Dear Members-at-large,
There has been much going on in the last few days. Several members have spoken to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and have expressed our views concerning the renovation plans. It seems that the URA was under the impression that the renovation plan submitted to them had the endorsement and support of the membership. We have told them that it definitely does NOT.
We are putting together petition to URA to state the above and request a halt in any further work.
We are organizing a meeting at the Bin Sale tomorrow 5-9pm to finalize this.
PLEASE COME AND SHOW URA THAT WE DID NOT AND DO NOT SUPPORT THIS RENOVATION PLAN IN ITS CURRENT STATE!
Please tell other members and get them to come. If you can not come, please let me know (goo.nguyen@gmail.com) and I will get the Petition to you for your support.
The time is now, and this is the last chance you will be seriously heard on this matter. Act now to protect the rights and privileges that YOU HAVE PAID FOR! ... Be 'kiasu'!
Best Regards,
Joe Nguyen
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
"Legends Fort Canning has been my Oasis"
Here's a wistful letter from Diana Ng. I think her sentiments echo what many of us feel about the Club and how many of us are beginning to realize what is happening and how it affects us individually:
===
Dear Fellow Members of the City Oasis
There are obviously bigger, more complex issues at hand which are best handled by the knowledgeable, competent and more importantly, committed…members like Joe, Ken and Jerry. I am so thankful for having them here. Being inexperienced in matters such as these…okay, I’ll throw in “gullible” too…I may have just accepted my “fate”…yes, just like that. After all, a club membership to me is a passport to relaxation; it should never become a source of unhappiness and stress.
I had come to the meeting last Monday with the thought “no usage of club, no fees – a sacrifice liveable with for a few months in return for new and renovated facilities which hopefully bring in more revenue for the owner”. Lots of revenue and a great bottomline for the owner is good…he has the guts to invest and he should be rewarded. Being handsomely rewarded, he would be even more motivated to make the club ever better and we members would be even more supportive of his future ventures. Over time, the identity of the club will be grounded in a history of having “arrived at where we are today together, undergoing major changes while weathering the 2008 economic uncertainties to emerge a most unique club, a club in a class of its own”.
So when it was announced that for S$105.93 per month (all prices quoted here are inclusive of GST), members can join True Fitness, I was smiling away. No, I do not mind at all exploring a new fitness club temporarily. Temporarily only because Legends Fort Canning has been and I desperately want it to continue remain my first love. Never mind that group exercise classes are almost “mission impossible” here. Never mind that I will have to incur car parking charges at whichever True Fitness outlets I choose to sign on because obviously, none of the outlets will be providing free membership parking to us. Now, since the monthly subscriptions I am paying is S$133.75, I will even enjoy some “savings”, perhaps S$25 after deducting car park charges. It came across to me as a token compensation for the inconvenience I did not ask for. I was feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Businesses should be conducted with a heart and here is an example. I have joined the correct club.
It only dawned upon me later, as it did on many of the other Golfing members, that I am in fact holding a Golfing membership. This means that during the “suspension period”, a monthly subscription of S$85.60 will apply. Now, the mathematics is not so right after all. The overall monthly impact on me will be a total of S$191.53 monthly (S$85.60 to Legends and S$105.93 to True Fitness) plus parking charges at the premises where True Fitness is located plus the inconvenience I have to put up with.
Further, in addition to the requirement that the first two months’ subscriptions to True Fitness must be paid upfront, I will also have to commit myself to them for 6 months. Naturally, I asked if there would be any trial period before I sign up. The answer is a resolute no. End of discussion.
Alone, the above is not a major issue. It is in fact inconsequential if the bigger complex issues are resolved satisfactorily. After all, we members have put up with leaking roofs, leaking windows, internet access downtime when it rained, a car parking system that did not work when there was downpour and lightning, and once, stench from a burst pipe in the car park. Many of us must have just shook our heads and regarded these as the temperaments of a grand old dame. I, for once, had proudly explained this to someone at the carpark lift lobby who was frowning in disgust at the unsightly watermarks and towels laid around to absorb water that had leaked through.
Legends Fort Canning has been my Oasis. I escape to it when I need to make peace with a rumbling tummy which I then try to flatten in the gym. I escape to it just to suspend myself like a hammock at a corner of the pool, looking up at the skies and trees and the colonial structure. I thus enter another world, albeit temporarily. And when I leave the club, I leave knowing I am rejuvenated and strong again to tackle what life throws my way.
Yours sincerely,
Diana Ng
===
There's only one way keep the Oasis. Speak your mind. Hope to see you all on Wednesday.
