AWCB NEWS

Ballots on the way – overseas voting

The United States of America will hold federal, state and local elections on November 8, 2022. You still have time to vote. To register to vote, visit the US Vote Foundation.

October 7, 11:30 - Our FAWCO First Friday in October

Join us on Zoom to find out more about FAWCO and how you can get involved.

Register online

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October 27, 18:00 – FAWCO for Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)

Join our expert panel to learn about the goals and progress of CEDAW, its offshoot "Cities for CEDAW," and how FAWCO members can use it to advance the cause of gender equality. This will be an empowering event during a time when the ERA is still stalled and there are renewed attacks on the rights of women.

Register on the FAWCO website

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November 4 to 6 – Region 4 Meeting 

AWC The Hague is delighted to host the FAWCO Region 4 Meeting from November 4–6, 2022. In alignment with the upcoming Target Project, the theme is “Make a YOU Turn.” What can we do as individuals, FAWCO Club members and communities to make the world a cleaner place? More information coming soon on www.fawco.org

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November 16, 19:00 – Global Issues Book Discussion Series (change of date)

Please join us as we welcome the Author Silvia Vasquez-Lavado to discuss her book In the Shadow of the Mountain. A unique opportunity to meet the author and hear more about her inspiring and amazing memoir. Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a Peruvian-American who conquered the Seven Summits that mountaineers strive to achieve. Truly remarkable about her achievement is how her courage took her from a sexually abused child in Lima, to the heights of a Silicon Valley career and finally to the top of the world with feats of physical and mental strength. Silvia's achievements are inspiring for all who fear they can not overcome. Her achievements are long, her courage is endless and her compassion is inspiring. 

Register on the FAWCO website

It was great to see so many members at the Annual General Assembly on September 27th at the beautiful Prince Albert Club which is located centrally in Brussels between the Royal Palace and the Petite Sablon. 

President Lorraine de Bock opened the event and reviewed the wide variety of virtual and in person social and philanthropical events we had over the last year, as well as a view of all the exciting things we have planned for the upcoming year.

Treasurer Kristen Crosson then reviewed the complex financials for 2021 due to the sale of the clubhouse and liquidation of The Gift Boutique.  Following on, the proposed changes and legal updates to the Statutes wer reviewed by VP1 Jan Allen.

There were a lot of good questions and discussion over the financials and proposed statute changes. We are happy to report that all of the items up for vote were passed with an overwhelming majority. The minutes with full details of the meeting and a list of follow up actions will be circulated to members later this week. 

After the AGA we had a cava and a lovely 3 course lunch in the private dining room of the Prince Albert club.

See more images on our AWCB Facebook Group

By Michelle Angelone

Below is the soup recipe I like the best. I top it with roasted pumpkin seeds with the shell off. You can use pine nuts but totally a different taste and texture.

I don’t use the can pumpkin, instead I boil a large cooking pumpkin (peel and cube the pumpkin… remove the seeds to dry for roasting later …)

View the recipe

We are excited to announce that we have just kicked off our annual Angel Tree program! We have reached out to the charities that we have supported last year: Nos Pilifs, Oasis, Alsemberg and La Cite Joyeuse, as well as a new one: Project Lina's.

In the coming weeks, we will be receiving back the list of children that we can help support, as well as kicking off our collaboration with donors and sister clubs. This year, we are adding the University of Notre Dame Alumni Club of Belgium to the list and are looking forward to collaborating with them on this amazing effort.

Please reach out to hope@awcb.org with any questions!

In recognition of the AWCB’s support of Breast International Group (BIG), club President Lorraine De Bock and member Jennifer Constantino were invited to attend a round table discussion in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Mathilde. Her Majesty is the Honorary President of BIG and spent her morning in small group discussions together with scientists, patients, and key fundraisers.

The AWCB delegation was further honored by the presence of the Chair of BIG, Professor David Cameron, Immediate Past Chair and Co-Founder of BIG, Professor Martine Piccart, and the CEO of BIG, Theodora Goulioti, each of whom spent the morning sharing their experience and expertise with us.  

AWCB member contributions from last year’s Breast Cancer Awareness luncheon, as well as our longstanding dedication to breast cancer patients through our Hearts for Hope pillow program were highlighted and celebrated by all.  

As we continue to support BIG and the Hearts for Hope program, please join us at the Breast Cancer Awareness luncheon on October 21st, and hear first-hand from Dr. Goulioti on all that our support of BIG has helped to fund!

Due to the club's focus on finding new sponsors and building a strong relationship with the US Embassy, on the 29th of September, AWCB President Lorraine de Bock and VP1 Jan Allen attended the AmCham Gala Dinner at the Africa Palace in Tervuren. It was a lovely event and location with several hundred attendees. Club member Rhonda Ocha also attended the event and assisted with the networking which was very fruitful! 

We met the Ambassador and his wife Judith, who was very friendly and interested to get involved with our club after learning about our historic background and the many years we had a close liaison with the US Embassy.  Jan was already working on building stronger ties with the US Embassy with one of the Ambassador's Attachés who attended the Whiskey Tasting event in May earlier this year. We hope to have an update to share in next month's newsletter about some future plans with the US Embassy and will keep members posted on how this develops. 

