KL American October 2016 Publication by klamerican

PP 4353/05/2013 (033269)

October 2016

american

A Publication of the American Association of Malaysia KL American October 2016

Valuable cargo It’s important to choose someone who’ll take extra care of the most precious things.

Go knowing

www.crownrelo.com.my 2

KL American October 2016

Crown’s service offerings include: • International & Domestic Shipments • Transit Protection • Immigration & Legalization • School Search • Settling-in Services • Intercultural Support

Tel: +60 3 5636 9166 kualalumpur@crownrelo.com

Contents

AAM October 2016 Advertisers Index Advertisers

(A-Z)

President’s Message

Page

Asian Tigers Transpo

Back Cover

Crown Relocations

Inside Front Cover

Eastern Carpets

p.19

Tan & Tan

Inside Back Cover

EVA Air

p.13

The Expat

p.24

RSDHC

p.23 & 26

Tropicana Medical Centre

p.18

Membership

Weekly/Monthly Activities

7–9 10 – 11

October Activities Community Services

Sponsored by:

Coffee Morning at Ambiance Together with our friends at The Association of British Women in Malaysia, we have been invited to Ambiance Showroom by owner Jim Moore to enjoy a complimentary glass of Bucks Fizz, free-flow peach tea and light brunch. If you have not been to Ambiance Showroom now is the time to pop by and check out all the great, unique, oneof-a-kind merchandise they have to offer. You will find treasurers in this shop and the more you look around the more you will discover. Come out for some great conversation and to meet new friends. RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Wednesday, 12 October (required for catering)

October Activities

Date Night / Dinner and A Show! Saturday, 15 October 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Coliseum Café (Dinner) and Panggung Bandaraya (M.U.D. Theatre) SHOW ONLY: Members RM75 / Non Members RM85 Dinner cost is individual and payable at the restaurant

What’s better than Dinner and a Show. Join the American Association of Malaysia as we head out for “Saturday Date Night”. We will start by meeting for dinner at the Coliseum Café, located at 98, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman. Meeting between 6:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. we will enjoy a leisure dinner at one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest establishments. Coliseum Café was started in 1921 and today is still a popular spot among locals and tourists alike. Their menu is classified as ‘Hainanese Cuisine’ but their menu is a broad selection from grilled salmon steaks to Chicken Cordon Bleu to their famous “sizzling steaks” all served with a twist that makes this restaurant truly unique. Following our dinner, we will proceed down to the iconic Panggung Bandaraya building, (located at Dataran Merdeka, Jalan Raja) where we will be treated like VIP guests as we take our seats to enjoy this one hour production of M.U.D., the Story of Kuala Lumpur. This is un-

like most theatre productions because this one is interactive. There are 4 acts, which will take us back in time to learn about how Kuala Lumpur came to be, how it was actually wiped out twice by disasters and came back strong to be the diverse and vibrant city it is today. There is plenty of parking in the area and everything is just a quick walk from the parkade to the restaurant to the theatre. If you want to come to the show and skip dinner, you can do that as well. Just meet us at the theatre around 8:15 p.m. to join us when being seated as a group RSVP: klamerican.info@gmail.com by Wednesday, 12 October (must register for reservation purposes)

Looking Ahead… Be sure to mark these dates for activities in November: 04 November – 30th Annual Christmas Charity Bazaar

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KL American October 2016

Community Service

To order tickets email:

klamerican.info@gmail.com or call (03)2161 9008/9009 10

KL American October 2016

Community Service Your junk…is someone else’s treasure!!! Please drop off your once loved items and put a smile on someone’s face as they shop our huge White Elephant Sale. Take your gently used items to the AAM office (The Troika, Tower B, 19th Floor) any time during business hours between now and 19 October. All proceeds raised will go to our charities.

Christmas is Coming! Used Books Dust off those bookshelves and bring your used books, games and puzzles to the AAM. All proceeds raised will go to our charities.

