Welcome Message   Dear Fellow Members Greetings! A few months ago, our web hosting company shut down and all data that the Society had uploaded onto our website was lost. While unfortunate, this event serves as a catalyst for us to look closely at the relevance and direction of our Society. Who are our members? Our constitution states that Society membership is open to registered medical practitioners engaged in the practice of anaesthesia. The objectives of the Society are to promote anaesthesia; and to represent, protect, advance and unite anaesthetists. In other words, the Society should represent the views of all doctors involved in anaesthesia in Singapore. This is especially relevant now that the landscape has changed. Ten years ago, I could walk into an anaesthesia combined meeting and put a name to at least 75% of the faces present. Today, anaesthesia has grown into a large specialty, bolstered by expanded workload, new hospitals and foreign-trained doctors. Residency will further segregate us into our own silos, as residents will no longer rotate through every hospital as in the past. We are no longer a closely knit family. In addition, the work place has become more challenging, with raised patient expectations resulting in increasing risks of litigation. To protect ourselves, we need to have strength in numbers and have a platform for us make sure our collected opinions are heard. The Society, together with our sister organization the College of Anaesthesiologists, can provide this platform. Therefore, the immediate direction that we need to take is clear. First, we need to find a reason for all of us involved in the practice of anaesthesia to want to join the Society. Second, we need to increase membership and revive the interest of existing members in the Society. This is important so that the Society can genuinely say that it represents the voice of Anaesthesia in Singapore. Third, we need to work with the College of Anaesthesiologists to look at ways to address the litigation vulnerability of our members. These goals are difficult – unlike anaesthesia societies in Western countries, we do not control the examination, credentialing, or recertification. "Why should I join the SSA?" is not an easy question to answer right now beyond that for the collective good of Anaesthesia. Providing a value for new members to join SSA will be a challenge. Therefore, I hope that all existing members strive to be more active, give opinions on what the Society needs to do, encourage fellow anaesthetist to join the SSA, participate in Society's events, and contribute to teach when called upon. My committee and I look forward to your active participation and support. A/P Ti Lian Kah President Singapore Society of Anaesthesiologists