2021-22 subscriptions

If you have paid your subs for 2021-22, many thanks, but many members have yet to pay, and we ask please that you do so before the end of November. An email reminder will soon go out to all who have not yet paid. If you get the reminder but have paid, our apologies, but please do send your proof of payment to info@mbabaneclub.co.sz so that our records can be updated.

And for everyone who has paid, we will be sending out an email letting you know that the door and gate keypad access code will change at the end of the month.

If you’re not sure you have paid, there is a current member listing on the club’s website www.mbabaneclub.co.sz.

Annual General Meeting

For the third year running we had in excess of 40 members at the Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 26th October 2021. The President’s and Treasurer’s reports will be part of the AGM draft minutes and together with the financial statements for 2020-21 these will be posted on the website in the near future.

Despite the current restrictions placed on all of us because of Covid19, the club’s membership has shown a small increase and our financial position continues to improve.

Other good news to report is that members voted unanimously to adopt a revised constitution. Key changes made included: — streamlining our membership categories; a flexible rather than a fixed number of members to form a quorum at general meetings; introduction of proxy voting and voting by senior members; revised rules on guests, the AGM, nominations for the general committee, and various procedural matters.

The following members were elected to serve on the 2021-22 General Committee:

• Mduduzi Nyoni – President
• Lean Drinkwater – Vice president
• Jennifer Neves – Secretary
• Sean Johnson – Treasurer
• Nellie Nyawo – Lady member
• Ali Resting – Gentleman member

Martin Forsyth-Thompson was elected to serve another 3-year term as Trustee.

New Members

A big welcome goes out to…

• Walter and Shorayi Sande
• Ndzingeko Dlamini
• Sintayehu Temesgen
• Nomvuyo Hlophe

Events

The next instalment of the monthly pub quiz hosted by Peter Dixon will be on the last Wednesday of the month, so diarise the 24th November (6.30pm to 8.30pm) if you plan to join and test your general knowledge. More info from Peter at petedixon49@gmail.com.

Carols by Candlelight will be held once again on Wednesday 8th December starting at 6pm on the lawn in front of the Albert Millin.

There are rumours about a Christmas party at the club, and these may be true. More info to follow.

Sports

A little more love and attention spent on spring treatment of the greens should improve conditions for some good golf in the coming months. Check them out now and sign up for a round at the golf clubhouse.

The squash courts have also been receiving a lot of attention, and court 2 more so than envisaged. Some problems were found behind the plaster and more time was required for proper repairs. Court 1 is open and court 2 will see some action within the next couple of weeks.

It’s good to see two courts now being used for Saturday afternoon social tennis. All are welcome to play social tennis between 2pm and 5pm on Saturdays – let’s see all 3 courts in use! At other times the tennis courts must be booked in advance using a sticker that can be purchased at the office or bar. Regular players, who use courts 1 and 2 on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 4pm and 6pm (3pm to 5pm in the winter months) have a block booking and pay a lump sum in advance. Tennis court fees are used to maintain the courts, purchase new nets, etc., just as the golf section charges green fees and tokens must be purchased to use the squash courts.

Plants and Flowers for the Club Gardens

We wish to continually improve the Club grounds and gardens with a diverse, indigenous flora that creates an aesthetic environment and enhances the wellness experience for members and guests. If you have any suitable, preferably low maintenance, plants and flower cuttings or seedlings that you can donate to further enhance our landscaping plans, we would very much appreciate it. Jim Black is providing his expertise to ensure your plants will flourish! 

General Committee

On the agenda over the coming months will be proposed byelaws for the club. The club’s constitution provides for byelaws but there are none at the moment, and the feeling is that some info and guidance for members on various matters would be a good thing. These might include clarification on what constitutes family membership, signing in and conduct of guests, dress code in the Lang bar, use of the swimming pool, etc. Your suggestions for suitable ‘rules’ to include in the byelaws to help improve the running and ambiance of club are most welcome.

Until next time…take care and see you at the club!

