Nov-Dec-Jan | 2019-2020

#163 Nov-Dec-Jan | 2019-2020

20 19

The Club’s Annual General Meeting provides eligibleMembers with an opportunity to vote six Members onto the General Committee for a two-year tenure, approve the audited

for the next twelve months. Voting and discussions will also take place on any other business that is properly presented as prescribed by the Constitution. All Members (voting and non-voting) are encouraged to attend.

Thursday, November 14 The Galbraith Ballroom Registration begins at 6:00 p.m. Meeting commences at 6:30 p.m. sharp Light refreshments will be provided NEW DATE

DIRECTORY

CONTACT US

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CLUB'S MANAGEMENT

AQUATICS Tel: 6739-4450 aquatics@amclub.org.sg CENTRAL Tel: 6739-4359 central@amclub.org.sg CONCIERGE Tel: 6737-3411 concierge@amclub.org.sg GRILLHOUSE Tel: 6739-4357 grillhouse@amclub.org.sg SPORTS COUNTER Tel: 6739-4312 sportscounter@amclub.org.sg MEMBERSHIP Tel: 6739-4360 membership@amclub.org.sg SÊN SPA Tel: 6739-4449 spa@amclub.org.sg THE 2 ND FLOOR Tel: 6739-4329 2ndfloor@amclub.org.sg THE BOWLING ALLEY Tel: 6739-4392 bowling@amclub.org.sg THE GALBRAITH BALLROOM Tel: 6739-4322 banquet@amclub.org.sg THE GOURMET PANTRY Tel: 6739-4344 home@amclub.org.sg meetings@amclub.org.sg THE QUAD POOLSIDE Tel: 6739-4432 youth@amclub.org.sg THE QUAD Tel: 6739-4444 youth@amclub.org.sg TRADEWINDS Tel: 6739-4361 tradewinds@amclub.org.sg UNION BAR Tel: 6739-4340 unionbar@amclub.org.sg THINKSPACE Tel: 6739-4478

PRESIDENT Dana Hvide president@amclub.org.sg VICE PRESIDENT Lindsay Fipp vicepresident@amclub.org.sg SECRETARY Richard Hartung secretary@amclub.org.sg

GENERAL MANAGER Devin Otto Kimble

ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER Patricia Au

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT Tan Lee Lee

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES & SECURITY Tang TeckWah

TREASURER Rahul Arora treasurer@amclub.org.sg GENERAL COMMITTEE Aaron Kim Ashok K. Lalwani Jay Jobanputra JohnWinsell Davies Justin Baldauf Kenneth Fagan Nasir Kausar Peter Proft Phua Swee Leng AMERICAN ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE Stephanie Nash

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF CLUB SERVICES Su-Ann Khor

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Angie Ng

DIRECTOR OF FOOD & BEVERAGE Malik Riley DIRECTOR OF FITNESS & LEISURE Randy Simon

DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Sara Madera ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF IT VP Chai

EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF Paul Ng

DUTY MANAGERS Anthony, Palani & Ronald

AMERICAN EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVE Lt Col Howard Eyth

MAGAZINE

ASSISTANT MARKETING MANAGER / PDPA OFFICER ConstanceYeo constancey@amclub.org.sg

AMERICANWOMEN’S ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE Caitlin Fry

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE Joey Ng joeyn@amclub.org.sg

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE Sandra Johnson

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER / MAGAZINE DESIGNER Geraldine Soh geraldines@amclub.org.sg

THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE 10 Claymore Hill. Singapore 229573 Tel: 6737-3411 Fax: 6732-8308 info@amclub.org.sg

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Shanis Lin shanisl@amclub.org.sg

Please note that this email is accessed on weekdays during office hours only. For enquiries on weekends, please email concierge@amclub.org.sg. Printer: Naili print MEDIA MCI (P) 006/08/2018 0210/1948RAC

ADVERTISING Tel: (65) 6739-4381 / Fax: (65) 6737-2963 / info@amclub.org.sg

OUR PARTNERS

COMMITTEE LIST

AQUATICS SUB COMMITTEE CHAIR Marcella Sullivan

GYM SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Michael Power

POOL AREA WORKING GROUP CHAIR Justin Baldauf Camilla Gilbertson James Eyring Kate Reynolds Seema Farswani Shamina Lavingia Suling Roth Sushma Jobanputra Nancy Ritchie Marcella Sullivan Matthew Fry Sherman Stave

STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE (SPC) CHAIR Richard Hartung Dana Hvide Justin Baldauf Laurel Sweener

James Andrade Rajitha Bearden

Yasmin Ghale Camilla Myers Shaun Smithson Charles Spencer

HEAL SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Tessa Pang Brian Schwender Caitlin Fry Elizabeth Wirtz Matthew Dearth Nasir Kauser Riyana Vikram Rupani HOUSE COMMITTEE CHAIR Justin Baldauf VICE CHAIR Cary Horenfeldt Andrea J Wong-Monteiro Landy Eng Victoria Worsdale Ayaz Lavingia Wayne Farmer Veesheen Yuen Jenny Setnicker

Lindsay Fipp Nasir Kausar Rahul Arora Peter Proft

AUDIT REVIEW GROUP CHAIR Alex Elkies Richard Hartung

Patrick Hyde Richard Ryan Paul Gagnon

SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP CHAIR Richard Hartung William Pazos Steve Kim

COMMUNICATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE Sally Greene

REDEVELOPMENT: PROJECT CONTROL GROUP CHAIR Aaron Kim VICE CHAIR Dennis Lock Ngiam Siew Wei Kristen Graff Ann Marie Regal Tay Soo Seng

Anjalin Acharya Geoffrey Nicols

Sandra Johnson Cary Horenfeldt

TECHNOLOGY WORKING GROUP CHAIR Richard Hartung Timothy Bousky Ian Chapman-Banks Tina Cornwell Ria Hoban David Nishball TENDER SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Kenneth Fagan Joseph Chen Ann Marie Regal

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHAIR Dana Hvide Rahul Arora Stephanie Nash

