FAWCO Update -- February/March 2006

From the desk of FAWCO President Emily van Eerten . . .

FAWCO Fever

In the month of September, I had the opportunity of joining members from the Scandinavian clubs of Region 2 and our German clubs helping with preparations for our upcoming 75th Anniversary Conference in Berlin. I have yet to visit a gathering of FAWCO clubs that didn’t exhibit the most telling sign of FAWCO fever. Every photo from these two events provides the evidence: groups of women with huge, ear-to-ear smiles on their faces. A regional gathering is a chance to discover not just one or two potential friends, but an entire roomful of tribal members, women (and men) who have left their country of birth for love, work or the opportunity to travel. These are people who approached a new country and culture either tentatively or with open arms who are making their way, successfully, for the most part. One of the phenomena I enjoy seeing is the evidence of happy cultural convergence. In Germany they have a word, “Denglish,” which describes something I’ve seen in every FAWCO club. Women who are submersing themselves in a new culture often “forget” an English word they need. They hem and haw, and finally just throw out the word in Norwegian, Danish or German, and the rest of the group nods sympathetically and someone will supply the needed word in English. It is a powerful moment of connection and realization – “These women KNOW what I go through every day of my life.” Yes, everyone in the room comes from a different place, has a different education, has a different family situation, but they know what it is like. These FAWCO women are my tribe.

Nobel Peace Prize Nomination

At the Oslo regional, a most amazing thing occurred. One of the Oslo members approached FAWCO RC Terri Knudsen and me. She had heard what FAWCO and its member clubs are doing and have been doing, for the past 75 years. She was impressed. She gives regular talks about the Nobel Prize, knows some of the committee members, and knows a past Peace Prize winner. She believes that FAWCO is worthy of a Nobel nomination. As you might imagine we were stunned. FAWCO is no Doctors without Borders. But then her logic started to penetrate. In 2004 alone, FAWCO clubs collectively donated over $800,000 to worthy charitable causes worldwide, not to mention all of the other donations of goods, services and time. Think how many trees our members have planted over the years. FAWCO is as grass roots as grass roots gets, and we are all volunteers. Year after year each of our clubs is making a positive impact in its host community and beyond. On the most basic level we help our own members develop the skills to live successfully in their adopted countries. This cultural awareness also extends beyond the membership into the community itself, as we help others understand our own cultures. With our speakers, programs, workshops, fundraisers, and scholarships we have quietly and without much fanfare made a real impact. The FAWCO Foundation’s commitment to development grants and educational awards have extended the reach of each of our member clubs to the developing worlds. The work of the FAWCO committees in educating our members about citizenship, education, environment, health, and peace itself shows our commitment to expanding awareness, understanding and peace to our membership. FAWCO’s status as a Federation of volunteers with 78 clubs in 37 countries and as an NGO with ECOSOC status has given us a global profile that is truly impressive.

The FAWCO board has decided to embrace the Oslo members’ suggestion. We are preparing a report detailing the work of FAWCO and its member clubs in 2005 for submission. All of you have brought so much energy and enthusiasm to FAWCO and your own clubs. Without your volunteer spirit, the world would be a darker place.

Dillard University

One of the most horrific and enduring revelations of the hurricane destruction was having to come to terms with the poverty and racial inequality faced by some of the residents left behind in New Orleans. One of the institutions most dedicated to reversing the fate of poverty and racism was one of the most devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Founded in 1869, Dillard University is now an equal opportunity school, yet one which has consistently endeavored to educate and inspire all its students toward better lives. Dillard had the first accredited nursing school in Louisiana and today has one of the strongest nursing programs in the region. As AW Surrey President Yolanda Henry wrote in her proposal:

Many of New Orleans’ universities and colleges have been damaged by the recent hurricane. The worst hit WAS Dillard University, which is located near a breached levee. Much of its campus has been covered by twelve feet of water. Many of its buildings were damaged by wind and fire.
Dillard University was founded in l869. One of the first African-American liberal arts colleges, it now has nearly 2000 students, almost all of whom are on scholarship. Most of the students come from black families in the Gulf area. After the hurricane, the staff and students were evacuated to Centenary College in Shreveport, Louisiana. Many other colleges in the area who have suffered less damage may be able to re-open in January. It is probable that Dillard will have to close for a year.
Dillard University’s president has been philosophical. “Our beginnings are rooted in struggle and a committed determination to overcome social, political and environmental obstacles...today we face a formidable challenge; however...we are guided by our unwavering belief and absolute confidence that Dillard will be back and better.”

