Winter 2022 On Eagle's Wings

Animated publication

On Eagle ’ s Wings

Winter 2022

Time to go site-seeing We're proud to announce the launch of the Club's brand-new website. It features a modern interface, improved functionality, enhanced mobile responsiveness and easy access to essential information so that you have the best user experience possible.

Visit the NewWebsite

b THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

DIRECTORY

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

CLUB MANAGEMENT GENERAL MANAGER Rick Coate SENIOR DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Angie Ng DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT Mylene Soh DIRECTOR OF FOOD & BEVERAGE Dan Durkin DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP & MARKETING Rachel Ang ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CLUB SERVICES Eleen Yap ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES Nerang Mohammad ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FITNESS & LEISURE Mark James ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MEMBER SERVICES Anthony Pabalan F&B OPERATIONS MANAGER Duxbury Low DUTY MANAGERS Anthony Pabalan Palani Tharmalingam Ronald Ho MAGAZINE SENIOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Crystal Ng MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Chloe Tan GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Keith Chang Jeslynn Cheang Sky Sng MEMBER ENGAGEMENT MANAGER Fadhil Azmi

CONTACT US ADVERTISING Tel: 6739-4388 marketing@amclub.org.sg AQUATICS Tel: 6739-4450 aquatics@amclub.org.sg CENTRAL Tel: 6739-4359 central@amclub.org.sg CONCIERGE Tel: 6737-3411 concierge@amclub.org.sg ESSENTIALS2GO! Tel: 6739-4324 essentials2go@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 TAC2GO! Tel: 6739-4435 tac2go@amclub.org.sg 2ndfloor@amclub.org.sg THE BOWLING ALLEY Tel: 6739-4392 bowling@amclub.org.sg THE GALBRAITH BALLROOM Tel: 6739-4322 catering@amclub.org.sg THE GOURMET PANTRY Tel: 6739-4344 gourmetpantry@amclub.org.sg THE 2 ND FLOOR Tel: 6739-4329 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 Landy Eng president@amclub.org.sg VICE PRESIDENT Jill Morgenroth vicepresident@amclub.org.sg SECRETARY Mathew Welch secretary@amclub.org.sg TREASURER Alex Elkies treasurer@amclub.org.sg GENERAL COMMITTEE Alex Zecha

Christina Maynes Jonathon Gould Lauren Ullman Marcella Sullivan Nasir Kausar Neetu Mirchandani

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE REPRESENTATIVE Ashok K. Lalwani AMERICAN WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVE Linda Schindler CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE REPRESENTATIVE Kim Norman US EMBASSY REPRESENTATIVE Col Russ Corwin THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE 10 Claymore Hill. Singapore 229573 Tel: 6737-341 info@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.

OUR PARTNERS

c THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

COMMITTEE LIST

AQUATICS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Benjamin Stewar t Lia Teismann Megan Bretting Sharan Pinto

GYM SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Kate McFarlane Charles (Chuck) Shriner

RULES COMMITTEE CHAIR Marcella Sullivan James McFarlane Kam Nijar Michael Buchholz

STRATEGIC PLANNING WORKING GROUP CHAIR Mathew Welch

Nancy Ritchey Shernaz Varia Todd Chang

Alex Elkies Alex Zecha Christina Maynes Lauren Ullman Nasir Kausar TENNIS SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Nicole Bell Adam Radicic Bill Cornwell Lauren Ullman Morgan Steinman Rodrigo Floro Jr Sandeep Sharma

Virginia Cheuk Yasmin Ghale

Nara Nahm William Egan

HEAL SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Tessa Pang Brian Schwender Jenny Setnicker Judy Chang Riyana Vikram Rupani HOUSE COMMITTEE Andrea J Wong-Monteiro Car y Horenfeldt Jill Morgenroth

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR Landy Eng Amy Talwar Jen Trounson COMPENSATION COMMITTEE CHAIR Landy Eng Alex Elkies Christina Maynes Jill Morgenroth

SOCIAL & DINING COMMITTEE CHAIR Mathew Welch VICE CHAIR Tessa Pang Arish Khajotia Dennis Mak Kim Eng

Michael Schindler Rajesh Narasimhan Ted Toth Veesheen Yuen

INVESTMENT SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Lucy Fung Alan Goodyear Ashok Kumar Klaus Duss

YOUTH & FAMILY COMMITTEE CHAIR Lauren Ullman Emily Sturchio Jody Che Lucy Fung Mar y Stone Neetu Mirchandani

