2015 april

Accent Apr il 2015

g n i r p

o l l e h

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PizzaBuy One Get One Free

2015 ACC Spring Tennis Tournament

PizzaBuy One Get One Free

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13 PizzaBuy One Get One Free

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ACC Running Group

Workout Ladies Social Luncheon Group

Body Movement For AdultAuthentic Movement

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21

ACC Running Group

Riedel Glass Tasting

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ACC Running Group

PizzaBuy One Get One Free

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Tue

Mon

Wed

ACC April Calendar

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Thu

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Music Night- Adoga

Shofu Floral Arrangement Class

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10

Music NightDave Chen Machine

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Outing- Experience A Morning on The Farm

25 Move up!

Kids Body Movement

RDV=Rendezvous

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Friendly Tennis Match

Easter Sunday Brunch Buffet

Party

Family

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12

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Sun

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Kids Cooking ClassFruit Flavor Cookies

Sat

For latest informotion please visit our online calendar at: www.americanclub.org.tw/events/

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 | April 2015 President's Message

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General Manager's Message

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Do You Know

4

Food & Beverage News

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Sports News

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Hair & Spa

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Cover Story - Home Away From Home

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Social Events

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Photo Gallery

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ACC Classic Recipe

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BOARD OF GOVERNORS Godwin Chang President

Ellen Yin

Vice President; F&B Committee

Sven Olsen

Treasurer; Finance Committee

Jim Clark

Secretary; Human Resource Committee

Faye Angevine Sports Committee

Richard Chang F&B Committee

Philip Chiang Sports Committee

Douglas Pierce

Membership Committee

Rachel Sawatzky Social Committee

Lee Wood

House Committee

Richard Yin MIS Committee

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Sampson Mar Stephen Tan Rules Committee

Andrea Wu

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

Tommy Chan

Rendezvous

Daily Lunch Daily Dinner Daily Daily Lunch Daily Dinner Daily Daily

Sabrina Chen

ACC Market Banquet Office Game Room TV Room

Daily Mon - Sat Daily Daily

Teen Room Nursery Fitness Center

Daily Daily Mon - Fri Sat & Sun & Holiday Daily Daily Mon - Fri Sat & Sun & Holiday

MANAGEMENT TEAM Todd Bretzlaff

Sigis Gyoson

General Manager

Sports & Recreation Director Marketing & Communications Manager

Gerry Gibb IT Director

Stella Hou

Financial Controller

Peter Hu

Purchasing Manager

Steven Hung

Human Resource Director

Chi-Wen Lin

Racquet Courts Outdoor Playground Pro Shop & Reservations

Engineering Director

Duxbury Low

Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi

Mon - Fri Sat & Sun & Holiday

Hair & Spa

Mon - Sat Sun & Holiday

F&B Director

Fanny Tung

Senior Membership Manager

Emily Wang

Hair & Spa Manager

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 11:00 am - 10:00 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 7:00 am - 10:00 pm 7:30 am - 9:00 pm 8:00 am - 6:00 pm 6:30 am 9:00 am

- 8:30 pm - 7:30 pm

10:00 am 10:00 am

- 7:00 pm - 5:00 pm

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 : member.services@americanclub.org.tw Website: www.americanclub.org.tw

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Godwin Chang

The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege. - Charles Kuralt In every conceivable manner, the family is link to our past, bridge to our future. - Alex Haley The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family. - Lee Iacocca

Dear Fellow Members, A belated Gong Xi Fat Chai! This year the Chinese New Year holiday weather was amongst the best that I can recall in my past 7 years in Taiwan. At ACC we had a traditional Lion Dance and plenty of festivities to get the year off the right start. I hope that you and your family have had a good and relaxing vacation.

I am very excited about this year as our motto for the year is “enhancing the member experience”. I feel that the focus on this obviously important priority will serve as a tool to help the staff change the way they look at their jobs and help bring the Club to the next level. In fact, we have been continuously trying to find ways to enhance the Member’s experience on a daily basis and this focus is consistent to our efforts over the past five years and aligned to our vision toward becoming the “Best Club in Asia”.

I stated long ago that in order for any Club to be successful, it is essential that there is a synergy within the Membership supported by common interests and common goals among the Members which is evident in the definition of a “Club”. It has always been our mission to create an environment within the Club where ideally everyone knows each other and at a minimum where everyone feels comfortable around each other. One of the many ways that we try to do this is through increased engagement between Members and within the Club. By creating activities for various interest groups to connect these Members together based on common interests will help make the Club a daily part of their lives.

Our success is critical on our ability to make the Club a place that Members look forward to being at and essentially an extension of their own home. The Board together with management and staff are committed to creating an engaging environment and ultimately a “sense of community” where Members feel that they are a part of the “ACC Family”. And by helping the staff to understand that their job is really more about “enhancing the Member’s experience” rather than specific job tasks, it motivates the team to be more dynamic to continually look for opportunities to make a difference in your lives as well as staff development by preparing them for greater responsibility and growth.

We understand that our vision toward the “Best Club in Asia” will be a continuous journey and it will have to be pursued step by step. In this regard, I have been very excited to be a part of this journey as I do feel that we have made steady progress over the past several years and I look forward to the challenges to push ourselves to make further progress in the years to come. As ACC is here for all Members, I welcome any suggestions or feedback that you may have to help the Club become more successful in our goals as you are experiencing the Club on a daily basis and with more feedback and ideas, we can continue to make balanced decisions.