RULES COMMITTEE CHAIR Ashok K. Lalwani VICE CHAIR Lyn Boxall Kimberly Norman Asa Tucker Michael Buchholz SOCIAL & DINING COMMITTEE CHAIR Nasir Kausar BB Low John Winsell Davies Kim Eng

INVESTMENT SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Stephen Davies

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW GROUP CHAIR Linda Eunson VICE CHAIR Steve Okun Ayaz Lavingia Christi Novomesky DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE CHAIR Richard Hartung Kenneth Fagan Asa Tucker Joseph Chen EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIR Dana Hvide Lindsay Fipp Richard Hartung Rahul Arora FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR Rahul Arora VICE CHAIR Ann Marie Regal VICE CHAIR Laurel Sweener Ngiam Siew Wei Phua Swee Leng

Laurel Sweener Richard Hartung Ann Marie Regal Gunter Dufey Todd Morakis Steve Sun

Patrick Hyde Paul Gagnon

LIBRARY SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Jane Sperling Chhaya Dias

TENNIS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Kate Park VICE CHAIR Dennis Shen Bill Cornwell

Ngiam Siew Wei Robert Hecker Valerie Tietjen Tessa Pang Veesheen Yuen Arish Khajotia Joseph Chen Rajesh Narasimhan

Eunice Cheung June Imada Lee Karen Meston Shirley Kim

Joanne Whitley Kristina Raber Peter Min Rogrigo Floro Jr

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR Dana Hvide

VICE CHAIR Harvey Glick VICE CHAIR Linda Eunson

SPA SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Garima Lalwani

VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE CHAIR Lindsay Fipp Richard Hartung Phua Swee Leng Aaron Kim Caitlin Fry Ngiam Siew Wei

Alisha Barnes Eleanor Chan Gerrianne Richards Kerry James Laya Sweeney Mansoor Nakhooda Georgina Bach Steve Sun Sally Greene

Chan Wai Yin Erika Masiero Khoo Loo Sim Dianne Donadio Sandra Johnson

Amitava Guharoy Phua Swee Leng Shamina Lavingia Stephen Davies Tay Soo Seng Ben Charoenwong Wesley Barnes

SPORTS & RECREATION COMMITTEE CHAIR Peter Proft Abesh Ghale Garima Lalwani Kate Park Marcella Sullivan Michael Power SQUASH SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Abesh Ghale VICE CHAIR Harvey Glick David Nishball James Ng Steven Blencowe Miles Murphy

YOUTH & FAMILY COMMITTEE CHAIR Lindsay Fipp VICE CHAIR Caitlin McNeal Karla Popper Elizabeth Wirtz Jane K Lee Megan Bretting Neetu Mirchandani

(Accurate as at October 2019)

PROJECT STAKEHOLDER GROUP CHAIR Kristen Graff Andrea J Wong-Monteiro Michael Power Ngiam Siew Wei Peter Proft Cary Horenfeldt

FINE ART SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Debra Surrency Emma Yanfang Cherian Garima Lalwani Gerrianne Richards

Henny Scott Lynne Taylor Michelle Vargo

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

STANDING COMMITTEE

WORKING GROUP

SUBCOMMITTEE

EXECUTIVE FINANCE HOUSE

INVESTMENT LIBRARY FINE ART

AUDIT REVIEW GROUP

POOL AREA WORKING GROUP

MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL AND DINING YOUTH AND FAMILY

COMMUNICATIONS

HEAL

SPORTS AND RECREATION

TENNIS SQUASH GYM AQUATICS SPA

GENERAL COMMITTEE

SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP TECHNOLOGY WORKING GROUP CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW GROUP

STRATEGIC PLANNING RULES COMPENSATION DISCLIPLINARY VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATING

NOMINATING

REDEVELOPMENT

PROJECT STAKEHOLDER GROUP

PROJECT CONTROL GROUP

TENDER

It’s the festive season! Be it a gift for your family or friends for Christmas or furnishing your place with a new carpet – you’ll be able to find it at Hedgers’ Carpet Auction. Additionally, first 20 people to sign up will receive a beautiful mystery gift. Festive CARPET AUCTION

8 Lucky Draw prizes worth $7,800 up for grabs!

Saturday, December 7 The Galbraith Ballroom Viewing starts from 5:30 p.m. Auction starts from 7:30 p.m.

Refreshments will be provided Complimentary; guests of Members are welcome All carpets are fully guaranteed with certificates

For more information, please call 6737-3411 or email concierge@amclub.org.sg.

A DIFFERENT WORLD AWAITS AT BINTAN LAGOON RESORT

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Members, There’s no place like home for the holidays, and as we enter the festive season at our home away from home, I wish you peace and joy in abundance. Many holiday traditions remind us of the impor tance of kindness and gratitude. They allow us the oppor tunity to give thanks and reflect on the good for tune we have experienced over the past year. As the year comes to a close and I end my term as a General Committee Member and leave the board, I would like to share my gratitude and thankfulness to have had the oppor tunity to ser ve my fellow Members and to have done so alongside so many amazing volunteers. I have been in awe of the time and energy our Members give, often in challenging situations, with the simple desire to make The Club the best it could possibly be for their fellow Members. These volunteers frequently bring to my mind the famous passage known as “The Man in the Arena” fromTheodore Roosevelt’s speech Citizenship in a Republic. They have striven valiantly and dared greatly.These Members ser ve with such grace and dignity, and their ser vice has been an inspiration to me each day. I am also inspired by our fellow Members and the moments of genuine kindness shown by them towards one another and towards the staff. Their generosity of spirit is not only a sign of the season but a tenet of our community. It is evidenced in the suppor t our fellow Members have shown for the EAGLE Fund and in the smile shared as one Member holds the door for another. I am thankful for the hard work, patience, and flexibility of our Members and staff as the major components of redevelopment come to a close. As we settle into our new Clubhouse, I know we will bring the holiday traditions of cheer, generosity, and kinship not only to our new spaces and events but to our community throughout the year.

