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Hello and Welcome
 It is only one week since student graduation and I am really missing the students already. I grow very attached to the class over the course of the 8 week program, so it's difficult to move on after graduation. This year it was particularly nice to see alumni come for graduation. We wish graduates and alumni well! To see photos from graduation, please visit us at Graduation Pictures Link
During the month of August I will be traveling through Asia and France to conduct training. In addition we will be enrolling candidates into our September academy programs. I have identified our most popular individual courses on the right hand side of this newsletter. I promise to keep you posted through our video blog and Twitter with accounts of my travels.
All of us here at Charles MacPherson Associates hope you and your families will have some time to rest this summer before what hopefully will be a good and busy fall season for us all!
Charles MacPherson
Chairman
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Is Luxury Dead?
 Now isn't this a million dollar question? This article written by Stephanie Stephens for HotelNewsNow.com is a great piece and I strongly recommend that everyone read it. What I find interesting is that I find luxury and good service are both the same thing (or to me at least) and so your price point should not be the issue but the level of service your company offers should be the number one issue. Below is the link, please feel free to leave us some feedback on your thoughts! |
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The Butler Did It
 Today in the Toronto Star on page 3, Ben Rayner a feature writer for the newspaper wrote a wonderful full page article.
Here are a few points from the article, but to get the whole story you will need to follow the link below to find out what the writer means. I hope you enjoy it! - Greed is good (for butlers)
- It's not just answering the door
- "This is not your life"
- Keep your mouth shut
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No Fork At Table?
 The London Evening Standard in the United Kingdom is reporting that knives are becoming obsolete at the table. Apparently this is an American influence?
This is actually being taken seriously and the famous Debrett's explains how and why they think this new influence began! Interesting, but I hope it is just a temporary fad! Article Link |
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Etiquette & Protocol Seminars
Charles MacPherson Associates in pleased to add Etiquette and Protocol training to its service offerings.
It is our goal to foster civility, manners and excellence in the business and social arenas.
Our seminars will cover the following important topics:
- History of Etiquette and Protocol
- Correct form of introduction
- Order of Precedence
- Forms of Address
- International protocol
- Social Forms of Correspondence
- Invitations
- Correct table settings
- Toasts
- Table Manners
- Menu Cards
Our seminars can be delivered at private clubs, businesses, colleges and schools. We teach corporate executives through to young children. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Request Information
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The National Post Goes to School
 We were all very excited when one of Canada's leading newspapers The National Post with a daily circulation of 217,115 came to Butler & Household Management School. Reporter Melissa Leong attended four classes that included, Housekeeping 101, Cooking 101, Wine 101 & Laundry 101. It was lots of fun having Melissa with us and we hope that she will come back in the fall to continue some of our courses. After you read the article (link below) perhaps Melissa's mother will be the happiest if she attends! Thank you for joining us at Butler & Household Management School! National Post Article Link |
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Graduating Class Summer '09
 Here is a picture of the Toronto area students at Graduation last week. Although there were many more part-time students they were working with their employers and unable to attend. But they were with us in spirt.
Thank you to Mr. Betsworth who spoke on behalf of all of the students both beautifully and eloquently! Thank you Mr. Betsworth and the entire class for your kind words.
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Testing Housekeepers' Skills
Charles MacPherson Placement has recently introduced an enriched methodology to its interviewing process. Taking advantage of the facility at the Charles MacPherson Academy for Butlers and Household Managers, our interviews now consist of a practical segment where a housekeeper's skills are evaluated in the following areas:
ˇ Wardrobe Management
ˇ Cleaning and Care of fine surfaces and furnishings
ˇ Table setting
ˇ Ironing
Using a 5-point system, housekeepers are evaluated in the above areas prior to being presented to clients. We share the results with our clients so that the decisions they make whether or not to hire a housekeeper are enhanced by good, useful information.
Request Information
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Book Review
 I know that I have spoken of this book both in past newsletters and on our video blog, but it is such an amazing book for everyone. I regularly have people asking about this book and its contents so I decided to review it again for everyone. This book is ideally written for - Hotel Managers
- Household Managers
- Butlers
- Personal Assistants
- Wedding Planners
- Etiquette Consultants
Book Order Details |
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DEMA
Dear Domestic Professional,
Over the past twelve months the Charles MacPherson Academy
has built a relationship with the Domestic Estate Managers Association (DEMA). DEMA is the only Association dedicated
to the protection of your time and the estate you manage. DEMA provides the only Pre-screened
network of Service Providers in the industry to ensure your utmost
satisfaction, security and privacy.
The Charles MacPherson Academy would like to extend to you a
complimentary twelve month membership to the Domestic Estate Managers
Association.
As a DEMA member you will enjoy many benefits, here are just
a few:
Membership Benefits
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Service Provider Referral Network
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Membership Perks Program
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Educational Articles, Videos and Podcasts for
maintaining your estate
Our exclusive Rating System verifies the following criteria of Service
Providers
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Licenses or Industry Certifications
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Proper Insurances
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Background Checked Employees
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Written and enforced Drug Policy
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Professionalism and Discretion
To take advantage of this great offer, simply register
online at www.domesticmanagers.com. To redeem this offer, you must mention
that you were referred by CMA when registering.