Family is important, if not the most important thing in our lives. In addition to being your home away from home, we hope that ACC is a part of your “family”; a place to make new friends and to renew old friendships while enjoying a friendly and personalized service.

By-the-way, have you tried the new steaks in Sigis? Absolutely fantastic!

See you around the Club.

Godwin Chang President

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GENERAL MANAGER'S MESSAGE

Dear Members,

Todd Bretzlaff

It is good to get past the holiday season and comfortably into spring. We plan to have a lot of activities going on throughout the Club to hopefully generate one of the best years at ACC yet.

To properly prepare for the coming summer, we tried to organize our bi-annual pool cleaning on March 23 and 24 although it had to be delayed due to the continued draught in Taiwan. With the significant increase in pool usage, it has become a necessary part of our pool maintenance. We are still hoping to have this work done prior to the summer month and with the recent rain over the last week in the month, we are hoping we can do it soon. We will inform all Members as soon as new dates are able to be confirmed. We apologize for any inconvenience caused with this necessary and important pool maintenance process.

The month of March offered a number of great activities at the Club. We held our first ever St. Patty’s Day Arts & Craft activity for the kids. F&B held our second annual Sergio Valente Wine Bazaar offering Members exceptional value on wines from around the world. We are fortunate to have such a strong relationship with Sergio Valente where they are willing to offer such great value to our Members through events such as this, regular sponsorships such as for wine dinners and special Member events including our annual Extravaganza Party. The Club held the “Kick-Off Party” for our newly established teen center located on the second floor of the Squash Building offering lively DJ music and plenty of great food allowing our teen members to become familiar with this new space dedicated to them for studying and hanging out while they enjoy listening to music or watching television. We would like to thank Mrs. Faye Angevine for championing this effort to attract the teens to spend more time at the Club. We would also like to thank Mr. Sam Mar for helping to promote our “Chicago Blues Renewal” that was relocated to the California Room to accommodate over 100 Members who came to enjoy really great “Blues” for this lively full house event.

And for one of our biggest Club traditions, the Father Daughter Ball was another huge success with many proud fathers treating their “little princesses” by taking them out for a night to remember while enjoying a great evening of food, dance and plenty of great games and activities. As with the past few years, the evening was filled with energy, excitement, and plenty of laughter. For Sports, we offered our Margarita Tennis Social where over 30 Members participated in a very social tennis round robin while enjoying plenty of margaritas and hors d’oeuvres for a highly interactive evening.

As a follow up to the Annual Board Retreat held in February, we held the HOD’s Annual Retreat in March to plan our the focus for the year and assure alignment to the directives outlined by the Board. Similar to this year’s Board Retreat, the theme for the year was centered around “Enhancing the Member’s Experience”. The Board’s focus was directed at “how to enhance the amenities offered” at the Club, whereas the HOD’s focused more on “how to enhance the execution” at the Club by delivering more personalized service, better consistency of the products and services offered, greater attention to the details and ensuring a warm and welcoming environment every time. This year’s HOD retreat was also special in that it was the first year that we also invited the Managers and some of the key line staff to facilitate and incorporate the commitment to all levels among the staff to continually find ways to “enhance the Member’s experience”, and with a more of the team aligning to the big picture, we will more effectively delivering enhanced experiences to you.

We have continued progress on our planning for the kitchen renovation in May 2016. Although this project is still far away, it is very complex and offers a tremendous opportunity to improve food service, efficiency, and consistency to allow for HACCP certification. We are currently working through the key components with both the House Committee and F&B Committee, as well as speaking to prospective kitchen design companies to help to maximize the logistics and efficiency in addition to ensuring proper and efficient procurement of necessary equipment.

Step by step, we will strive for “steady and continuous improvement” throughout the Club, delivering memorable experiences while maintaining “exceptional value of money” to our Members. Our ultimate goal is creating an enhanced Member experience throughout the Club to ultimately build a stronger “sense of community” among all of our Members.

See you at the Club,

Todd Bretzlaff General Manager

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DO YOU KNOW

A Warm Welcome to New Members

Bon Voyage to Resigned Members

Cynthea Chu & David Chen Mike Kunigonis & Laura Alvarado David Lo Gal & Noa Dimentman Shaham Wen Shen

Paul & Chris Lalibert Jack Chen & Helen Tang Kevin Choi & Kit Fun Cheung Angel Yu & Jeff Hung Paul Chu Nir Dvir & Naomi Kaly Jeffrey Hoong & Vicky Hsuan

Update on Online Booking for Events It has been fantastic to see the enthusiastic take-up of self-service online booking for Club Events since our January launch - with half of all event bookings already now being made by Members themselves. If you haven’t made a booking yourself yet please do give it a try next time you want to attend an event - the booking process is very convenient and straightforward.

Remember too that regardless of whether you book yourself, or make your booking via ACC staff, you will receive the automated booking confirmations and reminders from the new system, and also be able to track all your ACC bookings with your personalized ‘Current Bookings’ list on the website.