SPA SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Jody Che Kate Reynolds Laurence Clements Sandra Johnson SPORTS & RECREATION COMMITTEE CHAIR Christina Maynes Benjamin Stewar t Jody Che Kate McFarlane SQUASH SUBCOMMITTEE Diane Liu Gaurav Kaul George George Nitesh Gupta Ralf Deutschmann Sunil Mehta STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIR Nasir Kausar VICE CHAIR Alan Goodyear Alex Elkies Christina Maynes Landy Eng Lauren Alexandra Ullman

DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE CHAIR Alex Zecha SECRETARY Mathew Welch Charles (Chuck) Shriner Mathew Welch

Patrick Hyde Paul Gagnon

LIBRARY SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Shirley Kim VICE CHAIR Christi Novomesky Eunice Cheung Kam Nijar Kathy Brundage Molly Clare Fassbender Shernaz Varia MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR Nasir Kausar VICE CHAIR Alisha Barnes Andrew Kochar Eleanor Chan Gerrianne Richards

Tessa Pang Vinti Mittal

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT Landy Eng VICE PRESIDENT Jill Morgenroth SECRETARY Mathew Welch TREASURER Alex Elkies

FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR Alex Elkies Alan Goodyear Brendan Boyle Jay Jobanputra Lucy Fung Michael Bell Peter Brian Wood Richard Snowden Ryan FINE ART SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR Garima Lalwani Gerrianne Richards Henny Scott Laura Yung Shernaz Varia Stephen Finch Tay Soo Seng

Lim Chiwen Marlene Han Peter Succoso Thomas Wu

(Accurate at the ti me of publishing)

REDEVELOPMENT CLOSE-OUT TASK FORCE CHAIR Alex Elkies Paul Gagnon

Marcella Sullivan Mathew Welch Neetu Mirchandani

Stephen Finch Tay Soo Seng

d THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

STANDING COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEE

EXECUTIVE

INVESTMENT

FINANCE

HOUSE

LIBRARY

FINE ART

MEMBERSHIP

SOCIAL AND DINING

HEAL

YOUTH AND FAMILY

SPORTS AND RECREATION

TENNIS

SQUASH

GYM

GENERAL COMMITTEE

AQUATICS

SPA

STRATEGIC PLANNING

NOMINATING

RULES

COMPENSATION

DISCLIPLINARY

COMMUNICATIONS

e THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

f THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

g THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

EDITOR FROMTHE

And just like that, we have come to the last quarter of 2022 and Winter is here. The Club’s Winter theme is Merry & Bright, a traditional take on the year-end festivities. Things are looking red and gold, basked in warm light, a feeling that transports you to a time when you were a bright-eyed child on a cold December morning. Winter coincides with Christmas, a Christian tradition commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. But Christian or not, people around the world have found their own way of celebrating this annual holiday. Turn to Page 5 and read about a brief history on how this global celebration came about. Pastry Chef Yeni Sukowati is featured on Team Member Spotlight on Page 3. Learn about her career journey, what inspires her, her thoughts on leadership and what it takes to prepare the pastry kitchen for the festive season.

cakes that will be loved by everyone whether you’re 8 or 80.

SPARITUAL Body Care Set

Gift-giving is another hallmark of the season. The Gourmet Pantry features gift baskets for every recipient that you may have in mind. My Mom is a fragrance connoisseur and the scented candles and diffusers from To Be Calm are sure to make her living roomMerry & Bright. Another reason to visit The Gourmet Pantry is its unique ornaments that are sure to start a conversation among your guests. The spa also has gift ideas through its hard-to-find beauty and wellness products. I am choosing the SPARITUAL Body Care Set for my best friend, Carla, so she can pamper herself with a home spa experience.

Click here to view the Festive Guide 2022.

After all the shopping and celebrations, let’s not forget that the most important ingredient of our holiday table is the people gathered around it.

Festive Guide 2022

Roasted Dill and Citrus Atlantic Salmon

Our Festive Guide features everything you need for a Merry & Bright holiday feast. From mouthwatering appetizers to gourmet charcuterie boards to the centerpiece of your holiday table such as turkey and ham. As my family favors lighter fare, the Roasted Dill and Citrus Atlantic Salmon will be the highlight of our table. Our pastry chefs have been busy making sure that every meal has a sweet ending. Led by Chef Yeni, the team has recreated classics like Pecan Pie and modern

Here’s to wishing you a Merry & Bright holiday!

