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Butler standards Newsletter SABA South African Butler Academy

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, SABA Update

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Update on Litigation against the South African Butler Academy

Legal actions being taken by Ms. Yang Lin and 18 students against the South African Butler Academy (SABA), Mr. Newton Cross, Guild Recruitment (GR), Mr. Willem Adriaan Coetzer, Butler Training Pty Ltd, and Butler Holdings Pty Ltd, have progressed.

After months of repeated delays and request for Ms. Yang Lin to grant them indulgence, the Defendants finally served their discovery. Their discovery documents show Newton Cross received six weeks of butler training at the South African School for Butlers and Household Personnel in 2002 and it is the only credential Mr. Cross presented. He admits in his affidavit that the facts of the matter concerning his claimed training are as follows: The Buckingham Palace training was a fabrication; he worked as a waiter on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, not as a butler, and Cunard’s work appraisal shows Mr. Cross delivered “Standard” work performance, notches below “Exceed Standards” and “Outstanding”.

Contrary to Defendants’ publicity, the discovery documents confirm the research done that Mr. Cross has never been hired by Fancourt Hotel, and he never worked as a butler, as claimed, for the line of celebrities and four presidents.

The discovery documents further show that SABA has made proposals to some hotels to train their staff in exchange for free accommodations in their hotel and no further payment. Based on SABA’s hotel training videos posted online, it is believed that SABA used these training videos to add credits to itself, and further pitch its training to other hotels.

Some discovery documents seem dubious. See: Ms. Yang Lin’s Notice in Terms of Rule 35(3) dated 21 October 2021 and Defendants’ reply. 

In the meantime, the Protection of Personal Information Regulator has also started investigating Ms. Lin’s complaint about the Defendants’ publication of her residential address and their illegal use of her images to mislead consumers (Case No.: CDR334-21). We are told the National Consumer Commission’s investigation is at an advanced stage.

Due to lockdowns in 2020, high court cases are back-logged, the trial date has been delayed to 2022, with long-awaited justice finally expected to be served.

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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Amer A. Vargas Newsletter

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Coming soon!

IIMB LogoComing soon… Online Hospitality Butler Course!

The new Online Hospitality Butler Course

The New IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course; picture courtesy of Piqsels.com

Being a butler is not just a profession: Some say it’s almost an art; it’s definitely a philosophy and a way of life.

Whether your company be a hotel, a resort, a cruise ship, rental villas or time-share property, if you require training of your butlers, the new IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course could help improve your butler team’s skills. The course provides a deeper look into the butler’s soft skills, including how to manage oneself as a true butler would. It teaches butlers new and old skills such as the right demeanor, proper communication, the right way to approach service, a butler’s Etiquette & Protocols and even how excellent butlers expertly handle very difficult situations with their guests.

The new IIMB Online Hospitality Butler Course allows butlers and butlers-to-be to study at their own pace at any time of the day or the week. The course consists of more than 12 hours of short video-lessons and we will test their understanding with multiple, automatically corrected exercises and instructor-graded assignments.

If you would like more information, contact us at the International Institute of Modern Butlers; we will be happy to respond to your queries and answer all your questions.

Mr. Vargas is the Institute’s President—feel free to contact him via email, AmerVargas AT modernbutlers.com

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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Butler standards Newsletter Steven Ferry

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, The Wisdom of Butlers Past

Steven FerryThe Wisdom of Butlers Past, part 55

by Steven Ferry

Proper Behaviour

Proper etiquette at the kitchen table for staff meals was covered in the last issue, and the book then swings into 22 pages of how staff should behave toward each other, as well as with family and guests. The advice begins with sentiments that we would find most acceptable today, and which are most timely as we enter the holiday season of good cheer:

“The more you endeavour to promote the happiness of those around you, the more you will secure your own. Consider that you must live with fellow servants like yourself, made up of imperfections, which will give you an opportunity of exercising your patience and forbearance towards them, as they will have to do towards you.

