GRAND RE–OPENING OF
GRAND RE–OPENING OF HAPPY HOUR 5 – 7 Mon–Fri OFF ON ANY APPETIZER EXP. 4/30/06 Italian Bistro & Bar Proprietor Giuseppe D’Anna NORTHVILLE 146 Centre Street 248-735-0101 FARMINGTON HILLS 30005 Orchard Lake Rd. Between 13 & 14 Mile Rd. 248-932-9999 SHELBY TOWNSHIP 51195 Schoennhr North of 23 Mile Rd 586-731-6161 Visit our other locations! CLINTON TOWNSHIP 43080 Garfield Road, North of 19 Mile 586-263-5353 DINNER FOR TWO ONLY $ 24 95 Dinner includes Two Glasses of House Wines (21 yrs & over) Bread Basket • Side of Pasta Choices of Soup or Salad Menu Choices: Chicken Marsala • Chicken Piccante • Chicken Cremosi Ravioli (meat or cheese) • Eggplant Parmigiana Whitefish Siciliana • Veal Peppino • Seafood Fettuccini Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken Not good with another coupon or special. Expires 4/30/06 2266 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD AT MIDDLEBELT ROAD | SYLVAN LAKE, MI 48320 248-682-8573 MON, TUE, WED, FRI 10 A – 6 P • THUR 10 A – 8 P • SAT 10 A – 5 P 38 CHALDEAN NEWS APRIL 2006
SHENANDOAH continued from 36 his predecessors, Kassem has no contract. “That demonstrates unbelievable confidence to get the job done.” CIAAM treasurer Jason Alkamano is also optimistic. “Shenandoah will be more efficient, definitely more profitable and more organized under his leadership,” he said of Kassem. “Everyone needed direction, and he is perfect for the job.” GUEST editorial Shenandoah Country Club is moving forward GETTING THE WORD OUT Another challenge for Kassem is fighting the perception that Shenandoah is a private club. While some of its facilities are indeed only open to members, much is available to the public. “We need to change the mindset of the golfers — they are still under the impression that they can’t go to the Mixed Grille,” he said of Shenandoah’s casual restaurant. It is incumbent upon Shenandoah’s members to support their club, Kassem said, adding that those who opt to save a few dollars per person by booking their wedding or special event elsewhere are missing the point. “Whatever they pay to this club is supporting success for a new generation who will really flourish with the club,” he said. “The plan is for Shenandoah to be the banquet heaven of all groups,” Kassem continued. “It will take some hard work — planning, training, marketing. We are building the blocks right now, doing everything from scratch.” That includes some key personnel changes. Kassam’s smooth style should go over well with Shenandoah members. “He is very disarming,” Sarafa said. “He’s firm but gentle. And his strength is in not being a glad-hander.” Alkamano said members need to look at the big picture. “Every new business starts off rocky, and this is a new business,” he said. “The members should definitely hang in there, and look forward to enjoying a beautiful facility.” Kassam is confident he will put Shenandoah on the right path. “Progress will be slow and slightly noticeable,” he said, “but very noticeable in six to 12 months.” Sarafa is “100 percent” confident that things will turn around. “We will,” he predicted, “be at a breakeven or profitable point by the end of ‘06, beginning of ‘07.” MICHAEL SARAFA SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS Shenandoah Country Club (SCC) is poised to become one of the premier venues for banquets, dining and golf in the Detroit Metropolitan region. For the Chaldean community, it is the source and great pride and the place that will foster and promote opportunities for families to socialize, recreate and share experiences. The Chaldean Community Cultural Center (CCCC), housed at SCC, will be a tremendous educational tool for schoolchildren, our neighboring communities and all who want or need to know more about the history of the Chaldean people. For our community, programs created by the CCCC will be instrumental in the preservation of our language, culture and history. Shenandoah is a one-of-a-kind destination. With a public golf course, 850-person banquet hall, unique dining room dé cor and menu, indoor gymnasium, outdoor pool, cultural center, meeting rooms, activity rooms, pro shop, locker rooms and more, there is not a comparable facility anywhere in the country. While we have built the jewel of the community, the size and the scope of the project have also created a unique set of challenges. Shenandoah opened in January of 2005 with much fanfare and great expectations. These expectations were quickly overwhelmed by a very difficult transition to a new, much larger, more complicated and more expensive building than we planned for or what we were used to at the Southfield Manor. The business plan that was created for the new property was not realized and the financial and operational strain of such a large project created a hardship for the board, staff and membership. As we celebrate our first anniversary at the new Shenandoah, these challenges persist. They are, however, manageable and solvable with hard work, commitment and the support of the entire community. At our Anniversary Mass celebrated by his Excellency Mar Ibrahim Ibrahim at SCC on March 9, the Bishop called for more unity surrounding the issues of the club. He acknowledged the financial difficulties but aptly pointed out that they paled in comparison to the ability, wherewithal and prosperity of the Chaldean community. His Excellency challenged the community to look to the opportunity that this facility creates for future generations. The new Board of Directors has moved quickly to reorganize the staff and trim overhead. This past February, Mr. Kamel Kassem joined us as our new General Manager. He brings a wealth of food and beverage management experience. He is leading a turnaround at this property that is already bearing fruit and has reorganized the banquet department, main office, accounting function, kitchen, maintenance staff and wait staff. More positive changes and additions are coming. A very active Operation Committee is leading the charge to improve every aspect of club operations from proper controls to staff etiquette. The Social Committee has planned numerous successful activities that, with the banquets and other events, have helped book the club for most of 2006. A “Magic of the East” Chaldean Nightclub held every other Saturday regularly sells out. This summer, the opening of the pool and golf course promises to bring an entirely new level of activity at the club, which is already at an all-time high in terms of programs and activities for all ages. It is time to keep our eyes on the windshield and not on the rearview mirror. Operationally, the property is forecasted to break even by late this year and or early next year. Into 2007 and 2008, we are hopeful that Shenandoah will be generating positive gross margins. However along with the building of our “jewel” comes a price tag and there is no doubt that addressing the long-term finances remains our number one priority and goal. The board and Finance Committee are actively working to meet the challenges associated with the debt and the substantial monthly payment to the bank. This issue is not insurmountable and will be addressed so that we will have positive cash flow in the future while keeping the club as affordable as possible. There should not be any doubt about the future of Shenandoah. It remains as strong and viable as ever. In terms of our success, the question is not “if” but rather “how” and “when.” It is time to keep our eyes on the windshield and not on the rearview mirror because progress is synonymous with moving forward. Moving forward with focus, determination and unity, our success will be inevitable. Michael Sarafa is president of the Board of Directors of the Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan, which owns Shenandoah Country Club. APRIL 2006 CHALDEAN NEWS 39
