American Association of Malaysia holds its Annual General Meeting
The American Association of Malaysia (AAM) held its Annual General Meeting, bringing members together to reflect on another year of growth, community engagement, and charitable giving, and to set the course for the year ahead.
The meeting began with the approval of the previous year's AGM minutes, followed by a review of the Association's progress across events, membership, finances, and governance.
A growing community
Over the past year, AAM expanded its calendar to offer three regular social events each month, creating more opportunities for members, families, and friends to connect. This growth reflects our collective effort and makes members feel valued for their participation.
In addition to our recurring gatherings, members enjoyed a full calendar of special events, including a Chinese New Year celebration, Easter Brunch, Father's Day Bowling Bash, our first annual Independence Day Backyard BBQ, a Halloween fundraiser, Thanksgiving Potluck, and our annual Holiday Happy Hour.
These events continue to strengthen the American and international community in Malaysia while welcoming new faces into the Association.
Giving back
Community service remains at the heart of AAM's mission. While fundraising totals were modest this year, members supported several meaningful local initiatives.
Contributions included funding for sewing machines to support livelihood development through Greater Action, educational technology for Rumah Kita, support for Cancer Research Malaysia through a community fundraising event, and assistance for vulnerable children through Yayasan Chow Kit. Highlighting these efforts can inspire members by showing how their support makes a real difference.
The Board reaffirmed its commitment to expanding fundraising efforts through new partnerships, creative events, and additional opportunities for members to support charitable organizations throughout Malaysia, encouraging members to participate and contribute.
Strong financial progress
Looking ahead, the Board will continue to focus on sustainable financial growth by expanding membership, strengthening corporate sponsorships, and building on successful signature events such as AAM's annual Independence Day Backyard BBQ, Kuala Lumpur's only public Fourth of July celebration hosted by an American organization.
Membership continues to evolve
This year also brought several important membership improvements.
AAM transitioned from tracking family memberships to tracking individual adult members, providing a clearer picture of our growing community. The Association currently has 63 adult members, demonstrating continued stability and opportunity for future growth.
Membership pricing has been updated, and they can look forward to an expanded list of exclusive benefits. New partnership discounts have already been confirmed with:
BoboKL
SuperPark Malaysia
Ampang Racquet Club
America Tax
Cantika Cleaning
See our current list of member-perk partners.
In addition, AAM continues to expand its online travel recommendations, providing practical resources for both new arrivals and long-term residents.
Sponsorship program expands
One of the year's significant milestones was filling the Sponsorship Director position after more than three years. This renewed focus on corporate partnerships will help strengthen the Association's financial sustainability while creating new opportunities for member benefits and community events.
Annual business and governance
Members unanimously approved the Association's 2025 Audited Financial Report and reappointed Voon & Co. as AAM's auditor for the coming year.
Several constitutional amendments were also approved to strengthen governance, clarify membership requirements, update the Association's Code of Conduct, establish expectations for responsible conduct at events, clarify membership eligibility, and ensure continued compliance with organizational requirements.
2026 Board of Directors
Members elected the following Board of Directors for the coming term:
President: Lauren Gilmore
Vice President: Shelby Raaj
Secretary: Margaret Mann
Treasurer: Michael Spiegel
Membership Director: Nancy Russell
Sponsorship Director: Michele Eidam
Events Director: Megan Barclay
Operations Director: Josh Hall
The Association congratulates the incoming Board and looks forward to another successful year serving the American community in Malaysia.
We would also like to extend our gratitude to the outgoing Board members. AAM is entirely powered by people who generously give their time, energy, and expertise, and our success is a direct result of those contributions.
Joe Govoni, Sponsorship Director for 2025
Guru Jaswant Khalsa, Treasurer since 2024
Jennifer Cooney, Secretary since 2023
Looking ahead
The AGM concluded with a productive discussion about future initiatives, including ways members can get involved in long-term financial planning, explore options for a future clubhouse or office space, expand membership outreach, evaluate improvements to member identification cards, and help streamline administrative processes.
With a growing calendar of events, expanding member benefits, strengthened governance, and a renewed focus on sponsorships and fundraising, AAM is well-positioned for another exciting year of building community, supporting charitable causes, and serving Americans and friends of America throughout Malaysia. This outlook can foster enthusiasm and confidence in our shared future.
The Board extends its sincere thanks to every member who attended the AGM, volunteered throughout the year, and continues to make the American Association of Malaysia a welcoming and vibrant community.