The AAM Christmas Charity Bazaar is approaching and 2016 will be the 30th Anniversary of hosting this highly anticipated Bazaar. We have already started to secure our vendors, white elephant items and will soon be gathering baked goods, which all come together for charity. We would like to make this year’s Bazaar the BIGGEST and BEST ever as we raise funds for the charities the AAM supports. If you are interested in getting involved or want more information, please email: Leslie Sjurseth at bazaardirector.aam@gmail.com.

Mrs. Claus’s Kitchen Mark your calendars, it’s that time of year, Our Charity Bazaar is nearly here! And one tradition so dear to my heart Is providing the goodies that I love to impart. But I, Mrs. Claus can’t do it alone Since I need lots of goodies for our Friends to take home. So I need some help to fill all my shelves And I’m desperately in need of A few helpful elves! Baking your treats as you are able Will definitely help me to fill up my table. The instructions you need are all right below Thank you to all and a Merry ho-ho!

If you have a favorite recipe for any baked goods, i.e. cookies, brownies, scones, cakes, pies, breads or muffins, that say “tradition” in your family, please consider baking it and sharing with our community.

Help decorate the AAM’s Christmas Charity

Giving Tree. Buy a beautiful Christmas ornament for only RM50 and make a donation at the same time. You may purchase an ornament at the Bazaar, at the Villa, or at an AAM event through December. You may also send donations to the Villa by mail or electronically by contacting klamerican.info@gmail.com.

For shoppers to enjoy right away, please package cookies three to four a bag and brownies two to a bag. Please include a description of the baked goods. Mrs. Clause would prefer items arrive at the bake sale table BEFORE 10:00 a.m. at the Renaissance Hotel OR can be dropped off at the AAM office by 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 2 November. Mrs. Claus can’t wait to see what everyone is donating! The funds we raise will mean so much to our charities. Questions? Leslie @ bazaardirector.aam@gmail.com.

KL American October 2016

Ladies Trip to Bali, Indonesia! LAST CHANCE Calling all you ladies that are up for a whole lot of fun and adventure. This year we are putting together a fun filled trip to Bali! What could be better than Bali, beaches, and best girlfriends getting togther for a few days to share a lot of laughs and making some really great memories along the way. Trip Dates: Sunday 13 November – Thursday 17 November (Air fare is NOT included in the price listed below and you are responsible to make your own flight arrangements. Flights are currently running about $80USD return). Staying at our own private villa located on the southeast coast of Indonesia (near Ubud, Indonesia). Ubud offers Balinese massages galore, the Art Market, gorgeous white sand beaches, outdoor activities (rafting, tubing, treks through rice fields) to name a few. The Villa is located in the exclusive neighborhood of Anapuri Villas which is on Pabean Beach. Our villa has 6 bedrooms which allows for 12 guests, 6 bathrooms, private plunge pool, media room, fully equipped gym, indoor and outdoor dining areas, turn down and make up services, on-site security, manager, housekeeper, satellite T.V. in each room as well as Wifi throughout. We will also have our own private chef that will shop for and prepare our meals for us – the chef is included with the rental. Groceries will be an additional charge once we work out menus for each meal. We will also have our own driver and vehicle for our stay who can pick us up from the airport, shuttle us around to town for shopping and dining out and then take us back to the airport at the end of our trip. Price: $400.00 U.S. per person and includes everything mentioned above except for your flights and groceries and wine! If you are interested in going on this trip you must act fast – 11 of the 12 spots have already been sold so we only have room for 1 more. Get ready Ladies – Bali will never be the same. Please email Mona Reaves at monareaves@gmail.com to get more information and to sign up. Don’t wait – if you hesitate someone else may take your spot! To view more details about our villa, go to: www.vrbo.com/3952344ha#or simply type in Bayu Gita Beach Front 12

