Newsletter

Fourth Quarter

2007 

Note from the General Manager

Ladies and gentlemen, summer is on the way and Christmas is almost upon us.  As most of you are aware, we have greatly increased the number of evening functions being held at the club and I think this is reflected by all of the efforts being made by the committee, management and staff to make your club something extra special.  I am however,  slightly disappointed in the day to day usage by our town members and I would be anxious to hear what kind of event, function or improvement you would like to see at the club so that I can endeavour to make your needs see the light of day.

The Sports Lounge has been opened and members have enjoyed watching the Cricket Pro 20 World Cup and of course the Rugby World Cup in this new room. I personally think the room is beautiful and I am sure that it will be a benefit for the future of the club.  Please remember that we can now cater for sports events, music events and business meetings in this room and I would be more than willing to explain how this all works the next time that you are in the club.

We have also installed wi-fi so that you can work on your laptop, send emails and surf the web at no expense to yourself. The Sports Lounge kitchen is permanently open from 11:00 until 19:00 and we have introduced some light meals for you to enjoy at any time of the day.

We continue to send you emails and SMS messages regarding events taking place at the club. However, I have had a number of members telling me that they did not receive any information. Please make sure that Roanne has your actual email address or SMS cell number.  Also help us to stay in contact with you by giving us any change of email address or cell number that you might have made.   I  have   also    had one or two members tell me that they  do   not   want   to   receive any communication regarding functions at the club.  If you do not wish to stay informed of club events, please inform Roanne or myself and I will take your cell phone number off the database immediately.

The Rand Club website, www.randclub.co.za, continues to be very popular.  Since setting up the new site, the number of visits has increased every month since inception.  Please note that you can always see what functions are coming up by visiting the Club Events tab on the home page.  Don’t forget that you can also book for functions online in the Members section.

After the success of the last Jazz Evening with Estelle Kokot, I am now working hard to continue providing providing you with jazz and hopefully classical music. I have a couple of musicians in the pipeline and I’ll keep you informed as soon as any dates are confirmed. 

On Sunday 7^th October, we had our second quiz cavery & even though I say it myself, it was yet another resounding success.  So having promised to you that I would do a quiz cavery every  second month, on Sunday 2^nd December we will be having the Christmas Quiz Cavery and the whole day will be dedicated to Christmas, including Christmas music and Christmas brain teasers.  Let’s not forget the actual cavery.  We will have turkey, stuffing, ham, chipolatas, all the trimmings and of course some great Christmas pudding.  Don’t miss out, bring the whole family and have a real party.

Whilst on the subject of  Christmas, you now have the perfect opportunity to bring your family, your company staff members or your friends  to the club for your own private Christmas lunch or function.  Artur is eager to meet your every need and is contactable on 011 834 8311.

Until next time, take care and I look forward to seeing you in the club soon.

Parking in Surrey House is still available during lunchtime, for two hours only. Please show the waiter your parking ticket and he will give you a voucher to the value of R10 which you must present to the Surrey House parking attendants when you leave the parking area.  Please note that the R10 voucher will cover two hours of parking only.  Any time over and above two hours will be for your own account.   

This facility is for members only.  There is additional parking within walking distance of the club at Beyers Naude Square & Gandhi Square, for members’ guests.

Parking for special functions can be arranged through our Catering offices

97 Fox Street is back on the map as the Sports and Entertainment Lounge.  Come and enjoy the ambience of this newly renovated room with your friends and colleagues when next in the club.  Dress code in this lounge is as follows:

On normal club days, Monday to Friday, 07:00 – 19:00 – the standard Rand Club dress code is required.

On any Saturday, Sunday or after 19.00 on a weekday, casual dress may be worn.

Please note that the above is only applicable to the Sports Lounge.

For any other function hosted in this lounge – dress code will be advised accordingly

DRESS RULES

A reminder to members that the minimum requirement of dress is –

Gentlemen - traditional African dress (including Nehru collars), throughout the club.  

Smart Casual – open necked long/short sleeved shirts. 

T-shirts of any kind, jeans, leather jackets, golf shirts, trainers and/or shorts are not acceptable.  