The Club community has a lot to celebrate, and we look forward to celebrating with you. Our Festive Guide offers a wealth of holiday favorites from food to wine, and we invite you to enjoy the American Thanksgiving feast and Christmas Tree Lighting, our Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, and the Chinese New Year festivities at The Club. Our annual Ang Pow Holiday Fund is also a way to give thanks for the extraordinar y effor ts of our staff. The Club is for tunate to have amazing staff that genuinely care about our Members. They ensure that The Club is our home away from home, and for that, I am deeply grateful. Without our community of staff and Members, The Club is merely four walls and a roof, but with them, it is a home. With The Club’s 71 st bir thday behind us and the holidays and New Year ahead, we look with gratitude to those that built our community and ingrained in it a culture of kindness and generosity.We also look to the future with the knowledge that our revitalized Clubhouse will help sustain our vibrant community for generations to come. I personally look forward to seeing The Club filled with the delight of ever yday activities, friendships, family, and community. Thank you for allowing me to ser ve as a Club volunteer for the past 20 years. It has truly been an honor. I hope each of you has a joyous holiday season filled with love and countless reasons to feel grateful. Warmest wishes,

Dana Hvide

1 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER

Dear Members, Welcome to the coming New Year and to the brand new edition of our quar terly magazine. In this winter issue (Nov- Dec-Jan), you can find information on upcoming events in the At a Glance section, deals to snag in Promotions, and the latest on our Club community in People. Get tips and updates from our Green Team in Sustainability, and cook up something new with guidance from our chefs in Recipe. If you would like to keep up with The Club online, please give us a follow on Instagram and Facebook (@americanclubsingapore). Monthly e-news blasts cover the latest for our interest groups. Send us an email at info@amclub.org.sg and our team will be happy to add you to any or all of our email lists. This December will mark not only the end of 2019, but also the end of the three-year Redevelopment period Members voted for at the 2015 Annual General Meeting. What better way to begin a new year than with a revitalized Clubhouse for our community to celebrate. We can all raise a glass and say cheers to that! We kicked off the holiday season at The Club with Christmas in September. The celebration will continue all season long—this year not only will we offer festive catering, but also holiday cards with design-your-own options, choice wine selections, gift packages from sên Spa and more. Email catering@amclub.org.sg for more information. Whenever you’re able in this busy time of year, drop by The Club and join the par ty. In November, enjoy a Thanksgiving lunch or dinner. Once you’ve recovered from your turkey coma, sign-up for a Gingerbread House workshop or sip some eggnog at the Tree Lighting Evening. December will round off with

Christmas Dinner and our infamous New Year’s Eve par ty to ring in 2020.Then star t the year of the rat off right with a pre-Chinese New Year Brunch in Januar y and Chinese New Year Family Fun Day as Februar y begins. To add a little spice, Members can drop their spending chits into the 12 Days to Christmas (December 14–25) and 15 Days of Chinese New Year (Januar y 25 – Februar y 8) lucky draw boxes for a chance to win a variety of prizes. A winner will be selected each day, so don’t forget to enter. Our multicultural community at The Club gives us a unique oppor tunity to share holiday traditions together. One thing that I’ve noticed that all these holidays have in common is the significance of family and star ting fresh. I am grateful to be a par t of the family here, and for the oppor tunity our rejuvenated Clubhouse offers us to grow into a new era of The American Club. It has been my great pleasure to collaborate with the General Committee Members retiring this year. I would like to thank them all for their dedication, effor t, and the countless hours they have spent ser ving our Club. With our next Annual General Meeting just around the corner on November 14, I encourage you all to attend and vote in the election. Wishing ever yone health and happiness throughout the holiday season. Happy Holidays,

Devin Kimble

2 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

AT A GLANCE Events and Programs in November and December

November 1, 8, 15, 22 Funtastic Fridays Our monthly Friday event just got a new spin! Come by for movie night at The Zone / The Quad Studios – two movies will be screened concurrently. Bring your own pillows! November 1 - 20 Thanksgiving Kids’ Contest Color Me Turkey! Pick up a coloring sheet from the Kids’ Library for our Thanksgiving contest and stand a chance to win a fridge magnet puzzle of the Map of America. November 1 - 30 Bodyweight 1-minute Challenge Test your strength and endurance with November’s Bodyweight Challenge. Complete as many repetitions within 1 minute while assessed by a Club personal trainer. November 5 The Speakers Series: FinTech – The Future of Digital Payments The explosion of digital commerce has wholly transformed the way retailers and consumers do business. Our panel of experienced professionals will explore optimizing the payment experience for consumers. November 7, 14, 21, 28 Teeny Tiny Tots Get the best of both worlds! Let the little tots sing along to nursery rhymes while you mingle with fellow parents. Recommended for toddlers. November 8 Art Launch Embark on a guided tour with Cuturi Gallery whose art adorn The Club’s walls from November 5 to 31. The unique selection of works in various mediums including drawing, stencil, painting and photography by six established European contemporary artists are bound to catch your attention.

November 8 - 10 Junior Singles Championship Tournament It’s a show of sports- manship as our youngest Members ready their rackets for their turn to shine on the courts. November 15 - 24 Guest Therapist: Julian Eymann Julian’s massages focus on alleviating aches, neck pain, frozen shoulders, lower back pain and sciatic nerve issues. His deep tissue work on trigger points, allows the muscles to release, and gives free Premium Wine Tasting Our biggest wine event makes its return this year at The 2 nd Floor with a splash! Savor premium labels from all over the world and dig into a buffet of scrumptious hors d’oeuvres. Stock up for the festive season with an extensive range of wines, available at exclusive Member prices. range of motion in the joints. November 16

November 17 An Amazing Festive Race It’s an amazing race with a festive twist as the kids gear up to take over The Club! Complete your tasks at different stations and you might just walk away with an attractive prize and bragging rights.

Dates are accutate at time of print.Visit our website for more information and T&Cs.

3 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

AT A GLANCE Events and Programs in November and December

November 21 Book Club Perfect for fans of Barbara Kingsolver and Karen Russell, Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens is at once an exquisite ode to the natural world, a heartbreaking coming-of-age story, and a surprising tale of possible murder.

November 30, December 4, 11, 14 Gingerbread House Workshop It's time to get creative and decorate your own little gingerbread house with colorful candies and frosting. Gather your family members and join Chef Yeni and her team to create the gingerbread house of your dreams.