Lorraine, Jan and Rhonda also spoke to several companies who were interested to learn more about sponsorship of the club, as well as several women who were interested to join our club - and a few already did including (Duyen We )are looking forward to welcome more members and sponsors as a follow on from this event!

Through the event we made two new members that we met at AmCham and joined .

AWCB dedicated volunteer Julie Kmet spearheaded our Back to School Supply Drive again this year, which is in support of NASCI vzw, a service center for underprivileged children, women, and families of Brussels. Our AWCB membership has been extremely generous as usual and donated 2 overflowing carloads filled with backpacks, folders, school supplies, hygiene materials, clothes, baby strollers, sporting goods, and toys. All items were well received by the smiling Nasci team and immediately put into piles for the designated families. 

The Back to School Drive enables dozens of children and families to start the school year confidently with the right school supplies and personal hygiene.

Many thanks to all the members who donated to this worthwhile cause! If you still would like to donate to Nasci, they are asking for monetary donations, which can be done here: Donations.

Our FAWCO First Friday Continues in September

September 2, 11:30 - FAWCO First Friday

The FAWCO First Friday is taking a summer break in July and August but will be back in September!  Join Michelle van der Straaten to learn more about the vast world of FAWCO! 

Register online

Upcoming FAWCO Events

September 8, 19:00 – Global Issues Book Discussion Series
The next book in the Global Issues Book Discussion Series is the Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba. The book showcases the importance of education and literacy as well as libraries. William tells the story of how he studied books in the school library and then cobbled together from spare items an electrical system for his home and then a windmill to pump water. The book was also chosen because of its discussion of environmental issues, including a devastating drought in Malawi. Register online.

September 14, 18:00 – Menopause & You 
Night sweats, unwanted weight gain, mood swings, brain fog, anxiety, as well as about 514 other symptoms. Are you asking yourself if you just have to get on with it and endure it on your own? Are you finding it hard to cope? Are you one of the millions of women who every day need a little support to understand what is happening to your body?

Does this sound familiar to you? Then please join us in a talk with Jessika Luther, nurse, midwife and menopause coach. We will be discussing how we can find renewed energy, ourselves again, and see menopause as the change it is - mid-life can be marvelous! Jessika is soon 60 years old, Finnish, and an eternal student who thinks women deserve to feel good in their own bodies and mind and find their own strengths without feeling stressed out while doing it.

Register on the FAWCO website

November 8, 19:00 – Global Issues Book Discussion Series
Please join us as we welcome the Author Silvia Vasquez-Lavado to discuss her book In the Shadow of the Mountain. A unique opportunity to meet the author and hear more about her inspiring and amazing memoir. Silvia Vasquez-Lavado is a Peruvian-American who conquered the Seven Summits that mountaineers strive to achieve. Truly remarkable about her achievement is how her courage took her from a sexually abused child in Lima, to the heights of a Silicon Valley career and finally to the top of the world with feats of physical and mental strength. Silvia's achievements are inspiring for all who fear they can not overcome. Her achievements are long, her courage is endless and her compassion is inspiring. 

Register on the FAWCO website

October is breast cancer awareness month. A highlight on the AWCB calendar, our fundraiser luncheon helps to support breast cancer research. This year, as last year, we will sponsor BIG, Breast International Group, a Brussel based non-profit international research group collaborating on cures and treatment. Check out BIG's website to learn more.

Our luncheons for this cause are epic, the energy electrifying and the enthusiasm of our volunteers is contagious. Each year we hope to top our previous year's donation so please come and join us for not only a delicious lunch and inspiring speakers but also the silent auctions and more. The luncheon will be held at the Royal Country Riding Clubhouse restaurant in Overijse.

We are also requesting donations form our members for items to add to the silent auction. So please have a look through your closets and cupboards for that under appreciated treasure you know could go to a great cause. Please contact Jennifer Constantino at Jennifer@AWCB.org for more information.

This summer Club President Lorraine De Bock attended the 78th Anniversary ceremony commemorating the Allied Landings in Provence from August 15, 1944. Lorraine and her husband Marc were invited by the local mayor and they donated a wreath on behalf of the AWCB to honor the American and Allied fallen soldiers of Operation Dragoon which took place on August 15th, 2022 in Sainte-Maxime, France.

Lorraine said it was a very touching ceremony that was well attended - not just by the locals, but also by American, Canadian, British and French organizations of veterans as well as the mayor of Sainte-Maxime, Vincent Morisse who was very appreciative and honored by our wreath. We thank Lorraine and her husband for making time during their vacation to attend this wonderful event and for giving AWCB a chance to honor these fallen heroes! 

In addition, Lorraine and her husband visited the Rhône American Military Cemetery and Memorial in Draguignan, France to honor and pay respect to the American soldiers who sacrificed their lives to liberate Southern France during the Allied Landings in Provence (Operation Dragoon) on August 15, 1944. 

Eight hundred and sixty American heroes are buried in this cemetery and it is very peaceful with beautifully maintained grounds. 

Lorraine said it was truly a touching tribute and moving experience for both of them as they reflected on all of the brave heroes who gave so much for our freedom. May we never forget.