Message from the Chairman
by Steven Ferry
Another issue packed with interesting tidbits and pointers for butlers. On the media side, we have examples of good butlers and bad butlers being placed in the public consciousness—a mixed report card…
Butlers in the Media
by Steven Ferry
Several articles this month quoted the usual “butler” doing real butlers no favors by mouthing off about the British Royal Family. And now another butler is putting the profession in a bad light by spilling the beans on famous guests who once visited his former employer. The fact that this employer was a convicted pedophile makes this butler going public at this point in time “too little too late”: A prosecutor in Paris is currently looking into allegations of abuse of girls as young as 12, and yet this butler…
Letters to the Editor
“Might I use your Code of Ethics as a basis for Service Learning at our college’s Humanities Department? It works so well for our Service Excellence commitment.” EMV. Ed: “Of course, we wish you success with the implementation.” “Thank you so much—we are not butlers, but we serve as well!” EMV.
Continuing the exchange with Alex Parker, who was seeking information for an article…
Professional Standards of Performance, Applications #20: A Worthy Foundation (IV)
by Prof. Richard Ratliff
This fourth in a series of articles on foundational principles focuses on excellence. The first three principle ideas discussed in the series were (1) butlers as masters of relationships, (2) what is a high quality of life, and (3) the butler’s moral imperative. I recently had an extended conversation with a retired household manager for a prominent family in Florida. I asked what she felt was the most important contribution she made in her service. Her answer: “Excellence…
The Wisdom of Butlers Past, Part 29: Washing with Lye
by Steven Ferry
Following last month’s article, a question was raised about the “chamber lye” not being “thrown down the sink.” For a complete answer, we turn to http://www.oldandinteresting.com/washing-with-lye.aspx. “Lye soap was the soap of pioneer America, a mixture of boiled animal fat and lye: lye made from water run through ashes from a wood fire. This had been the basic recipe for many centuries and produced a dark soft soap known as black soap. The lye could be used on its own for laundry, or with soap as a second line of attack…
The Butlers Speak
by Steven Ferry
This month’s subject covers informal entertainment for employers and it seems that all butlers responding have had this as one of their main duties. For one butler, it comprised 25% of their overall duties: “When I first started working at my current position, the family had young children so there were many immediate family parties and get-togethers. Over the years, I’ve also organized many political gatherings as well as charitable events. For another, only “5 – 10%, depending on the time of year…
Staff Training: Follow-up
by Frank Mitchell
Managers who say that training does not translate into a change of behavior in the workplace usually have a fundamental misunderstanding of roles. Since staff quickly revert to old habits, it is the supervisor who must ensure that the new standard is applied on the job. If they do not support and monitor the new standard, the learning will be lost. During your POPPER opening, and when you set the scene, you painted a picture for the participant of how and when they would use the training in…
Let’s Talk Mixology, Part 48: Xoconostle Under Zero
by Amer A. Vargas
On this occasion, and taking advantage of a recent immersion into Mexican culture by this writer, we introduce a cocktail with a couple of very unusual ingredients, as you are about to find out. The cocktail we talk about is named Xoconostle Under Zero and the name already tells us about the first uncommon ingredient: Xoconostle, the fruit of the nopal cactus, which has a very characteristic sour taste. The other “special” ingredient would be Sal de Gusano, aka “Worm Salt”, a sort of spice made out of worms or larvae…
Consulting the Silver Expert: Don’t Allow Silver to Lose its Beauty and Value
by Jeff Herman
If your employer is unaware of what may be happening to the silver surface under a layer of tarnish, you may want to make them aware. I have worked on many objects that have rarely been polished, leading to the “tarnish etching” of the object’s surface. Allowing your silver (or any possession) to slip into an unkempt state may result in a drop in value and it will then have to be conserved or restored. Neglect isn’t the only matter to be concerned with: Poor maintenance, using polishes that are too abrasive, will wear away silver at a rapid rate…
Creative Corner
featuring Kobi Gutman
More on the magic created for guests—creations that mirror their interests.
These horses are shown last month made with water-based clay so they would harden and then be painted with a bronze look…
In Their Words: How Those Trained by the Institute’s Trainers Feel about Their Experience, or Their Managers about the Results
A few words of success from different parts of the world starting with the South of France, where IIMB Chairman, Prof. Steven Ferry trained the butlers for Hotel Villeroy in Paris, which is scheduled to open in October 2019, to Los Cabos in Baja California Sur, Mexico, where IIMB President Amer A. Vargas helped revamp the butler services at the recently renamed Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, and also trained the Tosoanis (Dream Keepers) at the soon-to-open Zadun, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve. To all of…
Recent Hospitality Graduates
The butler family around the world keeps growing! In this issue, we welcome new butlers from France, as well as Tosoanis at Zadun, a new Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Los Cabos, Mexico that will open to the public in just a few weeks. We also welcome again the butlers and majordomos at the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Mexico (who were first trained three years ago). To all of you, keep treating your guests with the same willingness and positive attitude that you put into your training…
Placement and Job Vacancies: Female Butlers for Hong Kong-Based Family, 6 Weeks Butler Assignment in Cannes, France (Summer 2020), Female Butler/Valet/Chef in La Jolla CA, and PA for England and Europe
Exciting job opportunity for beginning female butler looking for adventure! You will be part of a team of six butlers who manage multiple households for a family based in Hong Kong, China, and soon, Europe, including providing F&B services and some housekeeping. There will be travel involved. Live-in, 65K USD p.a. base salary plus annual bonus, health insurance, etc., and annual flight ticket home. Chinese language skills NOT needed. E-mail the Institute for more details…
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. Contact us for all your training needs via email at enquiries@modernbutlers.com or via telephone: USA 1-813- 354-2734. We invite you to also visit our website www.modernbutlers.com for more information.
Please email the editor of The Modern Butler’s Journal at newsletter@modernbutlers.com with any article ideas, concerns, comments, or suggestions.