November 28 American Thanksgiving Feast Delight in a scrumptious spread of all- American fare featuring quintessential Thanksgiving favorites at The 2 nd Floor (set lunch, set dinner) The Galbraith Ballroom (buffet dining, two seatings), and Funtastic Friday: Action Night It’s DOUBLE the fun at our special edition of Funtastic Friday! Kids have the option to watch a movie while waiting for their turn to take part in actuion-packed activities. November 30 Kids’ Storytelling Session Calls to fires, an injured friend, and cooking disasters threaten to keep a group of fire fighters from enjoying Thanksgiving dinner. The Firefighter’s Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts. Happening at the Kids’ Library. Tradewinds (buffet dinner). November 29

December 1 – 10 Guest Therapist: Melvin Laguitao A variety of massage strokes and techniques are employed during a Tibetan Kunye Massage Therapy, and extra attention is paid to the hands, feet, head and wine points.This oil massage puts you in a state of relaxation through the simulation of blood flow and loosening of stiff joints, which helps to promote sleep and benefit digestion.

Dates are accutate at time of print.Visit our website for more information and T&Cs. 4 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

AT A GLANCE Events and Programs in November and December

December 1 – 15 Christmas Kids’ Contest It may be summer all year round in Singapore, but nothing should stop the kids from taking part in our Snowman Coloring Contest! Pick up a coloring sheet from the Kids’ Library. Stand to win an American map magnetic board. December 1 – 31 Bootcamp Circuit Challenge Test your strength, endurance and speed and take part in December’s challenge. Simply complete the whole circuit in the shortest possible time while assessed by YuletideMagic Family Christmas Party From hosted games to classic carnival games such as reindeer toss, knock down Mr Snowman, and art & craft projects, there’s something for everyone at our magical Christmas party! Don’t miss out on this chance to take a photo with Santa Claus. Enjoy complimentary games at The Bowling Alley – bring your own socks. a TAC personal trainer. December 1

December 5, 12, 19, 26 Teeny Tiny Tots Get the best of both worlds! Let the little tots sing along to nursery rhymes while you mingle with fellow parents. Recommended for toddlers. December 6, 13, 20 Funtastic Fridays Come by for movie night at The Zone / The Quad Studios – two movies will be screened concurrently. Bring your own pillows!

December 10 – 12 Santa House Catch Father Christmas and bring home a treasured photo memento before he flies home to the North Pole to prepare for the Christmas mayhem! Happening at the Lobby from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. December 12 A Literary Evening Take a virtual flight around the globe with bestselling author Dana Bachar Grossman. Flying with or around kids can be either easy going or a flight from hell. Enter Fight or Flight? The survival guide for flying with kids , a humorous compilation of fantastic tips on how to manage kids on flights.

December 14 Youth Christmas Express Hop on board our open top bus with the whole family! Sing along to Christmas carols and take part in festive quizzes. We'll stop by Gardens by the Bay to admire all the twinkling lights before making our way back to The Club. December 21 Kids’ Storytelling Session The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition by Carol V. Aebersold is a Christmas-themed story, written in rhymes, that explains how Santa Claus knows who is naughty and nice. Happening at Kids’ Library.

December 5 Tree Lighting Evening An annual tradition, our Tree Lighting Evening gets a new twist this year as we move the tree to our new Lobby! Join Santa to witness the lighting of our Christmas tree while nibbling on freshly baked Christmas cookies and sipping our signature eggnog.

Dates are accutate at time of print.Visit our website for more information and T&Cs.

5 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

AT A GLANCE Events and Programs in December and January

December 23 – January 10 Tennis Winter Holiday Program Brush up your tennis strokes at our Winter Holiday Program for all tennis enthusiasts.

January 1 – 31 Circuit Challenge Test your strength, endurance and speed and take part in January’s challenge. Simply complete the whole circuit in the shortest possible time while assessed by a TAC personal trainer. January 1 Times Square Brunch It may be New Year’s Day in Singapore, but the Big Apple is still preparing to ring in the New Year. Join us at The 2 nd Floor (two seatings), The Galbraith Ballroom (two seatings with complimentary use of The Bowling Alley) and Tradewinds (one seating) for the countdown and enjoy a delicious Times Square Brunch.

December 24 Christmas EveDining Have a hearty feast on Christmas Eve with loved ones atThe 2 nd Floor (set lunch, set dinner) and The Galbraith Ballroom (buffet dinner, two seatings – complimentary use of The Bowling Alley). Book a table early to avoid disappointment! December 25 Christmas Day Dining It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and how better to celebrate than with a delightful meal – think succulent turkey, comfor ting pies and sweet treats! Buffet Brunches are available at The 2 nd Floor, The Galbraith Ballroom (with complimentary use of The Bowling Alley) and Tradewinds. December 27 Funtastic Friday: Action Night It’s DOUBLE the fun at our special edition of Funtastic Friday! Kids have the option to watch a movie while waiting for their turn to take par t in action-packed activities.

December 31 20/20 New Year’s Eve Party We may not have 20/20 vision, but we can still be transported back in time to party like it’s 1920! As we look forward to what the 2020s will have in store for us, let us also celebrate the glitz and glamor of the Roaring Twenties. Happening at The Galbraith Ballroom from 7:30 p.m. until late. December 31 New Year's Eve Wine Dinner What better way to end the year than on a high note than at our luxurious wine dinner, featuring an exquisite dinner curated by Chefs Ken and Kelvin at The 2nd Floor. Diners will enjoy complimentary entry to 20/20 New Year’s Eve Party for the countdown. January 1 – 19 Chinese New Year Kids’ Contest Red packets are fun, but even more fun when you get to make your own! Submit your D.I.Y red packet to the Kids’ Library team and stand a chance to win $30 worth of TYPO gift cards.

January 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 Teeny Tiny Tots Get the best of both worlds! Let the little tots sing along to nursery rhymes while you mingle with fellow parents. Recommended for toddlers. January 3, 10, 17, 31 Funtastic Fridays Come by for movie night at The Zone / The Quad Studios – two movies will be screened concurrently. Bring your own pillows!

Dates are accutate at time of print.Visit our website for more information and T&Cs.