Ladies dress code is Smart Casual. 

Members are reminded to   ensure that their guests are made aware of the Dress Rules when visiting the Club.

The Dress code for special functions will be specified in the newsletter.

JUST A REMINDER to all members that a requirement of the Clubs Act is that member's must sign their guests in when entering the premises.  Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

MEMBERS POST, MESSAGES & LIBRARY BOOKS

Members please take note that all mail, newspapers, messages and periodicals etc., will in future be left in the alphabetical cubby holes beneath the main notice board.  They will no longer be left at the Porters Lodge.

Reciprocal rooms, the club once again has three newly renovated reciprocity double en-suite rooms.  These are situated on the 3^rd floor of the North Wing.   Please note that due to there being limited facilities available i.e.: no secure parking and no breakfast or dinner being served, these rooms will be let on an overnight stay basis, only.  Tea/coffee making facilities are however available in the room.

Rand Club would like to welcome on board

Riaan Strydom

who takes over from Frank Oppler as financial accountant.  May his stay here be a long and fruitful one!

Reciprocal news

The Chicago Athletic Association –

is undergoing a period of transformation.

The club will be closed from 28 May 2007 for at least 18-24 months for renovations.

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The Naval & Military Club Melbourne,  have announced that for their next financial year ending June 2008, they will be retaining their 2006-07 rates for accommodation.

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Rand Club has established reciprocity with Windsor Club, Canada. Situated in the heart of downtown Windsor, the club is located beside the head-quarters of DaimlerChrysler Canada on the top floor of an active business high-rise building. This club currently has no accommodation

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Rand Club has established reciprocity with, The Regency Club, California.  The club is situated on the 17^th Penthouse floor of the David Murdock Plaza on the Southwest corner of Wilshire and Westwood Boulevard.  This club currently has no accommodation.

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Opening on 1 December 2007, the Old Chengdu Club, China will be open to receive visiting Rand Club members.  Having established reciprocity with this brand new club, it has on offer to visiting reciprocity members, 25 of the finest guest rooms in Chengdu.  This club occupies sixteen wonderfully restored traditional Sichuan buildings in the centre of Chengdu, adjacent to the city’s oldest Monastery – the Wen Shu Monastery.  Other amenities offered are, dining rooms, and two boardrooms, plenty of recreational facilities, Broadband internet and WIFI.

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Rand Club Members visiting Inanda Club

Inanda Club requires any new members visiting Inanda Club, to either have a letter of intro or an Inanda/Rand Club card.  Should you not have a Rand Club /Inanda card, please inform Roanne.

Remember:

Roanne does all the reciprocity bookings, so please call her when next planning a visit to any one of the 130 reciprocity clubs worldwide.

For many members the Library is the focal point of their visit to the club and we would encourage all members to make use of it.  Our Librarian Mrs. Jenny Brand, is in the Library on Wednesdays & Fridays from 9:30am to 1:30pm. The Library Committee meets every second month in order to select new books both non-fiction and fiction.  If a particular title is not available when you visit, please leave a note for Jenny and she will look into it.

The following periodicals are available in the Main Library

Newspapers—Business Day, The Citizen, Mail & Guardian, The Star,     International Express & Sunday Telegraph.

Magazines—Africa Birds & Birding, Africa Geographic, Car, Financial Mail, Men’s Health, Noseweek, The Economist, The Spectator, Time & Private Eye.

