CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN
Dear Members,
We are now in what are extraordinary times for our nation and the world at large, following the outbreak and spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s initial decision to implement a nationwide lockdown, was a decisive and necessary move to stop the spread of the virus. However, the failure, for whatever reasons, to relax the lockdown conditions has had a dire effect on our economy and obviously impacted on Kelvin Grove.
The lockdown, on the other hand, has created the opportunity to strategise and plan for a stronger post Covid-19 Club. This will require grit, passion, and unity of purpose from Members, the Committee, Management and Staff. As the Club reopens, we also need to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for Members. The lockdown has led to the closure of the Club to Members and loss of revenue especially from functions and restaurants. However, the Exco Team led by our General Manager Jana van der Merwe, has been working tirelessly during lockdown to introduce positive ideas to generate income, support the staff and to partner with new businesses. In addition, all tenders and contacts are being reviewed to limit costs where possible.
It is impossible to predict how long our economy will take to improve and our Finance and Strategic Committees are continuing to investigate and strategise on various scenarios going forward .The Committee has established the cost and associated cash flow implications of a complete lockdown, with no activity allowed at the Club. In this instance Member’s subscriptions and interest would be our only revenue and is not sustainable to meet the monthly overheads, which include salaries, albeit at a reduced remuneration and general maintenance.
As a result of a total loss of income from functions your Committee and Management took the decision to introduce meal deliveries during the lockdown 4 stage. We have now entered lockdown 3 stage and are able to open the Deli in the Coffee Shop and offer take away meals from the Barn from Wednesday to Saturday. I urge Members, to support these two new ventures as with your support we are hoping to extend the trading hours. New initiatives will be introduced as the Covid-19 regulations are relaxed. However the financial implications of each new initiative must be weighed up against not only what revenue it will bring to the Club but also the cost to ensure that health and safety measures are strictly adhered to.
We need to generate R650 000 monthly from food and beverages to break even, a significant challenge requiring increasing and ongoing member support of the Deli, the Barn and all other initiatives as they are introduced. Support, crucial to the sustainability of our Club is in your hands as a member.
Kelvin Grove employs over 100 dedicated and loyal employees, many of whom have been with us for many years. At present, all employees are being retained at a reduced monthly remuneration and employees who are not a high Covid 19 risk, are being employed on a rotational basis and paid on an hourly basis. Accordingly, as the Club is able to open additional areas, our employees’ salaries will increase.
The welfare of our employees is important to all of us and your Committee has resolved to establish an Employee Charity Trust to assist our most vulnerable of employees. Details in this regard will be provided to Members when finalised.
On a positive note, all the buildings and assets of the Club are unencumbered, and we do have cash reserves. However, this is not sustainable as general maintenance is required to maintain these assets to the standard we accustomed to. Membership subscriptions are insufficient to cover the monthly overheads and without income from functions, restaurants and the pool bar, Members support is critical to maintain Kelvin Grove.
Members who have not settled their annual subscriptions are urged to do so as soon as possible. The Committee is aware that certain Members have been financially affected by the lockdown and we urge those Members to contact the Club to discuss payment options available as a matter urgency failing which remedy, in terms of Club Rules will be applied.
The Committee intends proposing a resolution at the AGM to no longer offer credit facilities at the Club, as we are presently struggling to recuperate over a Million Rand in unpaid Club Accounts.
Our AGM is provisionally scheduled for the first Monday in August, by way of webinar, if gatherings are still prohibited, and we urge our Members to support this important meeting. Notices will be circulated to Members in due course.
In closing, I wish all Members and Staff good health and please stay safe.
Your Sincerely,
Peter Blanckenberg, Chairman
EDITOR’S COLUMN
Dear Members,
We are most definitely living in a time that no one could have ever predicted or prepared for, but with that being said, we have much to be grateful for.
Kelvin Grove hosted the annual Stormers Fundraiser in March, and it was a great success. A gratuitous thank you to all those that made the evening possible and most importantly our fantastic sponsors, who spared no cost in contributing to this fantastic evening and cause. A whopping R117 700.00 was raised for the Chris Burger Petro Jackson fund, which brings the total raised over the years to over R1 million.