6 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

AT A GLANCE Events and Programs in December and January

January 11 – February 8 Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner Food plays an important role during this momentous holiday, and our especially curated Reunion Dinner Set Menus at The 2 nd Floor include numerous auspicious dishes for you to begin Chinese NewYear on a prosperous note. Takeaway options are also available for those who prefer dining in the comfort of their homes. Place your orders via the takeaway forms, at the Concierge, or at The 2 nd Floor. January 18 Family Movie Night It’s a family affair – gather the kids and cozy up for our inaugural Family Movie Night at The Pre-Chinese New Year Brunch Gong Xi Fa Cai – the festivities continue as we celebrate Chinese New Year. Reunion meals are especially important during Chinese New Year – book a table at The Galbraith Ballroom (brunch, two seatings) and start the Year of the rat on a delectable note. Galbraith Ballroom. January 19

January 25 – February 1 Prosperity Toss More commonly known as Lo Hei , this fun Chinese New Year ritual symbolizes abundance of good health, prosperity and vigor. Toss the ingredients as high as you can and the luckier you’ll be for the rest of the year! Happening daily at 12:08 p.m.; complimentary for Members. January 25, 26 & 27 ChineseNewYear Buffet Brunch Start the Year of the Rat on a delicious note with our Chinese New Year Buffet Brunch happening on the first 3 days of Chinese New Year. January 25 & 26: Tradewinds, January 26: The Galbraith Ballroom (brunch, two seatings), January 27:Tradewinds (one seating). January 25 Kids’ Storytelling Session Follow a little girl as she learns how to welcome Chinese New Year and experiences all the festivities around this loud and wonderful holiday. My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz. Happening at Kids’ Library.

January 30 Book Club Tragic, comic, and utterly honest, A Tale of Love and Darkness by Amos Oz is at once a family saga and a magical self-portrait of a writer who witnessed the birth of a nation and lived through its turbulent history. January 31 Funtastic Friday: Action Night It’s DOUBLE the fun at our special edition of Funtastic Friday! Kids have the option to watch a movie while waiting for their turn to take part in action-packed activities.

Dates are accutate at time of print.Visit our website for more information and T&Cs. 7 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

PAY-AS-YOU-GO MEMBERSHIP FOR AMERICANS & CANADIANS Enjoy the benefits of lifetime membership with the flexibility of paying annually.

Upfront

Pay-As-You-Go

Ordinary Membership (Lifetime) $24,365 save over $3,000

Ordinary Membership (Lifetime) $6,875 /year x 4 years

Fees inclusive of Operations Surcharge and GST. Monthly dues apply.

For more information, call our Membership Office at 6737-3411 or email membership@amclub.org.sg.

PROMOTIONS Get more bang for your buck with our promotions Grillhouse Oktoberfest & November Crispy Pork Hock $36; Roasted Kurobuta Pork Ribs $38; B.O.M. Holy Guacamole Sliders $19; Healthy Kale Southwest Quinoa Shrimp Salad $19; Cinnamon Tequila Sour $16/glass; Cocotini $12/ glass Central November Vanilla Cheese Cake $5.80; Iced or Hot Almond Mint Mocha $5.80 (M) $6.80 (L) Union Bar November Chargrilled Honey Chipotle B.B.Q Pork Ribs $20; Egg Nog Mar tini $13/glass

sên Spa Nov-Dec-Jan Get ready for the festive season with a myriad of spa promotions: Kerstin Florian’s wrap experience at 15% off; 90-minute advanced Kerstin Florian facial plus ampoule at $215 (U.P. $270); shape and repolish hands at 15% off; hair / hair and scalp treatment at 15% off; Niche Group Members enjoy an additional 5% discount, terms and conditions apply sên Spa Retail products perfect as party favors or Christmas gifts Purchase $500 / $300 wor th of retail products and receive $75 / $30 in treatment vouchers; not valid for items on offer. Elite/VIP and 15K/10K Members enjoy additional $25 / $15 wor th of vouchers respectively.

Union Bar November’s Pour Selection NV Zardetto Extra Dry’ Prosecco – Treviso, Italy $12/$57; 2017 Round Hill Chardonnay – California, USA $9/$42; 2018 Chateau d'Esclans "Whispering Angel"- Provence, France $13/$60; 2016 Wente "Southern Hills" Cabernet Sauvignon - Livermore Valley, CA $10/$48 Union Bar November’s Premium Club Selection NV Laurent Perrier "La Cuvee" Brut - Champagne, France $16/$76; 2017 Elena Walch Pinot Grigio - Alto Adige, Italy $13/$60; 2018 Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc - Marlborough, New Zealand $14/$65; 2017 Soumah Single Vineyard Chardonnay - Yarra Valley, Australia $15/$70; 2015 Zuccardi Q Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina $14/$65; 2015 Duckhorn Decoy Pinot Noir – Sonoma County, USA $16/$75; 2014 Chateau Le Coteau Margaux - Bordeaux, France $16/$75 House

Information is accurate at time of print.Visit our website for more information and T&Cs. 9 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

PROMOTIONS Get more bang for your buck with our promotions

Union Bar December’s Premium Club Selection NV Laurent Perrier "La Cuvee" Brut - Champagne, France $16/$76; 2017 Elena Walch Pinot Grigio - Alto Adige, Italy $13/$60; 2018 Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc - Marlborough, New Zealand $14/$65; 2017 Soumah Single Vineyard Chardonnay - Yarra Valley, Australia $15/$70; 2015 Zuccardi Q Malbec - Mendoza, Argentina $14/$65; 2015 Duckhorn Decoy Pinot Noir – Sonoma County, USA $16/$75; 2014 Chateau Le Coteau Margaux - Bordeaux, France $16/$75

Grillhouse December Meatless Thanksgiving Salad $16; B.O.M Turkey Sliders $19; Holiday Gin & Tonic $16; Blue & Red Mystic $10/glass Central December Roasted Honey Chicken with Cranberry Quinoa Salad $17.95; Iced or Hot Gingerbread Latte $5.80 (M) $6.80 (L)

Union Bar December Special Grilled Turkey Breast $18; December Rain $13/glass Union Bar December’s House Pour Selection NV Zardetto Extra Dry’ Prosecco – Treviso, Italy $12/$57; 2017 Round Hill Chardonnay – California, USA $9/$42; 2018 Chateau d'Esclans "Whispering Angel"- Provence, France $13/ $60; 2016 Wente "Southern Hills" Cabernet Sauvignon - Livermore Valley, CA $10/$48

Information is accurate at time of print.Visit our website for more information and T&Cs.