Rachel Ang Director of Membership & Marketing rachela@amclub.org.sg Rachel

h THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

PRESIDENT FROMTHE

Dear Members,

Thanksgiving is especially important to my wife, Kim, who as a child, reunited on Thanksgiving Day 1975 with her family after four years of separation after the Vietnam War. To share our good fortune, our family would seek out individuals who are alone or have no family in Singapore – it doesn’t matter whether we know the person or not. We would invite these individuals to celebrate Thanksgiving with us in our home. Christmas has always been a really personal occasion and the best of all holidays. Every year, I would put up the tree without fail and indulge in some Christmas classic movies. I love the feeling of the Christmas spirit and believe this is a season of giving and sharing. When I used to live in San Francisco, I invited orphans to Christmas tree decorating parties, where we prepared Christmas gifts for them, and had a friend who played Christmas carols on the piano for the children as they sang along. Now that I’m based in Singapore, spending this festive season here, and especially at The American Club, does bring about a special type of joy as it’s my home away from home. CHRISTMAS

We share the same excitement for theupcoming winter season. I’m thrilled and thankful that we are able to celebrate this festive season this year without any restrictions.

DEEPAVALI AND HANUKKAH

Deepavali – the festival of lights – is just around the corner on October 24, 2022. It celebrates the triumph of light over dark and good over evil, and is one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus all over the world. Also known as the festival of lights, Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and the re-dedication of the Second Temple during the second century B.C. Lasting for eight days, Hanukkah commences on the evening of December 18, 2022 and ends on the evening of December 26, 2022. traditional While Thanksgiving is a holiday that is most commonly associated with the United States, there is also a wonderful Canadian Thanksgiving. This year, the Canadian Thanksgiving was celebrated on October 10, 2022, while the American Thanksgiving falls on November 24, 2022. Both festivals are celebrated to recognize and cherish the sacrifices and blessings of the previous year. They both observe being thankful for all that we have and for a good harvest. The turkey on Thanksgiving Day is definitely an important tradition for me and my family. I recall growing up, my dad would cook up a tasty turkey dish in a Western style. Now, in my family, we have created a new turkey tradition by giving it a unique Asian twist with a sticky rice stuffing made with minced pork, ginkgo nuts, mushrooms and lap cheong (Chinese sausage). Thanksgiving holiday. THANKSGIVING Many fellow Members celebrate the

WARMEST WISHES

As we are approaching the tail-end of 2022, I would like to wish all Members a wonderful and joyful holiday season.

Landy Eng Club President president@amclub.org.sg

i THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

A Celebration of Traditions

Traditions form an important part of our culture and this season, let’s celebrate by breaking bread with our loved ones and express our love through meaningful ways. From delectable feasts, decorative trees to gift-giving and celebrating the best of the season, we have everything you need to create heartwarming memories and spread joy throughout your home.

Click here to view Festive Guide

Alternatively, browse online on www.amclub.org.sg under Publications.

CONTENTS #175 Nov-Dec 2022 | Jan 2023

Spotlight 3 Chef Yeni & Team Working Magic in the Pastry Kitchen 5 It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

k THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

WINTER EXCLUSIVES NOVEMBER

INDULGE IN THESE

NOVEMBER SPECIALS

• Pasta con Camarones $16 • Chicken Tandoori Pizza $22 • Cream of Cauliflower Soup $8 • Wok-fried Dry Laksa with River Prawns $18 • Texas Chili Cheese Dog $18 • Tandoori Chicken Leg $17 • Sweet Potato Salad $15 • Pumpkin Cheese Tart with Butterscotch Sauce $9 Beverage • Pumpkin Milkshake $9 • Malibu Sunset Cocktail $10 Tradewinds Pasta de Camarones

Slow Braised USDA Prime Angus Beef Oxtail

The 2 nd Floor • Slow-Braised USDA Prime Angus Beef Oxtail $45 • Beef Tartare with Black Truffle Dressing $28 • Black Pepper Angus Beef Spring Roll $28 • Grilled USDA Prime Angus Beef Striploin 300g $68 Beverage • White Negroni $15