FAWCO 3rd Vice President Sunny Eades is now in contact with Dillard with the hope of identifying a specific project (e.g., support of the restoration of a language lab or something equally close to FAWCO’s heart) for our support. (Update: Over $8,000 has already been raised by FAWCO clubs to support Dilliad University.)

Sri Lanka

October 28, 2005, was a special day for the Beruwala Village, Sri Lanka and a proud day for FAWCO. Pierre Vivier, founder and president of the Beruwala Village Humanitarian Association, placed the first stone at the official groundbreaking for the “FAWCO House” which is being funded by proceeds from FAWCO’s Emergency Relief Fund (ERF).

When complete, the “FAWCO House” will consist of twelve apartments for women and children whose husbands and fathers lost their lives during the Asian Tsunami on December 26, 2004. In the three months following the tsunami tragedy, FAWCO member clubs and individuals contributed $48,000 for this building project. This unprecedented level of donations will completely subsidize the building of the new homes for these families left homeless by this natural disaster.

FAWCO is proud to be a part of this rebuilding project. We look forward to the dedication to the ”FAWCO House” in 2006.

FAWCO Conference in Berlin: March 2006 - Extra Events

Friday “Night Out on the Town”: The Wintergarten Varieté is a show & dinner theater which gives tribute to the legendary “old” Wintergarten. The show in March is “Mozart on the Trapeze” – a symphonic birthday revue in two acts with artistic extravaganzas about the life and music of Mozart. Tickets for the show EUR 25 - 55 or “show and dinner” EUR 75-85.

Dresden tour: If you are interested in this fascinating post-conference tour, please notify the conference chair right away. The Hilton hotel in Dresden looks out directly onto the Frauenkirche which was re-consecrated on October 30, 2005.

The daily workshops are currently being fleshed out but should include the following (all details are tentative and subject to change):

Saturday: The FAWCO Web Program, “Today and Tomorrow” with the FAWCO Web Managers

Reminder: A special one-day FAWCO Conference event for Sunday is offered to all AWC Hamburg members for the price of only EUR 35. This includes a luncheon and the Sunday workshops. Please contact AWCH FAWCO Rep Pat R to coordinate carpooling or to travel with a group for a reduced rate on the train.

Sunday: 11:00-12:15
1. Carlana Stone (motivational speaker), sponsored by Convenxia
2. Sustainability and New Urbanization – Peter Garforth, sponsored by Environment Committee
3. Domestic Violence – Hannah Bohart, Outreach Coordinator and Whitney Ziegler, Crises Services Coordinator American Domestic Violence Crisis Line

Lunch at the conference

Sunday: 14:00-15:15
1. German topic
2. International Education and Mobile Families: Living in Spaghetti from Peggy Bleyberg-Shor, Director of the Berlin International School
3. The Expatriate and the IRS – Susan Stanley, Tax Attaché, US Tax Office, Frankfurt, Germany
4. What Expatriates Need to Know: Social Security – Rich Fenton, Regional Federal Benefits Officer, US Tax office in Frankfurt, Germany

FAWCO Foundation Dream Cruise

Ladies, this is a totally new side of FAWCO.

Ann de Simoni is the FAWCO Foundation Board Advisor, responsible for individual fundraising. Ann had the brilliant idea of planning a cruise through the Mediterranean world with two great goals in mind: 1) to get to know the glamorous and history laden sites while cruising in luxurious style on board a beautiful ship, 2) plus feeling at home within the FAWCO group among current and new friends.

Find out more about the cruise details, like trip description, cruise registration form, travel agency contract and PHOTOS. The website is now live. You can go to the FAWCO Foundation’s page and click on the blue banner or go to www.fawcofoundation.org/cruise. Would you like to have one good size brochure filled with wonderful pictures of the ship sent directly to you? Use the link on the webpage to contact Ann.

If you make a 25% deposit before the FAWCO Conference in Berlin (March 2-5), or if you come to the conference with your check book or credit card and fill out the contracts there, you have a choice of picking your cabin.