At the Tokyo American Club, we have a suggestion box called the Tell TAC. It is designed to people about the good and bad things of what that TAC staff is doing.
In the Townhall meetings, and club membership meeting on 7 June 2010, it became very evident to the membership that the top 10 managers at the TAC are overcompensated based on the market in hospitality in Tokyo. This section is reserved for comments about the rest of the staff.
If you have some compliments, please feel free to add comments below.
Sincerely,
The Making A Better TAC (MABT) Team
www.abetteramericanclub.com
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