Gourmet Multigrain Sandwich

Grillhouse • Low Carb Salmon Cobb Salad $22 • Turkey Pizza $24 • The Stack Burger $23 • Thai Basil Pork Tacos with Lime Slaw $17 • BBQ Ikan Bawal with Spicy Chili Sauce $18 • Marinated Tofu Steak Burger $18 • Fried Prawn Paste Chicken Wings with Spicy Dip $15 Beverage • Beer Garita $11 Low Carb Salmon Cobb Salad

Union Bar • Gourmet Multigrain Sandwich $19 • Roasted Turkey Meal with Bread Stuffing $25 • Creamy Mushroom Soup $10 • Battered Prawn Coated with Wasabi Mayo & Tobiko $16 • Hawaiian Pizza $19 • Vegetarian Curry $16 • Pumpkin Cheese Tart with Butterscotch Sauce $9 Beverage • Eggnog Martini $13

Salted Caramel Pecan Pie

Central • Salted Caramel Mixed Nuts Tart $6.50 (Slice) / $50 (Whole) Beverage • Pumpkin Spice Latte $5.80 • Sweet Citrus Iced Tea $5.80

Prices are accurate at the time of publication. Pictures shown are for illustration purpose only.

1 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

WINTER EXCLUSIVES DECEMBER DIG INTO THESE DECEMBER DELIGHTS

Grillhouse Pork Knuckle

Grillhouse • Grillhouse Pork Knuckle $35 • Grillhouse Turkey Burger $25 • Minced Turkey & Black Bean Tacos $17 • Szechuan BBQ Pork Skewer with Spice $13 • Seared Australian Scallop Salad $22 • Spicy Tofu Burger with Black Beans $17 • Japanese Curry Pork Chop $20 Beverage • Gin Berry Fizz $10

Red Velvet Surprise

Central

• Red Velvet Surprise $6 (Slice) / $45 (Whole) Beverage • Gingerbread Spiced Mocha Latte $5.80 • Vanilla Chai Tea $5.80 The 2 nd Floor • Roasted Norwegian Salmon $49 • House Cured Hokkaido Scallop Ravioli $28 • Egg Roulade with Portobello Mushroom Duxelles $24 • Herb Marinated Slow Roasted Turkey $36

Union Bar • Roasted Turkey Meal with Bread Stuffing $25 • Creamy Butternut Squash Soup $10 • Turkey Pizza $20 • BBQ Corned Beef Taco $18 • Pork Schnitzel Baguette Sandwich $19 • Tandoori Turkey Kathi Roll $17 • Chocolate Log Cake with Raspberry Sauce $9 Beverage • Wild Turkey Cranberry Cocktail $12

Beverage • Rock & Rye $15

Capricciosa Pizza

• Capricciosa Pizza $23 • Roasted Turkey $25 • Cream of Butternut Squash Soup $8 • Wok-fried Marmite Chicken $15 • Swedish Meatballs $20 • Paneer Kofta $17 • Blueberry Quinoa Salad $15 • Chocolate Log Cake with Raspberry Sauce $9 Beverage • Cinnamon Milkshake $9 • Rose Kennedy Cocktail $10 Tradewinds

Roasted Turkey Meal with Bread Stuffing

Roasted Norwegian Salmon

Prices are accurate at the time of publication. Pictures shown are for illustration purpose only.

2 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Chef Yeni & Team Working

Magic in the Pastry Kitchen

Sprinkling joy wherever she goes is Chef Yeni’s way of life. Having worked for the Club for 11 years now, Chef Yeni finds immense gratification in serving up delectable pastries and desserts that delight Members. With the help of her pastry team, she has headlined the pastry show of numerous events at the Club, including the festive and summer seasons, and fulfilled numerous customized Member orders for parties, corporate events and gifts. Spreading the holiday cheer every festive season – her favorite time of the year – lights up a bright smile on her face, even though this period is also the busiest. The American Club speaks to our talented Pastry Chef, Yeni Sukowati, and discovers what it takes to run the pastry show for the upcoming festive season. Sweet & Creamy

Chef Yeni’s culinary journey began when she completed her internship for a bachelor’s degree in hospitality at The Sentosa Resort and Spa (nowknown as Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa). Shewas instantly smitten by the exquisitely presented pastries that the pastry chefs hadworked so hard to create. After graduatingwith a Diploma in Pastry & Baking at Singapore Hotel and TourismEducation Center (SHATEC), Chef Yeni made her first venture into the world of pastry andwas exposed to a wide variety of cakes, pastries, and desserts. From then on, she discovered her passion while finding it a great joy to work her culinary magic for special occasions and holidays.

