AWCB NEWS

We are thrilled to announce that we have a new club sponsor, Dooleys American Smokehouse! We are excited to welcome them to our community and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership. 

We spoke with owner Darren Dooley to learn more about the restaurant.

Where are you from the USA?
I am from Decatur, Illinois, but my family is from Alabama, so southern cooking has always been part of the family tradition. 

When did you move to Belgium?
I came to Belgium for the first time in 1999 for family reasons. Since then we have been living between Belgium and the various European diplomatic assignments in Asia and Africa. I had a Tex-Mex restaurant in Uganda for six years and I still have also an American style BBQ restaurant in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia since 2018. We returned back to Belgium most recently in 2019.

When did you open your restaurant in Brussels?
We opened in June 2022, so one year ago. It has been an exciting journey.

How did you get this idea?
After owning several restaurants where we introduced American and Tex-Mex cooking to the African clients, in Belgium, I wanted to go back to my roots and to combine the famous American Smoke House tradition with the authentic Soul Food from the Southern USA. Dooley's American Smoke House is all about sharing meals with family and friends, and getting the taste of traditional American cuisine in the capital of Europe.

Was it a challenge to get the Smoker equipment into Belgium?
It was possible to order online the electric smokers that use flavored wood that bring the taste for our smoked meats, and we use other grill equipment available in Belgium. The main challenge is to order the specific spices that make the Soul Food taste, this includes for example the secret seasoning mix I prepare for my famous buttermilk fried chicken.

How do you like living in Belgium?
I enjoy the international atmosphere of Brussels. My restaurant is located in Etterbeek, where we also have our house. It is near the European Institutions and many Americans also live in the neighborhood. We have met so many nice people from all nationalities since we opened the restaurant and I look forward to welcoming everyone who is interested to discover the true American hospitality.

____

We hope you will visit Dooleys American Smokehouse, and make sure join us for one of our AWCB evens there! 

On 28 March AWCB Members came together for an interactive and informational session with our new sponsor Ya Qian of Accuherb at Brussel's beautiful and exclusive female focused club, The Nine. 

Ya explained what Acupuncture is and what makes her Deluxe Acupuncture Therapy different from standard Acupuncture treatment. She answered our questions and did some live demonstrations for the brave people that raised questions about issues they are having; and for those that wanted to know more about meditation and breathing techniques.

Watch the video

The proceeds of our FAWCO fundraiser luncheon this past February will be donated and matched which will double our donation to The FAWCO Target Project 5, Awesome Blossoms. 

Awesome Blossoms, Edible Fresh Fields for Sustainable Life in the Slums, an Urban Farming Project, is an initiative taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the negative impacts of climate change in the Mathare slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Target Project 5 will be a model of environmental stewardship by women living in the harshest conditions. The women from Awesome Blossoms will demonstrate that people living in the slums are not victims, but by working together, they can protect their environment, withstand climate change, produce safe foods, and create independence and security. 

Have you recently returned to the United States - or are you planning to move back after living overseas? If yes then you should join FAUSA, which supports members who have repatriated and are experiencing the joys, challenges and changes involved in returning home.

FAUSA is the social and philanthropic network which supports former FAWCO club members and others repatriating to the United States and Canada. Members maintain overseas friendships through participation in local and virtual groups, and annual meetings, while continuing to participate in FAWCO and The FAWCO Foundation activities, teams and boards. 

To learn more about FAUSA, and tips and guidance for returning home, register for the two-part webinar Homeward Bound.

10 May 2023 - Homeward Bound

September 2023 (date TBD) - I’ve moved back, now what?

Find out more and register

Congratulations to AWCB member Brooke Peterson, who was awarded the FAWCO Foundations Skills Enhancement Award at the FAWCO Conference.

Brooke will attend the Master in International Association Management program at the Solvay Brussels School of Economics & Management. The course is taught by renowned experts, with a focus on leadership for global non-profit organizations. This course includes modules on Leadership, Strategy & Change Management, Strategic Marketing & Communications, Project Management, Finance and Governance and Sustainability.

We are very proud of Brooke and wish her the best of luck in her studies.

AWCB members with US Citizenship are now eligible to join the State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU). FAWCO has gained approval for FAWCO members to join this credit union. All AWCB members are also FAWCO members. AWCB members' family members may also eligible to join the credit union.

