Club needs new PR agency

I am going to respond to the awful letter by Herbert last week. I have been on vacation with the family since it is school holidays and did not want to ruin it by thinking too much about it. But vacation is over... Time to rip the letter apart.

"Several members voiced their opposition and took it to the URA and the Press. As a result, we have to make some changes to our original plan and we hope to receive final approval from URA by May this year."

1) The "original plan" was to make members share the gym and other facilities in the glass building with hotel guests and probably the public. Let's not lose focus on the issue here, shall we?

2) "some changes" - So we are blamed for these changes. What are these changes? If you all recall from the Sunday Times article on October 19 last year, here's a direct quote: "Some members also took issue with the fact that hotel guests would have access to facilities in the members' new glass building... When contacted, Mr Oh called this 'a mistake' and said the management had since come to an agreement on Thursday that all facilities in the new members' block would be exclusive to members and their guests."

Blame US for calling the Management out on their MISTAKE!?!?!?!

BLAME YOURSELVES for making the "mistake". Even the newspaper put the quotes around the 'mistake'.

3) "receive final approval from URA in May..." - we have been asking Herbert regularly for the last few months on the status of the glass building since no work has been done. Herbert has been telling us that as far as he knew there were no delays - until March when we pushed further.

NOW he is saying that they had to submit some kind of approval to URA. This would have been submitted back in November last year some time. And he would have known back then that things would be delayed. But are waiting until now to tell us all?????????

"In addition, the Banks that we have been talking to are very worried about the situation with the members. They do not want to be entangled in potential problems between owner and members."

1) "the Banks" would have already approved the loan before any work was started. Are they saying that the "banks" are holding back money from them? No, they are not saying that. They just want to throw some blame around. If the "banks" already released the money for the renovation, where is the money right now? That's what the "banks" should be worried about.

2) "situation with the members" - Ok.. if they are worried, what is Management and Owner doing about the relation with members? We have not had any communication from the club until this month (except for the monthly billing for "Members with Golfing Privileges" and some spam mail).

Have they engaged any of us at all? We are loyal members and care about the Club, which is why we speak up. We can help change public opinion, bring new members in, and bring in cash to the owners - IF they reach out to us with a carrot and not with a STICK (which Herbert's letter is).
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The letter from Herbert is a PR fiasco. Everyone knows it contains lots of verbal diarrhea. They are making themselves look worst and loosing whatever shred of credibility they have left with members.

If Management is actually concerned about the Banks and the situation, then HOLD ANOTHER MEMBERS MEETING and:

• Treat members as partners who can help you.
• Tell us what the plans you have changed are.
• Be open and transparent.

No Formal Updates from Management

I have received a couple of emails asking me if I had any updates from the Club on the renovation. Unfortunately, I do not.

Jerry wrote to our GM inquiring about the status and received the following email response from him on the 30th of December:

"In answer to your questions, we are in the midst of the renovations and should the plans differ from what was presented at the Members’ Briefing held on 6 Oct 08, we will inform members accordingly."

Anyhow, Jerry sent some follow up questions on the 31st and is awaiting a response.

2009-01-05 Renovation Update

Hi Everyone!

I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year Celebration. We did miss the Club as we celebrated New Year's Eve 2007/8 at Legends Fort Canning with the kids last year.

There's been some emails between some of us concerning the fact that there has been no work done on the future member's building and it is less than three months from the 1st April re-opening date that was told to us by the Management. So I went to take a look and here are some pictures I took today (click on the pictures to see a larger image):

1) The exterior is the same as expected:

2) There is much work going on in the building. The second floor is gutted and you can see the huge piece of glass on the balcony.

3) There is no change at the Marquee. I see the sales person showing some prospects around.

4) The area in front of the tennis court and the golf driving cage remains unchanged.

5) The tennis court shows no signs that it will be converted to a 3-storey building in less than 3 months. The net is still up. Game, anyone?

6) The main front area is unchanged and the outdoor furniture are all there.

7) The Cafe is completely gone. Here is what it looks like now... :-(

8) View of the former-Cafe from the still-open Lobby.

9) View of the Lobby/former Cafe. Note the sign "Luxurious Boutique Hotel & Fine Dining Restaurants Opening Soon!" There are a few of these posted around.

10) There is a big Hole in the parking area next to the guard post. A fountain coming may be? I wonder if this means the members parking there will be gone.

11) Another view of the Hole. I still can't figure what it is for.

12) The carpark on B1 is still full. There was an event on this morning (10+am). So the catering business must be good.

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There does not seem to be any development to the members building since I took pictures on December 3rd.

You will also note that I have put a count down timer at the top of this page ... "Until Fort Canning Re-Opens To Members".