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NEWS

FESTIVE OPERATING HOURS CHRISTMAS EVE | DECEMBER 24 CLOSURE AT 8:00 P.M.

ANNUAL STAFF FUND Here at The Club, we pride ourselves on the great service we deliver year round. Integral to this trait are the 370 full- and part-time staff who work tirelessly day in and out to elevate your membership experience. With Chinese New Year just round the corner, the perfect opportunity presents itself for Members to show their appreciation to our team members, via our Annual Staff Holiday Fund. You would have received a letter on the Staff Fund with your October 2019 statement, regarding the standard deduction of $150. Your contribution will be distributed to all front line and back-of-house support teams in recognition of their hard work and service rendered throughout the year. There is no further action on your part should you wish to contribute the standard amount, which will be reflected in your November 2019 statement. If you’d like to contribute a larger amount or opt out of the program, simply return the completed letter to the Concierge or by post. Alternatively, you may contact Vanessa (vanessal@amclub.org.sg / 6739-4390) before November 15, 2019.

Union Bar (Last orders at 7:00 p.m.) Grillhouse (Last orders at 7:00 p.m.) Essentials CLOSURE AT 10:00 P.M. The 2 nd Floor (Last orders at 9:00 p.m.)

CHRISTMAS DAY | DECEMBER 25 THE CLUB OPENS AT 6:30 A.M. AND CLOSES AT 4:00 P.M. Reservations at sên Spa and last food orders at 2:30 p.m. All Youth and Fitness & Leisure classes will commence latest at 3:00 p.m. NEWYEAR’S EVE | DECEMBER 31 CLOSURE AT 8:00 P.M . Essentials CLOSURE AT 1:00 A.M. Union Bar (Last food orders at 9:00 p.m.)* NEWYEAR’S DAY | JANUARY 1 THE CLUB OPENS AT 10:00 A.M. CHINESE NEWYEAR EVE | JANUARY 24 THE CLUB OPENS AT 6:30 A.M. AND CLOSES AT 4:00 P.M. Reservations at sên Spa and last food orders at 2:30 p.m. All Youth and Fitness & Leisure classes will commence latest at 3:00 p.m. CHINESE NEWYEAR DAY 1 & 2 | JANUARY 25 & 26 THE CLUB OPENS AT 6:30 A.M. AND CLOSES AT 10:00 P.M. The Membership and Travel Desk are closed on Public Holidays Information is correct at time of printing Outlets not listed will keep to normal operating hours The 2nd floor (usually closed on Mondays) will be open on January 27 due to the Chinese Yew Year public holiday. *UB will close at 3:00 p.m. if there is a NYE’s private event booking

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NEWS

BYLAWS With many outlets newly opened in the past couple of years, we understand that our bylaws can get confusing. Here’s a short recap of some important bylaws that impact your daily life at The Club. CHILDREN & JUNIOR MEMBERS All children below 12 years must be accompanied by an adult Member at all times, especially during recreational swimming. Adult Members are responsible for the child’s behaviour while in The Club. Strictly no running within The Club. Junior Members are children 12 years and above with their own membership cards and are allowed to bring 2 Guests only at any time. Junior Members are responsible for the behaviour of their Guests. Bylaw 1.4 HELPERS Helpers cannot perform transactions on behalf of Members and cannot assume the role of primary caretaker of Members’ children. Helpers are required to wait for their charge in the designated waiting area. Bylaw 1.5 CONDUCT & ETIQUETTE Members and their Guests, family members and helpers should conduct themselves in a courteous and respectful manner towards other Members, their Guests and The American Club staff. No Member may, while on Club premises, engage in rude behaviour or offensive language toward other Members, Guests, or staff. Usage of hand phones and other electronic communications devices is restricted to certain common areas of The Club. Bylaw 2.1 DRESS CODE Members should conform to the dress codes determined by the General Committee.The 2 nd Floor restaurant and lounge attire is smart casual – men’s shirts should have sleeves and collar; neckties are not required; jeans may not be overly faded, stressed or torn; no slippers (flip flops); no shorts including bermuda shorts (except during Sunday Brunch).Tradewinds, Central, Union Bar andThe Bowling Alley has a casual dress code – swim suits, muscle shirts and bare feet not allowed. Grillhouse, which is by the pool, allows swim suits, bare feet and muscle shirts. All Members are required to change into dry or clean clothes before entering any F&B outlets (except Grillhouse). Bylaw 2.7 GENERAL No outside food and drinks | No wheels (including Heelys shoes or equivalent) and ball activities within The Club | All toddlers are required to wear swim diapers while in the pools | Age restriction applies for cer tain outlets; 18 years and above at Union Bar ; child policy at The 2nd Floor ; 16 years and above only at Business Center | All unregistered Guests are required to wait at the Lobby (Guest area) until a Member registers them NEWTENNIS TERM

The new Tennis term starts on January 13 and will run until June 12, 2020. Do note that there is automatic rollover from the previous term, so current participants in the program need not register again. Those who are interested to join the Tennis program may email sportscounter@amclub.org.sg for more information or to sign up.

