avoid injury and is a huge benefit to members.
We’re glad to see that we finally have very able management in the saddle at TAC. In addition, we see a fresh volunteer board of governors that are doing their best to make the American Club a place for all members. Leadership change has proven to be a good thing.
We’re moving on. The disputed mRNA ‘vaccine’ center is a thing of the past. The controversial mask police are gone. Hopes are high that unilateral closings of our facility will never happen again. It time to forgive, forget, and be accountable to our members and staff. Good things are coming.
TAC can focus on what it is great at. What is our vision?
What’s left? Maybe time to make masks optional for our great staff as well?
We’re looking forward to a year where great people can gather at a great place.
Today our very able general manager announced the end of forcing members to wear mask at Tokyo American Club.
Wearing masks at Tokyo American Club is now what it should be, OPTIONAL
Mask wearing at the time was an understandable attempt to prevent that sickness from spreading. It ended up becoming more of a tool of control and discrimination by both overzealous staff and some anxious members. Based on Japan infection counts, masks were not all that effective.
National governments around the world have been the most notorious for trying to control their citizens though masks and for what some see as forced experimental vaccinations. Some governments continue to try to control even now.
Sick people should stay home. For sick people, out and about, wearing masks is considerate and cultural in Japan.
It’s fabulous to see TAC lead by example. The Tokyo American Club is an international community. Members are considerate and don’t mind if a member wants to wear a mask, but it should NEVER forced upon us again. We should not be doing things the rest of the international community around the world has already tagged as meaningless and left far behind.
Great things happening at Tokyo American Club under a new member board but more importantly, under a seasoned general manager with years of experience. He has been entrusted to run the business 100%. He is respected by members and staff alike for doing the right things. Well done!
| From the GM: Mask Usage at the Club |
| Thursday, May 26, 2022 9:17:10 PM |
Dear Member, After careful deliberation, the Board of Governors and Club management have decided to make mask usage at the Club optional from May 27…. |
Members have received an email from a volunteer group of members seeking to plunge the Tokyo American Club into the SUSTAINABILITY black hole.
Of course, we must do our best to make sure we’re using our facilities efficiently and avoiding wastes that damage our environment. But as we’re a social club, spending money on corporate fads is not wise for the club.
The MABT members unanimously recommend that you respond to the survey with recommendations that they spend money on things that matter for the well-being of staff and members.
Let’s be great global citizens but NOT turn our club into a financially bleeding recycle center with more burdens on members and staff. Please let them know in their survey!
This group was formed under the old board. It should probably remain in the past. Let’s let it die with the other issues and focus on the future.
Here’s the note-
| Sustainability and Your Club Dear Member, The Sustainability Task Force, which was formed by the Board of Governors and started its work in February 2021, is keen to hear your thoughts about Club sustainability through a short survey. As sustainability is an increasingly important topic for organizations of all types and sizes both in Japan and globally, the Board felt it important to explore how the Club could improve its sustainability. Since its inception, the task force has been learning about the steps taken thus far and formulating ideas on how to accelerate sustainability at the Club. Its initial assessment was presented at the Annual General Meeting last November. The task force believes that taking effective action on this topic requires the engagement of all stakeholders in our community, in particular, our fellow Members. This survey is an important step in that effort. Once we have concluded the survey, we will conduct focus groups to gather further feedback and ideas from Members. Consolidated results from both initiatives will be shared with the membership. Thank you in advance for your support. START SURVEY X Sustainability Task Force Chair Tokyo American Club Sustainability Task Force X• X • X• X• X• X • X |
The controversial American news channel is not exactly the beacon of truth in the news the last few years. Many members grew up with CNN as good source of business news. However, in the earthquakes of 2011, many saw their motivations to sensationalize the truth. In 2011, CNN’s Anderson Cooper tried to get TAC members and business leaders to say, “people are dying in the streets in Tokyo” to make a more dramatic story. Of course it was not true, and those members threw CNN and Anderson out.
CNN has continued to decline in quality as well as viewership numbers. Members report, the Club pays somewhere around 5M JPY per year to pipe this channel as well as the Golf channel into our club.
As we need to be good managers of our money, it’s time to cancel CNN and use that 5M yen (or whatever the amount is) for something that benefits the members. Any suggestions for where to use that budget for helpful business news or maybe even something else?
Time to cancel CNN at Tokyo American Club.
If there is anything we learned from the virus, it has been how to stay fit and healthy. Your health is your responsibility so you must
If you aren’t feeling well, club members are intelligent and know that they should stay home or wear a mask if they have to go out.
The virus was a massive overreaction, in the opinion of many, but undoubtedly damaged our economies around the world. One area that hurt us as a club were the restrictions of constant temperature checking and forcing paying members to wear a face mask. This unwelcoming environment pushed members away with some not coming and others quitting their memberships all together.
Now that the government’s ‘State of Emergencies’ are done, it’s time for the club to welcome back members and encourage the great social environment we have. Its TIME to
The Tokyo American Club is made up of great leaders in business, politics, and culture. With a wonderful new general manager and new board, let’s show our leadership and help lead our society back to normal and prosperity for all
Member initiated call for meeting petition passes. Many members have not been so satisfied with board members, the information they disclose, and their decision making at the club over the last year. Several groups of members organized and did the work to get a members meeting called to make things more transparent by getting members to sign a petition.
