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Accent
OUR MISSION
The American Club in China is a
non-profit organization established for
the sole purpose of serving the
American and International communities
in a family atmosphere, providing the
highest quality food, recreational and
social activities. The club will endeavor
to enhance a cultural exchange with the
R.O.C., effectively utilizing all available
resources and assuring proper
responses to Members needs.
Contents | January . February 2014
President's Message
2
General Manager's Message
3
Food & Beverage News
6
Sports News
11
Hair & Spa
16
Social Events-Chinese New Year Calligraphy Booths
18
Social Events-Lion Dance & Drummers Troop
19
Photo Gallery
23
An Easy Hiking Trip in Taipei
26
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Faye Angevine
Godwin Chang
Jim Clark
Jenny Hong
Siew Kang
Sven Olsen
Douglas Pierce
Rachel Sawatzky
K.C. Yeh
Ellen Yin
Richard Yin
Save Paper Save the Earth. - ACCENT magazine paper material contains 50% environmental recycle paper.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Sampson Mar
Stephen Tan
Andrea Wu
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Todd Bretzlaff
DAILY OPERATION HOURS
Cashier & Member Services
Daily
8:00 am
- 10:00 pm
Library
Daily
10:00 am
- 7:00 pm
Terrace
Terrace Salad Bar
Daily
Lunch Daily
Dinner Daily
Daily
Lunch Daily
Dinner Daily
Daily
Sigis
Gyoson
General Manager
Tommy Chan
Rendezvous
Sabrina Chen
ACC Market
Banquet Office
Game Room
TV Room
Nursery
Fitness Center
Sports & Recreation Director
Marketing & Communications Manager
Gerry Gibb
IT Director
Stella Hou
Financial Controller
Peter Hu
Purchasing Manager
Steven Hung
Racquet Courts
Pro Shop & Reservations
Human Resource Director
Chi-Wen Lin
Engineering Director
Duxbury Low
Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi
Hair & Spa
Daily
Mon - Sat
Daily
Daily
Daily
Mon - Fri
Sat & Sun & Holiday
Daily
Mon - Fri
Sat & Sun & Holiday
Closed for renovation
Mon - Sat
Sun & Holiday
7:00 am - 10:00 pm
11:00 am - 2:30 pm
5:30 pm - 10:00 pm
11:30 am - 10:00 pm
11:30 am - 2:30 pm
5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
12:00 noon - 11:30 pm closed
10:00 pm Last Order for snack food
10:00 am - 9:00 pm
10:00 am - 6:00 pm
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
9:00 am - 9:00 pm
6:00 am - 9:30 pm
7:00 am - 8:00 pm
6:00 am - 11:00 pm
7:30 am - 9:00 pm
8:00 am - 6:00 pm
10:00 am
10:00 am
- 7:00 pm
- 5:00 pm
F&B Director
Fanny Tung
Senior Membership Manager
Emily Wang
Hair & Spa Manager
Jeffery Wang
Junior Executive Chef
To advertise in ACCENT, please contact 2885-8260 ext 56 Sabrina Chen
For membership information, please contact 2885-8260 ext 73 Fanny Tung
Email ACC : [email protected]
Website: www.americanclub.org.tw
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
Donald Bailey
Happy New Year!
I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas season. The Club had a very busy December with lots of Christmas
activities for all. A special thanks to all of our ACC colleagues who made all of these activities and events possible.
The “Year of the Snake” is almost over and we will soon be welcoming the “Year of the Horse”. We will have a number
of events at the Club to celebrate the arrival of the Chinese New Year celebration. This is a great time of year to
celebrate with your family and friends. Your Club is ready to help make your celebrations special. Please do not
hesitate to ask our Club staff for help as you make your plans.
The renovation of the Swimming Pool and surrounding area is underway. The project should be completed during the
first half of March and will complete the renovation to the Member areas of the Club that began in 2007. This will leave
the Club Kitchen as the only area of the Club that remains to be renovated. Our strong growth in Membership and the
related joining fee have enabled us to make the necessary investments to get our facilities in great shape which, in turn,
has driven the demand for membership in the Club. We presently have 123 individuals on our waiting list.
