News

Majority of Members Satisfied with Club

Nearly 90 percent of Members said they were either very satisfied or satisfied with the Club in the recent membership satisfaction survey.

The annual questionnaire was filled out by 1,262 Members, representing a 71 percent increase from last year.

Meanwhile, 69 percent of Members said they believed Club membership represented good value, a drop of 4 percent from 2015.

Elsewhere in the survey, Member and Concierge Services, the Fitness Center and the Library were the Club areas with the highest satisfaction rating, and the Fitness Center, Locker Rooms and Traders' Bar saw the biggest satisfaction rate improvement from last year.

The full survey results can be viewed on the Club Business Documents page.

New Club President and Governors Elected

Michael Alfant (left) has been elected the Club's new president, or representative governor.

He was selected by the new Board of Governors after the results of the Board election were announced at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 15.

"I pledge to do my best to fulfill the role diligently, and I'll rely on everyone at the Club to help me do the job," Alfant said.

Michael Benner, Jesse Green, Sandra Isaka, Gregory Lyon, Jerry Rosenberg, Machi Nemoto and Anthony Moore were all named governors in the annual election.

In other Board positions, Michael Benner and Alok Rakyan were named first and second vice president, respectively, Ginger Griggs was selected as secretary and Hiroshi Miyamasu is treasurer.

Voting Members at the AGM also approved the proposal for the Club to be the venue for USA House, Team USA's hospitality house at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Voting Starts Ahead of AGM

Voting has begun ahead of the Club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 15.

Voting Members will select candidates from an approved slate in the yearly Board of Governors election. The Board will then choose a new Club president, or representative governor.  

Besides the Board election and approval of the Club budget, this year's AGM agenda includes a vote on the proposal for the Club to become the venue for USA House during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Remembering Junko Tabei

The first woman to climb Mount Everest, Junko Tabei, died on October 20 at the age of 77.

Tabei received the Club's Distinguished Achievement Award in 2014.

The Fukushima Prefecture native led an all-female expedition to scale Everest in 1975.

Despite being buried in an avalanche during the climb, Tabei persevered and reached the summit of the 8,848-meter peak on May 16.

In an interview with the Club's INTOUCH magazine, Tabei explained her ongoing passion for climbing and the great outdoors.

"I'd like to inspire people to have many experiences in nature, not with computers, but feeling the wind, the coolness, the smells of the earth with their five senses," she said.

Club-Supported Charity Opens Facility

The Club-supported charity Second Harvest Japan opened a new kitchen facility on October 5.

The Club's Women's Group donated ¥2 million towards the project, which will help the food bank prepare meals for the homeless and after-school programs in Tokyo.

"I hope that this kitchen will not be needed in a few years, but until the day comes when our society no longer needs food banks, the opening of this kitchen means Second Harvest can do even more to improve food security and help that one more person in need," said Therese Cowled of the Women's Group, who attended the opening of the facility in Asakusabashi.

The Women's Group has supported Second Harvest Japan for a number of years, most recently in its Kumamoto earthquake relief efforts this year.

Photo: Therese Cowled (left) and Tomomi Fujita of the Women's Group with Second Harvest Japan's Charles McJilton