KL American October 2016

The Death of a Maid By Debz

Warning: the following article is about death and may not be suitable for younger readers. I apologise if the content offends anyone, this is not the intent. This was a difficult and emotional time, but where possible I have tried to stay matter of fact. The woman who died was loved by her family and friends, she was a hard conscientious worker. She is missed. At 6.15 a.m. a client called me ; “Debz my maid passed away last night and I don’t know what to do.” “Where?” was my first response. “In my house.” “Are you sure she is dead?” “Yes she has been dead for at least 6 hours. She is cold and has no pulse” Yes, that is one wake up call. As events unfolded, I wondered if other people would know what to do in the event that a staff member or loved one died while overseas. So this is why it is the subject of my latest article. Please be aware some detail is graphic and the words deceased and body appear throughout, I send my sincere sympathies to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. I could write a book about the death of a maid and the days that followed but I have limited space so I will pass on the information in note form. 1. Do not try to do this alone. Choose a wingman who is strong enough to complete the task. If you do not know anyone who can do this email the AAM and ask them to put you in touch with me and I will give you my number. 2. If you think that your family member, maid or colleague have died, call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance. Inform the ambulance dispatcher that you believe the person has already died so they can dispatch the appropriate specialist (not all Ambulance personnel in Malaysia are First Person On Scene trained). In the event that you are 100% sure there is no chance of life you must go to the Police station and make a Police Report. Due to recent changes in 14

KL American October 2016

Police policy, you may make a Police Report at any Police station. I suggest you take a local person with you so that they can help overcome any language barrier and give you moral support. 3. While you are at the Police station, have a friend or family member stay at the house and call the US Embassy so they know that there is an American citizen reporting a death or that a US citizen has died. Make sure the person making that call has your full name, passport number, your full residential address and they know which Police station you are going to. This is critical because if you are arrested or detained at the Police station then the Embassy is aware and can mobilise the correct consular service faster. 4. In the event the deceased is not Malaysian or American, get your friend to also inform the Embassy of the deceased. When you are writing down your passport number, full name etc. do the same for the deceased so that their Embassy can be made aware. To find out who you need to talk to at the Embassy look for the number of the “duty officer” for out of hours, or the welfare department for normal business hours (Usually 9:00am - 4:30pm). Better still, make a note now of the numbers not just yours but also the numbers relating to the Embassy of any staff you may have working in your house or place of business. 5. As a precaution, and without disturbing the body, take photographs of the place where the person has died, paying particularly close attention to any medication near the deceased. This sounds macabre but these photographs may be needed at a later date. Photograph everything. Passports, visas, medication, and if possible the body itself. After death the blood pools and the lower part of the body becomes purple. This can show how long the person has been dead, which maybe valuable to have if the time of death comes into question. Do not move or touch the body. You must report the death to the housing management, and inform security that an ambulance/ Police investigation team will arrive.

6. Any death is distressing, remind yourself to take a few deep breaths when necessary.

that needed to be signed by my client and with documents in hand I headed for the hospital.

The Malaysian Police have procedures that they must follow for these events and they are both sympathetic and thorough.

5. The maid’s friends had heard of her death and were waiting to be contacted so that they could also go to the hospital.

1. The person who takes your report at 999 will contact the appropriate ambulance and investigation team.

6. I arrived at the hospital at 3 30 p.m. Everything was ready and the Doctor who carried out the post mortem met with the deceased’s Embassy Welfare Officer and myself and disclosed that in this case the poor woman had died of a brain aneurism. Nothing could have been done.

