Top 10 Reasons to Get on Board With CAS

By Janey Schueller, CAS President

I often pride myself as being a good judge of character and although I have only been CAS President for a year, I think I can slot the average CAS member into 2 categories.  The first is what I like to call, the “I am Canadian” member.  Don’t look around, you know the type.  Loves all things Canadian, drinks maple syrup with their donut(s) for breakfast, can recite the entire roster of the Leafs, Canadiens, Flames, Sens, Canucks and Oilers -since the Mulroney years - and swears that a Molson Canadian-a-day keeps the doctor away.  We never have to target this crowd with our membership drives.  They are signed up and paid before the ink is dry on the member cards.

It’s the second type that we have to (ice) wine and dine every year.  Nicknamed the “What’s in it for me, eh”? 
I wince at the number of volunteer hours our non-profit Board uses to target this group to get them signed up.  Despite being bona fide Canadian passport holders, this group will often question the value of CAS membership and its privilege – a very valid comment of course – and one that we hope to cover in this 2-page spread.

So without further adieu, I bring you the Top Ten reasons to Come on Board with CAS:

Number 10: You are a staff of the Canadian International School.  C’mon, what’s your excuse? Your Membership is already paid for – just sign-up!!!

Number 9: Super affordable membership rates.  The fee this year is only $50 for Individuals and just
$90 for families.

Number 8: Differentiated pricing and priority sign-up.  This year we are committing to making sure our members get serious saving on CAS events versus non-members and exclusivity sign-up privileges. So next time there’s a Quiz Night you’ll be able to sign-up before tickets go on sale to the general public.

Number 7:  Ten full-colour issues of the Maple Leaf Times (MLT) delivered right to your doorstep.  Get organized and stay abreast of all of the Canadian happenings in and around Singapore with your regular MLT subscription.

Number 6: Sell your Stuff.  Enjoy access to free classified ad postings in the MLT and buy, sell, rent, lease to other members.   We also host the Great Canadian Yard Sale (and beer and bbq) every November and all are welcome to participate!

Number 5: Get busy, after all it’s a social thing.  Come out and meet new friends at our regular Pub Nights, Book Club, Coffee Mornings, Chick Flick Nights, Out and About Tours, Quiz Nights, themed events or join the Canadian Dragon Boat team.

Number 4:  Take a Break. The Park Royal Penang is offering 10% discount off the best available rates, 15% off at Tamarind Brasserie, Cool Bananas, Uncle Zack by-the-beach and Javana Lounge and 15% off at St. Gregory Spa.  Stop by Books Actually on Club Street and pick up books at 10% off for the beach!

Number 3:  Because you’re a good person, it’s that simple. Be a part of the community and join CAS in their fresh environmental initiatives and charity fundraising events throughout the year.  We have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years and need your support to raise more.

Number 2:  Discounts, discounts, and more discounts. Hungry? Thirsty? Enjoy food and beverage
discounts and privileges at Chili’s, Brewerkz, Café Iguana and an exclusive subscription deal with Appetite Magazine.

And the Number 1 reason to Come on Board with the CAS: Because you live in Singapore and you’re Canadian, eh?

And if that’s still not good enough for you, we are running an exciting Early Bird Draw!  Members who register before October 24 are entered to win….

A Porsche Boxter S for a day

1 Day, 2 Night stay at the Park Royal Penang, Malaysia

1 of 3 beautiful carpets from Eastern Carpets

F&B vouchers from our sponsors

A 3-month membership from Fitness First

So what are you waiting for?  Get up and fill out that membership form right now, and make sure you ask your Canadian friends whether they’ve done the same.

Many thanks, from all of the CAS Exco.

**Please check the CAS Website for more details on the above and current member privileges.

*Winners will be contacted and their names published in the November MLT.

Healthy Gums for Healthy Mommy and Baby

By Dr. Helena Lee, Periodontist, Specialist Dental Group

For women who are planning to start a family, one of the things that should be on your “To-Do” list (besides ensuring you are in good health and taking folic acid) is to visit your dentist.

Research has shown a close connection between gum disease and complications during pregnancy. According to the American Association of Periodontology, women with gum disease are seven times more likely to have early deliveries. Premature babies have a lower birth weight and are known to have more developmental problems and allergies. In addition, a higher rate of miscarriage is possible in women with periodontitis.

More recently, a US study documented a link between a woman with periodontal problems and a stillborn baby. The researchers found that the same bacteria in the patient’s infected gums worked its way into the placenta and infected the baby’s lungs and stomach.

During pregnancy, the level of estrogen and progesterone hormones is also higher which make the gums more sensitive to inflammation. Some of the symptoms include bleeding, swelling, redness or tenderness in the gums. These usually occur during the first trimester and may increase in severity as the pregnancy progresses.

If you are pregnant and experiencing any of the above, make sure that you see your periodontist (gum specialist) as soon as possible. Prevention is always better than cure. Visit your dentist before getting pregnant to ensure a smoother pregnancy and a healthier baby.

Specialist Dental Group is a corporate sponsor of the Canadian Association of Singapore (CAS). CAS members enjoy a special rate for dental services. For details, send an enquiry via http://www.specialistdentalgroup.com or call 6733 7883.

