"We are making some progress"

Jerry sent in an email with an update:

===
Hello All,

Some good news to report. It looks like we are making some progress.

It has come to my attention, that via conversations between the URA and the Legends Fort Canning Club Management, it is now CONFIRMED that the Management has agreed and committed to the Urban Redevelopment Authority that the new clubhouse at the club will be FOR MEMBERS ONLY, and will not be used by hotel guests.

Our next move is to work with the URA and make sure that we do receive the 50.9% of the covered space for the club members "Exclusive" use, as we still have not received confirmation as to exactly how much of the 50.9% of the allocated space will be counted in the new clubhouse, and how much would be in the main building or any other building as part of the new renovated facility. This was not clear in the drawings that we saw at the URA office, so this needs to be clarified.

We need to follow up with the URA on Monday and Tuesday of next week, to try to clarify issues that we perviously discussed. I also look forward to receiving input back from them. I will also be faxing all of the petition signatures that I have to the URA on Monday.

On another note, I spoke to Herbert Hofer last night as I was having tea in the lobby of the Legends, prior to dinner. From our brief conversation, it sounds like the Management is realizing that they could have given the members more input prior the the construction and final plans. Nevertheless, Mr. Hofer guaranteed me that all of us members will like the new facilities much better than what we now have. He insisted that the new renovations would definitely increase the value of our memberships. I told Mr. Hofer that I will believe it when I see it, that we were happy with what we had. I also told him that most of us did not join the club as an investment, but as a place of recreation, a haven from the pressures of work, not for profit. I also told him that a lot of these problems could have been avoided had the club management been more up front with us on all developments, and had us actively involved in the process. He told me that if it had been possible to do the work in stages they would have done so. I then told him that with about 2,400 members including corporate, and with all of the brilliant minds that we have, that I really felt that together we could have figured out a way to accommodate everyone, or at the very least, come up with a compromise that would prevented or at the very least, greatly reduced all of the bad feelings that are out there right now. I also told him that he should at least be happy that they had put together a club, which although was not perfectly run, was something that all of us felt was worth fighting over. At least we cared. It was a cordial discussion, and the fact that he approached me first is a good sign.

At this point, I think that barring a miracle, it is impossible for us to put a halt to their construction plans, and the renovation. What I do suggest, is that in about two weeks time, when all of the bad feelings have blown over a bit, that we investigate forming a Members Association. I would serve in the association if requested. We should have a group of six people (a manageable number) that meets with the club management on a timely basis as part of the group, to keep the rest of our members updated on the progress of the renovation, and more importantly, to make sure that our interests are protected.

In the interim, we can also have our "LEGENDS IN EXILE" group, to meet time to time at various venues throughout Singapore over the next six months. We need to start collecting e-mail addresses as soon as possible via our web site www.legendsfortcanning.blogspot.com so that we can continue keep our members informed of what is going on, and to get as many people as possible to any functions or gatherings that we may want to have over the next 6 months or more.

Joe, please place the enclosed information of this e-mail on the web site. If anyone needs to reach me, I have a BlackBerry on me at all times, and can get back to you within minutes.

Thanks folks! Hang in there. It's only been a couple of day, but I miss our club and you guys and gals already.

Best Regards Always,

JERRY BARISANO
===