===
Dear Fellow Members of the City Oasis
There are obviously bigger, more complex issues at hand which are best handled by the knowledgeable, competent and more importantly, committed…members like Joe, Ken and Jerry. I am so thankful for having them here. Being inexperienced in matters such as these…okay, I’ll throw in “gullible” too…I may have just accepted my “fate”…yes, just like that. After all, a club membership to me is a passport to relaxation; it should never become a source of unhappiness and stress.
I had come to the meeting last Monday with the thought “no usage of club, no fees – a sacrifice liveable with for a few months in return for new and renovated facilities which hopefully bring in more revenue for the owner”. Lots of revenue and a great bottomline for the owner is good…he has the guts to invest and he should be rewarded. Being handsomely rewarded, he would be even more motivated to make the club ever better and we members would be even more supportive of his future ventures. Over time, the identity of the club will be grounded in a history of having “arrived at where we are today together, undergoing major changes while weathering the 2008 economic uncertainties to emerge a most unique club, a club in a class of its own”.
So when it was announced that for S$105.93 per month (all prices quoted here are inclusive of GST), members can join True Fitness, I was smiling away. No, I do not mind at all exploring a new fitness club temporarily. Temporarily only because Legends Fort Canning has been and I desperately want it to continue remain my first love. Never mind that group exercise classes are almost “mission impossible” here. Never mind that I will have to incur car parking charges at whichever True Fitness outlets I choose to sign on because obviously, none of the outlets will be providing free membership parking to us. Now, since the monthly subscriptions I am paying is S$133.75, I will even enjoy some “savings”, perhaps S$25 after deducting car park charges. It came across to me as a token compensation for the inconvenience I did not ask for. I was feeling warm and fuzzy inside. Businesses should be conducted with a heart and here is an example. I have joined the correct club.
It only dawned upon me later, as it did on many of the other Golfing members, that I am in fact holding a Golfing membership. This means that during the “suspension period”, a monthly subscription of S$85.60 will apply. Now, the mathematics is not so right after all. The overall monthly impact on me will be a total of S$191.53 monthly (S$85.60 to Legends and S$105.93 to True Fitness) plus parking charges at the premises where True Fitness is located plus the inconvenience I have to put up with.
Further, in addition to the requirement that the first two months’ subscriptions to True Fitness must be paid upfront, I will also have to commit myself to them for 6 months. Naturally, I asked if there would be any trial period before I sign up. The answer is a resolute no. End of discussion.
Alone, the above is not a major issue. It is in fact inconsequential if the bigger complex issues are resolved satisfactorily. After all, we members have put up with leaking roofs, leaking windows, internet access downtime when it rained, a car parking system that did not work when there was downpour and lightning, and once, stench from a burst pipe in the car park. Many of us must have just shook our heads and regarded these as the temperaments of a grand old dame. I, for once, had proudly explained this to someone at the carpark lift lobby who was frowning in disgust at the unsightly watermarks and towels laid around to absorb water that had leaked through.
Legends Fort Canning has been my Oasis. I escape to it when I need to make peace with a rumbling tummy which I then try to flatten in the gym. I escape to it just to suspend myself like a hammock at a corner of the pool, looking up at the skies and trees and the colonial structure. I thus enter another world, albeit temporarily. And when I leave the club, I leave knowing I am rejuvenated and strong again to tackle what life throws my way.
Yours sincerely,
Diana Ng
===
There's only one way keep the Oasis. Speak your mind. Hope to see you all on Wednesday.
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.
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.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
"It is time we hit back hard"
Below is from Ken Low - who was the other member interviewed by Today earlier this week:
======
Ladies and Gentlemen, honorable members of the Fort Canning Town Club,
Following our call-to-arms, it is time we hit back hard after they fired the first salvo at us.
The Fort Canning Town Club is a designated Conservation Property under the URA Conservation Properties Act. It is a historical building. The first lessee, the defunct Singapore Town Club, was granted the right of use the premises to operate a social club, recruit members of the public to join as members and to provide all the relevant activities pertaining to functions of a social club. The Legends Town Club bought over the lease under these premises.
We have joined into a Club, housed in a historical building, fully furnished and with all its present amenities which the Legends Town Club offered to us. We have purchased the bundle of rights of use from the operator's, The Legends Fort Canning Park, to its facilities for a fee and pay a monthly due to continue as legitimate users. You can check the joining fees published by the Club on its website.
After last Monday night's members conference, we will all lose these by 31 October,2008.
The issues here are:
1. Do they have the right to the change of use of the building from a Social Club Operator to operating it as a Hotel cum Social Club?
2. Do they have all the approval from the relevant government statutory boards to convert the heritage building into a “boutique” hotel?
