AWC BERLIN NEWSLETTER

THE BEAR FACTS

SEPTEMBER 2020

Dear {Contact_First_Name},

Welcome Back from Summer!  No matter what you did or where you spent your summer, I hope that you had a fun, relaxing and healthy one. It’s hard to believe that we usher in Autumn this month. I don’t know about you, but I’m trying to squeeze out every bit of summer I can right now! 

As we begin September, we also resume some of our regular programming.  We do so, however, being vigilant about COVID-19. We have been closely monitoring developments and continuously evaluating the advisability of resuming our normal in-person programming.  While we will remain restricted in what we can do in-person as a Club, we are looking forward to offering some in-person, outdoor events where the rules, particularly around social distancing, can safely be observed.  Please keep a close eye on the Club’s calendar, the weekly What's On email messages and our social media for the most up-to-date information on our programming.

Although it would be ideal for us to be able to get back to meeting in person without restrictions, I am grateful that technology allows us to remain connected. We have a lot going on, so I hope that you will consider joining us for an event or two!

I do want to bring your attention to a couple of notable events this month. To wrap up our Summer of Fun-Raising campaign, we will continue to raise awareness around the FAWCO Target Project, which was the focus of this campaign.  To this end, we have two fantastic opportunities coming your way.  First, on September 10, the Club is pleased to host and offer an exclusive screening of the award-winning documentary, In the Name of Your Daughter.  And then, on September 24, we are honored to welcome Tharien van Eck, the FAWCO Target Project Chair, as our guest speaker to talk to us about FGM and the Target Project.  I hope to see you at one or both of these events!

This month's newsletter also includes some useful information on voting in the upcoming U.S. elections.  If you are eligible to vote in the U.S., please be sure to read on below.  Above all, please remember to VOTE!

Finally, if you are interested in getting involved in the Club, or if you have any ideas that you would like to share or activities you would like to on the calendar, we would love to hear from you, so please get in touch!

Cheers,
Shweta

Shweta Gupta

President, The American Women's Club of Berlin

president@awcberlin.org

CLUB NEWS & HIGHLIGHTS

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Veronica Isola Jaeger
Maureen McDowell

Yuko Takemichi

Kimberly Zenz

We look forward to seeing you!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Without dedicated volunteers, there would be no AWC Berlin. From every activity to administrative function, there are members stepping up to make this club a rich social, cultural and philanthropic outlet for our 250+ members. If you'd like to nominate a member, please email newsletter@awcberlin.org. 

Thank you to My-Linh Kunst for submitting this nomination.

Thank You, Hollis Vaughen! 

Hollis Vaughen joined AWC Berlin in 2017, and she wasted no time in getting involved with the Club.  Shortly after she joined, Hollis enthusiastically volunteered to step in to a vacancy on the Board at the Treasurer position.  She held that role, until she returned to the U.S.  Even then, Hollis has remained connected to the Club by becoming an alumni member.  Over the last few years, Hollis has been honing her social media marketing skills and consulting in that area for a variety of businesses, schools and non-profits. So, when the call went out for a social media/Instagram volunteer, Hollis immediately and enthusiastically stepped up.  She has played a key role in helping to raise the social media profile of the Club. Thanks to Hollis, we were able to launch our Instagram in May and since then, we have had 86 posts and gained 123 followers. Hollis' enthusiasm for the Club (and for Berlin) is evident in what she does.  We are so thankful that, despite the distance, Hollis is able and willing to remain involved and be a part of our AWC Berlin community.

* * *

All of our events are volunteer driven and any member can lead an event. If you have an idea for any programming, or if you wish to host an event, please contact Dawna Grand, First Vice-President - Programming, at vp-programs@awcberlin.org.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Join us for this month's Monthly Membership Meeting with guest speaker, Tharien van Eck.

Thursday, September 24, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Zoom (see registration confirmation for email for link)

AWC PHILANTHROPY

Summer of Fun-Raising - A Recap 

THANK YOU ... 

 to all of our workshop presenters, participants, and donors. Thank you also to the tremendous team of Stephanie Biery, Karen Castellon, My-Linh Kunst, and Dawna Grand for planning and organizing the summer of FUN! 

This initiative brought our community together, taught us new skills, showcased the many talents of our members and raised much needed funding during these very uncertain times.

AWC Berlin's Summer of Fun-Raising campaign in numbers:

42 Workshops over 35 Days

97 AWC Berlin Participants

38  FAWCO Participants

16 Guest Participants

The Summer of Fun-Raising Cookbook

Among the many workshops offered through the Summer of Fun-Raising were numerous cooking demonstrations.  The Club has taken the initiative to pull together all of the fabulous recipes into a single cookbook.  In this book are the recipes from the popular cooking workshops - including recipes from France, India, Israel, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Thailand, Turkey, the U.S. and Vietnam.  Check it out here.