The SDFCU is an American credit union which enables its members to have worldwide accessible bank accounts, credit/debit cards, and lending services. Benefits include low fees, no requirement for permanent USA address or USA phone number.

Our Treasurer, Kristen Crosson, is currently signing up for SDFCU membership and will keep our Club updated on this exciting new banking opportunity, including benefits for non-resident alien spouses and children both above/under age 17.

Carl Mir, a short-term sponsor and member of the AWCB, is here to help our members prepare their expat tax returns. Carl is now based back in the USA, but he and his team of  tax advisors work hard to complete your expat tax returns, so you don’t have to. So take the hassle out of tax time and contact us today for a no-obligation, free assessment. 

Carl provided an excellent tutorial to our members in 2022; and we can truly say he helps us living overseas ensure that we receive every tax benefit applicable to our situation.

Now based back in the U.S., Carl and his team of tax advisors work hard to complete your expat tax returns, so you don’t have to. So take the hassle out of tax time and contact us today for a no-obligation, free assessment.

AWCB Board Members Lorraine, Kristen and Michelle attended the FAWCO Conference held in Bratislava, Austria this March. At the biennial event, the team was able to strengthen ties with  fellow members around the globe, including many repatriated friends in FAUSA - FAWCO Alumnae USA. They returned to Belgium with many new ideas and innovations for our Club.

Thank you to theAWA International Women's Club of Vienna and the IWCB - International Women's Club of Bratislava for hosting this wonderful event. And congratulations to The FAWCO Foundation for a successful fundraiser!

-

Photo: Lorraine, Michelle and Kristen at Foundation Night 2023 in Bratislava. In keeping with FAWCO’s focus on the Environment , the theme for the evening was Old is New Again. Kristen wore a late 80’s dress that belonged to her mother, Michelle wore a vintage necklace that also belonged to her mother and Lorraine wore the uniform of Captain Lillian Kinkella Kiel who was a flight nurse and one of the most accomplished women in the Air Force during World War II and Korean War. Captain Kinkella is also one of the most decorated women in American military history.

Clubs in Motion is a FAWCO initiative to encourage members to stay physically fit so let’s get moving! Our first activity is a Casual Cycling Ride on 12 February 2023. Keep an eye on the AWCB Events page for future upcoming activities.

The Target Program 2023-2025

The Target Project Environment Selection Committee is proud to announce the three shortlisted proposals (in alphabetical order) for the FAWCO Target Project Environment 2023–2025:

Awesome Blossoms: Edible Fresh Fields for Sustainable Life in the Slums, a project of Safe Spaces Organization, submitted by Leslie Janoe, AWC Amsterdam;

Love for the Sea, a project of Caribbean Coral Restoration Center, submitted by Robin Goldsby, AIWC Cologne;

Wing Woman, a project of Stand for Women, submitted by Monica Jubayli, AWC Lebanon.

Please visit The Three Shortlisted Target Project Proposals to read the project summaries and to learn more about the selection process. During the first two weeks of February, the AWCB will have the opportunity to vote for the project they would most want to support. Send a message to michelle@awcb.org if you wish to show your support for one of the projects.

Upcoming FAWCO Events

The 2023 FAWCO Biennial Conference will be hosted by AWA Vienna in Bratislava, Slovakia on March 23-26, 2023. AWCB/FAWCO Members can find out more details about the conference on the FAWCO website.

February 16, Thursday at 19:00 - Global Issues Book Discussion Series (on zoom)

In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez is a fictionalized account of the lives of the three Mirabalsisters, Patria, Maria Teresa and Minerva, who were murdered on orders from dictator Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic on November 25, 1960 – and of a fourth sister, Dedé, who survived.

The United Nations and human rights activists around the world now mark November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

This book will give us an opportunity to reflect on the origins of the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence against women and girls and to UNITE our efforts to “mobilize all society to become activists for the prevention of violence against women.”

Please register online in advance for this meeting.

On February 9th, we held our first Pasta Luncheon Fundraiser for FAWCO which was a success! We’d like to thank Sue Frick, Director of Philanthropy at FAUSA and past AWCB President for being our guest speaker as well as members who attended and also provided tremendous support throughout the day. A special thank you to those who could not attend but made a donation.

The meal was cooked and donated by AWCB President Lorraine De Bock and raised 400 euros for FAWCO (Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas). Together we make wonderful things happen!