BOOKING

One Small Change to Event Booking Please note that we are removing the ability to include ‘Other ACC Member’ attendees (i.e. non-family Members) on event bookings. We will still be able to help you make event bookings on behalf of your ACC friends, but this will now be offered as a staff-assisted service. Making this a staff-only function will enable us to carry out the necessary verifications efficiently and ensure a smooth service for all concerned. In all other aspects the Events booking system will continue to work the same way.

ACC Employee of the Month – January 2015 Please join us in congratulating our newest Employee of the Month for January, Claire Wu. Claire is well known to the ACC Staff as a dedicated colleague who is always ready to address whatever need arises not Name: only within her own department but also in other departments within Claire Wu the ACC. During this year’s hectic January, when in addition to the normal busy activities, the ACC online system had just been introduced, 吳瑗恬 and Claire was acknowledged by the Members for her knowledge and Department: patience in explaining the system. Club Members also speak highly of Membership Claire for her kindness and help when they are greeted by name when they enter the Club and the ‘goodbyes’ when they exit. This personal touch enhances the Members feeling of belonging in their “home-away-from-home” and supports ACC’s visionary goal of being the Best Club in Asia. We thank this outstanding employee for her dedication and hard work. We would also like to recognize Claire’s nominators who took the time to recognize outstanding efforts among their colleagues.

ACC Employee of the Month – February 2015 Lisa is a very unassuming person, ever ready to assist her colleagues whenever they are busy. Always smiling and very responsive to each Member she ensures their personal needs are met to their satisfaction.

Mr. Chien and his tennis group who gather each morning for breakfast at the Terrace are very happy with Lisa’s pleasant disposition and service, such that they requested Lisa to be their server when they had a group dinner gathering at the Gyoson. ACC’s Management congratulates Lisa for her dedication and ability to enhance the Club’s dining and service experience for our Members and especially for her team spirit.

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Name: Lisa Lin 林家嘉 Department: Terrace

Sigis u n e M

F&B NEWS

Pork Ravioli

With Onions, Tomatoes and Parmesan Cheese Mixed Creamy Sauce

NT$320

Pan-Seared Snapper

With Vegetables, Eryngii Mushrooms and Garlic Herb Sauce

NT$420

Avocado Mushroom Salad with Mozzarella Cheese

NT$380

Mesclun Prawn Yogurt Crêpe salad

Mixed Greens, Lemon Prawns with Yogurt Dressing on a Crêpe

NT$280

Truffle and Mushroom Capellini

NT$420

Easter Family Set (for four) Cherish an ALL-ITALIAN Easter Weekend Sigis presents this exclusive and delectable four-course prix traditional Easter family set; perfect for sharing among your most cherished family and friends on these special days.

Starter

Course

Soup

Selected Dessert & Coffee or Tea

. Colorful Poached Egg . Pan-Seared Snapper . Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms . Seafood Homemade Pasta . Caramel Pineapple with Ham . Grilled Herb Lamp Chop Layered . Smoked Salmon Salad with Bell Peppers and Mozzarella

5:00~9:00 pm, Friday~Sunday, April 3~5, 2015

. Creamy Chowder with Quail Egg and Ham

NT$3,280+10%

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F&B NEWS

Terrace

April Monthly Specials

Nasi Goreng

Malaysian-style fried rice with chicken, shrimps, vegetables, chili sambal and a fried egg; accompanied with chicken satay and lettuce.

NT$260

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2

Thai Green Chicken Curry Thai chicken curry with eggplant, red chili, basil and coconut milk in a green paste sauce; accompanied with steamed rice and vegetables.

NT$330

Gyoson

1

Special Order Chef Selected Boston Lobster Cooked to your preference Teppanyaki / Hot Pot

NT$1,380

Special Roll Queen Crab Sushi Roll Wrapped Fried Hokkaido Crab Leg Meat; topped with Fresh Crab Meat Crumble

NT$350 8

SPORTS NEWS

Top Ten Tips For Match-Play

By Racquet Manager –

Robin Palmer

Ten tips to improve your performance in match-play. Follow these simple rules: 1/ Take your time before and between points, and focus on your breathing - this will help you recover quicker and concentrate better.

2/ Visualize the point you want to play before serving or returning “have a plan”.

3/ “Plan your play and play to your plan”. But, prepare to adapt to changes in conditions of the point, and have a backup plan - just in case.

4/ Focus on the moment, one point at a time, one shot at a time, to the best of your ability.

5/ Attack the ball with your feet: “good footwork = good position = precise shot making” 6/ Don’t grip the racquet too tight, relax your muscles, you can then get better racquet head speed with little effort.

7/ See the ball off your opponents racquet, you can then prepare early.

8/ Think tactics, not technique, trust and believe in what you have.

9/ Have a strong self-belief in your ability.

10/ Show a strong, professional image on the court, be positive and energetic, be ready to do whatever it takes to win and compete.

The 2015 ACC Spring Tennis Tournament

Friendly Tennis Match

Monday, April 20 to Sunday, May 3 The draw and teams will be picked on Thursday, April 16 at the conclusion of the Tennis Committee meeting (12:00 noon to 1:30 pm).

Please sign up before the deadline on Wednesday, April 15 at 6:00 pm.

Matches can begin the weekend of April 18 & 19.

However, it should be noted that Open Tennis will still be on, but tournament matches could be played before 3:00 pm or after 7:00 pm.