The questions we have to ask ourselves are:
1. Do we want to stay as members or not? Some of you may or resign as a member?
En Masse Resignation – consider, if we all resign en-masse, it would save Mr Oh Chee Eng and the owners, the cost of building a new Club House, i.e. millions of dollars;
2. Sell our Membership - however, the Club, according to Ms Amy Cheong, P R Manager, replied to Lyn's letter, a member, that the Owners do not have a Membership buy-back scheme at the moment;
3. Keep our Membership – if we remain as members, we want to stay in the present building. Please consider, the new “Glass Club” house, it will be smaller and characterless. The gym will be small and with less gym equipment etc. In fact, we will have less facilities. All the facilities will be reduced. Will the Club consider to reduce the monthly subscriptions then? At the last Members' meeting, they said we have to share the Club's facilities, gym, spa, swimming pool with the “hotel” guests who are strangers. That means our Membership status is not “exclusive”;
A penny for your thoughts. See you all in the Billiard Bar next Wednesday for a chat.
Ken Low
======
======
Ladies and Gentlemen, honorable members of the Fort Canning Town Club,
Following our call-to-arms, it is time we hit back hard after they fired the first salvo at us.
The Fort Canning Town Club is a designated Conservation Property under the URA Conservation Properties Act. It is a historical building. The first lessee, the defunct Singapore Town Club, was granted the right of use the premises to operate a social club, recruit members of the public to join as members and to provide all the relevant activities pertaining to functions of a social club. The Legends Town Club bought over the lease under these premises.
We have joined into a Club, housed in a historical building, fully furnished and with all its present amenities which the Legends Town Club offered to us. We have purchased the bundle of rights of use from the operator's, The Legends Fort Canning Park, to its facilities for a fee and pay a monthly due to continue as legitimate users. You can check the joining fees published by the Club on its website.
After last Monday night's members conference, we will all lose these by 31 October,2008.
The issues here are:
1. Do they have the right to the change of use of the building from a Social Club Operator to operating it as a Hotel cum Social Club?
2. Do they have all the approval from the relevant government statutory boards to convert the heritage building into a “boutique” hotel?
The questions we have to ask ourselves are:
1. Do we want to stay as members or not? Some of you may or resign as a member?
En Masse Resignation – consider, if we all resign en-masse, it would save Mr Oh Chee Eng and the owners, the cost of building a new Club House, i.e. millions of dollars;
2. Sell our Membership - however, the Club, according to Ms Amy Cheong, P R Manager, replied to Lyn's letter, a member, that the Owners do not have a Membership buy-back scheme at the moment;
3. Keep our Membership – if we remain as members, we want to stay in the present building. Please consider, the new “Glass Club” house, it will be smaller and characterless. The gym will be small and with less gym equipment etc. In fact, we will have less facilities. All the facilities will be reduced. Will the Club consider to reduce the monthly subscriptions then? At the last Members' meeting, they said we have to share the Club's facilities, gym, spa, swimming pool with the “hotel” guests who are strangers. That means our Membership status is not “exclusive”;
A penny for your thoughts. See you all in the Billiard Bar next Wednesday for a chat.
Ken Low
======
What kind of membership do YOU have?
Many of us are still wondering whether or not we are "Golf" Members and we are looking at our original membership documents to see where we were told such such terms.
From The Legends Fort Canning official website, it says:
Individual Membership
http://www.legendsfortcanning.com/fortcanning/member.htm
==============
When did it become "Ordinary Golfing" and "Ordinary Social"? I don't remember that distinction. And I definitely do not remember a $15,000 entrance fee - which just seems like a ploy to keep people from joining. Anti-membership.....
From The Legends Fort Canning official website, it says:
Individual Membership
| Membership Types | Entrance Fee | Transfer Fee | Monthly Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinary Golfing | $15,000 | $1,000 | $105 (S) / $125 (F) |
| Ordinary Social | $6,888 | $1,000 | $85 (S) / $105 (F) |
http://www.legendsfortcanning.com/fortcanning/member.htm
==============
When did it become "Ordinary Golfing" and "Ordinary Social"? I don't remember that distinction. And I definitely do not remember a $15,000 entrance fee - which just seems like a ploy to keep people from joining. Anti-membership.....
Let's Meet! at the Bar & Billiard Bin Sale - 15th October 2008
During the Members' Conference on Monday, they announced that there would be a Bin Sale at the Bar and Billiard on Wednesday 15th October. It is scheduled to be from 5-9pm, so perhaps 6:30ish would be a good time to aim for.
Let's use this event to meet and discuss what we want to do. We need to prioritize our issues so that we can have a concerted voice with which to speak to the Club and its owners. From what I have been hearing, here are some main points:
1) Most if not all members do not want to move to the new club house and prefer the current ambiance and charm of the existing building.
