News
Women's Group to Donate ¥8.8 Million to Charities
The Club's Women's Group will distribute ¥8.8 million to local charities in 2017.
Of the funds to be donated, ¥2.3 million was raised through the International Bazaar (pictured), the group's annual three-day sale in November.
The organizations to receive monetary support include A Dream a Day in Tokyo, HELP women's shelter, Family House, Sanyukai homeless shelter, Second Harvest Japan, the Japan Association for UNHCR, the Asian Rural Institute and a College Women's Association of Japan scholarship program.
"These donations are very important, and we receive a lot of appreciation letters," said Tomomi Fujita, chair of the Women's Group's charities committee. "For example, we donate ¥100,000 to Sanyukai every year, which they use for over-the-counter drugs for the homeless."
The Women's Group's next fundraiser is its annual Carpet Auction on February 4.
CHOP to Renovate Bar
CHOP Steakhouse will open the doors to its remodeled bar on January 11.
The stylish, inviting space will feature a wood-topped bar counter with four chairs, along with bottle displays and beer taps.
Nathan Baggs, the Club's beverage director, says the bar design encourages socializing among Members while they enjoy a pre-dinner drink or casual midweek meal.
"The new CHOP Bar will provide a speedier service, more opportunities for Members to interact with one another and a sophisticated alternative to Traders’ Bar," he said.
The bar is designed by Tokyo-based design firm Scandinavian Modern.
Majority of Members Satisfied with Club
Nearly 90 percent of Members said they were either very satisfied or satisfied with the Club in the recent membership satisfaction survey.
The annual questionnaire was filled out by 1,262 Members, representing a 71 percent increase from last year.
Meanwhile, 69 percent of Members said they believed Club membership represented good value, a drop of 4 percent from 2015.
Elsewhere in the survey, Member and Concierge Services, the Fitness Center and the Library were the Club areas with the highest satisfaction rating, and the Fitness Center, Locker Rooms and Traders' Bar saw the biggest satisfaction rate improvement from last year.
The full survey results can be viewed on the Club Business Documents page.
New Club President and Governors Elected
Michael Alfant (left) has been elected the Club's new president, or representative governor.
He was selected by the new Board of Governors after the results of the Board election were announced at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 15.
"I pledge to do my best to fulfill the role diligently, and I'll rely on everyone at the Club to help me do the job," Alfant said.
Michael Benner, Jesse Green, Sandra Isaka, Gregory Lyon, Jerry Rosenberg, Machi Nemoto and Anthony Moore were all named governors in the annual election.
In other Board positions, Michael Benner and Alok Rakyan were named first and second vice president, respectively, Ginger Griggs was selected as secretary and Hiroshi Miyamasu is treasurer.
Voting Members at the AGM also approved the proposal for the Club to be the venue for USA House, Team USA's hospitality house at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Voting Starts Ahead of AGM
Voting has begun ahead of the Club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 15.
Voting Members will select candidates from an approved slate in the yearly Board of Governors election. The Board will then choose a new Club president, or representative governor.
Besides the Board election and approval of the Club budget, this year's AGM agenda includes a vote on the proposal for the Club to become the venue for USA House during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