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NEWS

SISTER ORGANIZATIONS The American Club (TAC), along with sister organizations the American Association of Singapore (AAS), the American Women’s Association (AWA) and the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS), play a critical role in supporting the larger American and Canadian communities living in Singapore. The history of these organizations and their mutual support of one another goes back more than 70 years – in fact,TAC was founded by the AAS in 1948.The strong and synergistic partnership between these organizations serves as a foundational support for our communities. It is also reflected in the organization of the TAC Board. In accordance with our Club Constitution, the Presidents of the AAS, the AWA and the CAS or such designated representative approved by the General Committee provided they are also members of TAC, serves on TAC’s General Committee.This structure supports TAC’s objective to serve as the center of the American and Canadian communities and also serves to provide stability and unbiased voices on the TAC General Committee that act in the best interest of The Club and its members. This close relationship has been beneficial for The Club and has stood us well over time. Given the ever- changing landscape of our operating environment, our close ties mean the American and Canadian communities in Singapore stay united and move from strength to strength. Key events are hosted and shared among the community. TAC co-hosts events with our sister organizations. Examples include popular events jointly organized with the AAS such as political talks withTAC Member Steve Okun and the Ambassador’s Golf Tournament, as well as the sold-out Quiz Nights with the CAS at the Union Bar. In March 2019, TAC, AAS, AWA and CAS joined forces to organize the highly successful inaugural Annual International Women’s Day event, to empower women in the community. These joint events are cross promoted on each organization’s marketing channels and platforms to bring Members of these sister organizations together for socialization, networking, and even membership growth and outreach. Members of sister organizations enjoy more benefits and privileges New TAC Members enjoy one (1) year of complimentary membership with the AAS, which opens up a wider social network and array of programs and activities to our Members.This benefit enhances assimilation into life in Singapore while still feeling connected to fellow Americans! When former US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama head to our sunny shores in Dec 2019, the American community will be eager to get up close and personal with them. Luckily for us, the AAS managed to secure preferential rates for the events, and graciously extended these rates to the rest of the sister organizations. Cements The Club’s objective of being the center of American and Canadian activities As The Club celebrated its birthday with a Happy Days bash in September, it is also important for us to remember our roots. In 1932, the idea of forming a social club for Americans was first mooted by the American Association of Malaya (before Singapore became independent) and by 1948, The American Club was officially opened with 146 Members. It has been 71 years (and counting), but The Club has remained the hub of American and Canadian activities – nowhere else in Singapore can you find an American and Canadian community as large as ours, with close to 11,300 active Members. FUN FACT Stephanie Nash (AAS President), Caitlin Fry (former AWA President) and Sandra Johnson (CAS First Vice President) are all TAC Members and have been Club members for a combined 39 years !

Information is accurate at time of print.

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CHINESE NEW YEAR FAMILY FUN DAY Februar y 2, 2020 THE BIG BOWL LIV Februar y 4, 2020 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TAC, AAS, AWA, CAS March 9, 2020

SUSTAINABILITY

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SUSTAINABILITY

Going green is a team effort – we can’t do this alone! We’re appealing to all Members to go green with us; a little goes a long way. Read on to find out how Members can help us, and what we’ve done to reduce The Club’s carbon footprint. B.Y.O.B Whether you’re picking up some pizzas from Grillhouse for dinner at home or having your morning cuppa to go at Central, we encourage everyone to B.Y.O.B – bring your own box / bottle! Go a step further and purchase food grade silicone containers for your takeaway food and drinks. Compared to plastic, silicone, which is made of silica found in sand, is much longer lasting than plastic, endures extreme fluctuations in temperatures (good for heating up food or transporting hot beverages), and is converted back into inorganic, harmless ingredients when disposed of at a landfill for incineration. From now until December 31, Members who bring their own bottle/ cup/ mug to Central will receive 50 cents off any drink purchase. By encouraging more Members to B.Y.O.B, we hope this will become the new normal in our Club a year from now!

STAFF TRAINING In the back-of-house areas unbeknown to Members, our staff have quietly been undergoing training on sustainability practices in our kitchens. In August, our stewarding staff went through on-the-job training to learn the appropriate water pressure levels for kitchen spray nozzles to wash different kitchen equipment, utensils and stains. Our restaurants are busy during meal periods and especially more so on weekends, so this seemingly tiny step will save a lot of water in the long run! In a Club as busy as ours, food wastage is a big concern. Fortunately, we were able to attain some grants for a food waste eco-digester last year and our staff have been trained to use the machine – stay tuned for our Sustainability e-newsletter for a video and more updates! Have a green suggestion or want to receive updates on Sustainability initiatives at The Club? Email us at info@amclub.org.sg and we’ll add you to our mailing list.

“WE MISS OUR FRIENDS!” – LOVE,THE TOWELS AT TAC

Did you know that Members use a whopping 5000 towels a month on average? This includes pool, gym, fitness and leisure, and spa users. 5000 towels means we use a ton of water for laundry; an average washing machine for a family uses 13,500 gallons of water per year – imagine how much water we are using just for our towels! On top of the environmental impact, we also lose up to 600 towels a month, and spend money replacing these towels. Save the earth with us – take 1 towel for each use and drop your used towel in the towel bins before you leave The Club. By reducing the demand for towels, and hence reducing the amount of water The Club uses, our Members will be working in tandem with us for a greener Earth.

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PEOPLE

OPEN HOUSE With almost our entire Clubhouse nearing completion, we held an Open House on September 1 and got our Members to invite all their friends and family for a taste of our vibrant Club life! Current Members and Guests enjoyed scheduled guided Club tours throughout the day in between complimentary Group Fitness classes, storytelling and craft sessions for kids and movie screenings.The day culminated in a fun pool par ty with a DJ.We hope everyone had a blast! Members enjoy up to $750 worth of F&B dining vouchers for every successful referral under our WIN/ WIN+ referral program (ending December 31, 2019). EAGLE FUND WEEKEND

Our yearly EAGLE Fund weekend took place on September 6, 7 & 8.The weekend star ted on a high note with the tennis exhibition matches on Friday, followed by the Pro Am tennis tournament on Saturday where our Members battled it out on the cour ts with pros especially flown in for the event. On Sunday, Devin, Randy, Greg, Michell, Abdul plus his team of lifeguards and our Masters swimmers gave up their Sunday morning to take par t in the EAGLE swim-a-thon. Additionally, in conjunction with our 71st bir thday on September 14, 71 cents from every F&B bir thday purchase made from September 6 to 15 went to the EAGLE Fund. Thanks to the collective effor t of both Members and staff, we’ve raised a total of $10,441! EAGLE, short for Emergency Access Grant for Club Employees, is a Member-driven initiative to raise funds for staff who might be faced with an extraordinar y need for additional funds (e.g. financial aid for natural disasters, fire, serious / sudden illness etc.).

