News

Remembering Sadako Ogata

Former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and accomplished diplomat Sadako Ogata passed away on October 22 at the age of 92.

Ogata received the Club’s Distinguished Achievement Award in 1999 for her lifetime commitment to bolstering protections for the world’s most at-risk communities.

Following an accomplished career in academia, Ogata became the first woman to assume the role of UNHCR in 1990. Mere weeks after taking up the post, Ogata displayed characteristic empathy and decisiveness in confronting the Kurdish refugee crisis precipitated by the Gulf War.

Under Ogata’s leadership, the international community also mounted strong responses to the humanitarian crises of the Yugoslav wars and the Rwandan genocide. Her contributions to the legal definitions of refugees remain critical to the protection of displaced communities today.

California Wines Dominate at Club Taste-Off

California once again emerged triumphant in the Club's recent Seasonal Wine Taste-Off.

In a repeat of April's competition, three of the four winning wines were from the Golden State.

From the lineup of 12 whites and 12 reds, the 2017 Barrique Chardonnay from the Sonoma Coast was selected as the seasonal white for November to January, with Submission's 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, also from California, as the house red for the same period.

The seasonal white and red for next February to April are Meyer-Fonné's 2018 Gentil d'Alsace and a 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon from California's Joel Gott, respectively.

Eight-five Members voted in the biannual event.

Record-High Satisfaction in Membership Survey

Overall satisfaction with the Club hit an all-time high in the recent annual membership survey.

Of the record 1,683 Members who completed the survey, 93.7 percent rated the Club either "very good" or "excellent." That figure is up from last year's 92 percent.

While overall membership value dropped by 0.5 percent from last year, scores of "excellent" in this area increased by 2.3 percent.

Of the 26 areas of the Club evaluated in the survey, 23 improved their ratings from 2018, with the Guest Studios receiving the most favorable assessment.

Once again, the main reasons for using the Club were for the recreation and fitness facilities (76 percent), the dining outlets (71 percent) and family-oriented activities (38 percent).

Members can check the full survey results (log-in required) here.

Club to Open New Dining Spot

The Club launches its newest dining space on October 18.

Located in the former CHOP Bar, Vista is an all-day destination for morning coffees and snacks, lunch and evening cocktails and bar food.

The lounge, with its stylish, European-style furnishings and herringbone-patterned floor, offers Members both a quiet, daytime retreat and an evening hub for  socializing and entertaining.

“We wanted to preserve [CHOP Bar],” says Jim Weisser, chair of the Food & Beverage Committee. “It should still be a place in the evening where you can go have a good glass of wine or the best cocktails in town with a burger or steak, but also somewhere our Members can enjoy during the day.”

Vista is open on weekdays, from 9am to 11:30pm.

NBA Trophy to Visit Club

The Club is set to welcome the NBA's Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy on October 6.

The trophy, awarded to the winner of the NBA Finals each year, will be accompanied by four-time NBA All-Star Shawn Marion.

Members will have a chance to snap selfies at this meet and greet and win tickets to a preseason game in Saitama between reigning champions the Toronto Raptors and the Houston Rockets.

The trophy is named after former NBA commissioner Larry O'Brien, who served from 1975 to 1984.