Learn More About the FAWCO Target Project

Finally, if you’ve been wanting to learn more about the FAWCO Target Project, which was the focal fundraising point of  the Summer of Fun-Raising, we have two very worthwhile events coming your way in September:

• September 10, 7pm - 9pm:  AWC Berlin Screening of the award-winning documentary, “In the Name of Your Daughter” 
• September 24, 6:30pm - 8:30pm:  Monthly Membership Meeting with Guest Speaker, Tharien van Eck - the FAWCO Target Project Chair

If you wish to donate to the Target Project as part of our Summer of Fun-Raising campaign, you can still do so!  We will leave donations open until the end of September. We welcome donations by bank transfer.  If you need the bank details, or have any other questions, please email philanthropy@awcberlin.org.

FAWCO UPDATE

FAWCO Target Project 2020-2022 S.A.F.E. (Safe Alternatives for Female Genital Mutilation Elimination). The goal of S.A.F.E. is to protect girls in the Mara region of Tanzania from FGM and to foster positive social change to enable the girls and women to live healthy and empowered lives.

"In the Name of Your Daughter" Documentary 

FAWCO has been given the opportunity to screen the movie, "In the Name of Your Daughter," an award-winning documentary focusing on Rhobi Samwelly's incredible efforts to encourage communities in Northern Tanzania to stop FGM and features the girls who bravely risk their lives to stand up for their human rights.

You are invited on 2 different dates to a screening of the documentary, “In the Name of Your Daughter," which everyone is encouraged to see prior to the Monthly Membership Meeting on September 24, when Tharien van Eck, Target Program Chair will be our honored guest speaker.  Please note that there is no graphic violence, but plenty of themes that will touch your heart.

• Thursday, September 3, 7:00pm - 9:00pm - hosted by the FAWCO Target Team
  
  To register, click here.
  
  
• Thursday, September 10, 7:00pm - 9:00pm - hosted by AWC Berlin  
  
  Please register via Wild Apricot.

Diversity & Inclusion.  FAWCO continues to offer opportunities to learn more about race and the systemic racial injustices that are prevalent in all societies.  All are encouraged to learn more and participate in conversations that offer different perspectives.  Watch our Facebook page and weekly messages for announcements on FAWCO events.  In the meantime, AWC Berlin has compiled a list of resources, which you can access on the homepage of our website, or by clicking here.

More FAWCO Notes

• Education Awards and Development Grant nominations for 2021. It's not too early to start thinking about this.  Any member can begin the application process by reviewing the forms from 2020 and putting materials together.  www.fawcofoundation.org.  Please remember that if you have applied in the past and not gotten an award, you may apply again, as the applicant pool changes every year.
  
  
• For those repatriating to the USA, consider becoming a member of FAUSA, the alumnae arm of FAWCO.  To learn whether there is an active group in your area, contact the VP Membership of FAUSA, at 2ndVP@fausa.org.

• Are you a quilter? If you quilt, consider making a square to donate to the 2021 FAWCO Friendship Quilt. For instructions and to learn more, go to the FAWCO Foundation website and click on "2021 FAWCO Friendship Quilt Instructions."

FAWCO Publications.  Expand your World, and subscribe to FAWCO publications!  Visit www.fawco.org, and click the "Subscribe" link in the upper right corner.

Your FAWCO Representative is Karen Castellon:

KarenCastellon908@gmail.com or FAWCORep@AWCBerlin.org

The Berlin Americana Blog 

Contribute to Our New Blog Series: Dear Me: A Letter to My Younger Self 

We’re all getting older and wiser, right? Or maybe we’re not wise so much as wised-up, able to recognize what wasn’t obvious to us when we were in our teens or in our 20s or 30s. Would you, like Nora Ephron, advise young women to “go, right this minute, put on a bikini, and don’t take it off until you’re 34”? 

What do you wish you’d known sooner? What would you tell your younger self? Share your story in our new series, “Dear Me: A Letter to My Younger Self,” on the AWC blog, Berlin Americana. Your story can be in the form of a personal essay, short fiction, poetry, or photo essay.

To submit to the Blog, or for more information, contact the blog team at blog@awcberlin.org.

THE 2020 US VOTE

As of September 1, there are only 63 days until the U.S. General Election on Nov. 3.  

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!

If you are eligible to vote as an overseas voter in the upcoming U.S. elections, the buzz word is PLAN.  Given the impact on mail delivery services between Germany and the U.S., it is vital to ensure that you:

• know the deadlines for the state in which you vote.  To learn this information, and much more for your state, check the FVAP’s Voter Assistance Guide or visit the Overseas Vote Foundation website.
  