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PEOPLE

71 ST BIRTHDAY BASH One of the most highly-anticipated events of the year was our 71 st bir thday bash on September 14! With redevelopment coming to an end and The Club almost back to full operation, we have lots to celebrate and many Happy Days ahead of us. At 2:00 p.m., Members star ted streaming into The Club dressed in their best 50s inspired outfits, and the photobooth was heavily utilized with many Members clamoring to bring home treasured mementos from the day. Dancers enter tained the crowd while everyone tucked into delicious food reminiscent of the 50s – root beer floats, pigs in a blanket, relish tray and more. A beautiful sheet cake was also made by our very own Chef Yeni. Happy 71st bir thday to us!

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PEOPLE

CHRISTMAS IN SEPTEMBER After a brief hiatus in 2018 due to redevelopment, our Festive Takeaway is back with a bang and there’s no better way to celebrate than at our Christmas in September weekend on September 28 and 29! Members got the chance to sample selected menu items from our Festive Takeaway among other festive treats – complimentary express manicure, hair consultation, Christmas ornament craft session and gingerbread cookie decoration for the kids, and customized greeting cards and spa retail gifts exhibition. It’s never too early to star t feeling festive! Members enjoy 5% off total bill for Festive Takeaway until December 31. Email catering@amclub.org.sg for more information.

AWARM WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS! Elizabeth White & David Horsburgh Scott Geemin Wong & Tham Li Xi Michelle Mayur & Loveena Saigal Irvin & Sabrina Stein Brian & Sarah Sutton Todd & Jeanne Staley Keith & Terri Bechtum Kwasi Boateng & Hana Mehmood Thaddeus Ericson & Dana Kay Jonathan Da Silva & Diana-Rahmani Fauzan Brian Hauge & Melissa Romke-Hauge Robert Hoffman & Amanda Hoffman Lee Kristen Alexa & Lo Matthew Jon Robert & Tracey McGregor Bradford Mak & Brigitta Herzfeld Ian & Kristie Ross Sarita Peng & Ahmed GhassamTaha Sharmeela & Jagdeep Brar Toshihiko & Minako Muneyoshi Arjun Pandit & Jee Young Yang Daniel Lee & Madeline Dutton JenniferYan Lai Kan & Alexander Cheh-Hwan Chan Richard Kitts & Swasti Ariani KimTae Hyun & Ryu Soo Yeon Sudhir & Neetika Agarwal Vijayan S Chinnasami & Sakura Yamasaki

Mauricio Franklin & Berenice Leyva Hyunggee Chung & Hae Lyang Park Alejandro & Barbara Vazquez-Guillen

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PEOPLE

THE AQUATICS TEAM HEADS TO BATAM Summer is when most Members take advantage of school break and make their way to a holiday destination. For the Aquatics team, this a quiet time of the year and the team decided that some bonding was on the agenda. Other than enjoying the sights and sounds of the fantastic Indonesian island, the team thought it would also be a great oppor tunity to give back to the local community. Although this is not an official Club-endorsed Corporate Social Responsibility event, word got around The Club and fellow TAC staff and some Club Members generously offered to donate to this wor thy cause. In a little under two weeks, the team raised $761 which went straight to purchasing pencils, coloring books, board games and backpacks. The team arrived in Batam and went straight to KFC for 20 kids’ meals, then to the orphanage to meet the kids. It was a great surprise and the kids were ecstatic as they rarely get to eat fast food and were excited to receive a goodie bag each. Giving back at the star t of the trip set the tone for a very rewarding and fun weekend!

NICHE GROUP LUCKY DRAW

Congrats to our Niche Group lucky draw winners and thank you to all who have taken part in our monthly draws!

August - Caitlin McNeal 3D2N stay inclusive of daily breakfast and lunch & return transfers from Singapore at Bintan Lagoon Resort, Angsoka Villa for 7 worth $1,950

September - Althea Parker 3D2N stay inclusive of daily breakfast for 2 at AlilaVillas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia worth $3,270

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FEATURE

HIKING IN ICELAND FOR A CAUSE While Iceland is home to some of the world’s most stunning sights, Club Member Erika Masiero has more than beautiful scenery on her mind as she embarked on a 7-day expedition to raise awareness for environmental conservation. By Erika Masiero

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FEATURE

In August, I set off for Iceland with 11 other women from all around the world, to take par t in a 7-day expedition with HER Planet Ear th; a Singapore-based NGO that promotes female empowerment and environmental conser vation. We were on this journey together to bring awareness on how climate change affects underprivileged women in rural areas. We were raising money for UN Women UK to suppor t effor ts in Nepal, Bangladesh and Vietnam. I star ted my fundraising effor ts in May, hoping to raise a substantial amount of money. I was thrilled that from the suppor t of my friends and families I was able to raise over S$10,000, contributing to our team achievement of S$53,000!

I arrived in Reykjavik to a chilly temperature of 8°C and blue skies, where I would finally be meeting the rest of my team, a group of amazing women who I would be hiking 10 hours a day with, sharing tents at night with and motivating each other to keep going when the terrain and weather got tough. After a delicious dinner in the city and a night’s sleep in a warm hotel, we loaded our gear and climbed into a 4WD bus to make our way to the Laugavegur Hiking Trail. Located in the southern highlands of Iceland, nor th of the infamous Eyjafjallajökull Volcano that erupted 9 years ago, we would star t our trek. The roads to get there were unpaved and long, driving for a few hours across a black lava field deser t! We set up camp for the night, pitching our tents among many other travellers looking to experience the beauty of Iceland. Having not slept in a tent in 20 years, I was surprised at how well I managed to sleep each night, thankfully restoring my energy for the days ahead. With a 6:00am star t time and temps down to 4°C, I was beginning to wonder though what I had gotten myself into! Coming from 14 years in Singapore, my body had yet to adjust to the cold weather, so I piled on the layers and set off with the team to begin our first day of hiking through Landmannalaugar, Iceland’s geothermal nature reserve. Within the first 30 minutes of our hike, our bodies quickly warmed up and we began stripping off

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