“Be not hasty in passing judgment on any one, as we are called on to act with Christian charity towards each other; that is, to do unto others as we would they should do unto us, were we in their situation and they in ours: if this were to be attended to, our lives would pass more pleasantly with us than they do; but how different is the practice in general to this I have no need to say, as observation and wo[e]ful experience will soon teach us what domestic quarrels families are too often the scenes of.

“There you will see envy, malice, duplicity, dishonesty, misrepresentation, and every other evil, to the tormenting of each other, instead of dwelling together in affection and unity, and living in peace and happiness, and making their home a little heaven, as they might if they were so inclined; instead of which they make it a hell on earth, by their wicked ways and disagreeable tempers, and wishing to tyrannize over each other: this seems to be the great bane in families, as I have known places where the servants have had every necessary good to make them comfortable provided by their employers, yet are miserable and wretched through not agreeing one with the other; thinking, I suppose, that happiness and respectability consist in having rule and authority over our fellow servants; but this is quite a mistake, as it consists in performing the duty which is allotted us, and doing unto others as we would wish they should do unto us: herein lies our true happiness.”

Extracted from the 1823 book, The Footman’s Directory and Butler’s Remembrancer, re-published in hardback by Pryor Publications. You may obtain your discounted copy (with free s&h) by emailing the publisher: Mr. Pryor (alan AT pryor-publications.co.uk).

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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Leather Care Newsletter Steven Ferry

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Care of Leather Goods

Steven Ferry Care of Leather Goods, Part 14

by Steven Ferry

Leather Furniture

Leather furniture either has a protective layer or is unfinished: Unfinished (aniline) leather is full grain leather that has been dyed the whole way through and does not have a protective coating on it, so while on the plus side it ages well, developing a patina, it can stain more easily.

This is simple enough to manage: Apply saddle soap with a damp cloth to any lighter stains; heavier ones, such as ballpoint marks, can sometimes be removed with a Q tip dipped in rubbing alcohol and applied only to the stain. Some aniline leather is injected with oils and waxes and some is nubuck leather that has been buffed to create a velvety feel.

To minimize staining by liquids, tamp immediately with paper towels; oil-based stains that absorb into the leather can be removed, sometimes with multiple applications, using a leather degreaser.

Leathers with protective coatings that sport a uniform look can simply be dusted with a dry cloth (a vacuum cleaner can be used with a soft-brush or thin attachment where crumbs and dust warrant it) and wiped down with a dampened cloth when needed.

Apply a leather conditioner or cream from time to time with a soft cloth to moisturize and soften full grain leather.

As with any leather, do not let furniture sit in direct sunlight, or next to a fire, radiator, or even HVAC vent, all of which will dry and crack the leather over time. One other caveat is to train pets from using leather furniture as a scratching post or chew toy, and even from sitting on it, as their claws can leave random scratches that go beyond an appealing patina.

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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Letters to the Editor Newsletter

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, December 2021, Letters to the Editor

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Letters to the Editor

“I still had this [encouraging Chairman’s message about dealing with hostile environments] in my inbox and I am so glad that I did, as I needed it today! Thank you for all of the invaluable insight and advice you share with us.” AH

Ed: So glad it proved useful—and you are welcome

#   #   #

“I returned from a 6-month contract on a cruise ship and currently am on vacation. I received very good feedback on my performance and was offered a third contract to open the next ship. I will never be able to thank you enough for all your teachings and tips for excellent service.” A.

Ed: Really good to hear from you again and even more so to hear of your good news and accomplishments!  You are certainly welcome for the information I passed on, and I have to tell you, your caring and inquisitive mind were always an inspiration for me. Carry on! If you happen to see any of the old team, please give them my fondest regards.

#   #   #

“I am so grateful that a reputable institution such as yours makes the time and effort to support our cause. SABA Class of April 2017.” FS

Ed: Of course!