In my December letter I discussed the trend in decreased resignations from the Club and the impact of this trend on our
Operating Budget through a decrease in joining fee revenue. This trend has continued through the remainder of 2013
and in our most recently completed financial month we had no joining fee revenue. This is a great problem to have as
the decrease in resignations combined with a growing waiting list indicates a strong value for membership in our Club.
The downside of this changing dynamic is that the Club must adjust its business model to take into account the decrease
in joining fees and the related impact on our Operating Budget. From a Capital Budget perspective our cash position is
very strong, we have no debt and cash flow from operations for the first half of our 2013-2014 fiscal year has been
good. As I noted last month, the Board is studying this issue and considering several alternatives to offset the impact of
the significant decrease in joining fees on our Operating Budget.
Consistent with what we are seeing in the Taiwan business environment our Food & Beverage revenues are running
behind budget although they are up 3.5% from last year. Please consider your Club when you dine out and please let
us know of any comments or suggestions you have relative to ways we can improve and make dining at the Club an even
better option. Our focus is on providing you with great dining experiences with great food and service all at a good
value.
Thank you for your support in 2013. I look forward to seeing you at the Club.
Gong Xi Fa Chai,
Donald Bailey
President
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GENERAL MANAGER'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
Gong Xi! Gong Xi!
Todd Bretzlaff
I hope that everyone was able to enjoy Christmas with family and friends despite the rain and chilly weather. With the
Christmas now behind us, it is time to get ready for the Chinese New Year and say goodbye to “Year of the Snake” which
did prove to be a challenging year for the Club as it was our first full year having a membership waiting list which has
significantly limited the amount of joining fee revenue the Club can recognize. But now we will welcome the “Year of the
Horse” which based on the Chinese horoscope, should be a good year to help us cope with our challenges from the prior
year for stability moving forward.
With the start of a New Year, it is also the start for the new Board to work with management to further improve Club,
enhance Member’s experience and strengthen the foundation for Members to incorporate the Club into your daily lives
and to instill a stronger sense of community among our Members. To help achieve these goals, we will be utilizing the
results from the recent Member survey to better prioritize our efforts. As stated previously, this year’s survey presented
the best results yet; but did call for further improvements in consistency and personalized service. Based on your
responses, over the last year we have effectively improved the application of the Club rules, although this is a never
ending challenge. We made tremendous strides with the locker rooms and overall cleanliness of the Club. Member’s
perception of Sigis’ product and service has improved across the board, the food consistency in Terrace is better and the
sports department has raised their standard in all areas.
The survey also pointed out areas which need further improvement. There was a significant increase in the number of
requests to upgrade the swimming pool which is now underway. The survey highlighted a clear expectation to provide
more and more bookings to be made on line via the internet in Sports, Social and F&B. (Fortunately we are currently
expanding our online bookings to more areas of the Club.) Although Members expressed their appreciation for the
increased number of events, activities and classes offered at the Club, it is clear that more are needed. Improving service
standards is a constant expectation in the hospitality industry although based on the comments; it was general felt that
service standards in Terrace did not improve as significantly as in Sigis. Probably the biggest challenge ahead of us is to
find ways to better communicate what is happening in the Club while also balancing the frequency of emails and the
volume of posters within the Club.
Given that this Chinese New Year falls earlier in the year, there are not a lot of events and activities in January but once
we reach Chinese New Year, there will be plenty of opportunities to incorporate the Club into your Chinese New Year
plans. For Members who will be doing a lot of entertaining at home, the Club offers a full menu of traditional Chinese
New Year delicacies for take-away to assist with your preparation for your Chinese New Year festivities. (The order
forms for Chinese New Year takeaway items can be found on our Club website, and within the Accent Magazine or at the
ACC Market.) For Members who prefer to avoid the mess and challenges of entertaining at home, the Club will offer a
special Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner at the Club on Thursday, January 30th. We will still have two seatings but it is
suggested that Members book early as both seatings were full last year. On 31st January through 2nd February the
Club will be on limited Club operations while everyone is visiting relatives. As the Club was very slow last year on the
3rd day of Chinese New Year, we will not offer our Sunday Brunch on 2nd February but all other outlets will be open.