2) Why don't they keep the club open and build the glass building and then move us over? I will expand on this more this weekend.
3) Why isn't there a buy-back scheme for those who do not wish to remain members? There are already members who are speaking to their lawyers to review this option.
4) The $80 fee for Golf Members who don't even know that they are Golf Members much less play golf. This is roughly 40% of the membership.
Anything else?
Lastly, please bring in any member that you know or run into.
UPDATE: You may have gotten this email for "Pre-Makeover Party"
Let's use this event to meet and discuss what we want to do. We need to prioritize our issues so that we can have a concerted voice with which to speak to the Club and its owners. From what I have been hearing, here are some main points:
1) Most if not all members do not want to move to the new club house and prefer the current ambiance and charm of the existing building.
2) Why don't they keep the club open and build the glass building and then move us over? I will expand on this more this weekend.
3) Why isn't there a buy-back scheme for those who do not wish to remain members? There are already members who are speaking to their lawyers to review this option.
4) The $80 fee for Golf Members who don't even know that they are Golf Members much less play golf. This is roughly 40% of the membership.
Anything else?
Lastly, please bring in any member that you know or run into.
UPDATE: You may have gotten this email for "Pre-Makeover Party"
Friday, October 10, 2008
The Poor Staff, Membership drive and Subscriptions
More Member Feedback and Support!!!! I just got another email from a member who offers her support as follows:
====
Hi Joe,
Although this is OWNER'S Club (which the management always claim) and not a Member's Club. You may have a fantastic building, but no members is no good. We must learn to live for one another. By closing down the club for 6 months is definitely do not take the members usage of the club facilities into considerations at all. The new extension to house the facilities is on the exterior of the building, why can't that be built first? Transfer the facilities, eg. the GYM before renovating the Rooms. Don't just think of making MONEY, MONEY. Nevertheless, that is only between the Owner and Members. Have the owner & management ever give a thought to the employees??? At this recession time by terminating their services, except for a lucky few, means no income.
It is not just affecting the employee but also to their families. Where is the humanity???
Talk about the lack of memberships???
Isn't it the responsibilities of the marketing department? When was the last membership drive??? You penalize your members for the inefficiency of your management???
My family and I joined this club is because of the location which has historical value and so much for their F&B. If its is for F&B and Hotel Rooms, then we would have invested with the any of the Hotel Group which is cheaper and no monthly subscriptions.
Talk about subscriptions, I was just been enlightened that there is a 2 tier membership's fees, golfing and non golfing. We only know that subscriptions fees of $125 entitles you to use the Legends Golf Course in JB. We do not know that you will pay less if you do not need golfing. The management can argued that information is listed on the web but then again, if you are already a member for so many years do you go the site to search for such info.
Sincerely hope that the Owner and the Management will look into the process of this project into greater thoughts. We do not want to lose this Club!!!
Joe, we will support your petition.
HL
====
If anyone would like me to publish their feedback, please leave a comment or email me at goo.nguyen@gmail.com
- Joe
====
Hi Joe,
Although this is OWNER'S Club (which the management always claim) and not a Member's Club. You may have a fantastic building, but no members is no good. We must learn to live for one another. By closing down the club for 6 months is definitely do not take the members usage of the club facilities into considerations at all. The new extension to house the facilities is on the exterior of the building, why can't that be built first? Transfer the facilities, eg. the GYM before renovating the Rooms. Don't just think of making MONEY, MONEY. Nevertheless, that is only between the Owner and Members. Have the owner & management ever give a thought to the employees??? At this recession time by terminating their services, except for a lucky few, means no income.
It is not just affecting the employee but also to their families. Where is the humanity???
Talk about the lack of memberships???
Isn't it the responsibilities of the marketing department? When was the last membership drive??? You penalize your members for the inefficiency of your management???
My family and I joined this club is because of the location which has historical value and so much for their F&B. If its is for F&B and Hotel Rooms, then we would have invested with the any of the Hotel Group which is cheaper and no monthly subscriptions.
Talk about subscriptions, I was just been enlightened that there is a 2 tier membership's fees, golfing and non golfing. We only know that subscriptions fees of $125 entitles you to use the Legends Golf Course in JB. We do not know that you will pay less if you do not need golfing. The management can argued that information is listed on the web but then again, if you are already a member for so many years do you go the site to search for such info.
Sincerely hope that the Owner and the Management will look into the process of this project into greater thoughts. We do not want to lose this Club!!!
Joe, we will support your petition.
HL
====
If anyone would like me to publish their feedback, please leave a comment or email me at goo.nguyen@gmail.com
- Joe
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