The following books have been added to our Library

FICTION

Engleby - Sebastian Faulks

The unknown terrorist - Richard Flanagan

Wolf of the plains - Conn Iggulden

Suffer the little children - Donna Leon

Salmon fishing in the Yemen - Paul Torday

Half of a yellow sun - C N Adichie

Life Class - Pat Barker

My Mother’s lovers - C Hope

The tenderness of Wolves - Stef Penney 

On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan

The Flanders Panel - Arturo Péres-Reverte

The walking dead - Gerald Seymour

Charlemagne and Roland - Allan Massie

Stalin’s Ghost - Martin Ctruz Smith

NON-FICTION

A Guinea Pig’s history of biology - Jim Endersby

Some Afrikaners revisited - David Goldblatt

The inner circle - Jan Heunis

God is not great - Christopher Hitchens

Fateful choices - Ian Kershaw

Inferno - Keith Lowe

Young Stalin - Simon Sebag

Through the darkness - Judith G. Todd

The day of the Barbarians - Alessandro Barbero

Nixon and Kissinger - Robert Dallek

Napoleon - Philip Dwyer

The line upon the wind - Noel Mostert

The middle sea - John J Norwich

On the wealth of nations - P J Rourke

Orientalism - Edward W Said

Femme Fatale - Pat Shipman

Galileo - Michael White

Red Princess - Sofka Zinovief

DONATIONS

Butterflies of the Table Mountain Range - AJM Claassens & CGC Dickson

Cape Dutch Houses - C Jansen

“Alexander, I love you” - Jon Swift (Donated by the Brenthurst Library)

The Library, from time to time receives donations of books. Due to severe limitations on space and shelving, the Library Committee has been forced to limit the accepted donations of books to books of historical interest and contemporary importance.  Whilst all donations are much appreciated, those that fall outside these categories of donations will have to made over to an appropriate charity

LENDING LIBRARY

Books withdrawn from the Lending library are being offered to the members at R5.00 per book.  Watch for these books displayed on trestle tables outside the Billiard Room.  Register for books taken with David Lobban at the Porter’s Lodge.

WINNERS

Our Draw in August 2007 went to:

1^st Prize - R 2 014.50 - J.B Sampson

2^nd Prize - R 805.50 - T.H Bramwell-Jones

3^rd Prize - R 402.90 - G.M Thomas  

Attendance Prize R    402.90    I.F Laughland

*carried forward

WINNERS

Our Draw in September 2007 went to:

1^st Prize - R 1 375.00 - J De Villiers

2^nd Prize - R 550.00 - R Pickavance

3^rd Prize - R 275.00 - GS Bowden

Attendance Prize R 275.00 - JM Vice

*carried forward

WINNERS

Our Draw in August 2007 went to:

1^st Prize - R 9 385.00 - NV Oborn*

2^nd Prize - R 3 754.00 - MF Brown

3^rd Prize - R 1 877.00 - RWR Buchholz

Attendance Prize R 1 877.00 - RA Furber*

*carried forward

WINNERS

Our Draw in September 2007 went to:

1^st Prize - R 10 381.00 - BE Davison*

2^nd Prize - R 4 152.00 - J De Villiers

3^rd Prize - R 2 076.00 - K Martyn

Attendance Prize R 2 076.00 - GPL Kell  

*carried forward

REMINDER TO ALL

50 and 100 club members -

Draws in December 2007 “must be won”

as there will be no draw in January 2008—Double Draw in February 2008.

MEMBERS AND THEIR GUESTS ARE REMINDED

CELLPHONES ARE NOT PERMITTED TO BE USED IN THE CLUB - PLEASE SWITCH THEM OFF ON ENTERING THE PREMISES

THE RAND CLUB HISTORY ASSOCIATION meets on the last Thursday of every second month.  12h00 for 12h45 —

Bookings essential with Colleen in catering

Next meeting Date: 29^th November 2007

Guest Speaker: Lt-Gen. D Earp

Topic: “With the Cheetah Squadron in Korea”

Dress code:  Jacket and Tie

Food supplied will be soup, sandwiches and wine

Member and guest costs will be charged to the member’s house account.

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NEWLY ELECTED MEMBERS & MEMBERS/CANDIDATES LUNCHEONS FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH

Dates for 2007 - 6 November & 4 December

Dates for 2008

5 February, 4 March, 1 April, 6 May,

 3 June, 1 July, 5 August, 2 September,

7 October, 4 November, 2 December

RAND CLUB BUSINESS AND INVESTMENT SOCIETY

First Monday of each month.  Meet at 12:30 for drinks/networking, followed by a single course lunch, wine and coffee, which will be served at 13:00.

Price: R75 per head.

Rand Club Members and guests are most welcome.