  
• register to vote and request your ballot.  If you have not already done this, stop everything and do this TODAY.  Visit the Overseas Vote Foundation website.
  
  
• VOTE - complete your ballot as soon as you receive it.  You must complete the ballot in accordance with the instructions you receive with your ballot.  
  
  
• RETURN your ballot*
  
  
• track your ballot after you have returned it

*Returning Your Ballot.  Plan to return your ballot timely, particularly if you vote in one of the 21 states that require you to return your ballot by mail. Be sure to follow the instructions you receive with your ballot.  Every state is different.  Some states, for example, may require that your ballot have a postmark.  Check your state's requirements in the FVAP’s Voter Assistance Guide. 

*Options for Mailing Your Ballot

**Besides using the postal service, you have the option to drop off your voted ballot at the U.S. Embassy building in Dahlem, Clayallee 170, 14191 Berlin.  For information on where to go and how to drop off at the U.S. Embassy, please click here. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  If you choose to use this option, please bear in mind that delays may still occur between dropping off your ballot and final delivery to your state's local election office. Therefore, even if you choose to use this option, it remains imperative that you complete your ballot and drop it off as soon as possible.

Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB)

If you think your absentee ballot may not reach in time, you can complete the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB).  To learn more about the FWAB, please click here.

What are your state’s requirements and who is your local election official? Check the FVAP’s Voter Assistance Guide or visit the Overseas Vote Foundation website.

Every vote – including your overseas vote – counts! Act today!

AWC BERLIN & SOCIAL MEDIA

Besides the private AWC Members Only group, did you know we have 2 private sub-groups on Facebook?  Click the links below and ask to JOIN. 

**AWC Berlin Second-Hand Postings (to buy, sell or swap):  https://www.facebook.com/groups/653200785262766 

**Bookmarked in Berlin (for book lovers to share and discuss their favorite reads): https://www.facebook.com/groups/302249127866608 

Also, come “like” our public Facebook and follow us on Instagram @awcberlin!

MEMBER RESOURCES

Are you looking for a recommendation for a doctor or lawyer?  If you are in need of a recommendation, or if you have a "how to ..." or "where do I ..." question, our Member Services and Recommendations resource is a great place to start.  It includes recommendations made by our members on our Facebook page, as well as our members' Marketing Monday posts.  You can click on the included link, but you also can always find the document in the "Members Only" section of our website. 

A huge and heartfelt thank you to Kim Douglass for recently updating this document to provide you with the most up-to-date member-recommended resources.  Thank you, Kim!! 

AWC ONLINE:  CALENDAR AND EVENT REGISTRATION

AWC members must log in with a user name and password to access events on our calendar and register for them. You can do this from your smartphone via the Wild Apricot Mobile app, or simply by going on any computer with internet and visiting the "Members Login" area of the AWC Berlin website.

As always, so that we know to expect you, please remember to register for all events either through the AWC website or the Wild Apricot Member app (for iPhone users only). 

IN THE MEMBERS ONLY AREA, YOU CAN

• Register for and cancel events
• See your event registration
• Add events to personal calendar
• See who else is going
• Much more...

Step 1: Go to the AWC website and click Members Login. (request new password from the website if needed). Manage your events from the calendar.

Step 2: You could also download the Wild Apricot Member app to your iPhone or Android device and use your website login on the app.

Step 3: Poke around and get familiar with the tools. See the Instruction Guide for detailed steps and pictures of set up and navigation. The event registration feature of the app is not available to Android users yet (but we're working on it!). Android users can register via the Members only section of the website instead. Questions? WA-Admin@awcberlin.org.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS

Evening Book Club
Tuesday, September 1, 7:00pm -9:00pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

From Goodreads: "In this brilliant sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood answers the questions that have tantalized readers for decades. When the van slammed on Offred's future at the end of The Handmaid's Tale, readers had no way of telling what lay ahead for her-- freedom, prison or death. With The Testaments, the wait is over.

Daytime W.O.W. (Word of the Week)
Tuesdays, September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,
10:00am - 10:30am
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

In the daytime version of this event you'll be taken on a word or expression journey. You'll leave the event enlightened with the history of the word, different uses for the word, and will do in a very fun, light-hearted and humorous way. 

Evening W.O.W. (Word of the Week)
Tuesdays, September 1, 8, 15, 22, 29,
10:00am - 10:30am
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

In the evening version of this event you'll be taken on a word or expression journey. You'll leave the event enlightened with the history of the word, different uses for the word, and will do in a very fun, light-hearted and humorous way. 