Then on Tuesday, 4th February (the fifth day of Chinese New Year) we will have a traditional “Lion Dance” at 12 noon as
part of our Chinese New Year (CNY) blessings along with a special CNY brunch since this is the last day of the holidays
before everyone must return to work.
Even though the Super Bowl falls on Monday, 3 February (the fourth day of CNY), we will still show the game in the
California room that morning. In addition to an opportunity to enjoy watching “the football game of the season” with
fellow football fans, we will offer an indulgent American styled breakfast complete with eggs benedicts, egg station,
biscuits and gravy, bacon and sausage, hash browns, and much much more. We will even offer an American styled hot
dog station along with all the toppings to help make you feel like you’re at the game. As Monday is still a vacation day,
we hope that you will find time to join us with family and friends for this exciting American tradition during the holidays.
As we enter into this new and exciting year, we sincerely welcome each of you to get involved with the Club. Please let
us know if you are interested in being a part of any committee and we will put you in touch with the respective chair
person. At the very least, always feel free to provide feedback on your Club experience to help us make adjustments as
necessary on our journey of continuous improvement. We look forward to another year of making ACC a regular part of
your life and an active part of your family!
Gong Xi Fai Chai,
Todd Bretzlaff
General Manager
3
Did You Know
A Warm Welcome to New Members
Jonathan Anderson & Hui Huang
Yo-Shen Chen & Lucia Tsai
Jerry Hsu & Tiffany Yang
Ming-I Hsu & Linda Cheng
Rick Johnson & Mei Ling Wu
Jack Li & Hsing-Fen Tsai
Alexander Lin & Yuga Chen
Benny Lin
Hai Lin
Kory Pomon & Danielle Lehman
Kai Speth & Kate Chung
Bon Voyage to Resigned Members
Syed Akbar
Michael Coelle & Iris Coelle-Unger
Ilkan & Amy Cokgor
Aziz & Sajda Gdihi
John & Nena Heckel
Nagarajan Irulandy & Vijayalakshmi Nagarajan
Nathan & Erin Jensen
Kurt Lefevere & Conny Wouters
Paul & Laura Lin
Samuel & Sharon Lin
Rita Lo
Dick Mou & Paddy Chia
Thomas & Laura Osborne
Esther Saint
Richard Tan & Ruth Chin
Colly Tu
Jack Wang & Grace Liu
Donald & Bonnie Wiseman
David Yeung
Frank Yuan & Li-Hua Lin
2013 ACC Santa Project Report
A big thank you to everyone who took part in the ACC Santa Project. In all, 143 presents were
collected. Working with the British Chamber of Commerce and the Taipei American School Orphanage
Club, the gifts were presented to the children of the SOS Village and the Pearl Buck Foundation,
at their Christmas parties on December 8 and 22, respectively.
Donated to PHILIPPINES affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan
Thanks to all for your support and donations, we were able to donate a total of NT$55,751
and US$200 to the Red Cross Society Taiwan. Thank you for your kind combined efforts
throughout Taiwan, Philippines and the world!
1
2
Special thanks for Christmas Decoration Team
Thank you so much for Faye Angevine and the group of Members,
Sandra Jin, Cecelia Banks, Amy Thorne , Kai Kai Bailey,
Judy Fan, Roma Mehta ,Elaine Salt, Janine Barati,
Kathy Van Wilgenburg, Joanna, Janitor team Bi Yun
and more, because your generosity and great sense of
décor made ACC filled with Christmas Feel this year!
4
F&B NEWS
Terrace
january promotions
1
february promotions
1
Chicken Fried Steak $380
Mini Buddha Jumps Over the Wall $300
Chicken fried steak is a breaded cutlet dish consisting
of a steak slice coated with seasoned flour
and pan-fried. The steak is topped with black
pepper gravy and accompanied
with mashed potatoes, broccoli and baked beans.