Booking essential with Colleen in catering.

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Sunday Carvery dates for 2007

4 November and 2 December

Sunday Carvery 2008 dates

3 February, 2 March, 6 April, 4 May,

1 June, 6 July, 3 August, 7 September,

 5 October, 2 November, 7 December

Remember every alternate Sunday Carvery is Quiz time!

Future functions     

VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER                                    

14  February 2008    

7:15pm for 7:30pm

Cost - TBA

Dress - Smart Casual

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SAINT PATRICK’S DAY DINNER

17 March 2008

7:15pm for 7:30 pm 

Cost - TBA

Dress - Smart Casual

Due to the success of our first Poker Evening held in June Rand Club will now be holding a Poker Evening on the last Thursday of each month from 17h00 for you to bring your friends and colleagues to enjoy what is the fastest growing sport in the world!

RAND CLUB 120^TH COMMEMORATIVE BALL

10 November 2007

7:30 for 7:45pm

Cost - R250.00p/p

3 course meal (excluding drinks)

Dress: Black Tie

Don’t miss the opportunity of celebrating your club’s 120^th birthday. A night to dine & dance in style. A live musical entertainer will entertain you with wonderful music during the evening.

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ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

20 November 2007 at 1:45—Main Dining Room.

Cost - R125.50 p/p

2 course meal, including wine

Lunch will be in the Main Dining Room followed by the AGM. A special two-course meal will be served.

SEASONAL CONCERT WITH THE JOHANNESBURG BRASS BAND

13 December 2007

7:00pm for 7: 30pm

Cost - R155.00p/p

3 course dinner—(excluding drinks)

Dress Code—Lounge suit

Member Pat Corbin has once again arranged a return of the Johannesburg Brass Band. One can look forward to an evening of wonderful music.

Parking available at Surrey House

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MEMBERS ANNUAL SPECIAL CHRISTMAS LUNCH

14 December 2007

Cost - R139.50 p/p excluding drinks

Members are invited to bring their families and friends to the club’s annual Christmas lunch

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GUEST SPEAKERS

LUNCH WITH BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER THE RT HON PAUL BOATENG

Date: 8 November 2007

12:15 for 12:30

Cost R125.00 p/p (2 course meal with 2 glasses of wine)

TOPIC – speaking on a topic of his choice

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Club Festive Season closure for 2007/2008

18/12/07-21/12/07

Skeleton staff will be on duty

22/12/07 – 6/1/2008

Club is officially closed

7/1/08 – 12/1/08

Club open with skeleton staff

14/1/08

Club fully operational

Hello once again,

Where has this year gone? Already silly season is fast approaching us.  Some time back a Rand Club member gave me a copy of Durban Club’s famous curry Country Captain.  Unbeknownst to this member I happened to be Head Chef at Durban Club some time back and had already prepared this curry to this recipe.  Years later while researching the origins of various dishes I came across the original recipe for Country Captain which dated back to 1879 and was put into print by Theodora Fitzgibbon in her book of The Art of British Cooking, published in 1965.  I have included the curries for you to try.

Recipe-Country

Captain (T Fitzbibbon)

Method

Remove skin from chicken, rub chicken with lemon juice, rub pieces with seasoned flour. Leave to stand for 30 min.  Fry Onions slices until golden brown.  Season to taste.  Add raisins, finely chopped apples, capers, curry powder, turmeric and finally the stock.  Stir well.  Add Chicken.  Simmer gently for ½

hr or until chicken is tender, turning the joints at intervals and stirring well.  Moisture should be absorbed but curry must not be dry.  Serve with Patna rice.

Recipe-Country Captain (Durban Club)

Method

Heat oil in saucepan.  Add onions, ginger, garlic, bay leaves, curry leaves, cinnamon bark, cloves and chili’s.  Allow onions to cook until transparent.  Add curry powder, breyani mix and chicken cubes.  Allow to simmer for 15 min.  Add tomatoes.  Very little water needs to be added.  Salt to taste.  When mixture is cooked, chop dhania roughly and sprinkle over the top of curry.

Bon Appetit!

