LEADERSHIP
T
A Season Worth Celebrating WORDS TETSUTARO MURAKI IMAGE KAYO YAMAWAKI
his year has had everything. Following the turmoil and uncertainty from the effects of the pandemic and numerous states of emergency, the Club started on the road to recovery. The Club has faced many difficult moments over its 93-year history, but this most recent period presented some unprecedented challenges. It also revealed the determination of Members and staff to come together and find solutions at a critical time. As the Board liaison for the Club’s Human Resources Committee, I heard about the stress and unease felt by so many of our staff from the early days of the pandemic. Many people saw no light at the end of the tunnel. The committee quickly set about ensuring that our staff were supported and felt safe while doing their jobs. Before different parts of the Club were reopened, the Board and Club management spent many hours discussing how best to provide a safe environment for everyone. Protecting the health of all Members and staff was—and continues to be—the Board’s priority. This was our guiding principle when we introduced measures like temperature screening at entrances, mandatory masks, Member capacities in facilities and contact-tracing requirements for guests. When Covid-19 cases did occur within our community, we always erred on the side of caution by keeping Members informed, asking staff to self-isolate when necessary and regularly updating officials at the Minato Public Health Center. In return, those same officials provided important guidance and information about the virus and its transmission. Of course, we renewed our ties with the center when we launched the Club’s public vaccination hub in the summer. It hasn’t been an easy time over the last 20 or so months, but the Club’s volunteer leaders, management and staff have learned a great deal along the way. By pulling together, our community has helped to put the Club on a much more secure footing—and without sacrificing the safety of Members and staff. In time for the holiday season, many more Club services have resumed, and it’s a delight to see so many Members at both our clubhouses. While the pandemic is clearly not yet over, we can take pride in the resilience and spirit we have shown and look forward to a brighter year in 2022.
“BY PULLING TOGETHER, OUR COMMUNITY HAS HELPED TO PUT THE CLUB ON A MUCH MORE SECURE FOOTING.”
Tetsutaro Muraki is a Club governor.
DECEMBER | 5