TAC: What are you looking forward to the most this festive season? Chef Yeni: Every festive season is a time for family bonding, renewing friendships and the exchanging of gifts, which brings me love and peace. TAC: What is your favorite festive pastry? Chef Yeni: I would say Pumpkin Pie. When we start the preparations for Pumpkin Pie, it is like a sign that the festive season is fast approaching. It’s a pastry that we only create once a year and is well-loved by many Members. TAC: What is the most memorable pastry that you have prepared for a Member? Chef Yeni: We had a bulk order of 5,000 pieces of customized cookies, which had to be hand-drawn individually and wrapped, for a Halloween Party. The preparation process took us an entire week – we carefully glazed the cookies, in shapes of pumpkins, ghosts and spiders, with fondant icing made from scratch and ensured that everything looked perfect. Wewere thrilled to hear that the kids loved the cookies! TAC: How are you and your team preparing for the upcoming festive season at the Club? Chef Yeni: We start preparing for the festive season as early as August. This includes reviewing and analyzing Members’ likes and dislikes, researching market trends, then brainstorming for creative ideas and finally, developing a festive-themed pastry and cake collection. We try to do things differently each year to keep things fresh for Members! TAC: What is the most memorable experience that you and your team had while working in the Club? Chef Yeni: Definitely, the circuit breaker in 2020, as during this period, we were not only chefs but we became virtual celebrity chefs! We organized baking videos and classes, which was nerve-racking as it was our first time venturing into this. At the end of the day, we had lots of fun and I think that

(From left to right) Chefs Elizabeth Ee, Yeni Sukowati, Teo ChewMing and Chong Kai Hoong

the Members enjoyed it as well.

gaze at the beautiful sky and admire the clouds or at other times, I like to bask in nature. These moments tend to spark an idea in my mind and I try to incorporate them into my recipes. I also enjoy checking out Pastry Arts Magazine andBakeMagazine for latest updates and ideas. TAC: What are the traits that you display as the leader of the Pastry team? Chef Yeni: Respect and trust. Showing my Team Members respect and trusting them empowers them to do their job and perform well. I also take the time to listen to their concerns and feedback. I try my best to guide them however I can.

TAC: What do you enjoy most about working with your talented Pastry team? Chef Yeni: It would be the bonds of friendship and understanding that I have developed withmy teamover the years. Even when it gets hectic in the kitchen, my Team Members continue providing me with tremendous support and working together to achieve our daily tasks and goals. Chef Yeni: Although we may be from the Pastry team, you will often see us assisting in other areas of the kitchen and sometimes even the F&B Service or front-of-the-house team. There are no divisions between departments – as long as you have The American Club eagle on your uniform, you are part of the team and the Club. TAC: What do you do outside of work? Chef Yeni: During my free time, I love to catch up with my friends over a meal, and on Sundays, I go to church. Swimming is one of my hobbies, and as silly as it may sound, I love ensuring that I complete all my housework so I can check it off my to-do list! TAC: What inspires you? Chef Yeni: Inspiration comes to me in many different ways. Sometimes I TAC: How does your team exemplify the One Club, One Teammantra?

I have learned a lot from Chef Yeni. She’s incredibly generous at sharing her knowledge and encourages me to express my creativity!

— Chef Kai Hoong

Chef Yeni is so bubbly! She spurs me on and sometimes I even forget that I’m working.

— Chef Elizabeth

4 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

SPOTLIGHT

WONDERFUL TIME It’s the Most of the year A HISTORY OF CHRISTMAS

solstice, which date back for centuries. Merging Christmas with these old festivities enabled the church to maintain the winter holiday tradition while pivoting its focus on Christianity. The Early Days of Christmas While holding Christmas at the same time as traditional winter solstice festivals increased the chances that Christmas would be popularly embraced, the ability of church leaders deciding how it was celebrated was compromised. Early celebrations of Christmas combined a mix of pagan and Christian traditions. Believers attended church, then celebrated raucously with activities that might seem more fitting for Halloween these days: lighting bonfires to keep the darkness at bay, performing tricks in exchange for treats, and drunken revelry in the streets. In medieval England, Christmas was a 12- day festival which included hearty feasts, plays and parades celebrating Jesus’ birth. It became commonplace to partake in Christmas decorations, gift-giving andmusic, and even the simplest festivities included singing carols and hymns. However, Christmas became so known for debauchery that the Pilgrims strongly discouraged celebrating it and even prohibited it in some cities when they first came to America. Christmas in early America was a mishmash of practices. Many with Puritan beliefs banned Christmas because of its pagan origins and the unruly nature of the celebrations. Immigrants arriving from Europe carried on with the traditions of their native homes. The Dutch brought Sinterklaas – also known as Santa Claus – with them to New York in the 1600s. The Germans brought their tree traditions in the 1700s. Different communities celebrated Christmas in their own way.