2. The Police Report took about an hour in our case. 3. An ambulance arrived about 30 minutes after my client’s return from the Police station, closely followed by the Police investigation team and the building management. There were three of us in the house at this stage, my client, my Malaysian colleague who had accompanied my client to the Police station and me. 4. The Doctor sent with the ambulance carried out the initial assessment and deduced that it looked like natural causes. 5. The Police took photographs of the body and the room. 6. The management took details of what had happened, although they were not allowed anywhere near the deceased. 7. Gossip can be an issue, and when speaking to guards and management it is important to state that out of respect for the deceased they must be discreet! Prepare a statement for other people (parents, etc.) who are going to hear about the death. 8. After the Police and Doctor were satisfied the body was taken to the appropriate hospital for post mortem. 9. My client was asked to go to the hospital later the same afternoon to make an official identification of the remains. My colleague and myself accompanied him. If you find yourself in a similar situation then take someone with you, if possible someone who speaks the local language. 10. The US Embassy Welfare Officer was informed about the meeting at the hospital and she made arrangements to be there. The Embassy of the deceased needs to have a representative at the hospital as well, to authenticate that the deceased was a citizen. They do not view the body, or make the official identification; their function is to authenticate the passport, to take details and to then notify the family of the deceased. 11. The Police were at the morgue and my client was requested to return to the Police station and make a more detailed Police Report. 12. We accompanied our client to the Police station and a second Police Report was given. 13. The Police and hospital were very helpful and suggested funeral directors. The next 24 hours were difficult. Questions were asked like “What do we tell the kids?” The next day: 1. The Police phoned at about 10 a.m. to say that the soft copy of the post mortem would be available by 3 p.m. that day. The investigating officer gave us a mobile phone number so that we could WhatsApp a copy of the report to him. 2. We also got a message from the deceased’s Embassy that they were planning on meeting us at the hospital for the results of the post mortem. 3. It seemed to take a long time to get to 3 p.m. that day, but at the appropriate time a phone call was made to the morgue and we were told that the post mortem report was ready. 4. The deceased’s Embassy had already e-mailed over all paperwork

7. The Welfare Officer and I filed the appropriate paperwork with the hospital records department. The system was simple and without delay, and the mortuary staff accompanied us to the records department to make sure we did not get lost. They were all very professional and respectful. There was a little complication about where to go to register the death and collect a death certificate, but at first sign of confusion I picked up the phone to the morgue and spoke to the Doctor. He told me that the funeral director could deal with this bureaucracy. 8. A funeral director had been decided. The deceased’s Embassy Welfare Officer had prepared the paperwork that would be needed from the funeral director to allow repatriation of the remains. 9. I met with the friends of the maid at the hospital, they had been in touch with her family. The funeral was discussed. In this case it was decided to fly the son to KL and conduct a funeral here, followed by a cremation. The ashes would then be hand carried back home. 10. The funeral director met the maid’s friends and me at the hospital. The family were at the end of the phone and messages were conveyed back and forth. 11. The hardest part of the day was the cost of the funeral. The initial price seemed very high at MYR 17,000. As I did not know the deceased personally it was easier for me to question the costs, and I would advise that if you find yourself in this position get a friend to handle this part. It is very hard to haggle over the costs of a funeral. If you cannot pass this task to someone else, make a list of any questions you may have before you meet with the funeral director. In our case the overall cost finished at MYR 5,000. 12. It took almost two hours to prepare the funeral. The funeral director was given very clear instructions, caskets were chosen, and details of repatriation were discussed. 13. The funeral director assured me all paperwork would be done in accordance with Malaysian regulations and would be filed with the deceased’s Embassy. 14. A copy of the mortician’s report and the front page of the passport was sent to the son so he could prepare an entrance visa for Malaysia. 15. The son sent over his passport details and my client booked the flights for him. 16. The funeral took place three days later, followed by the cremation. The ashes were placed in a specially sealed urn with the correct ministries’ authorisation letter. This was all organised by the funeral director. 17. The son was able to return home with his mother’s remains, unchallenged. This is a very brief account of what happened, and hopefully you will never have to use this as a guide. Make sure your will is up to date and add some notes about what to do after you die, the American Embassy can assist with the will process. Repatriating a body is not impossible but there is a whole lot more paperwork involved, and some airlines will not take a casket. KL American October 2016

God save the Queen

1926 - 2016 Celebrating the Queenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 90th Birthday