This event is sponsored by our friends at Santa Fe Moving Company.

ACC is delighted to host a friendly tennis match with Hong Kong Veteran Tennis Association on Saturday, April 11 from 6:00 – 10:00 pm.

Please come on over and cheer our team.

Friendly Reminder – Tennis Etiquette • Please wear correct “ Tennis “ training shoes when playing.

• Suitable tennis attire must be worn at all times.

• No mobile phones on court.

• Take all personal belongings off the court once finished including used towels, empty drinking cups and containers.

• Place all litter in the bins provided courtside.

• Hard courts are slippery when wet and play should stop.

• When drying courts after rain, please hang the squeegees up on the fence or wall.

• Only enter the court during your reserved time.

• Finish your session so the court is ready for the next player to use on time.

• Failure to be on the court 10 minutes after booking time will result in the court becoming free.

• The court divider should be used when deemed necessary.

• Only ACC coaches are allowed to teach on ACC courts.

• Parents, children or spectators should view play from the Terrace and not walk on and off the courts.

• No-show for courts booking will result in a charge to membership.

• All guests should be signed in and the appropriate fee per guest charged to the host member.

• ACC has a zero tolerance policy with regards to unsportsmanlike conduct.

Thank you for your support!

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SPORTS NEWS

Fitness Classes Schedule for April Monday

10:00 - 10:40 am 10:45 - 11:30 am 11:30 - 12:15 pm 12:30 - 1:15 pm

Tuesday

7:00 - 7:45 am 9:25 - 10:45 am 11:00 - 11:45 am 1:45 - 3:00 pm 4:00 - 7:00 pm 7:00 - 7:45 pm

Wednesday

10:00 - 10:45 am 10:45 - 11:30 am 12:45 - 1:30 pm 7:00 - 7:45 pm

Thursday

10:00 - 10:45 am 11:00 - 11:45 am 7:00 - 7:45 pm

Friday

9:25 - 10:45 am 11:00 - 11:45 am 12:30 - 1:15 pm

Saturday

10:00 - 10:45 am 11:00 - 11:45 am 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Sunday

11:00 - 11:45 am 2:15 - 3:30 pm 3:45 - 4:45 pm

Fusion Belly Dance (Wendy) Strength Lab (Joanne) Zumba (Joanne) Group TRX (Vincent) Cycle Fit (Kelie) The “Power” (Billy/Vincent) Total Body Fitness (Billy) Mind & Body Yoga (Nina) Mixed Martial Arts * (Anthony) Pilates (Jenny) Body Attack (Mandy) Mat Science (Mandy) Group TRX (Ivan) Cycle Fit (Billy) Cardio Step (Tommy) Pilates (Jimmy) Group TRX (Vincent/Michael) The “Power”(Jimmy/Mandy/Michael) Cycle Fit (Billy) Group TRX (Kevin)

Fitness Tips From Personal Trainer-

Kalen Hsu

Pelvis & Posture o you know which bone is the most important one D when talking about posture? The answer is the pelvis.

The pelvis is the big, bowl-like structure that sits in the middle of the body. The back of the pelvis joins onto a triangular bone (called the sacrum) that sits at the base of the spine. The spine and the pelvis join at the sacrum and therefore the position of the pelvis will change the position of the spine.

The pictures below illustrate the three common postures.

Pilates (Jenny) Latin Fever (Amber) Kids’ Mixed Martial Arts * (Anthony) Zumba (Jerry) The “Power” (Jimmy/Michael/Tommy) Cycle Fit (Kelie)

Classes with * charge a fee

Group Fitness Class Effective April 10, online bookings can be made ten days in advance from 6:00 am every Friday FUSION BELLY DANCE: Combination of the Middle Eastern belly dancing with many different types of dance movements.

LATIN FEVER: A dancy aerobics class with fun Latin style moves for a great fat-burning cardio workout.

ZUMBA: The joy of movement inspired by Latin rhythms , hip hop and funk keeps you moving through the hour.

BODY ATTACK: Powerful cardio training for the athlete in you. This class combines movements of Martial Arts and Kickboxing into a fun and exciting aerobic workout.

CARDIO STEP: Suitable for those familiar with Step. Class starts with basic (yet high intensity) combinations on the Step and then finish your workout with a relaxation stretch.

CYCLE FIT: This indoor stationary fitness cycling class gives you an intense and effective cardio workout with exciting music. Limited to ten members only per class.

THE "POWER": A tough but fun "Barbell" weightlifting class which is being taught for its simplicity, consistency, results, and excitement. Never done it before? See an instructor first for an introduction to the various moves, for your own safety and to have an effective workout.

GROUP TRX: Developed by a Navy Seal, the TRX suspension training is a form of resistance training that includes body weight exercises in which a variety of compound exercise movements develops strength, balance, and core stability.

Class is designed for fitness levels from intermediate to advanced.

TOTAL BODY FITNESS: This 45 mins class provides cardio workout and resistance training for the entire body.

STRENGTH LAB: A lively fusion of ballet conditioning, core strength, abdominal work, balance work and incorporates resistance exercises.

GENTLE YOGA*: Learn and practice the basics of bending and blending mind and body through yoga modified for different levels.

PILATES: A different kind of strength and flexibility class for a mind-body fitness experience with graceful movements and powerful postures.