Although we are still enjoying a few sunny days, the morning and evening air temperatures have dropped considerably, as we approach the Winter months. As we have mostly been confined to our homes during lockdown, we have tried to keep the Kelvin family connected with our weekly mailer content, that include some fantastic new kids’ crafts ideas, exercise tips, homemade recipes, virtual lucky draws, book reviews and much more.
We are now offering home deliveries of our delicious home-cooked meals from Thursday, 14 May, so you can enjoy them from the comfort of your own home! To place an order, please complete the order form.
Virtual lucky draws will take place on the last Thursday of every month during lockdown. Please look out for all our upcoming offerings in our weekly mailers.
In a bid to create a better experience for all our members, from function and court bookings to viewing statements and making quick convenient online payments, we have built a new and improved Kelvin Grove website. Like us on Facebook to stay up to date with competitions and what is happening at the Club.
Thank you for your continued support at Kelvin.
Kind Regards
Kayleigh Jones, Editor
NEW KELVIN GROVE WEBSITE
It is time for new beginnings, and we are excited to announce that our new website is now live! In a bid to create a better experience for all our members, from bookings, to viewing statements and making quick convenient online payments, the new and improved Kelvin Grove website is ready to go. View the new website now on https://www.kelvingrove.co.za
FAQ’S
Q: Why did we change our website?
A: We have created a website that is easier to navigate, make bookings and view your statements.
Q: What’s new on the website?
A: New navigation. New look. You can also book functions and make payments online now.
Q: Are my accounts or statements secure?
A: All of your personal information is safe and secure. Only you have access to your statements.
Q: I have a problem, what do I do now?
A: Please get in touch with us and we will happily assist with any issues you may be experiencing.
Q: Where is the member login button?
A: We have replaced this function with member bookings and the ability to view statements.
Q: Will there be workshops?
A: Yes, these will be arranged after lockdown measures allow us to open once more.
FUNCTIONS & WHAT’S HAPPENING AT KELVIN GROVE
We are missing the hustle and bustle of regular functions at the club and within the Functions Department, but this time has certainly given us an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on what makes functions at Kelvin Grove so special.
We are reminded daily, that may we never again take for granted time spent gathering and celebrating with family, friends and colleagues – Family gatherings, birthday celebrations, weddings and anniversary celebrations, company celebrations and many others – everything around us is so temporary and we need to celebrate as many special moments as we can in one lifetime.
We would like to remind you of a few of our other offerings including a bit about what we are currently working on during this time taking social distancing in consideration:
Want improve team moral and motivation in your workplace?
We offer various team building and year end packages. We have a variety of activities including Potjiekos competitions, Lawn Bowls, Beach tennis, Sushi making classes and many more fun activities bound to encourage better teamwork and morale within the workplace.
Looking for a venue to host Corporate events and meetings?
We have a range of different size venues to suit your every need. From a corporate boardroom fully equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to seat a small group of guests for a meeting, to larger venues which are ideal for presentations, conferences, and evening functions. We will be offering a 50 % discount to members and their companies on venue hire for all corporate events in 2020 once lockdown is lifted – keep an eye out for our newsletter and Facebook notices.
Looking for a venue to celebrate your magical wedding day, birthday, or any other celebration?
From our elegant Ballroom suitable for grand occasions for up to 350 guests, to our modern and clean-cut Pavilion suitable for smaller functions, we have the perfect venue for every occasion. Tables, chairs, cutlery, crockery, and linen are included in our venue hire. When it comes to catering and beverage requirements, we can assist you with this too. We offer a delightful menu, bar and wine selection and are more than happy to tailor it to suit your needs. Our team of coordinators are always ready to assist in helping you make your celebration a success and can provide you with a list of our recommended service providers. More now than ever we value the importance of celebrations whether they are big or small, and we will be offering a 50% discount to all members and their friends on venue hire for events once lockdown is lifted – keep an eye out for our newsletter & FB notices.