#   #   #

“Sorry to bother you with this trifling information, but as a long-time subscriber to your excellent newsletter and a devoted butlerphile, I would like to share a rather exciting discovery: I came across an obscure American television show from the late 1980s called “Marblehead Manor.” It featured a butler named Albert Dudley who was played with energetic efficiency by English actor, Paxton Whitehead. The show only lasted one season and a mere handful of episodes have made it to YouTube. It’s exceedingly farcical and silly, especially since a pre-Seinfeld Michael Richards also co-stars in it. Butlers in films and television have greatly influenced my fascination with that dignified vocation. We’re all familiar with Jeeves and Mr. Belvedere and Mr. Carson, and it was thrilling to see a butler take such a prominent starring role in a television series, no matter how short-lived (and, yes, Jeeves is a valet as we all know).” JW

Ed: Thank you very much for sharing your discovery with us. We took a quick look at it on YT and it seems we will have to go back to it to have some good laughs. Since you are a butlerphile I am taking the opportunity to make another amusing/farcical recommendation: a 15-minute skit called “Dinner for One” from 1963. Here is a link for the colored version, as the original was black and white. I hope you enjoy it! Also, and as you mentioned you are a loyal reader of our monthly newsletter, you probably may have read in our previous edition that we are moving to regular publications in Linked in, where we hope we will keep delighting your “butlerphilia.”

 #   #   #

“I am a long-time reader of your website from the UK, having held an interest in becoming a butler for a number of years, and I have also just purchased a copy of your Serving The Wealthy Volume I book. I would like to start by thanking you for all of the wonderful resources you provide for those in the profession, and those of us who wish to join it.

“I am desperate to pursue my dream of entering service but have always been unsure of the best path into butlering; I have considered many different schools and courses over the years, but have never felt confident enough to jump in and commit to one. I have up until recently had no experience working in any form of hospitality, but have just managed to secure a part-time position as a waiter at a private member’s club in the countryside to run alongside my day job. I am learning the art of fine dining service and enjoying it immensely. Thus I have decided to take a Level 1 wine course in London in January in order to improve my knowledge in that particular area and improve my service.

“I am thinking my goal for next year will be to use the experience I am gaining to obtain a full time waiter role in a London private member’s club or a luxury hotel. My question is, ‘Do you think this can be the first step in a career path to butling or would my time and money be better spent training at a school and aiming to go straight into butling?’ I understand the role of a butler encompasses so much more than the skills waitering provides, but after a decade of being confined to office cubicles I feel like I am finally having a taste of service and it’s very exciting. As always, the dream remains big but the road unclear!” EB

Ed: Thank you for the lovely enquiry. You do have options, either way is viable, but the advantage of pursuing the current waiter course is gaining experience and practice in high-end service. Doing a butler course in a school would then be a next step that you could manage with some background to support you. The downside of going from office to butler is lack of experience that makes the resume look a bit thin to putative employers and also makes the butler curriculum a bit more challenging to grasp, whereas with F&B service, wines, and service itself as strong cards in your hand, you would be half way there. And who knows, from a waiter position one might well be hired directly to be a butler or under-butler, if one were to impress, by the by, one of the patrons. And that could be a path to employer-sponsored training as a butler. Does this help?”

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.


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Newsletter Steven Ferry

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Message from the Chairman

Steven FerryMessage from the Chairman

A meme recently caught my eye, as it is particularly germane to butlers caring for their employers and the property of their employers—just as much as it is to familial relationships, friendships, and vintage cars.

And with so much that is worrisome today, it helps to sit down with a cup of tea (or coffee) every now and then and remember these words:

Which brings us to a small announcement of modernization at the International Institute of Modern Butlers: We will be leaving behind the 20th Century idea of newsletters for communicating to members and readers, and instead, be switching to LinkedIn/social media. This issue, and the next one in December, will be the last ones, ending 16 years of constant coverage.