Good day Mbabane Club Members,

No news for ages and then two news-mails in the same month! It’s no coincidence that membership subscriptions are also due!

If you haven’t already paid your subs – and many thanks to those of you who have done so – please do so, either by EFT or bank deposit, using your name and/or membership number as a reference, or the SpeedPoint machine at the club (less preferable because of bank charges, and please ask of a Club receipt). 2021-2022 subscription fees are given at the end of this email and on the club’s website www.mbabaneclub.co.sz where you can also find your membership category and number. If you need an invoice, please email secretary@mbabaneclub.co.sz to ask for one. And, please, please, please! – when paying by deposit or EFT, use your name and/or membership number for the payee reference – please do not put “Mbabane Club”. Would the members who paid by EFT on the 6th or 7th September and a cash deposit on 8th September without providing a reference please email a proof of payment to secretary@mbabaneclub.co.sz. If you wish to make doubly sure your payment is correctly credited, all members are welcome to email a proof of payment. A list of the members who are known to have paid up to 16th September is given at the end of this email.

Please note that if you have not paid your membership subscriptions you will not be able to attend and vote at the upcoming Annual General Meeting to be held at the club on Tuesday 26th October 2021 at 17:30.

Please also note that in terms of the current constitution only honorary life, life, ordinary, and country members can vote at the AGM. Senior, sports, social, student, and SGU members may attend the AGM but are not entitled to vote.

> AGM agenda, notices, etc., will be circulated and placed on the notice board in due course. If you have any resolutions for inclusion on the agenda, please forward these to the Secretary before 20th October. The draft minutes of last year’s AGM can be found on www.mbabaneclub.co.sz. The AGM will be compliant with Covid-19 regulations in force on the day and held outside in front of the tennis courts, weather permitting, or in the hall.

Last years’ AGM elected the following members to serve on the 2020-21 General Committee:
– Mduduzi Nyoni – President
– Lean Drinkwater – Vice president
– Sean Johnson – Secretary
– Ray Thomas – Treasurer (resigned, Sean Johnson is acting)
– Nellie Nwayo – Lady member
– Ali Resting (AR) – Gentleman member
All are willing to stand and serve again on the GC, and nominations will be invited for the vacant treasurer position. Notwithstanding the willingness of current GC members to stand again for election, nominations will be open for any current, voting member of the club to serve in any one of these positions.

> Sport sections are or should be holding their AGMs this month. The golf section AGM is being held on Saturday 25th September at 4pm at the golf clubhouse.
The current sport section representatives on the GC are:
Kenneth Nkambule – golf section
Peter Platchkov – tennis section
Mbuso Mbanjwa – squash section

Breaking News
The big news this month is that the Trustees and General Committee have finally reached an agreement for the lease of the Albert Millin Restaurant and management of the club for a new 3-year term effective 1st May 2021. The arrangements are similar to the previous lease…

Staying the same…
• The lessee is again Fat Baz Hamburger Hut Pty Ltd., who have the option for renewal.
• Barry Takis (a Director of Fat Baz) will manage the club on behalf of members. This includes operating and retaining revenue from the Lang Bar, employment of 7 staff, payment of all utility bills, licenses and DSTV, night security, and maintenance of the premises and grounds.

What’s new…
• Fat Baz will pay a monthly rent of E 5,000 for the Albert Millin Restaurant and E 3,750 for the gym. These rentals are discounted against costs and losses claimed by Fat Baz in managing and operating the club.
• The gym, and the club’s gym equipment, is now rented to Fat Baz instead of the prior arrangement where the club received 20% of non-member gym fees. The rental is based on 5-year average of gym non-member contributions. Fat Baz will retain all gym fees (non-members).
• Club members are now entitled to 30% reduction in gym fees.
• Lang Bar prices are subject to a mark up maximum and approval by the General Committee.
• The hire of any club facility, such as the conference room, the revenue will come to the club; revenue from sale of drinks and food will go to Fat Baz. Gym members who use club facilities will pay a fee, e.g., for use of the rear tennis court they will pay a fee to the tennis section.

In other news, we welcome the following new member to the club…
• Cetin Olmez – sport

Subscriptions fees for 2021-2022 are as follows:
ordinary, single = E 1,975
ordinary, family = E 3,400
country, single = E 1,500
country, family = E 2,400
senior, single = E 800
senior, family = E 1,300
sport = E 1,600
student & junior = E 800
SGU golf = E 1,200
social = E 1,200
Payments made by bank deposit or online to:
Banking details are:
First National Bank
Branch 8883
Account 62579153512
Reference = Surname, First name or membership number

Members who we know have paid up to 16th September (if you have paid, and your name isn’t included below, please let us know) are…
Raymond Ashworth
Bruce Becker & family
Mzamo Dlamini
Nkosingphile Dlamini & family
Alex Fakudze
Colin Foster & family
Sean Johnson & family
Calvin Mabhena
Petros Mashwama
Wandile Mtshali
Jennifer Neves
Cetin Olmez
Ali Resting & family
Phesheya Vilakati
Tony Wright
Lisa Zannerini & family

With thanks!

Greeting to all,

This is the March 2021 instalment of the Mbabane Club news-mail.

News
Access: The front door access keypad is now working. The best and easiest way to open the door is to use your key tag…
If you don’t have a key tag, collect one (single members) or two (family members) from the club’s reception desk or office. To open the door in the meantime or when you don’t have your key tag with you, the keypad code is 01 [OK] 2020 [OK], that is, numbers 0 1 followed by the [OK] button then the numbers 2 0 2 0 followed by the [OK] button. The keypad code on the lower car park gate is still 2020#. Both keypad codes will change on a regular basis (monthly) so it’s best always to use the key tag.
Covid-19: With partial easing of the lockdown, the club is open for all sports and limited social activities. Covid-19 protocols remain in effect.
Website: The club’s website is now accessible at www.mbabaneclub.co.sz and in the Member’s Zone (registration needed) you will find various things such as the club’s constitution, minutes of past AGMs and annual financial statements, past club committees, etc., and over time, much more will be added. Please do sign up.
Gardens You may have noticed the flower beds and a pots near the main door looking much better. It’s great to have Jim Black back looking after after the garden.
Guests: Please be reminded that your guests must be signed in and guests living in Mbabane may only be signed in twice in any year. Please encourage your guests to join the club. Also, you are responsible for your guests; if you leave the club, they must too.

New Members
Welcome to Wilke & Daniella Brink (family), Wandile Masima (single), Luis Valentim (social), and Sifiso Musi (country, single).
We say “goodbye” to many former members who have not renewed their subscriptions for this year. Unfortunately there are too many to list here, but you can check the names of current members and immediate past members on the list posted on the notice board and on the club’s website www.mbabaneclub.co.sz.

General Committee
We are still looking for a volunteer to be the club’s treasurer.
The draft minutes of last years’ AGM are almost ready to send out to you. We are waiting for the annual financial statements of the squash and tennis sections (who use the same bank account).
The General Committee met on the 10th March and in addition to matters related to day-to-day operations, access, and maintenance, the committee considered the renewal of the lease agreement with Fat Baz Hamburger Hut Pty Ltd for the Albert Millin and as managers of the club, and various suggestions for improvements.
The club has a new dart board and pool table in the lower Lang Bar. Bringing back the table tennis table is also being looked at. Other improvements being considered included better lighting in the lower Lang Bar, or perhaps raising the roof to increase more natural light, but this may have to wait until the club’s financial position improves somewhat.

Sections
Golf: Affiliation fees for Eswatini Golf Union and South Africa Golfers Association (SAGA) are now past due. To have a playing handicap (for competitions) you must be affiliated!
Squash:
Tennis: Court #1 is back in use!