Lunch & Learn: Hiking the Camino de Santiago
Wednesday, September 2, 12:00pm - 12:45pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

Have you ever considered hiking on the Camino de Santiago in Spain? Either alone or with a friend? In this session, Karen Castellon will provide an overview of the Camino, its paths, a few logistics, brief background, and whatever sparks your curiosity or interest in a multi-day hiking adventure.

Kaffee Klatsch
Friday, September 4, 10:30am-12:00pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

Kaffee Klatsch is our monthly Coffee Chat. Stop by to connect, catch up with old friends and make new ones.

German Conversation (West)
Monday, September 7, 14, 21, 28 10:00am - 10:40am
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

Come and join us for German conversation in a safe and judgment-free environment. We always have a good time! Usually we are joined by AWC Berlin members who are native German speakers. Questions? Email german@awcberlin.org.

Lunch & Learn:  Art Object of the Month
Wednesday, September 9, 12:30pm -1:15pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

Join Dr. Frances Durocher each month to learn about some of the fantastic art objects in Berlin!  In the first installment of this series, we will look at the Netherlandish Proverbs, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1559) from the Gemäldegalerie.

Film Screening: "In the Name of Your Daughter"
Thursday, September 10, 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

You are invited to join us in the screening of "In the Name of Your Daughter," a film featuring our Summer of Fun-Raising charity S.A.F.E., providing safe housing for girls in danger of female genital mutilation in Tanzania and educating the world about the negative effects of FGM.

German Conversation (Ost)
Friday, September 11, 18, 25, 10:00am - 11:30am
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

Are you a fear-rabbit (Angsthase) when it comes to speaking German?  I know, know!  Speaking German is no walk in the park (kein Ponyhof).  But even if you only understand train station (nur Bahnhof verstehen), you'll love our conversation sessions.  No judgement.  Just a fun way to meet new people and catch up with old friends.  We usually have a native speaker join us.  All are welcome, whether you studied German, are a native speaker, or just wish to practice!

Special Book Club:  Book Discussion Pravda Ha Ha with Author Rory MacLean
Friday, September 11, 3:00pm -5:00pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

Genre Book Club (Sci-Fi and Fantasy)
Thursday, September 24, 3:00pm -5:00pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

In Uprooted, by Naomi Novik, Agnieska loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river. But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

Monthly Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 24, 6:30-8:30pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

This month we are pleased to welcome Tharien van Eck as our guest speaker. Tharien is the current Target Program Chair for FAWCO. Tharien will provide an introduction to the topic of female genital mutilation, addressing the origins of FGM and the health effects, as well as the global prevalence of the practice and response from organizations. She'll provide more information on the role of FAWCO in supporting Hope for Girls and Women Tanzania and the 2020-2022 Target Project S.A.F.E.

Lunch & Learn: Reading Science Fiction
Wednesday, September 30, 12:00pm -12:45pm
Zoom (see registration confirmation email for link)

Join lifelong science fiction nerd Kathy Lyon to learn what Octavia Butler and Cormac McCarthy have in common as she offers a brief history of the genre and its boundaries, as well as how to read science fiction like a fan.

HOW TO AWC BERLIN

AWC ONLINE

AWC members can manage their account, access the membership directory and sign up for events by logging into their AWC member account, either through the AWC website or mobile app. 

BENEFITS

• Register for and cancel events
• See your event registration
• Add events to personal calendar
• See who else is going
• Much more...

Step 1: log into the AWC website (request new password from the website if needed). Manage your events from the calendar.

Step 2: Download the Wild Apricot Member app and use your website email/login.

Step 3: Poke around and get familiar with the tools. See the Instruction Guide for detailed steps and pictures of set up and navigation. Currently, the event registration feature of the app is not available to Android users, but otherwise the app is fine for Android users. Questions? WA-Admin@awcberlin.org.

AWC BERLIN FACEBOOK POLICY

The AWC Berlin Private Members Only Facebook group is open to current members only and is a casual, respectful and friendly forum for member announcements (for example, babies! weddings!, etc.), discussion, information and questions regarding AWC-related topics and/or life in Berlin. 

• Only authorized AWC Berlin events that are already listed on the AWC Calendar can be created as an event in our Facebook group.

• Please do not post charity donation requests or political items not related to the AWC Berlin.

• You are invited to let us know about your business, but please limit commercial, self-promotional posts to Mondays and be sure to preface your post with MARKETING MONDAY. No comments are allowed on these posts.

• When in doubt, please send your question to facebookpolicy@awcberlin.org.

Thank you for your cooperation!

AWC Berlin Facebook Page | AWCB Website