You, your staff, and
your estate demand the BEST!
Sincerely,
Charles
MacPherson
Chairman, CMA
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The Butler Speaks
We've wanted to create a blog for some time now, however, we've delayed on starting one because we weren't sure of the format, objective and direction we would like it to take.
We knew that we didn't want it to be like other private service blogs. We wanted to avoid making it overly promotional and excessively reliant on written text alone. We did want to make it fun, informative, interactive and a place where private service professionals and those working in the luxury hospitality sector would enjoy visiting on a regular basis.
We're excited to report that we think we figured it out. The blog is called The Butler Speaks and it is found at www.thebutlerspeaks.com. We invite all of you to visit and participate.
Currently posted on the blog is a series of videos on suitcase packing. On the way, we have some additional exciting content and interviews that I'm pretty sure is going to keep all of you dropping in for more.
We look forward to seeing everyone at The Butler Speaks.
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Butler School Joins Twitter!
Well after getting numerous requests from clients, students and
graduates we decided to open a Twitter account. Now you can follow
what is happening right on line with the going ons of a professional
butler school. We hope to see you and look forward to following your
tweets too! You can find us easily with this Twitter Blog Link or follow us @butlerschool if you already have an account |
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Charles MacPherson Associates
Charles MacPherson Associates Inc. has over thirteen years
experience in the luxury residential market and the luxury hospitality
market. We have three complementary lines of business:
* Consulting & Training
* Placement
* Academy
Today we would like to highlight our Placement practice that offers premium search and recruiting services within the luxury residential and hospitality markets. We specialize in the placement of key personnel positions like Estate & House Managers, Butlers, Private Chefs, Executive Housekeepers, Chauffeurs and more.
info@charlesmacpherson.com
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Contact Information
Toronto:507 King Street East Suite 100 Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1M3 CANADA (416) 369-1146 office (416) 369-1743 facsimile New York:134 West 82 Street Suite 3B New York, New York 10024 United States (212) 877-6962 office (917) 441-0064 facsimile |
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Table Setting & Service 101
Table Setting & Service (3 days)
A hands-on class includes learning different utensils, china, glassware for service and dining. We proceed on to table setting table space calculation and the different methods of table setting from around the world, as well as understanding the types of table service, napkin folding and the order of service chart. This course is at least 50% hands on.
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Clothing & Valet Care 101
Clothing & Valet Care 101 (2 days) This course will include fashion, colours, understanding designers, how men's and ladies clothes are made, understanding the difference between ready to wear, made to measure and couture, learning how to correctly build a gentleman's and lady's closet. - Suitcase Packing
- Suitcase Unpacking
- Packing for Employers
- Caring for Furs
- Leather / Suede Shoe Care
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Housekeeping 101 & 201
Housekeeping 101 (2 days) One of the most important classes begins with a lecture on understanding the importance of light, temperature and humidity and how it affects the household and furnishings. Additionally the class covers dealing with spills, safe cleaning techniques, tools, reviewing different surfaces, furniture pieces and how to correctly clean a room, bed making and including turn down service. Housekeeping 201 (3 days)
Hands on classes learning to correctly clean bathrooms, bedrooms, how
to appoint guest rooms, guest bathrooms and then all of the different
methods of suitcase packing and unpacking from clothing, make-up, shoes
and dealing with dirty items and finally long term clothing storage.
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Butler Skills 101 (1 Day) A professional butler teaches butler traits, code of ethics and then traditional items such as ironing a newspaper, answering the door, making coffee, making tea, dealing with different kinds of coffee such as espresso, cappuccino, latté etc. and finally setting the perfect fireplace. Butler Skills 201 (1 Day) This class goes to the next level of service including tray service how butlers manage household and difficult situations within the household and dealing with employer demands.
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Household Management 101& 201
Household Management 101 (2 days) This class delves into the business aspects of household management beginning with abbreviations of the industry, managing household inventories, procedures, manuals, petty cash, and general best practices for a successful over-all household management structure. Know your target audience. Who are your most important clients or prospects, and why? Household Management 201 (2 Days) This advanced level covers household management issues at the highest level. Attention will be paid to managing large-scale estates and families with multiple properties, large numbers of staff and guests and family members with high profiles. Common problems and issues one typically encounters will be addressed.
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Laundry 101
Laundry 101 (3 Days) Understanding the laundry symbols chart, how to correctly use a washer and dryer, preparing clothes for the wash, dealing with stains, ironing, folding of laundry and linens, using a mangle machine correctly, steaming ball gowns, mending buttons dealing with dry cleaning and dying dark clothes. All of this and more is done in our Miele Sponsored Laundry facility at our Academy, the only one of its kind in the world!
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Household Mechanicals 101
Mechanicals 101 (1 Day)An expert from the service industry assist students to understand complexities of a modern household's operating systems and the need for engaging the right professionals to ensure that the systems run properly.
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