MAT SCIENCE: A combination of Yoga and Pilates, this class will energize, sculpt and relax the body as it improves the quality of your effort.

KIDS’ MIXED MARTIAL ARTS*: A practical and modern approach, combining the best that Martial Arts and Self Defense have to offer. For adults and kids 6 Yrs old and above.

KIDS’ YOGA (Ages 6-9): At the Fun Yoga for Kids , children are encouraged to "play" yoga andexperience how their breath and body move together in a fun-filled way!

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http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=posture&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=CCBD82401 D5F5B991E2C9A6B6E533564ACA4F519&selectedIndex=156

The picture on the left is the neutral pelvic position, which illustrates a natural spine curve, and the body don't doesn’t need to spend extra energy to maintain this position.

The middle picture is the anterior pelvic tilt, where the front of the pelvis drops and the back of the pelvis rises, with the side profile is like forming an "S" curve.

The picture on the right is the posterior pelvic tilt, where the front of the pelvis rises and the back of the pelvis drops; this side profile is more like a "C" shape. Unlike the neutral position; the other two postures require great effort on all physical activities and in addition to not looking at all elegant are the prime causes for chronic physical complaints! Therefore, more physic chronic complaints take place.

How the is our posture manifested? Our past history forms our posture, including body use, life habits, pregnancy, sports, medical history or accident....etc. If the posture problem is not serious, we can change it by strength training, stretching, massage therapy, physiotherapy....etc. or but if ‘worst comes to worst’ surgery may be required.

VILLA VERDE

GRAND DOME TOWER

GRANDEUR PLACE

過院來

圓頂世紀館

謙華

Zhongyong 2nd Rd., Shilin Dist., Taipei City Area : 192 ping｜6,866 sq.ft.｜637 sq.m.

Bedrooms : 6 Baths : 5 Parking spaces : 3

Sec.3, Nanjing E.Rd.,Zhongshan Dist.,Taipei City

Sec. 4, Xinyi Rd., Da’an Dist., Taipei City

Area : 62 ping｜ 2,240 sq.ft.｜ 208 sq.m.

Area : 81 ping｜ 2,889 sq.ft.｜ 268 sq.m.

Bedrooms : 3

Bedrooms : 3+1

Baths : 2

Baths : 3

MONTHLY RENTAL NTD 300,000

Parking spaces : 1

Parking spaces : 2

FOR SALE NTD 170,000,000 │ USD 5,647,841

MONTHLY RENTAL NTD 150,000

MONTHLY RENTAL NTD 250,000

MRT JIANNAN APARTMENT

GOETHE GRAND COURT

ORIENTAL TERRACE COURT

捷運劍南美麗華溫馨住家

信義哥德堡面101

宏國敦煌別墅

Jingye 1st Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City

Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City

Sec. 5, Minsheng E. Rd., Songshan Dist., Taipei City

Area : 50 ping｜1,798 sq.ft.｜ 167 sq.m.

Area : 112 ping｜ 3,997 sq.ft.｜ 371 sq.m.

Area : 93 ping｜ 3,342 sq.ft.｜ 310 sq.m.

Bedrooms : 3

Bedrooms : 3

Bedrooms : 4

Baths : 2

Baths : 3

Baths : 4

Parking spaces : 2

Parking spaces : 1

Parking spaces : 1

MONTHLY RENTAL NTD 80,000

MONTHLY RENTAL NTD 120,000

MONTHLY RENTAL NTD 150,000

, CAESAR S PALACE 信義凱廈 Songde Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City Area : 98 ping The Bay of Brittany, used with permission

3,503 sq.ft.

325 sq.m.

Bedrooms : 3 Baths : 3.5 Parking spaces : 2 MONTHLY RENTAL NTD 200,000 FOR SALE NTD 154,000,000 │ USD 5,141,903

FOR SALE NTD 70,850,000 │ USD 2,281,804

聖基茨與尼維斯 投資移民方案

Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis Eligible for Citizenship by Investment Program

1

5

4

2

3

1~3 Park Hyatt 4 、 5 Kittitian Hill

The Oldest Citizenship by Investment Program Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis enjoys an illustrious reputation for its natural scenery, celestial sky, azure ocean and sandy white beaches. It is one of the first countries to develop citizenship by investment schemes. Adopted since 1984 in accordance to The Citizenship Act, “The Citizenship by Investment Program” has been one of the oldest citizenship by investment programs implemented till today.

Investment Immigration

DATE

Park Hyatt Kittitian Hill

Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis has been offering “ The Citizenship by Investment Program” since 1984 in accordance to The Citizenship Act.“The Citizenship by Investment Program” provided by the Government of Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis is one of the oldest citizenship by investment programs in the world. By establishing this program, the government aims to attract quality investors to bring substantial investment that is conducive to national development.

Investors may choose to make a contribution between US$250,000-450,000 to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (depending on the number of applicants) or make an investment of at least US$400,000 in one of the approved real estate developments.

全球移民顧問股份有限公司 台北市復興北路99號4樓之2

(近捷運南京復興站)

02.2717.7373 WWW.GISASIA.ORG

註冊登記證第C0203號 中移廣字第103121005號

Home W

“There’s no place like home, but the ACC comes close.” I have uttered that phrase more than once in the eight years I’ve been a member of the club. For many of us expats, home is very far away from Taipei, even if we are happy living right here in Taiwan. Club members come from countries all over the world; home varies widely from person to person, but there’s a good chance you think of your home fondly and talk about it regularly.