Great British Ball 2016 22nd October 2016 7:30pm

Tickets: RM450 Black Tie

www.greatbritishball.com.my

KL American October 2016

Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur

tickets@greatbritishball.com.my

Absentee Voting Information for U.S. Citizens Abroad Make your vote count! Every overseas U.S. citizen is eligible to vote by absentee ballot as long as it is valid and reaches local election officials by the absentee ballot receipt deadline. Unfortunately, late ballots are one of the top reasons that absentee ballots are rejected by election officials. To make the most out of your vote, please follow a few simple steps to make sure that you can vote in the 2016 U.S. elections: 1. Request Your Ballot: Complete a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA). You must complete a new FPCA after January 1, 2016 to ensure you receive your ballot for the 2016 elections - even if you have completed one before. All overseas citizens must complete a new Federal Post Card Application each year to ensure they are not dropped from the voter register. The completion of the FPCA allows you to request absentee ballots for all elections for federal offices (President, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House of Representatives) including primaries and special elections during the calendar year in which it is submitted. The FPCA is accepted by all local election officials in all U.S. states and territories. You can complete the FPCA online at FVAP. gov. The online voting assistant will ask you questions specific to your state. We encourage you to ask your local election officials to deliver your blank ballots to you electronically (by email, internet download, or fax, depending on your state). Include your email address on your FPCA to take advantage of the electronic ballot delivery option. Return the FPCA per the instructions on the website. FVAP.gov will tell you if your state allows the FPCA to be returned electronically or if you must submit a paper copy with original signature. If you must return a paper version, please see below for mailing options. 2. Receive and Complete Your Ballot: States are required to send out ballots 45 days before a regular election for federal office and states generally send out ballots at least 30 days before primary elections. For most states, you can confirm your registration and ballot delivery online. Check out the FVAP links page for helpful resources that will aid your research of candidates and issues. Non-partisan information about candidates, their voting records, and their positions on issues are widely available and easy to obtain on-line. You can also read national and hometown newspapers on-line, or search the internet to locate articles and information. For information about election dates and deadlines, subscribe to FVAP’s Voting Alerts (vote@fvap.gov). FVAP also shares Voting Alerts via Facebook and Twitter. 3. Return Your Completed Ballot: Please remember U.S. Embassies are not polling places. Same-day in-person voting is not available outside the United States. Some states allow you to return your completed ballot electronically and others do not. If your state requires you to return paper voting forms or ballots to local election officials, you can do so free of charge at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. - Fax, Email, or Internet Some states allow ballots to be submitted electronically. Check the specific requirements of your state since some require you to still mail in the signed paper ballot. - Election Materials Drop-Off at the Embassy U.S. citizens may drop off voting materials to be returned to the U.S. any business day between 9am and 3pm, at the front gate of the U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur at 376 Jalan Tun Razak. Place your registration materials or ballots in the postage paid return envelope (provided by your election officials, or use the online templates for registration or ballots) and address your voting materials to the relevant local election officials. Processing time is generally one to two weeks for materials to reach the U.S. postal system. - Use the Malaysian Postal System or Private Courier Service If it’s more convenient for you, you can also return your FPCA or ballot to your local election officials via international mail or professional courier service at your own expense. Affix the appropriate postage to your envelope when sending materials through the Malaysian Postal System. Do not forget to write USA on the address. Learn more at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s (FVAP) website, FVAP.gov. You may also get information via FVAP’s toll-free telephone number: 1-800-438-VOTE (8683) or by contacting the ACS Unit at KLACS@ state.gov. Remember, make your vote count!

KL American October 2016

Understanding Breast Cancer – Facts & Myths Breast cancer remains a common and frequently fatal disease, the number 1 cancer in women (both in the developed and the developing world) and the leading cause of cancer death in women. Despite the social changes in the past decade, women continue to be the focus of family life. The impact of breast cancer is therefore profound on both the woman diagnosed with the disease and her family.