Your Chef,

Tom Couper  

LUNCHTIME SPECIALS @ YOUR CLUB FOR AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2007

October 2007

1^st – 5^th - Sole Colbert with Noisette Potatoes - R65.50

8^th – 12^th - Oxtail Bretonne - R55.50

15^th - 19^th - Lamb Shank & Veges served on a bed of Couscous - R69.50

22^nd – 26^th - Butterfly crumbed Prawns - R37.50

WINES & MALT - lunchtime specials for weekdays Monday to Friday only

White - Viljoensdrift Chenin Blanc - @ R39.50 p/b - Normal price – R49.00 p/b

Red - VIljoensdrift Shiraz 2004 - @ R100.00p/b - Normal price – R137.00 p/b

November 2007

1^st – 2^nd - Mussels Mariniere served with home-made bread - R24.00

5^th – 9^th - Veal Oscar served with creamed Celery hearts and Sautéed Potatoes - R45.50

12^th - 16^th - Eggs Edinburgh - R29.00

19^th – 23^rd - Welsh Rarebit - R10.50

26^th – 30^th - Lamb and Tomato Bredie - R41.50

WINES & MALT - lunchtime specials for weekdays Monday to Friday only

White - Boschendal Grand Vin Blanc 2006 - @ R72.00 p/b - Normal price - R107.50 p/b

Red - Plaisir De Merle - @ R131.00 p/b - Normal price – R176.00 p/b

NO SPECIALS IN DECEMBER 2007

COLLECTION OF TURKEYS AND HAMS

Please remember to collect your turkeys and hams.

Development Promotions (Pty) Ltd. "DP" was formed in 1972 and is a private company registered in South Africa. DP specialises in the promotion and marketing of travel products, on a representation or General Sales Agency basis, for international travel suppliers such as various Airlines, Cruise companies, Hotel groups, Tour Programmes and Tourism Boards.

Airlines

Among these major Cruise Companies we represent - the whole world covered!

 From the Arctic to the Antarctic you will be spoiled for choice in deciding which Ocean  or River you would like to explore (and indulge your senses in).  Whether you are celebrating an Anniversary, Birthday, Honeymoon, or just to relax and be pampered - cruising is the perfect getaway, as virtually everything is included in the price. Cruising is also ideal for Families, as all needs are catered for. For something a little different - inland cruising along the Canals and Rivers of Europe on a luxury River Vessel or a Hotel Barge is a must. Or indulge your passions for golf, music, art, theatre, food & wine and so much more with a wide variety of Theme Cruises.

Apt Worldwide, Captain Cook Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, GAP Adventures, Go Barging, Hurtigruten, Imaginative Traveller, Oceania Cruises, Peter Deilmann Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Silja Line.

Adventure

Qantas Holidays: Presents an exciting range of accommodation, transfers, sightseeing and tours across the world.

Destinations covered are Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, Asia, the USA, Canada, Britain & Europe.

World Hotels: With almost 500 member Hotels in over 250 destinations and 65 countries. Offering Deluxe, First class and Comfort style Hotels. Easily booked on www.worldhotels.com 

Finland: Lapland packages available.

Tourism Ireland provides a wealth of information and brochures on holidays to Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland.

FRIDAY AUGUST 31st

 ………A small piece of history  from  the  Rand  Club Centenary Album 1887-1987…

……Once upon a time there existed what was called “Grumble Book’s”, placed at the disposal of potential malcontents but they have since been lost…

The surviving “suggestion and complaint” books go as far back as 1911.  The entries in these books cover a span of forty-odd years and though there were only seventy odd pages of them, entries were not placed every day or week.

 ………Weeks or even months would go by without a member taking pen and ink to record a grievance but… for the activities of a well known member of the French community on the Rand (M. Paul Dreyfus),… who acted as a sort of one-man vigilance committee,… watching over the interest of all who used the dining room – there would, indeed, have been still fewer entries – thirty of these entries are in his familiar handwriting.

When paying via electronic transfer or a direct deposit into Rand Club’s account please reflect your membership number and send us a copy of the deposit as proof of payment via fax on 011 834 1247