Away From Home

e all have moments when we crave the familiarity and comfort of home, especially around the holidays. Even if you’ve never lived outside of Taipei, it’s likely you think of the ACC as a comfortable, ‘homey’ place. So what makes the club such an oasis for both expats and locals? I think there are a number of factors at play, and as I talked with a variety of club members and employees on this subject, I gained some insight into why the club often functions as our ‘home away from home.

Text by Rachel Sawatzky Photo by Todd Bretzlaff and ACC Staff

T

here’s no denying that the ACC is a comfortable place to be. When you are in your own home, you

seek comfort, and the same is true at the club. The various outlets like the library, salon and restaurants are places of rest and refreshment, of comfort and calm. Even the fitness center is a peaceful place to be; I often see ACC members enjoying a quiet workout with a newspaper or magazine in hand. The club employees know that members want to feel comfortable at the club, so they work hard to give you the comforts of home that you are used to. If you have small children, you know that dining in unfamiliar restaurants around the city can be stressful and a bit of a risk! But the club is prepared for your kids and not only do they welcome them, they provide helpful amenities (kids’ menu, coloring, nursery, playground) that allow the whole family to relax and enjoy their dining experience.

t r o f m Co 17

y t e f a S O

ne of the biggest concerns for parents is the safety of their children, and the club is unique in that children can roam and play freely in a safe and monitored environment. It’s also a place where parents willingly

and trustingly hand off their kids to nursery workers, swimming instructors, summer camp teachers, tennis coaches, hair stylists, etc. Many member children experience their first tennis lesson or their first swimming lesson at the club. It’s a place where kids can grow up and learn new things under the instruction of employees who truly care about them and their well-being. One of the longtime employees of the club has been caring for member children for several decades. “The kids here are like my own grandchildren,” she told me with a smile.

“I have watched many of them grow up and I’ve been here long enough to see the children grow up and have their own children and grandchildren!”

T

he employees of a club play a significant role in the atmosphere and health of a club.

Over and over again, I have heard comments from members about the positive rapport they have with ACC employees. From the servers who take note of your unique dining preferences to the hair stylists who give you good advice about what kind of haircut you should get, the club employees work hard and take pride in their work. When I asked a banquet

e c i v r Se employee about his job, he was quick to tell me that he tries to treat the club members as his family. “I want to make them feel warm and satisfied,” he said. “We work hard to provide good service for members so they feel proud of the club and proud of us.” A longtime member, Sandra, emphasized how much she appreciates the ACC employees and their friendliness. “It feels like home the minute I enter the club,” she said.

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T

he relational aspect of the club is valued by many

members who enjoy being part of a diverse, interesting community of people from all over the world. The ACC is a place where

Community

countless friendships are made.

“The friendships you make here will last you a very long time,” one member told me. “I’ve been playing tennis here for almost twenty years and I love the camaraderie I have with my fellow tennis players.”

The club offers many different groups and activities, which give members the chance to interact with other members in a fun and engaging way. When I think of the friendships I’ve made at the club, it’s hard to imagine how life would have been different if I hadn’t crossed paths with so many wonderful people. My time in Taipei has truly been enriched by the relationships I’ve made at the ACC. Sam, a longtime member at the club, sums it up well: “I have made friends with other members with common interests, whom I probably wouldn't have met in the hustle-bustle, work-a-day world outside the club. Is there a better place to gather with friends to do something at the club or elsewhere in Taipei?"

s e i r o m Me T

he memories that club members and their families make at the ACC are long-lasting. Just ask Eileen, whose daughter and husband attended the FatherDaughter ball last year. “They had the most wonderful time,” Eileen reminisced. “This is such a special event for young ladies and their dads. It's a time for them to feel "grown up" and hang out with their girlfriends. It also gives the dads a chance to spoil their little one for a fun and kid-friendly evening.” I know that my own kids have made many wonderful memories at the club. My son still talks about his summer camp experience from almost 2 years ago!

And I have many fun memories from the time I traveled down to swim across Sun Moon Lake with a group of ACC members.

Perhaps I am a little sentimental about the club because we will soon be moving to a city down South where there is no American Club. Funnily enough, when I told my club friends about our impending move, several of them asked me this question: “How will you survive without the ACC?” That’s a good question! These friends know that most of my free time is spent at the club and I have been such a ‘regular’ there for the past 8 years that it’s hard to think of leaving a place where I feel so comfortable, happy, and at home. The ACC has been such a fixture for my kids that I think they will also feel a sense of loss when we aren’t able to pop by for a visit on a daily basis. Obviously, we will survive without the club, but I know that we will miss it a lot. However, we will carry many fun memories with us of the times we spent there: swimming, eating, socializing, working out, reading, resting, playing and having fun. The ACC has truly been our ‘home away from home’ and we will be forever grateful for the way it has enriched our time in Taipei.

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Other thoughts from ACC members: Richard:

ACC is truly the quintessential "multi-cultural" home away from home. Regardless, of your home country, you can feel at home at the ACC. The American Club is a long time Taipei institution that represents the quality of the American lifestyle. It's a little bit of America in Asia. ACC has allowed my family and me to feel like we're back in the US, but still enjoying all the conveniences of Taipei.