Christmas, the season of joy and giving. Often what comes to mind would be a brightly lit Christmas tree in the living room, plenty of gifts underneath the tree, a sumptuous feast with the family, and perhaps the kids’ favorite Santa Claus. Christmas is both merry and bright. Brimming with tradition and festivity, its hallmarks of good cheer and family fun are recognized and celebrated all over the world. But how did a holiday with religious origins become so widely celebrated globally? Observed on December 25, Christmas is both a religious holiday and a global, cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two thousand years, how people around the world celebrate Christmas has evolved, commemorating it with both religious and secular customs and traditions. Although Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the spiritual leader of Christianity, no one knows the actual date of his birth. The Bible doesn’t say when he was born, but clues from the Nativity Story – like shepherds guarding the flock outside – hint that it may have been spring, because why would shepherds be herding sheep in winter?

Despite this, when the Catholic Church decided to recognize Jesus’ birth as an official holiday, Pope Julius I chose a date in the deep of winter – December 25. Many historians believe that this date was picked in an effort to adopt and absorb the pagan festivals celebrating the winter

5 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

Reinventing Tradition It was only in the 19th century that Americans started to embrace Christmas, transforming it from a rowdy festival into a wholesome holiday of tranquility and nostalgia. In 1819, American author Washington Irving created tales of a wealthy English landowner who invited his workers for dinner with him. As Irving fancied the idea of people of all backgrounds and social status gathering for a festive holiday, he penned a story that reminisced about forgotten Christmas traditions that were reintroduced by this affluent landowner. With the popularity of his stories, the newfound spirit of Christmas began to take hold in the hearts of the American public.

practices, the holiday offers something – be it religious or not – for everyone who celebrates it. All over the globe, people have embraced Christmas and created their own traditions along the way.

If you’re in Singapore on Christmas Eve, it could be admiring the Christmas lights along Orchard Road with loved ones. If you’re in the United States, a group of carolers might visit your home to serenade you. If you’re on the south shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, it could be fun-loving neighbors dressed in comical Santa costumes going door to door until people can guess who they are. In every country, food is the highlight of Christmas. In Ukraine, zealous diners savor a 12-course meal, each course symbolizing an apostle. In Japan, rather than gathering around the table for a turkey dinner, families head out to their local Kentucky Fried Chicken. In Poland, the Christmas carp featured during dinner is often kept in the family bathtub for days before its debut on a plate.

Not too long after in 1843, English author Charles Dickens published the beloved classic, A Christmas Carol . The story’s message – the importance

of charity and compassion towards all people – struck a powerful chord withmany in the United States and England.

As Christmas rose in popularity as a family- centered holiday among Americans, old traditions were rediscovered, along with the creation of new customs, such as gift-giving, decorating trees and sending holiday cards. Celebrations Around the World Though Christmas has religious origins, it has also become a secular and increasingly commercialized holiday. This concern is not new; according to historian Lisa Jacobson, people have complained about the excessive commercialization of Christmas ever since its modern incarnation in the mid-19th century. Nevertheless, with its diverse customs and

While celebratory customs differ from country to country, the essence of the Christmas spirit is the same nomatter where you are. Regardless of spiritual beliefs, Christmas is a lovely time to get together with family and friends, be it through meals, gifts, or simply spending quality time together. It is a time when we can express our care and love for our loved ones, and arguably, the most wonderful time of the year.

6 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

250 F&B Dining Vouchers each Term Membership 250 F&B Dining Vouchers each Service Membership 500 F&B Dining Vouchers each Ordinary Membership 100 F&B Dining Vouchers each Service Membership (Annual Payment plan) 250 F&B Dining Vouchers each Ordinary Membership (Annual Payment plan) MEMBER REFERRAL PROGRAM

Introduce a friend to join the Club and get rewarded* with up to $500 F&B Dining Vouchers Refer a friend and get rewarded

Call the Membership o ce at 6737-3411 or email membership@amclub.org.sg for more information

*Both the referrer and referee will receive their respective rewards.