Below is the announcement from the current representative governor.
If you have positive, thoughtful things you would like to contribute, or would just like to observe, please come to this member initiated event. Thanks to all that initiated and those who signed the petition to call a meeting for members to voice their concerns and give productive suggestions. Don’t miss your chance.
October 26 Extraordinary General Meeting Update
Dear Member,
As we notified you by e-mail on October 9, after receiving a petition signed by 83 Members, the Board of Governors will convene an Extraordinary General Meeting(EGM) on October 26.
The primary resolution in the petition seeks to prevent a Board-approved proposal to amend governor term limits from being placed on the agenda at next month’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). A secondary resolution calls for a delay to the AGM, if necessary.
Information regarding the petition itself and the Board-approved proposal to amend governor term limits (and to provide guidelines for filling a governor position vacated mid-term) are now available on the Club website (log-in required).
The Board fully supports transparency in all areas of governance and welcomes any questions Members may wish to pose in advance of the EGM or during the EGM when the petition is voted on.
Members should be aware that with the addition of the EGM, the Club has two upcoming general meetings requiring a vote of the membership: the EGM on October 26 and the AGM, which includes the election of the Board of Governors, on November 16.
The Board strongly encourages all eligible Members to register to become a Voting Member and reminds current Voting Members of the requirement to vote at each general meeting to maintain Voting Member status. Failure to vote will result in the loss of Voting Member status and the inability to reregister for 13 months.
A Voting Member who fails to vote in the EGM on October 26 will be ineligible to vote in next month’s AGM and the Board election.
If you are unsure whether you are a Voting Member, you can check your status through the Club website. After logging in, click on My Account and then Edit Profile under Account. If you are a registered Voting Member, you will see the Voting Member box checked. You can also check who is eligible to become a Voting Member, and other frequently asked questions here.
If you are not a Voting Member, registration by October 19 (in person at B1 Member Services only) will enable you to vote in person or by proxy in the upcoming EGM and online in all subsequent general meetings. Registration from October 20 enables online voting in the AGM and all subsequent general meetings.
If you have any questions on any of these matters, please email
Thank you for participating in the governance of your Club.
Michael Benner
Representative Governor
Tokyo American Club
A Message from TAC Volunteer Leader- 30 Sept
| Keeping Your Club Safe: Return of Services |
| Dear Member, As you may have heard, the Japanese government has formally decided to lift the state of emergency in Tokyo. It gives me great pleasure to inform you that the Club will also be relaxing a number of restrictions in an effort to restore much of the Tokyo American Club experience to Members. From October 1, operating hours for Club dining outlets and recreation venues will be extended to close at 9pm. Alcohol will be available at dining outlets to parties of four or fewer until 8pm. In addition, the following policies and services are being relaxed and expanded: • Return of self-serve buffets beginning with the Thanksgiving Grand Buffet • Adjustments to restaurant partitions to improve Members’ dining experience • Return of hair dryers and massage chairs to Locker Rooms • Self-check-in at the Sky Pool and Fitness Center (membership card required) • Self-check-in at some Club entrances during off-peak hours (membership card and temperature check required) In keeping with the Club’s strong commitment to sustainability and cost control, towels will continue to be available from the Recreation desk. By distributing towels to Members on-demand, 10,000 fewer towels are laundered per month for a monthly savings of ¥400,000 – a positive impact for both the environment and Club finances. After such an extended period of uncertainty, I hope that these changes allow Members to return to some of their favored Club activities. With your continued cooperation, I believe that it is only a matter of time before the Club can offer the full range of experiences our Members have come to expect.. Stay safe. Michael Benner Representative Governor Tokyo American Club |
TAC has a strong business model with captive members who don’t want to quit and lose their initiation fees. In addition, pre-COVID, it was a great place to keep up with friends. Recently, reports to members of the number of people resigning from the club has increased. However, we’ve still got a great club with the social connections that we all value.
We are approaching another election for the board of governors. The candidates that are selected to run are vetted by… the board of governors. A bit of a ‘diversity of thought’ issue there…
Our club has executives from Hyatt group, IHG group, Marriott, and several other famous hotel brands in our membership. We even have hotel owners behind the brands around Japan. Several have offered to give advice when the board shut down the club for two months with no consultation in the COVID confusion. This while continuing to charge membership dues, as well as parking and other fees.
The current board is made up of people from recruiting, technology independents, freelance consultants, doctors, and various other great members. However, wouldn’t it better to have someone with experience in running a hospitality operation teaching other board members how a service business should be run? Why aren’t there any hospitality members on the board?
In addition, several of our members suggested, based on the size of our operations, we really need a CFO. Read more about that here.
The TAC members are happy to welcome Mr. Darren Morrish as the new general manager of the club. He is no stranger to Japan, having been in hospitality for years in Okinawa. He may have lost his native Aussie surrounded by all those American accents but he has good marks with the members of our group that know him. More about Darren on our club website here.
Welcome Aboard Mr. Morrish!