Siew:

The Third Place: that's what always comes to mind when I think of the ACC - home being the first and work being the second place. In sociology terms, Third Places are "anchors of community life that facilitate and foster interactions." Starbucks has embraced the Third Place concept and institutionalized it, but I think, for our members, the club plays the central role of the Third Place in our lives.

Andrea:

I find ACC a home to me as there are people who care about me and appreciate my feelings. I feel relaxed and content when I am in the Club.

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Philip:

If I'm not spending time at home or the office, I'm at the ACC. This is where I spend most of my free time. The ACC has helped me both physically and socially.

The club has all the facilities and activities that I need to live a healthy life style for myself and my family. I've made a lot of close friends at the ACC and it makes living in a foreign country feel like home.

Mary:

We joined the ACC when my son was small and the club was an oasis of safety and calm. My son made great, lifelong friends among kids he met in the Nursery. Now, 15 years later, he even works at the Club part-time in the summers back from university.

The Club has always been a welcoming and cheerful place, safe for kids and comforting for parents. We have also enjoyed spending Western holidays at the Club, those moments in which we feel great nostalgia for our American traditions, such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and the Fourth of July. It's easier to live so far from our original home when we can enjoy a "little piece" of America in the Club.

Stephen: ACC is important to my family and has become a center to our daily lives – from sports, family events, to wining and dining with fellow members. We’ve made great friends at the Club and shared our stories of life. The diversity of the membership makes it culturally exiting for any of us to dive into a “community” of our own. And that makes this club awesome and irreplaceable in this town.

Melody:

ACC is like a second home to my family, not just a club.”

ACC’s great facility provides all the needs to fit each of my family members. The employees are always very nice and make us feel like home. I can’t imagine life without the swimming pool and game room for my 8 years old son, the playground for my 6 years old daughter, the baby room for my 3 years old toddler boy, the tennis court for my husband, the fitness center for myself and Terrace for all 5 of us. All the western cultural activities not only do the kids enjoy but also educational to them. Thank you ACC always fulfills my kids with dream events. ACC is far more than just a club it is truly like a second home to us!

Karina

:

(age 10) I always feel safe and comfortable at the club. I like to read in the library or swim in the pool. If I’m not eating at home, I’m eating at the ACC! My favorite thing to eat is the spaghetti with meat sauce.

Rebekah:

I recently was involved in a ladies event for our church that was held at the club. I was highly impressed with all of the ACC staff. Their helpfulness, and their willingness to make our event special was more than I could have asked for. I truly appreciate their dedication to the members!

Vivian: ACC has become our family’s ‘safe-haven’ throughout the week. We aren’t sure we could survive Taipei without the club! During the weekdays, we enjoy using the gym and pool facilities for our regular workouts. And on the weekends, the entire family enjoys relaxing at the club while catching up with friends over a meal. The kids love the swimming and playing games and sports at the club, and they are also regular users of the library and nursery. It’s also nice to be able to grab a spa treatment when time allows!

Thoughts from ACC employees: F&B employee:

F&B employee:

“I like to connect with members, who are usually kind and friendly toward me. I work hard to know everyone’s name and even the names of the children because I really like to play with the children. I try to remember what members like (their preferences) and I do my best to accommodate them.”

F&B employee:

I try to make ACC members feel ‘at home’ by greeting them with a smile when I see them. I often ask them how they are doing and if they are enjoying their day.

The ACC F&B department not only provides great food to members but also provides warm service to their families. I think of the members as my family and I want them to feel warm and satisfied. We see members all the time, and members see us all the time.

No other hotel or restaurant in Taipei could replace this tight relationship. Of course, members' compliments always encourage employees to continue to improve. I believe ACC is definitely the members' second home in Taiwan. Kids like to be here after school, adults like to be here after work. Members always feel relaxed and comfortable in the club.

Fitness employee:

ACC members and club management allow us to show our passion and talent for sports. We really like to share our experience with the members and their children. My hope is that all members enjoy their time at the club. And I think members feel that we really care about them and know their thoughts and needs.

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OUTING

Experience a morning on the farm for only 30 minutes drive from ACC 5

201 Pick strawberries and tomatoes to take home, Satur and cook chicken on a kiln! day, A

pril 2 Time: 9:30 am - 12:00 noon 5 Gathering Place: Refresh Farm at 9:30 am Venue Address: No.206, Dahu St., Neihu Dist., Taipei City (25°06'08.3"N 121°36'31.4"E) Cost: NT$700 per person NT$450 (2-5 Years old) Including fruit, snack, equipment and insurance For more information please visit ACC website.

T

he Qilin is a fabled creature from Chinese mythology. It is sometimes called the Chinese unicorn, which is a misnomer as it is often shown with more than one horn.

The Qilin is usually depicted with a dragon's head with bulging eyes and a flowing mane, a deer's body with reptilian scales, a tail that looks like that of a Fu lion, and the cloven hooves of a sheep. It is often presented in a brilliant gold color, with flames engulfing part of its body. Some see in this depiction a resemblance to the giraffe, and indeed the Japanese kanji characters for giraffe, Kirin, is the same as the Chinese word for Qilin: 麒麟.