Dr. Kwan Keat Leong Consultant General Surgeon Tropicana Medical Centre

Although many advances have been made in the detection and treatment of breast cancer, the fact is we still do not know much about the disease. This leaves many of us misunderstanding the facts about breast cancer. It is time we dispel those myths and replace them with facts. 1. Myth: Breast cancer only affects older women Fact: While it is true that the risk of breast cancer increases as we grow older, breastcancer can occur at any age. Below the age of 40, the risk is 1 in 231; from 40 to 59, the risk is 1 in 25; from 60 to 79, 1 in 15. 2. Myth: If breast cancer does not run in my family, I will not get it Fact: Majority of women (about 80%) who develop breast cancer have no family history of this devastating cancer. However, if your first degree relative has breast cancer, your risk is significantly increased. 3. Myth: A lump in the breast is breast cancer Fact: 80% of breast lumps are benign. However, if you have a persistent breast lump, it is mandatory that you consult a doctor. Don’t stay away from medical attention because of the fear of what the doctor might find.

TROPICANA MEDICAL CENTRE

11, Jalan Teknologi, PJU 5, Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan. T: +603-6287 1111 W: www.tropicanamedicalcentre.com FB: www.facebook.com/TropicanaMedicalCentre E: enquiries@tropicanamedicalcentre.com

4. Myth: Mammogram will expose me to radiation and cause breast cancer Fact: Mammography is one of the best tools available for early detection of breast cancer. The benefits outweigh any risk that may occur because of the minute amount of radiation used (about 0.7 mSv). The risk incurred is really inconsequential. 5. Myth: Birth control pills cause breast cancer Fact: Modern day birth control pills con-

KL American October 2016

tain a low dose of oestrogen and progesterone. Many studies show no association between oral contraception and an increased risk of breast cancer. 6. Myth: Breastfeeding increase my risk of getting breast cancer. Fact: Absolutely not true. Breastfeeding has consistently been shown to decrease a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. 7. Myth: Underwire bras can cause breast cancer Fact: The rumour states that wearing a bra compresses the lymphatic system of the breast, resulting in accumulation of toxins within the breasts. There are no scientifically valid studies that show wearing bras of any type causes breast cancer. 8. Myth: Antiperspirants and deodorants can cause breast cancer Fact: The rumour indicates that when you use antiperspirant or deodorant and cut yourself, the chemical ingredient could leak into the breast, causing breast cancer. There is no conclusive evidence linking the use of antiperspirant or deodorant and breast cancer. 9. Myth: Women with small breasts have no risk of developing breast cancer. Fact: The amount of breast tissue a woman has does not affect her risk of developing breast cancer.Breast cancer does not discriminate against large or small breasts. 10. Myth: Breast cancer is an automatic death sentence. Fact: Breast cancer is curable if detected early. The cure rates for early stage cases may be as high as 80% and above. Don’t let yourself be a victim of misinformation and myths on breast cancers. Understanding the disease, awareness of the signs and symptoms, breast self examination (BSE), consultation with your doctor and mammography screening are key strategies to fight this deadly disease. Breast cancer can be cured if detected early and treated appropriately.

KL American October 2016

Memories First Friday at Harrod’s / KLCC 5 August Photos by Kay McNaught

With a lot of our members still away for summer holidays, it was nice to see this handful of ladies at our First Friday Morning at Harrod’s KLCC. Coffee was abundant and conversation was lively.

Lunch Bunch at KGB Burger in Bangsar - 9 August Photos by Peggy Uptigrove

KL American October 2016

We had a great turn out for lunch bunch in August as we all made our way to KGB Burger just outside of Bangsar Village. If you have never had their burgers, you really need to take a trip out there one day for lunch or take the family for dinner. Truly Killer Gourmet Burgers…KGB!

Memories First Friday at Harrodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s / KLCC 2 September Photos by Kay McNaught

Fall Rug Auction 2 September

Photos by Peggy Uptigrove

Members are back and we are back in full swing for the fall season. We had more members turn out for our First Friday in September than we have had in a long time. It was nice to catch up with some members we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen for a few months as well as welcome a couple of new members to the group. Great morning with great food, coffee and conversation.