Legends Fort Canning Club's Arrangement with True Fitness

My wife contacted True Fitness at Suntec last week to register for the 6-months package at SGD99 per month. I did not want to sign up because it would cost SGD200 for the 2 of us; $75 more per month than what our monthly Golfing Member subscriptions at TLFC. I figured she can keep her shapely girlish figure and I will work on my beer belly.

Anyhow, True Fitness/Planet Fitness can't accept applications right now, because there are some contractual issues between The Legends Fort Canning and True Fitness. This should be resolved within the next few days.

My wife and I visited the True Fitness Suntec branch yesterday. We got the tour and decided to take the 1-for-1 American Express promotion instead of the TLFC Special. SGD 1,599 annual membership for 2 people. This price is about to go up to SGD 1,988 or something like that. Anyhow this works out to SGD 133 per month.

The membership allows you to use other branches and take yoga classes as well:

Great World City Branch
China Square Central Branch
Chevron House - Raffles Place
Parkway Parade Branch
Vivocity Branch

Note that this does not allow you access to the True Yoga centers at Pacific Plaza (Scotts Rd) and Ocean Towers (Raffles Place).

Good luck and stay healthy and stress free.

Ohmmmmmmmm..........

P.S. Drop me an email if you know what is the issue between The Legends Fort Canning and True Fitness.

Survey? Staff? Phases? EBIT!

Sorry, Jason, I missed your comment from a few days ago. He mentioned many of the things I have posted even before I posted them!

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During the member meeting, rep from Club mentioned about the survey.

1)As a member, I do not remember any survey post to me.

2) From the comment, there is a few memberships scheme, which i was not aware, If i have being told , I would opt for the social members, because the club at over the causeway is poorly manage.

To Owners & Mgts of the Club.

In your letter dated 25 Sept 2008.

"From 16 Oct 2008 to 1 Apr 2009,member subscription fees will be waived"

1) Am I right to say that my monthly subscription $125 before GST will be waived.

2) I had talk to a few hospitality experts, what is the percent of looking for a job in this industry for the next 3 months.

All agree that from now till end of the month, it is difficult to look for a job both in F&B and the hotel industry, as the current staffs is waiting for their AWS and bonus.

As such, the layoff staffs from the club will be greatly affected. On top of that, with the current world economy affected by financial sector, it going to be worse. The Finance Minster have also highlighted that Spore economy will not be spare. It will likely be a few qtr.

Based on the what was communicated to members during the meeting, the projected completion date was about 6 months , assuming there is a overrun. Let assume to be 8 months.
I propose to the owner of the club.

Phase 1, Build the glass house. When the new glasshouse is ready. Phase 2, Renovate and upgrade the existing club house. With this, we can achieve a few objectives.

1) Members get to use the facilities and continue to pay the sub fees. Let assume all 1200 members is paying at S$80, 1200 members, $96,000 before EBIT

2) Cafe continue to bring in, assuming S$20,000 EBIT

3) Chinese restaurant get to bring in, assuming S$30,000 EBIT

4) Bar continue to bring in assuming S$10,000 EBIT

Total is S$156,000 EBIT, although this may not be the significant amounts to the owners
Staffs that are going to be layoff will not be affected, although I do not know how many in total. When the glasshouse is ready, staffs that are supposed to be layoff will be will reassign to the new glasshouse.

As I misplace my membership contract,if any of the members can email me jasontay72@yahoo.com, we can explore if we have other alternatives from the legal points of view.
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Things do get lost in the Comments section. Drop me an email if you want something on the front page (goo.nguyen@gmail.com).

See you all tonight!

Why Is The Management Closing The Club For 6 Months?

Having spoken to a number of members over the last week, one question that keeps on popping up is, "Why does the Club have to close down for 6 months?"

Why does the Owner/Management not build in phases? If they build the new glass building first, move the members over, and then renovate the existing building -

1) Then we, the members, would know what we are getting. We may even like it. But at this point, artist impressions, powerpoint presentations, and gym equipment just don't do it - at all. They hardly make up for the fact that we are getting kicked out of our Club for at least 6 months, with no where else to go and no say whatsoever,

2) Then the Management would be lowering their overall cost as well. For example, during this 6 month glass house construction period, the 1,200 members would still be paying subscription fees. If the average sub fee is $100, then the management would still be collecting $720,000. With additional F&B revenue from members and the public, the revenue should total at least between $1.5 to $2.0 million. This is money that they are never getting back; this is mostly services revenue and can't be stored away for 6 months to sell later.

3) Then the staff would keep their jobs during these hard times, and there would be continuity in the operations of the club.

Shutting down the Club for 6 months may be convenient for the Management and Owner, but they have completely disregarded their obligations to the Members, the Staff, the Public, AND the EngWah shareholders.

I. Just. Don't. Get. It.