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is a variety of soup in
Cantonese and Fujian cuisine. This dish is a renowned
Chinese delicacy known for its rich taste and use of
high-quality ingredients; the soup is cooked with taro,
bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms in oyster sauce
and accompanied with brown rice and vegetables.
2
2
Seafood Spaghetti au Gratin $320
Coq au Vin $300
Au Gratin is a widespread technique in food
preparation in which an ingredient is topped
with a browned crust, often using bread crumbs,
grated cheese, and egg or butter. Seafood include
jumbo prawns, clams, scallops, fish, calamari,
mussels, with spaghetti in a cream and tomato sauce
and topped with mozzarella cheese.
Coq au Vin is a French dish of chicken braised
with wine, carrots, mushrooms and garlic,
accompanied with mashed potatoes
and seasonal vegetables.
Rendezvous
january promotions
Order any one
Order our Chef’s daily
“Western Comfort”
from the Main Menu and have a soup
“Fresh Fish of the
and get a glass of
Twin Oak Chardonnay
for an extra
6
february promotions
Lychee Martini $180
$65.
for an extra
$70.
Day”
F&B NEWS
Sigis
january promotions
1
2
Roast Beef Special
Monday Night = Pizza Night
6 - 9pm, Fridays and Saturdays
$1380/person
Every Monday 5-8pm,
pizza buy one get one free!
Second Pizza should be the same
or lesser category.
Antipasti(unlimited)
Beef Carpaccio
Green Salad with Homemade Dressing
Grilled Mediterranean Vegetable Platter
"ACC's pizza sizes are 10-inch only"
(Wild Mushrooms, Bell Peppers, Zucchini, Eggplants, and Asparagus)
Cheese Platter
Side Condiments
3
(Black Olives, Green Olives, Grilled Garlic,
Pearl Onions, and Baby Pickles)
Pasta Station (unlimited)
Spaghetti
Fettuccine
Linguini
Penne
Sauce (unlimited)
Aglio e Olio with Chili, White Wine, Basil and Garlic
Beef Bolognese
Carbonara
Main Course
Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding
and Seasonal Vegetables
Beef Steak Promotion
Order any steak main course and receive
a complimentary pasta and Caesar salad.
Available every Tuesday!
7
SPORTS NEWS
Tommy Chan
Sports Director
. Welcome to the year of 2014, and for most of us that means resolutions
or determinations to change some aspect of our lives for the better.
. However, how can your New Year’s resolution, especially if it involves
weight loss, become a long-term success?
. In this regard, the key is realizing your desire to truly live a healthy life.
Once you do that, the rest will follow.
Are you thinking about starting a fitness program in 2014?
Good for you!
Starting a fitness program may be one of the best things you can do
for your health. Physical activity can reduce your risk of chronic
disease, improve your balance and coordination, help you lose weight
-even improve your sleep habits and self-esteem.
Planning
It's easy to say that you'll exercise every day. But you'll need a plan.
As you design your fitness program, keep these points in mind:
. Consider your fitness goals. Are you starting a fitness program to
help lose weight? Or do you have another motivation, such as preparing for a marathon? Having clear goals can help you gauge your
progress.
. Create a balanced routine. Most adults should aim for at least 150
minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity — or 75 minutes of
vigorous aerobic activity — a week. Adults also need two or more
days of strength training a week.
. Go at your own pace. If you're just beginning to exercise, start
cautiously and progress slowly. If you have an injury or a medical
condition, consult your doctor or a physical therapist for help designing
a fitness program that gradually improves your range of motion,
strength and endurance.
. Build activity into your daily routine. Finding time to exercise can
be a challenge. To make it easier, schedule time to exercise as you
would any other appointment. Plan to watch your favorite show while
walking on the treadmill, or read while riding a stationary bike.
. Plan to include different activities. Different activities (crosstraining) can keep exercise boredom at bay. Cross-training also
reduces your chances of injuring or overusing one specific muscle or
joint. Plan to alternate among activities that emphasize different parts
of your body, such as walking, swimming, strength training and playing
racquet sports such as tennis, squash, table tennis………
. Allow time for recovery. Many people start exercising with frenzied
zeal — working out too long or too intensely — and give up when
their muscles and joints become sore or injured. Plan time between
sessions for your body to rest and recover.