Together with members from The Canadian Association of Malaysia, we co-hosted a super fun evening of drink, food and rugs, rugs, rugs. Those that came out to the Annual Fall Rug Auction were treated to some delicious food, plenty to drink and of course, beautiful carpets. Our friends at Eastern Carpets always provide us with entertainment, quick wit and lots of laughs. Those that made purchases went home happy with their new rugs, hookah pipes and great memories. We will do it all again in the Spring.

KL American October 2016

AAM Messages AAM Online Communities The AAM is on Facebook! “Like” the AAM Facebook fan page by logging on, typing ‘American Association of Malaysia’ in the Search bar at the top of the page and clicking ‘Like.’ You’ll get the latest information on all of AAM’s exciting events and activities!

Introducing the AAM Google Group - a forum for members to consult with other members on queries and recommendations for anything from best family hotels to dentists to household help. Members can join in two ways. First, you can send an email to secondvp.aam@gmail.com with the email addresses you would like to add to the Google Group. Please put “Need AAM Google Group Invite” in the header of the email. The second way to join is you can go to Google Groups, search for American Association of Malaysia and then ask to be invited and the Administrator can add you. When you receive the invite via email, you must respond to complete the registration process. For more information, go to http:// www.klamerican.com/online-communities.

Membership Renewal

To avoid missing any issues of the magazine and to continue receiving discounted prices for AAM events, please make sure your membership is up to date. Renewal notices will be emailed to you one month before expiration. Dues can be paid by cash or check in person at the AAM Villa @ The Troika by or cash deposit to the AAM’s bank account directly.

Your $0.02 Do you have any ideas or suggestions for new activities, events or workshops that may be of interest to our members? Can you think of ways we can improve our current line-up? Any concerns about the AAM’s building facilities? Your feedback, whether positive or negative, is always welcome. Kindly drop us a note in the Suggestion Box located in the villa or email klamerican.info@gmail.com.

Solicitation Policy Solicitation of business by any member or guest is not allowed at any AAM function without prior board approval. Members are requested to respectfully observe the policy that membership information is to be used solely for AAM business and is not to be used for personal or business solicitation purposes. If you are interested in sharing your talents/services with the AAM, please contact the AAM office.

Holidays in October There are no holidays in October that will affect the closing of the office.

Reservation & Payment Policy

Event and Activity reservations can be made via email to klamerican.info@gmail.com, in person or via fax. • If the reservation is made via email or fax, the AAM office will send you an acknowledgment receipt and advise whether or not the activity is still available. • Fees MUST be paid within 48 hours of signing up for an event or activity. You will not be “confirmed” for the event/activity until payment in full has been received by the office. • You may pay by cash or check in person at the AAM Villa @ The Troika or cash deposit to the AAM’s bank account directly. If you wish to deposit cash payments to the AAM’s bank account, please contact the AAM office for account information and instructions (your bank may charge you a minimal fee for this service). • We cannot accept credit card payments at the office. We are currently working on details to secure an on-line payment system for your convenience. Further information to come.

Cancellation Policy

• Reservations MUST be cancelled FIVE BUSINESS DAYS prior to the activity in order to received a refund. If you do not cancel your reservation within this time period or you are a no-show the day of the Event/Activity, a refund will not be issued. • For Events/Activities that have a required minimum attendance, AAM reserves the right to cancel or reschedule when circumstances warrant. • Each Event/Activity will have a sign up deadline date and we must adhere to those dates. This allows instructors of classes to gather all required materials or tour companies to arrange the proper transportation for our group. • If you still have not made payment by the reservation deadline for an Event/Activity, your name will be automatically removed from the sign-up sheet and there will be no further correspondence from the AAM office. To avoid disappointment, please make your payment within 48 hours of making your reservation.