As the noblest of all creatures, the Qilin was the animal chosen for the mandarin squares ("badges of rank") that were sown on the court robes of the highestranked military generals. It also represents filial piety and benevolence, and is believed to bring successful offsprings and provide protection for the home. A splendid Qilin stands guard in the alcove just inside the ACC lobby, offering safety and protection, and bringing good fortune for all.

S ymbolism of the Qilin

Excerpted from previous articles written by Siew Kang published in the Centered on Taipei magazine.

Shofu Floral Arrangement Class

Date: Friday, April 17, 2015 Location: South California Room

Shofu 22

Floral

Time: 10:30 am - 12:30 pm Cost: NT$950 per adult

Shofu-Ryu founded by a first generation Headmistress in Japan, features the natural free styles of floral decor, with the creation of colorful combinations.

An experienced flower instructor Ms. Lansing Chen will lead you in designing your own Japanese floral display!

For more information, please visit ACC Website.

Program Let‛s "Move Our Body" with a Renowned Theater Artist ACC is very honored to invite Katie Partlow to the Club.

Katie is a professional performer from Olympia, Washington who uses over 20 years of theater and 15 years of cross-cultural experiences to create unique and diverse environments for students and audiences to learn more about themselves.

With her engaging, dramatic body language and mature and inspiring personality, there is always gaiety and laughter in her classes!

For Kids

Improv

Move up!

ement v o M y d o B s Kid Saturday, April 25

Time: 2:30 - 4:00 pm Location: Fitness Class Room (Big) Cost: NT$450 per child (Ages 4-11)

For

for Teens Teens

ay 3 Sunday, M

Time: 12:30 -2:00 pm Location: Squash Multi Function Room Cost: NT$550 per teen (Ages 11-15)

For Authentic Movement Tuesday morning, April 28, t l u d A May 5,12

Time: 10:30 am -12:00 noon Location: South California Room Cost: NT$550 per person NT$300 discount if all three adult classes are booked.

ACC Members Only. Restricted to 20 attendees for each class For more information or sign up, please visit ACC website

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PHOTO GALLERY

Lantern Festival, Tang Yuan Making

o

r

It’s FsUN foo!

to ch mu oms M

Our faces, hands and hair all covered with flour and Mom says it’s “OK just do it”!!

Look you areat you, a snow g cute irl!

It’s yummy,the I finished all !

Tang Yuan

Shake, shake and roll! It’s my snow ball, my very own handmade Tang Yuan.

Little Leprechauns' Party, St Patrick's Day Celebration

Wow~ matc

ha milk is

so tasty!

I really like my big brother’s new hat!

!

hamrock

I love my S

I have the most colorful Shamrock!

25

PHOTO GALLERY

Chicago Blues Renewal ACC was very honored to invite Shun Kikuta the internationally renowned Japanese guitarist to the club! We had over 120 attendees and all had a wonderful blue night!

Thank you Sam who was also our

MC

for the day!

lfie”

Let’s “se

26

PHOTO GALLERY

Teens's Room Kick-Off Party 53 Members came to our Teens’ Room Party and all expressed their delight with this new ACC facility!

The Teens’ Room is open for teens aged 12 to 17 from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm, and is located on the Second Floor of the Squash Room

I decorated this black wall with paper tapes!

This is the warm and comfortable sofa

area - very relaxing.

Lookccaet ssoourries”!

“glow a

These are ACC’s new pets raised in our own swimming pool. Be sure to come by and get to know them personally while you “beat the heat” at the pool!

ber ble baby mem An adorswaim l! oo p in the how to

learning

Are you ready?? Let’s run together,

and get strong - every Tuesday night!

27

AD

Do you want to promote your business to our Club Members?

HERE

is the space for you!!

We offer a quarter, half, and one page insertion choices for your advertisements / promotions.

For further details please contact Sabrina, our Marketing & Communication Manager at 02 2885 8260 ext.56 or marcom@americanclub.org.tw

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…

S o s le e p y t d o n ‛t w a n … to g e t u p

Th just en…. do i t!

Hot Cross Buns

For 5~6

Dough Ingredients Egg Sugar Butter Cinnamon Powder Milk Water High-gluten Flour Fresh Yeast Fruit Preserves

1 each 120g 108g 3g 240g 80g 750g F36g 300g

Paste Ingredients High-gluten Flour Water Olive Oil

Directions Step 1 /

Make sieved high-gluten flour, fresh yeast and sugar in the mixer steel bowl; add egg, milk and water to blend with medium speed for about 5 minutes until the mixture forms into dough.

Step 2 /

Work butter into the dough and blend at low-speed until well mixed, then blend with the cinnamon powder and fruit preserves.

Step 3 /

Place the dough in steel bowl to ferment for about 90 minutes until expands to about twice size. Cutting each portions to 50g and form into ball-shapes; and leave to ferment again for about 20 minutes. Once again, reform into ball-shapes and ferment for a final 50 minutes.

Step 4 /

Prepare the paste mixture: by combining the high-gluten flour and water together and blend with oil to form a well-blended mixture; using a piping bag squeeze the paste on dough to form a cross.

Step 5 /

Preheated oven for 180~220 degrees about 5 minutes and baked with 200 degree for 10~15 minutes.

120g 100g 30g