Meet Greg Sarnecki

Interview with Greg Sarnecki

In this month’s Interesting Canadian we are featuring Greg Sarnecki.  Greg is new to Singapore and one of his first forays into the Canadian scene was at the Canada Day celebrations where he was kind enough to share some fantastic tasting Dead Frog beer with the guests.

Here’s a little Q&A with Greg:

1. So when and how did you get involved in the beer industry?

I got started in the beer industry when I was old enough to go to the pub and sit down for a cold pint.  I have been importing and distributing beer for 2 years. Most recently importing Dead Frog Beer.

2. Tell us a little bit about Dead Frog brewery and the Micro-Brew industry in general.

Micro Breweries/Craft Breweries are usually small and independently owned and they brew far smaller annual volumes than a large regional brewery would. The Micro Brew industry is very big in Vancouver with many different breweries on the scene. Dead Frog was founded in 2006 and is located in Aldergrove BC 45 minutes outside of Vancouver. Dead Frog is fun, irreverant, memorable, and it makes people smile. It’s something new and fresh in the beer industry and I believe that their creativity will be the key to their success.

3. Why Singapore, and what are the plans for Dead Frog over here in Singapore and the region?

Singapore does not have any Canadian beers and there is room in the market for a premium Craft brewed Canadian Beer. With Dead Frog, there is a variety of different tasting beers: Lager, Honey Brown Lager, Pale Ale and Nut Brown Ale. These varieties of beer are also very unique in the market as you can't readily find them at the pub in bottles.

The plans for Dead Frog are to increase market share with promotions and we will be introducing a Pepper Lime Lager which is the Breweries best selling beer in Canada.

4. Where can people get their hands on a bottle of Dead Frog over here?

Dead frog is available at:

• Malted Milk (Studio M Hotel)
• Ink at the Fairmont Hotel
• The Public House (Boat Quay)
• DB Bistro Moderne (Marina Bay Sands)
• Aurora Bar (Boat Quay)
• The Market @ Central (Clarke Quay)
• Bar Bar Black Sheep (Robertson Quay)

5. What were your first impressions on the Singapore bar / pub scene, where do you like to go for a good beer?

First impressions of the Singapore pub/bar Scene was the lack of variety. Many of the pubs and bars carry the exact same 4-5 beers. I have noticed this trend to be slowly changing with more and more bars and pubs willing to carry a larger variety of
unique beers.

I like to go to any one of the bars that carry Dead Frog. If I cannot go to a bar that carries Dead Frog, I like to go to one of the Micro Brewery Restaurants in town.

6. How have things been adjusting to life in Singapore, any unexpected surprises?

Singapore is a very livable city with great public transit, and with English being spoken everywhere it makes adjusting to life here quite easy.

7.  What do you miss most about being away from home?

I miss my family that is back in Vancouver but I also miss being able to go for a drive to get out of the city into nature and being able to get away from the people, traffic and noise. I also miss all the varieties of excellent beer I can get back in Vancouver that just are not available anywhere in Singapore.

8. Any other fun / interesting things we should know about you / Dead Frog?

Keep an Eye out for the Pepper Lime Lager!

Clean and Green

By Sandra Johnson

You don’t have to spend a lot of money on chemical cleaning solutions to make your home fresh and clean (and green); three natural cleaning products work equally as well.

Lemon juice can be used in kitchens and bathrooms to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits. Furthermore, since approximately five percent of a lemon is acid, the juice helps to kill bacteria. Mixed with vinegar and/or baking soda, lemon juice can also be made into a cleaning paste. You can cut a lemon in half and sprinkle baking soda on the inside surface, and use it to scrub dishes, countertops and sinks, and to remove stains. The enzymes in citric acid cut through grease and make a greener alternative to abrasive store bought cleaners. If you mix 1 cup of olive oil with ½ a cup of lemon juice you can make your own furniture polish for hardwood surfaces.

Vinegar is a great natural cleaning product as well as a disinfectant and deodorizer. Mix a solution of one part water to one part vinegar in a new spray bottle to make a solution that will clean most areas of your home. There’s no need to worry about your house smelling like vinegar, as the scent disappears as the solution dries. Please note that the proportions are important as improperly diluted vinegar is acidic and can eat away at porous surfaces. Vinegar should never be used on marble surfaces.  Did you know that vinegar can even be used as a natural fabric softener for people with sensitive skin? Simply add ½ a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle in place of store bought fabric softener.

Baking Soda can be used in place of commercial abrasive cleansers to scrub surfaces. Baking soda is also a great deodorizer. You can put a box in the refrigerator and freezer to absorb odors. I empty a box into my cat’s litter to keep it smelling fresh. Since it is natural, unscented and non-toxic, I know it’s safe for him. If you mix three parts baking soda to one part water you can make a paste to polish silver. Rub the paste onto each item then rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth. To remove scents from a carpet, sprinkle with baking soda, and let stand for at least fifteen minutes before vacuuming.

So, there you have it; three simple cleaning products that are readily available, not harmful to the environment, and very affordable as well. Now it’s time to go clean and get green.