KL American October 2016

A Letter from the President….. As a follow up to my letter in the September magazine, I want to keep members up to date on decisions and plans that are being made with regard to closing the AAM office and, going forward, how we will set the Association up for continued success. A decision to reopen an office in the near future could be a distinct possibility made by the next incoming board, so all the decisions we are making for the interim could be very short lived. Decisions made to date are as follows: 1. We have been in contact with Asian Tigers and they have agreed to store our Association records and a small amount of our office furniture at their warehouse until such time the next board, or the board after that makes a decision to re-open an office. This will include our financial records and back up for the past 7 years, reception desk(s), desktop computers, credenza, and a few kitchen items. We will pre-pay for storage for 6 months. 2. We will set up a post office box for receiving incoming mail and correspondence. This will be the AAM’s official ‘mailing address’ from December 1st onward. We will pre-pay for the box rental for 6 months. Once we have established the new mailing address, we will be sure to pass that information on to our vendors, government agencies, etc. 3. Once we shut down the office, we will no longer have a phone for members to contact us. We will operate strictly on email communications. The klamerican.info@gmail.com email address will be monitored daily and of course it will continue to be the email address we will use to communicate with members. 4. Our current book keeper has agreed to stay on with the AAM and will continue to update our books on a monthly basis as well as prepare our accounts for our GST consultant. We will still contract a GST consultant to keep us up to date on changes to the rules as they happen and to keep the AAM compliant with the government agency in charge. Our books will be updated in early January and sent over to our approved auditor for them to conduct their work. We will be scheduling our AGM to take place sometime before the end of March (as per our constitution). I will continue to update our members as we make decisions and maneuver this new territory for the American Association. I invite you to send me any questions or comments you may have. I would also ask our members to get involved as it takes volunteers to keep this association going and providing our members an avenue to meet fellow expats while alsogiving back to the community we live in. We can be proud of the influence and contributions we continue to make to this community. Sincerely,

US EMBASSY We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Malaysia enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at http://www. travel.state.gov/. STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the embassy or nearest consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is located at 376 Jalan Tun Razak 50400, Kuala Lumpur and is open 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. If you are a U.S. citizen and have any questions or concerns, please call the U.S. Embassy at (03) 2168-5000 or visit the U.S. Citizens Service website at http:// malaysia.usembassy.gov/. We will post the most updated information on the website. USEFUL LINKS: CountyOffice.org is the most accurate internet database of county government offices in the United States. Use our site to locate your county assessor, board of elections, chamber of commerce, child support offices, colleges, coroner, courts, and much more, with all relevant details.

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS EMERGENCY POLICE......................................................................999 FIRE & RESCUE.........................................................999 CIVIL DEFENSE.........................................................999 ANY EMERGENCIES FROM MOBILE PHONE............112 UTILITIES... ELECTRICITY/POWER FAILURE............................ 15454 WATER DISRUPTION................................1800 88 5252 SEWAGE SYSTEM.....................................03 2780 1100 OPERATOR DIRECTORY ENQUIRIES............................................100 ANIMALS MISSING PETS..........................................03 4021 1682 SNAKES & PESTS......................................03 4042 6742 ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTER. (24 HRS.).....03 4041 6742

Peggy Uptigrove President

KL American October 2016

american association of malaysia KL

October 2016

Sun

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Mahjong

1 VENUE KEY

AAM Office Tel: (03) 2161-9008 / 9009

AAM Villa @ The Troika

email: klamerican.info@gmail.com

10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends

6:00 p.m. Gentlemen’s Night Out TAPAS Beer Bar

10 OFFICE CLOSED Hari Raya Qurban

10:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Coffee Morning Travel Talk

10:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Bingo @ Little Sisters of the Poor

11:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Lunch Bunch / ABC

10:00 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Stitching Friends

PUBLIC HOLIDAY Malaysia Day

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7:00 p.m. Midnight Welcome Back Shrimp Crawfish Boil

1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. Mahjong

Subang Jaya Medical Centre

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1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor

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KL American October 2016

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KL American October 2016

(60-3) 5565 2200 KL American October 2016