Finally
Please let the club secretary know via email if you or anyone you know are not receiving these email newsletters.
If you need to get in touch with the committee or the manager, please email either secretary@mbabaneclub.co.sz for suggestions, complaints, enquiries about membership, etc., or manager@mbabaneclub.co.sz for day-to-day issues about club operation, maintenance, etc.

Stay safe and have a great Easter holiday.

Good day Mbabane Club members,

This is the second of occasional newsletters that the committee will be emailing to members.

Firstly, a big thank you to you all for renewing your membership. These are difficult times and the club is very grateful for your continued support. The new 2020-21 committee are aware that the club must do more and provide improved facilities for members. There is now a darts board and soon a pool table and table tennis. Some renovation works are being considered.

The club is a members’ club owned by its members for the benefit of members, and your support makes it what it is.

Next, a big welcome to new members of the Club:

• Simbarashe Chirivashi
• Julian Teh-hsim Wu and family
• Gordon Bennet
• Sipho Vuyisile Masuku
• Thulsile Carole Dlamini-Simelane, Sandile Simelane and family
• Muziwethu Langwenya (social)

New membership applications are posted on the notice board for 14 days—and there are 4 or 5 on the board at the moment—and we encourage you to review them. You are entitled to object to someone becoming a member, if you have a good reason of course!

Although the new door access keypad is in place, there have been delays in getting it activated, mostly due to delays in getting the keys tags delivered. Access will be by use of a key tag or keypad code. The tags have now arrived and are being programmed. Everyone will be given a key tag (family members will get two) but extra tags or replacement tags will cost you E100 each (to cover the cost of the tag).

The guest or visitors book is now in use. If you are bringing a guest to the club, please sign them in, and remember, you can sign in the same guest only twice in any one year. Please encourage your guests to become members if they wish to come to the club regularly.

General Committee News

Toward the end of last year, we unfortunately lost our treasurer—Ray Thomas—who resigned from the committee. The squash section representative—Bud Takis—also stepped down. If you have a little spare time and want to help your club, please let us know.

The general committee meets monthly, and our past two meetings have focussed on two important issues—operating the club is these difficult, pandemic times, and a new lease for the Albert Millin restaurant and management agreement for the club.

Each sports section sets its own rules on operating and compliance with Covid protocols; currently only the golf course is closed.

Members present at the last AGM will recall some discussion about the lease for the Albert Millin restaurant. If you weren’t at the AGM, briefly, the Millin is leased to Fat Baz Pty Ltd for no rent in return for operating the Lang Bar and gym, maintaining the property and grounds, and making some capital improvements specified in the lease. Fat Baz Pty Ltd employs all the bar, cleaning, and grounds staff, pays utility bills, and retains the income from the bar and 80% of the gym fees income. The club pays municipal rates and taxes, insurance, and services a (substantial) bank loan, which is all paid for from member’s subscriptions.

The financial status of the club is reported in the annual financial statements at the AGM. The minutes of our last AGM and financial statements will be emailed to members soon, and with the development of the club’s website, you will be able to access copies of all past AGM minutes and financial statements, as well the club’s constitution, among other things.

Sport Section News

Tennis

The problems with the surface of court #1 should be a thing of the past soon as a specialist contractor is due on site, and weather permitting, it will be back in action by early next month. once the court is finished, there will be 3 courts available for members only! Fees for using the courts will be introduced: Annual subscription for social players, Saturdays, E1200; for regular players (unlimited) E2400.

Golf

The course remains closed during the current lockdown but is still being maintained by the greens staff. The recent heavy rains have been a challenge, especially on the 7/16 fairway.

Squash

Finally

On warm sunny days it’s great to see families using the pool and that children are being closely supervised. In addition to this and not taking glass into pool area, the rules also require that you wear proper swimming attire (and not underwear) for hygiene reasons. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

If you need to get in touch with the committee or the manager, please email either secretary@mbabaneclub.co.sz for suggestions, complaints, enquiries about membership, etc., or manager@mbabaneclub.co.sz for day-to-day issues about club operation, maintenance, etc.