Membership Matters

MEMBERSHIP MEMBERSHIP MATTERSMATTERS

With the winding down of a communications committee, this page is devoted to being more of an opinion page, where prevailing moods and sentiments of Members on current Club issues, expressed in comments and mails, are echoed. As always, we want to know what’s on your mind, and will always welcome your feedback. RECENTLY, A DECISION WAS MADE TO OFFER BREAKFAST ONLY AT PINKS… Breakfast at Pinks only is a mistake. Do away with the chafing dishes and cook to order as it used to be. TP Appalled by people’s behaviour at Pinks, and disappointed to have to have breakfast there… I am an overseas Member and come to the Club for the Club, not to come to an average hotel. FP While I agree with the economic reasons for having only one venue for breakfast, I do not agree with the argument that economy alone justifies dispensing with breakfast in the old restaurant in a child-free environment. RS No waiters, tables not laid, multiple trips required, no logic to layout, food in chafing dishes cold, table not cleared as food finished, coffee disgusting.AB Staff Christmas Box In the run-up to Christmas Members may wish to leave gratuities for the team. The Staff Christmas Box provides an opportunity to show our appreciation of the team’s consistent hard work and professionalism. The fund is divided up and distributed equally amongst all junior staff by way of a bonus. Donations are entirely discretionary and Members should not feel under any obligation to contribute.

MORE GENERALLY Your German sausage has not seen Germany and the saurecraut [sic] was not cooked. It tasted ok as I was very hungry. PE Why is it that there are never any ice-creams in the fridge? Also, never any low-fat milk. RH Not the place it used to be. WR There are only three things wrong with Pinks: 1. Service. 2. Service. 3. Service. DN BUT IT WASN’T ALL BAD… Thank you to the team for a wonderful Red Room dinner… It made for a special evening and a great meal. DB www.mcc.co.ke www.mcc.co.ke April– June 2017 Muthaiga Country Club 3

ith the winding down of a communications committee, this page is devoted to being more of an opinion page, where prevailing moods and sentiments of Members on current Club essed in comments and mails, are echoed. As always, we want to know what’s on your mind, and will always welcome your feedback. at Pinks TO … A DECISION WAS MADE TO AST ONLY AT PINKS… inks only is a mistake. Do away with the chafing dishes and cook to order as it used Appalled by people’s behaviour at Pinks, and disappointed to have to have breakfast there… I am an overseas Member and come to the Club for the Club, not to come to an average hotel. FP ee with the economic reasons for having only one venue for breakfast, I do not agree with the argument that economy alone justifies dispensing with breakfast in the old restaurant in a ee environment. RS waiters, tables not laid, multiple trips required, no logic to layout, food in chafing dishes cold, ed as food finished, coffee

The Butterfly Trust Going from strength to strength, the Butterfly Trust - which was established in 2010 by MCC Members Gordon Owles and Juliet Nightingale in memory of their mother Olwen - sources, trains and supports a strong network of Carers from local communities to assist individuals and their families that need professional support for looking after patients at home. Recently the Butterfly Trust initiated a highly successful training course for home help staff. Led by nurse trainer at PinksFi Thompson from Malindi, and facilitated by MCC Members Juliet Campbell-Clause and Vivien Wallis, the sessions covered basic nursing care, including patient TO Moving & Handling, prevention of pressure sores, … patient hygiene, bed-making, toilet care, Nutrition & Hydration and First Aid. By offering basic nursing care to home helps the MORE GENERALButterfly Trust is giving an extra dimension of expertise LY to households who are supporting elderly, unwell or convalescing family members. Your German sausage has not seen Germany and the saurecraut [sic] was not cooked. ItThe butterfly Trust is planning another series of home help training sessions in the near future, so if any MCC tasted ok as I was very hungry.Members are interested in sending their domestic staff to PE attend, please visit the Butterfly Trust website for more information. Why is it that there are never any ice-creams The Butterfly Trust assists in the fridge? Also, never any low-fat milk. RH anyone seeking that extra, unseen helping hand. Not the place it used to be. WR There are only three things wrong with Pinks: 1. Service. 2. Service. 3. Service. DN

WORLD HEART DAY With Members’ health and wellbeing always uppermost in Club priorities, MCC recently organised a Heart Health Clinic in collaboration with the Aga Khan University Hospital, to commemorate World Heart Day. As well as free Heart Screening, over 170 Club Members and staff had their blood pressure, blood sugar levels and BMI tested, ensuring we are keeping the spirit and heart of MCC beating strong. HYBRID AGM The MCC AGM will be held on 17 November this year. Members can either attend the meeting in person at the Club in the Ballroom, or join virtually via a link, which will be sent out to Members nearer the time. This hybrid arrangement has proved very successful and popular amongst our overseas and up-country Members, who now have a chance to participate.

Steam Engine Turns 100 The maganificent old Portable Steam Engine that graces the Chairman’s Lawn turned 100 in August. Portable Engines are so called as they BUT IT WASN’T ALL BAD… have to be towed to the place of work, which was usually to a harvest field for threshing or, in Kenya, perhaps Thank you to the team for a wonderful Red Room dinner… It made for a special evening anshelling maize, or to a sawmill to drive a d sawbench. a great meal. DB The history of this engine is largely unknown, but she seems to have had a colourful career. It is thought she was April– June 2017 Muthaiga Country Club 3 imported, along with several steam engines, by the early settler (and a founding Member of MCC) Ewart Grogan, to provide power to his sawmills in Njoro and Mount Elgon. The Roger Tanner purchased this engine from the estate of Frank Hewitt, who it is thought used it on his gold mining attempts in Kakamega and elsewhere. She was last in action being used a prop in the film ‘Out of Africa’, operating on Karen Blixen’s coffee farm. This grand old lady is on loan to the Club by kind permission of Roger Tanner as part of the Heritage Collection.