Since 1958 Singapore American • November 2015
AM ERICAN AS S O CIATION O F S INGAP O RE November 2015
www.aasingapore.com American Association.....2-3 Member Discounts..............3 Putting Down Roots.........4-5 CRCE & Business..................6 Community News...........8-11 Travel............................12-13 Giving Back..................14-28 Health & Wellness............29
Community News 8-11
Travel 12-13
Health & Wellness 29
Giving Back 14-28
Arts & Culture....................30
The reason why Americans celebrate Veteran's Day
A visit to the West Coast of the United States
The real toll of the haze
An insider's guide on where and how to give back
What's Happening.............31
MCI (P) 185/03/2015
Making a Difference By Melinda Murphy
D
oing good. That’s the focus of this issue of Singapore American Newspaper: people taking care of people, animals and the planet. That simple concept is the basis of most of the world’s major religions. But where can you volunteer? Who most needs your help? Delve into these pages and discover what organization best suits your interests and abilities. Here at the American Association of Singapore, we try to do our part, too. Just last month, AAS worked with the National Parks Board and spearheaded “Putting Down Roots,” an event to celebrate the SG50 heritage, support AmCham’s Corporate Community
Day and give back to the environment. On the morning of October 3, more than 200 members of the community turned up to ceremoniously plant 51 trees at the Woodlands Park Connector, one tree for every US state and one for Singapore. The event was a roaring success and a wonderful way to connect to the community and support our host nation. Take a look at pages 4 and 5 for photos of the special morning. Every year, the AAS annual bash, the George Washington Ball, raises funds for a local charity. This year, we supported the Singapore Children’s Society (SCS), an amazing organization that benefits at-risk
children here in Singapore. Through the generosity of the attendees, we raised more than $50,000 for SCS. Next month, AAS will host our fifth Toys for Tots event with the US Marines supported by our major sponsor, General Motors and our annual partners. At this family-friendly event, we collect new toys for less fortunate children in the region. Attendees get to do crafts, eat and – yes - visit with Santa Claus himself! We’re proud of what we do here and are always impressed by the generosity of our members. We truly are a special bunch.
American Association of Singapore Strategic Partners
See photos on pages 4 and 5