From: Mamoru Ohara
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 2010 9:57 AM
To: ‘TAC – Member Services Desk’
Subject: TELL TAC
Dear Management, HR and HR Committee,
I know that many of the employees that take good care of me, of all members everyday are worried about their jobs. My letter is intended to be a gold star, a mark of exceptional service, for each employee that has served me since we became members in 1988. I take their welfare personally and I want to make it very clear to you all that I don’t want to see the budget cuts start with the Garden Café staff like Kumaran, Satoko, Ayumi, Mariko, Chika, Allan, and the managers Osamu, Christophe, Armand – I may not remember all their names but their faces I know very well.
The same goes for the Vineyards – Mina, Minjee and all the gracious staff who have already had their hours cuts. Let’s not forget the Grille with Suzanna, Miki, Jason, Wede, Antonio and the rest of the staff who manage to remember every dish and drink my husband and prefer. Banquet staff, American Room staff as well – we enjoy the brunch service and the special events there.
Then there is video and book library with Akisato san and her lovely ladies that apologize for each video that I return late, apologize for not remembering my number and the most gracious library staff who help me find books, extend my check for my books – Keiko, Joe, Erica – and the others who are more polite than most of the members.
The parking lot guys who meet us with a smile and a greeting – they are the front line, the first persons we see and they are the face of TAC. Their skill with taxi drivers, people with luggage and stuff – is above the call of duty – all of them know me by name. The MS Desk, most members would be lost without them. Hayashi san always helps me with my exhibition issues, all of them remember my name and greet me with a smile and will do anything to help me and my guests.
My favorite pool staff – they are at top performance this season and the best at what they do and I want you to insure that they have the full support they need to do their job to keep us safe and happy during the hot summer months – Masa, Mac, Toshi, Ken, Ray, Beni, Yasuko, Altiani, Dylan, Harrison, Reina (shes’s the queen) Max, Henry – just to mention a few.
The Rec. Desk and the Gym – Noriko, Harumi, Gerry, Hide, the new guy Ronny, all of these folks keep it clean and running smooth and patiently explain to members who date back to the Black Ships and chauffeured cars that not all classes are ticket and what each class offers. And don’t forget the trainers – Taka, Lori, Travis, Koichi, Kaori – they are the face of the gym and make the place special by making us feel special.
The kitchen staff who bake my chocolate pie, make my salad just the way I want it and season the dish of the day to my taste – I don’t know their names but I know they know mine.
Last but not least housekeeping and grounds keeper who work tirelessly to keep this place clean and comfortable – they clean the restrooms, the lobbies, the drive way, decorate, make sure the pool pump is running – I like the way they do their job and I don’t want them outsourced to Duskin or some other faceless company because they won’t really care if the work is up to standard.
Without all these folks this is not the best club in all of Asia. Let me be clear – we want to see them after cost cutting measures, and any other way you find to trim the fat, get rid of the dead wood. These people are not to be replaced by outsourcing, or any other hair brain scheme you dream up because they make the Club, they are the Club and without them there is NO point in coming to TAC. After all I have NOTHING in common with the boors who berated the Board at the last debacle, I don’t date back to the Raj and I drive my own car or walk – those folks, well they are just passing through but I will be here long after most of you are gone.
I may not be the longest membership, I may not be the one who spends the most but I have spent many years working with these folks to make this club better for every member. In my efforts I have had to endure insults, scorn, and rude behavior from other powerful members. But I have helped to create Masters Swim, Adult Swim, Stroke Development and Core Class and I can honestly say members enjoy the fruits of my labor and the club has benefited. So remember my voice is very powerful among the members and we own this club.
Sincerely,
Veronica Ohara
Dear Members,
My husband and I are also concerned about the future of TAC. Roni and Dieter, your comments are just. I too, think our staff is fantastic and would hate to loose anyone due to cost cutting. I do believe, however we will have to trim a bit. While I know the staff is hard working, courteous and conscientious, I do believe we can manage their time better to serve the members.
It might also be a good idea to temper that with a small monthly minimum that must be spent at the club. Most western clubs have this rule. Or increase dues, but over a longer period of time, say 5 years or more. I think a little bit of all this tough medicine is needed.
Further, I have an issue, regarding the voting rights. I do know this past vote galvanized many members to voice their opinion. (I believe roughly about 1/3 or the total membership voted.) However, I think voters would have been greater if either husband or wife was allowed to vote. TO BE CLEAR, ONE VOTE PER MEMBERSHIP NUMBER, BUT ALLOW EITHER ADULT TO VOTE, NOT JUST THE ONE WHOSE NAME BEARS THE MEMBERSHIP. Yes, I am aware my husband can transfer his right to vote to me, but there are times when I can’t fulfill that responsibility. Thus, it would be expedient for both of us to carry this role.
Sincerely,
Riya
Roni,
thank you for pointing out a very important and, unfortunately, often overlooked aspect of the recent, heated debates at TAC, our staff.
I think that there are many of us – myself included – that wholeheartedly agree with you, we do have great staff in many of the club’s venues. Their dedication to providing us great service, to knowing and catering to our personal preferences is a key ingredient in having a good club experience. And this is well worth preserving.
Your concern deserves to be heard. The one thing that everybody can agree on is that we need to be prepared to make changes in order to assure our club’s financial viability. There are many opinions as to which changes to make. And many potential solutions being proposed.
One of those potential solutions is outsourcing some of the club’s operations. Two comments I want to make on this:
1) outsourcing operations does not necessarily mean that we have to get rid of current staff, especially if we are happy with their service. When outsourcing is done right, it will result in more professional management, lower cost AND top class service.
2) However, we are getting ahead of ourselves here. Before any decision for or against outsourcing is made, it is only prudent to benchmark our existing operation and measure them against comparable standards. Assess where our current operations fall short, identify how best to rectify and then take appropriate action, which may or may not be outsourcing. Done properly, this will focus on looking at how efficiently this part of the club’s operations is being managed.
Even if outsourcing were to turn out to be the right choice, we would want to ensure that we recognize and retain the many staff members who do provide us with excellent service. They are an important part of what makes our club worthwhile.
Any provider of outsourced services will still need staff, they will no doubt want to look at the good ones we already have.
The salary info is posted on the Board of Governors section of Committees & Management
It’s in the Downloads & Minutes area, about fourth link from the bottom of the list
I could not find the salaries of the managers on the official TAC site. Please, exactly where are they posted?