. Put it on paper. A written plan may encourage you to stay on track.
Get started
Now you're ready for action. As you begin your fitness program, keep
these tips in mind:
. Start slowly and build up gradually. Give yourself plenty of time to
warm up and cool down with easy walking or gentle stretching. Then
speed up to a pace you can continue for five to 10 minutes without
getting overly tired. As your stamina improves, gradually increase the
amount of time you exercise. Work your way up to 30 to 60 minutes
of exercise most days of the week.
. Break things up if you have to. You don't have to do all your
exercise at one time. Shorter but more-frequent sessions have aerobic
benefits, too. Fifteen minutes of exercise a couple of times a day may
fit into your schedule better than a single 30-minute session.
. Be creative. Maybe your workout routine includes various activities,
such as walking, bicycling or rowing. But don't stop there. Take a
weekend hike with your family or spend an evening ballroom dancing.
. Listen to your body. If you feel pain, shortness of breath, dizziness
or nausea, take a break. You may be pushing yourself too hard.
. Be flexible. If you're not feeling good, give yourself permission to
take a day or two off.
Monitor your progress
Retake your personal fitness assessment six weeks after you start your
program and then again every three to six months. You may notice that
you need to increase the amount of time you exercise in order to
continue improving. Or you may be pleasantly surprised to find that
you're exercising just the right amount to meet your fitness goals.
If you lose motivation, set new goals or try a new activity. Exercising
with a friend or taking a class at a fitness center may help or hire a
personal trainer as well.
Starting an exercise program is an important decision. But it doesn't
have to be an overwhelming one.
By planning carefully and pacing yourself, you can establish a healthy
habit that lasts a lifetime.
Citation from Froedtert & Medical College
Credentials:
• Certified Personal Master-Trainer Ohio University
Bachelor of Science Specialized Studies (Kinesiology)
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist F.I.T.
• Certified TRX Suspension Trainer F.I.T
• National Football League (NFL)
• Olympic Wrestling/ Olympic Boxing/Olympic Bobsledding
• CPT/CPR/AED/First AID
Specialties:
r welcomes
te
n
e
C
s
s
e
n
it
F
l Trainer
N ew Per sona
Endurance/Strength Training / Functional Training /
Weight Management/Marathon/Trail Running / Triathlons /
Sport Specific Training/Pre and Post Natal/ Rehabilitation/
Group Fitness
“Examine your lifestyle if there is
room for improvement, let me
help. As your trainer I will
motivate , be innovative,
consistent, and determined to
help you accomplish your goals in
a timely fashion, I will tailor the
right program for you, whether
it is to give you a competitive
edge athletically or have
exceptional energy to carry out
your business endeavors.
I would love to consult with you
and strategize ways to help you
reach your potential goals.”
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Delta 26 Sports Cruiser | Delta 29 SW | Delta 33 Open | Delta 40 SW | Delta 54 Carbon Cruiser | Delta 88
ACC Hair & Spa provide women, men and children
a comprehensive service all you need with just a onetime visit.
Hair service
including haircut, shampoo, up-do, set, coloring,
permanent, special treatment
Nail Care
including manicure, pedicure, puffing,
French nail, Gel nail, spa treatment
Beauty & Spa Service
including facial treatment, waxing,
oil body massage
Eyelash Extension
Service
& Foot Massage
NT$ 1,500 up
NT$ 1,200 up
Chinese Body
Come and enjoy refreshing services and experience a new look
for the new year of 2014!
For an appointment, please call 2885-8260 ext.28 direct line 2886-5912
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1:23 PM
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BAI WIN COLLECTION
Antiques, Reproductions & Objets d’Art
G/F, Lane 405, 2 Chung Shan N. Rd.,
Sec. 6 Taipei, Taiwan.
www.baiwinantiques.com
台北市中山北路六段405巷2號1樓
T. 886 2874 5525