You will still see the same content, but through our LinkedIn portal, so if you are not already connected to The International Institute of Modern Butlers on LinkedIn, please do so.

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people- skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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Leather Care Newsletter Steven Ferry

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Care of Leather Goods

Steven Ferry Care of Leather Goods, Part 12

by Steven Ferry

Suede

While leather is the outside of an animal’s hide, suede is the inside of the hide and thus porous, so one does not use any polishes on it. Instead, use a rubber/eraser or even fingernail file to rub down any oil or stain and try to reveal the fabric again.

To remove dust and dirt, you need to raise the nap/surface of the fabric, the direction of the fibers, either by applying steam from about 10 inches away or by using a suede copper wire brush or similar, moving in a direction against the nap;

Then spray with suede spray [photo] to clean and also waterproof/protect from stains; do this in the open air, as the spray is highly toxic;

Finish by brushing in the direction of the nap so the material returns to its normal look.

If the suede becomes overly wet, soak up any excess moisture with paper towels and then follow the same procedure as used for leather in order to dry gently.

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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Julius Smith Newsletter

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, My Butler Julius

Julius SmithMy Butler Julius

by Julius Smith

The Difference between a Butler and a Waiter

I was once asked, “What is the difference between a butler and a waiter?”

It made me think, because to those of us in private service the answer is obvious, but is it really?

We could argue that we look so smart in our three-piece butler suit and hopefully polished shoes, and that we have a high knowledge of etiquette, and discretion and other qualities run through our DNA.

I am not for a minute downplaying the wonderful job waiters do, but the main difference in my mind is that being a butler is a vocation for us wherein it is an honor to be able to serve and to look after our principals and guests in the finest way.

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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Butler training Newsletter Steven Ferry

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Butlers In the Media

Steven FerryButlers in the Media

by Steven Ferry

 

 

An almost complete black-out on butlers in the media this month, with just one mention of a resort chain that should know better, because they have proper butlers and yet are now downgrading that concept for their guests by introducing “pizza butlers.”

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.

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Koby Gutman Newsletter Rick Fink

The Modern Butlers’ Journal, November 2021, Creative Corner

IIMBCreative Corner

Featuring Butlers who Apply their Creative Talents to their Art and their Profession

 

 

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Rick Fink

 

 

 

 

“This portrait is of an Indian friend, Priti, whom I see whenever I visit Mumbai—I know all her family.”

Priti was married at the beginning of this year and Mr. Fink captures her happiness.

Mr. Rick Fink has been in the butler profession for over six decades, is the principal of the Butler Valet School in England, and a venerable member of the International Butler Trainer Alliance. He started painting four years ago and before that, when he was in his 20‘s—during the time in between those years, he was too busy butling to paint!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Kobi Gutman
 
 

 

 

 

“A family staying with us for a while included two adorable little girls. Their mother worked with them on arts and crafts and wanted them to see my sculptures, so I showed them. The next day I gave them each a fridge magnet—a lion’s head—that I had made before and which they were very happy to receive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


“Here is what I received from them in return today—the lion is made up of individual stickers…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the little dinosaur is made of air-dry clay that they had made themselves.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As Mr. Gutman says, with a big smile on his face, “Adorable!” From a guest-satisfaction perspective, nothing tops engaged children who are inspired to creativity by a butler’s simple, caring touches—and, need it be said, by a mother’s loving and nurturing?

Mr. Kobi Gutman is one of  the most accomplished hotel butlers in the world, currently working as the head butler at a private resort in Florida; he can be reached via the Institute.

The Institute is dedicated to raising service standards by broadly disseminating the mindset and superior service expertise of that time-honored, quintessential service provider, the British Butler, updated with modern people skills, and adapted to the needs of modern employers and guests in staffed homes, luxury hotels, resorts, spas, retirement communities, jets, yachts & cruise ships around the world.