Scan for More Details

PEOPLE

A WARMWELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

Tania Lindsay-Jean Timothy R Kaufenberg Tyler C Wendleken Van Nguyen Vasu B Muthyala Wei Zhang Hopeman Service Members Arianna Harris Eric Sy Corporate Members Juliana Magnussin Thuene Tassilo R A Thuene

David Boitout Deepika R P Thota Deng Chao Deniz Arapoglu Eunice Wong

Hong Swee Leng Angela Kim Hye Jin Kim Myong Gyu

AUGUST 2022

Ordinary Members Andrew M Morentz

SEPTEMBER 2022

Andrew Mingst Anisha Mathur Barbara Mango Chan Clara Sue-Hein Cheung Lu Ming Teresa Cheung Wing Hong Shannon Cynthia G Muthyala Daniel Hui Deborah Yupin Mei Ferdinand Sutanto Hang Vi Huy Henry Nguyen Irvin S Stein Isabel Feliciano-Wendleken Ishan Krishan Jen Wong Jessica R Kaufenberg Jiyun Ouh John Kim Juan Ignacio G De Motiloa Ubis Kathryn Matvey Laurence B Mallick Leean R Morentz Madeline Stone Marco D'Agostini Maria Victoria Lorenzo Arasa Danielle B Santori David A Basmajian David Matvey

Hara Guigou Caceres Laura E Scriven-Hughes Lee Kidong Marcia Eloisa Speglich Caserta Marco D'Amore Margaret Sutjojo Na Kyoungwon Namita Srivastava Nikhil Barman Oh Jeehyun Park Soo Byn Pramod R Thota Priya Matzen Rishi R Hindocha Rodrigo De Queiroz Caserta Ryan Silfanus Sebastien O Pietryk Selcuk Arapoglu Sonia R Hindocha Sujoy Ghosh

Ordinary Members Alex B Kaas Anca Vasilescu Ann-Marie Kaas Ashley K Jacobs Bashir Dawood Carter L G Wood Chen Yu Wen Daniel S Jacobs Gao Ting Ipek Akinci Dziubek Jacqueline R Kinnemeyer Janell B Wood Jenny Yeh Kevin D Dziubek Kimberley Pauline Yuan Kyle A Mc Carthy Ling Zhenwen Mariyam Dawood Michael Yeh Michelle Eun Chun Park Byung Hee

Term Members Amit Khanna Bo Feng Craig Hudleston Damini Chawla Darren M Beck Deepika Khanna Himadri Malik Joseph Cheng Joseph Pullos Jungwon Suh Lu Liang Marina Hudleston Mika Suzuki Nivesh Kumar Paul Kennedy Sagar J Shah Saurabh Sharma Soyoung Nam Tian Jing

Tania A Sangani Tomasz Kurcyzk Wang Yao Wu Bao Feng Yang Jeong Hyun

Sanghyun Lee Scott R Fowler Sisi Wang Tyler Smith Wilson Cheung Wonsun Paek Wu Di Term Members Anne M D Viti Carsten L Matzen Chang Sang Hoon Chen Xiaoxian Cho Min Kyung Daniel J Hughes

Zhang Tao Zhou Feng

Transferable Associate Members Tan Boon Kee Violet Kwan Yeo Ping Hong

Michael Orgill Mimi Maeloa

Vidshi Shah Yuen Cheuk

Ryan T Hickman Sabrina V Stein Shashaank S Mathur Stephanie Shih Steven Jean Suhjin Kim Tammy Thi Phan

Transferable Associate Members Chavalit Wai Teh Frederick Tsao David Chao Eri Mochizuki

LIKE & FOLLOW US on our social media channels to stay updated with the Club’s latest happenings!

The American Club Singapore

americanclubsingapore

The American Club

Whatsapp Broadcast Channels Club: 9722-6473 Youth & Family: 8440-2301 F&B: 8793-8495 Save us as a contact to receive messages.

CLICK HERE TO SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

NEWS AND STORIES, ATYOUR FINGERTIPS.

TAC Overdrive

Connect to the TAC wifi for complimentary access. Available for a limited time only. Overdrive is not compatible on Kindle.

11 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

Reach A Premium, Captive Audience. When You Advertise With Us

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Magazine Advertisement Display of Flyers CD Advertisement Website Advertisements EDM Advertisement

Contact us at marketing@amclub.org.sg for more information.

12 THE AMERICAN CLUB SINGAPORE

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs