Committees

The Club relies on a diversity of committees to plan special events and programs, oversee particular operations and advise the Board of Governors and Club management. Whether it's a field of expertise or an amateur passion, Members are highly encouraged to become directly involved in the Club and help shape its future by joining a committee.

Contact the General Manager’s Office for details or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (enter the committee of interest and contact's name from the listing below in the subject line).


*Parenthesized names denote Board liason

Recreation

Tim Griffen (Tim Griffen)*
Bowling—Pam Jenkinson
Fitness—Jerry Rosenberg
Golf—Steven Thomas
Library—Melanie Chetley
Logan Room—Diane Dooley & Susan Higgins
Squash—Alok Rakyan
Swim—Jesse Green & Stewart Homler
Video Library—Lisbeth Pentelius
Youth Activities—Jane Hunsaker

The Recreation Committee develops and promotes recreational programs at the Club designed to keep bodies and minds active, healthy and happy. A mix of activities ensures that Members of all ages and interests can discover their ideal pursuits.

2009 Achievements
Squash
• Squash Handicap Tournament
• Professional Exhibition Event
Youth
• Introduced no less than 20 new programs never held at the club before
Library
• Three Successful meet the author evenings: Hans Brinckman, Naomi Pollock, Barry Eisler
• Updated our E-Library
Video Library
• Developed online Directory and Catalogue of DVD
Fitness
• Introduced complimentary programs for stretching, balance ball and bosu
• Tokyo to Fuji competition run
• Ready, Set Rowing competition
Bridge
• Organized bridge lesson and online registration

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Community Relations

Stan Yukevich (Jeff McNeill)*
Distinguished Achievement Award—Jeff McNeill
Independence Day
Sportsman of the Year Award—Jeff McNeill

The Community Relations Committee promotes ties with the local community through events such as Bon Odori and Fourth of July, contests, recognitions and sponsorships. A number of these events were open to the public to nurture friendly relations with its neighbors and prospective Members. The committee also looks after organizations that want to use the Club facilities for private business functions.

2009 Achievements
• Held second annual English Essay Contest and Awards Ceremony
• Presented Giant’s baseball player Alex Ramirez with Sportsman of the Year Award
• Presented artist Dr. Fred Harris with Distinguished Achievement Award
• Organized Independence Day Reception
• Organized Bon Odori Festival and Reception
• Reviewed and maintained CRC Approved Organizations’ statuses

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Culture

Eiji Arai (Per Knudsen)*
Genkan Gallery—Fred Harris

The Culture Committee focuses on the exchange of cultures, especially between the United States and Japan. Through these events, tours and special programs, Members can share in the rich diversity of the Club and its surroundings, expand their knowledge of the world and explore new friendships.

2009 Achievements
Planned and organized the following activities:
• Trip to Fuchu Race Track
• Tour to Hakkaisan Sake Brewery
• Girls’ Day and Boys’ Day displays in Lobby
• Joruri lecture and demonstration
• Lecture and demonstration by a Kabuki actor
• Trip to Azuma Odori
• Takanawa Fire Station Tour

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Entertainment

Per Knudsen (Per Knudsen)*

The Entertainment Committee organizes a full calendar of social programs at the Club, including cocktail parties, comedy shows and holiday dinners, to keep Members engaged, involved and smiling throughout the year. The lineup includes a number of well-known names, popular annual events and fresh performances.

2009 Achievements
Planned and organized the following activities:
• Family Christmas Dinner Show performances over 3 nights
• Live Super Bowl screening
• Independence Day Dinner and Children’s Activities
• Oktoberfest themed Welcome Back Party
• Tokyo Comedy Store performance
• Open Mic Night
• Steve Gardner Blues n’ Roots Performance
• Family Bingo
• Children’s Drumming Workshop

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Finance

Akihiko Mizuno (Rod Nussbaum)*

The Finance Committee works to keep the Club's finances in order, preparing the budget and overseeing all financial affairs and policies, including the adherence to approved forecasts, recommendation of the annual auditing firm and consideration of requested additional funding.

2009 Achievements
• Chaired Takanawa Working Group (TWG) and TWG recommended “Yellow” and “Red” contingencies to the Board when the Club conditions trigger turned to “Yellow” or “Red”.
• Submitted revised cash reserve policy and investment policy to the Board based on TWG’s proposed minimum cash requirements when TAC settled all construction costs.
• Chaired NPO taskforce team and the taskforce submitted the master plan to the Board that proposed conversion to General NPO rather than Public interest NPO.
• Reviewed and recommended FY10 budget to the Board. Also recommended to the Board to develop a comprehensive 5-year plan to ensure the club can meet the DSCR tests in the loan covenants, while ensuring member satisfaction and staff motivation. 
• Reviewed ongoing club operation and capital expenditures on a monthly basis.

View the Club 2009 financial statement.

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Food & Beverage

Craig Saphin (Amane Nakashima)*
Wine—Mark Baxter

The Food & Beverage Committee ensures that the quality and service of the Club's restaurants continue to surpass Member expectations and deliver world-class dining, along with exceptional banqueting and catering services. Its involvement ranges from creating policies to assessing finances to developing a yearly agenda of events.

2009 Achievements
• Implemented contingency action proposals for non-member use of banquet and non-member attendance at wine events.
• Approved the interior designs for the future F&B concepts and studios as presented.
• Commenced the review of new concepts and potential names for the future club F&B Outlets and the review of new house rule proposals from House Committee.
• Reviewed and approved the FY10 F&B Budget while reviewing monthly P&L reporting and year-on-year comparisons to enhance understanding of the current F&B financial performance.
• Introduced Daiko service for members using F&B Outlets.
• Launched member communication program to address concerns over behavior of children in the F&B outlets.
• Opened Mixed Grille to families on Saturday, Sunday and National Holidays
• Sampled and approved 9 new menus throughout the year, for Banquet and the Outlets, reviewing price comparisons to maximize member value.
• Discussed healthy food and beverage offers, supporting the launch of the RDA healthy menu program on all menus.

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House

Mary Saphin (Ira Wolf)*
Architectural—Michael Miller

The House Committee oversees the maintenance and improvement of Club facilities to meet its objectives and ideals and keep the Club running smoothly. Tasks include evaluating the use of space, implementing upgrades, proposing dress and conduct regulations, investigating violations of Club rules and acceptable behavior and taking appropriate actions, and making recommendations to the Board.

2009 Achievements
• Initiated a comprehensive rule review on major cultural areas associated with moving back to Azabudai
• Negotiated the final completion of projects to correct areas of concern due to accelerated construction
• Evaluated and resolved major neighborhood sound issues

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Human Resources

Victoria Muir (Barbara Hancock)*

The Human Resources Committee guides the Club's executive team on staff management and organization. It audits human-resource practices and policies to ensure that they meet bothindustry andClubstandards and also reviews and approvescompensation programs to the Board.

2009 Achievements
• Oversaw the Employee Status Change initiative from design through implementation
• Oversaw the entire renewal of Rules of Employment for associate, contract and regular staff.
• Conducted two employee satisfaction surveys (April and October).  April’s result showed an all-time high at 3.51 from 3.37 in previous year. This dropped to 3.30 in October which given the current economic environment is still a positive sign. 
• Welcomed 4 new committee members
• Held events to assist Members in “Finding a job in Today’s Market” which resulted in retention of several members.
• Initiated review of DC plan

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Membership

Alok Rakyan (Mary Saphin)*

The Membership Committee takes care of all matters related to Membership applications, resignations, cancellations, suspensions and transfers in status, and recommends policies to the Board of Governors concerning Member communications.

2009 Achievements
• Formed Membership Marketing Sub Committee
• Modified the application review  process to make it more effective
• Created the Introduction Party to replace New Members Welcome Party and Group Interview
• Created many new member initiatives to stimulate recruitment efforts
• Created the first staff position dedicated to membership recruitment
• Added “Corporate Transition Privileges” and “Weekday Privileges” to enhance membership options

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Nominating

Nick Masee

The Nominating Committee prepares the Club's slates of nominees for election to office in accordance with procedures established in the General Rules. To ready the ballots, the committee solicits information and recommendations from the Board of Governors, general manager and knowledgeable Members.

2009 Achievements
• We sent out a bilingual letter “Invitation to participate in the 2009 TAC Election” to all members to solicit interest and to try to make sure we didn't overlook any interested potential candidates. 
• We identified and pursued 180 potential candidates (thanks for talking to the NomCom members)
• Provided the Board with the slate for election 2009

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