Looking for a venue for your child’s birthday party?
We have ample outdoor areas and venues available to host Kids Birthday parties. We offer a range of fun themed birthday parties such as Pizza making parties, Little Baker parties, Action Sport parties to Secret Tea Garden parties. We offer yummy snacks and beverages for the kids and delicious platters and beverages for adults. We will make the planning process easy for you and be there to assist you on the day while the kids have fun and create many more wonderful birthday memories. Also keep a look out for our monthly kids calendar and events.
Club Events at Kelvin Grove
Kelvin Grove hosts a range of Club Events. From book launches and workshops to kids’ events and festivals, we are constantly working on new ideas and events, to keep our members and guests enticed and excited.
We have also made booking for Club Events a little easier, which can now be done through our website. We look forward to seeing you and for your support at our upcoming events once the club is able to host events again!
With our recently launched #KGCares initiative, we have joined hands with the community, businesses, artists, and our suppliers to provide support and spread the word about their brand. We feature these businesses in our weekly mailers. Look out for the date of our next market – we hope to see all those who we have joined hands with there!
Our most exciting project within in the #KGCares Initiative, is our Knitting and Crochet Club. We have chosen to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s life this year, through donating knitted and crocheted blankets to Ubuntu House – a registered Child and Youth Care Centre, providing a place of safety for babies from birth to two years, who have been abandoned, orphaned, neglected or born out of an unplanned and crisis pregnancy.
Festivals
We are currently busy planning a few exciting festivals for the year. These include a Gin Festival, Bubbly Festival, and our annual favourite festival of the year – our Beer, Wine and Cheese Festival. We will provide dates and more information on these festivals once we are able too.
HOME DELIVERIES – ENJOY YOUR FAVOURITE KELVIN MEALS FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME!
The newest addition to our list of offerings is our Home Delivery Menu. Our menu includes a selection of Home -cooked meals, Coffee Shop Treats, Barn Pizzas and “Make your own” kits.
Visit our website and click on “Book and Pay” in the top menu to view our weekly menu. Place your order online and have your order delivered to your door. All Kelvin Grove’s function facilities are available for members and non-members to use, but Members receive favourable rates.
Grand opening of the KG Deli
Kelvin’s Coffee Shop will re-open as our new Deli on Wednesday, 3rd June 2020. For now, our new Deli will be open from Wednesdays to Saturday’s every week between 09:00 – 17:00. The following delicious assortments will be on offer:
- Home-cooked meals: Hassle-free, hearty and freshly made
- Selection of Coffee Shop Treats: Sweet and savoury
- DIY Cooking Kits
- Pantry Staples
- Wines and other beverages
- Coming soon: Local South African homeware and lifestyle products
You can either come and visit the Deli to purchase your favourite treat or call us to place your order on 021 658 4542 which can then be collected directly from the Club’s designated parking bays.
BARN TAKE-AWAY MENU
The Barn Restaurant will be open Wednesday – Saturday evenings between 17:00 – 20:00 for take-aways. *Last orders at 19:00. Please call the Barn Restaurant on 021 658 4544 to place your order and collect from the Club. To ensure your health and peace of mind when visiting the club to collect meals or to shop at our new Deli, Kelvin Grove will ensure all health & safety protocols are in place. These include designated parking area for minimal interaction, limits on the number of shoppers allowed in the Deli at one time, social distancing practises, hand sanitiser stations and regular disinfection of the Deli.
VOUCHERS
We would like to say thank you to all our Members who have continued to support your Club during these uncertain times. We encourage members to please continue to do so by pre-purchasing a R450.00 voucher, worth R500.00 (only to be used at level 1).
Visit our website and click on to purchase your vouchers online. All Kelvin Grove’s function facilities are available for members and non-members to use, but Members receive favourable rates. Should you have any question or queries regarding hosting a function at the club, please feel free to contact our Functions team on functions@kelvingrove.co.za. We look forward to hosting many of your functions in the future and we hope to see you at our club functions once the club can reopen and functions are able to take place.
Kaley Gray, Conference and Banqueting Manager